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diff --git a/4965-8.txt b/4965-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de4beed --- /dev/null +++ b/4965-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10983 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Waverley, Volume II, by Sir Walter Scott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Waverley, Volume II + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Posting Date: January 13, 2012 [EBook #4965] +Release Date: January, 2004 +[This file was first posted on April 5, 2002] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAVERLEY, VOLUME II *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: +I feel that it is important to note that this book is part +of the Caledonian series. The Caledonian series is a group +of 50 books comprising all of Sir Walter Scott's works.] + + + + + +WAVERLEY + +BY SIR WALTER SCOTT + +VOLUME II + + + + + +WAVERLEY + +OR 'TIS SIXTY YEARS SINCE + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +AN INCIDENT + + +The dinner hour of Scotland Sixty Years Since was two o'clock. It +was therefore about four o'clock of a delightful autumn afternoon +that Mr. Gilfillan commenced his march, in hopes, although +Stirling was eighteen miles distant, he might be able, by becoming +a borrower of the night for an hour or two, to reach it that +evening. He therefore put forth his strength, and marched stoutly +along at the head of his followers, eyeing our hero from time to +time, as if he longed to enter into controversy with him. At +length, unable to resist the temptation, he slackened his pace +till he was alongside of his prisoner's horse, and after marching +a few steps in silence abreast of him, he suddenly asked--'Can ye +say wha the carle was wi' the black coat and the mousted head, +that was wi' the Laird of Cairnvreckan?' + +'A Presbyterian clergyman,' answered Waverley. + +'Presbyterian!' answered Gilfillan contemptuously; 'a wretched +Erastian, or rather an obscure Prelatist, a favourer of the black +indulgence, ane of thae dumb dogs that canna bark; they tell ower +a clash o' terror and a clatter o' comfort in their sermons, +without ony sense, or savour, or life. Ye've been fed in siccan a +fauld, belike?' + +'No; I am of the Church of England,' said Waverley. + +'And they're just neighbour-like,' replied the Covenanter; 'and +nae wonder they gree sae weel. Wha wad hae thought the goodly +structure of the Kirk of Scotland, built up by our fathers in +1642, wad hae been defaced by carnal ends and the corruptions of +the time;--ay, wha wad hae thought the carved work of the +sanctuary would hae been sae soon cut down!' + +To this lamentation, which one or two of the assistants chorussed +with a deep groan, our hero thought it unnecessary to make any +reply. Whereupon Mr. Gilfillan, resolving that he should be a +hearer at least, if not a disputant, proceeded in his Jeremiade. + +'And now is it wonderful, when, for lack of exercise anent the +call to the service of the altar and the duty of the day, +ministers fall into sinful compliances with patronage, and +indemnities, and oaths, and bonds, and other corruptions,--is it +wonderful, I say, that you, sir, and other sic-like unhappy +persons, should labour to build up your auld Babel of iniquity, as +in the bluidy persecuting saint-killing times? I trow, gin ye +werena blinded wi' the graces and favours, and services and +enjoyments, and employments and inheritances, of this wicked +world, I could prove to you, by the Scripture, in what a filthy +rag ye put your trust; and that your surplices, and your copes and +vestments, are but cast-off garments of the muckle harlot that +sitteth upon seven hills and drinketh of the cup of abomination. +But, I trow, ye are deaf as adders upon that side of the head; ay, +ye are deceived with her enchantments, and ye traffic with her +merchandise, and ye are drunk with the cup of her fornication!' + +How much longer this military theologist might have continued his +invective, in which he spared nobody but the scattered remnant of +HILL-FOLK, as he called them, is absolutely uncertain. His matter +was copious, his voice powerful, and his memory strong; so that +there was little chance of his ending his exhortation till the +party had reached Stirling, had not his attention been attracted +by a pedlar who had joined the march from a cross-road, and who +sighed or groaned with great regularity at all fitting pauses of +his homily. + +'And what may ye be, friend?' said the Gifted Gilfillan. + +'A puir pedlar, that's bound for Stirling, and craves the +protection of your honour's party in these kittle times. Ah' your +honour has a notable faculty in searching and explaining the +secret,--ay, the secret and obscure and incomprehensible causes of +the backslidings of the land; ay, your honour touches the root o' +the matter.' + +'Friend,' said Gilfillan, with a more complacent voice than he had +hitherto used, 'honour not me. I do not go out to park-dikes and +to steadings and to market-towns to have herds and cottars and +burghers pull off their bonnets to me as they do to Major Melville +o' Cairnvreckan, and ca' me laird or captain or honour. No; my +sma' means, whilk are not aboon twenty thousand merk, have had the +blessing of increase, but the pride of my heart has not increased +with them; nor do I delight to be called captain, though I have +the subscribed commission of that gospel-searching nobleman, the +Earl of Glencairn, fa whilk I am so designated. While I live I am +and will be called Habakkuk Gilfillan, who will stand up for the +standards of doctrine agreed on by the ance famous Kirk of +Scotland, before she trafficked with the accursed Achan, while he +has a plack in his purse or a drap o' bluid in his body.' + +'Ah,' said the pedlar, 'I have seen your land about Mauchlin. A +fertile spot! your lines have fallen in pleasant places! And +siccan a breed o' cattle is not in ony laird's land in Scotland.' + +'Ye say right,--ye say right, friend' retorted Gilfillan eagerly, +for he was not inaccessible to flattery upon this subject,--'ye +say right; they are the real Lancashire, and there's no the like +o' them even at the mains of Kilmaurs'; and he then entered into a +discussion of their excellences, to which our readers will +probably be as indifferent as our hero. After this excursion the +leader returned to his theological discussions, while the pedlar, +less profound upon those mystic points, contented himself with +groaning and expressing his edification at suitable intervals. + +'What a blessing it would be to the puir blinded popish nations +among whom I hae sojourned, to have siccan a light to their paths! +I hae been as far as Muscovia in my sma' trading way, as a +travelling merchant, and I hae been through France, and the Low +Countries, and a' Poland, and maist feck o' Germany, and O! it +would grieve your honour's soul to see the murmuring and the +singing and massing that's in the kirk, and the piping that's in +the quire, and the heathenish dancing and dicing upon the +Sabbath!' + +This set Gilfillan off upon the Book of Sports and the Covenant, +and the Engagers, and the Protesters, and the Whiggamore's Raid, +and the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and the Longer and +Shorter Catechism, and the Excommunication at Torwood, and the +slaughter of Archbishop Sharp. This last topic, again, led him +into the lawfulness of defensive arms, on which subject he uttered +much more sense than could have been expected from some other +parts of his harangue, and attracted even Waverley's attention, +who had hitherto been lost in his own sad reflections. Mr. +Gilfillan then considered the lawfulness of a private man's +standing forth as the avenger of public oppression, and as he was +labouring with great earnestness the cause of Mas James Mitchell, +who fired at the Archbishop of Saint Andrews some years before the +prelate's assassination on Magus Muir, an incident occurred which +interrupted his harangue. + +The rays of the sun were lingering on the very verge of the +horizon as the party ascended a hollow and somewhat steep path +which led to the summit of a rising ground. The country was +uninclosed, being part of a very extensive heath or common; but it +was far from level, exhibiting in many places hollows filled with +furze and broom; in others, little dingles of stunted brushwood. A +thicket of the latter description crowned the hill up which the +party ascended. The foremost of the band, being the stoutest and +most active, had pushed on, and, having surmounted the ascent, +were out of ken for the present. Gilfillan, with the pedlar and +the small party who were Waverley's more immediate guard, were +near the top of the ascent, and the remainder straggled after them +at a considerable interval. + +Such was the situation of matters when the pedlar, missing, as he +said, a little doggie which belonged to him, began to halt and +whistle for the animal. This signal, repeated more than once, gave +offence to the rigour of his companion, the rather because it +appeared to indicate inattention to the treasures of theological +and controversial knowledge which were pouring out for his +edification. He therefore signified gruffly that he could not +waste his time in waiting for an useless cur. + +'But if your honour wad consider the case of Tobit--' + +'Tobit!' exclaimed Gilffflan, with great heat; 'Tobit and his dog +baith are altogether heathenish and apocryphal, and none but a +prelatist or a papist would draw them into question. I doubt I hae +been mista'en in you, friend.' + +'Very likely,' answered the pedlar, with great composure; 'but +ne'ertheless, I shall take leave to whistle again upon puir +Bawty.' + +This last signal was answered in an unexpected manner; for six or +eight stout Highlanders, who lurked among the copse and brushwood, +sprung into the hollow way and began to lay about them with their +claymores. Gilfillan, unappalled at this undesirable apparition, +cried out manfully, 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!' and, +drawing his broadsword, would probably have done as much credit to +the good old cause as any of its doughty champions at Drumclog, +when, behold! the pedlar, snatching a musket from the person who +was next him bestowed the butt of it with such emphasis on the +head of his late instructor in the Cameronian creed that he was +forthwith levelled to the ground. In the confusion which ensued +the horse which bore our hero was shot by one of Gilfillan's +party, as he discharged his firelock at random. Waverley fell +with, and indeed under, the animal, and sustained some severe +contusions. But he was almost instantly extricated from the fallen +steed by two Highlanders, who, each seizing him by the arm, +hurried him away from the scuffle and from the highroad. They ran +with great speed, half supporting and half dragging our hero, who +could, however, distinguish a few dropping shots fired about the +spot which he had left. This, as he afterwards learned, proceeded +from Gilfillan's party, who had now assembled, the stragglers in +front and rear having joined the others. At their approach the +Highlanders drew off, but not before they had rifled Gilfillan and +two of his people, who remained on the spot grievously wounded. A +few shots were exchanged betwixt them and the Westlanders; but the +latter, now without a commander, and apprehensive of a second +ambush, did not make any serious effort to recover their prisoner, +judging it more wise to proceed on their journey to Stirling, +carrying with them their wounded captain and comrades. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +WAVERLEY IS STILL IN DISTRESS + + +The velocity, and indeed violence, with which Waverley was hurried +along nearly deprived him of sensation; for the injury he had +received from his fall prevented him from aiding himself so +effectually as he might otherwise have done. When this was +observed by his conductors, they called to their aid two or three +others of the party, and, swathing our hero's body in one of their +plaids, divided his weight by that means among them, and +transported him at the same rapid rate as before, without any +exertion of his own. They spoke little, and that in Gaelic; and +did not slacken their pace till they had run nearly two miles, +when they abated their extreme rapidity, but continued still to +walk very fast, relieving each other occasionally. + +Our hero now endeavoured to address them, but was only answered +with 'Cha n'eil Beurl agam' i.e. 'I have no English,' being, as +Waverley well knew, the constant reply of a Highlander when he +either does not understand or does not choose to reply to an +Englishman or Lowlander. He then mentioned the name of Vich lan +Vohr, concluding that he was indebted to his friendship for his +rescue from the clutches of Gifted Gilfillan, but neither did this +produce any mark of recognition from his escort. + +The twilight had given place to moonshine when the party halted +upon the brink of a precipitous glen, which, as partly enlightened +by the moonbeams, seemed full of trees and tangled brushwood. Two +of the Highlanders dived into it by a small foot-path, as if to +explore its recesses, and one of them returning in a few minutes, +said something to his companions, who instantly raised their +burden and bore him, with great attention and care, down the +narrow and abrupt descent. Notwithstanding their precautions, +however, Waverley's person came more than once into contact, +rudely enough, with the projecting stumps and branches which +overhung the pathway. + +At the bottom of the descent, and, as it seemed, by the side of a +brook (for Waverley heard the rushing of a considerable body of +water, although its stream was invisible in the darkness), the +party again stopped before a small and rudely-constructed hovel. +The door was open, and the inside of the premises appeared as +uncomfortable and rude as its situation and exterior foreboded. +There was no appearance of a floor of any kind; the roof seemed +rent in several places; the walls were composed of loose stones +and turf, and the thatch of branches of trees. The fire was in the +centre, and filled the whole wigwam with smoke, which escaped as +much through the door as by means of a circular aperture in the +roof. An old Highland sibyl, the only inhabitant of this forlorn +mansion, appeared busy in the preparation of some food. By the +light which the fire afforded Waverley could discover that his +attendants were not of the clan of Ivor, for Fergus was +particularly strict in requiring from his followers that they +should wear the tartan striped in the mode peculiar to their race; +a mark of distinction anciently general through the Highlands, and +still maintained by those Chiefs who were proud of their lineage +or jealous of their separate and exclusive authority. + +Edward had lived at Glennaquoich long enough to be aware of a +distinction which he had repeatedly heard noticed, and now +satisfied that he had no interest with his attendants, he glanced +a disconsolate eye around the interior of the cabin. The only +furniture, excepting a washing-tub and a wooden press, called in +Scotland an ambry, sorely decayed, was a large wooden bed, +planked, as is usual, all around, and opening by a sliding panel. +In this recess the Highlanders deposited Waverley, after he had by +signs declined any refreshment. His slumbers were broken and +unrefreshing; strange visions passed before his eyes, and it +required constant and reiterated efforts of mind to dispel them. +Shivering, violent headache, and shooting pains in his limbs +succeeded these symptoms; and in the morning it was evident to his +Highland attendants or guard, for he knew not in which light to +consider them, that Waverley was quite unfit to travel. + +After a long consultation among themselves, six of the party left +the hut with their arms, leaving behind an old and a young man. +The former addressed Waverley, and bathed the contusions, which +swelling and livid colour now made conspicuous. His own +portmanteau, which the Highlanders had not failed to bring off, +supplied him with linen, and to his great surprise was, with all +its undiminished contents, freely resigned to his use. The bedding +of his couch seemed clean and comfortable, and his aged attendant +closed the door of the bed, for it had no curtain, after a few +words of Gaelic, from which Waverley gathered that he exhorted him +to repose. So behold our hero for a second time the patient of a +Highland Esculapius, but in a situation much more uncomfortable +than when he was the guest of the worthy Tomanrait. + +The symptomatic fever which accompanied the injuries he had +sustained did not abate till the third day, when it gave way to +the care of his attendants and the strength of his constitution, +and he could now raise himself in his bed, though not without +pain. He observed, however, that there was a great disinclination +on the part of the old woman who acted as his nurse, as well as on +that of the elderly Highlander, to permit the door of the bed to +be left open, so that he might amuse himself with observing their +motions; and at length, after Waverley had repeatedly drawn open +and they had as frequently shut the hatchway of his cage, the old +gentleman put an end to the contest by securing it on the outside +with a nail so effectually that the door could not be drawn till +this exterior impediment was removed. + +While musing upon the cause of this contradictory spirit in +persons whose conduct intimated no purpose of plunder, and who, in +all other points, appeared to consult his welfare and his wishes, +it occurred to our hero that, during the worst crisis of his +illness, a female figure, younger than his old Highland nurse, had +appeared to flit around his couch. Of this, indeed, he had but a +very indistinct recollection, but his suspicions were confirmed +when, attentively listening, he often heard, in the course of the +day, the voice of another female conversing in whispers with his +attendant. Who could it be? And why should she apparently desire +concealment? Fancy immediately aroused herself and turned to Flora +Mac-Ivor. But after a short conflict between his eager desire to +believe she was in his neighbourhood, guarding, like an angel of +mercy, the couch of his sickness, Waverley was compelled to +conclude that his conjecture was altogether improbable; since, to +suppose she had left her comparatively safe situation at +Glennaquoich to descend into the Low Country, now the seat of +civil war, and to inhabit such a lurking-place as this, was a +thing hardly to be imagined. Yet his heart bounded as he sometimes +could distinctly hear the trip of a light female step glide to or +from the door of the hut, or the suppressed sounds of a female +voice, of softness and delicacy, hold dialogue with the hoarse +inward croak of old Janet, for so he understood his antiquated +attendant was denominated. + +Having nothing else to amuse his solitude, he employed himself in +contriving some plan to gratify his curiosity, in despite of the +sedulous caution of Janet and the old Highland janizary, for he +had never seen the young fellow since the first morning. At +length, upon accurate examination, the infirm state of his wooden +prison-house appeared to supply the means of gratifying his +curiosity, for out of a spot which was somewhat decayed he was +able to extract a nail. Through this minute aperture he could +perceive a female form, wrapped in a plaid, in the act of +conversing with Janet. But, since the days of our grandmother Eve, +the gratification of inordinate curiosity has generally borne its +penalty in disappointment. The form was not that of Flora, nor was +the face visible; and, to crown his vexation, while he laboured +with the nail to enlarge the hole, that he might obtain a more +complete view, a slight noise betrayed his purpose, and the object +of his curiosity instantly disappeared, nor, so far as he could +observe, did she again revisit the cottage. + +All precautions to blockade his view were from that time +abandoned, and he was not only permitted but assisted to rise, and +quit what had been, in a literal sense, his couch of confinement. +But he was not allowed to leave the hut; for the young Highlander +had now rejoined his senior, and one or other was constantly on +the watch. Whenever Waverley approached the cottage door the +sentinel upon duty civilly, but resolutely, placed himself against +it and opposed his exit, accompanying his action with signs which +seemed to imply there was danger in the attempt and an enemy in +the neighbourhood. Old Janet appeared anxious and upon the watch; +and Waverley, who had not yet recovered strength enough to attempt +to take his departure in spite of the opposition of his hosts, was +under the necessity of remaining patient. His fare was, in every +point of view, better than he could have conceived, for poultry, +and even wine, were no strangers to his table. The Highlanders +never presumed to eat with him, and, unless in the circumstance of +watching him, treated him with great respect. His sole amusement +was gazing from the window, or rather the shapeless aperture which +was meant to answer the purpose of a window, upon a large and +rough brook, which raged and foamed through a rocky channel, +closely canopied with trees and bushes, about ten feet beneath the +site of his house of captivity. + +Upon the sixth day of his confinement Waverley found himself so +well that he began to meditate his escape from this dull and +miserable prison-house, thinking any risk which he might incur in +the attempt preferable to the stupefying and intolerable +uniformity of Janet's retirement. The question indeed occurred, +whither he was to direct his course when again at his own +disposal. Two schemes seemed practicable, yet both attended with +danger and difficulty. One was to go back to Glennaquoich and join +Fergus Mac-Ivor, by whom he was sure to be kindly received; and in +the present state of his mind, the rigour with which he had been +treated fully absolved him, in his own eyes, from his allegiance +to the existing government. The other project was to endeavour to +attain a Scottish seaport, and thence to take shipping for +England. His mind wavered between these plans, and probably, if he +had effected his escape in the manner he proposed, he would have +been finally determined by the comparative facility by which +either might have been executed. But his fortune had settled that +he was not to be left to his option. + +Upon the evening of the seventh day the door of the hut suddenly +opened, and two Highlanders entered, whom Waverley recognised as +having been a part of his original escort to this cottage. They +conversed for a short time with the old man and his companion, and +then made Waverley understand, by very significant signs, that he +was to prepare to accompany them. This was a joyful communication. +What had already passed during his confinement made it evident +that no personal injury was designed to him; and his romantic +spirit, having recovered during his repose much of that elasticity +which anxiety, resentment, disappointment, and the mixture of +unpleasant feelings excited by his late adventures had for a time +subjugated, was now wearied with inaction. His passion for the +wonderful, although it is the nature of such dispositions to be +excited by that degree of danger which merely gives dignity to the +feeling of the individual exposed to it, had sunk under the +extraordinary and apparently insurmountable evils by which he +appeared environed at Cairnvreckan. In fact, this compound of +intense curiosity and exalted imagination forms a peculiar species +of courage, which somewhat resembles the light usually carried by +a miner--sufficiently competent, indeed, to afford him guidance +and comfort during the ordinary perils of his labour, but certain +to be extinguished should he encounter the more formidable hazard +of earth damps or pestiferous vapours. It was now, however, once +more rekindled, and with a throbbing mixture of hope, awe, and +anxiety, Waverley watched the group before him, as those who were +just arrived snatched a hasty meal, and the others assumed their +arms and made brief preparations for their departure. + +As he sat in the smoky hut, at some distance from the fire, around +which the others were crowded, he felt a gentle pressure upon his +arm. He looked round; it was Alice, the daughter of Donald Bean +Lean. She showed him a packet of papers in such a manner that the +motion was remarked by no one else, put her finger for a second to +her lips, and passed on, as if to assist old Janet in packing +Waverley's clothes in his portmanteau. It was obviously her wish +that he should not seem to recognise her, yet she repeatedly +looked back at him, as an opportunity occurred of doing so +unobserved, and when she saw that he remarked what she did, she +folded the packet with great address and speed in one of his +shirts, which she deposited in the portmanteau. + +Here then was fresh food for conjecture. Was Alice his unknown +warden, and was this maiden of the cavern the tutelar genius that +watched his bed during his sickness? Was he in the hands of her +father? and if so, what was his purpose? Spoil, his usual object, +seemed in this case neglected; for not only Waverley's property +was restored, but his purse, which might have tempted this +professional plunderer, had been all along suffered to remain in +his possession. All this perhaps the packet might explain; but it +was plain from Alice's manner that she desired he should consult +it in secret. Nor did she again seek his eye after she had +satisfied herself that her manoeuvre was observed and understood. +On the contrary, she shortly afterwards left the hut, and it was +only as she tript out from the door, that, favoured by the +obscurity, she gave Waverley a parting smile and nod of +significance ere she vanished in the dark glen. + +The young Highlander was repeatedly despatched by his comrades as +if to collect intelligence. At length, when he had returned for +the third or fourth time, the whole party arose and made signs to +our hero to accompany them. Before his departure, however, he +shook hands with old Janet, who had been so sedulous in his +behalf, and added substantial marks of his gratitude for her +attendance. + +'God bless you! God prosper you, Captain Waverley!' said Janet, in +good Lowland Scotch, though he had never hithero heard her utter a +syllable, save in Gaelic. But the impatience of his attendants +prohibited his asking any explanation. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +A NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE + + +There was a moment's pause when the whole party had got out of the +hut; and the Highlander who assumed the command, and who, in +Waverley's awakened recollection, seemed to be the same tall +figure who had acted as Donald Bean Lean's lieutenant, by whispers +and signs imposed the strictest silence. He delivered to Edward a +sword and steel pistol, and, pointing up the track, laid his hand +on the hilt of his own claymore, as if to make him sensible they +might have occasion to use force to make good their passage. He +then placed himself at the head of the party, who moved up the +pathway in single or Indian file, Waverley being placed nearest to +their leader. He moved with great precaution, as if to avoid +giving any alarm, and halted as soon as he came to the verge of +the ascent. Waverley was soon sensible of the reason, for he heard +at no great distance an English sentinel call out 'All's well.' +The heavy sound sunk on the night-wind down the woody glen, and +was answered by the echoes of its banks. A second, third, and +fourth time the signal was repeated fainter and fainter, as if at +a greater and greater distance. It was obvious that a party of +soldiers were near, and upon their guard, though not sufficiently +so to detect men skilful in every art of predatory warfare, like +those with whom he now watched their ineffectual precautions. + +When these sounds had died upon the silence of the night, the +Highlanders began their march swiftly, yet with the most cautious +silence. Waverley had little time, or indeed disposition, for +observation, and could only discern that they passed at some +distance from a large building, in the windows of which a light or +two yet seemed to twinkle. A little farther on the leading +Highlander snuffed the wind like a setting spaniel, and then made +a signal to his party again to halt. He stooped down upon all +fours, wrapped up in his plaid, so as to be scarce distinguishable +from the heathy ground on which he moved, and advanced in this +posture to reconnoitre. In a short time he returned, and dismissed +his attendants excepting one; and, intimating to Waverley that he +must imitate his cautious mode of proceeding, all three crept +forward on hands and knees. + +After proceeding a greater way in this inconvenient manner than +was at all comfortable to his knees and shins, Waverley perceived +the smell of smoke, which probably had been much sooner +distinguished by the more acute nasal organs of his guide. It +proceeded from the corner of a low and ruinous sheep-fold, the +walls of which were made of loose stones, as is usual in Scotland. +Close by this low wall the Highlander guided Waverley, and, in +order probably to make him sensible of his danger, or perhaps to +obtain the full credit of his own dexterity, he intimated to him, +by sign and example, that he might raise his head so as to peep +into the sheep-fold. Waverley did so, and beheld an outpost of +four or five soldiers lying by their watch-fire. They were all +asleep except the sentinel, who paced backwards and forwards with +his firelock on his shoulder, which glanced red in the light of +the fire as he crossed and re-crossed before it in his short walk, +casting his eye frequently to that part of the heavens from which +the moon, hitherto obscured by mist, seemed now about to make her +appearance. + +In the course of a minute or two, by one of those sudden changes +of atmosphere incident to a mountainous country, a breeze arose +and swept before it the clouds which had covered the horizon, and +the night planet poured her full effulgence upon a wide and +blighted heath, skirted indeed with copse-wood and stunted trees +in the quarter from which they had come, but open and bare to the +observation of the sentinel in that to which their course tended. +The wall of the sheep-fold indeed concealed them as they lay, but +any advance beyond its shelter seemed impossible without certain +discovery. + +The Highlander eyed the blue vault, but far from blessing the +useful light with Homer's, or rather Pope's benighted peasant, he +muttered a Gaelic curse upon the unseasonable splendour of Mac- +Farlane's buat (i.e. lantern) [Footnote: See Note 1]. He looked +anxiously around for a few minutes, and then apparently took his +resolution. Leaving his attendant with Waverley, after motioning +to Edward to remain quiet, and giving his comrade directions in a +brief whisper, he retreated, favoured by the irregularity of the +ground, in the same direction and in the same manner as they had +advanced. Edward, turning his head after him, could perceive him +crawling on all fours with the dexterity of an Indian, availing +himself of every bush and inequality to escape observation, and +never passing over the more exposed parts of his track until the +sentinel's back was turned from him. At length he reached the +thickets and underwood which partly covered the moor in that +direction, and probably extended to the verge of the glen where +Waverley had been so long an inhabitant. The Highlander +disappeared, but it was only for a few minutes, for he suddenly +issued forth from a different part of the thicket, and, advancing +boldly upon the open heath as if to invite discovery, he levelled +his piece and fired at the sentinel. A wound in the arm proved a +disagreeable interruption to the poor fellow's meteorological +observations, as well as to the tune of 'Nancy Dawson,' which he +was whistling. He returned the fire ineffectually, and his +comrades, starting up at the alarm, advanced alertly towards the +spot from which the first shot had issued. The Highlander, after +giving them a full view of his person, dived among the thickets, +for his ruse de guerre had now perfectly succeeded. + +While the soldiers pursued the cause of their disturbance in one +direction, Waverley, adopting the hint of his remaining attendant, +made the best of his speed in that which his guide originally +intended to pursue, and which now (the attention of the soldiers +being drawn to a different quarter) was unobserved and unguarded. +When they had run about a quarter of a mile, the brow of a rising +ground which they had surmounted concealed them from further risk +of observation. They still heard, however, at a distance the +shouts of the soldiers as they hallooed to each other upon the +heath, and they could also hear the distant roll of a drum beating +to arms in the same direction. But these hostile sounds were now +far in their rear, and died away upon the breeze as they rapidly +proceeded. + +When they had walked about half an hour, still along open and +waste ground of the same description, they came to the stump of an +ancient oak, which, from its relics, appeared to have been at one +time a tree of very large size. In an adjacent hollow they found +several Highlanders, with a horse or two. They had not joined them +above a few minutes, which Waverley's attendant employed, in all +probability, in communicating the cause of their delay (for the +words 'Duncan Duroch' were often repeated), when Duncan himself +appeared, out of breath indeed, and with all the symptoms of +having run for his life, but laughing, and in high spirits at the +success of the stratagem by which he had baffled his pursuers. +This indeed Waverley could easily conceive might be a matter of no +great difficulty to the active mountaineer, who was perfectly +acquainted with the ground, and traced his course with a firmness +and confidence to which his pursuers must have been strangers. The +alarm which he excited seemed still to continue, for a dropping +shot or two were heard at a great distance, which seemed to serve +as an addition to the mirth of Duncan and his comrades. + +The mountaineer now resumed the arms with which he had entrusted +our hero, giving him to understand that the dangers of the journey +were happily surmounted. Waverley was then mounted upon one of the +horses, a change which the fatigue of the night and his recent +illness rendered exceedingly acceptable. His portmanteau was +placed on another pony, Duncan mounted a third, and they set +forward at a round pace, accompanied by their escort. No other +incident marked the course of that night's journey, and at the +dawn of morning they attained the banks of a rapid river. The +country around was at once fertile and romantic. Steep banks of +wood were broken by corn-fields, which this year presented an +abundant harvest, already in a great measure cut down. + +On the opposite bank of the river, and partly surrounded by a +winding of its stream, stood a large and massive castle, the half- +ruined turrets of which were already glittering in the first rays +of the sun. [Footnote: See Note 2.] It was in form an oblong +square, of size sufficient to contain a large court in the centre. +The towers at each angle of the square rose higher than the walls +of the building, and were in their turn surmounted by turrets, +differing in height and irregular in shape. Upon one of these a +sentinel watched, whose bonnet and plaid, streaming in the wind, +declared him to be a Highlander, as a broad white ensign, which +floated from another tower, announced that the garrison was held +by the insurgent adherents of the House of Stuart. + +Passing hastily through a small and mean town, where their +appearance excited neither surprise nor curiosity in the few +peasants whom the labours of the harvest began to summon from +their repose, the party crossed an ancient and narrow bridge of +several arches, and, turning to the left up an avenue of huge old +sycamores, Waverley found himself in front of the gloomy yet +picturesque structure which he had admired at a distance. A huge +iron-grated door, which formed the exterior defence of the +gateway, was already thrown back to receive them; and a second, +heavily constructed of oak and studded thickly with iron nails, +being next opened, admitted them into the interior court-yard. A +gentleman, dressed in the Highland garb and having a white cockade +in his bonnet, assisted Waverley to dismount from his horse, and +with much courtesy bid him welcome to the castle. + +The governor, for so we must term him, having conducted Waverley +to a half-ruinous apartment, where, however, there was a small +camp-bed, and having offered him any refreshment which he desired, +was then about to leave him. + +'Will you not add to your civilities,' said Waverley, after having +made the usual acknowledgment, 'by having the kindness to inform +me where I am, and whether or not I am to consider myself as a +prisoner?' + +'I am not at liberty to be so explicit upon this subject as I +could wish. Briefly, however, you are in the Castle of Doune, in +the district of Menteith, and in no danger whatever.' + +'And how am I assured of that?' + +'By the honour of Donald Stewart, governor of the garrison, and +lieutenant-colonel in the service of his Royal Highness Prince +Charles Edward.' So saying, he hastily left the apartment, as if +to avoid further discussion. + +Exhausted by the fatigues of the night, our hero now threw himself +upon the bed, and was in a few minutes fast asleep. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +THE JOURNEY IS CONTINUED + + +Before Waverley awakened from his repose, the day was far +advanced, and he began to feel that he had passed many hours +without food. This was soon supplied in form of a copious +breakfast, but Colonel Stewart, as if wishing to avoid the queries +of his guest, did not again present himself. His compliments were, +however, delivered by a servant, with an offer to provide anything +in his power that could be useful to Captain Waverley on his +journey, which he intimated would be continued that evening. To +Waverley's further inquiries, the servant opposed the impenetrable +barrier of real or affected ignorance and stupidity. He removed +the table and provisions, and Waverley was again consigned to his +own meditations. + +As he contemplated the strangeness of his fortune, which seemed to +delight in placing him at the disposal of others, without the +power of directing his own motions, Edward's eye suddenly rested +upon his portmanteau, which had been deposited in his apartment +during his sleep. The mysterious appearance of Alice in the +cottage of the glen immediately rushed upon his mind, and he was +about to secure and examine the packet which she had deposited +among his clothes, when the servant of Colonel Stewart again made +his appearance, and took up the portmanteau upon his shoulders. + +'May I not take out a change of linen, my friend?' + +'Your honour sall get ane o' the Colonel's ain ruffled sarks, but +this maun gang in the baggage-cart.' + +And so saying, he very coolly carried off the portmanteau, without +waiting further remonstrance, leaving our hero in a state where +disappointment and indignation struggled for the mastery. In a few +minutes he heard a cart rumble out of the rugged court-yard, and +made no doubt that he was now dispossessed, for a space at least, +if not for ever, of the only documents which seemed to promise +some light upon the dubious events which had of late influenced +his destiny. With such melancholy thoughts he had to beguile about +four or five hours of solitude. + +When this space was elapsed, the trampling of horse was heard in +the court-yard, and Colonel Stewart soon after made his appearance +to request his guest to take some further refreshment before his +departure. The offer was accepted, for a late breakfast had by no +means left our hero incapable of doing honour to dinner, which was +now presented. The conversation of his host was that of a plain +country gentleman, mixed with some soldier-like sentiments and +expressions. He cautiously avoided any reference to the military +operations or civil politics of the time; and to Waverley's direct +inquiries concerning some of these points replied, that he was not +at liberty to speak upon such topics. + +When dinner was finished the governor arose, and, wishing Edward a +good journey, said that, having been informed by Waverley's +servant that his baggage had been sent forward, he had taken the +freedom to supply him with such changes of linen as he might find +necessary till he was again possessed of his own. With this +compliment he disappeared. A servant acquainted Waverley an +instant afterwards that his horse was ready. + +Upon this hint he descended into the court-yard, and found a +trooper holding a saddled horse, on which he mounted and sallied +from the portal of Doune Castle, attended by about a score of +armed men on horseback. These had less the appearance of regular +soldiers than of individuals who had suddenly assumed arms from +some pressing motive of unexpected emergency. Their uniform, which +was blue and red, an affected imitation of that of French +chasseurs, was in many respects incomplete, and sate awkwardly +upon those who wore it. Waverley's eye, accustomed to look at a +well-disciplined regiment, could easily discover that the motions +and habits of his escort were not those of trained soldiers, and +that, although expert enough in the management of their horses, +their skill was that of huntsmen or grooms rather than of +troopers. The horses were not trained to the regular pace so +necessary to execute simultaneous and combined movements and +formations; nor did they seem bitted (as it is technically +expressed) for the use of the sword. The men, however, were stout, +hardy-looking fellows, and might be individually formidable as +irregular cavalry. The commander of this small party was mounted +upon an excellent hunter, and, although dressed in uniform, his +change of apparel did not prevent Waverley from recognising his +old acquaintance, Mr. Falconer of Balmawhapple. + +Now, although the terms upon which Edward had parted with this +gentleman were none of the most friendly, he would have sacrificed +every recollection of their foolish quarrel for the pleasure of +enjoying once more the social intercourse of question and answer, +from which he had been so long secluded. But apparently the +remembrance of his defeat by the Baron of Bradwardine, of which +Edward had been the unwilling cause, still rankled in the mind of +the low-bred and yet proud laird. He carefully avoided giving the +least sign of recognition, riding doggedly at the head of his men, +who, though scarce equal in numbers to a sergeant's party, were +denominated Captain Falconer's troop, being preceded by a trumpet, +which sounded from time to time, and a standard, borne by Cornet +Falconer, the laird's younger brother. The lieutenant, an elderly +man, had much the air of a low sportsman and boon companion; an +expression of dry humour predominated in his countenance over +features of a vulgar cast, which indicated habitual intemperance. +His cocked hat was set knowingly upon one side of his head, and +while he whistled the 'Bob of Dumblain,' under the influence of +half a mutchkin of brandy, he seemed to trot merrily forward, with +a happy indifference to the state of the country, the conduct of +the party, the end of the journey, and all other sublunary matters +whatever. + +From this wight, who now and then dropped alongside of his horse, +Waverley hoped to acquire some information, or at least to beguile +the way with talk. + +'A fine evening, sir,' was Edward's salutation. + +'Ow, ay, sir! a bra' night,' replied the lieutenant, in broad +Scotch of the most vulgar description. + +'And a fine harvest, apparently,' continued Waverley, following up +his first attack. + +'Ay, the aits will be got bravely in; but the farmers, deil burst +them, and the corn-mongers will make the auld price gude against +them as has horses till keep.' + +'You perhaps act as quartermaster, sir?' + +'Ay, quartermaster, riding-master, and lieutenant,' answered this +officer of all work. 'And, to be sure, wha's fitter to look after +the breaking and the keeping of the poor beasts than mysell, that +bought and sold every ane o' them?' + +'And pray, sir, if it be not too great a freedom, may I beg to +know where we are going just now?' + +'A fule's errand, I fear,' answered this communicative personage. + +'In that case,' said Waverley, determined not to spare civility, +'I should have thought a person of your appearance would not have +been found on the road.' + +'Vera true, vera true, sir,' replied the officer, 'but every why +has its wherefore. Ye maun ken, the laird there bought a' thir +beasts frae me to munt his troop, and agreed to pay for them +according to the necessities and prices of the time. But then he +hadna the ready penny, and I hae been advised his bond will not be +worth a boddle against the estate, and then I had a' my dealers to +settle wi' at Martinmas; and so, as he very kindly offered me this +commission, and as the auld Fifteen [Footnote: The Judges of the +Supreme Court of Session in Scotland are proverbially termed among +the country people, The Fifteen.] wad never help me to my siller +for sending out naigs against the government, why, conscience! +sir, I thought my best chance for payment was e'en to GAE OUT +[Footnote: See Note 3.] mysell; and ye may judge, sir, as I hae +dealt a' my life in halters, I think na mickle o' putting my craig +in peril of a Saint John-stone's tippet.' + +'You are not, then, by profession a soldier?' said Waverley. + +'Na, na; thank God,' answered this doughty partizan, 'I wasna bred +at sae short a tether, I was brought up to hack and manger. I was +bred a horse-couper, sir; and if I might live to see you at +Whitson-tryst, or at Stagshawbank, or the winter fair at Hawick, +and ye wanted a spanker that would lead the field, I'se be caution +I would serve ye easy; for Jamie Jinker was ne'er the lad to +impose upon a gentleman. Ye're a gentleman, sir, and should ken a +horse's points; ye see that through--ganging thing that +Balmawhapple's on; I selled her till him. She was bred out of +Lick-the-ladle, that wan the king's plate at Caverton-Edge, by +Duke Hamilton's White-Foot,' etc., etc., etc. + +But as Jinker was entered full sail upon the pedigree of +Balmawhapple's mare, having already got as far as great-grandsire +and great-grand-dam, and while Waverley was watching for an +opportunity to obtain from him intelligence of more interest, the +noble captain checked his horse until they came up, and then, +without directly appearing to notice Edward, said sternly to the +genealogist, 'I thought, lieutenant, my orders were preceese, that +no one should speak to the prisoner?' + +The metamorphosed horse-dealer was silenced of course, and slunk +to the rear, where he consoled himself by entering into a vehement +dispute upon the price of hay with a farmer who had reluctantly +followed his laird to the field rather than give up his farm, +whereof the lease had just expired. Waverley was therefore once +more consigned to silence, foreseeing that further attempts at +conversation with any of the party would only give Balmawhapple a +wished-for opportunity to display the insolence of authority, and +the sulky spite of a temper naturally dogged, and rendered more so +by habits of low indulgence and the incense of servile adulation. + +In about two hours' time the party were near the Castle of +Stirling, over whose battlements the union flag was brightened as +it waved in the evening sun. To shorten his journey, or perhaps to +display his importance and insult the English garrison, +Balmawhapple, inclining to the right, took his route through the +royal park, which reaches to and surrounds the rock upon which the +fortress is situated. + +With a mind more at ease Waverley could not have failed to admire +the mixture of romance and beauty which renders interesting the +scene through which he was now passing--the field which had been +the scene of the tournaments of old--the rock from which the +ladies beheld the contest, while each made vows for the success of +some favourite knight--the towers of the Gothic church, where +these vows might be paid--and, surmounting all, the fortress +itself, at once a castle and palace, where valour received the +prize from royalty, and knights and dames closed the evening amid +the revelry of the dance, the song, and the feast. All these were +objects fitted to arouse and interest a romantic imagination. + +But Waverley had other objects of meditation, and an incident soon +occurred of a nature to disturb meditation of any kind. +Balmawhapple, in the pride of his heart, as he wheeled his little +body of cavalry round the base of the Castle, commanded his +trumpet to sound a flourish and his standard to be displayed. This +insult produced apparently some sensation; for when the cavalcade +was at such distance from the southern battery as to admit of a +gun being depressed so as to bear upon them, a flash of fire +issued from one of the embrazures upon the rock; and ere the +report with which it was attended could be heard, the rushing +sound of a cannon-ball passed over Balmawhapple's head, and the +bullet, burying itself in the ground at a few yards' distance, +covered him with the earth which it drove up. There was no need to +bid the party trudge. In fact, every man, acting upon the impulse +of the moment, soon brought Mr. Jinker's steeds to show their +mettle, and the cavaliers, retreating with more speed than +regularity, never took to a trot, as the lieutenant afterwards +observed, until an intervening eminence had secured them from any +repetition of so undesirable a compliment on the part of Stirling +Castle. I must do Balmawhapple, however, the justice to say that +he not only kept the rear of his troop, and laboured to maintain +some order among them, but, in the height of his gallantry, +answered the fire of the Castle by discharging one of his horse- +pistols at the battlements; although, the distance being nearly +half a mile, I could never learn that this measure of retaliation +was attended with any particular effect. + +The travellers now passed the memorable field of Bannockburn and +reached the Torwood, a place glorious or terrible to the +recollections of the Scottish peasant, as the feats of Wallace or +the cruelties of Wude Willie Grime predominate in his +recollection. At Falkirk, a town formerly famous in Scottish +history, and soon to be again distinguished as the scene of +military events of importance, Balmawhapple proposed to halt and +repose for the evening. This was performed with very little regard +to military discipline, his worthy quarter-master being chiefly +solicitous to discover where the best brandy might be come at. +Sentinels were deemed unnecessary, and the only vigils performed +were those of such of the party as could procure liquor. A few +resolute men might easily have cut off the detachment; but of the +inhabitants some were favourable, many indifferent, and the rest +overawed. So nothing memorable occurred in the course of the +evening, except that Waverley's rest was sorely interrupted by the +revellers hallooing forth their Jacobite songs, without remorse or +mitigation of voice. + +Early in the morning they were again mounted and on the road to +Edinburgh, though the pallid visages of some of the troop betrayed +that they had spent a night of sleepless debauchery. They halted +at Linlithgow, distinguished by its ancient palace, which Sixty +Years Since was entire and habitable, and whose venerable ruins, +NOT QUITE SIXTY YEARS SINCE, very narrowly escaped the unworthy +fate of being converted into a barrack for French prisoners. May +repose and blessings attend the ashes of the patriotic statesman +who, amongst his last services to Scotland, interposed to prevent +this profanation! + +As they approached the metropolis of Scotland, through a champaign +and cultivated country, the sounds of war began to be heard. The +distant yet distinct report of heavy cannon, fired at intervals, +apprized Waverley that the work of destruction was going forward. +Even Balmawhapple seemed moved to take some precautions, by +sending an advanced party in front of his troop, keeping the main +body in tolerable order, and moving steadily forward. + +Marching in this manner they speedily reached an eminence, from +which they could view Edinburgh stretching along the ridgy hill +which slopes eastward from the Castle. The latter, being in a +state of siege, or rather of blockade, by the northern insurgents, +who had already occupied the town for two or three days, fired at +intervals upon such parties of Highlanders as exposed themselves, +either on the main street or elsewhere in the vicinity of the +fortress. The morning being calm and fair, the effect of this +dropping fire was to invest the Castle in wreaths of smoke, the +edges of which dissipated slowly in the air, while the central +veil was darkened ever and anon by fresh clouds poured forth from +the battlements; the whole giving, by the partial concealment, an +appearance of grandeur and gloom, rendered more terrific when +Waverley reflected on the cause by which it was produced, and that +each explosion might ring some brave man's knell. + +Ere they approached the city the partial cannonade had wholly +ceased. Balmawhapple, however, having in his recollection the +unfriendly greeting which his troop had received from the battery +at Stirling, had apparently no wish to tempt the forbearance of +the artillery of the Castle. He therefore left the direct road, +and, sweeping considerably to the southward so as to keep out of +the range of the cannon, approached the ancient palace of Holyrood +without having entered the walls of the city. He then drew up his +men in front of that venerable pile, and delivered Waverley to the +custody of a guard of Highlanders, whose officer conducted him +into the interior of the building. + +A long, low, and ill-proportioned gallery, hung with pictures, +affirmed to be the portraits of kings, who, if they ever +flourished at all, lived several hundred years before the +invention of painting in oil colours, served as a sort of guard +chamber or vestibule to the apartments which the adventurous +Charles Edward now occupied in the palace of his ancestors. +Officers, both in the Highland and Lowland garb, passed and +repassed in haste, or loitered in the hall as if waiting for +orders. Secretaries were engaged in making out passes, musters, +and returns. All seemed busy, and earnestly intent upon something +of importance; but Waverley was suffered to remain seated in the +recess of a window, unnoticed by any one, in anxious reflection +upon the crisis of his fate, which seemed now rapidly approaching. + + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +AN OLD AND A NEW ACQUAINTANCE + + +While he was deep sunk in his reverie, the rustle of tartans was +heard behind him, a friendly arm clasped his shoulders, and a +friendly voice exclaimed, + +'Said the Highland prophet sooth? Or must second-sight go for +nothing?' + +Waverley turned, and was warmly embraced by Fergus Mac-Ivor. 'A +thousand welcomes to Holyrood, once more possessed by her +legitimate sovereign! Did I not say we should prosper, and that +you would fall into the hands of the Philistines if you parted +from us?' + +'Dear Fergus!' said Waverley, eagerly returning his greeting. 'It +is long since I have heard a friend's voice. Where is Flora?' + +'Safe, and a triumphant spectator of our success.' + +'In this place?' said Waverley. + +'Ay, in this city at least,' answered his friend, 'and you shall +see her; but first you must meet a friend whom you little think +of, who has been frequent in his inquiries after you.' + +Thus saying, he dragged Waverley by the arm out of the guard +chamber, and, ere he knew where he was conducted, Edward found +himself in a presence room, fitted up with some attempt at royal +state. + +A young man, wearing his own fair hair, distinguished by the +dignity of his mien and the noble expression of his well-formed +and regular features, advanced out of a circle of military +gentlemen and Highland chiefs by whom he was surrounded. In his +easy and graceful manners Waverley afterwards thought he could +have discovered his high birth and rank, although the star on his +breast and the embroidered garter at his knee had not appeared as +its indications. + +'Let me present to your Royal Highness,' said Fergus, bowing +profoundly-- + +'The descendant of one of the most ancient and loyal families in +England,' said the young Chevalier, interrupting him. 'I beg your +pardon for interrupting you, my dear Mac-Ivor; but no master of +ceremonies is necessary to present a Waverley to a Stuart.' + +Thus saying, he extended his hand to Edward with the utmost +courtesy, who could not, had he desired it, have avoided rendering +him the homage which seemed due to his rank, and was certainly the +right of his birth. 'I am sorry to understand, Mr. Waverley, that, +owing to circumstances which have been as yet but ill explained, +you have suffered some restraint among my followers in Perthshire +and on your march here; but we are in such a situation that we +hardly know our friends, and I am even at this moment uncertain +whether I can have the pleasure of considering Mr. Waverley as +among mine.' + +He then paused for an instant; but before Edward could adjust a +suitable reply, or even arrange his ideas as to its purport, the +Prince took out a paper and then proceeded:--'I should indeed have +no doubts upon this subject if I could trust to this proclamation, +set forth by the friends of the Elector of Hanover, in which they +rank Mr. Waverley among the nobility and gentry who are menaced +with the pains of high-treason for loyalty to their legitimate +sovereign. But I desire to gain no adherents save from affection +and conviction; and if Mr. Waverley inclines to prosecute his +journey to the south, or to join the forces of the Elector, he +shall have my passport and free permission to do so; and I can +only regret that my present power will not extend to protect him +against the probable consequences of such a measure. But,' +continued Charles Edward, after another short pause, 'if Mr. +Waverley should, like his ancestor, Sir Nigel, determine to +embrace a cause which has little to recommend it but its justice, +and follow a prince who throws himself upon the affections of his +people to recover the throne of his ancestors or perish in the +attempt, I can only say, that among these nobles and gentlemen he +will find worthy associates in a gallant enterprise, and will +follow a master who may be unfortunate, but, I trust, will never +be ungrateful.' + +The politic Chieftain of the race of Ivor knew his advantage in +introducing Waverley to this personal interview with the royal +adventurer. Unaccustomed to the address and manners of a polished +court, in which Charles was eminently skilful, his words and his +kindness penetrated the heart of our hero, and easily outweighed +all prudential motives. To be thus personally solicited for +assistance by a prince whose form and manners, as well as the +spirit which he displayed in this singular enterprise, answered +his ideas of a hero of romance; to be courted by him in the +ancient halls of his paternal palace, recovered by the sword which +he was already bending towards other conquests, gave Edward, in +his own eyes, the dignity and importance which he had ceased to +consider as his attributes. Rejected, slandered, and threatened +upon the one side, he was irresistibly attracted to the cause +which the prejudices of education and the political principles of +his family had already recommended as the most just. These +thoughts rushed through his mind like a torrent, sweeping before +them every consideration of an opposite tendency,--the time, +besides, admitted of no deliberation,--and Waverley, kneeling to +Charles Edward, devoted his heart and sword to the vindication of +his rights! + +The Prince (for, although unfortunate in the faults and follies of +his forefathers, we shall here and elsewhere give him the title +due to his birth) raised Waverley from the ground and embraced him +with an expression of thanks too warm not to be genuine. He also +thanked Fergus Mac-Ivor repeatedly for having brought him such an +adherent, and presented Waverley to the various noblemen, +chieftains, and officers who were about his person as a young +gentleman of the highest hopes and prospects, in whose bold and +enthusiastic avowal of his cause they might see an evidence of the +sentiments of the English families of rank at this important +crisis. [Footnote: See Note 4.] Indeed, this was a point much +doubted among the adherents of the house of Stuart; and as a well- +founded disbelief in the cooperation of the English Jacobites kept +many Scottish men of rank from his standard, and diminished the +courage of those who had joined it, nothing could be more +seasonable for the Chevalier than the open declaration in his +favour of the representative of the house of Waverley-Honour, so +long known as Cavaliers and Royalists. This Fergus had foreseen +from the beginning. He really loved Waverley, because their +feelings and projects never thwarted each other; he hoped to see +him united with Flora, and he rejoiced that they were effectually +engaged in the same cause. But, as we before hinted, he also +exulted as a politician in beholding secured to his party a +partizan of such consequence; and he was far from being insensible +to the personal importance which he himself gained with the Prince +from having so materially assisted in making the acquisition. + +Charles Edward, on his part, seemed eager to show his attendants +the value which he attached to his new adherent, by entering +immediately, as in confidence, upon the circumstances of his +situation. 'You have been secluded so much from intelligence, Mr. +Waverley, from causes of which I am but indistinctly informed, +that I presume you are even yet unacquainted with the important +particulars of my present situation. You have, however, heard of +my landing in the remote district of Moidart, with only seven +attendants, and of the numerous chiefs and clans whose loyal +enthusiasm at once placed a solitary adventurer at the head of a +gallant army. You must also, I think, have learned that the +commander-in-chief of the Hanoverian Elector, Sir John Cope, +marched into the Highlands at the head of a numerous and well- +appointed military force with the intention of giving us battle, +but that his courage failed him when we were within three hours' +march of each other, so that he fairly gave us the slip and +marched northward to Aberdeen, leaving the Low Country open and +undefended. Not to lose so favourable an opportunity, I marched on +to this metropolis, driving before me two regiments of horse, +Gardiner's and Hamilton's, who had threatened to cut to pieces +every Highlander that should venture to pass Stirling; and while +discussions were carrying forward among the magistracy and +citizens of Edinburgh whether they should defend themselves or +surrender, my good friend Lochiel (laying his hand on the shoulder +of that gallant and accomplished chieftain) saved them the trouble +of farther deliberation by entering the gates with five hundred +Camerons. Thus far, therefore, we have done well; but, in the +meanwhile, this doughty general's nerves being braced by the keen +air of Aberdeen, he has taken shipping for Dunbar, and I have just +received certain information that he landed there yesterday. His +purpose must unquestionably be to march towards us to recover +possession of the capital. Now there are two opinions in my +council of war: one, that being inferior probably in numbers, and +certainly in discipline and military appointments, not to mention +our total want of artillery and the weakness of our cavalry, it +will be safest to fall back towards the mountains, and there +protract the war until fresh succours arrive from France, and the +whole body of the Highland clans shall have taken arms in our +favour. The opposite opinion maintains, that a retrograde +movement, in our circumstances, is certain to throw utter +discredit on our arms and undertaking; and, far from gaining us +new partizans, will be the means of disheartening those who have +joined our standard. The officers who use these last arguments, +among whom is your friend Fergus Mac-Ivor, maintain that, if the +Highlanders are strangers to the usual military discipline of +Europe, the soldiers whom they are to encounter are no less +strangers to their peculiar and formidable mode of attack; that +the attachment and courage of the chiefs and gentlemen are not to +be doubted; and that, as they will be in the midst of the enemy, +their clansmen will as surely follow them; in fine, that having +drawn the sword we should throw away the scabbard, and trust our +cause to battle and to the God of battles. Will Mr. Waverley +favour us with his opinion in these arduous circumstances?' + +Waverley coloured high betwixt pleasure and modesty at the +distinction implied in this question, and answered, with equal +spirit and readiness, that he could not venture to offer an +opinion as derived from military skill, but that the counsel would +be far the most acceptable to him which should first afford him an +opportunity to evince his zeal in his Royal Highness's service. + +'Spoken like a Waverley!' answered Charles Edward; 'and that you +may hold a rank in some degree corresponding to your name, allow +me, instead of the captain's commission which you have lost, to +offer you the brevet rank of major in my service, with the +advantage of acting as one of my aides-de-camp until you can be +attached to a regiment, of which I hope several will be speedily +embodied.' + +'Your Royal Highness will forgive me,' answered Waverley (for his +recollection turned to Balmawhapple and his scanty troop), 'if I +decline accepting any rank until the time and place where I may +have interest enough to raise a sufficient body of men to make my +command useful to your Royal Highness's service. In the meanwhile, +I hope for your permission to serve as a volunteer under my friend +Fergus Mac-Ivor.' + +'At least,' said the Prince, who was obviously pleased with this +proposal, 'allow me the pleasure of arming you after the Highland +fashion.' With these words, he unbuckled the broadsword which he +wore, the belt of which was plaited with silver, and the steel +basket-hilt richly and curiously inlaid. 'The blade,' said the +Prince, 'is a genuine Andrea Ferrara; it has been a sort of heir- +loom in our family; but I am convinced I put it into better hands +than my own, and will add to it pistols of the same workmanship. +Colonel Mac-Ivor, you must have much to say to your friend; I will +detain you no longer from your private conversation; but remember +we expect you both to attend us in the evening. It may be perhaps +the last night we may enjoy in these halls, and as we go to the +field with a clear conscience, we will spend the eve of battle +merrily.' + +Thus licensed, the Chief and Waverley left the presence-chamber. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +THE MYSTERY BEGINS TO BE CLEARED UP + + +'How do you like him?' was Fergus's first question, as they +descended the large stone staircase. + +'A prince to live and die under' was Waverley's enthusiastic +answer. + +'I knew you would think so when you saw him, and I intended you +should have met earlier, but was prevented by your sprain. And yet +he has his foibles, or rather he has difficult cards to play, and +his Irish officers, [Footnote: See Note 5.] who are much about +him, are but sorry advisers: they cannot discriminate among the +numerous pretensions that are set up. Would you think it--I have +been obliged for the present to suppress an earl's patent, granted +for services rendered ten years ago, for fear of exciting the +jealousy, forsooth, of C----and M----? But you were very right, +Edward, to refuse the situation of aide-de-camp. There are two +vacant, indeed, but Clanronald and Lochiel, and almost all of us, +have requested one for young Aberchallader, and the Lowlanders and +the Irish party are equally desirous to have the other for the +master of F--. Now, if either of these candidates were to be +superseded in your favour, you would make enemies. And then I am +surprised that the Prince should have offered you a majority, when +he knows very well that nothing short of lieutenant-colonel will +satisfy others, who cannot bring one hundred and fifty men to the +field. "But patience, cousin, and shuffle the cards!" It is all +very well for the present, and we must have you properly equipped +for the evening in your new costume; for, to say truth, your +outward man is scarce fit for a court.' + +'Why,' said Waverley, looking at his soiled dress,'my shooting +jacket has seen service since we parted; but that probably you, my +friend, know as well or better than I.' + +'You do my second-sight too much honour,' said Fergus. 'We were so +busy, first with the scheme of giving battle to Cope, and +afterwards with our operations in the Lowlands, that I could only +give general directions to such of our people as were left in +Perthshire to respect and protect you, should you come in their +way. But let me hear the full story of your adventures, for they +have reached us in a very partial and mutilated manner.' + +Waverley then detailed at length the circumstances with which the +reader is already acquainted, to which Fergus listened with great +attention. By this time they had reached the door of his quarters, +which he had taken up in a small paved court, retiring from the +street called the Canongate, at the house of a buxom widow of +forty, who seemed to smile very graciously upon the handsome young +Chief, she being a person with whom good looks and good-humour +were sure to secure an interest, whatever might be the party's +"political opinions". Here Callum Beg received them with a smile +of recognition. 'Callum,' said the Chief, 'call Shemus an Snachad' +(James of the Needle). This was the hereditary tailor of Vich lan +Vohr. 'Shemus, Mr. Waverley is to wear the cath dath (battle +colour, or tartan); his trews must be ready in four hours. You +know the measure of a well-made man--two double nails to the small +of the leg--' + +'Eleven from haunch to heel, seven round the waist. I give your +honour leave to hang Shemus, if there's a pair of sheers in the +Highlands that has a baulder sneck than her's ain at the cumadh an +truais' (shape of the trews). + +'Get a plaid of Mac-Ivor tartan and sash,' continued the +Chieftain, 'and a blue bonnet of the Prince's pattern, at Mr. +Mouat's in the Crames. My short green coat, with silver lace and +silver buttons, will fit him exactly, and I have never worn it. +Tell Ensign Maccombich to pick out a handsome target from among +mine. The Prince has given Mr. Waverley broadsword and pistols, I +will furnish him with a dirk and purse; add but a pair of low- +heeled shoes, and then, my dear Edward (turning to him), you will +be a complete son of Ivor.' + +These necessary directions given, the Chieftain resumed the +subject of Waverley's adventures. 'It is plain,' he said,'that you +have been in the custody of Donald Bean Lean. You must know that, +when I marched away my clan to join the Prince, I laid my +injunctions on that worthy member of society to perform a certain +piece of service, which done, he was to join me with all the force +he could muster. But, instead of doing so, the gentleman, finding +the coast clear, thought it better to make war on his own account, +and has scoured the country, plundering, I believe, both friend +and foe, under pretence of levying blackmail, sometimes as if by +my authority, and sometimes (and be cursed to his consummate +impudence) in his own great name! Upon my honour, if I live to see +the cairn of Benmore again, I shall be tempted to hang that +fellow! I recognise his hand particularly in the mode of your +rescue from that canting rascal Gilfillan, and I have little doubt +that Donald himself played the part of the pedlar on that +occasion; but how he should not have plundered you, or put you to +ransom, or availed himself in some way or other of your captivity +for his own advantage, passes my judgment.' + +'When and how did you hear the intelligence of my confinement?' +asked Waverley. + +'The Prince himself told me,' said Fergus, 'and inquired very +minutely into your history. He then mentioned your being at that +moment in the power of one of our northern parties--you know I +could not ask him to explain particulars--and requested my opinion +about disposing of you. I recommended that you should be brought +here as a prisoner, because I did not wish to prejudice you +farther with the English government, in case you pursued your +purpose of going southward. I knew nothing, you must recollect, of +the charge brought against you of aiding and abetting high +treason, which, I presume, had some share in changing your +original plan. That sullen, good-for-nothing brute, Balmawhapple, +was sent to escort you from Doune, with what he calls his troop of +horse. As to his behaviour, in addition to his natural antipathy +to everything that resembles a gentleman, I presume his adventure +with Bradwardine rankles in his recollection, the rather that I +daresay his mode of telling that story contributed to the evil +reports which reached your quondam regiment.' + +'Very likely,' said Waverley; 'but now surely, my dear Fergus, you +may find time to tell me something of Flora.' + +'Why,' replied Fergus, 'I can only tell you that she is well, and +residing for the present with a relation in this city. I thought +it better she should come here, as since our success a good many +ladies of rank attend our military court; and I assure you that +there is a sort of consequence annexed to the near relative of +such a person as Flora Mac-Ivor, and where there is such a +justling of claims and requests, a man must use every fair means +to enhance his importance.' + +There was something in this last sentence which grated on +Waverley's feelings. He could not bear that Flora should be +considered as conducing to her brother's preferment by the +admiration which she must unquestionably attract; and although it +was in strict correspondence with many points of Fergus's +character, it shocked him as selfish, and unworthy of his sister's +high mind and his own independent pride. Fergus, to whom such +manoeuvres were familiar, as to one brought up at the French +court, did not observe the unfavourable impression which he had +unwarily made upon his friend's mind, and concluded by saying,' +that they could hardly see Flora before the evening, when she +would be at the concert and ball with which the Prince's party +were to be entertained. She and I had a quarrel about her not +appearing to take leave of you. I am unwilling to renew it by +soliciting her to receive you this morning; and perhaps my doing +so might not only be ineffectual, but prevent your meeting this +evening.' + +While thus conversing, Waverley heard in the court, before the +windows of the parlour, a well-known voice. 'I aver to you, my +worthy friend,' said the speaker, 'that it is a total dereliction +of military discipline; and were you not as it were a tyro, your +purpose would deserve strong reprobation. For a prisoner of war is +on no account to be coerced with fetters, or debinded in +ergastulo, as would have been the case had you put this gentleman +into the pit of the peel-house at Balmawhapple. I grant, indeed, +that such a prisoner may for security be coerced in carcere, that +is, in a public prison.' + +The growling voice of Balmawhapple was heard as taking leave in +displeasure, but the word 'land-louper' alone was distinctly +audible. He had disappeared before Waverley reached the house in +order to greet the worthy Baron of Bradwardine. The uniform in +which he was now attired, a blue coat, namely, with gold lace, a +scarlet waistcoat and breeches, and immense jack-boots, seemed to +have added fresh stiffness and rigidity to his tall, perpendicular +figure; and the consciousness of military command and authority +had increased, in the same proportion, the self-importance of his +demeanour and the dogmatism of his conversation. + +He received Waverley with his usual kindness, and expressed +immediate anxiety to hear an explanation of the circumstances +attending the loss of his commission in Gardiner's dragoons; +'not,' he said, 'that he had the least apprehension of his young +friend having done aught which could merit such ungenerous +treatment as he had received from government, but because it was +right and seemly that the Baron of Bradwardine should be, in point +of trust and in point of power, fully able to refute all calumnies +against the heir of Waverley-Honour, whom he had so much right to +regard as his own son.' + +Fergus Mac-Ivor, who had now joined them, went hastily over the +circumstances of Waverley's story, and concluded with the +flattering reception he had met from the young Chevalier. The +Baron listened in silence, and at the conclusion shook Waverley +heartily by the hand and congratulated him upon entering the +service of his lawful Prince. 'For,' continued he, 'although it +has been justly held in all nations a matter of scandal and +dishonour to infringe the sacramentum militare, and that whether +it was taken by each soldier singly, whilk the Romans denominated +per conjurationem, or by one soldier in name of the rest, yet no +one ever doubted that the allegiance so sworn was discharged by +the dimissio, or discharging of a soldier, whose case would be as +hard as that of colliers, salters, and other adscripti glebes, or +slaves of the soil, were it to be accounted otherwise. This is +something like the brocard expressed by the learned Sanchez in his +work "De Jure-jurando" which you have questionless consulted upon +this occasion. As for those who have calumniated you by leasing- +making, I protest to Heaven I think they have justly incurred the +penalty of the "Memnonia Lex," also called "Lex Rhemnia," which is +prelected upon by Tullius in his oration "In Verrem." I should +have deemed, however, Mr. Waverley, that before destining yourself +to any special service in the army of the Prince, ye might have +inquired what rank the old Bradwardine held there, and whether he +would not have been peculiarly happy to have had your services in +the regiment of horse which he is now about to levy.' Edward +eluded this reproach by pleading the necessity of giving an +immediate answer to the Prince's proposal, and his uncertainty at +the moment whether his friend the Baron was with the army or +engaged upon service elsewhere. + +This punctilio being settled, Waverley made inquiry after Miss +Bradwardine, and was informed she had come to Edinburgh with Flora +Mac-Ivor, under guard of a party of the Chieftain's men. This step +was indeed necessary, Tully-Veolan having become a very +unpleasant, and even dangerous, place of residence for an +unprotected young lady, on account of its vicinity to the +Highlands, and also to one or two large villages which, from +aversion as much to the caterans as zeal for presbytery, had +declared themselves on the side of government, and formed +irregular bodies of partizans, who had frequent skirmishes with +the mountaineers, and sometimes attacked the houses of the +Jacobite gentry in the braes, or frontier betwixt the mountain and +plain. + +'I would propose to you,' continued the Baron,'to walk as far as +my quarters in the Luckenbooths, and to admire in your passage the +High Street, whilk is, beyond a shadow of dubitation, finer than +any street whether in London or Paris. But Rose, poor thing, is +sorely discomposed with the firing of the Castle, though I have +proved to her from Blondel and Coehorn, that it is impossible a +bullet can reach these buildings; and, besides, I have it in +charge from his Royal Highness to go to the camp, or leaguer of +our army, to see that the men do condamare vasa, that is, truss up +their bag and baggage for tomorrow's march.' + +'That will be easily done by most of us,' said Mac-Ivor, laughing. + +'Craving your pardon, Colonel Mac-Ivor, not quite so easily as ye +seem to opine. I grant most of your folk left the Highlands +expedited as it were, and free from the incumbrance of baggage; +but it is unspeakable the quantity of useless sprechery which they +have collected on their march. I saw one fellow of yours (craving +your pardon once more) with a pier-glass upon his back.' + +'Ay,' said Fergus, still in good-humour, 'he would have told you, +if you had questioned him, "a ganging foot is aye getting." But +come, my dear Baron, you know as well as I that a hundred Uhlans, +or a single troop of Schmirschitz's Pandours, would make more +havoc in a country than the knight of the mirror and all the rest +of our clans put together.' + +'And that is very true likewise,' replied the Baron; 'they are, as +the heathen author says, ferociores in aspectu, mitiores in actu, +of a horrid and grim visage, but more benign in demeanour than +their physiognomy or aspect might infer. But I stand here talking +to you two youngsters when I should be in the King's Park.' + +'But you will dine with Waverley and me on your return? I assure +you, Baron, though I can live like a Highlander when needs must, I +remember my Paris education, and understand perfectly faire la +meilleure chere.' + +'And wha the deil doubts it,' quoth the Baron, laughing, 'when ye +bring only the cookery and the gude toun must furnish the +materials? Weel, I have some business in the toun too; but I'll +join you at three, if the vivers can tarry so long.' + +So saying, he took leave of his friends and went to look after the +charge which had been assigned him. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +A SOLDIER'S DINNER + + +James of the Needle was a man of his word when whisky was no party +to the contract; and upon this occasion Callum Beg, who still +thought himself in Waverley's debt, since he had declined +accepting compensation at the expense of mine host of the +Candlestick's person, took the opportunity of discharging the +obligation, by mounting guard over the hereditary tailor of +Sliochd nan Ivor; and, as he expressed himself, 'targed him +tightly' till the finishing of the job. To rid himself of this +restraint, Shemus's needle flew through the tartan like lightning; +and as the artist kept chanting some dreadful skirmish of Fin +Macoul, he accomplished at least three stitches to the death of +every hero. The dress was, therefore, soon ready, for the short +coat fitted the wearer, and the rest of the apparel required +little adjustment. + +Our hero having now fairly assumed the 'garb of old Gaul,' well +calculated as it was to give an appearance of strength to a figure +which, though tall and well-made, was rather elegant than robust, +I hope my fair readers will excuse him if he looked at himself in +the mirror more than once, and could not help acknowledging that +the reflection seemed that of a very handsome young fellow. In +fact, there was no disguising it. His light-brown hair--for he +wore no periwig, notwithstanding the universal fashion of the +time--became the bonnet which surmounted it. His person promised +firmness and agility, to which the ample folds of the tartan added +an air of dignity. His blue eye seemed of that kind, + + Which melted in love, and which kindled in war; + +and an air of bashfulness, which was in reality the effect of want +of habitual intercourse with the world, gave interest to his +features, without injuring their grace or intelligence. + +'He's a pratty man, a very pratty man,' said Evan Dhu (now Ensign +Maccombich) to Fergus's buxom landlady. + +'He's vera weel,' said the Widow Flockhart, 'but no naething sae +weel-far'd as your colonel, ensign.' + +'I wasna comparing them,' quoth Evan, 'nor was I speaking about +his being weel-favoured; but only that Mr. Waverley looks clean- +made and deliver, and like a proper lad o' his quarters, that will +not cry barley in a brulzie. And, indeed, he's gleg aneuch at the +broadsword and target. I hae played wi' him mysell at +Glennaquoich, and sae has Vich lan Vohr, often of a Sunday +afternoon.' + +'Lord forgie ye, Ensign Maccombich,' said the alarmed +Presbyterian; 'I'm sure the colonel wad never do the like o' +that!' + +'Hout! hout! Mrs. Flockhart,' replied the ensign, 'we're young +blude, ye ken; and young saints, auld deils.' + +'But will ye fight wi' Sir John Cope the morn, Ensign Maccombich?' +demanded Mrs. Flockhart of her guest. + +'Troth I'se ensure him, an he'll bide us, Mrs. Flockhart,' replied +the Gael. + +'And will ye face thae tearing chields, the dragoons, Ensign +Maccombich?' again inquired the landlady. + +'Claw for claw, as Conan said to Satan, Mrs. Flockhart, and the +deevil tak the shortest nails.' + +'And will the colonel venture on the bagganets himsell?' + +'Ye may swear it, Mrs. Flockhart; the very first man will he be, +by Saint Phedar.' + +'Merciful goodness! and if he's killed amang the redcoats!' +exclaimed the soft-hearted widow. + +'Troth, if it should sae befall, Mrs. Flockhart, I ken ane that +will no be living to weep for him. But we maun a' live the day, +and have our dinner; and there's Vich lan Vohr has packed his +dorlach, and Mr. Waverley's wearied wi' majoring yonder afore the +muckle pier-glass; and that grey auld stoor carle, the Baron o' +Bradwardine that shot young Ronald of Ballenkeiroch, he's coming +down the close wi' that droghling coghling bailie body they ca' +Macwhupple, just like the Laird o' Kittlegab's French cook, wi' +his turnspit doggie trindling ahint him, and I am as hungry as a +gled, my bonny dow; sae bid Kate set on the broo', and do ye put +on your pinners, for ye ken Vich lan Vohr winna sit down till ye +be at the head o' the table;--and dinna forget the pint bottle o' +brandy, my woman.' + +This hint produced dinner. Mrs. Flockhart, smiling in her weeds +like the sun through a mist, took the head of the table, thinking +within herself, perhaps, that she cared not how long the rebellion +lasted that brought her into company so much above her usual +associates. She was supported by Waverley and the Baron, with the +advantage of the Chieftain vis-a-vis. The men of peace and of war, +that is, Bailie Macwheeble and Ensign Maccombich, after many +profound conges to their superiors and each other, took their +places on each side of the Chieftain. Their fare was excellent, +time, place, and circumstances considered, and Fergus's spirits +were extravagantly high. Regardless of danger, and sanguine from +temper, youth, and ambition, he saw in imagination all his +prospects crowned with success, and was totally indifferent to the +probable alternative of a soldier's grave. The Baron apologized +slightly for bringing Macwheeble. They had been providing, he +said, for the expenses of the campaign. 'And, by my faith,' said +the old man, 'as I think this will be my last, so I just end where +I began: I hae evermore found the sinews of war, as a learned +author calls the caisse militaire, mair difficult to come by than +either its flesh, blood, or bones.' + +'What! have you raised our only efficient body of cavalry and got +ye none of the louis-d'or out of the Doutelle [Footnote: The +Doutelle was an armed vessel which brought a small supply of money +and arms from France for the use of the insurgents.] to help you?' + +'No, Glennaquoich; cleverer fellows have been before me.' + +'That's a scandal,' said the young Highlander; 'but you will share +what is left of my subsidy; it will save you an anxious thought +tonight, and will be all one tomorrow, for we shall all be +provided for, one way or other, before the sun sets.' Waverley, +blushing deeply, but with great earnestness, pressed the same +request. + +'I thank ye baith, my good lads,' said the Baron, 'but I will not +infringe upon your peculium. Bailie Macwheeble has provided the +sum which is necessary.' + +Here the Bailie shifted and fidgeted about in his seat, and +appeared extremely uneasy. At length, after several preliminary +hems, and much tautological expression of his devotion to his +honour's service, by night or day, living or dead, he began to +insinuate, 'that the banks had removed a' their ready cash into +the Castle; that, nae doubt, Sandie Goldie, the silversmith, would +do mickle for his honour; but there was little time to get the +wadset made out; and, doubtless, if his honour Glennaquoich or Mr. +Wauverley could accommodate--' + +'Let me hear of no such nonsense, sir,' said the Baron, in a tone +which rendered Macwheeble mute, 'but proceed as we accorded before +dinner, if it be your wish to remain in my service.' + +To this peremptory order the Bailie, though he felt as if +condemned to suffer a transfusion of blood from his own veins into +those of the Baron, did not presume to make any reply. After +fidgeting a little while longer, however, he addressed himself to +Glennaquoich, and told him, if his honour had mair ready siller +than was sufficient for his occasions in the field, he could put +it out at use for his honour in safe hands and at great profit at +this time. + +At this proposal Fergus laughed heartily, and answered, when he +had recovered his breath--'Many thanks, Bailie; but you must know, +it is a general custom among us soldiers to make our landlady our +banker. Here, Mrs. Flockhart,' said he, taking four or five broad +pieces out of a well-filled purse and tossing the purse itself, +with its remaining contents, into her apron, 'these will serve my +occasions; do you take the rest. Be my banker if I live, and my +executor if I die; but take care to give something to the Highland +cailliachs [Footnote: Old women, on whom devolved the duty of +lamenting for the dead, which the Irish call keening.] that shall +cry the coronach loudest for the last Vich lan Vohr.' + +'It is the testamentum militare,' quoth the Baron, 'whilk, amang +the Romans, was privilegiate to be nuncupative.' But the soft +heart of Mrs. Flockhart was melted within her at the Chieftain's +speech; she set up a lamentable blubbering, and positively refused +to touch the bequest, which Fergus was therefore obliged to +resume. + +'Well, then,' said the Chief, 'if I fall, it will go to the +grenadier that knocks my brains out, and I shall take care he +works hard for it.' + +Bailie Macwheeble was again tempted to put in his oar; for where +cash was concerned he did not willingly remain silent. 'Perhaps he +had better carry the gowd to Miss Mac-Ivor, in case of mortality +or accidents of war. It might tak the form of a mortis causa +donation in the young leddie's favour, and--wad cost but the +scrape of a pen to mak it out.' + +'The young lady,' said Fergus, 'should such an event happen, will +have other matters to think of than these wretched louis-d'or.' + +'True--undeniable--there's nae doubt o' that; but your honour kens +that a full sorrow--' + +'Is endurable by most folk more easily than a hungry one? True, +Bailie, very true; and I believe there may even be some who would +be consoled by such a reflection for the loss of the whole +existing generation. But there is a sorrow which knows neither +hunger nor thirst; and poor Flora--' He paused, and the whole +company sympathised in his emotion. + +The Baron's thoughts naturally reverted to the unprotected state +of his daughter, and the big tear came to the veteran's eye. 'If I +fall, Macwheeble, you have all my papers and know all my affairs; +be just to Rose.' + +The Bailie was a man of earthly mould, after all; a good deal of +dirt and dross about him, undoubtedly, but some kindly and just +feelings he had, especially where the Baron or his young mistress +were concerned. He set up a lamentable howl. 'If that doleful day +should come, while Duncan Macwheeble had a boddle it should be +Miss Rose's. He wald scroll for a plack the sheet or she kenn'd +what it was to want; if indeed a' the bonnie baronie o' +Bradwardine and Tully-Veolan, with the fortalice and manor-place +thereof (he kept sobbing and whining at every pause), tofts, +crofts, mosses, muirs--outfield, infield--buildings--orchards-- +dove-cots--with the right of net and coble in the water and loch +of Veolan--teinds, parsonage and vicarage--annexis, connexis-- +rights of pasturage--feul, feal and divot--parts, pendicles, and +pertinents whatsoever--(here he had recourse to the end of his +long cravat to wipe his eyes, which overflowed, in spite of him, +at the ideas which this technical jargon conjured up)--all as more +fully described in the proper evidents and titles thereof--and +lying within the parish of Bradwardine and the shire of Perth--if, +as aforesaid, they must a' pass from my master's child to Inch- +Grabbit, wha's a Whig and a Hanoverian, and be managed by his +doer, Jamie Howie, wha's no fit to be a birlieman, let be a +bailie--' + +The beginning of this lamentation really had something affecting, +but the conclusion rendered laughter irresistible. 'Never mind, +Bailie,' said Ensign Maccombich, 'for the gude auld times of +rugging and riving (pulling and tearing) are come back again, an' +Sneckus Mac-Snackus (meaning, probably, annexis, connexis), and a' +the rest of your friends, maun gie place to the langest claymore.' + +'And that claymore shall be ours, Bailie,' said the Chieftain, who +saw that Macwheeble looked very blank at this intimation. + + 'We'll give them the metal our mountain affords, + Lillibulero, bullen a la, + And in place of broad-pieces, we'll pay with broadswords, + Lero, lero, etc. + With duns and with debts we will soon clear our score, + Lillibulero, etc. + For the man that's thus paid will crave payment no more, + Lero, lero, etc. + +[Footnote: These lines, or something like them, occur in an old +magazine of the period.] + +But come, Bailie, be not cast down; drink your wine with a joyous +heart; the Baron shall return safe and victorious to Tully-Veolan, +and unite Killancureit's lairdship with his own, since the +cowardly half-bred swine will not turn out for the Prince like a +gentleman.' + +'To be sure, they lie maist ewest,' said the Bailie, wiping his +eyes, 'and should naturally fa' under the same factory.' + +'And I,' proceeded the Chieftain,'shall take care of myself, too; +for you must know, I have to complete a good work here, by +bringing Mrs. Flockhart into the bosom of the Catholic church, or +at least half way, and that is to your Episcopal meeting-house. O +Baron! if you heard her fine counter-tenor admonishing Kate and +Matty in the morning, you, who understand music, would tremble at +the idea of hearing her shriek in the psalmody of Haddo's Hole.' + +'Lord forgie you, colonel, how ye rin on! But I hope your honours +will tak tea before ye gang to the palace, and I maun gang and +mask it for you.' + +So saying, Mrs. Flockhart left the gentlemen to their own +conversation, which, as might be supposed, turned chiefly upon the +approaching events of the campaign. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +THE BALL + + +Ensign MacCombich having gone to the Highland camp upon duty, and +Bailie Macwheeble having retired to digest his dinner and Evan +Dhu's intimation of martial law in some blind change-house, +Waverley, with the Baron and the Chieftain, proceeded to Holyrood +House. The two last were in full tide of spirits, and the Baron +rallied in his way our hero upon the handsome figure which his new +dress displayed to advantage. 'If you have any design upon the +heart of a bonny Scotch lassie, I would premonish you, when you +address her, to remember and quote the words of Virgilius:-- + + Nunc insanus amor duri me Martis in armis, + Tela inter media atque adversos detinet hostes; + +whilk verses Robertson of Struan, Chief of the Clan Donnochy +(unless the claims of Lude ought to be preferred primo loco), has +thus elegantly rendered:-- + + For cruel love had gartan'd low my leg, + And clad my hurdies in a philabeg. + +Although, indeed, ye wear the trews, a garment whilk I approve +maist of the twa, as mair ancient and seemly.' 'Or rather,' said +Fergus, 'hear my song:-- + + She wadna hae a Lowland laird, + Nor be an English lady; + But she's away with Duncan Grame, + And he's row'd her in his plaidy.' + +By this time they reached the palace of Holyrood, and were +announced respectively as they entered the apartments. + +It is but too well known how many gentlemen of rank, education, +and fortune took a concern in the ill-fated and desperate +undertaking of 1745. The ladies, also, of Scotland very generally +espoused the cause of the gallant and handsome young Prince, who +threw himself upon the mercy of his countrymen rather like a hero +of romance than a calculating politician. It is not, therefore, to +be wondered that Edward, who had spent the greater part of his +life in the solemn seclusion of Waverley-Honour, should have been +dazzled at the liveliness and elegance of the scene now exhibited +in the long deserted halls of the Scottish palace. The +accompaniments, indeed, fell short of splendour, being such as the +confusion and hurry of the time admitted; still, however, the +general effect was striking, and, the rank of the company +considered, might well be called brilliant. + +It was not long before the lover's eye discovered the object of +his attachment. Flora Mac-Ivor was in the act of returning to her +seat, near the top of the room, with Rose Bradwardine by her side. +Among much elegance and beauty, they had attracted a great degree +of the public attention, being certainly two of the handsomest +women present. The Prince took much notice of both, particularly +of Flora, with whom he danced, a preference which she probably +owed to her foreign education and command of the French and +Italian languages. + +When the bustle attending the conclusion of the dance permitted, +Edward almost intuitively followed Fergus to the place where Miss +Mac-Ivor was seated. The sensation of hope with which he had +nursed his affection in absence of the beloved object seemed to +vanish in her presence, and, like one striving to recover the +particulars of a forgotten dream, he would have given the world at +that moment to have recollected the grounds on which he had +founded expectations which now seemed so delusive. He accompanied +Fergus with downcast eyes, tingling ears, and the feelings of the +criminal who, while the melancholy cart moves slowly through the +crowds that have assembled to behold his execution, receives no +clear sensation either from the noise which fills his ears or the +tumult on which he casts his wandering look. Flora seemed a +little--a very little--affected and discomposed at his approach. +'I bring you an adopted son of Ivor,' said Fergus. + +'And I receive him as a second brother,' replied Flora. + +There was a slight emphasis on the word, which would have escaped +every ear but one that was feverish with apprehension. It was, +however, distinctly marked, and, combined with her whole tone and +manner, plainly intimated, 'I will never think of Mr. Waverley as +a more intimate connexion.' Edward stopped, bowed, and looked at +Fergus, who bit his lip, a movement of anger which proved that he +also had put a sinister interpretation on the reception which his +sister had given his friend. 'This, then, is an end of my day- +dream!' Such was Waverley's first thought, and it was so +exquisitely painful as to banish from his cheek every drop of +blood. + +'Good God!' said Rose Bradwardine, 'he is not yet recovered!' + +These words, which she uttered with great emotion, were overheard +by the Chevalier himself, who stepped hastily forward, and, taking +Waverley by the hand, inquired kindly after his health, and added +that he wished to speak with him. By a strong and sudden effort; +which the circumstances rendered indispensable, Waverley recovered +himself so far as to follow the Chevalier in silence to a recess +in the apartment. + +Here the Prince detained him some time, asking various questions +about the great Tory and Catholic families of England, their +connexions, their influence, and the state of their affections +towards the house of Stuart. To these queries Edward could not at +any time have given more than general answers, and it may be +supposed that, in the present state of his feelings, his responses +were indistinct even to confusion. The Chevalier smiled once or +twice at the incongruity of his replies, but continued the same +style of conversation, although he found himself obliged to occupy +the principal share of it, until he perceived that Waverley had +recovered his presence of mind. It is probable that this long +audience was partly meant to further the idea which the Prince +desired should be entertained among his followers, that Waverley +was a character of political influence. But it appeared, from his +concluding expressions, that he had a different and good-natured +motive, personal to our hero, for prolonging the conference. 'I +cannot resist the temptation,' he said, 'of boasting of my own +discretion as a lady's confidant. You see, Mr. Waverley, that I +know all, and I assure you I am deeply interested in the affair. +But, my good young friend, you must put a more severe restraint +upon your feelings. There are many here whose eyes can see as +clearly as mine, but the prudence of whose tongues may not be +equally trusted,' + +So saying, he turned easily away and joined a circle of officers +at a few paces' distance, leaving Waverley to meditate upon his +parting expression, which, though not intelligible to him in its +whole purport, was sufficiently so in the caution which the last +word recommended. Making, therefore, an effort to show himself +worthy of the interest which his new master had expressed, by +instant obedience to his recommendation, he walked up to the spot +where Flora and Miss Bradwardine were still seated, and having +made his compliments to the latter, he succeeded, even beyond his +own expectation, in entering into conversation upon general +topics. + +If, my dear reader, thou hast ever happened to take post-horses +at----or at----(one at least of which blanks, or more probably +both, you will be able to fill up from an inn near your own +residence), you must have observed, and doubtless with sympathetic +pain, the reluctant agony with which the poor jades at first apply +their galled necks to the collars of the harness. But when the +irresistible arguments of the post-boy have prevailed upon them to +proceed a mile or two, they will become callous to the first +sensation; and being warm in the harness, as the said post-boy may +term it, proceed as if their withers were altogether unwrung. This +simile so much corresponds with the state of Waverley's feelings +in the course of this memorable evening, that I prefer it +(especially as being, I trust, wholly original) to any more +splendid illustration with which Byshe's 'Art of Poetry' might +supply me. + +Exertion, like virtue, is its own reward; and our hero had, +moreover, other stimulating motives for persevering in a display +of affected composure and indifference to Flora's obvious +unkindness. Pride, which supplies its caustic as an useful, though +severe, remedy for the wounds of affection, came rapidly to his +aid. Distinguished by the favour of a prince; destined, he had +room to hope, to play a conspicuous part in the revolution which +awaited a mighty kingdom; excelling, probably, in mental +acquirements, and equalling at least in personal accomplishments, +most of the noble and distinguished persons with whom he was now +ranked; young, wealthy, and high-born,--could he, or ought he, to +droop beneath the frown of a capricious beauty? + + O nymph, unrelenting and cold as thou art, + My bosom is proud as thine own. + +With the feeling expressed in these beautiful lines (which, +however, were not then written), [Footnote: They occur in Miss +Seward's fine verses, beginning--'To thy rocks, stormy Lannow, +adieu.'] Waverley determined upon convincing Flora that he was not +to be depressed by a rejection in which his vanity whispered that +perhaps she did her own prospects as much injustice as his. And, +to aid this change of feeling, there lurked the secret and +unacknowledged hope that she might learn to prize his affection +more highly, when she did not conceive it to be altogether within +her own choice to attract or repulse it. There was a mystic tone +of encouragement, also, in the Chevalier's words, though he feared +they only referred to the wishes of Fergus in favour of an union +between him and his sister. But the whole circumstances of time, +place, and incident combined at once to awaken his imagination and +to call upon him for a manly and decisive tone of conduct, leaving +to fate to dispose of the issue. Should he appear to be the only +one sad and disheartened on the eve of battle, how greedily would +the tale be commented upon by the slander which had been already +but too busy with his fame! Never, never, he internally resolved, +shall my unprovoked enemies possess such an advantage over my +reputation. + +Under the influence of these mixed sensations, and cheered at +times by a smile of intelligence and approbation from the Prince +as he passed the group, Waverley exerted his powers of fancy, +animation, and eloquence, and attracted the general admiration of +the company. The conversation gradually assumed the tone best +qualified for the display of his talents and acquisitions. The +gaiety of the evening was exalted in character, rather than +checked, by the approaching dangers of the morrow. All nerves were +strung for the future, and prepared to enjoy the present. This +mood of mind is highly favourable for the exercise of the powers +of imagination, for poetry, and for that eloquence which is allied +to poetry. Waverley, as we have elsewhere observed, possessed at +times a wonderful flow of rhetoric; and on the present occasion, +he touched more than once the higher notes of feeling, and then +again ran off in a wild voluntary of fanciful mirth. He was +supported and excited by kindred spirits, who felt the same +impulse of mood and time; and even those of more cold and +calculating habits were hurried along by the torrent. Many ladies +declined the dance, which still went forward, and under various +pretences joined the party to which the 'handsome young +Englishman' seemed to have attached himself. He was presented to +several of the first rank, and his manners, which for the present +were altogether free from the bashful restraint by which, in a +moment of less excitation, they were usually clouded, gave +universal delight. + +Flora Mac-Ivor appeared to be the only female present who regarded +him with a degree of coldness and reserve; yet even she could not +suppress a sort of wonder at talents which, in the course of their +acquaintance, she had never seen displayed with equal brilliancy +and impressive effect. I do not know whether she might not feel a +momentary regret at having taken so decisive a resolution upon the +addresses of a lover who seemed fitted so well to fill a high +place in the highest stations of society. Certainly she had +hitherto accounted among the incurable deficiencies of Edward's +disposition the mauvaise honte which, as she had been educated in +the first foreign circles, and was little acquainted with the +shyness of English manners, was in her opinion too nearly related +to timidity and imbecility of disposition. But if a passing wish +occurred that Waverley could have rendered himself uniformly thus +amiable and attractive, its influence was momentary; for +circumstances had arisen since they met which rendered in her eyes +the resolution she had formed respecting him final and +irrevocable. + +With opposite feelings Rose Bradwardine bent her whole soul to +listen. She felt a secret triumph at the public tribute paid to +one whose merit she had learned to prize too early and too fondly. +Without a thought of jealousy, without a feeling of fear, pain, or +doubt, and undisturbed by a single selfish consideration, she +resigned herself to the pleasure of observing the general murmur +of applause. When Waverley spoke, her ear was exclusively filled +with his voice, when others answered, her eye took its turn of +observation, and seemed to watch his reply. Perhaps the delight +which she experienced in the course of that evening, though +transient, and followed by much sorrow, was in its nature the most +pure and disinterested which the human mind is capable of +enjoying. + +'Baron,' said the Chevalier, 'I would not trust my mistress in the +company of your young friend. He is really, though perhaps +somewhat romantic, one of the most fascinating young men whom I +have ever seen.' + +'And by my honour, sir,' replied the Baron,'the lad can sometimes +be as dowff as a sexagenary like myself. If your Royal Highness +had seen him dreaming and dozing about the banks of Tully-Veolan +like an hypochondriac person, or, as Burton's "Anatomia" hath it, +a phrenesiac or lethargic patient, you would wonder where he hath +sae suddenly acquired all this fine sprack festivity and +jocularity.' + +'Truly,' said Fergus Mac-Ivor, 'I think it can only be the +inspiration of the tartans; for, though Waverley be always a young +fellow of sense and honour, I have hitherto often found him a very +absent and inattentive companion.' + +'We are the more obliged to him,' said the Prince, 'for having +reserved for this evening qualities which even such intimate +friends had not discovered. But come, gentlemen, the night +advances, and the business of tomorrow must be early thought upon. +Each take charge of his fair partner, and honour a small +refreshment with your company.' + +He led the way to another suite of apartments, and assumed the +seat and canopy at the head of a long range of tables with an air +of dignity, mingled with courtesy, which well became his high +birth and lofty pretensions. An hour had hardly flown away when +the musicians played the signal for parting so well known in +Scotland. [Footnote: Which is, or was wont to be, the old air of +'Good-night and joy be wi' you a'.] + +'Good-night, then,' said the Chevalier, rising; 'goodnight, and +joy be with you! Good-night, fair ladies, who have so highly +honoured a proscribed and banished Prince! Good-night, my brave +friends; may the happiness we have this evening experienced be an +omen of our return to these our paternal halls, speedily and in +triumph, and of many and many future meetings of mirth and +pleasure in the palace of Holyrood!' + +When the Baron of Bradwardine afterwards mentioned this adieu of +the Chevalier, he never failed to repeat, in a melancholy tone, + + 'Audiit, et voti Phoebus succedere partem + Mente dedit; partem volucres dispersit in auras; + +which,' as he added, 'is weel rendered into English metre by my +friend Bangour:-- + + Ae half the prayer wi' Phoebus grace did find, + The t'other half he whistled down the wind.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +THE MARCH + + +The conflicting passions and exhausted feelings of Waverley had +resigned him to late but sound repose. He was dreaming of +Glennaquoich, and had transferred to the halls of lan nan Chaistel +the festal train which so lately graced those of Holyrood. The +pibroch too was distinctly heard; and this at least was no +delusion, for the 'proud step of the chief piper' of the 'chlain +MacIvor' was perambulating the court before the door of his +Chieftain's quarters, and as Mrs. Flockhart, apparently no friend +to his minstrelsy, was pleased to observe, 'garring the very +stane-and-lime wa's dingle wi' his screeching.' Of course it soon +became too powerful for Waverley's dream, with which it had at +first rather harmonised. + +The sound of Callum's brogues in his apartment (for Mac-Ivor had +again assigned Waverley to his care) was the next note of parting. +'Winna yer honour bang up? Vich lan Vohr and ta Prince are awa to +the lang green glen ahint the clachan, tat they ca' the King's +Park, [Footnote: The main body of the Highland army encamped, or +rather bivouacked, in that part of the King's Park which lies +towards the village of Duddingston.] and mony ane's on his ain +shanks the day that will be carried on ither folk's ere night.' + +Waverley sprung up, and, with Callum's assistance and +instructions, adjusted his tartans in proper costume. Callum told +him also,' tat his leather dorlach wi' the lock on her was come +frae Doune, and she was awa again in the wain wi' Vich Ian Vohr's +walise.' + +By this periphrasis Waverley readily apprehended his portmanteau +was intended. He thought upon the mysterious packet of the maid of +the cavern, which seemed always to escape him when within his very +grasp. But this was no time for indulgence of curiosity; and +having declined Mrs. Flockhart's compliment of a MORNING, i.e. a +matutinal dram, being probably the only man in the Chevalier's +army by whom such a courtesy would have been rejected, he made his +adieus and departed with Callum. + +'Callum,' said he, as they proceeded down a dirty close to gain +the southern skirts of the Canongate, 'what shall I do for a +horse?' + +'Ta deil ane ye maun think o',' said Callum. 'Vich Ian Vohr's +marching on foot at the head o' his kin (not to say ta Prince, wha +does the like), wi' his target on his shoulder; and ye maun e'en +be neighbour-like.' + +'And so I will, Callum, give me my target; so, there we are fixed. +How does it look?' + +'Like the bra' Highlander tat's painted on the board afore the +mickle change-house they ca' Luckie Middlemass's,' answered +Callum; meaning, I must observe, a high compliment, for in his +opinion Luckie Middlemass's sign was an exquisite specimen of art. +Waverley, however, not feeling the full force of this polite +simile, asked him no further questions. + +Upon extricating themselves from the mean and dirty suburbs of the +metropolis, and emerging into the open air, Waverley felt a +renewal of both health and spirits, and turned his recollection +with firmness upon the events of the preceding evening, and with +hope and resolution towards those of the approaching day. + +When he had surmounted a small craggy eminence called St. +Leonard's Hill, the King's Park, or the hollow between the +mountain of Arthur's Seat and the rising grounds on which the +southern part of Edinburgh is now built, lay beneath him, and +displayed a singular and animating prospect. It was occupied by +the army of the Highlanders, now in the act of preparing for their +march. Waverley had already seen something of the kind at the +hunting-match which he attended with Fergus MacIvor; but this was +on a scale of much greater magnitude, and incomparably deeper +interest. The rocks, which formed the background of the scene, and +the very sky itself, rang with the clang of the bagpipers, +summoning forth, each with his appropriate pibroch, his chieftain +and clan. The mountaineers, rousing themselves from their couch +under the canopy of heaven with the hum and bustle of a confused +and irregular multitude, like bees alarmed and arming in their +hives, seemed to possess all the pliability of movement fitted to +execute military manoeuvres. Their motions appeared spontaneous +and confused, but the result was order and regularity; so that a +general must have praised the conclusion, though a martinet might +have ridiculed the method by which it was attained. + +The sort of complicated medley created by the hasty arrangements +of the various clans under their respective banners, for the +purpose of getting into the order of march, was in itself a gay +and lively spectacle. They had no tents to strike having +generally, and by choice, slept upon the open field, although the +autumn was now waning and the nights began to be frosty. For a +little space, while they were getting into order, there was +exhibited a changing, fluctuating, and confused appearance of +waving tartans and floating plumes, and of banners displaying the +proud gathering word of Clanronald, Ganion Coheriga (Gainsay who +dares), Loch-Sloy, the watchword of the MacFarlanes; Forth, +fortune, and fill the fetters, the motto of the Marquis of +Tullibardine; Bydand, that of Lord Lewis Gordon, and the +appropriate signal words and emblems of many other chieftains and +clans. + +At length the mixed and wavering multitude arranged themselves +into a narrow and dusky column of great length, stretching through +the whole extent of the valley. In the front of the column the +standard of the Chevalier was displayed, bearing a red cross upon +a white ground, with the motto Tandem Triumphans. The few cavalry, +being chiefly Lowland gentry, with their domestic servants and +retainers, formed the advanced guard of the army; and their +standards, of which they had rather too many in respect of their +numbers, were seen waving upon the extreme verge of the horizon. +Many horsemen of this body, among whom Waverley accidentally +remarked Balmawhapple and his lieutenant, Jinker (which last, +however, had been reduced, with several others, by the advice of +the Baron of Bradwardine, to the situation of what he called +reformed officers, or reformadoes), added to the liveliness, +though by no means to the regularity, of the scene, by galloping +their horses as fast forward as the press would permit, to join +their proper station in the van. The fascinations of the Circes of +the High Street, and the potations of strength with which they had +been drenched over night, had probably detained these heroes +within the walls of Edinburgh somewhat later than was consistent +with their morning duty. Of such loiterers, the prudent took the +longer and circuitous, but more open, route to attain their place +in the march, by keeping at some distance from the infantry, and +making their way through the inclosures to the right, at the +expense of leaping over or pulling down the drystone fences. The +irregular appearance and vanishing of these small parties of +horsemen, as well as the confusion occasioned by those who +endeavoured, though generally without effect, to press to the +front through the crowd of Highlanders, maugre their curses, +oaths, and opposition, added to the picturesque wildness what it +took from the military regularity of the scene. + +While Waverley gazed upon this remarkable spectacle, rendered yet +more impressive by the occasional discharge of cannon-shot from +the Castle at the Highland guards as they were withdrawn from its +vicinity to join their main body, Callum, with his usual freedom +of interference, reminded him that Vich lan Vohr's folk were +nearly at the head of the column of march which was still distant, +and that 'they would gang very fast after the cannon fired.' Thus +admonished, Waverley walked briskly forward, yet often casting a +glance upon the darksome clouds of warriors who were collected +before and beneath him. A nearer view, indeed, rather diminished +the effect impressed on the mind by the more distant appearance of +the army. The leading men of each clan were well armed with broad- +sword, target, and fusee, to which all added the dirk, and most +the steel pistol. But these consisted of gentlemen, that is, +relations of the chief, however distant, and who had an immediate +title to his countenance and protection. Finer and hardier men +could not have been selected out of any army in Christendom; while +the free and independent habits which each possessed, and which +each was yet so well taught to subject to the command of his +chief, and the peculiar mode of discipline adopted in Highland +warfare, rendered them equally formidable by their individual +courage and high spirit, and from their rational conviction of the +necessity of acting in unison, and of giving their national mode +of attack the fullest opportunity of success. + +But, in a lower rank to these, there were found individuals of an +inferior description, the common peasantry of the Highland +country, who, although they did not allow themselves to be so +called, and claimed often, with apparent truth, to be of more +ancient descent than the masters whom they served, bore, +nevertheless, the livery of extreme penury, being indifferently +accoutred, and worse armed, half naked, stinted in growth, and +miserable in aspect. Each important clan had some of those Helots +attached to them: thus, the MacCouls, though tracing their descent +from Comhal, the father of Finn or Fingal, were a sort of +Gibeonites, or hereditary servants to the Stewarts of Appin; the +Macbeths, descended from the unhappy monarch of that name, were +subjects to the Morays and clan Donnochy, or Robertsons of Athole; +and many other examples might be given, were it not for the risk +of hurting any pride of clanship which may yet be left, and +thereby drawing a Highland tempest into the shop of my publisher. +Now these same Helots, though forced into the field by the +arbitrary authority of the chieftains under whom they hewed wood +and drew water, were in general very sparingly fed, ill dressed, +and worse armed. The latter circumstance was indeed owing chiefly +to the general disarming act, which had been carried into effect +ostensibly through the whole Highlands, although most of the +chieftains contrived to elude its influence by retaining the +weapons of their own immediate clansmen, and delivering up those +of less value, which they collected from these inferior +satellites. It followed, as a matter of course, that, as we have +already hinted, many of these poor fellows were brought to the +field in a very wretched condition. + +From this it happened that, in bodies, the van of which were +admirably well armed in their own fashion, the rear resembled +actual banditti. Here was a pole-axe, there a sword without a +scabbard; here a gun without a lock, there a scythe set straight +upon a pole; and some had only their dirks, and bludgeons or +stakes pulled out of hedges. The grim, uncombed, and wild +appearance of these men, most of whom gazed with all the +admiration of ignorance upon the most ordinary productions of +domestic art, created surprise in the Lowlands, but it also +created terror. So little was the condition of the Highlands known +at that late period that the character and appearance of their +population, while thus sallying forth as military adventurers, +conveyed to the South-Country Lowlanders as much surprise as if an +invasion of African Negroes or Esquimaux Indians had issued forth +from the northern mountains of their own native country. It cannot +therefore be wondered if Waverley, who had hitherto judged of the +Highlanders generally from the samples which the policy of Fergus +had from time to time exhibited, should have felt damped and +astonished at the daring attempt of a body not then exceeding four +thousand men, and of whom not above half the number, at the +utmost, were armed, to change the fate and alter the dynasty of +the British kingdoms. + +As he moved along the column, which still remained stationary, an +iron gun, the only piece of artillery possessed by the army which +meditated so important a revolution, was fired as the signal of +march. The Chevalier had expressed a wish to leave this useless +piece of ordnance behind him; but, to his surprise, the Highland +chiefs interposed to solicit that it might accompany their march, +pleading the prejudices of their followers, who, little accustomed +to artillery, attached a degree of absurd importance to this +field-piece, and expected it would contribute essentially to a +victory which they could only owe to their own muskets and +broadswords. Two or three French artillerymen were therefore +appointed to the management of this military engine, which was +drawn along by a string of Highland ponies, and was, after all, +only used for the purpose of firing signals. [Footnote: See Note +6.] + +No sooner was its voice heard upon the present occasion than the +whole line was in motion. A wild cry of joy from the advancing +batallions rent the air, and was then lost in the shrill clangour +of the bagpipes, as the sound of these, in their turn, was +partially drowned by the heavy tread of so many men put at once +into motion. The banners glittered and shook as they moved +forward, and the horse hastened to occupy their station as the +advanced guard, and to push on reconnoitring parties to ascertain +and report the motions of the enemy. They vanished from Waverley's +eye as they wheeled round the base of Arthur's Seat, under the +remarkable ridge of basaltic rocks which fronts the little lake of +Duddingston. + +The infantry followed in the same direction, regulating their pace +by another body which occupied a road more to the southward. It +cost Edward some exertion of activity to attain the place which +Fergus's followers occupied in the line of march. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +AN INCIDENT GIVES RISE TO UNAVAILING REFLECTIONS + + +When Waverley reached that part of the column which was filled by +the clan of Mac-Ivor, they halted, formed, and received him with a +triumphant flourish upon the bagpipes and a loud shout of the men, +most of whom knew him personally, and were delighted to see him in +the dress of their country and of their sept. 'You shout,' said a +Highlander of a neighbouring clan to Evan Dhu, 'as if the +Chieftain were just come to your head.' + +'_Mar e Bran is e a brathair_, If it be not Bran, it is Bran's +brother,' was the proverbial reply of Maccombich. [Footnote: Bran, +the well-known dog of Fingal. is often the theme of Highland +proverb as well as song.] + +'O, then, it is the handsome Sassenach duinhe-wassel that is to be +married to Lady Flora?' + +'That may be, or it may not be; and it is neither your matter nor +mine, Gregor.' + +Fergus advanced to embrace the volunteer, and afford him a warm +and hearty welcome; but he thought it necessary to apologize for +the diminished numbers of his battalion (which did not exceed +three hundred men) by observing he had sent a good many out upon +parties. + +The real fact, however, was, that the defection of Donald Bean +Lean had deprived him of at least thirty hardy fellows, whose +services he had fully reckoned upon, and that many of his +occasional adherents had been recalled by their several chiefs to +the standards to which they most properly owed their allegiance. +The rival chief of the great northern branch, also, of his own +clan had mustered his people, although he had not yet declared +either for the government or for the Chevalier, and by his +intrigues had in some degree diminished the force with which +Fergus took the field. To make amends for these disappointments, +it was universally admitted that the followers of Vich Ian Vohr, +in point of appearance, equipment, arms, and dexterity in using +them, equalled the most choice troops which followed the standard +of Charles Edward. Old Ballenkeiroch acted as his major; and, with +the other officers who had known Waverley when at Glennaquoich, +gave our hero a cordial reception, as the sharer of their future +dangers and expected honours. + +The route pursued by the Highland army, after leaving the village +of Duddingston, was for some time the common post-road betwixt +Edinburgh and Haddington, until they crossed the Esk at +Musselburgh, when, instead of keeping the low grounds towards the +sea, they turned more inland, and occupied the brow of the +eminence called Carberry Hill, a place already distinguished in +Scottish history as the spot where the lovely Mary surrendered +herself to her insurgent subjects. This direction was chosen +because the Chevalier had received notice that the army of the +government, arriving by sea from Aberdeen, had landed at Dunbar, +and quartered the night before to the west of Haddington, with the +intention of falling down towards the sea-side, and approaching +Edinburgh by the lower coast-road. By keeping the height, which +overhung that road in many places, it was hoped the Highlanders +might find an opportunity of attacking them to advantage. The army +therefore halted upon the ridge of Carberry Hill, both to refresh +the soldiers and as a central situation from which their march +could be directed to any point that the motions of the enemy might +render most advisable. While they remained in this position a +messenger arrived in haste to desire Mac-Ivor to come to the +Prince, adding that their advanced post had had a skirmish with +some of the enemy's cavalry, and that the Baron of Bradwardine had +sent in a few prisoners. + +Waverley walked forward out of the line to satisfy his curiosity, +and soon observed five or six of the troopers who, covered with +dust, had galloped in to announce that the enemy were in full +march westward along the coast. Passing still a little farther on, +he was struck with a groan which issued from a hovel. He +approached the spot, and heard a voice, in the provincial English +of his native county, which endeavoured, though frequently +interrupted by pain, to repeat the Lord's Prayer. The voice of +distress always found a ready answer in our hero's bosom. He +entered the hovel, which seemed to be intended for what is called, +in the pastoral counties of Scotland, a smearing-house; and in its +obscurity Edward could only at first discern a sort of red bundle; +for those who had stripped the wounded man of his arms and part of +his clothes had left him the dragoon-cloak in which he was +enveloped. + +'For the love of God,' said the wounded man, as he heard +Waverley's step, 'give me a single drop of water!' + +'You shall have it,' answered Waverley, at the same time raising +him in his arms, bearing him to the door of the hut, and giving +him some drink from his flask. + +'I should know that voice,' said the man; but looking on +Waverley's dress with a bewildered look--'no, this is not the +young squire!' + +This was the common phrase by which Edward was distinguished on +the estate of Waverley-Honour, and the sound now thrilled to his +heart with the thousand recollections which the well-known accents +of his native country had already contributed to awaken. +'Houghton!' he said, gazing on the ghastly features which death +was fast disfiguring, 'can this be you?' + +'I never thought to hear an English voice again,' said the wounded +man;'they left me to live or die here as I could, when they found +I would say nothing about the strength of the regiment. But, O +squire! how could you stay from us so long, and let us be tempted +by that fiend of the pit, Ruffin? we should have followed you +through flood and fire, to be sure.' + +'Ruffin! I assure you, Houghton, you have been vilely imposed +upon.' + +'I often thought so,' said Houghton,'though they showed us your +very seal; and so Tims was shot and I was reduced to the ranks.' + +'Do not exhaust your strength in speaking,' said Edward; 'I will +get you a surgeon presently.' + +He saw Mac-Ivor approaching, who was now returning from +headquarters, where he had attended a council of war, and hastened +to meet him. 'Brave news!' shouted the Chief; 'we shall be at it in +less than two hours. The Prince has put himself at the head of the +advance, and, as he drew his sword, called out, "My friends, I +have thrown away the scabbard." Come, Waverley, we move +instantly.' + +'A moment--a moment; this poor prisoner is dying; where shall I +find a surgeon?' + +'Why, where should you? We have none, you know, but two or three +French fellows, who, I believe, are little better than _garçons +apothecaires_.' + +'But the man will bleed to death.' + +'Poor fellow!' said Fergus, in a momentary fit of compassion; then +instantly added, 'But it will be a thousand men's fate before +night; so come along.' + +'I cannot; I tell you he is a son of a tenant of my uncle's.' + +'O, if he's a follower of yours he must be looked to; I'll send +Callum to you; but _diaoul! ceade millia mottigheart_,' continued +the impatient Chieftain, 'what made an old soldier like +Bradwardine send dying men here to cumber us?' + +Callum came with his usual alertness; and, indeed, Waverley rather +gained than lost in the opinion of the Highlanders by his anxiety +about the wounded man. They would not have understood the general +philanthropy which rendered it almost impossible for Waverley to +have passed any person in such distress; but, as apprehending that +the sufferer was one of his _following_ they unanimously allowed +that Waverley's conduct was that of a kind and considerate +chieftain, who merited the attachment of his people. In about a +quarter of an hour poor Humphrey breathed his last, praying his +young master, when he returned to Waverley-Honour, to be kind to +old Job Houghton and his dame, and conjuring him not to fight with +these wild petticoat-men against old England. + +When his last breath was drawn, Waverley, who had beheld with +sincere sorrow, and no slight tinge of remorse, the final agonies +of mortality, now witnessed for the first time, commanded Callum +to remove the body into the hut. This the young Highlander +performed, not without examining the pockets of the defunct, +which, however, he remarked had been pretty well spunged. He took +the cloak, however, and proceeding with the provident caution of a +spaniel hiding a bone, concealed it among some furze and carefully +marked the spot, observing that, if he chanced to return that way, +it would be an excellent rokelay for his auld mother Elspat. + +It was by a considerable exertion that they regained their place +in the marching column, which was now moving rapidly forward to +occupy the high grounds above the village of Tranent, between +which and the sea lay the purposed march of the opposite army. + +This melancholy interview with his late sergeant forced many +unavailing and painful reflections upon Waverley's mind. It was +clear from the confession of the man that Colonel Gardiner's +proceedings had been strictly warranted, and even rendered +indispensable, by the steps taken in Edward's name to induce the +soldiers of his troop to mutiny. The circumstance of the seal he +now, for the first time, recollected, and that he had lost it in +the cavern of the robber, Bean Lean. That the artful villain had +secured it, and used it as the means of carrying on an intrigue in +the regiment for his own purposes, was sufficiently evident; and +Edward had now little doubt that in the packet placed in his +portmanteau by his daughter he should find farther light upon his +proceedings. In the meanwhile the repeated expostulation of +Houghton--'Ah, squire, why did you leave us?' rung like a knell in +his ears. + +'Yes,' he said, 'I have indeed acted towards you with thoughtless +cruelty. I brought you from your paternal fields, and the +protection of a generous and kind landlord, and when I had +subjected you to all the rigour of military discipline, I shunned +to bear my own share of the burden, and wandered from the duties I +had undertaken, leaving alike those whom it was my business to +protect, and my own reputation, to suffer under the artifices of +villainy. O, indolence and indecision of mind, if not in +yourselves vices--to how much exquisite misery and mischief do you +frequently prepare the way!' + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +THE EVE OF BATTLE + + +Although the Highlanders marched on very fast, the sun was +declining when they arrived upon the brow of those high grounds +which command an open and extensive plain stretching northward to +the sea, on which are situated, but at a considerable distance +from each other, the small villages of Seaton and Cockenzie, and +the larger one of Preston. One of the low coastroads to Edinburgh +passed through this plain, issuing upon it from the enclosures of +Seaton House, and at the town or village of Preston again entering +the denies of an enclosed country. By this way the English general +had chosen to approach the metropolis, both as most commodious for +his cavalry, and being probably of opinion that by doing so he +would meet in front with the Highlanders advancing from Edinburgh +in the opposite direction. In this he was mistaken; for the sound +judgment of the Chevalier, or of those to whose advice he +listened, left the direct passage free, but occupied the strong +ground by which it was overlooked and commanded. + +When the Highlanders reached the heights above the plain +described, they were immediately formed in array of battle along +the brow of the hill. Almost at the same instant the van of the +English appeared issuing from among the trees and enclosures of +Seaton, with the purpose of occupying the level plain between the +high ground and the sea; the space which divided the armies being +only about half a mile in breadth. Waverley could plainly see the +squadrons of dragoons issue, one after another, from the defiles, +with their videttes in front, and form upon the plain, with their +front opposed to that of the Prince's army. They were followed by +a train of field-pieces, which, when they reached the flank of the +dragoons, were also brought into line and pointed against the +heights. The march was continued by three or four regiments of +infantry marching in open column, their fixed bayonets showing +like successive hedges of steel, and their arms glancing like +lightning, as, at a signal given, they also at once wheeled up, +and were placed in direct opposition to the Highlanders. A second +train of artillery, with another regiment of horse, closed the +long march, and formed on the left flank of the infantry, the +whole line facing southward. + +While the English army went through these evolutions, the +Highlanders showed equal promptitude and zeal for battle. As fast +as the clans came upon the ridge which fronted their enemy, they +were formed into line, so that both armies got into complete order +of battle at the same moment. When this was accomplished, the +Highlanders set up a tremendous yell, which was re-echoed by the +heights behind them. The regulars, who were in high spirits, +returned a loud shout of defiance, and fired one or two of their +cannon upon an advanced post of the Highlanders. The latter +displayed great earnestness to proceed instantly to the attack, +Evan Dhu urging to Fergus, by way of argument, that 'the SIDIER +ROY was tottering like an egg upon a staff, and that they had a' +the vantage of the onset, for even a haggis (God bless her!) could +charge down hill.' + +But the ground through which the mountaineers must have descended, +although not of great extent, was impracticable in its +character, being not only marshy but intersected with walls of dry +stone, and traversed in its whole length by a very broad and deep +ditch, circumstances which must have given the musketry of the +regulars dreadful advantages before the mountaineers could have +used their swords, on which they were taught to rely. The +authority of the commanders was therefore interposed to curb the +impetuosity of the Highlanders, and only a few marksmen were sent +down the descent to skirmish with the enemy's advanced posts and +to reconnoitre the ground. + +Here, then, was a military spectacle of no ordinary interest or +usual occurrence. The two armies, so different in aspect and +discipline, yet each admirably trained in its own peculiar mode of +war, upon whose conflict the temporary fate at least of Scotland +appeared to depend, now faced each other like two gladiators in +the arena, each meditating upon the mode of attacking their enemy. +The leading officers and the general's staff of each army could be +distinguished in front of their lines, busied with spy-glasses to +watch each other's motions, and occupied in despatching the orders +and receiving the intelligence conveyed by the aides-de-camp and +orderly men, who gave life to the scene by galloping along in +different directions, as if the fate of the day depended upon +the speed of their horses. The space between the armies was at +times occupied by the partial and irregular contest of individual +sharp-shooters, and a hat or bonnet was occasionally seen to +fall, as a wounded man was borne off by his comrades. These, +however, were but trifling skirmishes, for it suited the views +of neither party to advance in that direction. From the +neighbouring hamlets the peasantry cautiously showed themselves, +as if watching the issue of the expected engagement; and at no +great distance in the bay were two square-rigged vessels, bearing +the English flag, whose tops and yards were crowded with less +timid spectators. + +When this awful pause had lasted for a short time, Fergus, with +another chieftain, received orders to detach their clans towards +the village of Preston, in order to threaten the right flank of +Cope's army and compel him to a change of position. To enable him +to execute these orders, the Chief of Glennaquoich occupied the +church-yard of Tranent, a commanding situation, and a convenient +place, as Evan Dhu remarked, 'for any gentleman who might have the +misfortune to be killed, and chanced to be curious about Christian +burial.' To check or dislodge this party, the English general +detached two guns, escorted by a strong party of cavalry. They +approached so near that Waverley could plainly recognise the +standard of the troop he had formerly commanded, and hear the +trumpets and kettle-drums sound the signal of advance which he had +so often obeyed. He could hear, too, the well-known word given in +the English dialect by the equally well-distinguished voice of the +commanding officer, for whom he had once felt so much respect. It +was at that instant, that, looking around him, he saw the wild +dress and appearance of his Highland associates, heard their +whispers in an uncouth and unknown language, looked upon his own +dress, so unlike that which he had worn from his infancy, and +wished to awake from what seemed at the moment a dream, strange, +horrible, and unnatural. 'Good God!' he muttered, 'am I then a +traitor to my country, a renegade to my standard, and a foe, as +that poor dying wretch expressed himself, to my native England!' + +Ere he could digest or smother the recollection, the tall military +form of his late commander came full in view, for the purpose of +reconnoitring. 'I can hit him now,' said Callum, cautiously +raising his fusee over the wall under which he lay couched, at +scarce sixty yards' distance. + +Edward felt as if he was about to see a parricide committed in his +presence; for the venerable grey hair and striking countenance of +the veteran recalled the almost paternal respect with which his +officers universally regarded him. But ere he could say 'Hold!' an +aged Highlander who lay beside Callum Beg stopped his arm. 'Spare +your shot,' said the seer, 'his hour is not yet come. But let him +beware of to-morrow; I see his winding-sheet high upon his +breast.' + +Callum, flint to other considerations, was penetrable to +superstition. He turned pale at the words of the _taishatr_, and +recovered his piece. Colonel Gardiner, unconscious of the danger +he had escaped, turned his horse round and rode slowly back to the +front of his regiment. + +By this time the regular army had assumed a new line, with one +flank inclined towards the sea and the other resting upon the +village of Preston; and, as similar difficulties occurred in +attacking their new position, Fergus and the rest of the +detachment were recalled to their former post. This alteration +created the necessity of a corresponding change in General Cope's +army, which was again brought into a line parallel with that of +the Highlanders. In these manoeuvres on both sides the daylight +was nearly consumed, and both armies prepared to rest upon their +arms for the night in the lines which they respectively occupied. + +'There will be nothing done to-night,' said Fergus to his friend +Waverley; 'ere we wrap ourselves in our plaids, let us go see what +the Baron is doing in the rear of the line.' + +When they approached his post, they found the good old careful +officer, after having sent out his night patrols and posted his +sentinels, engaged in reading the Evening Service of the Episcopal +Church to the remainder of his troop. His voice was loud and +sonorous, and though his spectacles upon his nose, and the +appearance of Saunders Saunderson, in military array, performing +the functions of clerk, had something ludicrous, yet the +circumstances of danger in which they stood, the military costume +of the audience, and the appearance of their horses saddled and +picqueted behind them, gave an impressive and solemn effect to the +office of devotion. + +'I have confessed to-day, ere you were awake,' whispered Fergus to +Waverley; 'yet I am not so strict a Catholic as to refuse to join +in this good man's prayers.' + +Edward assented, and they remained till the Baron had concluded +the service. + +As he shut the book, 'Now, lads,' said he, 'have at them in the +morning with heavy hands and light consciences.' He then kindly +greeted Mac-Ivor and Waverley, who requested to know his opinion +of their situation. Why, you know Tacitus saith, "In rebus +bellicis maxime dominalur Fortuna," which is equiponderate with +our vernacular adage, "Luck can maist in the mellee." But credit +me, gentlemen, yon man is not a deacon o' his craft. He damps the +spirits of the poor lads he commands by keeping them on the +defensive, whilk of itself implies inferiority or fear. Now will +they lie on their arms yonder as anxious and as ill at ease as a +toad under a harrow, while our men will be quite fresh and blithe +for action in the morning. Well, good-night. One thing troubles +me, but if to-morrow goes well off, I will consult you about it, +Glennaquoich.' + +'I could almost apply to Mr. Bradwardine the character which Henry +gives of Fluellen,' said Waverley, as his friend and he walked +towards their bivouac: + + 'Though it appears a little out of fashion, + There is much care and valour in this "Scotchman."' + +'He has seen much service,' answered Fergus, 'and one is sometimes +astonished to find how much nonsense and reason are mingled in his +composition. I wonder what can be troubling his mind; probably +something about Rose. Hark! the English are setting their watch.' + +The roll of the drum and shrill accompaniment of the fifes swelled +up the hill--died away--resumed its thunder--and was at length +hushed. The trumpets and kettle-drums of the cavalry were next +heard to perform the beautiful and wild point of war appropriated +as a signal for that piece of nocturnal duty, and then finally +sunk upon the wind with a shrill and mournful cadence. + +The friends, who had now reached their post, stood and looked +round them ere they lay down to rest. The western sky twinkled +with stars, but a frost-mist, rising from the ocean, covered the +eastern horizon, and rolled in white wreaths along the plain where +the adverse army lay couched upon their arms. Their advanced posts +were pushed as far as the side of the great ditch at the bottom of +the descent, and had kindled large fires at different intervals, +gleaming with obscure and hazy lustre through the heavy fog which +encircled them with a doubtful halo. + +The Highlanders, 'thick as leaves in Vallombrosa,' lay stretched +upon the ridge of the hill, buried (excepting their sentinels) in +the most profound repose. 'How many of these brave fellows will +sleep more soundly before to-morrow night, Fergus!' said Waverley, +with an involuntary sigh. + +'You must notthink of that,' answered Fergus, whose ideas were +entirely military. 'You must only think of your sword, and by whom +it was given. All other reflections are now TOO LATE.' + +With the opiate contained in this undeniable remark Edward +endeavoured to lull the tumult of his conflicting feelings. The +Chieftain and he, combining their plaids, made a comfortable and +warm couch. Callum, sitting down at their head (for it was his +duty to watch upon the immediate person of the Chief), began a +long mournful song in Gaelic, to a low and uniform tune, which, +like the sound of the wind at a distance, soon lulled them to +sleep. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +THE CONFLICT + + +When Fergus Mac-Ivor and his friend had slept for a few hours, +they were awakened and summoned to attend the Prince. The distant +village clock was heard to toll three as they hastened to the +place where he lay. He was already surrounded by his principal +officers and the chiefs of clans. A bundle of pease-straw, which +had been lately his couch, now served for his seat. Just as Fergus +reached the circle, the consultation had broken up. 'Courage, my +brave friends!' said the Chevalier, 'and each one put himself +instantly at the head of his command; a faithful friend [Footnote: +See Note 7.] has offered to guide us by a practicable, though +narrow and circuitous, route, which, sweeping to our right, +traverses the broken ground and morass, and enables us to gain the +firm and open plain upon which the enemy are lying. This +difficulty surmounted, Heaven and your good swords must do the +rest.' + +The proposal spread unanimous joy, and each leader hastened to get +his men into order with as little noise as possible. The army, +moving by its right from off the ground on which they had rested, +soon entered the path through the morass, conducting their march +with astonishing silence and great rapidity. The mist had not +risen to the higher grounds, so that for some time they had the +advantage of star-light. But this was lost as the stars faded +before approaching day, and the head of the marching column, +continuing its descent, plunged as it were into the heavy ocean of +fog, which rolled its white waves over the whole plain, and over +the sea by which it was bounded. Some difficulties were now to be +encountered, inseparable from darkness, a narrow, broken, and +marshy path, and the necessity of preserving union in the march. +These, however, were less inconvenient to Highlanders, from their +habits of life, than they would have been to any other troops, and +they continued a steady and swift movement. + +As the clan of Ivor approached the firm ground, following the +track of those who preceded them, the challenge of a patrol was +heard through the mist, though they could not see the dragoon by +whom it was made--'Who goes there?' + +'Hush!' cried Fergus, 'hush! let none answer, as he values his +life; press forward'; and they continued their march with silence +and rapidity. + +The patrol fired his carabine upon the body, and the report was +instantly followed by the clang of his horse's feet as he galloped +off. 'Hylax in limine latrat,' said the Baron of Bradwardine, who +heard the shot;'that loon will give the alarm.' + +The clan of Fergus had now gained the firm plain, which had lately +borne a large crop of corn. But the harvest was gathered in, and +the expanse was unbroken by tree, bush, or interruption of any +kind. The rest of the army were following fast, when they heard +the drums of the enemy beat the general. Surprise, however, had +made no part of their plan, so they were not disconcerted by this +intimation that the foe was upon his guard and prepared to receive +them. It only hastened their dispositions for the combat, which +were very simple. + +The Highland army, which now occupied the eastern end of the wide +plain, or stubble field, so often referred to, was drawn up in two +lines, extending from the morass towards the sea. The first was +destined to charge the enemy, the second to act as a reserve. The +few horse, whom the Prince headed in person, remained between the +two lines. The adventurer had intimated a resolution to charge in +person at the head of his first line; but his purpose was +deprecated by all around him, and he was with difficulty induced +to abandon it. + +Both lines were now moving forward, the first prepared for instant +combat. The clans of which it was composed formed each a sort of +separate phalanx, narrow in front, and in depth ten, twelve, or +fifteen files, according to the strength of the following. The +best-armed and best-born, for the words were synonymous, were +placed in front of each of these irregular subdivisions. The +others in the rear shouldered forward the front, and by their +pressure added both physical impulse and additional ardour and +confidence to those who were first to encounter the danger. + +'Down with your plaid, Waverley,' cried Fergus, throwing off his +own; 'we'll win silks for our tartans before the sun is above the +sea.' + +The clansmen on every side stript their plaids, prepared their +arms, and there was an awful pause of about three minutes, during +which the men, pulling off their bonnets, raised their faces to +heaven and uttered a short prayer; then pulled their bonnets over +their brows and began to move forward, at first slowly. Waverley +felt his heart at that moment throb as it would have burst from +his bosom. It was not fear, it was not ardour: it was a compound +of both, a new and deeply energetic impulse that with its first +emotion chilled and astounded, then fevered and maddened his mind. +The sounds around him combined to exalt his enthusiasm; the pipes +played, and the clans rushed forward, each in its own dark column. +As they advanced they mended their pace, and the muttering sounds +of the men to each other began to swell into a wild cry. + +At this moment the sun, which was now risen above the horizon, +dispelled the mist. The vapours rose like a curtain, and showed +the two armies in the act of closing. The line of the regulars was +formed directly fronting the attack of the Highlanders; it +glittered with the appointments of a complete army, and was +flanked by cavalry and artillery. But the sight impressed no +terror on the assailants. + +'Forward, sons of Ivor,' cried their Chief, 'or the Camerons will +draw the first blood!' They rushed on with a tremendous yell. + +The rest is well known. The horse, who were commanded to charge +the advancing Highlanders in the flank, received an irregular fire +from their fusees as they ran on and, seized with a disgraceful +panic, wavered, halted, disbanded, and galloped from the field. +The artillery men, deserted by the cavalry, fled after discharging +their pieces, and the Highlanders, who dropped their guns when +fired and drew their broadswords, rushed with headlong fury +against the infantry. + +It was at this moment of confusion and terror that Waverley +remarked an English officer, apparently of high rank, standing, +alone and unsupported, by a fieldpiece, which, after the flight of +the men by whom it was wrought, he had himself levelled and +discharged against the clan of Mac-Ivor, the nearest group of +Highlanders within his aim. Struck with his tall, martial figure, +and eager to save him from inevitable destruction, Waverley +outstripped for an instant even the speediest of the warriors, +and, reaching the spot first, called to him to surrender. The +officer replied by a thrust with his sword, which Waverley +received in his target, and in turning it aside the Englishman's +weapon broke. At the same time the battle-axe of Dugald Mahony was +in the act of descending upon the officer's head. Waverley +intercepted and prevented the blow, and the officer, perceiving +further resistance unavailing, and struck with Edward's generous +anxiety for his safety, resigned the fragment of his sword, and +was committed by Waverley to Dugald, with strict charge to use him +well, and not to pillage his person, promising him, at the same +time, full indemnification for the spoil. + +On Edward's right the battle for a few minutes raged fierce and +thick. The English infantry, trained in the wars in Flanders, +stood their ground with great courage. But their extended files +were pierced and broken in many places by the close masses of the +clans; and in the personal struggle which ensued the nature of the +Highlanders' weapons, and their extraordinary fierceness and +activity, gave them a decided superiority over those who had been +accustomed to trust much to their array and discipline, and felt +that the one was broken and the other useless. Waverley, as he +cast his eyes towards this scene of smoke and slaughter, observed +Colonel Gardiner, deserted by his own soldiers in spite of all his +attempts to rally them, yet spurring his horse through the field +to take the command of a small body of infantry, who, with their +backs arranged against the wall of his own park (for his house was +close by the field of battle), continued a desperate and +unavailing resistance. Waverley could perceive that he had already +received many wounds, his clothes and saddle being marked with +blood. To save this good and brave man became the instant object +of his most anxious exertions. But he could only witness his fall. +Ere Edward could make his way among the Highlanders, who, furious +and eager for spoil, now thronged upon each other, he saw his +former commander brought from his horse by the blow of a scythe, +and beheld him receive, while on the ground, more wounds than +would have let out twenty lives. When Waverley came up, however, +perception had not entirely fled. The dying warrior seemed to +recognize Edward, for he fixed his eye upon him with an +upbraiding, yet sorrowful, look, and appeared to struggle, for +utterance. But he felt that death was dealing closely with him, +and resigning his purpose, and folding his hands as if in +devotion, he gave up his soul to his Creator. The look with which +he regarded Waverley in his dying moments did not strike him so +deeply at that crisis of hurry and confusion as when it recurred +to his imagination at the distance of some time. [Footnote: See +Note 8.] + +Loud shouts of triumph now echoed over the whole field. The battle +was fought and won, and the whole baggage, artillery, and military +stores of the regular army remained in possession of the victors. +Never was a victory more complete. Scarce any escaped from the +battle, excepting the cavalry, who had left it at the very onset, +and even these were broken into different parties and scattered +all over the country. So far as our tale is concerned, we have +only to relate the fate of Balmawhapple, who, mounted on a horse +as headstrong and stiff-necked as his rider, pursued the flight of +the dragoons above four miles from the field of battle, when some +dozen of the fugitives took heart of grace, turned round, and +cleaving his skull with their broadswords, satisfied the world +that the unfortunate gentleman had actually brains, the end of his +life thus giving proof of a fact greatly doubted during its +progress. His death was lamented by few. Most of those who knew +him agreed in the pithy observation of Ensign Maccombich, that +there 'was mair tint (lost) at Sheriff-Muir.' His friend, +Lieutenant Jinker, bent his eloquence only to exculpate his +favourite mare from any share in contributing to the catastrophe. +'He had tauld the laird a thousand times,' he said, 'that it was a +burning shame to put a martingale upon the puir thing, when he +would needs ride her wi' a curb of half a yard lang; and that he +could na but bring himsell (not to say her) to some mischief, by +flinging her down, or otherwise; whereas, if he had had a wee bit +rinnin ring on the snaffle, she wad ha' rein'd as cannily as a +cadger's pownie.' + +Such was the elegy of the Laird of Balmawhapple. [Footnote: See +Note 9.] + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +AN UNEXPECTED EMBARRASSMENT + + +When the battle was over, and all things coming into order, the +Baron of Bradwardine, returning from the duty of the day, and +having disposed those under his command in their proper stations, +sought the Chieftain of Glennaquoich and his friend Edward +Waverley. He found the former busied in determining disputes among +his clansmen about points of precedence and deeds of valour, +besides sundry high and doubtful questions concerning plunder. The +most important of the last respected the property of a gold watch, +which had once belonged to some unfortunate English officer. The +party against whom judgment was awarded consoled himself by +observing, 'She (i.e. the watch, which he took for a living +animal) died the very night Vich lan Vohr gave her to Murdoch'; +the machine, having, in fact, stopped for want of winding up. + +It was just when this important question was decided that the +Baron of Bradwardine, with a careful and yet important expression +of countenance, joined the two young men. He descended from his +reeking charger, the care of which he recommended to one of his +grooms. 'I seldom ban, sir,' said he to the man; 'but if you play +any of your hound's-foot tricks, and leave puir Berwick before +he's sorted, to rin after spuilzie, deil be wi' me if I do not +give your craig a thraw.' He then stroked with great complacency +the animal which had borne him through the fatigues of the day, +and having taken a tender leave of him--' Weel, my good young +friends, a glorious and decisive victory,' said he; 'but these +loons of troopers fled ower soon. I should have liked to have +shown you the true points of the pralium equestre, or equestrian +combat, whilk their cowardice has postponed, and which I hold to +be the pride and terror of warfare. Weel--I have fought once more +in this old quarrel, though I admit I could not be so far BEN as +you lads, being that it was my point of duty to keep together our +handful of horse. And no cavalier ought in any wise to begrudge +honour that befalls his companions, even though they are ordered +upon thrice his danger, whilk, another time, by the blessing of +God, may be his own case. But, Glennaquoich, and you, Mr. +Waverley, I pray ye to give me your best advice on a matter of +mickle weight, and which deeply affects the honour of the house of +Bradwardine. I crave your pardon, Ensign Maccombich, and yours, +Inveraughlin, and yours, Edderalshendrach, and yours, sir.' + +The last person he addressed was Ballenkeiroch, who, remembering +the death of his son, loured on him with a look of savage +defiance. The Baron, quick as lightning at taking umbrage, had +already bent his brow when Glennaquoich dragged his major from the +spot, and remonstrated with him, in the authoritative tone of a +chieftain, on the madness of reviving a quarrel in such a moment. + +'The ground is cumbered with carcasses,' said the old mountaineer, +turning sullenly away; 'ONE MORE would hardly have been kenn'd upon +it; and if it wasna for yoursell, Vich lan Vohr, that one should +be Bradwardine's or mine.' + +The Chief soothed while he hurried him away; and then returned to +the Baron. 'It is Ballenkeiroch,' he said, in an under and +confidential voice, 'father of the young man who fell eight years +since in the unlucky affair at the mains.' + +'Ah!' said the Baron, instantly relaxing the doubtful sternness of +his features, 'I can take mickle frae a man to whom I have +unhappily rendered sic a displeasure as that. Ye were right to +apprise me, Glennaquoich; he may look as black as midnight at +Martinmas ere Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine shall say he does him +wrang. Ah! I have nae male lineage, and I should bear with one I +have made childless, though you are aware the blood-wit was made +up to your ain satisfaction by assythment, and that I have since +expedited letters of slains. Weel, as I have said, I have no male +issue, and yet it is needful that I maintain the honour of my +house; and it is on that score I prayed ye for your peculiar and +private attention.' + +The two young men awaited to hear him, in anxious curiosity. + +'I doubt na, lads,' he proceeded, 'but your education has been sae +seen to that ye understand the true nature of the feudal tenures?' + +Fergus, afraid of an endless dissertation, answered, 'Intimately, +Baron,' and touched Waverley as a signal to express no ignorance. + +'And ye are aware, I doubt not, that the holding of the barony of +Bradwardine is of a nature alike honourable and peculiar, being +blanch (which Craig opines ought to be Latinated blancum, or +rather francum, a free holding) pro servitio detrahendi, seu +exuendi, caligas regis post battalliam.' Here Fergus turned his +falcon eye upon Edward, with an almost imperceptible rise of his +eyebrow, to which his shoulders corresponded in the same degree of +elevation. 'Now, twa points of dubitation occur to me upon this +topic. First, whether this service, or feudal homage, be at any +event due to the person of the Prince, the words being, per +expressum, caligas REGIS, the boots of the king himself; and I +pray your opinion anent that particular before we proceed +farther.' + +'Why, he is Prince Regent,' answered Mac-Ivor, with laudable +composure of countenance; 'and in the court of France all the +honours are rendered to the person of the Regent which are due to +that of the King. Besides, were I to pull off either of their +boots, I would render that service to the young Chevalier ten +times more willingly than to his father.' + +' Ay, but I talk not of personal predilections. However, your +authority is of great weight as to the usages of the court of +France; and doubtless the Prince, as alter ego, may have a right +to claim the homagium of the great tenants of the crown, since all +faithful subjects are commanded, in the commission of regency, to +respect him as the King's own person. Far, therefore, be it from +me to diminish the lustre of his authority by withholding this act +of homage, so peculiarly calculated to give it splendour; for I +question if the Emperor of Germany hath his boots taken off by a +free baron of the empire. But here lieth the second difficulty-- +the Prince wears no boots, but simply brogues and trews.' + +This last dilemma had almost disturbed Fergus's gravity. + +'Why,' said he, 'you know, Baron, the proverb tells us, "It's ill +taking the breeks off a Highlandman," and the boots are here in +the same predicament.' + +'The word caligae, however,' continued the Baron, 'though I admit +that, by family tradition, and even in our ancient evidents, it is +explained "lie-boots," means, in its primitive sense, rather +sandals; and Caius Caesar, the nephew and successor of Caius +Tiberius, received the agnomen of Caligula, a caligulis sine +caligis levioribus, quibus adolescentior usus fuerat in exercitu +Germanici patris sui. And the caligae were also proper to the +monastic bodies; for we read in an ancient glossarium upon the +rule of Saint Benedict, in the Abbey of Saint Amand, that caligae +were tied with latchets.' + +'That will apply to the brogues,' said Fergus. + +'It will so, my dear Glennaquoich, and the words are express: +Caligae, dicta sunt quia ligantur; nam socci non ligantur, sed +tantum intromittuntur; that is, caligae are denominated from the +ligatures wherewith they are bound; whereas socci, which may be +analogous to our mules, whilk the English denominate slippers, are +only slipped upon the feet. The words of the charter are also +alternative, exuere seu detrahere; that is, to undo, as in the +case of sandals or brogues, and to pull of, as we say vernacularly +concerning boots. Yet I would we had more light; but I fear there +is little chance of finding hereabout any erudite author de re +vestiaria.' + +'I should doubt it very much,' said the Chieftain, looking around +on the straggling Highlanders, who were returning loaded with +spoils of the slain,'though the res vestiaria itself seems to be +in some request at present.' + +This remark coming within the Baron's idea of jocularity, he +honoured it with a smile, but immediately resumed what to him +appeared very serious business. + +'Bailie Macwheeble indeed holds an opinion that this honorary +service is due, from its very nature, si petatur tantum; only if +his Royal Highness shall require of the great tenant of the crown +to perform that personal duty; and indeed he pointed out the case +in Dirleton's Doubts and Queries, Grippit versus Spicer, anent the +eviction of an estate ob non solutum canonem; that is, for non- +payment of a feu-duty of three pepper-corns a year, whilk were +taxt to be worth seven-eighths of a penny Scots, in whilk the +defender was assoilzied. But I deem it safest, wi' your good +favour, to place myself in the way of rendering the Prince this +service, and to proffer performance thereof; and I shall cause the +Bailie to attend with a schedule of a protest, whilk he has here +prepared (taking out a paper), intimating, that if it shall be his +Royal Highness's pleasure to accept of other assistance at pulling +off his caligae (whether the same shall be rendered boots or +brogues) save that of the said Baron of Bradwardine, who is in +presence ready and willing to perform the same, it shall in no +wise impinge upon or prejudice the right of the said Cosmo Comyne +Bradwardine to perform the said service in future; nor shall it +give any esquire, valet of the chamber, squire, or page, whose +assistance it may please his Royal Highness to employ, any right, +title, or ground for evicting from the said Cosmo Comyne +Bradwardine the estate and barony of Bradwardine, and others held +as aforesaid, by the due and faithful performance thereof.' + +Fergus highly applauded this arrangement; and the Baron took a +friendly leave of them, with a smile of contented importance upon +his visage. + +'Long live our dear friend the Baron,' exclaimed the Chief, as +soon as he was out of hearing, 'for the most absurd original that +exists north of the Tweed! I wish to heaven I had recommended him +to attend the circle this evening with a boot-ketch under his arm. +I think he might have adopted the suggestion if it had been made +with suitable gravity.' + +'And how can you take pleasure in making a man of his worth so +ridiculous?' + +'Begging pardon, my dear Waverley, you are as ridiculous as he. +Why, do you not see that the man's whole mind is wrapped up in +this ceremony? He has heard and thought of it since infancy as the +most august privilege and ceremony in the world; and I doubt not +but the expected pleasure of performing it was a principal motive +with him for taking up arms. Depend upon it, had I endeavoured to +divert him from exposing himself he would have treated me as an +ignorant, conceited coxcomb, or perhaps might have taken a fancy +to cut my throat; a pleasure which he once proposed to himself +upon some point of etiquette not half so important, in his eyes, +as this matter of boots or brogues, or whatever the caliga shall +finally be pronounced by the learned. But I must go to +headquarters, to prepare the Prince for this extraordinary scene. +My information will be well taken, for it will give him a hearty +laugh at present, and put him on his guard against laughing when +it might be very mal-a-propos. So, au revoir, my dear Waverley.' + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +THE ENGLISH PRISONER + + +The first occupation of Waverley, after he departed from the +Chieftain, was to go in quest of the officer whose life he had +saved. He was guarded, along with his companions in misfortune, +who were very numerous, in a gentleman's house near the field of +battle. + +On entering the room where they stood crowded together, Waverley +easily recognised the object of his visit, not only by the +peculiar dignity of his appearance, but by the appendage of Dugald +Mahony, with his battleaxe, who had stuck to him from the moment +of his captivity as if he had been skewered to his side. This +close attendance was perhaps for the purpose of securing his +promised reward from Edward, but it also operated to save the +English gentleman from being plundered in the scene of general +confusion; for Dugald sagaciously argued that the amount of the +salvage which he might be allowed would be regulated by the state +of the prisoner when he should deliver him over to Waverley. He +hastened to assure Waverley, therefore, with more words than he +usually employed, that he had 'keepit ta sidier roy haill, and +that he wasna a plack the waur since the fery moment when his +honour forbad her to gie him a bit clamhewit wi' her Lochaber- +axe.' + +Waverley assured Dugald of a liberal recompense, and, approaching +the English officer, expressed his anxiety to do anything which +might contribute to his convenience under his present unpleasant +circumstances. + +'I am not so inexperienced a soldier, sir,' answered the +Englishman, 'as to complain of the fortune of war. I am only +grieved to see those scenes acted in our own island which I have +often witnessed elsewhere with comparative indifference.' + +'Another such day as this,' said Waverley, 'and I trust the cause +of your regrets will be removed, and all will again return to +peace and order.' + +The officer smiled and shook his head. 'I must not forget my +situation so far as to attempt a formal confutation of that +opinion; but, notwithstanding your success and the valour which +achieved it, you have undertaken a task to which your strength +appears wholly inadequate.' + +At this moment Fergus pushed into the press. + +'Come, Edward, come along; the Prince has gone to Pinkie House for +the night; and we must follow, or lose the whole ceremony of the +caligae. Your friend, the Baron, has been guilty of a great piece +of cruelty; he has insisted upon dragging Bailie Macwheeble out to +the field of battle. Now, you must know, the Bailie's greatest +horror is an armed Highlander or a loaded gun; and there he +stands, listening to the Baron's instructions concerning the +protest, ducking his head like a sea-gull at the report of every +gun and pistol that our idle boys are firing upon the fields, and +undergoing, by way of penance, at every symptom of flinching a +severe rebuke from his patron, who would not admit the discharge +of a whole battery of cannon, within point-blank distance, as an +apology for neglecting a discourse in which the honour of his +family is interested.' + +'But how has Mr. Bradwardine got him to venture so far?' said +Edward. + +'Why, he had come as far as Musselburgh, I fancy, in hopes of +making some of our wills; and the peremptory commands of the Baron +dragged him forward to Preston after the battle was over. He +complains of one or two of our ragamuffins having put him in peril +of his life by presenting their pieces at him; but as they limited +his ransom to an English penny, I don't think we need trouble the +provost-marshal upon that subject. So come along, Waverley.' + +'Waverley!' said the English officer, with great emotion;' the +nephew of Sir Everard Waverley, of----shire?' + +'The same, sir,' replied our hero, somewhat surprised at the tone +in which he was addressed. + +'I am at once happy and grieved,' said the prisoner, 'to have met +with you.' + +'I am ignorant, sir,' answered Waverley, 'how I have deserved so +much interest.' + +'Did your uncle never mention a friend called Talbot?' + +'I have heard him talk with great regard of such a person,' +replied Edward; 'a colonel, I believe, in the army, and the +husband of Lady Emily Blandeville; but I thought Colonel Talbot +had been abroad.' + +'I am just returned,' answered the officer; 'and being in +Scotland, thought it my duty to act where my services promised to +be useful. Yes, Mr. Waverley, I am that Colonel Talbot, the +husband of the lady you have named; and I am proud to acknowledge +that I owe alike my professional rank and my domestic happiness to +your generous and noble-minded relative. Good God! that I should +find his nephew in such a dress, and engaged in such a cause!' + +'Sir,' said Fergus, haughtily, 'the dress and cause are those of +men of birth and honour.' + +'My situation forbids me to dispute your assertion,' said Colonel +Talbot; 'otherwise it were no difficult matter to show that +neither courage nor pride of lineage can gild a bad cause. But, +with Mr. Waverley's permission and yours, sir, if yours also must +be asked, I would willingly speak a few words with him on affairs +connected with his own family.' + +'Mr. Waverley, sir, regulates his own motions. You will follow me, +I suppose, to Pinkie,' said Fergus, turning to Edward, 'when you +have finished your discourse with this new acquaintance?' So +saying, the Chief of Glennaquoich adjusted his plaid with rather +more than his usual air of haughty assumption and left the +apartment. + +The interest of Waverley readily procured for Colonel Talbot the +freedom of adjourning to a large garden belonging to his place of +confinement. They walked a few paces in silence, Colonel Talbot +apparently studying how to open what he had to say; at length he +addressed Edward. + +'Mr. Waverley, you have this day saved my life; and yet I would to +God that I had lost it, ere I had found you wearing the uniform +and cockade of these men.' + +'I forgive your reproach, Colonel Talbot; it is well meant, and +your education and prejudices render it natural. But there is +nothing extraordinary in finding a man whose honour has been +publicly and unjustly assailed in the situation which promised +most fair to afford him satisfaction on his calumniators.' + +'I should rather say, in the situation most likely to confirm the +reports which they have circulated,' said Colonel Talbot, 'by +following the very line of conduct ascribed to you. Are you aware, +Mr. Waverley, of the infinite distress, and even danger, which +your present conduct has occasioned to your nearest relatives?' + +'Danger!' + +'Yes, sir, danger. When I left England your uncle and father had +been obliged to find bail to answer a charge of treason, to which +they were only admitted by the exertion of the most powerful +interest. I came down to Scotland with the sole purpose of +rescuing you from the gulf into which you have precipitated +yourself; nor can I estimate the consequences to your family of +your having openly joined the rebellion, since the very suspicion +of your intention was so perilous to them. Most deeply do I regret +that I did not meet you before this last and fatal error.' + +'I am really ignorant,' said Waverley, in a tone of reserve, 'why +Colonel Talbot should have taken so much trouble on my account.' + +'Mr. Waverley,' answered Talbot, 'I am dull at apprehending irony; +and therefore I shall answer your words according to their plain +meaning. I am indebted to your uncle for benefits greater than +those which a son owes to a father. I acknowledge to him the duty +of a son; and as I know there is no manner in which I can requite +his kindness so well as by serving you, I will serve you, if +possible, whether you will permit me or no. The personal +obligation which you have this day laid me under (although, in +common estimation, as great as one human being can bestow on +another) adds nothing to my zeal on your behalf; nor can that zeal +be abated by any coolness with which you may please to receive +it.' + +'Your intentions may be kind, sir,' said Waverley, drily; 'but +your language is harsh, or at least peremptory.' + +'On my return to England,' continued Colonel Talbot, 'after long +absence, I found your uncle, Sir Everard Waverley, in the custody +of a king's messenger, in consequence of the suspicion brought +upon him by your conduct. He is my oldest friend--how often shall +I repeat it?--my best benefactor! he sacrificed his own views of +happiness to mine; he never uttered a word, he never harboured a +thought, that benevolence itself might not have thought or spoken. +I found this man in confinement, rendered harsher to him by his +habits of life, his natural dignity of feeling, and--forgive me, +Mr. Waverley--by the cause through which this calamity had come +upon him. I cannot disguise from you my feelings upon this +occasion; they were most painfully unfavorable to you. Having by +my family interest, which you probably know is not inconsiderable, +succeeded in obtaining Sir Everard's release, I set out for +Scotland. I saw Colonel Gardiner, a man whose fate alone is +sufficient to render this insurrection for ever execrable. In the +course of conversation with him I found that, from late +circumstances, from a reexamination of the persons engaged in the +mutiny, and from his original good opinion of your character, he +was much softened towards you; and I doubted not that, if I could +be so fortunate as to discover you, all might yet be well. But +this unnatural rebellion has ruined all. I have, for the first +time in a long and active military life, seen Britons disgrace +themselves by a panic flight, and that before a foe without either +arms or discipline. And now I find the heir of my dearest friend-- +the son, I may say, of his affections--sharing a triumph for +which he ought the first to have blushed. Why should I lament +Gardiner? his lot was happy compared to mine!' + +There was so much dignity in Colonel Talbot's manner, such a +mixture of military pride and manly sorrow, and the news of Sir +Everard's imprisonment was told in so deep a tone of feeling, that +Edward stood mortified, abashed, and distressed in presence of the +prisoner who owed to him his life not many hours before. He was +not sorry when Fergus interrupted their conference a second time. + +'His Royal Highness commands Mr. Waverley's attendance.' Colonel +Talbot threw upon Edward a reproachful glance, which did not +escape the quick eye of the Highland Chief. 'His immediate +attendance,' he repeated, with considerable emphasis. Waverley +turned again towards the Colonel. + +'We shall meet again,' he said; 'in the meanwhile, every possible +accommodation--' + +'I desire none,' said the Colonel; 'let me fare like the meanest +of those brave men who, on this day of calamity, have preferred +wounds and captivity to flight; I would almost exchange places +with one of those who have fallen to know that my words have made +a suitable impression on your mind.' + +'Let Colonel Talbot be carefully secured,' said Fergus to the +Highland officer who commanded the guard over the prisoners; 'it +is the Prince's particular command; he is a prisoner of the utmost +importance.' + +'But let him want no accommodation suitable to his rank,' said +Waverley. 'Consistent always with secure custody,' reiterated +Fergus. The officer signified his acquiescence in both commands, +and Edward followed Fergus to the garden-gate, where Callum Beg, +with three saddle-horses, awaited them. Turning his head, he saw +Colonel Talbot reconducted to his place of confinement by a file +of Highlanders; he lingered on the threshold of the door and made +a signal with his hand towards Waverley, as if enforcing the +language he had held towards him. + +'Horses,' said Fergus, as he mounted, 'are now as plenty as +blackberries; every man may have them for the catching. Come, let +Callum adjust your stirrups and let us to Pinkie House [Footnote: +Charles Edward took up his quarters after the battle at Pinkie +House, adjoining to Musselburgh.] as fast as these ci-devant +dragoon-horses choose to carry us.' + + + + + +CHAPTER L + +RATHER UNIMPORTANT + + +'I was turned back,' said Fergus to Edward, as they galloped from +Preston to Pinkie House, 'by a message from the Prince. But I +suppose you know the value of this most noble Colonel Talbot as a +prisoner. He is held one of the best officers among the red-coats, +a special friend and favourite of the Elector himself, and of that +dreadful hero, the Duke of Cumberland, who has been summoned from +his triumphs at Fontenoy to come over and devour us poor +Highlanders alive. Has he been telling you how the bells of St. +James's ring? Not "turn again, Whittington," like those of Bow, in +the days of yore?' + +'Fergus!' said Waverley, with a reproachful look. + +'Nay, I cannot tell what to make of you,' answered the Chief of +Mac-Ivor, 'you are blown about with every wind of doctrine. Here +have we gained a victory unparalleled in history, and your +behaviour is praised by every living mortal to the skies, and the +Prince is eager to thank you in person, and all our beauties of +the White Rose are pulling caps for you;--and you, the preux +chevalier of the day, are stooping on your horse's neck like a +butter-woman riding to market, and looking as black as a funeral!' + +'I am sorry for poor Colonel Gardiner's death; he was once very +kind to me.' + +'Why, then, be sorry for five minutes, and then be glad again; his +chance to-day may be ours to-morrow; and what does it signify? The +next best thing to victory is honourable death; but it is a PIS- +ALLER, and one would rather a foe had it than one's self.' + +'But Colonel Talbot has informed me that my father and uncle are +both imprisoned by government on my account.' + +'We'll put in bail, my boy; old Andrew Ferrara [Footnote: See Note +10] shall lodge his security; and I should like to see him put to +justify it in Westminster Hall!' + +'Nay, they are already at liberty, upon bail of a more civic +disposition.' + +'Then why is thy noble spirit cast down, Edward? Dost think that +the Elector's ministers are such doves as to set their enemies at +liberty at this critical moment if they could or durst confine and +punish them? Assure thyself that either they have no charge +against your relations on which they can continue their +imprisonment, or else they are afraid of our friends, the jolly +Cavaliers of old England. At any rate, you need not be +apprehensive upon their account; and we will find some means of +conveying to them assurances of your safety.' + +Edward was silenced but not satisfied with these reasons. He had +now been more than once shocked at the small degree of sympathy +which Fergus exhibited for the feelings even of those whom he +loved, if they did not correspond with his own mood at the time, +and more especially if they thwarted him while earnest in a +favourite pursuit. Fergus sometimes indeed observed that he had +offended Waverley, but, always intent upon some favourite plan or +project of his own, he was never sufficiently aware of the extent +or duration of his displeasure, so that the reiteration of these +petty offences somewhat cooled the volunteer's extreme attachment +to his officer. + +The Chevalier received Waverley with his usual favour, and paid +him many compliments on his distinguished bravery. He then took +him apart, made many inquiries concerning Colonel Talbot, and when +he had received all the information which Edward was able to give +concerning him and his connexions, he proceeded--'I cannot but +think, Mr. Waverley, that since this gentleman is so particularly +connected with our worthy and excellent friend, Sir Everard +Waverley, and since his lady is of the house of Blandeville, whose +devotion to the true and loyal principles of the Church of England +is so generally known, the Colonel's own private sentiments cannot +be unfavorable to us, whatever mask he may have assumed to +accommodate himself to the times.' + +'If I am to judge from the language he this day held to me, I am +under the necessity of differing widely from your Royal Highness.' + +'Well, it is worth making a trial at least. I therefore entrust +you with the charge of Colonel Talbot, with power to act +concerning him as you think most advisable; and I hope you will +find means of ascertaining what are his real dispositions towards +our Royal Father's restoration.' + +'I am convinced,' said Waverley, bowing, 'that if Colonel Talbot +chooses to grant his parole, it may be securely depended upon; but +if he refuses it, I trust your Royal Highness will devolve on some +other person than the nephew of his friend the task of laying him +under the necessary restraint.' + +'I will trust him with no person but you,' said the Prince, +smiling, but peremptorily repeating his mandate; 'it is of +importance to my service that there should appear to be a good +intelligence between you, even if you are unable to gain his +confidence in earnest. You will therefore receive him into your +quarters, and in case he declines giving his parole, you must +apply for a proper guard. I beg you will go about this directly. +We return to Edinburgh tomorrow.' + +Being thus remanded to the vicinity of Preston, Waverley lost the +Baron of Bradwardine's solemn act of homage. So little, however, +was he at this time in love with vanity, that he had quite +forgotten the ceremony in which Fergus had laboured to engage his +curiosity. But next day a formal 'Gazette' was circulated, +containing a detailed account of the battle of Gladsmuir, as the +Highlanders chose to denominate their victory. It concluded with +an account of the court afterwards held by the Chevalier at Pinkie +House, which contained this among other high-flown descriptive +paragraphs:-- + +'Since that fatal treaty which annihilates Scotland as an +independent nation, it has not been our happiness to see her +princes receive, and her nobles discharge, those acts of feudal +homage which, founded upon the splendid actions of Scottish +valour, recall the memory of her early history, with the manly and +chivalrous simplicity of the ties which united to the Crown the +homage of the warriors by whom it was repeatedly upheld and +defended. But on the evening of the 20th our memories were +refreshed with one of those ceremonies which belong to the ancient +days of Scotland's glory. After the circle was formed, Cosmo +Comyne Bradwardine of that ilk, colonel in the service, etc., +etc., etc., came before the Prince, attended by Mr. D. Macwheeble, +the Bailie of his ancient barony of Bradwardine (who, we +understand, has been lately named a commissary), and, under form +of instrument, claimed permission to perform to the person of his +Royal Highness, as representing his father, the service used and +wont, for which, under a charter of Robert Bruce (of which the +original was produced and inspected by the Masters of his Royal +Highness's Chancery for the time being), the claimant held the +barony of Bradwardine and lands of Tully-Veolan. His claim being +admitted and registered, his Royal Highness having placed his foot +upon a cushion, the Baron of Bradwardine, kneeling upon his right +knee, proceeded to undo the latchet of the brogue, or low-heeled +Highland shoe, which our gallant young hero wears in compliment to +his brave followers. When this was performed, his Royal Highness +declared the ceremony completed; and, embracing the gallant +veteran, protested that nothing but compliance with an ordinance +of Robert Bruce could have induced him to receive even the +symbolical performance of a menial office from hands which had +fought so bravely to put the crown upon the head of his father. +The Baron of Bradwardine then took instruments in the hands of Mr. +Commissary Macwheeble, bearing that all points and circumstances +of the act of homage had been rite et solenniter acta et peracta; +and a corresponding entry was made in the protocol of the Lord +High Chamberlain and in the record of Chancery. We understand that +it is in contemplation of his Royal Highness, when his Majesty's +pleasure can be known, to raise Colonel Bradwardine to the +peerage, by the title of Viscount Bradwardine of Bradwardine and +Tully-Veolan, and that, in the meanwhile, his Royal Highness, in +his father's name and authority, has been pleased to grant him an +honourable augmentation to his paternal coat of arms, being a +budget or boot-jack, disposed saltier-wise with a naked +broadsword, to be borne in the dexter cantle of the shield; and, +as an additional motto, on a scroll beneath, the words, "Draw and +draw off."' + +'Were it not for the recollection of Fergus's raillery,' thought +Waverley to himself, when he had perused this long and grave +document,' how very tolerably would all this sound, and how little +should I have thought of connecting it with any ludicrous idea! +Well, after all, everything has its fair as well as its seamy +side; and truly I do not see why the Baron's boot-jack may not +stand as fair in heraldry as the water-buckets, waggons, cart- +wheels, plough-socks, shuttles, candlesticks, and other +ordinaries, conveying ideas of anything save chivalry, which +appear in the arms of some of our most ancient gentry.' + +This, however, is an episode in respect to the principal story. + +When Waverley returned to Preston and rejoined Colonel Talbot, he +found him recovered from the strong and obvious emotions with +which a concurrence of unpleasing events had affected him. He had +regained his natural manner, which was that of an English +gentleman and soldier, manly, open and generous, but not +unsusceptible of prejudice against those of a different country, +or who opposed him in political tenets. When Waverley acquainted +Colonel Talbot with the Chevalier's purpose to commit him to his +charge, 'I did not think to have owed so much obligation to that +young gentleman,' he said, 'as is implied in this destination. I +can at least cheerfully join in the prayer of the honest +Presbyterian clergyman, that, as he has come among us seeking an +earthly crown, his labours may be speedily rewarded with a +heavenly one. [Footnote: The clergyman's name was Mac-Vicar. +Protected by the cannon of the Castle, he preached every Sunday in +the West Kirk while the Highlanders were in possession of +Edinburgh, and it was in presence of some of the Jacobites that he +prayed for Prince Charles Edward in the terms quoted in the text.] +I shall willingly give my parole not to attempt an escape without +your knowledge, since, in fact, it was to meet you that I came to +Scotland; and I am glad it has happened even under this +predicament. But I suppose we shall be but a short time together. +Your Chevalier (that is a name we may both give to him), with his +plaids and blue caps, will, I presume, be continuing his crusade +southward?' + +'Not as I hear; I believe the army makes some stay in Edinburgh to +collect reinforcements.' + +'And to besiege the Castle?' said Talbot, smiling sarcastically. +'Well, unless my old commander, General Preston, turn false metal, +or the Castle sink into the North Loch, events which I deem +equally probable, I think we shall have some time to make up our +acquaintance. I have a guess that this gallant Chevalier has a +design that I should be your proselyte; and, as I wish you to be +mine, there cannot be a more fair proposal than to afford us fair +conference together. But, as I spoke today under the influence of +feelings I rarely give way to, I hope you will excuse my entering +again upon controversy till we are somewhat better acquainted.' + + + + + +CHAPTER LI + +INTRIGUES OF LOVE AND POLITICS + + +It is not necessary to record in these pages the triumphant +entrance of the Chevalier into Edinburgh after the decisive affair +at Preston. One circumstance, however, may be noticed, because it +illustrates the high spirit of Flora Mac-Ivor. The Highlanders by +whom the Prince was surrounded, in the license and extravagance of +this joyful moment, fired their pieces repeatedly, and one of +these having been accidentally loaded with ball, the bullet grazed +the young lady's temple as she waved her handkerchief from a +balcony. [Footnote: See Note II.] Fergus, who beheld the accident, +was at her side in an instant; and, on seeing that the wound was +trifling, he drew his broadsword with the purpose of rushing down +upon the man by whose carelessness she had incurred so much +danger, when, holding him by the plaid, 'Do not harm the poor +fellow,' she cried; 'for Heaven's sake, do not harm him! but thank +God with me that the accident happened to Flora Mac-Ivor; for had +it befallen a Whig, they would have pretended that the shot was +fired on purpose.' + +Waverley escaped the alarm which this accident would have +occasioned to him, as he was unavoidably delayed by the necessity +of accompanying Colonel Talbot to Edinburgh. + +They performed the journey together on horseback, and for some +time, as if to sound each other's feelings and sentiments, they +conversed upon general and ordinary topics. + +When Waverley again entered upon the subject which he had most at +heart, the situation, namely, of his father and his uncle, Colonel +Talbot seemed now rather desirous to alleviate than to aggravate +his anxiety. This appeared particularly to be the case when he +heard Waverley's history, which he did not scruple to confide to +him. + +'And so,' said the Colonel, 'there has been no malice prepense, as +lawyers, I think, term it, in this rash step of yours; and you +have been trepanned into the service of this Italian knight-errant +by a few civil speeches from him and one or two of his Highland +recruiting sergeants? It is sadly foolish, to be sure, but not +nearly so bad as I was led to expect. However, you cannot desert, +even from the Pretender, at the present moment; that seems +impossible. But I have little doubt that, in the dissensions +incident to this heterogeneous mass of wild and desperate men, +some opportunity may arise, by availing yourself of which you may +extricate yourself honourably from your rash engagement before the +bubble burst. If this can be managed, I would have you go to a +place of safety in Flanders which I shall point out. And I think I +can secure your pardon from government after a few months' +residence abroad.' + +'I cannot permit you, Colonel Talbot,' answered Waverley, 'to +speak of any plan which turns on my deserting an enterprise in +which I may have engaged hastily, but certainly voluntarily, and +with the purpose of abiding the issue.' + +'Well,' said Colonel Talbot, smiling, 'leave me my thoughts and +hopes at least at liberty, if not my speech. But have you never +examined your mysterious packet?' + +'It is in my baggage,' replied Edward; 'we shall find it in +Edinburgh.' + +In Edinburgh they soon arrived. Waverley's quarters had been +assigned to him, by the Prince's express orders, in a handsome +lodging, where there was accommodation for Colonel Talbot. His +first business was to examine his portmanteau, and, after a very +short search, out tumbled the expected packet. Waverley opened it +eagerly. Under a blank cover, simply addressed to E. Waverley, +Esq., he found a number of open letters. The uppermost were two +from Colonel Gardiner addressed to himself. The earliest in date +was a kind and gentle remonstrance for neglect of the writer's +advice respecting the disposal of his time during his leave of +absence, the renewal of which, he reminded Captain Waverley, would +speedily expire. 'Indeed,' the letter proceeded, 'had it been +otherwise, the news from abroad and my instructions from the War +Office must have compelled me to recall it, as there is great +danger, since the disaster in Flanders, both of foreign invasion +and insurrection among the disaffected at home. I therefore +entreat you will repair as soon as possible to the headquarters of +the regiment; and I am concerned to add that this is still the +more necessary as there is some discontent in your troop, and I +postpone inquiry into particulars until I can have the advantage +of your assistance.' + +The second letter, dated eight days later, was in such a style as +might have been expected from the Colonel's receiving no answer to +the first. It reminded Waverley of his duty as a man of honour, an +officer, and a Briton; took notice of the increasing +dissatisfaction of his men, and that some of them had been heard +to hint that their Captain encouraged and approved of their +mutinous behaviour; and, finally, the writer expressed the utmost +regret and surprise that he had not obeyed his commands by +repairing to headquarters, reminded him that his leave of absence +had been recalled, and conjured him, in a style in which paternal +remonstrance was mingled with military authority, to redeem his +error by immediately joining his regiment. 'That I may be +certain,' concluded the letter, 'that this actually reaches you, I +despatch it by Corporal Tims of your troop, with orders to deliver +it into your own hand.' + +Upon reading these letters Waverley, with great bitterness of +feeling, was compelled to make the amende honorable to the memory +of the brave and excellent writer; for surely, as Colonel Gardiner +must have had every reason to conclude they had come safely to +hand, less could not follow, on their being neglected, than that +third and final summons, which Waverley actually received at +Glennaquoich, though too late to obey it. And his being +superseded, in consequence of his apparent neglect of this last +command, was so far from being a harsh or severe proceeding, that +it was plainly inevitable. The next letter he unfolded was from +the major of the regiment, acquainting him that a report to the +disadvantage of his reputation was public in the country, stating, +that one Mr. Falconer of Ballihopple, or some such name, had +proposed in his presence a treasonable toast, which he permitted +to pass in silence, although it was so gross an affront to the +royal family that a gentleman in company, not remarkable for his +zeal for government, had never theless taken the matter up, and +that, supposing the account true, Captain Waverley had thus +suffered another, comparatively unconcerned, to resent an affront +directed against him personally as an officer, and to go out with +the person by whom it was offered. The major concluded that no one +of Captain Waverley's brother officers could believe this +scandalous story, but that it was necessarily their joint opinion +that his own honour, equally with that of the regiment, depended +upon its being instantly contradicted by his authority, etc. etc. +etc. + +'What do you think of all this?' said Colonel Talbot, to whom +Waverley handed the letters after he had perused them. + +'Think! it renders thought impossible. It is enough to drive me +mad.' + +'Be calm, my young friend; let us see what are these dirty scrawls +that follow.' + +The first was addressed,-- + +'For Master W. Ruffin, These.'-- + +'Dear sur, sum of our yong gulpins will not bite, thof I tuold +them you shoed me the squoire's own seel. But Tims will deliver +you the lettrs as desired, and tell ould Addem he gave them to +squoir's bond, as to be sure yours is the same, and shall be ready +for signal, and hoy for Hoy Church and Sachefrel, as fadur sings +at harvestwhome. Yours, deer Sur, + +'H. H. + +'Poscriff.--Do'e tell squoire we longs to heer from him, and has +dootings about his not writing himself, and Lifetenant Bottler is +smoky.' + +'This Ruffin, I suppose, then, is your Donald of the Cavern, who +has intercepted your letters, and carried on a correspondence with +the poor devil Houghton, as if under your authority?' + +'It seems too true. But who can Addem be?' + +'Possibly Adam, for poor Gardiner, a sort of pun on his name.' + +The other letters were to the same purpose; and they soon received +yet more complete light upon Donald Bean's machinations. + +John Hodges, one of Waverley's servants, who had remained with the +regiment and had been taken at Preston, now made his appearance. +He had sought out his master with the purpose of again entering +his service. From this fellow they learned that some time after +Waverley had gone from the headquarters of the regiment, a pedlar, +called Ruthven, Rufnn, or Rivane, known among the soldiers by the +name of Wily Will, had made frequent visits to the town of Dundee. +He appeared to possess plenty of money, sold his commodities very +cheap, seemed always willing to treat his friends at the ale- +house, and easily ingratiated himself with many of Waverley's +troop, particularly Sergeant Houghton and one Tims, also a non- +commissioned officer. To these he unfolded, in Waverley's name, a +plan for leaving the regiment and joining him in the Highlands, +where report said the clans had already taken arms in great +numbers. The men, who had been educated as Jacobites, so far as +they had any opinion at all, and who knew their landlord, Sir +Everard, had always been supposed to hold such tenets, easily fell +into the snare. That Waverley was at a distance in the Highlands +was received as a sufficient excuse for transmitting his letters +through the medium of the pedlar; and the sight of his well-known +seal seemed to authenticate the negotiations in his name, where +writing might have been dangerous. The cabal, however, began to +take air, from the premature mutinous language of those concerned. +Wily Will justified his appellative; for, after suspicion arose, +he was seen no more. When the 'Gazette' appeared in which Waverley +was superseded, great part of his troop broke out into actual +mutiny, but were surrounded and disarmed by the rest of the +regiment In consequence of the sentence of a court-martial, +Houghton and Tims were condemned to be shot, but afterwards +permitted to cast lots for life. Houghton, the survivor, showed +much penitence, being convinced, from the rebukes and explanations +of Colonel Gardiner, that he had really engaged in a very heinous +crime. It is remarkable that, as soon as the poor fellow was +satisfied of this, he became also convinced that the instigator +had acted without authority from Edward, saying, 'If it was +dishonourable and against Old England, the squire could know +nought about it; he never did, or thought to do, anything +dishonourable, no more didn't Sir Everard, nor none of them afore +him, and in that belief he would live and die that Ruffin had done +it all of his own head.' + +The strength of conviction with which he expressed himself upon +this subject, as well as his assurances that the letters intended +for Waverley had been delivered to Ruthven, made that revolution +in Colonel Gardiner's opinion which he expressed to Talbot. + +The reader has long since understood that Donald Bean Lean played +the part of tempter on this occasion. His motives were shortly +these. Of an active and intriguing spirit, he had been long +employed as a subaltern agent and spy by those in the confidence +of the Chevalier, to an extent beyond what was suspected even by +Fergus Mac-Ivor, whom, though obliged to him for protection, he +regarded with fear and dislike. To success in this political +department he naturally looked for raising himself by some bold +stroke above his present hazardous and precarious trade of rapine. +He was particularly employed in learning the strength of the +regiments in Scotland, the character of the officers, etc., and +had long had his eye upon Waverley's troop as open to temptation. +Donald even believed that Waverley himself was at bottom in the +Stuart interest, which seemed confirmed by his long visit to the +Jacobite Baron of Bradwardine. When, therefore, he came to his +cave with one of Glennaquoich's attendants, the robber, who could +never appreciate his real motive, which was mere curiosity, was so +sanguine as to hope that his own talents were to be employed in +some intrigue of consequence, under the auspices of this wealthy +young Englishman. Nor was he undeceived by Waverley's neglecting +all hints and openings afforded for explanation. His conduct +passed for prudent reserve, and somewhat piqued Donald Bean, who, +supposing himself left out of a secret where confidence promised +to be advantageous, determined to have his share in the drama, +whether a regular part were assigned him or not. For this purpose +during Waverley's sleep he possessed himself of his seal, as a +token to be used to any of the troopers whom he might discover to +be possessed of the captain's confidence. His first journey to +Dundee, the town where the regiment was quartered, undeceived him +in his original supposition, but opened to him a new field of +action. He knew there would be no service so well rewarded by the +friends of the Chevalier as seducing a part of the regular army to +his standard. For this purpose he opened the machinations with +which the reader is already acquainted, and which form a clue to +all the intricacies and obscurities of the narrative previous to +Waverley's leaving Glennaquoich. + +By Colonel Talbot's advice, Waverley declined detaining in his +service the lad whose evidence had thrown additional light on +these intrigues. He represented to him, that it would be doing the +man an injury to engage him in a desperate undertaking, and that, +whatever should happen, his evidence would go some length at least +in explaining the circumstances under which Waverley himself had +embarked in it. Waverley therefore wrote a short state of what had +happened to his uncle and his father, cautioning them, however, in +the present circumstances, not to attempt to answer his letter. +Talbot then gave the young man a letter to the commander of one of +the English vessels of war cruising in the frith, requesting him +to put the bearer ashore at Berwick, with a pass to proceed to---- +shire. He was then furnished with money to make an expeditious +journey, and directed to get on board the ship by means of bribing +a fishing-boat, which, as they afterwards learned, he easily +effected. + +Tired of the attendance of Callum Beg, who, he thought, had some +disposition to act as a spy on his motions, Waverley hired as a +servant a simple Edinburgh swain, who had mounted the white +cockade in a fit of spleen and jealousy, because Jenny Jop had +danced a whole night with Corporal Bullock of the Fusileers. + + + + + +CHAPTER LII + +INTRIGUES OF SOCIETY AND LOVE + + +Colonel Talbot became more kindly in his demeanour towards +Waverley after the confidence he had reposed in him, and, as they +were necessarily much together, the character of the Colonel rose +in Waverley's estimation. There seemed at first something harsh in +his strong expressions of dislike and censure, although no one was +in the general case more open to conviction. The habit of +authority had also given his manners some peremptory hardness, +notwithstanding the polish which they had received from his +intimate acquaintance with the higher circles. As a specimen of +the military character, he differed from all whom Waverley had as +yet seen. The soldiership of the Baron of Bradwardine was marked +by pedantry; that of Major Melville by a sort of martinet +attention to the minutiae and technicalities of discipline, rather +suitable to one who was to manoeuvre a battalion than to him who +was to command an army; the military spirit of Fergus was so much +warped and blended with his plans and political views, that it was +less that of a soldier than of a petty sovereign. But Colonel +Talbot was in every point the English soldier. His whole soul was +devoted to the service of his king and country, without feeling +any pride in knowing the theory of his art with the Baron, or its +practical minutiae with the Major, or in applying his science to +his own particular plans of ambition, like the Chieftain of +Glennaquoich. Added to this, he was a man of extended knowledge +and cultivated taste, although strongly tinged, as we have already +observed, with those prejudices which are peculiarly English. + +The character of Colonel Talbot dawned upon Edward by degrees; for +the delay of the Highlanders in the fruitless siege of Edinburgh +Castle occupied several weeks, during which Waverley had little to +do excepting to seek such amusement as society afforded. He would +willingly have persuaded his new friend to become acquainted with +some of his former intimates. But the Colonel, after one or two +visits, shook his head, and declined farther experiment. Indeed he +went farther, and characterised the Baron as the most intolerable +formal pedant he had ever had the misfortune to meet with, and the +Chief of Glennaquoich as a Frenchified Scotchman, possessing all +the cunning and plausibility of the nation where he was educated, +with the proud, vindictive, and turbulent humour of that of his +birth. 'If the devil,' he said, 'had sought out an agent expressly +for the purpose of embroiling this miserable country, I do not +think he could find a better than such a fellow as this, whose +temper seems equally active, supple, and mischievous, and who is +followed, and implicitly obeyed, by a gang of such cut-throats as +those whom you are pleased to admire so much.' + +The ladies of the party did not escape his censure. He allowed +that Flora Mac-Ivor was a fine woman, and Rose Bradwardine a +pretty girl. But he alleged that the former destroyed the effect +of her beauty by an affectation of the grand airs which she had +probably seen practised in the mock court of St. Germains. As for +Rose Bradwardine, he said it was impossible for any mortal to +admire such a little uninformed thing, whose small portion of +education was as ill adapted to her sex or youth as if she had +appeared with one of her father's old campaign-coats upon her +person for her sole garment. Now much of this was mere spleen and +prejudice in the excellent Colonel, with whom the white cockade on +the breast, the white rose in the hair, and the Mac at the +beginning of a name would have made a devil out of an angel; and +indeed he himself jocularly allowed that he could not have endured +Venus herself if she had been announced in a drawing-room by the +name of Miss Mac-Jupiter. + +Waverley, it may easily be believed, looked upon these young +ladies with very different eyes. During the period of the siege he +paid them almost daily visits, although he observed with regret +that his suit made as little progress in the affections of the +former as the arms of the Chevalier in subduing the fortress. She +maintained with rigour the rule she had laid down of treating him +with indifference, without either affecting to avoid him or to +shun intercourse with him. Every word, every look, was strictly +regulated to accord with her system, and neither the dejection of +Waverley nor the anger which Fergus scarcely suppressed could +extend Flora's attention to Edward beyond that which the most +ordinary politeness demanded. On the other hand, Rose Bradwardine +gradually rose in Waverley's opinion. He had several opportunities +of remarking that, as her extreme timidity wore off, her manners +assumed a higher character; that the agitating circumstances of +the stormy time seemed to call forth a certain dignity of feeling +and expression which he had not formerly observed; and that she +omitted no opportunity within her reach to extend her knowledge +and refine her taste. + +Flora Mac-Ivor called Rose her pupil, and was attentive to assist +her in her studies, and to fashion both her taste and +understanding. It might have been remarked by a very close +observer that in the presence of Waverley she was much more +desirous to exhibit her friend's excellences than her own. But I +must request of the reader to suppose that this kind and +disinterested purpose was concealed by the most cautious delicacy, +studiously shunning the most distant approach to affectation. So +that it was as unlike the usual exhibition of one pretty woman +affecting to proner another as the friendship of David and +Jonathan might be to the intimacy of two Bond Street loungers. The +fact is that, though the effect was felt, the cause could hardly +be observed. Each of the ladies, like two excellent actresses, +were perfect in their parts, and performed them to the delight of +the audience; and such being the case, it was almost impossible to +discover that the elder constantly ceded to her friend that which +was most suitable to her talents. + +But to Waverley Rose Bradwardine possessed an attraction which few +men can resist, from the marked interest which she took in +everything that affected him. She was too young and too +inexperienced to estimate the full force of the constant attention +which she paid to him. Her father was too abstractedly immersed in +learned and military discussions to observe her partiality, and +Flora Mac-Ivor did not alarm her by remonstrance, because she saw +in this line of conduct the most probable chance of her friend +securing at length a return of affection. + +The truth is, that in her first conversation after their meeting +Rose had discovered the state of her mind to that acute and +intelligent friend, although she was not herself aware of it. From +that time Flora was not only determined upon the final rejection +of Waverley's addresses, but became anxious that they should, if +possible, be transferred to her friend. Nor was she less +interested in this plan, though her brother had from time to time +talked, as between jest and earnest, of paying his suit to Miss +Bradwardine. She knew that Fergus had the true continental +latitude of opinion respecting the institution of marriage, and +would not have given his hand to an angel unless for the purpose +of strengthening his alliances and increasing his influence and +wealth. The Baron's whim of transferring his estate to the distant +heir-male, instead of his own daughter, was therefore likely to be +an insurmountable obstacle to his entertaining any serious +thoughts of Rose Bradwardine. Indeed, Fergus's brain was a +perpetual workshop of scheme and intrigue, of every possible kind +and description; while, like many a mechanic of more ingenuity +than steadiness, he would often unexpectedly, and without any +apparent motive, abandon one plan and go earnestly to work upon +another, which was either fresh from the forge of his imagination +or had at some former period been flung aside half finished. It +was therefore often difficult to guess what line of conduct he +might finally adopt upon any given occasion. + +Although Flora was sincerely attached to her brother, whose high +energies might indeed have commanded her admiration even without +the ties which bound them together, she was by no means blind to +his faults, which she considered as dangerous to the hopes of any +woman who should found her ideas of a happy marriage in the +peaceful enjoyment of domestic society and the exchange of mutual +and engrossing affection. The real disposition of Waverley, on the +other hand, notwithstanding his dreams of tented fields and +military honour, seemed exclusively domestic. He asked and +received no share in the busy scenes which were constantly going +on around him, and was rather annoyed than interested by the +discussion of contending claims, rights, and interests which often +passed in his presence. All this pointed him out as the person +formed to make happy a spirit like that of Rose, which +corresponded with his own. + +She remarked this point in Waverley's character one day while she +sat with Miss Bradwardine. 'His genius and elegant taste,' +answered Rose, 'cannot be interested in such trifling discussions. +What is it to him, for example, whether the Chief of the +Macindallaghers, who has brought out only fifty men, should be a +colonel or a captain? and how could Mr. Waverley be supposed to +interest himself in the violent altercation between your brother +and young Corrinaschian whether the post of honour is due to the +eldest cadet of a clan or the youngest?' + +'My dear Rose, if he were the hero you suppose him he would +interest himself in these matters, not indeed as important in +themselves, but for the purpose of mediating between the ardent +spirits who actually do make them the subject of discord. You saw +when Corrinaschian raised his voice in great passion, and laid his +hand upon his sword, Waverley lifted his head as if he had just +awaked from a dream, and asked with great composure what the +matter was.' + +'Well, and did not the laughter they fell into at his absence of +mind serve better to break off the dispute than anything he could +have said to them?' + +'True, my dear,' answered Flora; 'but not quite so creditably for +Waverley as if he had brought them to their senses by force of +reason.' + +'Would you have him peacemaker general between all the gunpowder +Highlanders in the army? I beg your pardon, Flora, your brother, +you know, is out of the question; he has more sense than half of +them. But can you think the fierce, hot, furious spirits of whose +brawls we see much and hear more, and who terrify me out of my +life every day in the world, are at all to be compared to +Waverley?' + +'I do not compare him with those uneducated men, my dear Rose. I +only lament that, with his talents and genius, he does not assume +that place in society for which they eminently fit him, and that +he does not lend their full impulse to the noble cause in which he +has enlisted. Are there not Lochiel, and P--, and M--, and G--, +all men of the highest education as well as the first talents,-- +why will he not stoop like them to be alive and useful? I often +believe his zeal is frozen by that proud cold-blooded Englishman +whom he now lives with so much.' + +'Colonel Talbot? he is a very disagreeable person, to be sure. He +looks as if he thought no Scottish woman worth the trouble of +handing her a cup of tea. But Waverley is so gentle, so well +informed--' + +'Yes,' said Flora, smiling, 'he can admire the moon and quote a +stanza from Tasso.' + +'Besides, you know how he fought,' added Miss Bradwardine. + +'For mere fighting,' answered Flora,' I believe all men (that is, +who deserve the name) are pretty much alike; there is generally +more courage required to run away. They have besides, when +confronted with each other, a certain instinct for strife, as we +see in other male animals, such as dogs, bulls, and so forth. But +high and perilous enterprise is not Waverley's forte. He would +never have been his celebrated ancestor Sir Nigel, but only Sir +Nigel's eulogist and poet. I will tell you where he will be at +home, my dear, and in his place--in the quiet circle of domestic +happiness, lettered indolence, and elegant enjoyments of Waverley- +Honour. And he will refit the old library in the most exquisite +Gothic taste, and garnish its shelves with the rarest and most +valuable volumes; and he will draw plans and landscapes, and write +verses, and rear temples, and dig grottoes; and he will stand in a +clear summer night in the colonnade before the hall, and gaze on +the deer as they stray in the moonlight, or lie shadowed by the +boughs of the huge old fantastic oaks; and he will repeat verses +to his beautiful wife, who will hang upon his arm;--and he will be +a happy man.' + +And she will be a happy woman, thought poor Rose. But she only +sighed and dropped the conversation. + + + + + +CHAPTER LIII + +FERGUS A SUITOR + + +Waverley had, indeed, as he looked closer into the state of the +Chevalier's court, less reason to be satisfied with it. It +contained, as they say an acorn includes all the ramifications of +the future oak, as many seeds of tracasserie and intrigue as might +have done honour to the court of a large empire. Every person of +consequence had some separate object, which he pursued with a fury +that Waverley considered as altogether disproportioned to its +importance. Almost all had their reasons for discontent, although +the most legitimate was that of the worthy old Baron, who was only +distressed on account of the common cause. + +'We shall hardly,' said he one morning to Waverley when they had +been viewing the Castle--'we shall hardly gain the obsidional +crown, which you wot well was made of the roots or grain which +takes root within the place besieged, or it may be of the herb +woodbind, parietaria, or pellitory; we shall not, I say, gain it +by this same blockade or leaguer of Edinburgh Castle.' For this +opinion he gave most learned and satisfactory reasons, that the +reader may not care to hear repeated. + +Having escaped from the old gentleman, Waverley went to Fergus's +lodgings by appointment, to await his return from Holyrood House. +'I am to have a particular audience to-morrow,' said Fergus to +Waverley overnight, 'and you must meet me to wish me joy of the +success which I securely anticipate.' + +The morrow came, and in the Chief's apartment he found Ensign +Maccombich waiting to make report of his turn of duty in a sort of +ditch which they had dug across the Castle-hill and called a +trench. In a short time the Chief's voice was heard on the stair +in a tone of impatient fury: 'Callum! why, Callum Beg! Diaoul!' He +entered the room with all the marks of a man agitated by a +towering passion; and there were few upon whose features rage +produced a more violent effect. The veins of his forehead swelled +when he was in such agitation; his nostril became dilated; his +cheek and eye inflamed; and hislook that of a demoniac. These +appearances of half-suppressed rage were the more frightful +because they were obviously caused by a strong effort to temper +with discretion an almost ungovernable paroxysm of passion, and +resulted from an internal conflict of the most dreadful kind, +which agitated his whole frame of mortality. + +As he entered the apartment he unbuckled his broadsword, and +throwing it down with such violence that the weapon rolled to the +other end of the room, 'I know not what,' he exclaimed, 'withholds +me from taking a solemn oath that I will never more draw it in his +cause. Load my pistols, Callum, and bring them hither instantly-- +instantly!' Callum, whom nothing ever startled, dismayed, or +disconcerted, obeyed very coolly. Evan Dhu, upon whose brow the +suspicion that his Chief had been insulted called up a +corresponding storm, swelled in sullen silence, awaiting to learn +where or upon whom vengeance was to descend. + +'So, Waverley, you are there,' said the Chief, after a moment's +recollection. 'Yes, I remember I asked you to share my triumph, +and you have come to witness my disappointment we shall call it.' +Evan now presented the written report he had in his hand, which +Fergus threw from him with great passion. 'I wish to God,' he +said, 'the old den would tumble down upon the heads of the fools +who attack and the knaves who defend it! I see, Waverley, you +think I am mad. Leave us, Evan, but be within call.' + +'The Colonel's in an unco kippage,' said Mrs. Flockhart to Evan as +he descended; 'I wish he may be weel,--the very veins on his brent +brow are swelled like whipcord; wad he no tak something?' + +'He usually lets blood for these fits,' answered the Highland +ancient with great composure. + +When this officer left the room, the Chieftain gradually reassumed +some degree of composure. 'I know, Waverley,' he said, 'that +Colonel Talbot has persuaded you to curse ten times a day your +engagement with us; nay, never deny it, for I am at this moment +tempted to curse my own. Would you believe it, I made this very +morning two suits to the Prince, and he has rejected them both; +what do you think of it?' + +'What can I think,' answered Waverley, 'till I know what your +requests were?' 'Why, what signifies what they were, man? I tell +you it was I that made them--I to whom he owes more than to any +three who have joined the standard; for I negotiated the whole +business, and brought in all the Perthshire men when not one would +have stirred. I am not likely, I think, to ask anything very +unreasonable, and if I did, they might have stretched a point. +Well, but you shall know all, now that I can draw my breath again +with some freedom. You remember my earl's patent; it is dated some +years back, for services then rendered; and certainly my merit has +not been diminished, to say the least, by my subsequent behaviour. +Now, sir, I value this bauble of a coronet as little as you can, +or any philosopher on earth; for I hold that the chief of such a +clan as the Sliochd nan Ivor is superior in rank to any earl in +Scotland. But I had a particular reason for assuming this cursed +title at this time. You must know that I learned accidentally that +the Prince has been pressing that old foolish Baron of Bradwardine +to disinherit his male heir, or nineteenth or twentieth cousin, +who has taken a command in the Elector of Hanover's militia, and +to settle his estate upon your pretty little friend Rose; and +this, as being the command of his king and overlord, who may alter +the destination of a fief at pleasure, the old gentleman seems +well reconciled to.' + +'And what becomes of the homage?' + +'Curse the homage! I believe Rose is to pull off the queen's +slipper on her coronation-day, or some such trash. Well, sir, as +Rose Bradwardine would always have made a suitable match for me +but for this idiotical predilection of her father for the heir- +male, it occurred to me there now remained no obstacle unless that +the Baron might expect his daughter's husband to take the name of +Bradwardine (which you know would be impossible in my case), and +that this might be evaded by my assuming the title to which I had +so good a right, and which, of course, would supersede that +difficulty. If she was to be also Viscountess Bradwardine in her +own right after her father's demise, so much the better; I could +have no objection.' + +'But, Fergus,' said Waverley, 'I had no idea that you had any +affection for Miss Bradwardine, and you are always sneering at her +father.' + +'I have as much affection for Miss Bradwardine, my good friend, as +I think it necessary to have for the future mistress of my family +and the mother of my children. She is a very pretty, intelligent +girl, and is certainly of one of the very first Lowland families; +and, with a little of Flora's instructions and forming, will make +a very good figure. As to her father, he is an original, it is +true, and an absurd one enough; but he has given such severe +lessons to Sir Hew Halbert, that dear defunct the Laird of +Balmawhapple, and others, that nobody dare laugh at him, so his +absurdity goes for nothing. I tell you there could have been no +earthly objection--none. I had settled the thing entirely in my +own mind.' + +'But had you asked the Baron's consent,' said Waverley, 'or +Rose's?' + +'To what purpose? To have spoke to the Baron before I had assumed +my title would have only provoked a premature and irritating +discussion on the subject of the change of name, when, as Earl of +Glennaquoich, I had only to propose to him to carry his d--d bear +and bootjack party per pale, or in a scutcheon of pretence, or in +a separate shield perhaps--any way that would not blemish my own +coat of arms. And as to Rose, I don't see what objection she could +have made if her father was satisfied.' + +'Perhaps the same that your sister makes to me, you being +satisfied.' + +Fergus gave a broad stare at the comparison which this supposition +implied, but cautiously suppressed the answer which rose to his +tongue. 'O, we should easily have arranged all that. So, sir, I +craved a private interview, and this morning was assigned; and I +asked you to meet me here, thinking, like a fool, that I should +want your countenance as bride's-man. Well, I state my pretension +--they are not denied; the promises so repeatedly made and the +patent granted--they are acknowledged. But I propose, as a natural +consequence, to assume the rank which the patent bestowed. I have +the old story of the jealousy of C----and M----trumped up +against me. I resist this pretext, and offer to procure their +written acquiescence, in virtue of the date of my patent as prior +to their silly claims; I assure you I would have had such a +consent from them, if it had been at the point of the sword. And +then out comes the real truth; and he dares to tell me to my face +that my patent must be suppressed for the present, for fear of +disgusting that rascally coward and faineant (naming the rival +chief of his own clan), who has no better title to be a chieftain +than I to be Emperor of China, and who is pleased to shelter his +dastardly reluctance to come out, agreeable to his promise twenty +times pledged, under a pretended jealousy of the Prince's +partiality to me. And, to leave this miserable driveller without a +pretence for his cowardice, the Prince asks it as a personal +favour of me, forsooth, not to press my just and reasonable +request at this moment. After this, put your faith in princes!' + +'And did your audience end here?' + +'End? O no! I was determined to leave him no pretence for his +ingratitude, and I therefore stated, with all the composure I +could muster,--for I promise you I trembled with passion,--the +particular reasons I had for wishing that his Royal Highness would +impose upon me any other mode of exhibiting my duty and devotion, +as my views in life made what at any other time would have been a +mere trifle at this crisis a severe sacrifice; and then I +explained to him my full plan.' + +'And what did the Prince answer?' + +'Answer? why--it is well it is written, "Curse not the king, no, +not in thy thought!"--why, he answered that truly he was glad I +had made him my confidant, to prevent more grievous +disappointment, for he could assure me, upon the word of a prince, +that Miss Bradwardine's affections were engaged, and he was under +a particular promise to favour them. "So, my dear Fergus," said +he, with his most gracious cast of smile, "as the marriage is +utterly out of question, there need be no hurry, you know, about +the earldom." And so he glided off and left me plante la.' + +'And what did you do?' + +'I'll tell you what I COULD have done at that moment--sold myself +to the devil or the Elector, whichever offered the dearest +revenge. However, I am now cool. I know he intends to marry her to +some of his rascally Frenchmen or his Irish officers, but I will +watch them close; and let the man that would supplant me look well +to himself. Bisogna coprirsi, Signor.' + +After some further conversation, unnecessary to be detailed, +Waverley took leave of the Chieftain, whose fury had now subsided +into a deep and strong desire of vengeance, and returned home, +scarce able to analyse the mixture of feelings which the narrative +had awakened in his own bosom. + + + + + +CHAPTER LIV + +'TO ONE THING CONSTANT NEVER' + + +'I am the very child of caprice,' said Waverley to himself, as he +bolted the door of his apartment and paced it with hasty steps. +'What is it to me that Fergus Mac-Ivor should wish to marry Rose +Bradwardine? I love her not; I might have been loved by her +perhaps; but rejected her simple, natural, and affecting +attachment, instead of cherishing it into tenderness, and +dedicated myself to one who will never love mortal man, unless old +Warwick, the King-maker, should arise from the dead The Baron too +--I would not have cared about his estate, and so the name would +have been no stumbling-block. The devil might have taken the +barren moors and drawn off the royal caligae for anything I would +have minded. But, framed as she is for domestic affection and +tenderness, for giving and receiving all those kind and quiet +attentions which sweeten life to those who pass it together, she +is sought by Fergus Mac-Ivor. He will not use her ill, to be sure; +of that he is incapable. But he will neglect her after the first +month; he will be too intent on subduing some rival chieftain or +circumventing some favourite at court, on gaining some heathy hill +and lake or adding to his bands some new troop of caterans, to +inquire what she does, or how she amuses herself. + + And then will canker sorrow eat her bud, + And chase the native beauty from her cheek; + And she will look as hollow as a ghost, + And dim and meagre as an ague fit, + And so she'll die. + +And such a catastrophe of the most gentle creature on earth might +have been prevented if Mr. Edward Waverley had had his eyes! Upon +my word, I cannot understand how I thought Flora so much, that is, +so very much, handsomer than Rose. She is taller indeed, and her +manner more formed; but many people think Miss Bradwardine's more +natural; and she is certainly much younger. I should think Flora +is two years older than I am. I will look at them particularly +this evening.' + +And with this resolution Waverley went to drink tea (as the +fashion was Sixty Years Since) at the house of a lady of quality +attached to the cause of the Chevalier, where he found, as he +expected, both the ladies. All rose as he entered, but Flora +immediately resumed her place and the conversation in which she +was engaged. Rose, on the contrary, almost imperceptibly made a +little way in the crowded circle for his advancing the corner of a +chair. 'Her manner, upon the whole, is most engaging,' said +Waverley to himself. + +A dispute occurred whether the Gaelic or Italian language was most +liquid, and best adapted for poetry; the opinion for the Gaelic, +which probably might not have found supporters elsewhere, was here +fiercely defended by seven Highland ladies, who talked at the top +of their lungs, and screamed the company deaf with examples of +Celtic euphonia. Flora, observing the Lowland ladies sneer at the +comparison, produced some reasons to show that it was not +altogether so absurd; but Rose, when asked for her opinion, gave +it with animation in praise of Italian, which she had studied with +Waverley's assistance. "She has a more correct ear than Flora, +though a less accomplished musician," said Waverley to himself. 'I +suppose Miss Mac-Ivor will next compare Mac-Murrough nan Fonn to +Ariosto!' + +Lastly, it so befell that the company differed whether Fergus +should be asked to perform on the flute, at which he was an adept, +or Waverley invited to read a play of Shakspeare; and the lady of +the house good-humouredly undertook to collect the votes of the +company for poetry or music, under the condition that the +gentleman whose talents were not laid under contribution that +evening should contribute them to enliven the next. It chanced +that Rose had the casting vote. Now Flora, who seemed to impose it +as a rule upon herself never to countenance any proposal which +might seem to encourage Waverley, had voted for music, providing +the Baron would take his violin to accompany Fergus. 'I wish you +joy of your taste, Miss Mac-Ivor,' thought Edward, as they sought +for his book. 'I thought it better when we were at Glennaquoich; +but certainly the Baron is no great performer, and Shakspeare is +worth listening to.' + +'Romeo and Juliet' was selected, and Edward read with taste, +feeling, and spirit several scenes from that play. All the company +applauded with their hands, and many with their tears. Flora, to +whom the drama was well known, was among the former; Rose, to whom +it was altogether new, belonged to the latter class of admirers. +'She has more feeling too,' said Waverley, internally. + +The conversation turning upon the incidents of the play and upon +the characters, Fergus declared that the only one worth naming, as +a man of fashion and spirit, was Mercutio. 'I could not,' he said, +'quite follow all his old-fashioned wit, but he must have been a +very pretty fellow, according to the ideas of his time.' + +'And it was a shame,' said Ensign Maccombich, who usually followed +his Colonel everywhere, 'for that Tibbert, or Taggart, or whatever +was his name, to stick him under the other gentleman's arm while +he was redding the fray.' + +The ladies, of course, declared loudly in favour of Romeo, but +this opinion did not go undisputed. The mistress of the house and +several other ladies severely reprobated the levity with which the +hero transfers his affections from Rosalind to Juliet. Flora +remained silent until her opinion was repeatedly requested, and +then answered, she thought the circumstance objected to not only +reconcilable to nature, but such as in the highest degree evinced +the art of the poet. 'Romeo is described,' said she, 'as a young +man peculiarly susceptible of the softer passions; his love is at +first fixed upon a woman who could afford it no return; this he +repeatedly tells you,-- + + From love's weak, childish bow she lives unharmed, + +and again-- + + She hath forsworn to love. + +Now, as it was impossible that Romeo's love, supposing him a +reasonable being, could continue to subsist without hope, the poet +has, with great art, seized the moment when he was reduced +actually to despair to throw in his way an object more +accomplished than her by whom he had been rejected, and who is +disposed to repay his attachment. I can scarce conceive a +situation more calculated to enhance the ardour of Romeo's +affection for Juliet than his being at once raised by her from the +state of drooping melancholy in which he appears first upon the +scene to the ecstatic state in which he exclaims-- + + --come what sorrow can, + It cannot countervail the exchange of joy + That one short moment gives me in her sight.' + +'Good now, Miss Mac-Ivor,' said a young lady of quality, 'do you +mean to cheat us out of our prerogative? will you persuade us love +cannot subsist without hope, or that the lover must become fickle +if the lady is cruel? O fie! I did not expect such an +unsentimental conclusion.' + +'A lover, my dear Lady Betty,' said Flora, 'may, I conceive, +persevere in his suit under very discouraging circumstances. +Affection can (now and then) withstand very severe storms of +rigour, but not a long polar frost of downright indifference. +Don't, even with YOUR attractions, try the experiment upon any +lover whose faith you value. Love will subsist on wonderfully +little hope, but not altogether without it.' + +'It will be just like Duncan Mac-Girdie's mare,' said Evan, 'if +your ladyships please, he wanted to use her by degrees to live +without meat, and just as he had put her on a straw a day the poor +thing died!' + +Evan's illustration set the company a-laughing, and the discourse +took a different turn. Shortly afterwards the party broke up, and +Edward returned home, musing on what Flora had said. 'I will love +my Rosalind no more,' said he; 'she has given me a broad enough +hint for that; and I will speak to her brother and resign my suit. +But for a Juliet--would it be handsome to interfere with Fergus's +pretensions? though it is impossible they can ever succeed; and +should they miscarry, what then? why then alors comme alors.' And +with this resolution of being guided by circumstances did our hero +commit himself to repose. + + + + + +CHAPTER LV + +A BRAVE MAN IN SORROW + + +Ifmy fair readers should be of opinion that my hero's levity in +love is altogether unpardonable, I must remind them that all his +griefs and difficulties did not arise from that sentimental +source. Even the lyric poet who complains so feelingly of the +pains of love could not forget, that at the same time he was 'in +debt and in drink,' which, doubtless, were great aggravations of +his distress. There were, indeed, whole days in which Waverley +thought neither of Flora nor Rose Bradwardine, but which were +spent in melancholy conjectures on the probable state of matters +at Waverley-Honour, and the dubious issue of the civil contest in +which he was pledged. Colonel Talbot often engaged him in +discussions upon the justice of the cause he had espoused. 'Not,' +he said, 'that it is possible for you to quit it at this present +moment, for, come what will, you must stand by your rash +engagement. But I wish you to be aware that the right is not with +you; that you are fighting against the real interests of your +country; and that you ought, as an Englishman and a patriot, to +take the first opportunity to leave this unhappy expedition before +the snowball melts.' + +In such political disputes Waverley usually opposed the common +arguments of his party, with which it is unnecessary to trouble +the reader. But he had little to say when the Colonel urged him to +compare the strength by which they had undertaken to overthrow the +government with that which was now assembling very rapidly for its +support. To this statement Waverley had but one answer: 'If the +cause I have undertaken be perilous, there would be the greater +disgrace in abandoning it.' And in his turn he generally silenced +Colonel Talbot, and succeeded in changing the subject. + +One night, when, after a long dispute of this nature, the friends +had separated and our hero had retired to bed, he was awakened +about midnight by a suppressed groan. He started up and listened; +it came from the apartment of Colonel Talbot, which was divided +from his own by a wainscotted partition, with a door of +communication. Waverley approached this door and distinctly heard +one or two deep-drawn sighs. What could be the matter? The Colonel +had parted from him apparently in his usual state of spirits. He +must have been taken suddenly ill. Under this impression he opened +the door of communication very gently, and perceived the Colonel, +in his night-gown, seated by a table, on which lay a letter and a +picture. He raised his head hastily, as Edward stood uncertain +whether to advance or retire, and Waverley perceived that his +cheeks were stained with tears. + +As if ashamed at being found giving way to such emotion, Colonel +Talbot rose with apparent displeasure and said, with some +sternness, 'I think, Mr. Waverley, my own apartment and the hour +might have secured even a prisoner against--' + +'Do not say INTRUSION, Colonel Talbot; I heard you breathe hard +and feared you were ill; that alone could have induced me to break +in upon you.' + +'I am well,' said the Colonel, 'perfectly well.' + +'But you are distressed,' said Edward; 'is there anything can be +done?' + +'Nothing, Mr. Waverley; I was only thinking of home, and some +unpleasant occurrences there.' + +'Good God, my uncle!' exclaimed Waverley. + +'No, it is a grief entirely my own. I am ashamed you should have +seen it disarm me so much; but it must have its course at times, +that it may be at others more decently supported. I would have +kept it secret from you; for I think it will grieve you, and yet +you can administer no consolation. But you have surprised me,--I +see you are surprised yourself,--and I hate mystery. Read that +letter.' + +The letter was from Colonel Talbot's sister, and in these words:-- + +'I received yours, my dearest brother, by Hodges. Sir E. W. and +Mr. R. are still at large, but are not permitted to leave London. +I wish to Heaven I could give you as good an account of matters in +the square. But the news of the unhappy affair at Preston came +upon us, with the dreadful addition that you were among the +fallen. You know Lady Emily's state of health, when your +friendship for Sir E. induced you to leave her. She was much +harassed with the sad accounts from Scotland of the rebellion +having broken out; but kept up her spirits, as, she said, it +became your wife, and for the sake of the future heir, so long +hoped for in vain. Alas, my dear brother, these hopes are now +ended! Notwithstanding all my watchful care, this unhappy rumour +reached her without preparation. She was taken ill immediately; +and the poor infant scarce survived its birth. Would to God this +were all! But although the contradiction of the horrible report by +your own letter has greatly revived her spirits, yet Dr.---- +apprehends, I grieve to say, serious, and even dangerous, +consequences to her health, especially from the uncertainty in +which she must necessarily remain for some time, aggravated by the +ideas she has formed of the ferocity of those with whom you are a +prisoner. + +'Do therefore, my dear brother, as soon as this reaches you, +endeavour to gain your release, by parole, by ransom, or any way +that is practicable. I do not exaggerate Lady Emily's state of +health; but I must not--dare not--suppress the truth. Ever, my +dear Philip, your most affectionate sister, + +'Lucy TALBOT.' + +Edward stood motionless when he had perused this letter; for the +conclusion was inevitable, that, by the Colonel's journey in quest +of him, he had incurred this heavy calamity. It was severe enough, +even in its irremediable part; for Colonel Talbot and Lady Emily, +long without a family, had fondly exulted in the hopes which were +now blasted. But this disappointment was nothing to the extent of +the threatened evil; and Edward, with horror, regarded himself as +the original cause of both. + +Ere he could collect himself sufficiently to speak, Colonel Talbot +had recovered his usual composure of manner, though his troubled +eye denoted his mental agony. + +'She is a woman, my young friend, who may justify even a soldier's +tears.' He reached him the miniature, exhibiting features which +fully justified the eulogium; 'and yet, God knows, what you see of +her there is the least of the charms she possesses--possessed, I +should perhaps say--but God's will be done.' + +' You must fly--you must fly instantly to her relief. It is not-- +it shall not be too late.' + +'Fly? how is it possible? I am a prisoner, upon parole.' + +'I am your keeper; I restore your parole; I am to answer for you.' + +'You cannot do so consistently with your duty; nor can I accept a +discharge from you, with due regard to my own honour; you would be +made responsible.' + +'I will answer it with my head, if necessary,' said Waverley +impetuously. 'I have been the unhappy cause of the loss of your +child, make me not the murderer of your wife.' + +'No, my dear Edward,' said Talbot, taking him kindly by the hand, +'you are in no respect to blame; and if I concealed this domestic +distress for two days, it was lest your sensibility should view it +in that light. You could not think of me, hardly knew of my +existence, when I left England in quest of you. It is a +responsibility, Heaven knows, sufficiently heavy for mortality, +that we must answer for the foreseen and direct result of our +actions; for their indirect and consequential operation the great +and good Being, who alone can foresee the dependence of human +events on each other, hath not pronounced his frail creatures +liable.' + +'But that you should have left Lady Emily,' said Waverley, with +much emotion, 'in the situation of all others the most interesting +to a husband, to seek a--' + +'I only did my duty,' answered Colonel Talbot, calmly, 'and I do +not, ought not, to regret it. If the path of gratitude and honour +were always smooth and easy, there would be little merit in +following it; but it moves often in contradiction to our interest +and passions, and sometimes to our better affections. These are +the trials of life, and this, though not the least bitter' (the +tears came unbidden to his eyes), 'is not the first which it has +been my fate to encounter. But we will talk of this to-morrow,' +he said, wringing Waverley's hands. 'Good-night; strive to forget +it for a few hours. It will dawn, I think, by six, and it is now +past two. Good-night.' + +Edward retired, without trusting his voice with a reply. + + + + + +CHAPTER LVI + +EXERTION + + +When Colonel Talbot entered the breakfast-parlour next morning, he +learned from Waverley's servant that our hero had been abroad at +an early hour and was not yet returned. The morning was well +advanced before he again appeared. He arrived out of breath, but +with an air of joy that astonished Colonel Talbot. + +'There,' said he, throwing a paper on the table, 'there is my +morning's work. Alick, pack up the Colonel's clothes. Make haste, +make haste.' + +The Colonel examined the paper with astonishment. It was a pass +from the Chevalier to Colonel Talbot, to repair to Leith, or any +other port in possession of his Royal Highness's troops, and there +to embark for England or elsewhere, at his free pleasure; he only +giving his parole of honour not to bear arms against the house of +Stuart for the space of a twelve-month. + +'In the name of God,' said the Colonel, his eyes sparkling with +eagerness, 'how did you obtain this?' + +'I was at the Chevalier's levee as soon as he usually rises. He +was gone to the camp at Duddingston. I pursued him thither, asked +and obtained an audience--but I will tell you not a word more, +unless I see you begin to pack.' + +'Before I know whether I can avail myself of this passport, or how +it was obtained?' + +'O, you can take out the things again, you know. Now I see you +busy, I will go on. When I first mentioned your name, his eyes +sparkled almost as bright as yours did two minutes since. "Had +you," he earnestly asked, "shown any sentiments favourable to his +cause?" "Not in the least, nor was there any hope you would do +so." His countenance fell. I requested your freedom. "Impossible," +he said; "your importance as a friend and confidant of such and +such personages made my request altogether extravagant." I told +him my own story and yours; and asked him to judge what my +feelings must be by his own. He has a heart, and a kind one, +Colonel Talbot, you may say what you please. He took a sheet of +paper and wrote the pass with his own hand. "I will not trust +myself with my council," he said; "they will argue me out of what +is right. I will not endure that a friend, valued as I value you, +should be loaded with the painful reflections which must afflict +you in case of further misfortune in Colonel Talbot's family; nor +will I keep a brave enemy a prisoner under such circumstances. +Besides," said he, "I think I can justify myself to my prudent +advisers by pleading the good effect such lenity will produce on +the minds of the great English families with whom Colonel Talbot +is connected."' + +'There the politician peeped out,' said the Colonel. + +'Well, at least he concluded like a king's son: "Take the +passport; I have added a condition for form's sake; but if the +Colonel objects to it, let him depart without giving any parole +whatever. I come here to war with men, but not to distress or +endanger women."' + +'Well, I never thought to have been so much indebted to the +Pretend--' + +'To the Prince,' said Waverley, smiling. + +'To the Chevalier,' said the Colonel; 'it is a good travelling +name, and which we may both freely use. Did he say anything more?' + +'Only asked if there was anything else he could oblige me in; and +when I replied in the negative, he shook me by the hand, and +wished all his followers were as considerate, since some friends +of mine not only asked all he had to bestow, but many things which +were entirely out of his power, or that of the greatest sovereign +upon earth. Indeed, he said, no prince seemed, in the eyes of his +followers, so like the Deity as himself, if you were to judge from +the extravagant requests which they daily preferred to him.' + +'Poor young gentleman,' said the Colonel, 'I suppose he begins to +feel the difficulties of his situation. Well, dear Waverley, this +is more than kind, and shall not be forgotten while Philip Talbot +can remember anything. My life--pshaw--let Emily thank you for +that; this is a favour worth fifty lives. I cannot hesitate on +giving my parole in the circumstances; there it is (he wrote it +out in form). And now, how am I to get off?' + +'All that is settled: your baggage is packed, my horses wait, and +a boat has been engaged, by the Prince's permission, to put you on +board the Fox frigate. I sent a messenger down to Leith on +purpose.' + +'That will do excellently well. Captain Beaver is my particular +friend; he will put me ashore at Berwick or Shields, from whence I +can ride post to London; and you must entrust me with the packet +of papers which you recovered by means of your Miss Bean Lean. I +may have an opportunity of using them to your advantage. But I see +your Highland friend, Glen ---- what do you call his barbarous name? +and his orderly with him; I must not call him his orderly cut- +throat any more, I suppose. See how he walks as if the world were +his own, with the bonnet on one side of his head and his plaid +puffed out across his breast! I should like now to meet that youth +where my hands were not tied: I would tame his pride, or he should +tame mine.' + +'For shame, Colonel Talbot! you swell at sight of tartan as the +bull is said to do at scarlet. You and Mac-Ivor have some points +not much unlike, so far as national prejudice is concerned.' + +The latter part of this discourse took place in the street. They +passed the Chief, the Colonel and he sternly and punctiliously +greeting each other, like two duellists before they take their +ground. It was evident the dislike was mutual. 'I never see that +surly fellow that dogs his heels,' said the Colonel, after he had +mounted his horse, 'but he reminds me of lines I have somewhere +heard--upon the stage, I think:-- + + Close behind him + Stalks sullen Bertram, like a sorcerer's fiend, + Pressing to be employed. + +'I assure you, Colonel,' said Waverley,'that you judge too harshly +of the Highlanders.' + +'Not a whit, not a whit; I cannot spare them a jot; I cannot bate +them an ace. Let them stay in their own barren mountains, and puff +and swell, and hang their bonnets on the horns of the moon, if +they have a mind; but what business have they to come where people +wear breeches, and speak an intelligible language? I mean +intelligible in comparison to their gibberish, for even the +Lowlanders talk a kind of English little better than the Negroes +in Jamaica. I could pity the Pr----, I mean the, Chevalier +himself, for having so many desperadoes about him. And they learn +their trade so early. There is a kind of subaltern imp, for +example, a sort of sucking devil, whom your friend Glena---- +Glenamuck there, has sometimes in his train. To look at him, he is +about fifteen years; but he is a century old in mischief and +villainy. He was playing at quoits the other day in the court; a +gentleman, a decent-looking person enough, came past, and as a +quoit hit his shin, he lifted his cane; but my young bravo whips +out his pistol, like Beau Clincher in the "Trip to the Jubilee," +and had not a scream of Gardez l'eau from an upper window set all +parties a-scampering for fear of the inevitable consequences, the +poor gentleman would have lost his life by the hands of that +little cockatrice.' + +'A fine character you'll give of Scotland upon your return, +Colonel Talbot.' + +'O, Justice Shallow,' said the Colonel, 'will save me the trouble +--"Barren, barren, beggars all, beggars all. Marry, good air,"--and +that only when you are fairly out of Edinburgh, and not yet come +to Leith, as is our case at present.' + +In a short time they arrived at the seaport. + + The boat rock'd at the pier of Leith, + Full loud the wind blew down the ferry; + The ship rode at the Berwick Law. + +'Farewell, Colonel; may you find all as you would wish it! Perhaps +we may meet sooner than you expect; they talk of an immediate +route to England.' + +'Tell me nothing of that,' said Talbot; 'I wish to carry no news +of your motions.' + +'Simply, then, adieu. Say, with a thousand kind greetings, all +that is dutiful and affectionate to Sir Everard and Aunt Rachel. +Think of me as kindly as you can, speak of me as indulgently as +your conscience will permit, and once more adieu.' + +'And adieu, my dear Waverley; many, many thanks for your kindness. +Unplaid yourself on the first opportunity. I shall ever think on +you with gratitude, and the worst of my censure shall be, Que +diable alloit-il faire dans cette galere?' + +And thus they parted, Colonel Talbot going on board of the boat +and Waverley returning to Edinburgh. + + + + + +CHAPTER LVII + +THE MARCH + + +It is not our purpose to intrude upon the province of history. We +shall therefore only remind our readers that about the beginning +of November the Young Chevalier, at the head of about six thousand +men at the utmost, resolved to peril his cause on an attempt to +penetrate into the centre of England, although aware of the mighty +preparations which were made for his reception. They set forward +on this crusade in weather which would have rendered any other +troops incapable of marching, but which in reality gave these +active mountaineers advantages over a less hardy enemy. In +defiance of a superior army lying upon the Borders, under Field- +Marshal Wade, they besieged and took Carlisle, and soon afterwards +prosecuted their daring march to the southward. + +As Colonel Mac-Ivor's regiment marched in the van of the clans, he +and Waverley, who now equalled any Highlander in the endurance of +fatigue, and was become somewhat acquainted with their language, +were perpetually at its head. They marked the progress of the +army, however, with very different eyes. Fergus, all air and fire, +and confident against the world in arms, measured nothing but that +every step was a yard nearer London. He neither asked, expected, +nor desired any aid except that of the clans to place the Stuarts +once more on the throne; and when by chance a few adherents joined +the standard, he always considered them in the light of new +claimants upon the favours of the future monarch, who, he +concluded, must therefore subtract for their gratification so much +of the bounty which ought to be shared among his Highland +followers. + +Edward's views were very different. He could not but observe that +in those towns in which they proclaimed James the Third, 'no man +cried, God bless him.' The mob stared and listened, heartless, +stupefied, and dull, but gave few signs even of that boisterous +spirit which induces them to shout upon all occasions for the mere +exercise of their most sweet voices. The Jacobites had been taught +to believe that the north-western counties abounded with wealthy +squires and hardy yeomen, devoted to the cause of the White Rose. +But of the wealthier Tories they saw little. Some fled from their +houses, some feigned themselves sick, some surrendered themselves +to the government as suspected persons. Of such as remained, the +ignorant gazed with astonishment, mixed with horror and aversion, +at the wild appearance, unknown language, and singular garb of the +Scottish clans. And to the more prudent their scanty numbers, +apparent deficiency in discipline, and poverty of equipment seemed +certain tokens of the calamitous termination of their rash +undertaking. Thus the few who joined them were such as bigotry of +political principle blinded to consequences, or whose broken +fortunes induced them to hazard all on a risk so desperate. + +The Baron of Bradwardine, being asked what he thought of these +recruits, took a long pinch of snuff, and answered drily,'that he +could not but have an excellent opinion of them, since they +resembled precisely the followers who attached themselves to the +good King David at the cave of Adullam--videlicet, every one that +was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one +that was discontented, which the vulgate renders bitter of soul; +and doubtless,' he said, 'they will prove mighty men of their +hands, and there is much need that they should, for I have seen +many a sour look cast upon us.' + +But none of these considerations moved Fergus. He admired the +luxuriant beauty of the country, and the situation of many of the +seats which they passed. 'Is Waverley-Honour like that house, +Edward?' + +'It is one-half larger.' + +'Is your uncle's park as fine a one as that?' + +'It is three times as extensive, and rather resembles a forest +than a mere park.' + +'Flora will be a happy woman.' + +'I hope Miss Mac-Ivor will have much reason for happiness +unconnected with Waverley-Honour.' + +'I hope so too; but to be mistress of such a place will be a +pretty addition to the sum total.' + +'An addition, the want of which, I trust, will be amply supplied +by some other means.' + +'How,' said Fergus, stopping short and turning upon Waverley--'how +am I to understand that, Mr. Waverley? Had I the pleasure to hear +you aright?' + +'Perfectly right, Fergus.' + +'And am I to understand that you no longer desire my alliance and +my sister's hand?' + +'Your sister has refused mine,' said Waverley, 'both directly and +by all the usual means by which ladies repress undesired +attentions.' + +'I have no idea,' answered the Chieftain, 'of a lady dismissing or +a gentleman withdrawing his suit, after it has been approved of by +her legal guardian, without giving him an opportunity of talking +the matter over with the lady. You did not, I suppose, expect my +sister to drop into your mouth like a ripe plum the first moment +you chose to open it?' + +'As to the lady's title to dismiss her lover, Colonel,' replied +Edward, 'it is a point which you must argue with her, as I am +ignorant of the customs of the Highlands in that particular. But +as to my title to acquiesce in a rejection from her without an +appeal to your interest, I will tell you plainly, without meaning +to undervalue Miss Mac-Ivor's admitted beauty and accomplishments, +that I would not take the hand of an angel, with an empire for her +dowry, if her consent were extorted by the importunity of friends +and guardians, and did not flow from her own free inclination.' + +'An angel, with the dowry of an empire,' repeated Fergus, in a +tone of bitter irony, 'is not very likely to be pressed upon a ---- +shire squire. But, sir,' changing his tone, 'if Flora Mac-Ivor +have not the dowry of an empire, she is MY sister; and that is +sufficient at least to secure her against being treated with +anything approaching to levity.' + +'She is Flora Mac-Ivor, sir,' said Waverley, with firmness, 'which +to me, were I capable of treating ANY woman with levity, would be +a more effectual protection.' + +The brow of the Chieftain was now fully clouded; but Edward felt +too indignant at the unreasonable tone which he had adopted to +avert the storm by the least concession. They both stood still +while this short dialogue passed, and Fergus seemed half disposed +to say something more violent, but, by a strong effort, suppressed +his passion, and, turning his face forward, walked sullenly on. As +they had always hitherto walked together, and almost constantly +side by side, Waverley pursued his course silently in the same +direction, determined to let the Chief take his own time in +recovering the good-humour which he had so unreasonably discarded, +and firm in his resolution not to bate him an inch of dignity. + +After they had marched on in this sullen manner about a mile, +Fergus resumed the discourse in a different tone. 'I believe I was +warm, my dear Edward, but you provoke me with your want of +knowledge of the world. You have taken pet at some of Flora's +prudery, or high-flying notions of loyalty, and now, like a +child, you quarrel with the plaything you have been crying for, +and beat me, your faithful keeper, because my arm cannot reach to +Edinburgh to hand it to you. I am sure, if I was passionate, the +mortification of losing the alliance of such a friend, after your +arrangement had been the talk of both Highlands and Lowlands, and +that without so much as knowing why or wherefore, might well +provoke calmer blood than mine. I shall write to Edinburgh and put +all to rights; that is, if you desire I should do so; as indeed I +cannot suppose that your good opinion of Flora, it being such as +you have often expressed to me, can be at once laid aside.' + +'Colonel Mac-Ivor,' said Edward, who had no mind to be hurried +farther or faster than he chose in a matter which he had already +considered as broken off, 'I am fully sensible of the value of +your good offices; and certainly, by your zeal on my behalf in +such an affair, you do me no small honour. But as Miss Mac-Ivor +has made her election freely and voluntarily, and as all my +attentions in Edinburgh were received with more than coldness, I +cannot, in justice either to her or myself, consent that she +should again be harassed upon this topic. I would have mentioned +this to you some time since, but you saw the footing upon which we +stood together, and must have understood it. Had I thought +otherwise I would have earlier spoken; but I had a natural +reluctance to enter upon a subject so painful to us both.' + +'O, very well, Mr. Waverley,' said Fergus, haughtily, 'the thing +is at an end. I have no occasion to press my sister upon any man.' + +'Nor have I any occasion to court repeated rejection from the same +young lady,' answered Edward, in the same tone. + +'I shall make due inquiry, however,' said the Chieftain, without +noticing the interruption, 'and learn what my sister thinks of all +this, we will then see whether it is to end here.' + +'Respecting such inquiries, you will of course be guided by your +own judgment,' said Waverley. 'It is, I am aware, impossible Miss +Mac-Ivor can change her mind; and were such an unsupposable case +to happen, it is certain I will not change mine. I only mention +this to prevent any possibility of future misconstruction.' + +Gladly at this moment would Mac-Ivor have put their quarrel to a +personal arbitrement, his eye flashed fire, and he measured Edward +as if to choose where he might best plant a mortal wound. But +although we do not now quarrel according to the modes and figures +of Caranza or Vincent Saviola, no one knew better than Fergus that +there must be some decent pretext for a mortal duel. For instance, +you may challenge a man for treading on your corn in a crowd, or +for pushing you up to the wall, or for taking your seat in the +theatre; but the modern code of honour will not permit you to +found a quarrel upon your right of compelling a man to continue +addresses to a female relative which the fair lady has already +refused. So that Fergus was compelled to stomach this supposed +affront until the whirligig of time, whose motion he promised +himself he would watch most sedulously, should bring about an +opportunity of revenge. + +Waverley's servant always led a saddle-horse for him in the rear +of the battalion to which he was attached, though his master +seldom rode. But now, incensed at the domineering and unreasonable +conduct of his late friend, he fell behind the column and mounted +his horse, resolving to seek the Baron of Bradwardine, and request +permission to volunteer in his troop instead of the Mac-Ivor +regiment. + +'A happy time of it I should have had,' thought he, after he was +mounted, 'to have been so closely allied to this superb specimen +of pride and self-opinion and passion. A colonel! why, he should +have been a generalissimo. A petty chief of three or four hundred +men! his pride might suffice for the Cham of Tartary--the Grand +Seignior--the Great Mogul! I am well free of him. Were Flora an +angel, she would bring with her a second Lucifer of ambition and +wrath for a brother-in-law.' + +The Baron, whose learning (like Sancho's jests while in the Sierra +Morena) seemed to grow mouldy for want of exercise, joyfully +embraced the opportunity of Waverley's offering his service in his +regiment, to bring it into some exertion. The good-natured old +gentleman, however, laboured to effect a reconciliation between +the two quondam friends. Fergus turned a cold ear to his +remonstrances, though he gave them a respectful hearing; and as +for Waverley, he saw no reason why he should be the first in +courting a renewal of the intimacy which the Chieftain had so +unreasonably disturbed. The Baron then mentioned the matter to the +Prince, who, anxious to prevent quarrels in his little army, +declared he would himself remonstrate with Colonel Mac-Ivor on the +unreasonableness of his conduct. But, in the hurry of their march, +it was a day or two before he had an opportunity to exert his +influence in the manner proposed. + +In the meanwhile Waverley turned the instructions he had received +while in Gardiner's dragoons to some account, and assisted the +Baron in his command as a sort of adjutant. 'Parmi les aveugles un +borgne est roi,' says the French proverb; and the cavalry, which +consisted chiefly of Lowland gentlemen, their tenants and +servants, formed a high opinion of Waverley's skill and a great +attachment to his person. This was indeed partly owing to the +satisfaction which they felt at the distinguished English +volunteer's leaving the Highlanders to rank among them; for there +was a latent grudge between the horse and foot, not only owing to +the difference of the services, but because most of the gentlemen, +living near the Highlands, had at one time or other had quarrels +with the tribes in their vicinity, and all of them looked with a +jealous eye on the Highlanders' avowed pretensions to superior +valour and utility in the Prince's service. + + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII + +THE CONFUSION OF KING AGRAMANT'S CAMP + + +Itwas Waverley's custom sometimes to ride a little apart from the +main body, to look at any object of curiosity which occurred on +the march. They were now in Lancashire, when, attracted by a +castellated old hall, he left the squadron for half an hour to +take a survey and slight sketch of it. As he returned down the +avenue he was met by Ensign Maccombich. This man had contracted a +sort of regard for Edward since the day of his first seeing him at +Tully-Veolan and introducing him to the Highlands. He seemed to +loiter, as if on purpose to meet with our hero. Yet, as he passed +him, he only approached his stirrup and pronounced the single word +'Beware!' and then walked swiftly on, shunning all further +communication. + +Edward, somewhat surprised at this hint, followed with his eyes +the course of Evan, who speedily disappeared among the trees. His +servant, Alick Polwarth, who was in attendance, also looked after +the Highlander, and then riding up close to his master, said,-- + +'The ne'er be in me, sir, if I think you're safe amang thae +Highland rinthereouts.' + +'What do you mean, Alick?' said Waverley. + +'The Mac-Ivors, sir, hae gotten it into their heads that ye hae +affronted their young leddy, Miss Flora; and I hae heard mae than +ane say, they wadna tak muckle to mak a black-cock o' ye; and ye +ken weel eneugh there's mony o' them wadna mind a bawbee the +weising a ball through the Prince himsell, an the Chief gae them +the wink, or whether he did or no, if they thought it a thing that +would please him when it was dune.' + +Waverley, though confident that Fergus Mac-Ivor was incapable of +such treachery, was by no means equally sure of the forbearance of +his followers. He knew that, where the honour of the Chief or his +family was supposed to be touched, the happiest man would be he +that could first avenge the stigma; and he had often heard them +quote a proverb, 'That the best revenge was the most speedy and +most safe.' Coupling this with the hint of Evan, he judged it most +prudent to set spurs to his horse and ride briskly back to the +squadron. Ere he reached the end of the long avenue, however, a +ball whistled past him, and the report of a pistol was heard. + +'It was that deevil's buckle, Callum Beg,' said Alick; 'I saw him +whisk away through amang the reises.' + +Edward, justly incensed at this act of treachery, galloped out of +the avenue, and observed the battalion of Mac-Ivor at some +distance moving along the common in which it terminated. He also +saw an individual running very fast to join the party; this he +concluded was the intended assassin, who, by leaping an enclosure, +might easily make a much shorter path to the main body than he +could find on horseback. Unable to contain himself, he commanded +Alick to go to the Baron of Bradwardine, who was at the head of +his regiment about half a mile in front, and acquaint him with +what had happened. He himself immediately rode up to Fergus's +regiment. The Chief himself was in the act of joining them. He was +on horseback, having returned from waiting on the Prince. On +perceiving Edward approaching, he put his horse in motion towards +him. + +'Colonel Mac-Ivor,' said Waverley, without any farther salutation, +'I have to inform you that one of your people has this instant +fired at me from a lurking-place.' + +'As that,' answered Mac-Ivor, 'excepting the circumstance of a +lurking-place, is a pleasure which I presently propose to myself, +I should be glad to know which of my clansmen dared to anticipate +me.' + +'I shall certainly be at your command whenever you please; the +gentleman who took your office upon himself is your page there, +Callum Beg.' + +'Stand forth from the ranks, Callum! Did you fire at Mr. +Waverley?' + +'No,' answered the unblushing Callum. + +'You did,' said Alick Polwarth, who was already returned, having +met a trooper by whom he despatched an account of what was going +forward to the Baron of Bradwardine, while he himself returned to +his master at full gallop, neither sparing the rowels of his spurs +nor the sides of his horse. 'You did; I saw you as plainly as I +ever saw the auld kirk at Coudingham.' + +'You lie,' replied Callum, with his usual impenetrable obstinacy. +The combat between the knights would certainly, as in the days of +chivalry, have been preceded by an encounter between the squires +(for Alick was a stout-hearted Merseman, and feared the bow of +Cupid far more than a Highlander's dirk or claymore), but Fergus, +with his usual tone of decision, demanded Callum's pistol. The +cock was down, the pan and muzzle were black with the smoke; it +had been that instant fired. + +'Take that,' said Fergus, striking the boy upon the head with the +heavy pistol-butt with his whole force--'take that for acting +without orders, and lying to disguise it.' Callum received the +blow without appearing to flinch from it, and fell without sign of +life. 'Stand still, upon your lives!' said Fergus to the rest of +the clan; 'I blow out the brains of the first man who interferes +between Mr. Waverley and me.' They stood motionless; Evan Dhu +alone showed symptoms of vexation and anxiety. Callum lay on the +ground bleeding copiously, but no one ventured to give him any +assistance. It seemed as if he had gotten his death-blow. + +'And now for you, Mr. Waverley; please to turn your horse twenty +yards with me upon the common.' Waverley complied; and Fergus, +confronting him when they were a little way from the line of +march, said, with great affected coolness, 'I could not but +wonder, sir, at the fickleness of taste which you were pleased to +express the other day. But it was not an angel, as you justly +observed, who had charms for you, unless she brought an empire for +her fortune. I have now an excellent commentary upon that obscure +text.' + +'I am at a loss even to guess at your meaning, Colonel Mac-Ivor, +unless it seems plain that you intend to fasten a quarrel upon +me.' + +'Your affected ignorance shall not serve you, sir. The Prince--the +Prince himself has acquainted me with your manoeuvres. I little +thought that your engagements with Miss Bradwardine were the +reason of your breaking off your intended match with my sister. I +suppose the information that the Baron had altered the destination +of his estate was quite a sufficient reason for slighting your +friend's sister and carrying off your friend's mistress.' + +'Did the Prince tell you I was engaged to Miss Bradwardine?' said +Waverley. 'Impossible.' + +'He did, sir,' answered Mac-Ivor; 'so, either draw and defend +yourself or resign your pretensions to the lady.' 'This is +absolute madness,' exclaimed Waverley, 'or some strange mistake!' + +'O! no evasion! draw your sword!' said the infuriated Chieftain, +his own already unsheathed. + +'Must I fight in a madman's quarrel?' + +'Then give up now, and forever, all pretensions to Miss +Bradwardine's hand.' + +'What title have you,' cried Waverley, utterly losing command of +himself--'what title have you, or any man living, to dictate such +terms to me?' And he also drew his sword. + +At this moment the Baron of Bradwardine, followed by several of +his troop, came up on the spur, some from curiosity, others to +take part in the quarrel which they indistinctly understood had +broken out between the Mac-Ivors and their corps. The clan, seeing +them approach, put themselves in motion to support their +Chieftain, and a scene of confusion commenced which seamed likely +to terminate in bloodshed. A hundred tongues were in motion at +once. The Baron lectured, the Chieftain stormed, the Highlanders +screamed in Gaelic, the horsemen cursed and swore in Lowland +Scotch. At length matters came to such a pass that the Baron +threatened to charge the Mac-Ivors unless they resumed their +ranks, and many of them, in return, presented their firearms at +him and the other troopers. The confusion was privately fostered +by old Ballenkeiroch, who made no doubt that his own day of +vengeance was arrived, when, behold! a cry arose of 'Room! make +way! place a Monseigneur! place a Monseigneur!' This announced the +approach of the Prince, who came up with a party of Fitz-James's +foreign dragoons that acted as his body-guard. His arrival +produced some degree of order. The Highlanders reassumed their +ranks, the cavalry fell in and formed squadron, and the Baron and +Chieftain were silent. + +The Prince called them and Waverley before him. Having heard the +original cause of the quarrel through the villainy of Callum Beg, +he ordered him into custody of the provost-marshal for immediate +execution, in the event of his surviving the chastisement +inflicted by his Chieftain. Fergus, however, in a tone betwixt +claiming a right and asking a favour, requested he might be left +to his disposal, and promised his punishment should be exemplary. +To deny this might have seemed to encroach on the patriarchal +authority of the Chieftains, of which they were very jealous, and +they were not persons to be disobliged. Callum was therefore left +to the justice of his own tribe. + +The Prince next demanded to know the new cause of quarrel between +Colonel Mac-Ivor and Waverley. There was a pause. Both gentlemen +found the presence of the Baron of Bradwardine (for by this time +all three had approached the Chevalier by his command) an +insurmountable barrier against entering upon a subject where the +name of his daughter must unavoidably be mentioned. They turned +their eyes on the ground, with looks in which shame and +embarrassment were mingled with displeasure. The Prince, who had +been educated amongst the discontented and mutinous spirits of the +court of St. Germains, where feuds of every kind were the daily +subject of solicitude to the dethroned sovereign, had served his +apprenticeship, as old Frederick of Prussia would have said, to +the trade of royalty. To promote or restore concord among his +followers was indispensable. Accordingly he took his measures. + +'Monsieur de Beaujeu!' + +'Monseigneur!' said a very handsome French cavalry officer who was +in attendance. + +'Ayez la bonte d'aligner ces montagnards la, ainsi que la +cavalerie, s'il vous plait, et de les remettre a la marche. Vous +parlez si bien l'Anglois, cela ne vous donneroit pas beaucoup de +peine.' + +'Ah! pas du tout, Monseigneur,' replied Mons. le Comte de Beaujeu, +his head bending down to the neck of his little prancing highly- +managed charger. Accordingly he piaffed away, in high spirits and +confidence, to the head of Fergus's regiment, although +understanding not a word of Gaelic and very little English. + +'Messieurs les sauvages Ecossois--dat is, gentilmans savages, have +the goodness d'arranger vous.' + +The clan, comprehending the order more from the gesture than the +words, and seeing the Prince himself present, hastened to dress +their ranks. + +'Ah! ver well! dat is fort bien!' said the Count de Beaujeu. +'Gentilmans sauvages! mais, tres bien. Eh bien! Qu'est ce que vous +appelez visage, Monsieur?' (to a lounging trooper who stood by +him). 'Ah, oui! face. Je vous remercie, Monsieur. Gentilshommes, +have de goodness to make de face to de right par file, dat is, by +files. Marsh! Mais, tres bien; encore, Messieurs; il faut vous +mettre a la marche. ... Marchez done, au nom de Dieu, parceque +j'ai oublie le mot Anglois; mais vous etes des braves gens, et me +comprenez tres bien.' + +The Count next hastened to put the cavalry in motion. 'Gentilmans +cavalry, you must fall in. Ah! par ma foi, I did not say fall off! +I am a fear de little gross fat gentilman is moche hurt. Ah, mon +Dieu! c'est le Commissaire qui nous a apporte les premieres +nouvelles de ce maudit fracas. Je suis trop fache, Monsieur!' + +But poor Macwheeble, who, with a sword stuck across him, and a +white cockade as large as a pancake, now figured in the character +of a commissary, being overturned in the bustle occasioned by the +troopers hastening to get themselves in order in the Prince's +presence, before he could rally his galloway, slunk to the rear +amid the unrestrained laughter of the spectators. + +'Eh bien, Messieurs, wheel to de right. Ah! dat is it! Eh, +Monsieur de Bradwardine, ayez la bonte de vous mettre a la tete de +votre regiment, car, par Dieu, je n'en puis plus!' + +The Baron of Bradwardine was obliged to go to the assistance of +Monsieur de Beaujeu, after he had fairly expended his few English +military phrases. One purpose of the Chevalier was thus answered. +The other he proposed was, that in the eagerness to hear and +comprehend commands issued through such an indistinct medium in +his own presence, the thoughts of the soldiers in both corps might +get a current different from the angry channel in which they were +flowing at the time. + +Charles Edward was no sooner left with the Chieftain and Waverley, +the rest of his attendants being at some distance, than he said, +'If I owed less to your disinterested friendship, I could be most +seriously angry with both of you for this very extraordinary and +causeless broil, at a moment when my father's service so decidedly +demands the most perfect unanimity. But the worst of my situation +is, that my very best friends hold they have liberty to ruin +themselves, as well as the cause they are engaged in, upon the +slightest caprice.' + +Both the young men protested their resolution to submit every +difference to his arbitration. 'Indeed,' said Edward, 'I hardly +know of what I am accused. I sought Colonel Mac-Ivor merely to +mention to him that I had narrowly escaped assassination at the +hand of his immediate dependent, a dastardly revenge which I knew +him to be incapable of authorising. As to the cause for which he +is disposed to fasten a quarrel upon me, I am ignorant of it, +unless it be that he accuses me, most unjustly, of having engaged +the affections of a young lady in prejudice of his pretensions.' + +'If there is an error,' said the Chieftain, 'it arises from a +conversation which I held this morning with his Royal Highness +himself.' + +'With me?' said the Chevalier; 'how can Colonel Mac-Ivor have so +far misunderstood me?' + +He then led Fergus aside, and, after five minutes' earnest +conversation, spurred his horse towards Edward. 'Is it possible-- +nay, ride up, Colonel, for I desire no secrets--is it possible, +Mr. Waverley, that I am mistaken in supposing that you are an +accepted lover of Miss Bradwardine? a fact of which I was by +circumstances, though not by communication from you, so absolutely +convinced that I alleged it to Vich Ian Vohr this morning as a +reason why, without offence to him, you might not continue to be +ambitious of an alliance which, to an unengaged person, even +though once repulsed, holds out too many charms to be lightly laid +aside.' + +'Your Royal Highness,' said Waverley,'must have founded on +circumstances altogether unknown to me, when you did me the +distinguished honour of supposing me an accepted lover of Miss +Bradwardine. I feel the distinction implied in the supposition, +but I have no title to it. For the rest, my confidence in my own +merit is too justly slight to admit of my hoping for success in +any quarter after positive rejection.' + +The Chevalier was silent for a moment, looking steadily at them +both, and then said, 'Upon my word, Mr. Waverley, you are a less +happy man than I conceived I had very good reason to believe you. +But now, gentlemen, allow me to be umpire in this matter, not as +Prince Regent but as Charles Stuart, a brother adventurer with you +in the same gallant cause. Lay my pretensions to be obeyed by you +entirely out of view, and consider your own honour, and how far it +is well or becoming to give our enemies the advantage and our +friends the scandal of showing that, few as we are, we are not +united. And forgive me if I add, that the names of the ladies who +have been mentioned crave more respect from us all than to be made +themes of discord.' + +He took Fergus a little apart and spoke to him very earnestly for +two or three minutes, and then returning to Waverley, said, 'I +believe I have satisfied Colonel Mac-Ivor that his resentment was +founded upon a misconception, to which, indeed, I myself gave +rise; and I trust Mr. Waverley is too generous to harbour any +recollection of what is past when I assure him that such is the +case. You must state this matter properly to your clan, Vich Ian +Vohr, to prevent a recurrence of their precipitate violence.' +Fergus bowed. 'And now, gentlemen, let me have the pleasure to see +you shake hands.' + +They advanced coldly, and with measured steps, each apparently +reluctant to appear most forward in concession. They did, however, +shake hands, and parted, taking a respectful leave of the +Chevalier. + +Charles Edward [Footnote: See Note 12.] then rode to the head of +the MacIvors, threw himself from his horse, begged a drink out of +old Ballenkeiroch's cantine, and marched about half a mile along +with them, inquiring into the history and connexions of Sliochd +nan Ivor, adroitly using the few words of Gaelic he possessed, and +affecting a great desire to learn it more thoroughly. He then +mounted his horse once more, and galloped to the Baron's cavalry, +which was in front, halted them, and examined their accoutrements +and state of discipline; took notice of the principal gentlemen, +and even of the cadets; inquired after their ladies, and commended +their horses; rode about an hour with the Baron of Bradwardine, +and endured three long stories about Field-Marshal the Duke of +Berwick. + +'Ah, Beaujeu, mon cher ami,' said he, as he returned to his usual +place in the line of march, 'que mon metier de prince errant est +ennuyant, par fois. Mais, courage! c'est le grand jeu, apres +tout.' + + + + + +CHAPTER LIX + +A SKIRMISH + + +Theeader need hardly be reminded that, after a council of war +held at Derby on the 5th of December, the Highlanders relinquished +their desperate attempt to penetrate farther into England, and, +greatly to the dissatisfaction of their young and daring leader, +positively determined to return northward. They commenced their +retreat accordingly, and, by the extreme celerity of their +movements, outstripped the motions of the Duke of Cumberland, who +now pursued them with a very large body of cavalry. + +This retreat was a virtual resignation of their towering hopes. +None had been so sanguine as Fergus MacIvor; none, consequently, +was so cruelly mortified at the change of measures. He argued, or +rather remonstrated, with the utmost vehemence at the council of +war; and, when his opinion was rejected, shed tears of grief and +indignation. From that moment his whole manner was so much altered +that he could scarcely have been recognised for the same soaring +and ardent spirit, for whom the whole earth seemed too narrow but +a week before. The retreat had continued for several days, when +Edward, to his surprise, early on the 12th of December, received a +visit from the Chieftain in his quarters, in a hamlet about half- +way between Shap and Penrith. + +Having had no intercourse with the Chieftain since their rupture, +Edward waited with some anxiety an explanation of this unexpected +visit; nor could he help being surprised, and somewhat shocked, +with the change in his appearance. His eye had lost much of its +fire; his cheek was hollow, his voice was languid, even his gait +seemed less firm and elastic than it was wont; and his dress, to +which he used to be particularly attentive, was now carelessly +flung about him. He invited Edward to walk out with him by the +little river in the vicinity; and smiled in a melancholy manner +when he observed him take down and buckle on his sword. + +As soon as they were in a wild sequestered path by the side of the +stream, the Chief broke out--'Our fine adventure is now totally +ruined, Waverley, and I wish to know what you intend to do;--nay, +never stare at me, man. I tell you I received a packet from my +sister yesterday, and, had I got the information it contains +sooner, it would have prevented a quarrel which I am always vexed +when I think of. In a letter written after our dispute, I +acquainted her with the cause of it; and she now replies to me +that she never had, nor could have, any purpose of giving you +encouragement; so that it seems I have acted like a madman. Poor +Flora! she writes in high spirits; what a change will the news of +this unhappy retreat make in her state of mind!' + +Waverley, who was really much affected by the deep tone of +melancholy with which Fergus spoke, affectionately entreated him +to banish from his remembrance any unkindness which had arisen +between them, and they once more shook hands, but now with sincere +cordiality. Fergus again inquired of Waverley what he intended to +do. 'Had you not better leave this luckless army, and get down +before us into Scotland, and embark for the Continent from some of +the eastern ports that are still in our possession? When you are +out of the kingdom, your friends will easily negotiate your +pardon; and, to tell you the truth, I wish you would carry Rose +Bradwardine with you as your wife, and take Flora also under your +joint protection.'--Edward looked surprised.--'She loves you, and +I believe you love her, though, perhaps, you have not found it +out, for you are not celebrated for knowing your own mind very +pointedly.' He said this with a sort of smile. + +'How,' answered Edward, 'can you advise me to desert the +expedition in which we are all embarked?' + +'Embarked?' said Fergus; 'the vessel is going to pieces, and it is +full time for all who can to get into the long-boat and leave +her.' + +'Why, what will other gentlemen do?' answered Waverley, 'and why +did the Highland Chiefs consent to this retreat if it is so +ruinous?' + +'O,' replied Mac-Ivor, 'they think that, as on former occasions, +the heading, hanging, and forfeiting will chiefly fall to the lot +of the Lowland gentry; that they will be left secure in their +poverty and their fastnesses, there, according to their proverb, +"to listen to the wind upon the hill till the waters abate." But +they will be disappointed; they have been too often troublesome to +be so repeatedly passed over, and this time John Bull has been too +heartily frightened to recover his good-humour for some time. The +Hanoverian ministers always deserved to be hanged for rascals; but +now, if they get the power in their hands,--as, sooner or later, +they must, since there is neither rising in England nor assistance +from France,--they will deserve the gallows as fools if they leave +a single clan in the Highlands in a situation to be again +troublesome to government. Ay, they will make root-and-branch- +work, I warrant them.' + +'And while you recommend flight to me,' said Edward,--'a counsel +which I would rather die than embrace,--what are your own views?' + +'O,' answered Fergus, with a melancholy air, 'my fate is settled. +Dead or captive I must be before tomorrow.' + +'What do you mean by that, my friend?' said Edward. 'The enemy is +still a day's march in our rear, and if he comes up, we are still +strong enough to keep him in check. Remember Gladsmuir.' + +'What I tell you is true notwithstanding, so far as I am +individually concerned.' + +'Upon what authority can you found so melancholy a prediction?' +asked Waverley. + +'On one which never failed a person of my house. I have seen,' he +said, lowering his voice, 'I have seen the Bodach Glas.' + +'Bodach Glas?' + +'Yes; have you been so long at Glennaquoich, and never heard of +the Grey Spectre? though indeed there is a certain reluctance +among us to mention him.' + +'No, never.' + +'Ah! it would have been a tale for poor Flora to have told you. +Or, if that hill were Benmore, and that long blue lake, which you +see just winding towards yon mountainous country, were Loch Tay, +or my own Loch an Ri, the tale would be better suited with +scenery. However, let us sit down on this knoll; even Saddleback +and Ulswater will suit what I have to say better than the English +hedgerows, enclosures, and farmhouses. You must know, then, that +when my ancestor, Ian nan Chaistel, wasted Northumberland, there +was associated with him in the expedition a sort of Southland +Chief, or captain of a band of Lowlanders, called Halbert Hall. In +their return through the Cheviots they quarrelled about the +division of the great booty they had acquired, and came from words +to blows. The Lowlanders were cut off to a man, and their chief +fell the last, covered with wounds by the sword of my ancestor. +Since that time his spirit has crossed the Vich Ian Vohr of the +day when any great disaster was impending, but especially before +approaching death. My father saw him twice, once before he was +made prisoner at Sheriff-Muir, another time on the morning of the +day on which he died.' + +'How can you, my dear Fergus, tell such nonsense with a grave +face?' + +' I do not ask you to believe it; but I tell you the truth, +ascertained by three hundred years' experience at least, and last +night by my own eyes.' + +'The particulars, for heaven's sake!' said Waverley, with +eagerness. + +'I will, on condition you will not attempt a jest on the subject. +Since this unhappy retreat commenced I have scarce ever been able +to sleep for thinking of my clan, and of this poor Prince, whom +they are leading back like a dog in a string, whether he will or +no, and of the downfall of my family. Last night I felt so +feverish that I left my quarters and walked out, in hopes the keen +frosty air would brace my nerves--I cannot tell how much I dislike +going on, for I know you will hardly believe me. However--I +crossed a small footbridge, and kept walking backwards and +forwards, when I observed with surprise by the clear moonlight a +tall figure in a grey plaid, such as shepherds wear in the south +of Scotland, which, move at what pace I would, kept regularly +about four yards before me.' + +'You saw a Cumberland peasant in his ordinary dress, probably.' + +'No; I thought so at first, and was astonished at the man's +audacity in daring to dog me. I called to him, but received no +answer. I felt an anxious throbbing at my heart, and to ascertain +what I dreaded, I stood still and turned myself on the same spot +successively to the four points of the compass. By Heaven, Edward, +turn where I would, the figure was instantly before my eyes, at +precisely the same distance! I was then convinced it was the +Bodach Glas. My hair bristled and my knees shook. I manned myself, +however, and determined to return to my quarters. My ghastly +visitant glided before me (for I cannot say he walked) until he +reached the footbridge; there he stopped and turned full round. I +must either wade the river or pass him as close as I am to you. A +desperate courage, founded on the belief that my death was near, +made me resolve to make my way in despite of him. I made the sign +of the cross, drew my sword, and uttered, "In the name of God, +Evil Spirit, give place!" "Vich Ian Vohr," it said, in a voice +that made my very blood curdle, "beware of to-morrow!" It seemed +at that moment not half a yard from my sword's point; but the +words were no sooner spoken than it was gone, and nothing appeared +further to obstruct my passage. I got home and threw myself on my +bed, where I spent a few hours heavily enough; and this morning, +as no enemy was reported to be near us, I took my horse and rode +forward to make up matters with you. I would not willingly fall +until I am in charity with a wronged friend.' + +Edward had little doubt that this phantom was the operation of an +exhausted frame and depressed spirits, working on the belief +common to all Highlanders in such superstitions. He did not the +less pity Fergus, for whom, in his present distress, he felt all +his former regard revive. With the view of diverting his mind from +these gloomy images, he offered, with the Baron's permission, +which he knew he could readily obtain, to remain in his quarters +till Fergus's corps should come up, and then to march with them as +usual. The Chief seemed much pleased, yet hesitated to accept the +offer. + +'We are, you know, in the rear, the post of danger in a retreat.' + +'And therefore the post of honour.' + +'Well,' replied the Chieftain, 'let Alick have your horse in +readiness, in case we should be overmatched, and I shall be +delighted to have your company once more.' + +The rear-guard were late in making their appearance, having been +delayed by various accidents and by the badness of the roads. At +length they entered the hamlet. When Waverley joined the clan Mac- +Ivor, arm-in-arm with their Chieftain, all the resentment they had +entertained against him seemed blown off at once. Evan Dhu +received him with a grin of congratulation; and even Callum, who +was running about as active as ever, pale indeed, and with a great +patch on his head, appeared delighted to see him. + +'That gallows-bird's skull,' said Fergus, 'must be harder than +marble; the lock of the pistol was actually broken.' + +'How could you strike so young a lad so hard?' said Waverley, with +some interest. + +'Why, if I did not strike hard sometimes, the rascals would forget +themselves.' + +They were now in full march, every caution being taken to prevent +surprise. Fergus's people, and a fine clan regiment from Badenoch, +commanded by Cluny Mac-Pherson, had the rear. They had passed a +large open moor, and were entering into the enclosures which +surround a small village called Clifton. The winter sun had set, +and Edward began to rally Fergus upon the false predictions of the +Grey Spirit. 'The ides of March are not past,' said Mac-Ivor, with +a smile; when, suddenly casting his eyes back on the moor, a large +body of cavalry was indistinctly seen to hover upon its brown and +dark surface. To line the enclosures facing the open ground and +the road by which the enemy must move from it upon the village was +the work of a short time. While these manoeuvres were +accomplishing, night sunk down, dark and gloomy, though the moon +was at full. Sometimes, however, she gleamed forth a dubious light +upon the scene of action. + +The Highlanders did not long remain undisturbed in the defensive +position they had adopted. Favoured by the night, one large body +of dismounted dragoons attempted to force the enclosures, while +another, equally strong, strove to penetrate by the highroad. Both +were received by such a heavy fire as disconcerted their ranks and +effectually checked their progress. Unsatisfied with the advantage +thus gained, Fergus, to whose ardent spirit the approach of danger +seemed to restore all its elasticity, drawing his sword and +calling out 'Claymore!' encouraged his men, by voice and example, +to break through the hedge which divided them and rush down upon +the enemy. Mingling with the dismounted dragoons, they forced +them, at the sword-point, to fly to the open moor, where a +considerable number were cut to pieces. But the moon, which +suddenly shone out, showed to the English the small number of +assailants, disordered by their own success. Two squadrons of +horse moving to the support of their companions, the Highlanders +endeavoured to recover the enclosures. But several of them, +amongst others their brave Chieftain, were cut off and surrounded +before they could effect their purpose. Waverley, looking eagerly +for Fergus, from whom, as well as from the retreating body of his +followers, he had been separated in the darkness and tumult, saw +him, with Evan Dhu and Callum, defending themselves desperately +against a dozen of horsemen, who were hewing at them with their +long broadswords. The moon was again at that moment totally +overclouded, and Edward, in the obscurity, could neither bring aid +to his friends nor discover which way lay his own road to rejoin +the rear-guard. After once or twice narrowly escaping being slain +or made prisoner by parties of the cavalry whom he encountered in +the darkness, he at length reached an enclosure, and, clambering +over it, concluded himself in safety and on the way to the +Highland forces, whose pipes he heard at some distance. For Fergus +hardly a hope remained, unless that he might be made prisoner +Revolving his fate with sorrow and anxiety, the superstition of +the Bodach Glas recurred to Edward's recollection, and he said to +himself, with internal surprise 'What, can the devil speak truth?' +[Footnote: See Note 13.] + + + + + +CHAPTER LX + +CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS + + +Edward was in a most unpleasant and dangerous situation. He soon +lost the sound of the bagpipes; and, what was yet more unpleasant, +when, after searching long in vain and scrambling through many +enclosures, he at length approached the highroad, he learned, from +the unwelcome noise of kettledrums and trumpets, that the English +cavalry now occupied it, and consequently were between him and the +Highlanders. Precluded, therefore, from advancing in a straight +direction, he resolved to avoid the English military and endeavour +to join his friends by making a circuit to the left, for which a +beaten path, deviating from the main road in that direction, +seemed to afford facilities. The path was muddy and the night dark +and cold; but even these inconveniences were hardly felt amidst +the apprehensions which falling into the hands of the King's +forces reasonably excited in his bosom. + +After walking about three miles, he at length reached a hamlet. +Conscious that the common people were in general unfavourable to +the cause he had espoused, yet desirous, if possible, to procure a +horse and guide to Penrith, where he hoped to find the rear, if +not the main body, of the Chevalier's army, he approached the +alehouse of the place. There was a great noise within; he paused +to listen. A round English oath or two, and the burden of a +campaign song, convinced him the hamlet also was occupied by the +Duke of Cumberland's soldiers. Endeavouring to retire from it as +softly as possible, and blessing the obscurity which hitherto he +had murmured against, Waverley groped his way the best he could +along a small paling, which seemed the boundary of some cottage +garden. As he reached the gate of this little enclosure, his +outstretched hand was grasped by that of a female, whose voice at +the same time uttered, 'Edward, is't thou, man?' + +'Here is some unlucky mistake,' thought Edward, struggling, but +gently, to disengage himself. + +'Naen o' thy foun, now, man, or the red cwoats will hear thee; +they hae been houlerying and poulerying every ane that past +alehouse door this noight to make them drive their waggons and +sick loike. Come into feyther's, or they'll do ho a mischief.' + +'A good hint,' thought Waverley, following the girl through the +little garden into a brick-paved kitchen, where she set herself to +kindle a match at an expiring fire, and with the match to light a +candle. She had no sooner looked on Edward than she dropped the +light, with a shrill scream of 'O feyther, feyther!' + +The father, thus invoked, speedily appeared--a sturdy old farmer, +in a pair of leather breeches, and boots pulled on without +stockings, having just started from his bed; the rest of his dress +was only a Westmoreland statesman's robe-de-chambre--that is, his +shirt. His figure was displayed to advantage by a candle which he +bore in his left hand; in his right he brandished a poker. + +'What hast ho here, wench?' + +'O!' cried the poor girl, almost going off in hysterics, 'I +thought it was Ned Williams, and it is one of the plaid-men.' + +'And what was thee ganging to do wi' Ned Williams at this time o' +noight?' To this, which was, perhaps, one of the numerous class of +questions more easily asked than answered, the rosy-cheeked damsel +made no reply, but continued sobbing and wringing her hands. + +'And thee, lad, dost ho know that the dragoons be a town? dost ho +know that, mon? ad, they'll sliver thee loike a turnip, mon.' + +'I know my life is in great danger,' said Waverley, 'but if you +can assist me, I will reward you handsomely. I am no Scotchman, +but an unfortunate English gentleman.' + +'Be ho Scot or no,' said the honest farmer, 'I wish thou hadst +kept the other side of the hallan. But since thou art here, Jacob +Jopson will betray no man's bluid; and the plaids were gay canny, +and did not do so much mischief when they were here yesterday.' +Accordingly, he set seriously about sheltering and refreshing our +hero for the night. The fire was speedily rekindled, but with +precaution against its light being seen from without. The jolly +yeoman cut a rasher of bacon, which Cicely soon broiled, and her +father added a swingeing tankard of his best ale. It was settled +that Edward should remain there till the troops marched in the +morning, then hire or buy a horse from the farmer, and, with the +best directions that could be obtained, endeavour to overtake his +friends. A clean, though coarse, bed received him after the +fatigues of this unhappy day. + +With the morning arrived the news that the Highlanders had +evacuated Penrith, and marched off towards Carlisle; that the Duke +of Cumberland was in possession of Penrith, and that detachments +of his army covered the roads in every direction. To attempt to +get through undiscovered would be an act of the most frantic +temerity. Ned Williams (the right Edward) was now called to +council by Cicely and her father. Ned, who perhaps did not care +that his handsome namesake should remain too long in the same +house with his sweetheart, for fear of fresh mistakes, proposed +that Waverley, exchanging his uniform and plaid for the dress of +the country, should go with him to his father's farm near +Ullswater, and remain in that undisturbed retirement until the +military movements in the country should have ceased to render +his departure hazardous. A price was also agreed upon, at which +the stranger might board with Farmer Williams if he thought +proper, till he could depart with safety. It was of moderate +amount; the distress of his situation, among this honest and +simple-hearted race, being considered as no reason for increasing +their demand. + +The necessary articles of dress were accordingly procured, and, by +following by-paths known to the young farmer, they hoped to escape +any unpleasant rencontre. A recompense for their hospitality was +refused peremptorily by old Jopson and his cherry-cheeked +daughter; a kiss paid the one and a hearty shake of the hand the +other. Both seemed anxious for their guest's safety, and took +leave of him with kind wishes. + +In the course of their route Edward, with his guide, traversed +those fields which the night before had been the scene of action. +A brief gleam of December's sun shone sadly on the broad heath, +which, towards the spot where the great north-west road entered +the enclosures of Lord Lonsdale's property, exhibited dead bodies +of men and horses, and the usual companions of war, a number of +carrion-crows, hawks, and ravens. + +'And this, then, was thy last field,' said Waverley to himself, +his eye filling at the recollection of the many splendid points of +Fergus's character, and of their former intimacy, all his passions +and imperfections forgotten--'here fell the last Vich Ian Vohr, +on a nameless heath; and in an obscure night-skirmish was quenched +that ardent spirit, who thought it little to cut a way for his +master to the British throne! Ambition, policy, bravery, all far +beyond their sphere, here learned the fate of mortals. The sole +support, too, of a sister whose spirit, as proud and unbending, +was even more exalted than thine own; here ended all thy hopes for +Flora, and the long and valued line which it was thy boast to +raise yet more highly by thy adventurous valour!' + +As these ideas pressed on Waverley's mind, he resolved to go upon +the open heath and search if, among the slain, he could discover +the body of his friend, with the pious intention of procuring for +him the last rites of sepulture. The timorous young man who +accompanied him remonstrated upon the danger of the attempt, but +Edward was determined. The followers of the camp had already +stripped the dead of all they could carry away; but the country +people, unused to scenes of blood, had not yet approached the +field of action, though some stood fearfully gazing at a distance. +About sixty or seventy dragoons lay slain within the first +enclosure, upon the highroad, and on the open moor. Of the +Highlanders, not above a dozen had fallen, chiefly those who, +venturing too far on the moor, could not regain the strong ground. +He could not find the body of Fergus among the slain. On a little +knoll, separated from the others, lay the carcasses of three +English dragoons, two horses, and the page Callum Beg, whose hard +skull a trooper's broadsword had, at length, effectually cloven. +It was possible his clan had carried off the body of Fergus; but +it was also possible he had escaped, especially as Evan Dhu, who +would never leave his Chief, was not found among the dead; or he +might be prisoner, and the less formidable denunciation inferred +from the appearance of the Bodach Glas might have proved the true +one. The approach of a party sent for the purpose of compelling +the country people to bury the dead, and who had already assembled +several peasants for that purpose, now obliged Edward to rejoin +his guide, who awaited him in great anxiety and fear under shade +of the plantations. + +After leaving this field of death, the rest of their journey was +happily accomplished. At the house of Farmer Williams, Edward +passed for a young kinsman, educated for the church, who was come +to reside there till the civil tumults permitted him to pass +through the country. This silenced suspicion among the kind and +simple yeomanry of Cumberland, and accounted sufficiently for the +grave manners and retired habits of the new guest. The precaution +became more necessary than Waverley had anticipated, as a variety +of incidents prolonged his stay at Fasthwaite, as the farm was +called. + +A tremendous fall of snow rendered his departure impossible for +more than ten days. When the roads began to become a little +practicable, they successively received news of the retreat of the +Chevalier into Scotland; then, that he had abandoned the +frontiers, retiring upon Glasgow; and that the Duke of Cumberland +had formed the siege of Carlisle. His army, therefore, cut off all +possibility of Waverley's escaping into Scotland in that +direction. On the eastern border Marshal Wade, with a large force, +was advancing upon Edinburgh; and all along the frontier, parties +of militia, volunteers, and partizans were in arms to suppress +insurrection, and apprehend such stragglers from the Highland army +as had been left in England. The surrender of Carlisle, and the +severity with which the rebel garrison were threatened, soon +formed an additional reason against venturing upon a solitary and +hopeless journey through a hostile country and a large army, to +carry the assistance of a single sword to a cause which seemed +altogether desperate. In this lonely and secluded situation, +without the advantage of company or conversation with men of +cultivated minds, the arguments of Colonel Talbot often recurred +to the mind of our hero. A still more anxious recollection haunted +his slumbers--it was the dying look and gesture of Colonel +Gardiner. Most devoutly did he hope, as the rarely occurring post +brought news of skirmishes with various success, that it might +never again be his lot to draw his sword in civil conflict. Then +his mind turned to the supposed death of Fergus, to the desolate +situation of Flora, and, with yet more tender recollection, to +that of Rose Bradwardine, who was destitute of the devoted +enthusiasm of loyalty, which to her friend hallowed and exalted +misfortune. These reveries he was permitted to enjoy, undisturbed +by queries or interruption; and it was in many a winter walk by +the shores of Ullswater that he acquired a more complete mastery +of a spirit tamed by adversity than his former experience had +given him; and that he felt himself entitled to say firmly, though +perhaps with a sigh, that the romance of his life was ended, and +that its real history had now commenced. He was soon called upon +to justify his pretensions by reason and philosophy. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXI + +A JOURNEY TO LONDON + + +Theamily at Fasthwaite were soon attached to Edward. He had, +indeed, that gentleness and urbanity which almost universally +attracts corresponding kindness; and to their simple ideas his +learning gave him consequence, and his sorrows interest. The last +he ascribed, evasively, to the loss of a brother in the skirmish +near Clifton; and in that primitive state of society, where the +ties of affection were highly deemed of, his continued depression +excited sympathy, but not surprise. + +In the end of January his more lively powers were called out by +the happy union of Edward Williams, the son of his host, with +Cicely Jopson. Our hero would not cloud with sorrow the festivity +attending the wedding of two persons to whom he was so highly +obliged. He therefore exerted himself, danced, sung, played at the +various games of the day, and was the blithest of the company. The +next morning, however, he had more serious matters to think of. + +The clergyman who had married the young couple was so much pleased +with the supposed student of divinity, that he came next day from +Penrith on purpose to pay him a visit. This might have been a +puzzling chapter had he entered into any examination of our hero's +supposed theological studies; but fortunately he loved better to +hear and communicate the news of the day. He brought with him two +or three old newspapers, in one of which Edward found a piece of +intelligence that soon rendered him deaf to every word which the +Reverend Mr. Twigtythe was saying upon the news from the north, +and the prospect of the Duke's speedily overtaking and crushing +the rebels. This was an article in these, or nearly these words:-- + +'Died at his house, in Hill Street, Berkeley Square, upon the 10th +inst., Richard Waverley, Esq., second son of Sir Giles Waverley of +Waverley-Honour, etc. etc. He died of a lingering disorder, +augmented by the unpleasant predicament of suspicion in which he +stood, having been obliged to find bail to a high amount to meet +an impending accusation of high-treason. An accusation of the same +grave crime hangs over his elder brother, Sir Everard Waverley, +the representative of that ancient family; and we understand the +day of his trial will be fixed early in the next month, unless +Edward Waverley, son of the deceased Richard, and heir to the +Baronet, shall surrender himself to justice. In that case we are +assured it is his Majesty's gracious purpose to drop further +proceedings upon the charge against Sir Everard. This unfortunate +young gentleman is ascertained to have been in arms in the +Pretender's service, and to have marched along with the Highland +troops into England. But he has not been heard of since the +skirmish at Clifton, on the 18th December last.' + +Such was this distracting paragraph. 'Good God!' exclaimed +Waverley, 'am I then a parricide? Impossible! My father, who never +showed the affection of a father while he lived, cannot have been +so much affected by my supposed death as to hasten his own; no, I +will not believe it, it were distraction to entertain for a moment +such a horrible idea. But it were, if possible, worse than +parricide to suffer any danger to hang over my noble and generous +uncle, who has ever been more to me than a father, if such evil +can be averted by any sacrifice on my part!' + +While these reflections passed like the stings of scorpions +through Waverley's sensorium, the worthy divine was startled in a +long disquisition on the battle of Falkirk by the ghastliness +which they communicated to his looks, and asked him if he was ill? +Fortunately the bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered the +room. Mrs. Williams was none of the brightest of women, but she +was good-natured, and readily concluding that Edward had been +shocked by disagreeable news in the papers, interfered so +judiciously, that, without exciting suspicion, she drew off Mr. +Twigtythe's attention, and engaged it until he soon after took his +leave. Waverley then explained to his friends that he was under +the necessity of going to London with as little delay as possible. + +One cause of delay, however, did occur, to which Waverley had been +very little accustomed. His purse, though well stocked when he +first went to Tully-Veolan, had not been reinforced since that +period; and although his life since had not been of a nature to +exhaust it hastily, for he had lived chiefly with his friends or +with the army, yet he found that, after settling with his kind +landlord, he should be too poor to encounter the expense of +travelling post. The best course, therefore, seemed to be to get +into the great north road about Boroughbridge, and there take a +place in the northern diligence, a huge old-fashioned tub, drawn +by three horses, which completed the journey from Edinburgh to +London (God willing, as the advertisement expressed it) in three +weeks. Our hero, therefore, took an affectionate farewell of his +Cumberland friends, whose kindness he promised never to forget, +and tacitly hoped ene day to acknowledge by substantial proofs of +gratitude. After some petty difficulties and vexatious delays, and +after putting his dress into a shape better befitting his rank, +though perfectly plain and simple, he accomplished crossing the +country, and found himself in the desired vehicle vis-a-vis to +Mrs. Nosebag, the lady of Lieutenant Nosebag, adjutant and riding- +master of the--dragoons, a jolly woman of about fifty, wearing a +blue habit, faced with scarlet, and grasping a silver-mounted +horse-whip. + +This lady was one of those active members of society who take upon +them faire lefrais de la conversation. She had just returned from +the north, and informed Edward how nearly her regiment had cut the +petticoat people into ribands at Falkirk, 'only somehow there was +one of those nasty, awkward marshes, that they are never without +in Scotland, I think, and so our poor dear little regiment +suffered something, as my Nosebag says, in that unsatisfactory +affair. You, sir, have served in the dragoons?' Waverley was taken +so much at unawares that he acquiesced. + +'O, I knew it at once; I saw you were military from your air, and +I was sure you could be none of the foot-wobblers, as my Nosebag +calls them. What regiment, pray?' Here was a delightful question. +Waverley, however, justly concluded that this good lady had the +whole army-list by heart; and, to avoid detection by adhering to +truth, answered, 'Gardiner's dragoons, ma'am; but I have retired +some time.' + +'O aye, those as won the race at the battle of Preston, as my +Nosebag says. Pray, sir, were you there?' + +'I was so unfortunate, madam,' he replied, 'as to witness that +engagement.' + +'And that was a misfortune that few of Gardiner's stood to +witness, I believe, sir--ha! ha! ha! I beg your pardon; but a +soldier's wife loves a joke.' + +'Devil confound you,' thought Waverley: 'what infernal luck has +penned me up with this inquisitive hag!' + +Fortunately the good lady did not stick long to one subject. 'We +are coming to Ferrybridge now,' she said, 'where there was a party +of OURS left to support the beadles, and constables, and justices, +and these sort of creatures that are examining papers and stopping +rebels, and all that.' They were hardly in the inn before she +dragged Waverley to the window, exclaiming, 'Yonder comes Corporal +Bridoon, of our poor dear troop; he's coming with the constable +man. Bridoon's one of my lambs, as Nosebag calls 'ern. Come, Mr.-- +a--a--pray, what's your name, sir?' + +'Butler, ma'am,' said Waverley, resolved rather to make free with +the name of a former fellow-officer than run the risk of detection +by inventing one not to be found in the regiment. + +'O, you got a troop lately, when that shabby fellow, Waverley, +went over to the rebels? Lord, I wish our old cross Captain Crump +would go over to the rebels, that Nosebag might get the troop! +Lord, what can Bridoon be standing swinging on the bridge for? +I'll be hanged if he a'nt hazy, as Nosebag says. Come, sir, as you +and I belong to the service, we'll go put the rascal in mind of +his duty.' + +Waverley, with feelings more easily conceived than described, saw +himself obliged to follow this doughty female commander. The +gallant trooper was as like a lamb as a drunk corporal of +dragoons, about six feet high, with very broad shoulders, and very +thin legs, not to mention a great scar across his nose, could well +be. Mrs. Nosebag addressed him with something which, if not an +oath, sounded very like one, and commanded him to attend to his +duty. 'You be d--d for a----,' commenced the gallant cavalier; but, +looking up in order to suit the action to the words, and also to +enforce the epithet which he meditated with an adjective +applicable to the party, he recognised the speaker, made his +military salaam, and altered his tone. 'Lord love your handsome +face, Madam Nosebag, is it you? Why, if a poor fellow does happen +to fire a slug of a morning, I am sure you were never the lady to +bring him to harm.' + +'Well, you rascallion, go, mind your duty; this gentleman and I +belong to the service; but be sure you look after that shy cock in +the slouched hat that sits in the corner of the coach. I believe +he's one of the rebels in disguise.' + +'D--n her gooseberry wig,' said the corporal, when she was out of +hearing, 'that gimlet-eyed jade--mother adjutant, as we call her +--is a greater plague to the regiment than provost-marshal, +sergeant-major, and old Hubble-de-Shuff, the colonel, into the +bargain. Come, Master Constable, let's see if this shy cock, as +she calls him (who, by the way, was a Quaker from Leeds, with whom +Mrs. Nosebag had had some tart argument on the legality of bearing +arms), will stand godfather to a sup of brandy, for your Yorkshire +ale is cold on my stomach.' + +The vivacity of this good lady, as it helped Edward out of this +scrape, was like to have drawn him into one or two others. In +every town where they stopped she wished to examine the corps de +garde, if there was one, and once very narrowly missed introducing +Waverley to a recruiting-sergeant of his own regiment. Then she +Captain'd and Butler'd him till he was almost mad with vexation +and anxiety; and never was he more rejoiced in his life at the +termination of a journey than when the arrival of the coach in +London freed him from the attentions of Madam Nosebag. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXII + +WHAT'S TO BE DONE NEXT? + + +Itwas twilight when they arrived in town; and having shaken off +his companions, and walked through a good many streets to avoid +the possibility of being traced by them, Edward took a hackney- +coach and drove to Colonel Talbot's house, in one of the principal +squares at the west end of the town. That gentleman, by the death +of relations, had succeeded since his marriage to a large fortune, +possessed considerable political interest, and lived in what is +called great style. + +When Waverley knocked at his door he found it at first difficult +to procure admittance, but at length was shown into an apartment +where the Colonel was at table. Lady Emily, whose very beautiful +features were still pallid from indisposition, sate opposite to +him. The instant he heard Waverley's voice, he started up and +embraced him. 'Frank Stanley, my dear boy, how d'ye do? Emily, my +love, this is young Stanley.' + +The blood started to the lady's cheek as she gave Waverley a +reception in which courtesy was mingled with kindness, while her +trembling hand and faltering voice showed how much she was +startled and discomposed. Dinner was hastily replaced, and while +Waverley was engaged in refreshing himself, the Colonel proceeded +--'I wonder you have come here, Frank; the Doctors tell me the air +of London is very bad for your complaints. You should not have +risked it. But I am delighted to see you, and so is Emily, though +I fear we must not reckon upon your staying long.' + +'Some particular business brought me up,' muttered Waverley. + +'I supposed so, but I shan't allow you to stay long. Spontoon' (to +an elderly military-looking servant out of livery),'take away +these things, and answer the bell yourself, if I ring. Don't let +any of the other fellows disturb us. My nephew and I have business +to talk of.' + +When the servants had retired, 'In the name of God, Waverley, what +has brought you here? It may be as much as your life is worth.' + +'Dear Mr. Waverley,' said Lady Emily, 'to whom I owe so much more +than acknowledgments can ever pay, how could you be so rash?' + +'My father--my uncle--this paragraph,'--he handed the paper to +Colonel Talbot. + +'I wish to Heaven these scoundrels were condemned to be squeezed +to death in their own presses,' said Talbot. 'I am told there are +not less than a dozen of their papers now published in town, and +no wonder that they are obliged to invent lies to find sale for +their journals. It is true, however, my dear Edward, that you have +lost your father; but as to this flourish of his unpleasant +situation having grated upon his spirits and hurt his health--the +truth is--for though it is harsh to say so now, yet it will +relieve your mind from the idea of weighty responsibility--the +truth then is, that Mr. Richard Waverley, through this whole +business, showed great want of sensibility, both to your situation +and that of your uncle; and the last time I saw him, he told me, +with great glee, that, as I was so good as to take charge of your +interests, he had thought it best to patch up a separate +negotiation for himself, and make his peace with government +through some channels which former connexions left still open to +him.' + +'And my uncle, my dear uncle?' + +'Is in no danger whatever. It is true (looking at the date of the +paper) there was a foolish report some time ago to the purport +here quoted, but it is entirely false. Sir Everard is gone down to +Waverley-Honour, freed from all uneasiness, unless upon your own +account. But you are in peril yourself; your name is in every +proclamation; warrants are out to apprehend you. How and when did +you come here?' + +Edward told his story at length, suppressing his quarrel with +Fergus; for, being himself partial to Highlanders, he did not wish +to give any advantage to the Colonel's national prejudice against +them. + +'Are you sure it was your friend Glen's foot-boy you saw dead in +Clifton Moor?' + +'Quite positive.' + +'Then that little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows, for +cut-throat was written in his face; though (turning to Lady Emily) +it was a very handsome face too. But for you, Edward, I wish you +would go down again to Cumberland, or rather I wish you had never +stirred from thence, for there is an embargo in all the seaports, +and a strict search for the adherents of the Pretender; and the +tongue of that confounded woman will wag in her head like the +clack of a mill, till somehow or other she will detect Captain +Butler to be a feigned personage.' + +'Do you know anything,' asked Waverley, 'of my fellow-traveller?' + +'Her husband was my sergeant-major for six years; she was a buxom +widow, with a little money; he married her, was steady, and got on +by being a good drill. I must send Spontoon to see what she is +about; he will find her out among the old regimental connections. +To-morrow you must be indisposed, and keep your room from fatigue. +Lady Emily is to be your nurse, and Spontoon and I your +attendants. You bear the name of a near relation of mine, whom +none of my present people ever saw, except Spontoon, so there will +be no immediate danger. So pray feel your head ache and your eyes +grow heavy as soon as possible, that you may be put upon the sick- +list; and, Emily, do you order an apartment for Frank Stanley, +with all the attentions which an invalid may require.' + +In the morning the Colonel visited his guest. 'Now,' said he, 'I +have some good news for you. Your reputation as a gentleman and +officer is effectually cleared of neglect of duty and accession to +the mutiny in Gardiner's regiment. I have had a correspondence on +this subject with a very zealous friend of yours, your Scottish +parson, Morton; his first letter was addressed to Sir Everard; but +I relieved the good Baronet of the trouble of answering it. You +must know, that your free-booting acquaintance, Donald of the +Cave, has at length fallen into the hands of the Philistines. He +was driving off the cattle of a certain proprietor, called Killan +--something or other--' + +'Killancureit?' + +'The same. Now the gentleman being, it seems, a great farmer, and +having a special value for his breed of cattle, being, moreover, +rather of a timid disposition, had got a party of soldiers to +protect his property. So Donald ran his head unawares into the +lion's mouth, and was defeated and made prisoner. Being ordered +for execution, his conscience was assailed on the one hand by a +Catholic priest, on the other by your friend Morton. He repulsed +the Catholic chiefly on account of the doctrine of extreme +unction, which this economical gentleman considered as an +excessive waste of oil. So his conversion from a state of +impenitence fell to Mr. Morton's share, who, I daresay, acquitted +himself excellently, though I suppose Donald made but a queer kind +of Christian after all. He confessed, however, before a +magistrate, one Major Melville, who seems to have been a correct, +friendly sort of person, his full intrigue with Houghton, +explaining particularly how it was carried on, and fully +acquitting you of the least accession to it. He also mentioned his +rescuing you from the hands of the volunteer officer, and sending +you, by orders of the Pret--Chevalier, I mean--as a prisoner to +Doune, from whence he understood you were carried prisoner to +Edinburgh. These are particulars which cannot but tell in your +favour. He hinted that he had been employed to deliver and protect +you, and rewarded for doing so; but he would not confess by whom, +alleging that, though he would not have minded breaking any +ordinary oath to satisfy the curiosity of Mr. Morton, to whose +pious admonitions he owed so much, yet, in the present case he had +been sworn to silence upon the edge of his dirk, [Footnote: See +Note 14.] which, it seems, constituted, in his opinion, an +inviolable obligation.' + +'And what is become of him?' + +'Oh, he was hanged at Stirling after the rebels raised the siege, +with his lieutenant and four plaids besides; he having the +advantage of a gallows more lofty than his friends.' + +'Well, I have little cause either to regret or rejoice at his +death; and yet he has done me both good and harm to a very +considerable extent.' + +'His confession, at least, will serve you materially, since it +wipes from your character all those suspicions which gave the +accusation against you a complexion of a nature different from +that with which so many unfortunate gentlemen, now or lately in +arms against the government, may be justly charged. Their treason +--I must give it its name, though you participate in its guilt--is +an action arising from mistaken virtue, and therefore cannot be +classed as a disgrace, though it be doubtless highly criminal. +Where the guilty are so numerous, clemency must be extended to far +the greater number; and I have little doubt of procuring a +remission for you, providing we can keep you out of the claws of +justice till she has selected and gorged upon her victims; for in +this, as in other cases, it will be according to the vulgar +proverb, "First come, first served." Besides, government are +desirous at present to intimidate the English Jacobites, among +whom they can find few examples for punishment. This is a +vindictive and timid feeling which will soon wear off, for of all +nations the English are least blood-thirsty by nature. But it +exists at present, and you must therefore be kept out of the way +in the mean-time.' + +Now entered Spontoon with an anxious countenance. By his +regimental acquaintances he had traced out Madam Nosebag, and +found her full of ire, fuss, and fidget at discovery of an +impostor who had travelled from the north with her under the +assumed name of Captain Butler of Gardiner's dragoons. She was +going to lodge an information on the subject, to have him sought +for as an emissary of the Pretender; but Spontoon (an old +soldier), while he pretended to approve, contrived to make her +delay her intention. No time, however, was to be lost: the +accuracy of this good dame's description might probably lead to +the discovery that Waverley was the pretended Captain Butler, an +identification fraught with danger to Edward, perhaps to his +uncle, and even to Colonel Talbot. Which way to direct his course +was now, therefore, the question. + +'To Scotland,' said Waverley. + +'To Scotland?' said the Colonel; 'with what purpose? not to engage +again with the rebels, I hope?' + +'No; I considered my campaign ended when, after all my efforts, I +could not rejoin them; and now, by all accounts, they are gone to +make a winter campaign in the Highlands, where such adherents as I +am would rather be burdensome than useful. Indeed, it seems likely +that they only prolong the war to place the Chevalier's person out +of danger, and then to make some terms for themselves. To burden +them with my presence would merely add another party, whom they +would not give up and could not defend. I understand they left +almost all their English adherents in garrison at Carlisle, for +that very reason. And on a more general view, Colonel, to confess +the truth, though it may lower me in your opinion, I am heartly +tired of the trade of war, and am, as Fletcher's Humorous +Lieutenant says, "even as weary of this fighting-'" + +'Fighting! pooh, what have you seen but a skirmish or two? Ah! if +you saw war on the grand scale--sixty or a hundred thousand men in +the field on each side!' + +'I am not at all curious, Colonel. "Enough," says our homely +proverb, "is as good as a feast." The plumed troops and the big +war used to enchant me in poetry, but the night marches, vigils, +couches under the wintry sky, and such accompaniments of the +glorious trade, are not at all to my taste in practice; then for +dry blows, I had MY fill of fighting at Clifton, where I escaped +by a hair's-breadth half a dozen times; and you, I should think--' +He stopped. + +'Had enough of it at Preston? you mean to say,' answered the +Colonel, laughing; 'but 'tis my vocation, Hal.' + +'It is not mine, though,' said Waverley; 'and having honourably +got rid of the sword, which I drew only as a volunteer, I am quite +satisfied with my military experience, and shall be in no hurry to +take it up again.' + +'I am very glad you are of that mind; but then what would you do +in the north?' + +'In the first place, there are some seaports on the eastern coast +of Scotland still in the hands of the Chevalier's friends; should +I gain any of them, I can easily embark for the Continent.' + +'Good, your second reason?' + +'Why, to speak the very truth, there is a person in Scotland upon +whom I now find my happiness depends more than I was always aware, +and about whose situation I am very anxious.' + +'Then Emily was right, and there is a love affair in the case +after all? And which of these two pretty Scotchwomen, whom you +insisted upon my admiring, is the distinguished fair? not Miss +Glen--I hope.' + +'No.' + +'Ah, pass for the other; simplicity may be improved, but pride and +conceit never. Well, I don't discourage you; I think it will +please Sir Everard, from what he said when I jested with him about +it; only I hope that intolerable papa, with his brogue, and his +snuff, and his Latin, and his insufferable long stories about the +Duke of Berwick, will find it necessary hereafter to be an +inhabitant of foreign parts. But as to the daughter, though I +think you might find as fitting a match in England, yet if your +heart be really set upon this Scotch rosebud, why the Baronet has +a great opinion of her father and of his family, and he wishes +much to see you married and settled, both for your own sake and +for that of the three ermines passant, which may otherwise pass +away altogether. But I will bring you his mind fully upon the +subject, since you are debarred correspondence for the present, +for I think you will not be long in Scotland before me.' + +'Indeed! and what can induce you to think of returning to +Scotland? No relenting longings towards the land of mountains and +floods, I am afraid.' + +'None, on my word; but Emily's health is now, thank God, +reestablished, and, to tell you the truth, I have little hopes of +concluding the business which I have at present most at heart +until I can have a personal interview with his Royal Highness the +Commander-in-Chief; for, as Fluellen says, "the duke doth love me +well, and I thank heaven I have deserved some love at his hands." +I am now going out for an hour or two to arrange matters for your +departure; your liberty extends to the next room, Lady Emily's +parlour, where you will find her when you are disposed for music, +reading, or conversation. We have taken measures to exclude all +servants but Spontoon, who is as true as steel.' + +In about two hours Colonel Talbot returned, and found his young +friend conversing with his lady; she pleased with his manners and +information, and he delighted at being restored, though but for a +moment, to the society of his own rank, from which he had been for +some time excluded. + +'And now,' said the Colonel, 'hear my arrangements, for there is +little time to lose. This youngster, Edward Waverley, alias +Williams, alias Captain Butler, must continue to pass by his +fourth ALIAS of Francis Stanley, my nephew; he shall set out to- +morrow for the North, and the chariot shall take him the first two +stages. Spontoon shall then attend him; and they shall ride post +as far as Huntingdon; and the presence of Spontoon, well known on +the road as my servant, will check all disposition to inquiry. At +Huntingdon you will meet the real Frank Stanley. He is studying at +Cambridge; but, a little while ago, doubtful if Emily's health +would permit me to go down to the North myself, I procured him a +passport from the secretary of state's office to go in my stead. +As he went chiefly to look after you, his journey is now +unnecessary. He knows your story; you will dine together at +Huntingdon; and perhaps your wise heads may hit upon some plan for +removing or diminishing the danger of your farther progress north- +ward. And now (taking out a morocco case), let me put you in funds +for the campaign.' + +'I am ashamed, my dear Colonel--' + +'Nay,' said Colonel Talbot, 'you should command my purse in any +event; but this money is your own. Your father, considering the +chance of your being attainted, left me his trustee for your +advantage. So that you are worth above L15,000, besides Brere-Wood +Lodge--a very independent person, I promise you. There are bills +here for L200; any larger sum you may have, or credit abroad, as +soon as your motions require it.' + +The first use which occurred to Waverley of his newly acquired +wealth was to write to honest Farmer Jopson, requesting his +acceptance of a silver tankard on the part of his friend Williams, +who had not forgotten the night of the eighteenth December last. +He begged him at the same time carefully to preserve for him his +Highland garb and accoutrements, particularly the arms, curious in +themselves, and to which the friendship of the donors gave +additional value. Lady Emily undertook to find some suitable token +of remembrance likely to flatter the vanity and please the taste +of Mrs. Williams; and the Colonel, who was a kind of farmer, +promised to send the Ullswater patriarch an excellent team of +horses for cart and plough. + +One happy day Waverley spent in London; and, travelling in the +manner projected, he met with Frank Stanley at Huntingdon. The two +young men were acquainted in a minute. + +'I can read my uncle's riddle,' said Stanley;'the cautious old +soldier did not care to hint to me that I might hand over to you +this passport, which I have no occasion for; but if it should +afterwards come out as the rattle-pated trick of a young Cantab, +cela ne tire a rien. You are therefore to be Francis Stanley, with +this passport.' This proposal appeared in effect to alleviate a +great part of the difficulties which Edward must otherwise have +encountered at every turn; and accordingly he scrupled not to +avail himself of it, the more especially as he had discarded all +political purposes from his present journey, and could not be +accused of furthering machinations against the government while +travelling under protection of the secretary's passport. + +The day passed merrily away. The young student was inquisitive +about Waverley's campaigns, and the manners of the Highlands, and +Edward was obliged to satisfy his curiosity by whistling a +pibroch, dancing a strathspey, and singing a Highland song. The +next morning Stanley rode a stage northward with his new friend, +and parted from him with great reluctance, upon the remonstrances +of Spontoon, who, accustomed to submit to discipline, was rigid in +enforcing it. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII + +DESOLATION + + +Waverley riding post, as was the usual fashion of the period, +without any adventure save one or two queries, which the talisman +of his passport sufficiently answered, reached the borders of +Scotland. Here he heard the tidings of the decisive battle of +Culloden. It was no more than he had long expected, though the +success at Falkirk had thrown a faint and setting gleam over the +arms of the Chevalier. Yet it came upon him like a shock, by which +he was for a time altogether unmanned. The generous, the +courteous, the noble-minded adventurer was then a fugitive, with a +price upon his head; his adherents, so brave, so enthusiastic, so +faithful, were dead, imprisoned, or exiled. Where, now, was the +exalted and high-souled Fergus, if, indeed, he had survived the +night at Clifton? Where the pure-hearted and primitive Baron of +Bradwardine, whose foibles seemed foils to set off the +disinterestedness of his disposition, the genuine goodness of his +heart, and his unshaken courage? Those who clung for support to +these fallen columns, Rose and Flora, where were they to be +sought, and in what distress must not the loss of their natural +protectors have involved them? Of Flora he thought with the regard +of a brother for a sister; of Rose with a sensation yet more deep +and tender. It might be still his fate to supply the want of those +guardians they had lost. Agitated by these thoughts he +precipitated his journey. + +When he arrived in Edinburgh, where his inquiries must necessarily +commence, he felt the full difficulty of his situation. Many +inhabitants of that city had seen and known him as Edward +Waverley; how, then, could he avail himself of a passport as +Francis Stanley? He resolved, therefore, to avoid all company, and +to move northward as soon as possible. He was, however, obliged to +wait a day or two in expectation of a letter from Colonel Talbot, +and he was also to leave his own address, under his feigned +character, at a place agreed upon. With this latter purpose he +sallied out in the dusk through the well-known streets, carefully +shunning observation, but in vain: one of the first persons whom +he met at once recognised him. It was Mrs. Flockhart, Fergus Mac- +Ivor's good-humoured landlady. + +'Gude guide us, Mr. Waverley, is this you? na, ye needna be feared +for me. I wad betray nae gentleman in your circumstances. Eh, +lack-a-day! lack-a-day! here's a change o' markets; how merry +Colonel MacIvor and you used to be in our house!' And the good- +natured widow shed a few natural tears. As there was no resisting +her claim of acquaintance, Waverley acknowledged it with a good +grace, as well as the danger of his own situation. 'As it's near +the darkening, sir, wad ye just step in by to our house and tak a +dish o' tea? and I am sure if ye like to sleep in the little room, +I wad tak care ye are no disturbed, and naebody wad ken ye; for +Kate and Matty, the limmers, gaed aff wi' twa o' Hawley's +dragoons, and I hae twa new queans instead o' them.' + +Waverley accepted her invitation, and engaged her lodging for a +night or two, satisfied he should be safer in the house of this +simple creature than anywhere else. When he entered the parlour +his heart swelled to see Fergus's bonnet, with the white cockade, +hanging beside the little mirror. + +'Ay,' said Mrs. Flockhart, sighing, as she observed the direction +of his eyes, 'the puir Colonel bought a new ane just the day +before they marched, and I winna let them tak that ane doun, but +just to brush it ilka day mysell; and whiles I look at it till I +just think I hear him cry to Callum to bring him his bonnet, as he +used to do when he was ganging out. It's unco silly--the +neighbours ca' me a Jacobite, but they may say their say--I am +sure it's no for that--but he was as kind-hearted a gentleman as +ever lived, and as weel-fa'rd too. Oh, d'ye ken, sir, when he is +to suffer?' + +'Suffer! Good heaven! Why, where is he?' + +'Eh, Lord's sake! d'ye no ken? The poor Hieland body, Dugald +Mahony, cam here a while syne, wi' ane o' his arms cuttit off, and +a sair clour in the head--ye'll mind Dugald, he carried aye an axe +on his shouther--and he cam here just begging, as I may say, for +something to eat. Aweel, he tauld us the Chief, as they ca'd him +(but I aye ca' him the Colonel), and Ensign Maccombich, that ye +mind weel, were ta'en somewhere beside the English border, when it +was sae dark that his folk never missed him till it was ower late, +and they were like to gang clean daft. And he said that little +Callum Beg (he was a bauld mischievous callant that) and your +honour were killed that same night in the tuilzie, and mony mae +braw men. But he grat when he spak o' the Colonel, ye never saw +the like. And now the word gangs the Colonel is to be tried, and +to suffer wi' them that were ta'en at Carlisle.' + +'And his sister?' + +'Ay, that they ca'd the Lady Flora--weel, she's away up to +Carlisle to him, and lives wi' some grand Papist lady thereabouts +to be near him.' + +'And,' said Edward,'the other young lady?' + +'Whilk other? I ken only of ae sister the Colonel had.' + +'I mean Miss Bradwardine,' said Edward. + +'Ou, ay; the laird's daughter' said his landlady. 'She was a very +bonny lassie, poor thing, but far shyer than Lady Flora.' + +'Where is she, for God's sake?' + +'Ou, wha kens where ony o' them is now? puir things, they're sair +ta'en doun for their white cockades and their white roses; but she +gaed north to her father's in Perthshire, when the government +troops cam back to Edinbro'. There was some prettymen amang them, +and ane Major Whacker was quartered on me, a very ceevil +gentleman,--but O, Mr. Waverley, he was naething sae weel fa'rd +as the puir Colonel.' + +'Do you know what is become of Miss Bradwardine's father?' + +'The auld laird? na, naebody kens that. But they say he fought +very hard in that bluidy battle at Inverness; and Deacon Clank, +the whit-iron smith, says that the government folk are sair agane +him for having been out twice; and troth he might hae ta'en +warning, but there's nae Me like an auld fule. The puir Colonel +was only out ance.' + +Such conversation contained almost all the good-natured widow knew +of the fate of her late lodgers and acquaintances; but it was +enough to determine Edward, at all hazards, to proceed instantly +to Tully-Veolan, where he concluded he should see, or at least +hear, something of Rose. He therefore left a letter for Colonel +Talbot at the place agreed upon, signed by his assumed name, and +giving for his address the post-town next to the Baron's +residence. + +From Edinburgh to Perth he took post-horses, resolving to make the +rest of his journey on foot; a mode of travelling to which he was +partial, and which had the advantage of permitting a deviation +from the road when he saw parties of military at a distance. His +campaign had considerably strengthened his constitution and +improved his habits of enduring fatigue. His baggage he sent +before him as opportunity occurred. + +As he advanced northward, the traces of war became visible. Broken +carriages, dead horses, unroofed cottages, trees felled for +palisades, and bridges destroyed or only partially repaired--all +indicated the movements of hostile armies. In those places where +the gentry were attached to the Stuart cause, their houses seemed +dismantled or deserted, the usual course of what may be called +ornamental labour was totally interrupted, and the inhabitants +were seen gliding about, with fear, sorrow, and dejection on their +faces. + +It was evening when he approached the village of Tully-Veolan, +with feelings and sentiments--how different from those which +attended his first entrance! Then, life was so new to him that a +dull or disagreeable day was one of the greatest misfortunes which +his imagination anticipated, and it seemed to him that his time +ought only to be consecrated to elegant or amusing study, and +relieved by social or youthful frolic. Now, how changed! how +saddened, yet how elevated was his character, within the course of +a very few months! Danger and misfortune are rapid, though severe +teachers. 'A sadder and a wiser man,' he felt in internal +confidence and mental dignity a compensation for the gay dreams +which in his case experience had so rapidly dissolved. + +As he approached the village he saw, with surprise and anxiety, +that a party of soldiers were quartered near it, and, what was +worse, that they seemed stationary there. This he conjectured from +a few tents which he beheld glimmering upon what was called the +Common Moor. To avoid the risk of being stopped and questioned in +a place where he was so likely to be recognised, he made a large +circuit, altogether avoiding the hamlet, and approaching the upper +gate of the avenue by a by-path well known to him. A single glance +announced that great changes had taken place. One half of the +gate, entirely destroyed and split up for firewood, lay in piles, +ready to be taken away; the other swung uselessly about upon its +loosened hinges. The battlements above the gate were broken and +thrown down, and the carved bears, which were said to have done +sentinel's duty upon the top for centuries, now, hurled from their +posts, lay among the rubbish. The avenue was cruelly wasted. +Several large trees were felled and left lying across the path; +and the cattle of the villagers, and the more rude hoofs of +dragoon horses, had poached into black mud the verdant turf which +Waverley had so much admired. + +Upon entering the court-yard, Edward saw the fears realised which +these circumstances had excited. The place had been sacked by the +King's troops, who, in wanton mischief, had even attempted to burn +it; and though the thickness of the walls had resisted the fire, +unless to a partial extent, the stables and out-houses were +totally consumed. The towers and pinnacles of the main building +were scorched and blackened; the pavement of the court broken and +shattered, the doors torn down entirely, or hanging by a single +hinge, the windows dashed in and demolished, and the court strewed +with articles of furniture broken into fragments. The accessaries +of ancient distinction, to which the Baron, in the pride of his +heart, had attached so much importance and veneration, were +treated with peculiar contumely. The fountain was demolished, and +the spring which had supplied it now flooded the court-yard. The +stone basin seemed to be destined for a drinking-trough for +cattle, from the manner in which it was arranged upon the ground. +The whole tribe of bears, large and small, had experienced as +little favour as those at the head of the avenue, and one or two +of the family pictures, which seemed to have served as targets for +the soldiers, lay on the ground in tatters. With an aching heart, +as may well be imagined, Edward viewed this wreck of a mansion so +respected. But his anxiety to learn the fate of the proprietors, +and his fears as to what that fate might be, increased with every +step. When he entered upon the terrace new scenes of desolation +were visible. The balustrade was broken down, the walls destroyed, +the borders overgrown with weeds, and the fruit-trees cut down or +grubbed up. In one compartment of this old-fashioned garden were +two immense horse-chestnut trees, of whose size the Baron was +particularly vain; too lazy, perhaps, to cut them down, the +spoilers, with malevolent ingenuity, had mined them and placed a +quantity of gunpowder in the cavity. One had been shivered to +pieces by the explosion, and the fragments lay scattered around, +encumbering the ground it had so long shadowed. The other mine had +been more partial in its effect. About one-fourth of the trunk of +the tree was torn from the mass, which, mutilated and defaced on +the one side, still spread on the other its ample and undiminished +boughs. [Footnote: A pair of chestnut trees, destroyed, the one +entirely and the other in part, by such a mischievous and wanton +act of revenge, grew at Invergarry Castle, the fastness of +MacDonald of Glengarry.] + +Amid these general marks of ravage, there were some which more +particularly addressed the feelings of Waverley. Viewing the front +of the building thus wasted and defaced, his eyes naturally sought +the little balcony which more properly belonged to Rose's +apartment, her troisieme, or rather cinquieme, etage. It was +easily discovered, for beneath it lay the stage-flowers and shrubs +with which it was her pride to decorate it, and which had been +hurled from the bartizan; several of her books were mingled with +broken flower-pots and other remnants. Among these Waverley +distinguished one of his own, a small copy of Ariosto, and +gathered it as a treasure, though wasted by the wind and rain. + +While, plunged in the sad reflections which the scene excited, he +was looking around for some one who might explain the fate of the +inhabitants, he heard a voice from the interior of the building +singing, in well-remembered accents, an old Scottish song:-- + + They came upon us in the night, + And brake my bower and slew my knight; + My servants a' for life did flee, + And left us in extremitie. + + They slew my knight, to me sae dear; + They slew my knight, and drave his gear; + The moon may set, the sun may rise, + But a deadly sleep has closed his eyes. + +[Footnote: The first three couplets are from an old ballad, called +the Border Widow's Lament.] + +'Alas,' thought Edward, 'is it thou? Poor helpless being, art thou +alone left, to gibber and moan, and fill with thy wild and +unconnected scraps of minstrelsy the halls that protected thee?' +He then called, first low, and then louder, 'Davie--Davie +Gellatley!' + +The poor simpleton showed himself from among the ruins of a sort +of greenhouse, that once terminated what was called the terrace- +walk, but at first sight of a stranger retreated, as if in terror. +Waverley, remembering his habits, began to whistle a tune to which +he was partial, which Davie had expressed great pleasure in +listening to, and had picked up from him by the ear. Our hero's +minstrelsy no more equalled that of Blondel than poor Davie +resembled Coeur de Lion; but the melody had the same effect of +producing recognition. Davie again stole from his lurking-place, +but timidly, while Waverley, afraid of frightening him, stood +making the most encouraging signals he could devise. 'It's his +ghaist,' muttered Davie; yet, coming nearer, he seemed to +acknowledge his living acquaintance. The poor fool himself +appeared the ghost of what he had been. The peculiar dress in +which he had been attired in better days showed only miserable +rags of its whimsical finery, the lack of which was oddly supplied +by the remnants of tapestried hangings, window-curtains, and +shreds of pictures with which he had bedizened his tatters. His +face, too, had lost its vacant and careless air, and the poor +creature looked hollow-eyed, meagre, half-starved, and nervous to +a pitiable degree. After long hesitation, he at length approached +Waverley with some confidence, stared him sadly in the face, and +said, 'A' dead and gane--a' dead and gane.' + +'Who are dead?' said Waverley, forgetting the incapacity of Davie +to hold any connected discourse. + +'Baron, and Bailie, and Saunders Saunderson, and Lady Rose that +sang sae sweet--a' dead and gane--dead and gane; + + But follow, follow me, + While glowworms light the lea, + I'll show ye where the dead should be-- + Each in his shroud, + While winds pipe loud, + And the red moon peeps dim through the cloud. + Follow, follow me; + Brave should he be + That treads by night the dead man's lea.' + +With these words, chanted in a wild and earnest tone, he made a +sign to Waverley to follow him, and walked rapidly towards the +bottom of the garden, tracing the bank of the stream which, it may +be remembered, was its eastern boundary. Edward, over whom an +involuntary shuddering stole at the import of his words, followed +him in some hope of an explanation. As the house was evidently +deserted, he could not expect to find among the ruins any more +rational informer. + +Davie, walking very fast, soon reached the extremity of the +garden, and scrambled over the ruins of the wall that once had +divided it from the wooded glen in which the old tower of Tully- +Veolan was situated. He then jumped down into the bed of the +stream, and, followed by Waverley, proceeded at a great pace, +climbing over some fragments of rock and turning with difficulty +round others. They passed beneath the ruins of the castle; +Waverley followed, keeping up with his guide with difficulty, for +the twilight began to fall. Following the descent of the stream a +little lower, he totally lost him, but a twinkling light which he +now discovered among the tangled copse-wood and bushes seemed a +surer guide. He soon pursued a very uncouth path; and by its +guidance at length reached the door of a wretched hut. A fierce +barking of dogs was at first heard, but it stilled at his +approach. A voice sounded from within, and he held it most prudent +to listen before he advanced. + +'Wha hast thou brought here, thou unsonsy villain, thou?' said an +old woman, apparently in great indignation. He heard Davie +Gellatley in answer whistle a part of the tune by which he had +recalled himself to the simpleton's memory, and had now no +hesitation to knock at the door. There was a dead silence +instantly within, except the deep growling of the dogs; and he +next heard the mistress of the hut approach the door, not probably +for the sake of undoing a latch, but of fastening a bolt. To +prevent this Waverley lifted the latch himself. + +In front was an old wretched-looking woman, exclaiming, 'Wha comes +into folk's houses in this gate, at this time o' the night?' On +one side, two grim and half-starved deer greyhounds laid aside +their ferocity at his appearance, and seemed to recognise him. On +the other side, half concealed by the open door, yet apparently +seeking that concealment reluctantly, with a cocked pistol in his +right hand and his left in the act of drawing another from his +belt, stood a tall bony gaunt figure in the remnants of a faded +uniform and a beard of three weeks' growth. It was the Baron of +Bradwardine. It is unnecessary to add, that he threw aside his +weapon and greeted Waverley with a hearty embrace. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV + +COMPARING OF NOTES + + +Thearon's story was short, when divested of the adages and +commonplaces, Latin, English, and Scotch, with which his erudition +garnished it. He insisted much upon his grief at the loss of +Edward and of Glennaquoich, fought the fields of Falkirk and +Culloden, and related how, after all was lost in the last battle, +he had returned home, under the idea of more easily finding +shelter among his own tenants and on his own estate than +elsewhere. A party of soldiers had been sent to lay waste his +property, for clemency was not the order of the day. Their +proceedings, however, were checked by an order from the civil +court. The estate, it was found, might not be forfeited to the +crown to the prejudice of Malcolm Bradwardine of Inch-Grabbit, the +heir-male, whose claim could not be prejudiced by the Baron's +attainder, as deriving no right through him, and who, therefore, +like other heirs of entail in the same situation, entered upon +possession. But, unlike many in similar circumstances, the new +laird speedily showed that he intended utterly to exclude his +predecessor from all benefit or advantage in the estate, and that +it was his purpose to avail himself of the old Baron's evil +fortune to the full extent. This was the more ungenerous, as it +was generally known that, from a romantic idea of not prejudicing +this young man's right as heir-male, the Baron had refrained from +settling his estate on his daughter. + +This selfish injustice was resented by the country people, who +were partial to their old master, and irritated against his +successor. In the Baron's own words, 'The matter did not coincide +with the feelings of the commons of Bradwardine, Mr. Waverley; and +the tenants were slack and repugnant in payment of their mails and +duties; and when my kinsman came to the village wi' the new +factor, Mr. James Howie, to lift the rents, some wanchancy person +--I suspect John Heatherblutter, the auld gamekeeper, that was out +wi' me in the year fifteen--fired a shot at him in the gloaming, +whereby he was so affrighted, that I may say with Tullius In +Catilinam, "Abiit, evasit, erupit, effugit." He fled, sir, as one +may say, incontinent to Stirling. And now he hath advertised the +estate for sale, being himself the last substitute in the entail. +And if I were to lament about sic matters, this would grieve me +mair than its passing from my immediate possession, whilk, by the +course of nature, must have happened in a few years; whereas now +it passes from the lineage that should have possessed it in +scecula saculorum. But God's will be done, humana perpessi sumus. +Sir John of Bradwardine--Black Sir John, as he is called--who was +the common ancestor of our house and the Inch-Grabbits, little +thought such a person would have sprung from his loins. Mean time, +he has accused me to some of the primates, the rulers for the +time, as if I were a cut-throat, and an abettor of bravoes and +assassinates and coupe-jarrets. And they have sent soldiers here +to abide on the estate, and hunt me like a partridge upon the +mountains, as Scripture says of good King David, or like our +valiant Sir William Wallace--not that I bring myself into +comparison with either. I thought, when I heard you at the door, +they had driven the auld deer to his den at last; and so I e'en +proposed to die at bay, like a buck of the first head. But now, +Janet, canna ye gie us something for supper?' 'Ou ay, sir, I'll +brander the moor-fowl that John Heatherblutter brought in this +morning; and ye see puir Davie's roasting the black hen's eggs. I +daur say, Mr. Wauverley, ye never kend that a' the eggs that were +sae weel roasted at supper in the Ha'-house were aye turned by our +Davie? there's no the like o' him ony gate for powtering wi' his +fingers amang the het peat-ashes and roasting eggs.' Davie all +this while lay with his nose almost in the fire, nuzzling among +the ashes, kicking his heels, mumbling to himself, turning the +eggs as they lay in the hot embers, as if to confute the proverb, +that 'there goes reason to roasting of eggs,' and justify the +eulogium which poor Janet poured out upon + + Him whom she loved, her idiot boy. + +'Davie's no sae silly as folk tak him for, Mr. Wauverley; he wadna +hae brought you here unless he had kend ye was a friend to his +Honour; indeed the very dogs kend ye, Mr. Wauverley, for ye was +aye kind to beast and body. I can tell you a story o' Davie, wi' +his Honour's leave. His Honour, ye see, being under hiding in thae +sair times--the mair's the pity--he lies a' day, and whiles a' +night, in the cove in the dern hag; but though it's a bieldy +eneugh bit, and the auld gudeman o' Corse-Cleugh has panged it wi' +a kemple o' strae amaist, yet when the country's quiet, and the +night very cauld, his Honour whiles creeps doun here to get a warm +at the ingle and a sleep amang the blankets, and gangs awa in the +morning. And so, ae morning, siccan a fright as I got! Twa unlucky +red-coats were up for black-fishing, or some siccan ploy--for the +neb o' them's never out o' mischief--and they just got a glisk o' +his Honour as he gaed into the wood, and banged aff a gun at him. +I out like a jer-falcon, and cried--"Wad they shoot an honest +woman's poor innocent bairn?" And I fleyt at them, and threepit it +was my son; and they damned and swuir at me that it was the auld +rebel, as the villains ca'd his Honour; and Davie was in the wood, +and heard the tuilzie, and he, just out o' his ain head, got up +the auld grey mantle that his Honour had flung off him to gang the +faster, and he cam out o' the very same bit o' the wood, majoring +and looking about sae like his Honour, that they were clean +beguiled, and thought they had letten aff their gun at crack- +brained Sawney, as they ca' him; and they gae me saxpence, and twa +saumon fish, to say naething about it. Na, na, Davie's no just +like other folk, puir fallow; but he's no sae silly as folk tak +him for. But, to be sure, how can we do eneugh for his Honour, +when we and ours have lived on his ground this twa hundred years; +and when he keepit my puir Jamie at school and college, and even +at the Ha'-house, till he gaed to a better place; and when he +saved me frae being ta'en to Perth as a witch--Lord forgi'e them +that would touch sic a puir silly auld body!--and has maintained +puir Davie at heck and manger maist feck o' his life?' + +Waverley at length found an opportunity to interrupt Janet's +narrative by an inquiry after Miss Bradwardine. + +'She's weel and safe, thank God! at the Duchran,' answered the +Baron; 'the laird's distantly related to us, and more nearly to my +chaplain, Mr. Rubrick; and, though he be of Whig principles, yet +he's not forgetful of auld friendship at this time. The Bailie's +doing what he can to save something out of the wreck for puir +Rose; but I doubt, I doubt, I shall never see her again, for I +maun lay my banes in some far country.' + +'Hout na, your Honour,' said old Janet, 'ye were just as ill aff +in the feifteen, and got the bonnie baronie back, an' a'. And now +the eggs is ready, and the muir-cock's brandered, and there's ilk +ane a trencher and some saut, and the heel o' the white loaf that +cam frae the Bailie's, and there's plenty o' brandy in the +greybeard that Luckie Maclearie sent doun, and winna ye be +suppered like princes?' + +'I wish one Prince, at least, of our acquaintance may be no worse +off,' said the Baron to Waverley, who joined him in cordial hopes +for the safety of the unfortunate Chevalier. + +They then began to talk of their future prospects. The Baron's +plan was very simple. It was, to escape to France, where, by the +interest of his old friends, he hoped to get some military +employment, of which he still conceived himself capable. He +invited Waverley to go with him, a proposal in which he +acquiesced, providing the interest of Colonel Talbot should fail +in procuring his pardon. Tacitly he hoped the Baron would sanction +his addresses to Rose, and give him a right to assist him in his +exile; but he forbore to speak on this subject until his own fate +should be decided. They then talked of Glennaquoich, for whom the +Baron expressed great anxiety, although, he observed, he was 'the +very Achilles of Horatius Flaccus,-- + +Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer; which,' he continued, 'has +been thus rendered (vernacularly) by Struan Robertson:-- + + A fiery etter-cap, a fractious chiel, + As het as ginger, and as stieve as steel.' + +Flora had a large and unqualified share of the good old man's +sympathy. + +It was now wearing late. Old Janet got into some kind of kennel +behind the hallan; Davie had been long asleep and snoring between +Ban and Buscar. These dogs had followed him to the hut after the +mansion-house was deserted, and there constantly resided; and +their ferocity, with the old woman's reputation of being a witch, +contributed a good deal to keep visitors from the glen. With this +view, Bailie Macwheeble provided Janet underhand with meal for +their maintenance, and also with little articles of luxury for his +patron's use, in supplying which much precaution was necessarily +used. After some compliments, the Baron occupied his usual couch, +and Waverley reclined in an easy chair of tattered velvet, which +had once garnished the state bed-room of Tully-Veolan (for the +furniture of this mansion was now scattered through all the +cottages in the vicinity), and went to sleep as comfortably as if +he had been in a bed of down. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXV + +MORE EXPLANATION + + +With the first dawn of day, old Janet was scuttling about the +house to wake the Baron, who usually slept sound and heavily. + +'I must go back,' he said to Waverley,'to my cove; will you walk +down the glen wi' me?' They went out together, and followed a +narrow and entangled foot-path, which the occasional passage of +anglers or wood-cutters had traced by the side of the stream. On +their way the Baron explained to Waverley that he would be under +no danger in remaining a day or two at Tully-Veolan, and even in +being seen walking about, if he used the precaution of pretending +that he was looking at the estate as agent or surveyor for an +English gentleman who designed to be purchaser. With this view he +recommended to him to visit the Bailie, who still lived at the +factor's house, called Little Veolan, about a mile from the +village, though he was to remove at next term. Stanley's passport +would be an answer to the officer who commanded the military; and +as to any of the country people who might recognise Waverley, the +Baron assured him he was in no danger of being betrayed by them. + +'I believe,' said the old man, 'half the people of the barony know +that their poor auld laird is somewhere hereabout; for I see they +do not suffer a single bairn to come here a bird-nesting; a +practice whilk, when I was in full possession of my power as +baron, I was unable totally to inhibit. Nay, I often find bits of +things in my way, that the poor bodies, God help them! leave +there, because they think they may be useful to me. I hope they +will get a wiser master, and as kind a one as I was.' + +A natural sigh closed the sentence; but the quiet equanimity with +which the Baron endured his misfortunes had something in it +venerable and even sublime. There was no fruitless repining, no +turbid melancholy; he bore his lot, and the hardships which it +involved, with a good-humored, though serious composure, and used +no violent language against the prevailing party. + +'I did what I thought my duty,' said the good old man, 'and +questionless they are doing what they think theirs. It grieves me +sometimes to look upon these blackened walls of the house of my +ancestors; but doubtless officers cannot always keep the soldier's +hand from depredation and spuilzie, and Gustavus Adolphus himself, +as ye may read in Colonel Munro his "Expedition with the Worthy +Scotch Regiment called Mackay's Regiment" did often permit it. +Indeed I have myself seen as sad sights as Tully-Veolan now is +when I served with the Marechal Duke of Berwick. To be sure we may +say with Virgilius Maro, Fuimus Troes--and there's the end of an +auld sang. But houses and families and men have a' stood lang +eneugh when they have stood till they fall with honour; and now I +hae gotten a house that is not unlike a domus ultima'--they were +now standing below a steep rock. 'We poor Jacobites,' continued +the Baron, looking up, 'are now like the conies in Holy Scripture +(which the great traveller Pococke calleth Jerboa), a feeble +people, that make our abode in the rocks. So, fare you well, my +good lad, till we meet at Janet's in the even; for I must get into +my Patmos, which is no easy matter for my auld stiff limbs.' + +With that he began to ascend the rock, striding, with the help of +his hands, from one precarious footstep to another, till he got +about half-way up, where two or three bushes concealed the mouth +of a hole, resembling an oven, into which the Baron insinuated, +first his head and shoulders, and then, by slow gradation, the +rest of his l ong body; his legs and feet finally disappearing, +coiled up like a huge snake entering his retreat, or a long +pedigree introduced with care and difficulty into the narrow +pigeon-hole of an old cabinet. Waverley had the curiosity to +clamber up and look in upon him in his den, as the lurking-place +might well be termed. Upon the whole, he looked not unlike that +ingenious puzzle called 'a reel in a bottle,' the marvel of +children (and of some grown people too, myself for one), who can +neither comprehend the mysteryhowit has got in or how it is to be +taken out. The cave was very narrow, too low in the roof to admit +of his standing, or almost of his sitting up, though he made some +awkward attempts at the latter posture. His sole amusement was the +perusal of his old friend Titus Livius, varied by occasionally +scratching Latin proverbs and texts of Scripture with his knife on +the roof and walls of his fortalice, which were of sandstone. As +the cave was dry, and filled with clean straw and withered fern, +'it made,' as he said, coiling himself up with an air of snugness +and comfort which contrasted strangely with his situation, 'unless +when the wind was due north, a very passable gite for an old +soldier.' Neither, as he observed, was he without sentries for the +purpose of reconnoitring. Davie and his mother were constantly on +the watch to discover and avert danger; and it was singular what +instances of address seemed dictated by the instinctive attachment +of the poor simpleton when his patron's safety was concerned. + +With Janet, Edward now sought an interview. He had recognised her +at first sight as the old woman who had nursed him during his +sickness after his delivery from Gifted Gilfillan. The hut also, +although a little repaired and somewhat better furnished, was +certainly the place of his confinement; and he now recollected on +the common moor of Tully-Veolan the trunk of a large decayed tree, +called the try sting-tree, which he had no doubt was the same at +which the Highlanders rendezvoused on that memorable night. All +this he had combined in his imagination the night before; but +reasons which may probably occur to the reader prevented him from +catechising Janet in the presence of the Baron. + +He now commenced the task in good earnest; and the first question +was, Who was the young lady that visited the hut during his +illness? Janet paused for a little; and then observed, that to +keep the secret now would neither do good nor ill to anybody. + +' It was just a leddy that hasna her equal in the world--Miss +Rose Bradwardine!' + +'Then Miss Rose was probably also the author of my deliverance,' +inferred Waverley, delighted at the confirmation of an idea which +local circumstances had already induced him to entertain. + +'I wot weel, Mr. Wauverley, and that was she e'en; but sair, sair +angry and affronted wad she hae been, puir thing, if she had +thought ye had been ever to ken a word about the matter; for she +gar'd me speak aye Gaelic when ye was in hearing, to mak ye trow +we were in the Hielands. I can speak it weil eneugh, for my mother +was a Hieland woman.' + +A few more questions now brought out the whole mystery respecting +Waverley's deliverance from the bondage in which he left +Cairnvreckan. Never did music sound sweeter to an amateur than the +drowsy tautology with which old Janet detailed every circumstance +thrilled upon the ears of Waverley. But my reader is not a lover +and I must spare his patience, by attempting to condense within +reasonable compass the narrative which old Janet spread through a +harangue of nearly two hours. + +When Waverley communicated to Fergus the letter he had received +from Rose Bradwardine by Davie Gellatley, giving an account of +Tully-Veolan being occupied by a small party of soldiers, that +circumstance had struck upon the busy and active mind of the +Chieftain. Eager to distress and narrow the posts of the enemy, +desirous to prevent their establishing a garrison so near him, and +willing also to oblige the Baron--for he often had the idea of +marriage with Rose floating through his brain--he resolved to send +some of his people to drive out the red-coats and to bring Rose to +Glennaquoich. But just as he had ordered Evan with a small party +on this duty, the news of Cope's having marched into the +Highlands, to meet and disperse the forces of the Chevalier ere +they came to a head, obliged him to join the standard with his +whole forces. + +He sent to order Donald Bean to attend him; but that cautious +freebooter, who well understood the value of a separate command, +instead of joining, sent various apologies which the pressure of +the times compelled Fergus to admit as current, though not without +the internal resolution of being revenged on him for his +procrastination, time and place convenient. However, as he could +not amend the matter, he issued orders to Donald to descend into +the Low Country, drive the soldiers from Tully-Veolan, and, paying +all respect to the mansion of the Baron, to take his abode +somewhere near it, for protection of his daughter and family, and +to harass and drive away any of the armed volunteers or small +parties of military which he might find moving about the vicinity. +As this charge formed a sort of roving commission, which Donald +proposed to interpret in the way most advantageous to himself, as +he was relieved from the immediate terrors of Fergus, and as he +had, from former secret services, some interest in the councils of +the Chevalier, he resolved to make hay while the sun shone. He +achieved without difficulty the task of driving the soldiers from +Tully-Veolan; but, although he did not venture to encroach upon +the interior of the family, or to disturb Miss Rose, being +unwilling to make himself a powerful enemy in the Chevalier's +army, + + For well he knew the Baron's wrath was deadly; + +yet he set about to raise contributions and exactions upon the +tenantry, and otherwise to turn the war to his own advantage. +Meanwhile he mounted the white cockade, and waited upon Rose with +a pretext of great devotion for the service in which her father +was engaged, and many apologies for the freedom he must +necessarily use for the support of his people. It was at this +moment that Rose learned, by open-mouthed fame, with all sorts of +exaggeration, that Waverley had killed the smith at Cairnvreckan, +in an attempt to arrest him; had been cast into a dungeon by Major +Melville of Cairnvreckan, and was to be executed by martial law +within three days. In the agony which these tidings excited she +proposed to Donald Bean the rescue of the prisoner. It was the +very sort of service which he was desirous to undertake, judging +it might constitute a merit of such a nature as would make amends +for any peccadilloes which he might be guilty of in the country. +He had the art, however, pleading all the while duty and +discipline, to hold off, until poor Rose, in the extremity of her +distress, offered to bribe him to the enterprise with some +valuable jewels which had been her mother's. + +Donald Bean, who had served in France, knew, and perhaps over- +estimated, the value of these trinkets. But he also perceived +Rose's apprehensions of its being discovered that she had parted +with her jewels for Waverley's liberation. Resolved this scruple +should not part him and the treasure, he voluntarily offered to +take an oath that he would never mention Miss Rose's share in the +transaction; and, foreseeing convenience in keeping the oath and +no probable advantage in breaking it, he took the engagement--in +order, as he told his lieutenant, to deal handsomely by the young +lady--in the only mode and form which, by a mental paction with +himself, he considered as binding: he swore secrecy upon his drawn +dirk. He was the more especially moved to this act of good faith +by some attentions that Miss Bradwardine showed to his daughter +Alice, which, while they gained the heart of the mountain damsel, +highly gratified the pride of her father. Alice, who could now +speak a little English, was very communicative in return for +Rose's kindness, readily confided to her the whole papers +respecting the intrigue with Gardiner's regiment, of which she was +the depositary, and as readily undertook, at her instance, to +restore them to Waverley without her father's knowledge. For 'they +may oblige the bonnie young lady and the handsome young +gentleman,' said Alice, 'and what use has my father for a whin +bits o' scarted paper?' + +The reader is aware that she took an opportunity of executing this +purpose on the eve of Waverley's leaving the glen. + +How Donald executed his enterprise the reader is aware. But the +expulsion of the military from Tully-Veolan had given alarm, and +while he was lying in wait for Gilfillan, a strong party, such as +Donald did not care to face, was sent to drive back the insurgents +in their turn, to encamp there, and to protect the country. The +officer, a gentleman and a disciplinarian, neither intruded +himself on Miss Bradwardine, whose unprotected situation he +respected, nor permitted his soldiers to commit any breach of +discipline. He formed a little camp upon an eminence near the +house of Tully-Veolan, and placed proper guards at the passes in +the vicinity. This unwelcome news reached Donald Bean Lean as he +was returning to Tully-Veolan. Determined, however, to obtain the +guerdon of his labour, he resolved, since approach to Tully-Veolan +was impossible, to deposit his prisoner in Janet's cottage, a +place the very existence of which could hardly have been suspected +even by those who had long lived in the vicinity, unless they had +been guided thither, and which was utterly unknown to Waverley +himself. This effected, he claimed and received his reward. +Waverley's illness was an event which deranged all their +calculations. Donald was obliged to leave the neighbourhood with +his people, and to seek more free course for his adventures +elsewhere. At Rose's entreaty, he left an old man, a herbalist, +who was supposed to understand a little of medicine, to attend +Waverley during his illness. + +In the meanwhile, new and fearful doubts started in Rose's mind. +They were suggested by old Janet, who insisted that, a reward +having been offered for the apprehension of Waverley, and his own +personal effects being so valuable, there was no saying to what +breach of faith Donald might be tempted. In an agony of grief and +terror, Rose took the daring resolution of explaining to the +Prince himself the danger in which Mr. Waverley stood, judging +that, both as a politician and a man of honour and humanity, +Charles Edward would interest himself to prevent his falling into +the hands of the opposite party. This letter she at first thought +of sending anonymously, but naturally feared it would not in that +case be credited. She therefore subscribed her name, though with +reluctance and terror, and consigned it in charge to a young man, +who at leaving his farm to join the Chevalier's army, made it his +petition to her to have some sort of credentials to the +adventurer, from whom he hoped to obtain a commission. + +The letter reached Charles Edward on his descent to the Lowlands, +and, aware of the political importance of having it supposed that +he was in correspondence with the English Jacobites, he caused the +most positive orders to be transmitted to Donald Bean Lean to +transmit Waverley, safe and uninjured, in person or effects, to +the governor of Doune Castle. The freebooter durst not disobey, +for the army of the Prince was now so near him that punishment +might have followed; besides, he was a politician as well as a +robber, and was unwilling to cancel the interest created through +former secret services by being refractory on this occasion. He +therefore made a virtue of necessity, and transmitted orders to +his lieutenant to convey Edward to Doune, which was safely +accomplished in the mode mentioned in a former chapter. The +governor of Doune was directed to send him to Edinburgh as a +prisoner, because the Prince was apprehensive that Waverley, if +set at liberty, might have resumed his purpose of returning to +England, without affording him an opportunity of a personal +interview. In this, indeed, he acted by the advice of the +Chieftain of Glennaquoich, with whom it may be remembered the +Chevalier communicated upon the mode of disposing of Edward, +though without telling him how he came to learn the place of his +confinement. + +This, indeed, Charles Edward considered as a lady's secret; for +although Rose's letter was couched in the most cautious and +general terms, and professed to be written merely from motives of +humanity and zeal for the Prince's service, yet she expressed so +anxious a wish that she should not be known to have interfered, +that the Chevalier was induced to suspect the deep interest which +she took in Waverley's safety. This conjecture, which was well +founded, led, however, to false inferences. For the emotion which +Edward displayed on approaching Flora and Rose at the ball of +Holyrood was placed by the Chevalier to the account of the latter; +and he concluded that the Baron's views about the settlement of +his property, or some such obstacle, thwarted their mutual +inclinations. Common fame, it is true, frequently gave Waverley to +Miss Mac-Ivor; but the Prince knew that common fame is very +prodigal in such gifts; and, watching attentively the behaviour of +the ladies towards Waverley, he had no doubt that the young +Englishman had no interest with Flora, and was beloved by Rose +Bradwardine. Desirous to bind Waverley to his service, and wishing +also to do a kind and friendly action, the Prince next assailed +the Baron on the subject of settling his estate upon his daughter. +Mr. Bradwardine acquiesced; but the consequence was that Fergus +was immediately induced to prefer his double suit for a wife and +an earldom, which the Prince rejected in the manner we have seen. +The Chevalier, constantly engaged in his own multiplied affairs, +had not hitherto sought any explanation with Waverley, though +often meaning to do so. But after Fergus's declaration he saw the +necessity of appearing neutral between the rivals, devoutly hoping +that the matter, which now seemed fraught with the seeds of +strife, might be permitted to lie over till the termination of the +expedition. When, on the march to Derby, Fergus, being questioned +concerning his quarrel with Waverley, alleged as the cause that +Edward was desirous of retracting the suit he had made to his +sister, the Chevalier plainly told him that he had himself +observed Miss Mac-Ivor's behaviour to Waverley, and that he was +convinced Fergus was under the influence of a mistake in judging +of Waverley's conduct, who, he had every reason to believe, was +engaged to Miss Bradwardine. The quarrel which ensued between +Edward and the Chieftain is, I hope, still in the remembrance of +the reader. These circumstances will serve to explain such points +of our narrative as, according to the custom of story-tellers, we +deemed it fit to leave unexplained, for the purpose of exciting +the reader's curiosity. + +When Janet had once finished the leading facts of this narrative, +Waverley was easily enabled to apply the clue which they afforded +to other mazes of the labyrinth in which he had been engaged. To +Rose Bradwardine, then, he owed the life which he now thought he +could willingly have laid down to serve her. A little reflection +convinced him, however, that to live for her sake was more +convenient and agreeable, and that, being possessed of +independence, she might share it with him either in foreign +countries or in his own. The pleasure of being allied to a man of +the Baron's high worth, and who was so much valued by his uncle +Sir Everard, was also an agreeable consideration, had anything +been wanting to recommend the match. His absurdities, which had +appeared grotesquely ludicrous during his prosperity, seemed, in +the sunset of his fortune, to be harmonised and assimilated with +the noble features of his character, so as to add peculiarity +without exciting ridicule. His mind occupied with such projects of +future happiness, Edward sought Little Veolan, the habitation of +Mr. Duncan Macwheeble. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI + + Now is Cupid a child of conscience--he makes restitution. + + SHAKSPEARE + + +Mr. Duncan MacWheeble, no longer Commissary or Bailie, though +still enjoying the empty name of the latter dignity, had escaped +proscription by an early secession from the insurgent party and by +his insignificance. + +Edward found him in his office, immersed among papers and +accounts. Before him was a large bicker of oatmeal porridge, and +at the side thereof a horn spoon and a bottle of two-penny. +Eagerly running his eye over a voluminous law-paper, he from time +to time shovelled an immense spoonful of these nutritive viands +into his capacious mouth. A pot-bellied Dutch bottle of brandy +which stood by intimated either that this honest limb of the law +had taken his morning already, or that he meant to season his +porridge with such digestive; or perhaps both circumstances might +reasonably be inferred. His night-cap and morning-gown, had +whilome been of tartan, but, equally cautious and frugal, the +honest Bailie had got them dyed black, lest their original ill- +omened colour might remind his visitors of his unlucky excursion +to Derby. To sum up the picture, his face was daubed with snuff up +to the eyes, and his fingers with ink up to the knuckles. He +looked dubiously at Waverley as he approached the little green +rail which fenced his desk and stool from the approach of the +vulgar. Nothing could give the Bailie more annoyance than the idea +of his acquaintance being claimed by any of the unfortunate +gentlemen who were now so much more likely to need assistance than +to afford profit. But this was the rich young Englishman; who knew +what might be his situation? He was the Baron's friend too; what +was to be done? + +While these reflections gave an air of absurd perplexity to the +poor man's visage, Waverley, reflecting on the communication he +was about to make to him, of a nature so ridiculously contrasted +with the appearance of the individual, could not help bursting out +a-laughing, as he checked the propensity to exclaim with Syphax-- + + Cato's a proper person to intrust + A love-tale with. + +As Mr. Macwheeble had no idea of any person laughing heartily who +was either encircled by peril or oppressed by poverty, the +hilarity of Edward's countenance greatly relieved the +embarrassment of his own, and, giving him a tolerably hearty +welcome to Little Veolan, he asked what he would choose for +breakfast. His visitor had, in the first place, something for his +private ear, and begged leave to bolt the door. Duncan by no means +liked this precaution, which savoured of danger to be apprehended; +but he could not now draw back. + +Convinced he might trust this man, as he could make it his +interest to be faithful, Edward communicated his present situation +and future schemes to Macwheeble. The wily agent listened with +apprehension when he found Waverley was still in a state of +proscription; was somewhat comforted by learning that he had a +passport; rubbed his hands with glee when he mentioned the amount +of his present fortune; opened huge eyes when he heard the +brilliancy of his future expectations; but when he expressed his +intention to share them with Miss Rose Bradwardine, ecstasy had +almost deprived the honest man of his senses. The Bailie started +from his three-footed stool like the Pythoness from her tripod; +flung his best wig out of the window, because the block on which +it was placed stood in the way of his career; chucked his cap to +the ceiling, caught it as it fell; whistled 'Tullochgorum'; danced +a Highland fling with inimitable grace and agility, and then threw +himself exhausted into a chair, exclaiming, 'Lady Wauverley! ten +thousand a year the least penny! Lord preserve my poor +understanding!' + +'Amen with all my heart,' said Waverley; 'but now, Mr. Macwheeble, +let us proceed to business.' This word had somewhat a sedative +effect, but the Bailie's head, as he expressed himself, was still +'in the bees.' He mended his pen, however, marked half a dozen +sheets of paper with an ample marginal fold, whipped down Dallas +of St. Martin's 'Styles' from a shelf, where that venerable work +roosted with Stair's 'Institutions,' Dirleton's 'Doubts,' +Balfour's 'Practiques,' and a parcel of old account-books, opened +the volume at the article Contract of Marriage, and prepared to +make what he called a'sma' minute to prevent parties frae +resiling.' + +With some difficulty Waverley made him comprehend that he was +going a little too fast. He explained to him that he should want +his assistance, in the first place, to make his residence safe for +the time, by writing to the officer at Tully-Veolan that Mr. +Stanley, an English gentleman nearly related to Colonel Talbot, +was upon a visit of business at Mr. Macwheeble's, and, knowing the +state of the country, had sent his passport for Captain Foster's +inspection. This produced a polite answer from the officer, with +an invitation to Mr. Stanley to dine with him, which was declined +(as may easily be supposed) under pretence of business. + +Waverley's next request was, that Mr. Macwheeble would despatch a +man and horse to----, the post-town at which Colonel Talbot was to +address him, with directions to wait there until the post should +bring a letter for Mr. Stanley, and then to forward it to Little +Veolan with all speed. In a moment the Bailie was in search of his +apprentice (or servitor, as he was called Sixty Years Since), Jock +Scriever, and in not much greater space of time Jock was on the +back of the white pony. 'Tak care ye guide him weel, sir, for he's +aye been short in the wind since--ahem--Lord be gude to me! (in a +low voice), I was gaun to come out wi'--since I rode whip and spur +to fetch the Chevalier to redd Mr. Wauverley and Vich lan Vohr; +and an uncanny coup I gat for my pains. Lord forgie your honour! I +might hae broken my neck; but troth it was in a venture, mae ways +nor ane; but this maks amends for a'. Lady Wauverley! ten thousand +a year! Lord be gude unto me!' + +'But you forget, Mr. Macwheeble, we want the Baron's consent--the +lady's--' + +'Never fear, I'se be caution for them; I'se gie you my personal +warrandice. Ten thousand a year! it dings Balmawhapple out and +out--a year's rent's worth a' Balmawhapple, fee and life-rent! +Lord make us thankful!' + +To turn the current of his feelings, Edward inquired if he had +heard anything lately of the Chieftain of Glennaquoich. + +'Not one word,' answered Macwheeble, 'but that he was still in +Carlisle Castle, and was soon to be panelled for his life. I dinna +wish the young gentleman ill,' he said, 'but I hope that they that +hae got him will keep him, and no let him back to this Hieland +border to plague us wi' black-mail and a' manner o' violent, +wrongous, and masterfu' oppression and spoliation, both by himself +and others of his causing, sending, and hounding out; and he +couldna tak care o' the siller when he had gotten it neither, but +flung it a' into yon idle quean's lap at Edinburgh; but light come +light gane. For my part, I never wish to see a kilt in the country +again, nor a red-coat, nor a gun, for that matter, unless it were +to shoot a paitrick; they're a' tarr'd wi' ae stick. And when they +have done ye wrang, even when ye hae gotten decreet of spuilzie, +oppression, and violent profits against them, what better are ye? +They hae na a plack to pay ye; ye need never extract it.' + +With such discourse, and the intervening topics of business, the +time passed until dinner, Macwheeble meanwhile promising to devise +some mode of introducing Edward at the Duchran, where Rose at +present resided, without risk of danger or suspicion; which seemed +no very easy task, since the laird was a very zealous friend to +government. The poultry-yard had been laid under requisition, and +cockyleeky and Scotch collops soon reeked in the Bailie's little +parlour. The landlord's cork-screw was just introduced into the +muzzle of a pint bottle of claret (cribbed possibly from the +cellars of Tully-Veolan), when the sight of the grey pony passing +the window at full trot induced the Bailie, but with due +precaution, to place it aside for the moment. Enter Jock Scriever +with a packet for Mr. Stanley; it is Colonel Talbot's seal, and +Edward's ringers tremble as he undoes it. Two official papers, +folded, signed, and sealed in all formality, drop out. They were +hastily picked up by the Bailie, who had a natural respect for +everything resembling a deed, and, glancing slily on their titles, +his eyes, or rather spectacles, are greeted with 'Protection by +his Royal Highness to the person of Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, +Esq., of that ilk, commonly called Baron of Bradwardine, forfeited +for his accession to the late rebellion.' The other proves to be a +protection of the same tenor in favour of Edward Waverley, Esq. +Colonel Talbot's letter was in these words:-- + +'My DEAR EDWARD, + +'I am just arrived here, and yet I have finished my business; it +has cost me some trouble though, as you shall hear. I waited upon +his Royal Highness immediately on my arrival, and found him in no +very good humour for my purpose. Three or four Scotch gentlemen +were just leaving his levee. After he had expressed himself to me +very courteously; "Would you think it," he said, "Talbot, here +have been half a dozen of the most respectable gentlemen and best +friends to government north of the Forth, Major Melville of +Cairnvreckan, Rubrick of Duchran, and others, who have fairly +wrung from me, by their downright importunity, a present +protection and the promise of a future pardon for that stubborn +old rebel whom they call Baron of Bradwardine. They allege that +his high personal character, and the clemency which he showed to +such of our people as fell into the rebels' hands, should weigh in +his favour, especially as the loss of his estate is likely to be a +severe enough punishment. Rubrick has undertaken to keep him at +his own house till things are settled in the country; but it's a +little hard to be forced in a manner to pardon such a mortal enemy +to the House of Brunswick." This was no favourable moment for +opening my business; however, I said I was rejoiced to learn that +his Royal Highness was in the course of granting such requests, as +it emboldened me to present one of the like nature in my own name. +He was very angry, but I persisted; I mentioned the uniform +support of our three votes in, the house, touched modestly on +services abroad, though valuable only in his Royal Highness's +having been pleased kindly to accept them, and founded pretty +strongly on his own expressions of friendship and good-will. He +was embarrassed, but obstinate. I hinted the policy of detaching, +on all future occasions, the heir of such a fortune as your +uncle's from the machinations of the disaffected. But I made no +impression. I mentioned the obligations which I lay under to Sir +Everard and to you personally, and claimed, as the sole reward of +my services, that he would be pleased to afford me the means of +evincing my gratitude. I perceived that he still meditated a +refusal, and, taking my commission from my pocket, I said (as a +last resource) that, as his Royal Highness did not, under these +pressing circumstances, think me worthy of a favour which he had +not scrupled to grant to other gentlemen whose services I could +hardly judge more important than my own, I must beg leave to +deposit, with all humility, my commission in his Royal Highness's +hands, and to retire from the service. He was not prepared for +this; he told me to take up my commission, said some handsome +things of my services, and granted my request. You are therefore +once more a free man, and I have promised for you that you will be +a good boy in future, and remember what you owe to the lenity of +government. Thus you see my prince can be as generous as yours. I +do not pretend, indeed, that he confers a favour with all the +foreign graces and compliments of your Chevalier errant; but he +has a plain English manner, and the evident reluctance with which +he grants your request indicates the sacrifice which he makes of +his own inclination to your wishes. My friend, the adjutant- +general, has procured me a duplicate of the Baron's protection +(the original being in Major Melville's possession), which I send +to you, as I know that if you can find him you will have pleasure +in being the first to communicate the joyful intelligence. He will +of course repair to the Duchran without loss of time, there to +ride quarantine for a few weeks. As for you, I give you leave to +escort him thither, and to stay a week there, as I understand a +certain fair lady is in that quarter. And I have the pleasure to +tell you that whatever progress you can make in her good graces +will be highly agreeable to Sir Everard and Mrs. Rachel, who will +never believe your views and prospects settled, and the three +ermines passant in actual safety, until you present them with a +Mrs. Edward Waverley. Now, certain love-affairs of my own--a good +many years since--interrupted some measures which were then +proposed in favour of the three ermines passant; so I am bound in +honour to make them amends. Therefore make good use of your time, +for, when your week is expired, it will be necessary that you go +to London to plead your pardon in the law courts. + +'Ever, dear Waverley, yours most truly, 'PHILIP TALBOT.' + + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII + + Happy's the wooing + That's not long a doing + + +When the first rapturous sensation occasioned by these excellent +tidings had somewhat subsided, Edward proposed instantly to go +down to the glen to acquaint the Baron with their import. But the +cautious Bailie justly observed that, if the Baron were to appear +instantly in public, the tenantry and villagers might become +riotous in expressing their joy, and give offence to 'the powers +that be,' a sort of persons for whom the Bailie always had +unlimited respect. He therefore proposed that Mr. Waverley should +go to Janet Gellatley's and bring the Baron up under cloud of +night to Little Veolan, where he might once more enjoy the luxury +of a good bed. In the meanwhile, he said, he himself would go to +Captain Foster and show him the Baron's protection, and obtain his +countenance for harbouring him that night, and he would have +horses ready on the morrow to set him on his way to the Duchran +along with Mr. Stanley, 'whilk denomination, I apprehend, your +honour will for the present retain,' said the Bailie. + +'Certainly, Mr. Macwheeble; but will you not go down to the glen +yourself in the evening to meet your patron?' + +'That I wad wi' a' my heart; and mickle obliged to your honour for +putting me in mind o' mybounden duty. But it will be past sunset +afore I get back frae the Captain's, and at these unsonsy hours +the glen has a bad name; there's something no that canny about +auld Janet Gellatley. The Laird he'll no believe thae things, but +he was aye ower rash and venturesome, and feared neither man nor +deevil, an sae's seen o't. But right sure am I Sir George +Mackenyie says, that no divine can doubt there are witches, since +the Bible says thou shalt not suffer them to live; and that no +lawyer in Scotland can doubt it, since it is punishable with death +by our law. So there's baith law and gospel for it. An his honour +winna believe the Leviticus, he might aye believe the Statute- +book; but he may tak his ain way o't; it's a' ane to Duncan +Macwheeble. However, I shall send to ask up auld Janet this e'en; +it's best no to lightly them that have that character; and we'll +want Davie to turn the spit, for I'll gar Eppie put down a fat +goose to the fire for your honours to your supper.' + +When it was near sunset Waverley hastened to the hut; and he could +not but allow that superstition had chosen no improper locality, +or unfit object, for the foundation of her fantastic terrors. It +resembled exactly the description of Spenser:-- + + There, in a gloomy hollow glen, she found + A little cottage built of sticks and reeds, + In homely wise, and wall'd with sods around, + In which a witch did dwell in loathly weeds, + And wilful want, all careless of her needs, + So choosing solitary to abide + Far from all neighbours, that her devilish deeds, + And hellish arts, from people she might hide, + And hurt far off, unknown, whomsoever she espied. + +He entered the cottage with these verses in his memory. Poor old +Janet, bent double with age and bleared with peat-smoke, was +tottering about the hut with a birch broom, muttering to herself +as she endeavoured to make her hearth and floor a little clean for +the reception of her expected guests. Waverley's step made her +start, look up, and fall a-trembling, so much had her nerves been +on the rack for her patron's safety. With difficulty Waverley made +her comprehend that the Baron was now safe from personal danger; +and when her mind had admitted that joyful news, it was equally +hard to make her believe that he was not to enter again upon +possession of his estate. 'It behoved to be,' she said, 'he wad +get it back again; naebody wad be sae gripple as to tak his gear +after they had gi'en him a pardon: and for that Inch-Grabbit, I +could whiles wish mysell a witch for his sake, if I werena feared +the Enemy wad tak me at my word.' Waverley then gave her some +money, and promised that her fidelity should be rewarded. 'How can +I be rewarded, sir, sae weel as just to see my auld maister and +Miss Rose come back and bruik their ain?' + +Waverley now took leave of Janet, and soon stood beneath the +Baron's Patmos. At a low whistle he observed the veteran peeping +out to reconnoitre, like an old badger with his head out of his +hole. 'Ye hae come rather early, my good lad,' said he, +descending; 'I question if the red-coats hae beat the tattoo yet, +and we're not safe till then.' + +'Good news cannot be told too soon,' said Waverley; and with +infinite joy communicated to him the happy tidings. The old man +stood for a moment in silent devotion, then exclaimed, 'Praise be +to God! I shall see my bairn again.' + +'And never, I hope, to part with her more,' said Waverley. + +'I trust in God not, unless it be to win the means of supporting +her; for my things are but in a bruckle state;--but what signifies +warld's gear?' + +'And if,' said Waverley modestly, 'there were a situation in life +which would put Miss Bradwardine beyond the uncertainty of +fortune, and in the rank to which she was born, would you object +to it, my dear Baron, because it would make one of your friends +the happiest man in the world?' The Baron turned and looked at him +with great earnestness. 'Yes,' continued Edward, 'I shall not +consider my sentence of banishment as repealed unless you will +give me permission to accompany you to the Duchran, and--' + +The Baron seemed collecting all his dignity to make a suitable +reply to what, at another time, he would have treated as the +propounding a treaty of alliance between the houses of Bradwardine +and Waverley. But his efforts were in vain; the father was too +mighty for the Baron; the pride of birth and rank were swept away; +in the joyful surprise a slight convulsion passed rapidly over his +features, as he gave way to the feelings of nature, threw his arms +around Waverley's neck, and sobbed out--'My son, my son! if I had +been to search the world, I would have made my choice here.' +Edward returned the embrace with great sympathy of feeling, and +for a little while they both kept silence. At length it was broken +by Edward. 'But Miss Bradwardine?' + +'She had never a will but her old father's; besides, you are a +likely youth, of honest principles and high birth; no, she never +had any other will than mine, and in my proudest days I could not +have wished a mair eligible espousal for her than the nephew of my +excellent old friend, Sir Everard. But I hope, young man, ye deal +na rashly in this matter? I hope ye hae secured the approbation of +your ain friends and allies, particularly of your uncle, who is in +loco parentis? Ah! we maun tak heed o' that.' Edward assured him +that Sir Everard would think himself highly honoured in the +flattering reception his proposal had met with, and that it had +his entire approbation; in evidence of which he put Colonel +Talbot's letter into the Baron's hand. The Baron read it with +great attention. 'Sir Everard,' he said, 'always despised wealth +in comparison of honour and birth; and indeed he hath no occasion +to court the Diva Pecunia. Yet I now wish, since this Malcolm +turns out such a parricide, for I can call him no better, as to +think of alienating the family inheritance--I now wish (his eyes +fixed on a part of the roof which was visible above the trees) +that I could have left Rose the auld hurley-house and the riggs +belanging to it. And yet,' said he, resuming more cheerfully, +'it's maybe as weel as it is; for, as Baron of Bradwardine, I +might have thought it my duty to insist upon certain compliances +respecting name and bearings, whilk now, as a landless laird wi' a +tocherless daughter, no one can blame me for departing from.' + +'Now, Heaven be praised!' thought Edward,'that Sir Everard does +not hear these scruples! The three ermines passant and rampant +bear would certainly have gone together by the ears.' He then, +with all the ardour of a young lover, assured the Baron that he +sought for his happiness only in Rose's heart and hand, and +thought himself as happy in her father's simple approbation as if +he had settled an earldom upon his daughter. + +They now reached Little Veolan. The goose was smoking on the +table, and the Bailie brandished his knife and fork. A joyous +greeting took place between him and his patron. The kitchen, too, +had its company. Auld Janet was established at the ingle-nook; +Davie had turned the spit to his immortal honour; and even Ban and +Buscar, in the liberality of Macwheeble's joy, had been stuffed to +the throat with food, and now lay snoring on the floor. + +The next day conducted the Baron and his young friend to the +Duchran, where the former was expected, in consequence of the +success of the nearly unanimous application of the Scottish +friends of government in his favour. This had been so general and +so powerful that it was almost thought his estate might have been +saved, had it not passed into the rapacious hands of his unworthy +kinsman, whose right, arising out of the Baron's attainder, could +not be affected by a pardon from the crown. The old gentleman, +however, said, with his usual spirit, he was more gratified by the +hold he possessed in the good opinion of his neighbours than he +would have been in being rehabilitated and restored in integrum, +had it been found practicable.' + +We shall not attempt to describe the meeting of the father and +daughter, loving each other so affectionately, and separated under +such perilous circumstances. Still less shall we attempt to +analyse the deep blush of Rose at receiving the compliments of +Waverley, or stop to inquire whether she had any curiosity +respecting the particular cause of his journey to Scotland at that +period. We shall not even trouble the reader with the humdrum +details of a courtship Sixty Years Since. It is enough to say +that, under so strict a martinet as the Baron, all things were +conducted in due form. He took upon himself, the morning after +their arrival, the task of announcing the proposal of Waverley to +Rose, which she heard with a proper degree of maiden timidity. +Fame does, however, say that Waverley had the evening before found +five minutes to apprise her of what was coming, while the rest of +the company were looking at three twisted serpents which formed a, +jet d'eau in the garden. + +My fair readers will judge for themselves; but, for my part, I +cannot conceive how so important an affair could be communicated +in so short a space of time; at least, it certainly took a full +hour in the Baron's mode of conveying it. + +Waverley was now considered as a received lover in all the forms. +He was made, by dint of smirking and nodding on the part of the +lady of the house, to sit next Miss Bradwardine at dinner, to be +Miss Bradwardine's partner at cards. If he came into the room, she +of the four Miss Rubricks who chanced to be next Rose was sure to +recollect that her thimble or her scissors were at the other end +of the room, in order to leave the seat nearest to Miss +Bradwardine vacant for his occupation. And sometimes, if papa and +mamma were not in the way to keep them on their good behaviour, +the misses would titter a little. The old Laird of Duchran would +also have his occasional jest, and the old lady her remark. Even +the Baron could not refrain; but here Rose escaped every +embarrassment but that of conjecture, for his wit was usually +couched in a Latin quotation. The very footmen sometimes grinned +too broadly, the maidservants giggled mayhap too loud, and a +provoking air of intelligence seemed to pervade the whole family. +Alice Bean, the pretty maid of the cavern, who, after her father's +misfortune, as she called it, had attended Rose as fille-de- +chambre, smiled and smirked with the best of them. Rose and +Edward, however, endured all these little vexatious circumstances +as other folks have done before and since, and probably contrived +to obtain some indemnification, since they are not supposed, on +the whole, to have been particularly unhappy during Waverley's six +days' stay at the Duchran. + +It was finally arranged that Edward should go to Waverley-Honour +to make the necessary arrangements for his marriage, thence to +London to take the proper measures for pleading his pardon, and +return as soon as possible to claim the hand of his plighted +bride. He also intended in his journey to visit Colonel Talbot; +but, above all, it was his most important object to learn the fate +of the unfortunate Chief of Glennaquoich; to visit him at +Carlisle, and to try whether anything could be done for procuring, +if not a pardon, a commutation at least, or alleviation, of the +punishment to which he was almost certain of being condemned; and, +in case of the worst, to offer the miserable Flora an asylum with +Rose, or otherwise to assist her views in any mode which might +seem possible. The fate of Fergus seemed hard to be averted. +Edward had already striven to interest his friend, Colonel Talbot, +in his behalf; but had been given distinctly to understand by his +reply that his credit in matters of that nature was totally +exhausted. + +The Colonel was still in Edinburgh, and proposed to wait there for +some months upon business confided to him by the Duke of +Cumberland. He was to be joined by Lady Emily, to whom easy +travelling and goat's whey were recommended, and who was to +journey northward under the escort of Francis Stanley. Edward, +therefore, met the Colonel at Edinburgh, who wished him joy in the +kindest manner on his approaching happiness, and cheerfully +undertook many commissions which our hero was necessarily obliged +to delegate to his charge. But on the subject of Fergus he was +inexorable. He satisfied Edward, indeed, that his interference +would be unavailing; but, besides, Colonel Talbot owned that he +could not conscientiously use any influence in favour of that +unfortunate gentleman. 'Justice,' he said, 'which demanded some +penalty of those who had wrapped the whole nation in fear and in +mourning, could not perhaps have selected a fitter victim. He came +to the field with the fullest light upon the nature of his +attempt. He had studied and understood the subject. His father's +fate could not intimidate him; the lenity of the laws which had +restored to him his father's property and rights could not melt +him. That he was brave, generous, and possessed many good +qualities only rendered him the more dangerous; that he was +enlightened and accomplished made his crime the less excusable; +that he was an enthusiast in a wrong cause only made him the more +fit to be its martyr. Above all, he had been the means of bringing +many hundreds of men into the field who, without him, would never +have broken the peace of the country. + +'I repeat it,' said the Colonel,'though Heaven knows with a heart +distressed for him as an individual, that this young gentleman has +studied and fully understood the desperate game which he has +played. He threw for life or death, a coronet or a coffin; and he +cannot now be permitted, with justice to the country, to draw +stakes because the dice have gone against him.' + +Such was the reasoning of those times, held even by brave and +humane men towards a vanquished enemy. Let us devoutly hope that, +in this respect at least, we shall never see the scenes or hold +the sentiments that were general in Britain Sixty Years Since. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII + + To morrow? O that's sudden!--Spare him, spare him' + + SHAKSPEARE + + +Edward, attended by his former servant Alick Polwarth, who had +reentered his service at Edinburgh, reached Carlisle while the +commission of Oyer and Terminer on his unfortunate associates was +yet sitting. He had pushed forward in haste, not, alas! with the +most distant hope of saving Fergus, but to see him for the last +time. I ought to have mentioned that he had furnished funds for +the defence of the prisoners in the most liberal manner, as soon +as he heard that the day of trial was fixed. A solicitor and the +first counsel accordingly attended; but it was upon the same +footing on which the first physicians are usually summoned to the +bedside of some dying man of rank--the doctors to take the +advantage of some incalculable chance of an exertion of nature, +the lawyers to avail themselves of the barely possible occurrence +of some legal flaw. Edward pressed into the court, which was +extremely crowded; but by his arriving from the north, and his +extreme eagerness and agitation, it was supposed he was a relation +of the prisoners, and people made way for him. It was the third +sitting of the court, and there were two men at the bar. The +verdict of GUILTY was already pronounced. Edward just glanced at +the bar during the momentous pause which ensued. There was no +mistaking the stately form and noble features of Fergus Mac-Ivor, +although his dress was squalid and his countenance tinged with the +sickly yellow hue of long and close imprisonment. By his side was +Evan Maccombich. Edward felt sick and dizzy as he gazed on them; +but he was recalled to himself as the Clerk of Arraigns pronounced +the solemn words: 'Fergus Mac-Ivor of Glennaquoich, otherwise +called Vich Ian Vohr, and Evan Mac-Ivor, in the Dhu of +Tarrascleugh, otherwise called Evan Dhu, otherwise called Evan +Maccombich, or Evan Dhu MacCombich--you, and each of you, stand +attainted of high treason. What have you to say for yourselves why +the Court should not pronounce judgment against you, that you die +according to law?' + +Fergus, as the presiding Judge was putting on the fatal cap of +judgment, placed his own bonnet upon his head, regarded him with a +steadfast and stern look, and replied in a firm voice, 'I cannot +let this numerous audience suppose that to such an appeal I have +no answer to make. But what I have to say you would not bear to +hear, for my defence would be your condemnation. Proceed, then, in +the name of God, to do what is permitted to you. Yesterday and the +day before you have condemned loyal and honourable blood to be +poured forth like water. Spare not mine. Were that of all my +ancestors in my veins, I would have perilled it in this quarrel.' +He resumed his seat and refused again to rise. + +Evan Maccombich looked at him with great earnestness, and, rising +up, seemed anxious to speak; but the confusion of the court, and +the perplexity arising from thinking in a language different from +that in which he was to express himself, kept him silent. There +was a murmur of compassion among the spectators, from the idea +that the poor fellow intended to plead the influence of his +superior as an excuse for his crime. The Judge commanded silence, +and encouraged Evan to proceed. 'I was only ganging to say, my +lord,' said Evan, in what he meant to be an insinuating manner, +'that if your excellent honour and the honourable Court would let +Vich Ian Vohr go free just this once, and let him gae back to +France, and no to trouble King George's government again, that ony +six o' the very best of his clan will be willing to be justified +in his stead; and if you'll just let me gae down to Glennaquoich, +I'll fetch them up to ye mysell, to head or hang, and you may +begin wi' me the very first man.' + +Notwithstanding the solemnity of the occasion, a sort of laugh was +heard in the court at the extraordinary nature of the proposal. +The Judge checked this indecency, and Evan, looking sternly +around, when the murmur abated, 'If the Saxon gentlemen are +laughing,' he said, 'because a poor man, such as me, thinks my +life, or the life of six of my degree, is worth that of Vich Ian +Vohr, it's like enough they may be very right; but if they laugh +because they think I would not keep my word and come back to +redeem him, I can tell them they ken neither the heart of a +Hielandman nor the honour of a gentleman.' + +There was no farther inclination to laugh among the audience, and +a dead silence ensued. + +The Judge then pronounced upon both prisoners the sentence of the +law of high treason, with all its horrible accompaniments. The +execution was appointed for the ensuing day. 'For you, Fergus Mac- +Ivor,' continued the Judge, 'I can hold out no hope of mercy. You +must prepare against to-morrow for your last sufferings here, and +your great audit hereafter.' + +'I desire nothing else, my lord,' answered Fergus, in the same +manly and firm tone. + +The hard eyes of Evan, which had been perpetually bent on his +Chief, were moistened with a tear. 'For you, poor ignorant man,' +continued the Judge, 'who, following the ideas in which you have +been educated, have this day given us a striking example how the +loyalty due to the king and state alone is, from your unhappy +ideas of clanship, transferred to some ambitious individual who +ends by making you the tool of his crimes--for you, I say, I feel +so much compassion that, if you can make up your mind to petition +for grace, I will endeavour to procure it for you. Otherwise--' + +'Grace me no grace,' said Evan; 'since you are to shed Vich Ian +Vohr's blood, the only favour I would accept from you is to bid +them loose my hands and gie me my claymore, and bide you just a +minute sitting where you are!' + +'Remove the prisoners,' said the Judge; 'his blood be upon his own +head.' + +Almost stupefied with his feelings, Edward found that the rush of +the crowd had conveyed him out into the street ere he knew what he +was doing. His immediate wish was to see and speak with Fergus +once more. He applied at the Castle where his unfortunate friend +was confined, but was refused admittance. 'The High Sheriff,' a +non-commissioned officer said, 'had requested of the governor that +none should be admitted to see the prisoner excepting his +confessor and his sister.' + +'And where was Miss Mac-Ivor?' They gave him the direction. It was +the house of a respectable Catholic family near Carlisle. + +Repulsed from the gate of the Castle, and not venturing to make +application to the High Sheriff or Judges in his own unpopular +name, he had recourse to the solicitor who came down in Fergus's +behalf. This gentleman told him that it was thought the public +mind was in danger of being debauched by the account of the last +moments of these persons, as given by the friends of the +Pretender; that there had been a resolution, therefore, to exclude +all such persons as had not the plea of near kindred for attending +upon them. Yet he promised (to oblige the heir of Waverley-Honour) +to get him an order for admittance to the prisoner the next +morning, before his irons were knocked off for execution. + +'Is it of Fergus Mac-Ivor they speak thus,' thought Waverley, 'or +do I dream? Of Fergus, the bold, the chivalrous, the free-minded, +the lofty chieftain of a tribe devoted to him? Is it he, that I +have seen lead the chase and head the attack, the brave, the +active, the young, the noble, the love of ladies, and the theme of +song,--is it he who is ironed like a malefactor, who is to be +dragged on a hurdle to the common gallows, to die a lingering and +cruel death, and to be mangled by the hand of the most outcast of +wretches? Evil indeed was the spectre that boded such a fate as +this to the brave Chief of Glennaquoich!' + +With a faltering voice he requested the solicitor to find means to +warn Fergus of his intended visit, should he obtain permission to +make it. He then turned away from him, and, returning to the inn, +wrote a scarcely intelligible note to Flora Mac-Ivor, intimating +his purpose to wait upon her that evening. The messenger brought +back a letter in Flora's beautiful Italian hand, which seemed +scarce to tremble even under this load of misery. 'Miss Flora Mac- +Ivor,' the letter bore, 'could not refuse to see the dearest +friend of her dear brother, even in her present circumstances of +unparalleled distress.' + +When Edward reached Miss Mac-Ivor's present place of abode he was +instantly admitted. In a large and gloomy tapestried apartment +Flora was seated by a latticed window, sewing what seemed to be a +garment of white flannel. At a little distance sat an elderly +woman, apparently a foreigner, and of a religious order. She was +reading in a book of Catholic devotion, but when Waverley entered +laid it on the table and left the room. Flora rose to receive him, +and stretched out her hand, but neither ventured to attempt +speech. Her fine complexion was totally gone; her person +considerably emaciated; and her face and hands as white as the +purest statuary marble, forming a strong contrast with her sable +dress and jet-black hair. Yet, amid these marks of distress there +was nothing negligent or ill-arranged about her attire; even her +hair, though totally without ornament, was disposed with her usual +attention to neatness. The first words she uttered were, 'Have you +seen him?' + +'Alas, no,' answered Waverley, 'I have been refused admittance.' + +'It accords with the rest,' she said; 'but we must submit. Shall +you obtain leave, do you suppose?' + +'For--for--tomorrow,' said Waverley; but muttering the last word +so faintly that it was almost unintelligible. + +'Ay, then or never,' said Flora, 'until'--she added, looking +upward--'the time when, I trust, we shall all meet. But I hope you +will see him while earth yet bears him. He always loved you at his +heart, though--but it is vain to talk of the past.' + +'Vain indeed!' echoed Waverley. + +'Or even of the future, my good friend,' said Flora,'so far as +earthly events are concerned; for how often have I pictured to +myself the strong possibility of this horrid issue, and tasked +myself to consider how I could support my part; and yet how far +has all my anticipation fallen short of the unimaginable +bitterness of this hour!' + +'Dear Flora, if your strength of mind--' + +'Ay, there it is,' she answered, somewhat wildly; 'there is, Mr. +Waverley, there is a busy devil at my heart that whispers--but it +were madness to listen to it--that the strength of mind on which +Flora prided herself has murdered her brother!' + +'Good God! how can you give utterance to a thought so shocking?' + +'Ay, is it not so? but yet it haunts me like a phantom; I know it +is unsubstantial and vain; but it will be present; will intrude +its horrors on my mind; will whisper that my brother, as volatile +as ardent, would have divided his energies amid a hundred objects. +It was I who taught him to concentrate them and to gage all on +this dreadful and desperate cast. Oh that I could recollect that I +had but once said to him, "He that striketh with the sword shall +die by the sword"; that I had but once said, "Remain at home; +reserve yourself, your vassals, your life, for enterprises within +the reach of man." But O, Mr. Waverley, I spurred his fiery +temper, and half of his ruin at least lies with his sister!' + +The horrid idea which she had intimated, Edward endeavoured to +combat by every incoherent argument that occurred to him. He +recalled to her the principles on which both thought it their duty +to act, and in which they had been educated. + +'Do not think I have forgotten them,' she said, looking up with +eager quickness; 'I do not regret his attempt because it was +wrong!--O no! on that point I am armed--but because it was +impossible it could end otherwise than thus.' + +'Yet it did not always seem so desperate and hazardous as it was; +and it would have been chosen by the bold spirit of Fergus whether +you had approved it or no; your counsels only served to give unity +and consistence to his conduct; to dignify, but not to +precipitate, his resolution.' Flora had soon ceased to listen to +Edward, and was again intent upon her needlework. + +'Do you remember,' she said, looking up with a ghastly smile, 'you +once found me making Fergus's bride-favours, and now I am sewing +his bridal garment. Our friends here,' she continued, with +suppressed emotion, 'are to give hallowed earth in their chapel to +the bloody relics of the last Vich Ian Vohr. But they will not all +rest together; no--his head!--I shall not have the last miserable +consolation of kissing the cold lips of my dear, dear Fergus!' + +The unfortunate Flora here, after one or two hysterical sobs, +fainted in her chair. The lady, who had been attending in the +ante-room, now entered hastily, and begged Edward to leave the +room, but not the house. + +When he was recalled, after the space of nearly half an hour, he +found that, by a strong effort, Miss Mac-Ivor had greatly composed +herself. It was then he ventured to urge Miss Bradwardine's claim +to be considered as an adopted sister, and empowered to assist her +plans for the future. + +'I have had a letter from my dear Rose,' she replied, 'to the same +purpose. Sorrow is selfish and engrossing, or I would have written +to express that, even in my own despair, I felt a gleam of +pleasure at learning her happy prospects, and at hearing that the +good old Baron has escaped the general wreck. Give this to my +dearest Rose; it is her poor Flora's only ornament of value, and +was the gift of a princess.' She put into his hands a case +containing the chain of diamonds with which she used to decorate +her hair. 'To me it is in future useless. The kindness of my +friends has secured me a retreat in the convent of the Scottish +Benedictine nuns in Paris. Tomorrow--if indeed I can survive +tomorrow--I set forward on my journey with this venerable sister. +And now, Mr. Waverley, adieu! May you be as happy with Rose as +your amiable dispositions deserve; and think sometimes on the +friends you have lost. Do not attempt to see me again; it would be +mistaken kindness.' + +She gave him her hand, on which Edward shed a torrent of tears, +and with a faltering step withdrew from the apartment, and +returned to the town of Carlisle. At the inn he found a letter +from his law friend intimating that he would be admitted to Fergus +next morning as soon as the Castle gates were opened, and +permitted to remain with him till the arrival of the Sheriff gave +signal for the fatal procession. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX + + A darker departure is near, + The death drum is muffled, and sable the bier + + CAMPBELL + + +After a sleepless night, the first dawn of morning found Waverley +on the esplanade in front of the old Gothic gate of Carlisle +Castle. But he paced it long in every direction before the hour +when, according to the rules of the garrison, the gates were +opened and the draw-bridge lowered. He produced his order to the +sergeant of the guard and was admitted. + +The place of Fergus's confinement was a gloomy and vaulted +apartment in the central part of the Castle; a huge old tower, +supposed to be of great antiquity, and surrounded by outworks, +seemingly of Henry VIII's time, or somewhat later. The grating of +the large old-fashioned bars and bolts, withdrawn for the purpose +of admitting Edward, was answered by the clash of chains, as the +unfortunate Chieftain, strongly and heavily fettered, shuffled +along the stone floor of his prison to fling himself into his +friend's arms. + +'My dear Edward,' he said, in a firm and even cheerful voice,'this +is truly kind. I heard of your approaching happiness with the +highest pleasure. And how does Rose? and how is our old whimsical +friend the Baron? Well, I trust, since I see you at freedom. And +how will you settle precedence between the three ermines passant +and the bear and boot-jack?' + +'How, O how, my dear Fergus, can you talk of such things at such a +moment!' + +'Why, we have entered Carlisle with happier auspices, to be sure; +on the 16th of November last, for example, when we marched in side +by side, and hoisted the white flag on these ancient towers. But I +am no boy, to sit down and weep because the luck has gone against +me. I knew the stake which I risked; we played the game boldly and +the forfeit shall be paid manfully. And now, since my time is +short, let me come to the questions that interest me most--the +Prince? has he escaped the bloodhounds?' + +'He has, and is in safety.' + +'Praised be God for that! Tell me the particulars of his escape.' + +Waverley communicated that remarkable history, so far as it had +then transpired, to which Fergus listened with deep interest. He +then asked after several other friends; and made many minute +inquiries concerning the fate of his own clansmen. They had +suffered less than other tribes who had been engaged in the +affair; for, having in a great measure dispersed and returned home +after the captivity of their Chieftain, according to the universal +custom of the Highlanders, they were not in arms when the +insurrection was finally suppressed, and consequently were treated +with less rigour. This Fergus heard with great satisfaction. + +'You are rich,' he said, 'Waverley, and you are generous. When you +hear of these poor Mac-Ivors being distressed about their +miserable possessions by some harsh overseer or agent of +government, remember you have worn their tartan and are an adopted +son of their race, The Baron, who knows our manners and lives near +our country, will apprise you of the time and means to be their +protector. Will you promise this to the last Vich Ian Vohr?' + +Edward, as may well be believed, pledged his word; which he +afterwards so amply redeemed that his memory still lives in these +glens by the name of the Friend of the Sons of Ivor. + +'Would to God,' continued the Chieftain, 'I could bequeath to you +my rights to the love and obedience of this primitive and brave +race; or at least, as I have striven to do, persuade poor Evan to +accept of his life upon their terms, and be to you what he has +been to me, the kindest, the bravest, the most devoted--' + +The tears which his own fate could not draw forth fell fast for +that of his foster-brother. + +'But,' said he, drying them,'that cannot be. You cannot be to them +Vich Ian Vohr; and these three magic words,' said he, half +smiling, 'are the only Open Sesame to their feelings and +sympathies, and poor Evan must attend his foster-brother in death, +as he has done through his whole life.' + +'And I am sure,' said Maccombich, raising himself from the floor, +on which, for fear of interrupting their conversation, he had lain +so still that, in the obscurity of the apartment, Edward was not +aware of his presence--'I am sure Evan never desired or deserved a +better end than just to die with his Chieftain.' + +'And now,' said Fergus, 'while we are upon the subject of +clanship--what think you now of the prediction of the Bodach +Glas?' Then, before Edward could answer, 'I saw him again last +night: he stood in the slip of moonshine which fell from that high +and narrow window towards my bed. "Why should I fear him?" I +thought; "to-morrow, long ere this time, I shall be as immaterial +as he." "False spirit," I said, "art thou come to close thy walks +on earth and to enjoy thy triumph in the fall of the last +descendant of thine enemy?" The spectre seemed to beckon and to +smile as he faded from my sight. What do you think of it? I asked +the same question of the priest, who is a good and sensible man; +he admitted that the church allowed that such apparitions were +possible, but urged me not to permit my mind to dwell upon it, as +imagination plays us such strange tricks. What do you think of +it?' + +'Much as your confessor,' said Waverley, willing to avoid dispute +upon such a point at such a moment. A tap at the door now +announced that good man, and Edward retired while he administered +to both prisoners the last rites of religion, in the mode which +the Church of Rome prescribes. + +In about an hour he was re-admitted; soon after, a file of +soldiers entered with a blacksmith, who struck the fetters from +the legs of the prisoners. + +'You see the compliment they pay to our Highland strength and +courage; we have lain chained here like wild beasts, till our legs +are cramped into palsy, and when they free us they send six +soldiers with loaded muskets to prevent our taking the castle by +storm!' + +Edward afterwards learned that these severe precautions had been +taken in consequence of a desperate attempt of the prisoners to +escape, in which they had very nearly succeeded. + +Shortly afterwards the drums of the garrison beat to arms. 'This +is the last turn-out,' said Fergus, 'that I shall hear and obey. +And now, my dear, dear Edward, ere we part let us speak of Flora-- +a subject which awakes the tenderest feeling that yet thrills +within me' + +'We part not here!' said Waverley. + +'O yes, we do; you must come no farther. Not that I fear what is +to follow for myself,' he said proudly. 'Nature has her tortures +as well as art, and how happy should we think the man who escapes +from the throes of a mortal and painful disorder in the space of a +short half hour? And this matter, spin it out as they will, cannot +last longer. But what a dying man can suffer firmly may kill a +living friend to look upon. This same law of high treason,' he +continued, with astonishing firmness and composure, 'is one of the +blessings, Edward, with which your free country has accommodated +poor old Scotland; her own jurisprudence, as I have heard, was +much milder. But I suppose one day or other--when there are no +longer any wild Highlanders to benefit by its tender mercies--they +will blot it from their records as levelling them with a nation of +cannibals. The mummery, too, of exposing the senseless head--they +have not the wit to grace mine with a paper coronet; there would +be some satire in that, Edward. I hope they will set it on the +Scotch gate though, that I may look, even after death, to the blue +hills of my own country, which I love so dearly. The Baron would +have added, + + Moritur, et moriens dukes reminiscitur Argos.' + +A bustle, and the sound of wheels and horses' feet, was now heard +in the court-yard of the Castle. 'As I have told you why you must +not follow me, and these sounds admonish me that my time flies +fast, tell me how you found poor Flora.' + +Waverley, with a voice interrupted by suffocating sensations, gave +some account of the state of her mind. + +'Poor Flora!' answered the Chief, 'she could have borne her own +sentence of death, but not mine. You, Waverley, will soon know the +happiness of mutual affection in the married state--long, long may +Rose and you enjoy it!--but you can never know the purity of +feeling which combines two orphans like Flora and me, left alone +as it were in the world, and being all in all to each other from +our very infancy. But her strong sense of duty and predominant +feeling of loyalty will give new nerve to her mind after the +immediate and acute sensation of this parting has passed away. She +will then think of Fergus as of the heroes of our race, upon whose +deeds she loved to dwell.' + +'Shall she not see you then?' asked Waverley. 'She seemed to +expect it.' + +'A necessary deceit will spare her the last dreadful parting. I +could not part with her without tears, and I cannot bear that +these men should think they have power to extort them. She was +made to believe she would see me at a later hour, and this letter, +which my confessor will deliver, will apprise her that all is +over.' + +An officer now appeared and intimated that the High Sheriff and +his attendants waited before the gate of the Castle to claim the +bodies of Fergus Mac-Ivor and Evan Maccombich. 'I come,' said +Fergus. Accordingly, supporting Edward by the arm and followed by +Evan Dhu and the priest, he moved down the stairs of the tower, +the soldiers bringing up the rear. The court was occupied by a +squadron of dragoons and a battalion of infantry, drawn up in +hollow square. Within their ranks was the sledge or hurdle on +which the prisoners were to be drawn to the place of execution, +about a mile distant from Carlisle. It was painted black, and +drawn by a white horse. At one end of the vehicle sat the +executioner, a horrid-looking fellow, as beseemed his trade, with +the broad axe in his hand; at the other end, next the horse, was +an empty seat for two persons. Through the deep and dark Gothic +archway that opened on the drawbridge were seen on horseback the +High Sheriff and his attendants, whom the etiquette betwixt the +civil and military powers did not permit to come farther. 'This is +well GOT UP for a closing scene,' said Fergus, smiling +disdainfully as he gazed around upon the apparatus of terror. Evan +Dhu exclaimed with some eagerness, after looking at the dragoons,' +These are the very chields that galloped off at Gladsmuir, before +we could kill a dozen o' them. They look bold enough now, +however.' The priest entreated him to be silent. + +The sledge now approached, and Fergus, turning round, embraced +Waverley, kissed him on each side of the face, and stepped nimbly +into his place. Evan sat down by his side. The priest was to +follow in a carriage belonging to his patron, the Catholic +gentleman at whose house Flora resided. As Fergus waved his hand +to Edward the ranks closed around the sledge, and the whole +procession began to move forward. There was a momentary stop at +the gateway, while the governor of the Castle and the High Sheriff +went through a short ceremony, the military officer there +delivering over the persons of the criminals to the civil power. +'God save King George!' said the High Sheriff. When the formality +concluded, Fergus stood erect in the sledge, and, with a firm and +steady voice, replied,' God save King JAMES!' These were the last +words which Waverley heard him speak. + +The procession resumed its march, and the sledge vanished from +beneath the portal, under which it had stopped for an instant. The +dead march was then heard, and its melancholy sounds were mingled +with those of a muffled peal tolled from the neighbouring +cathedral. The sound of military music died away as the procession +moved on; the sullen clang of the bells was soon heard to sound +alone. + +The last of the soldiers had now disappeared from under the +vaulted archway through which they had been filing for several +minutes; the court-yard was now totally empty, but Waverley still +stood there as if stupefied, his eyes fixed upon the dark pass +where he had so lately seen the last glimpse of his friend. At +length a female servant of the governor's, struck with compassion, +at the stupefied misery which his countenance expressed, asked him +if he would not walk into her master's house and sit down? She was +obliged to repeat her question twice ere he comprehended her, but +at length it recalled him to himself. Declining the courtesy by a +hasty gesture, he pulled his hat over his eyes, and, leaving the +Castle, walked as swiftly as he could through the empty streets +till he regained his inn, then rushed into an apartment and bolted +the door. + +In about an hour and a half, which seemed an age of unutterable +suspense, the sound of the drums and fifes performing a lively +air, and the confused murmur of the crowd which now filled the +streets, so lately deserted, apprised him that all was finished, +and that the military and populace were returning from the +dreadful scene. I will not attempt to describe his sensations. + +In the evening the priest made him a visit, and informed him that +he did so by directions of his deceased friend, to assure him that +Fergus Mac-Ivor had died as he lived, and remembered his +friendship to the last. He added, he had also seen Flora, whose +state of mind seemed more composed since all was over. With her +and sister Theresa the priest proposed next day to leave Carlisle +for the nearest seaport from which they could embark for France. +Waverley forced on this good man a ring of some value and a sum of +money to be employed (as he thought might gratify Flora) in the +services of the Catholic church for the memory of his friend. +'Fun-garque inani munere,' he repeated, as the ecclesiastic +retired. 'Yet why not class these acts of remembrance with other +honours, with which affection in all sects pursues the memory of +the dead?' + +The next morning ere daylight he took leave of the town of +Carlisle, promising to himself never again to enter its walls. He +dared hardly look back towards the Gothic battlements of the +fortified gate under which he passed, for the place is surrounded +with an old wall. 'They're no there,' said Alick Polwarth, who +guessed the cause of the dubious look which Waverley cast +backward, and who, with the vulgar appetite for the horrible, was +master of each detail of the butchery--'the heads are ower the +Scotch yate, as they ca' it. It's a great pity of Evan Dhu, who +was a very weel-meaning, good-natured man, to be a Hielandman; +and indeed so was the Laird o' Glennaquoich too, for that matter, +when he wasna in ane o' his tirrivies.' + + + + + +CHAPTER LXX + +DULCE DOMUM + + +The impression of horror with which Waverley left Carlisle +softened by degrees into melancholy, a gradation which was +accelerated by the painful yet soothing task of writing to Rose; +and, while he could not suppress his own feelings of the calamity, +he endeavoured to place it in a light which might grieve her +without shocking her imagination. The picture which he drew for +her benefit he gradually familiarised to his own mind, and his +next letters were more cheerful, and referred to the prospects of +peace and happiness which lay before them. Yet, though his first +horrible sensations had sunk into melancholy, Edward had reached +his native country before he could, as usual on former occasions, +look round for enjoyment upon the face of nature. + +He then, for the first time since leaving Edinburgh, began to +experience that pleasure which almost all feel who return to a +verdant, populous, and highly cultivated country from scenes of +waste desolation or of solitary and melancholy grandeur. But how +were those feelings enhanced when he entered on the domain so long +possessed by his forefathers; recognised the old oaks of Waverley- +Chace; thought with what delight he should introduce Rose to all +his favourite haunts; beheld at length the towers of the venerable +hall arise above the woods which embowered it, and finally threw +himself into the arms of the venerable relations to whom he owed +so much duty and affection! + +The happiness of their meeting was not tarnished by a single word +of reproach. On the contrary, whatever pain Sir Everard and Mrs. +Rachel had felt during Waverley's perilous engagement with the +young Chevalier, it assorted too well with the principles in which +they had been brought up to incur reprobation, or even censure. +Colonel Talbot also had smoothed the way with great address for +Edward's favourable reception by dwelling upon his gallant +behaviour in the military character, particularly his bravery and +generosity at Preston; until, warmed at the idea of their nephew's +engaging in single combat, making prisoner, and saving from +slaughter so distinguished an officer as the Colonel himself, the +imagination of the Baronet and his sister ranked the exploits of +Edward with those of Wilibert, Hildebrand, and Nigel, the vaunted +heroes of their line. + +The appearance of Waverley, embrowned by exercise and dignified by +the habits of military discipline, had acquired an athletic and +hardy character, which not only verified the Colonel's narration, +but surprised and delighted all the inhabitants of Waverley- +Honour. They crowded to see, to hear him, and to sing his praises. +Mr. Pembroke, who secretly extolled his spirit and courage in +embracing the genuine cause of the Church of England, censured his +pupil gently, nevertheless, for being so careless of his +manuscripts, which indeed, he said, had occasioned him some +personal inconvenience, as, upon the Baronet's being arrested by a +king's messenger, he had deemed it prudent to retire to a +concealment called 'The Priest's Hole,' from the use it had been +put to in former days; where, he assured our hero, the butler had +thought it safe to venture with food only once in the day, so that +he had been repeatedly compelled to dine upon victuals either +absolutely cold or, what was worse, only half warm, not to mention +that sometimes his bed had not been arranged for two days +together. Waverley's mind involuntarily turned to the Patmos of +the Baron of Bradwardine, who was well pleased with Janet's fare +and a few bunches of straw stowed in a cleft in the front of a +sand-cliff; but he made no remarks upon a contrast which could +only mortify his worthy tutor. + +All was now in a bustle to prepare for the nuptials of Edward, an +event to which the good old Baronet and Mrs. Rachel looked forward +as if to the renewal of their own youth. The match, as Colonel +Talbot had intimated, had seemed to them in the highest degree +eligible, having every recommendation but wealth, of which they +themselves had more than enough. Mr. Clippurse was therefore +summoned to Waverley-Honour, under better auspices than at the +commencement of our story. But Mr. Clippurse came not alone; for, +being now stricken in years, he had associated with him a nephew, +a younger vulture (as our English Juvenal, who tells the tale of +Swallow the attorney, might have called him), and they now carried +on business as Messrs. Clippurse and Hookem. These worthy +gentlemen had directions to make the necessary settlements on the +most splendid scale of liberality, as if Edward were to wed a +peeress in her own right, with her paternal estate tacked to the +fringe of her ermine. + +But before entering upon a subject of proverbial delay, I must +remind my reader of the progress of a stone rolled downhill by an +idle truant boy (a pastime at which I was myself expert in my more +juvenile years), it moves at first slowly, avoiding by inflection +every obstacle of the least importance; but when it has attained +its full impulse, and draws near the conclusion of its career, it +smokes and thunders down, taking a rood at every spring, clearing +hedge and ditch like a Yorkshire huntsman, and becoming most +furiously rapid in its course when it is nearest to being +consigned to rest for ever. Even such is the course of a narrative +like that which you are perusing. The earlier events are +studiously dwelt upon, that you, kind reader, may be introduced to +the character rather by narrative than by the duller medium of +direct description; but when the story draws near its close, we +hurry over the circumstances, however important, which your +imagination must have forestalled, and leave you to suppose those +things which it would be abusing your patience to relate at +length. + +We are, therefore, so far from attempting to trace the dull +progress of Messrs. Clippurse and Hookem, or that of their worthy +official brethren who had the charge of suing out the pardons of +Edward Waverley and his intended father-in-law, that we can but +touch upon matters more attractive. The mutual epistles, for +example, which were exchanged between Sir Everard and the Baron +upon this occasion, though matchless specimens of eloquence in +their way, must be consigned to merciless oblivion. Nor can I tell +you at length how worthy Aunt Rachel, not without a delicate and +affectionate allusion to the circumstances which had transferred +Rose's maternal diamonds to the hands of Donald Bean Lean, stocked +her casket with a set of jewels that a duchess might have envied. +Moreover, the reader will have the goodness to imagine that Job +Houghton and his dame were suitably provided for, although they +could never be persuaded that their son fell otherwise than +fighting by the young squire's side; so that Alick, who, as a +lover of truth, had made many needless attempts to expound the +real circumstances to them, was finally ordered to say not a word +more upon the subject. He indemnified himself, however, by the +liberal allowance of desperate battles, grisly executions, and +raw-head and bloody-bone stories with which he astonished the +servants' hall. + +But although these important matters may be briefly told in +narrative, like a newspaper report of a Chancery suit, yet, with +all the urgency which Waverley could use, the real time which the +law proceedings occupied, joined to the delay occasioned by the +mode of travelling at that period, rendered it considerably more +than two months ere Waverley, having left England, alighted once +more at the mansion of the Laird of Duchran to claim the hand of +his plighted bride. + +The day of his marriage was fixed for the sixth after his arrival. +The Baron of Bradwardine, with whom bridals, christenings, and +funerals were festivals of high and solemn import, felt a little +hurt that, including the family of the Duchran and all the +immediate vicinity who had title to be present on such an +occasion, there could not be above thirty persons collected. 'When +he was married,' he observed,'three hundred horse of gentlemen +born, besides servants, and some score or two of Highland lairds, +who never got on horseback, were present on the occasion.' + +But his pride found some consolation in reflecting that, he and +his son-in-law having been so lately in arms against government, +it might give matter of reasonable fear and offence to the ruling +powers if they were to collect together the kith, kin, and allies +of their houses, arrayed in effeir of war, as was the ancient +custom of Scotland on these occasions--'And, without dubitation,' +he concluded with a sigh, 'many of those who would have rejoiced +most freely upon these joyful espousals are either gone to a +better place or are now exiles from their native land.' + +The marriage took place on the appointed day. The Reverend Mr. +Rubrick, kinsman to the proprietor of the hospitable mansion where +it was solemnised, and chaplain to the Baron of Bradwardine, had +the satisfaction to unite their hands; and Frank Stanley acted as +bridesman, having joined Edward with that view soon after his +arrival. Lady Emily and Colonel Talbot had proposed being present; +but Lady Emily's health, when the day approached, was found +inadequate to the journey. In amends it was arranged that Edward +Waverley and his lady, who, with the Baron, proposed an immediate +journey to Waverley-Honour, should in their way spend a few days +at an estate which Colonel Talbot had been tempted to purchase in +Scotland as a very great bargain, and at which he proposed to +reside for some time. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI + + This is no mine ain house, I ken by the bigging o't + + Old Song. + + +The nuptial party travelled in great style. There was a coach and +six after the newest pattern, which Sir Everard had presented to +his nephew, that dazzled with its splendour the eyes of one half +of Scotland; there was the family coach of Mr. Rubrick;--both +these were crowded with ladies,--and there were gentlemen on +horseback, with their servants, to the number of a round score. +Nevertheless, without having the fear of famine before his eyes, +Bailie Macwheeble met them in the road to entreat that they would +pass by his house at Little Veolan. The Baron stared, and said his +son and he would certainly ride by Little Veolan and pay their +compliments to the Bailie, but could not think of bringing with +them the 'haill comitatus nuptialis, or matrimonial procession.' +He added, 'that, as he understood that the barony had been sold by +its unworthy possessor, he was glad to see his old friend Duncan +had regained his situation under the new Dominus, or proprietor.' +The Bailie ducked, bowed, and fidgeted, and then again insisted +upon his invitation; until the Baron, though rather piqued at the +pertinacity of his instances, could not nevertheless refuse to +consent without making evident sensations which he was anxious to +conceal. + +He fell into a deep study as they approached the top of the +avenue, and was only startled from it by observing that the +battlements were replaced, the ruins cleared away, and (most +wonderful of all) that the two great stone bears, those mutilated +Dagons of his idolatry, had resumed their posts over the gateway. +'Now this new proprietor,' said he to Edward, 'has shown mair +gusto, as the Italians call it, in the short time he has had this +domain, than that hound Malcolm, though I bred him here mysell, +has acquired vita adhuc durante. And now I talk of hounds, is not +yon Ban and Buscar who come scouping up the avenue with Davie +Gellatley?' + +'I vote we should go to meet them, sir,' said Waverley, 'for I +believe the present master of the house is Colonel Talbot, who +will expect to see us. We hesitated to mention to you at first +that he had purchased your ancient patrimonial property, and even +yet, if you do not incline to visit him, we can pass on to the +Bailie's.' + +The Baron had occasion for all his magnanimity. However, he drew a +long breath, took a long snuff, and observed, since they had +brought him so far, he could not pass the Colonel's gate, and he +would be happy to see the new master of his old tenants. He +alighted accordingly, as did the other gentlemen and ladies; he +gave his arm to his daughter, and as they descended the avenue +pointed out to her how speedily the 'Diva Pecunia of the Southron +--their tutelary deity, he might call her--had removed the marks of +spoliation.' + +In truth, not only had the felled trees been removed, but, their +stumps being grubbed up and the earth round them levelled and sown +with grass, every mark of devastation, unless to an eye intimately +acquainted with the spot, was already totally obliterated. There +was a similar reformation in the outward man of Davie Gellatley, +who met them, every now and then stopping to admire the new suit +which graced his person, in the same colours as formerly, but +bedizened fine enough to have served Touchstone himself. He danced +up with his usual ungainly frolics, first to the Baron and then to +Rose, passing his hands over his clothes, crying, 'Bra', bra' +Davie,' and scarce able to sing a bar to an end of his thousand- +and-one songs for the breathless extravagance of his joy. The dogs +also acknowledged their old master with a thousand gambols. 'Upon +my conscience, Rose,' ejaculated the Baron, 'the gratitude o' thae +dumb brutes and of that puir innocent brings the tears into my +auld een, while that schellum Malcolm--but I'm obliged to Colonel +Talbot for putting my hounds into such good condition, and +likewise for puir Davie. But, Rose, my dear, we must not permit +them to be a life-rent burden upon the estate.' + +As he spoke, Lady Emily, leaning upon the arm of her husband, met +the party at the lower gate with a thousand welcomes. After the +ceremony of introduction had been gone through, much abridged by +the ease and excellent breeding of Lady Emily, she apologised for +having used a little art to wile them back to a place which might +awaken some painful reflections--'But as it was to change masters, +we were very desirous that the Baron--' + +'Mr. Bradwardine, madam, if you please,' said the old gentleman. + +'--Mr. Bradwardine, then, and Mr. Waverley should see what we have +done towards restoring the mansion of your fathers to its former +state.' + +The Baron answered with a low bow. Indeed, when he entered the +court, excepting that the heavy stables, which had been burnt +down, were replaced by buildings of a lighter and more picturesque +appearance, all seemed as much as possible restored to the state +in which he had left it when he assumed arms some months before. +The pigeon-house was replenished; the fountain played with its +usual activity, and not only the bear who predominated over its +basin, but all the other bears whatsoever, were replaced on their +several stations, and renewed or repaired with so much care that +they bore no tokens of the violence which had so lately descended +upon them. While these minutiae had been so needfully attended to, +it is scarce necessary to add that the house itself had been +thoroughly repaired, as well as the gardens, with the strictest +attention to maintain the original character of both, and to +remove as far as possible all appearance of the ravage they had +sustained. The Baron gazed in silent wonder; at length he +addressed Colonel Talbot-- + +'While I acknowledge my obligation to you, sir, for the +restoration of the badge of our family, I cannot but marvel that +you have nowhere established your own crest, whilk is, I believe, +a mastiff, anciently called a talbot; as the poet has it, + + A talbot strong, a sturdy tyke. + +At least such a dog is the crest of the martial and renowned Earls +of Shrewsbury, to whom your family are probably blood-relations.' + +'I believe,' said the Colonel, smiling, 'our dogs are whelps of +the same litter; for my part, if crests were to dispute +precedence, I should be apt to let them, as the proverb says, +"fight dog, fight bear."' + +As he made this speech, at which the Baron took another long pinch +of snuff, they had entered the house, that is, the Baron, Rose, +and Lady Emily, with young Stanley and the Bailie, for Edward and +the rest of the party remained on the terrace to examine a new +greenhouse stocked with the finest plants. The Baron resumed his +favourite topic--'However it may please you to derogate from the +honour of your burgonet, Colonel Talbot, which is doubtless your +humour, as I have seen in other gentlemen of birth and honour in +your country, I must again repeat it as a most ancient and +distinguished bearing, as well as that of my young friend Francis +Stanley, which is the eagle and child.' + +'The bird and bantling they call it in Derbyshire, sir,' said +Stanley. + +'Ye're a daft callant, sir,' said the Baron, who had a great +liking to this young man, perhaps because he sometimes teased him +--'Ye're a daft callant, and I must correct you some of these +days,' shaking his great brown fist at him. 'But what I meant to +say, Colonel Talbot, is, that yours is an ancient prosapia, or +descent, and since you have lawfully and justly acquired the +estate for you and yours which I have lost for me and mine, I wish +it may remain in your name as many centuries as it has done in +that of the late proprietor's.' + +'That,' answered the Colonel, 'is very handsome, Mr. Bradwardine, +indeed.' + +'And yet, sir, I cannot but marvel that you, Colonel, whom I noted +to have so much of the amor patritz when we met in Edinburgh as +even to vilipend other countries, should have chosen to establish +your Lares, or household gods, procul a patrice finibus, and in a +manner to expatriate yourself.' + +'Why really, Baron, I do not see why, to keep the secret of these +foolish boys, Waverley and Stanley, and of my wife, who is no +wiser, one old soldier should continue to impose upon another. You +must know, then, that I have so much of that same prejudice in +favour of my native country, that the sum of money which I +advanced to the seller of this extensive barony has only purchased +for me a box in----shire, called Brere-wood Lodge, with about +two hundred and fifty acres of land, the chief merit of which is, +that it is within a very few miles of Waverley-Honour.' + +'And who, then, in the name of Heaven, has bought this property?' + +'That,' said the Colonel, 'it is this gentleman's profession to +explain.' + +The Bailie, whom this reference regarded, and who had all this +while shifted from one foot to another with great impatience, +'like a hen,' as he afterwards said, 'upon a het girdle'; and +chuckling, he might have added, like the said hen in all the glory +of laying an egg, now pushed forward. 'That I can, that I can, +your honour,' drawing from his pocket a budget of papers, and +untying the red tape with a hand trembling with eagerness. 'Here +is the disposition and assignation by Malcolm Bradwardine of Inch- +Grabbit, regularly signed and tested in terms of the statute, +whereby, for a certain sum of sterling money presently contented +and paid to him, he has disponed, alienated, and conveyed the +whole estate and barony of Bradwardine, Tully-Veolan, and others, +with the fortalice and manor-place--' + +'For God's sake, to the point, sir; I have all that by heart,' +said the Colonel. + +'--To Cosmo Comyne Bradwardme, Esq.,' pursued the Bailie, 'his +heirs and assignees, simply and irredeemably, to be held either a +me vel de me--' + +'Pray read short, sir.' + +'On the conscience of an honest man, Colonel, I read as short as +is consistent with style--under the burden and reservation always--' + +'Mr. Macwheeble, this would outlast a Russian winter; give me +leave. In short, Mr. Bradwardine, your family estate is your own +once more in full property, and at your absolute disposal, but +only burdened with the sum advanced to re-purchase it, which I +understand is utterly disproportioned to its value.' + +'An auld sang--an auld sang, if it please your honours,' cried the +Bailie, rubbing his hands; 'look at the rental book.' + +'--Which sum being advanced, by Mr. Edward Waverley, chiefly from +the price of his father's property which I bought from him, is +secured to his lady your daughter and her family by this +marriage.' + +'It is a catholic security,' shouted the Bailie,' to Rose Comyne +Bradwardine, alias Wauverley, in life-rent, and the children of +the said marriage in fee; and I made up a wee bit minute of an +antenuptial contract, intuitu matrimonij, so it cannot be subject +to reduction hereafter, as a donation inter virum et uxorem.' + +It is difficult to say whether the worthy Baron was most delighted +with the restitution of his family property or with the delicacy +and generosity that left him unfettered to pursue his purpose in +disposing of it after his death, and which avoided as much as +possible even the appearance of laying him under pecuniary +obligation. When his first pause of joy and astonishment was over, +his thoughts turned to the unworthy heir-male, who, he pronounced, +had sold his birthright, like Esau, for a mess o' pottage. + +'But wha cookit the parritch for him?' exclaimed the Bailie; 'I +wad like to ken that;--wha but your honour's to command, Duncan +Macwheeble? His honour, young Mr. Wauverley, put it a' into my +hand frae the beginning--frae the first calling o' the summons, as +I may say. I circumvented them--I played at bogle about the bush +wi' them--I cajolled them; and if I havena gien Inch-Grabbit and +Jamie Howie a bonnie begunk, they ken themselves. Him a writer! I +didna gae slapdash to them wi' our young bra' bridegroom, to gar +them baud up the market. Na, na; I scared them wi' our wild +tenantry, and the Mac-Ivors, that are but ill settled yet, till +they durstna on ony errand whatsoever gang ower the doorstane +after gloaming, for fear John Heatherblutter, or some siccan dare- +the-deil, should tak a baff at them; then, on the other hand, I +beflummed them wi' Colonel Talbot; wad they offer to keep up the +price again' the Duke's friend? did they na ken wha was master? +had they na seen eneugh, by the sad example of mony a puir +misguided unhappy body--' + +'Who went to Derby, for example, Mr. Macwheeble?' said the Colonel +to him aside. + +'O whisht, Colonel, for the love o' God! let that flee stick i' +the wa'. There were mony good folk at Derby; and it's ill speaking +of halters'--with a sly cast of his eye toward the Baron, who was +in a deep reverie. + +Starting out of it at once, he took Macwheeble by the button and +led him into one of the deep window recesses, whence only +fragments of their conversation reached the rest of the party. It +certainly related to stamp-paper and parchment; for no other +subject, even from the mouth of his patron, and he once more an +efficient one, could have arrested so deeply the Bailie's reverent +and absorbed attention. + +'I understand your honour perfectly; it can be dune as easy as +taking out a decreet in absence.' + +'To her and him, after my demise, and to their heirs-male, but +preferring the second son, if God shall bless them with two, who +is to carry the name and arms of Bradwardine of that ilk, without +any other name or armorial bearings whatsoever.' + +'Tut, your honour!' whispered the Bailie, 'I'll mak a slight +jotting the morn; it will cost but a charter of resignation in +favorem; and I'll hae it ready for the next term in Exchequer.' + +Their private conversation ended, the Baron was now summoned to do +the honours of Tully-Veolan to new guests. These were Major +Melville of Cairnvreckan and the Reverend Mr. Morton, followed by +two or three others of the Baron's acquaintances, who had been +made privy to his having again acquired the estate of his fathers. +The shouts of the villagers were also heard beneath in the court- +yard; for Saunders Saunderson, who had kept the secret for several +days with laudable prudence, had unloosed his tongue upon +beholding the arrival of the carriages. + +But, while Edward received Major Melville with politeness and the +clergyman with the most affectionate and grateful kindness, his +father-in-law looked a little awkward, as uncertain how he should +answer the necessary claims of hospitality to his guests, and +forward the festivity of his tenants. Lady Emily relieved him by +intimating that, though she must be an indifferent representative +of Mrs. Edward Waverley in many respects, she hoped the Baron +would approve of the entertainment she had ordered in expectation +of so many guests; and that they would find such other +accommodations provided as might in some degree support the +ancient hospitality of Tully-Veolan. It is impossible to describe +the pleasure which this assurance gave the Baron, who, with an air +of gallantry half appertaining to the stiff Scottish laird and +half to the officer in the French service, offered his arm to the +fair speaker, and led the way, in something between a stride and a +minuet step, into the large dining parlour, followed by all the +rest of the good company. + +By dint of Saunderson's directions and exertions, all here, as +well as in the other apartments, had been disposed as much as +possible according to the old arrangement; and where new movables +had been necessary, they had been selected in the same character +with the old furniture. There was one addition to this fine old +apartment, however, which drew tears into the Baron's eyes. It was +a large and spirited painting, representing Fergus Mac-Ivor and +Waverley in their Highland dress, the scene a wild, rocky, and +mountainous pass, down which the clan were descending in the +background. It was taken from a spirited sketch, drawn while they +were in Edinburgh by a young man of high genius, and had been +painted on a full-length scale by an eminent London artist. +Raeburn himself (whose 'Highland Chiefs' do all but walk out of +the canvas) could not have done more justice to the subject; and +the ardent, fiery, and impetuous character of the unfortunate +Chief of Glennaquoich was finely contrasted with the +contemplative, fanciful, and enthusiastic expression of his +happier friend. Beside this painting hung the arms which Waverley +had borne in the unfortunate civil war. The whole piece was beheld +with admiration and deeper feelings. + +Men must, however, eat, in spite both of sentiment and vertu; and +the Baron, while he assumed the lower end of the table, insisted +that Lady Emily should do the honours of the head, that they +might, he said, set a meet example to the YOUNG FOLK. After a +pause of deliberation, employed in adjusting in his own brain the +precedence between the Presbyterian kirk and Episcopal church of +Scotland, he requested Mr. Morton, as the stranger, would crave a +blessing, observing that Mr. Rubrick, who was at HOME, would +return thanks for the distinguished mercies it had been his lot to +experience. The dinner was excellent. Saunderson attended in full +costume, with all the former domestics, who had been collected, +excepting one or two, that had not been heard of since the affair +of Culloden. The cellars were stocked with wine which was +pronounced to be superb, and it had been contrived that the Bear +of the Fountain, in the courtyard, should (for that night only) +play excellent brandy punch for the benefit of the lower orders. + +When the dinner was over the Baron, about to propose a toast, cast +a somewhat sorrowful look upon the sideboard, which, however, +exhibited much of his plate, that had either been secreted or +purchased by neighbouring gentlemen from the soldiery, and by them +gladly restored to the original owner. + +"In the late times," he said, "those must be thankful who have +saved life and land; yet when I am about to pronounce this toast, +I cannot but regret an old heirloom, Lady Emily, a POCULUM +POTATORIUM, Colonel Talbot--" + +Here the Baron's elbow was gently touched by his major-domo, and, +turning round, he beheld in the hands of Alexander ab Alexandro +the celebrated cup of Saint Duthac, the Blessed Bear of +Bradwardine! I question if the recovery of his estate afforded him +more rapture. "By my honour," he said, "one might almost believe +in brownies and fairies, Lady Emily, when your ladyship is in +presence!" + +"I am truly happy," said Colonel Talbot, "that, by the recovery of +this piece of family antiquity, it has fallen within my power to +give you some token of my deep interest in all that concerns my +young friend Edward. But that you may not suspect Lady Emily for a +sorceress, or me for a conjuror, which is no joke in Scotland, I +must tell you that Frank Stanley, your friend, who has been seized +with a tartan fever ever since he heard Edward's tales of old +Scottish manners, happened to describe to us at second-hand this +remarkable cup. My servant, Spontoon, who, like a true old +soldier, observes everything and says little, gave me afterwards +to understand that he thought he had seen the piece of plate Mr. +Stanley mentioned in the possession of a certain Mrs. Nosebag, +who, having been originally the helpmate of a pawnbroker, had +found opportunity during the late unpleasant scenes in Scotland to +trade a little in her old line, and so became the depositary of +the more valuable part of the spoil of half the army. You may +believe the cup was speedily recovered; and it will give me very +great pleasure if you allow me to suppose that its value is not +diminished by having been restored through my means." + +A tear mingled with the wine which the Baron filled, as he +proposed a cup of gratitude to Colonel Talbot, and 'The Prosperity +of the united Houses of Waverley-Honour and Bradwardine!' + +It only remains for me to say that, as no wish was ever uttered +with more affectionate sincerity, there are few which, allowing +for the necessary mutability of human events, have been upon the +whole more happily fulfilled. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXXII + +A POSTSCRIPT WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PREFACE + + +Our journey is now finished, gentle reader; and if your patience +has accompanied me through these sheets, the contract is, on your +part, strictly fulfilled. Yet, like the driver who has received +his full hire, I still linger near you, and make, with becoming +diffidence, a trifling additional claim upon your bounty and good +nature. You are as free, however, to shut the volume of the one +petitioner as to close your door in the face of the other. + +This should have been a prefatory chapter, but for two reasons: +First, that most novel readers, as my own conscience reminds me, +are apt to be guilty of the sin of omission respecting that same +matter of prefaces; Secondly, that it is a general custom with +that class of students to begin with the last chapter of a work; +so that, after all, these remarks, being introduced last in order, +have still the best chance to be read in their proper place. + +There is no European nation which, within the course of half a +century or little more, has undergone so complete a change as this +kingdom of Scotland. The effects of the insurrection of 1745,--the +destruction of the patriarchal power of the Highland chiefs,--the +abolition of the heritable jurisdictions of the Lowland nobility +and barons,--the total eradication of the Jacobite party, which, +averse to intermingle with the English, or adopt their customs, +long continued to pride themselves upon maintaining ancient +Scottish manners and customs,--commenced this innovation. The +gradual influx of wealth and extension of commerce have since +united to render the present people of Scotland a class of beings +as different from their grandfathers as the existing English are +from those of Queen Elizabeth's time. + +The political and economical effects of these changes have been +traced by Lord Selkirk with great precision and accuracy. But the +change, though steadily and rapidly progressive, has nevertheless +been gradual; and, like those who drift down the stream of a deep +and smooth river, we are not aware of the progress we have made +until we fix our eye on the now distant point from which we have +been drifted. Such of the present generation as can recollect the +last twenty or twenty-five years of the eighteenth century will be +fully sensible of the truth of this statement; especially if their +acquaintance and connexions lay among those who in my younger time +were facetiously called 'folks of the old leaven,' who still +cherished a lingering, though hopeless, attachment to the house of +Stuart. + +This race has now almost entirely vanished from the land, and with +it, doubtless, much absurd political prejudice; but also many +living examples of singular and disinterested attachment to the +principles of loyalty which they received from their fathers, and +of old Scottish faith, hospitality, worth, and honour. + +It was my accidental lot, though not born a Highlander (which may +be an apology for much bad Gaelic), to reside during my childhood +and youth among persons of the above description; and now, for the +purpose of preserving some idea of the ancient manners of which I +have witnessed the almost total extinction, I have embodied in +imaginary scenes, and ascribed to fictitious characters, a part of +the incidents which I then received from those who were actors in +them. Indeed, the most romantic parts of this narrative are +precisely those which have a foundation in fact. + +The exchange of mutual protection between a Highland gentleman and +an officer of rank in the king's service, together with the +spirited manner in which the latter asserted his right to return +the favour he had received, is literally true. The accident by a +musket shot, and the heroic reply imputed to Flora, relate to a +lady of rank not long deceased. And scarce a gentleman who was 'in +hiding' after the battle of Culloden but could tell a tale of +strange concealments and of wild and hair'sbreadth'scapes as +extraordinary as any which I have ascribed to my heroes. Of this, +the escape of Charles Edward himself, as the most prominent, is +the most striking example. The accounts of the battle of Preston +and skirmish at Clifton are taken from the narrative of +intelligent eye-witnesses, and corrected from the 'History of the +Rebellion' by the late venerable author of 'Douglas.' The Lowland +Scottish gentlemen and the subordinate characters are not given as +individual portraits, but are drawn from the general habits of the +period, of which I have witnessed some remnants in my younger +days, and partly gathered from tradition. + +It has been my object to describe these persons, not by a +caricatured and exaggerated use of the national dialect, but by +their habits, manners, and feelings, so as in some distant degree +to emulate the admirable Irish portraits drawn by Miss Edgeworth, +so different from the 'Teagues' and 'dear joys' who so long, with +the most perfect family resemblance to each other, occupied the +drama and the novel. + +I feel no confidence, however, in the manner in which I have +executed my purpose. Indeed, so little was I satisfied with my +production, that I laid it aside in an unfinished state, and only +found it again by mere accident among other waste papers in an old +cabinet, the drawers of which I was rummaging in order to +accommodate a friend with some fishing-tackle, after it had been +mislaid for several years. + +Two works upon similar subjects, by female authors whose genius is +highly creditable to their country, have appeared in the interval; +I mean Mrs. Hamilton's 'Glenburnie' and the late account of +'Highland Superstitions.' But the first is confined to the rural +habits of Scotland, of which it has given a picture with striking +and impressive fidelity; and the traditional records of the +respectable and ingenious Mrs. Grant of Laggan are of a nature +distinct from the fictitious narrative which I have here +attempted. + +I would willingly persuade myself that the preceding work will not +be found altogether uninteresting. To elder persons it will recall +scenes and characters familiar to their youth; and to the rising +generation the tale may present some idea of the manners of their +forefathers. + +Yet I heartily wish that the task of tracing the evanescent +manners of his own country had employed the pen of the only man in +Scotland who could have done it justice--of him so eminently +distinguished in elegant literature, and whose sketches of Colonel +Caustic and Umphraville are perfectly blended with the finer +traits of national character. I should in that case have had more +pleasure as a reader than I shall ever feel in the pride of a +successful author, should these sheets confer upon me that envied +distinction. And, as I have inverted the usual arrangement, +placing these remarks at the end of the work to which they refer, +I will venture on a second violation of form, by closing the whole +with a Dedication-- + +THESE VOLUMES BEING RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO OUR SCOTTISH +ADDISON, HENRY MACKENZIE, BY AN UNKNOWN ADMIRER OF HIS GENIUS. + + + + + +THE END + + + + + +NOTES + + +NOTE I, p. 19 + +The clan of Mac-Farlane, occupying the fastnesses of the western +side of Loch Lomond, were great depredators on the Low Country, +and as their excursions were made usually by night, the moon was +proverbially called their lantern. Their celebrated pibroch of +Hoggil nam Bo, which is the name of their gathering tune, +intimates similar practices, the sense being:-- + + We are bound to drive the bullocks, + All by hollows, hirsts, and hillocks, + Through the sleet, and through the rain. + When the moon is beaming low + On frozen lake and hills of snow, + Bold and heartily we go; + And all for little gain. + +NOTE 2, p. 22 + +This noble ruin is dear to my recollection, from associations +which have been long and painfully broken. It holds a commanding +station on the banks of the river Teith, and has been one of the +largest castles in Scotland. Murdoch, Duke of Albany, the founder +of this stately pile, was beheaded on the Castle-hill of Stirling, +from which he might see the towers of Doune, the monument of his +fallen greatness. + +In 1745-46, as stated in the text, a garrison on the part of the +Chevalier was put into the castle, then less ruinous than at +present. It was commanded by Mr. Stewart of Balloch, as governor +for Prince Charles; he was a man of property near Callander. This +castle became at that time the actual scene of a romantic escape +made by John Home, the author of Douglas, and some other +prisoners, who, having been taken at the battle of Falkirk, were +confined there by the insurgents. The poet, who had in his own +mind a large stock of that romantic and enthusiastic spirit of +adventure which he has described as animating the youthful hero of +his drama, devised and undertook the perilous enterprise of +escaping from his prison. He inspired his companions with his +sentiments, and when every attempt at open force was deemed +hopeless, they resolved to twist their bed-clothes into ropes and +thus to descend. Four persons, with Home himself, reached the +ground in safety. But the rope broke with the fifth, who was a +tall, lusty man. The sixth was Thomas Barrow, a brave young +Englishman, a particular friend of Home's. Determined to take the +risk, even in such unfavourable circumstances, Barrow committed +himself to the broken rope, slid down on it as far as it could +assist him, and then let himself drop. His friends beneath +succeeded in breaking his fall. Nevertheless, he dislocated his +ankle and had several of his ribs broken. His companions, however, +were able to bear him off in safety. + +The Highlanders next morning sought for their prisoners with great +activity. An old gentleman told the author he remembered seeing +the commandant Stewart + + Bloody with spurring, fiery red with haste, + +riding furiously through the country in quest of the fugitives. + +NOTE 3, p. 28 + +To go out, or to have been out, in Scotland was a conventional +phrase similar to that of the Irish respecting a man having been +up, both having reference to an individual who had been engaged in +insurrection. It was accounted ill-breeding in Scotland about +forty years since to use the phrase rebellion or rebel, which +might be interpreted by some of the parties present as a personal +insult. It was also esteemed more polite, even for stanch Whigs, +to denominate Charles Edward the Chevalier than to speak of him as +the Pretender; and this kind of accommodating courtesy was usually +observed in society where individuals of each party mixed on +friendly terms. + +NOTE 4, p. 38 + +The Jacobite sentiments were general among the western counties +and in Wales. But although the great families of the Wynnes, the +Wyndhams, and others had come under an actual obligation to join +Prince Charles if he should land, they had done so under the +express stipulation that he should be assisted by an auxiliary +army of French, without which they foresaw the enterprise would be +desperate. Wishing well to his cause, therefore, and watching an +opportunity to join him, they did not, nevertheless, think +themselves bound in honour to do so, as he was only supported by a +body of wild mountaineers, speaking an uncouth dialect, and +wearing a singular dress. The race up to Derby struck them with +more dread than admiration. But it is difficult to say what the +effect might have been had either the battle of Preston or Falkirk +been fought and won during the advance into England. + +NOTE 5, p. 43 + +Divisions early showed themselves in the Chevalier's little army, +not only amongst the independent chieftains, who were far too +proud to brook subjection to each other, but betwixt the Scotch +and Charles's governor O'Sullivan, an Irishman by birth, who, with +some of his countrymen bred in the Irish Brigade in the service of +the King of France, had an influence with the Adventurer much +resented by the Highlanders, who were sensible that their own +clans made the chief or rather the only strength of his +enterprise. There was a feud, also, between Lord George Murray and +John Murray of Broughton, the Prince's secretary, whose disunion +greatly embarrassed the affairs of the Adventurer. In general, a +thousand different pretensions divided their little army, and +finally contributed in no small degree to its overthrow. + +NOTE 6, p. 78 + +This circumstance, which is historical, as well as the description +that precedes it, will remind the reader of the war of La Vendee, +in which the royalists, consisting chiefly of insurgent peasantry, +attached a prodigious and even superstitious interest to the +possession of a piece of brass ordnance, which they called Marie +Jeanne. + +The Highlanders of an early period were afraid of cannon, with the +noise and effect of which they were totally unacquainted. It was +by means of three or four small pieces of artillery that the Earls +of Huntly and Errol, in James VI's time, gained a great victory at +Glenlivat, over a numerous Highland army, commanded by the Earl of +Argyle. At the battle of the Bridge of Dee, General Middleton +obtained by his artillery a similar success, the Highlanders not +being able to stand the discharge of Musket's Mother, which was +the name they bestowed on great guns. In an old ballad on the +battle of the Bridge of Dee these verses occur:-- + + The Highlandmen are pretty men + For handling sword and shield, + But yet they are but simple men + To stand a stricken field. + + The Highlandmen are pretty men + For target and claymore, + But yet they are but naked men + To face the cannon's roar. + + For the cannons roar on a summer night + Like thunder in the air; + Was never man in Highland garb + Would face the cannon fair + +But the Highlanders of 1745 had got far beyond the simplicity of +their forefathers, and showed throughout the whole war how little +they dreaded artillery, although the common people still attached +some consequence to the possession of the field-piece which led to +this disquisition. + +NOTE 7, p. 93 + +The faithful friend who pointed out the pass by which the +Highlanders moved from Tranent to Seaton was Robert Anderson, +junior, of Whitburgh, a gentleman of property in East Lothian. He +had been interrogated by the Lord George Murray concerning the +possibility of crossing the uncouth and marshy piece of ground +which divided the armies, and which he described as impracticable. +When dismissed, he recollected that there was a circuitous path +leading eastward through the marsh into the plain, by which the +Highlanders might turn the flank of Sir John Cope's position +without being exposed to the enemy's fire. Having mentioned his +opinion to Mr. Hepburn of Keith, who instantly saw its importance, +he was encouraged by that gentleman to awake Lord George Murray +and communicate the idea to him. Lord George received the +information with grateful thanks, and instantly awakened Prince +Charles, who was sleeping in the field with a bunch of pease under +his head. The Adventurer received with alacrity the news that +there was a possibility of bringing an excellently provided army +to a decisive battle with his own irregular forces. His joy on the +occasion was not very consistent with the charge of cowardice +brought against him by Chevalier Johnstone, a discontented +follower, whose Memoirs possess at least as much of a romantic as +a historical character. Even by the account of the Chevalier +himself, the Prince was at the head of the second line of the +Highland army during the battle, of which he says, 'It was gained +with such rapidity that in the second line, where I was still by +the side of the Prince, we saw no other enemy than those who were +lying on the ground killed and wounded, though we were not more +than fifty paces behind our first line, running always as fast as +we could to overtake them.' + +This passage in the Chevalier's Memoirs places the Prince within +fifty paces of the heat of the battle, a position which would +never have been the choice of one unwilling to take a share of its +dangers. Indeed, unless the chiefs had complied with the young +Adventurer's proposal to lead the van in person, it does not +appear that he could have been deeper in the action. + +NOTE 8, p. 100 + +The death of this good Christian and gallant man is thus given by +his affectionate biographer, Doctor Doddridge, from the evidence +of eye-witnesses:-- + +'He continued all night under arms, wrapped up in his cloak, and +generally sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in +the field. About three in the morning he called his domestic +servants to him, of which there were four in waiting. He dismissed +three of them with most affectionate Christian advice, and such +solemn charges relating to the performance of their duty, and the +care of their souls, as seemed plainly to intimate that he +apprehended it was at least very probable he was taking his last +farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent +the little remainder of the time, which could not be much above an +hour, in those devout exercises of soul which had been so long +habitual to him, and to which so many circumstances did then +concur to call him. The army was alarmed by break of day by the +noise of the rebels' approach, and the attack was made before +sunrise, yet when it was light enough to discern what passed. As +soon as the enemy came within gun-shot they made a furious fire; +and it is said that the dragoons which constituted the left wing +immediately fled. The Colonel at the beginning of the onset, which +in the whole lasted but a few minutes, received a wound by a +bullet in his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in +his saddle; upon which his servant, who led the horse, would have +persuaded him to retreat, but he said it was only a wound in the +flesh, and fought on, though he presently after received a shot in +his right thigh. In the mean time, it was discerned that some of +the enemy fell by him, and particularly one man who had made him a +treacherous visit but a few days before, with great professions of +zeal for the present establishment. + +'Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of +them can be written, or than it can be read. The Colonel was for a +few moments supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy +person Lieutenant-Colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm +here, and a few months after fell nobly at the battle of Falkirk, +and by Lieutenant West, a man of distinguished bravery, as also by +about fifteen dragoons, who stood by him to the last. But after a +faint fire, the regiment in general was seized with a panic; and +though their Colonel and some other gallant officers did what they +could to rally them once or twice, they at last took a precipitate +flight. And just in the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be +making a pause to deliberate what duty required him to do in such +circumstances, an accident happened, which must, I think, in the +judgment of every worthy and generous man, be allowed a sufficient +apology for exposing his life to so great hazard, when his +regiment had left him. He saw a party of the foot, who were then +bravely fighting near him, and whom he was ordered to support, had +no officer to head them; upon which he said eagerly, in the +hearing of the person from whom I had this account, "These brave +fellows will be cut to pieces for want of a commander," or words +to that effect; which while he was speaking he rode up to them and +cried out, "Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing." But just as the +words were out of his mouth, a Highlander advanced towards him +with a scythe fastened to a long pole, with which he gave him so +dreadful a wound on his right arm, that his sword dropped out of +his hand; and at the same time several others coming about him +while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that cruel weapon, he +was dragged off from his horse. The moment he fell, another +Highlander, who, if the king's evidence at Carlisle may be +credited (as I know not why they should not, though the unhappy +creature died denying it), was one Mac-Naught, who was executed +about a year after, gave him a stroke either with a broadsword or +a Lochaber-axe (for my informant could not exactly distinguish) on +the hinder part of his head, which was the mortal blow. All that +his faithful attendant saw farther at this time was that, as his +hat was fallen off, he took it in his left hand and waved it as a +signal to him to retreat, and added, what were the last words he +ever heard him speak, "Take care of yourself"; upon which the +servant retired.'--Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of Colonel +James Gardiner. By P. Doddridge, D.D. London, 1747, P.187. + +I may remark on this extract, that it confirms the account given +in the text of the resistance offered by some of the English +infantry. Surprised by a force of a peculiar and unusual +description, their opposition could not be long or formidable, +especially as they were deserted by the cavalry, and those who +undertook to manage the artillery. But, although the affair was +soon decided, I have always understood that many of the infantry +showed an inclination to do their duty. + +NOTE 9, p. 101 + +It is scarcely necessary to say that the character of this brutal +young Laird is entirely imaginary. A gentleman, however, who +resembled Balmawhapple in the article of courage only, fell at +Preston in the manner described. A Perthshire gentleman of high +honour and respectability, one of the handful of cavalry who +followed the fortunes of Charles Edward, pursued the fugitive +dragoons almost alone till near Saint Clement's Wells, where the +efforts of some of the officers had prevailed on a few of them to +make a momentary stand. Perceiving at this moment that they were +pursued by only one man and a couple of servants, they turned upon +him and cut him down with their swords. I remember when a child, +sitting on his grave, where the grass long grew rank and green, +distinguishing it from the rest of the field. A female of the +family then residing at Saint Clement's Wells used to tell me the +tragedy, of which she had been an eye-witness, and showed me in +evidence one of the silver clasps of the unfortunate gentleman's +waistcoat. + +NOTE 10, p. 118 + +The name of Andrea de Ferrara is inscribed on all the Scottish +broadswords which are accounted of peculiar excellence. Who this +artist was, what were his fortunes, and when he flourished, have +hitherto defied the research of antiquaries; only it is in general +believed that Andrea de Ferrara was a Spanish or Italian +artificer, brought over by James IV or V to instruct the Scots in +the manufacture of sword blades. Most barbarous nations excel in +the fabrication of arms; and the Scots had attained great +proficiency in forging swords so early as the field of Pinkie; at +which period the historian Patten describes them as 'all notably +broad and thin, universally made to slice, and of such exceeding +good temper that, as I never saw any so good, so I think it hard +to devise better.'--Account of Somerset's Expedition. + +It may be observed that the best and most genuine Andrea Ferraras +have a crown marked on the blade. + +NOTE 11, p. 124 + +The incident here said to have happened to Flora Mac-Ivor actually +befell Miss Nairne, a lady with whom the author had the pleasure +of being acquainted. As the Highland army rushed into Edinburgh, +Miss Nairne, like other ladies who approved of their cause, stood +waving her handkerchief from a balcony, when a ball from a +Highlander's musket, which was discharged by accident, grazed her +forehead. 'Thank God,' said she, the instant she recovered,'that +the accident happened to me, whose principles are known. Had it +befallen a Whig, they would have said it was done on purpose.' + +NOTE 12, p. 185 + +The Author of Waverley has been charged with painting the young +Adventurer in colours more amiable than his character deserved. +But having known many individuals who were near his person, he has +been described according to the light in which those eye-witnesses +saw his temper and qualifications. Something must be allowed, no +doubt, to the natural exaggerations of those who remembered him as +the bold and adventurous Prince in whose cause they had braved +death and ruin; but is their evidence to give place entirely to +that of a single malcontent? + +I have already noticed the imputations thrown by the Chevalier +Johnstone on the Prince's courage. But some part at least of that +gentleman's tale is purely romantic. It would not, for instance, +be supposed that at the time he is favouring us with the highly +wrought account of his amour with the adorable Peggie, the +Chevalier Johnstone was a married man, whose grandchild is now +alive; or that the whole circumstantial story concerning the +outrageous vengeance taken by Gordon of Abbachie on a Presbyterian +clergyman is entirely apocryphal. At the same time it may be +admitted that the Prince, like others of his family, did not +esteem the services done him by his adherents so highly as he +ought. Educated in high ideas of his hereditary right, he has been +supposed to have held every exertion and sacrifice made in his +cause as too much the duty of the person making it to merit +extravagant gratitude on his part. Dr. King's evidence (which his +leaving the Jacobite interest renders somewhat doubtful) goes to +strengthen this opinion. + +The ingenious editor of Johnstone's Memoirs has quoted a story +said to be told by Helvetius, stating that Prince Charles Edward, +far from voluntarily embarking on his daring expedition, was, +literally bound hand and foot, and to which he seems disposed to +yield credit. Now, it being a fact as well known as any in his +history, and, so far as I know, entirely undisputed, that the +Prince's personal entreaties and urgency positively forced +Boisdale and Lochiel into insurrection, when they were earnestly +desirous that he would put off his attempt until he could obtain a +sufficient force from France, it will be very difficult to +reconcile his alleged reluctance to undertake the expedition with +his desperately insisting upon carrying the rising into effect +against the advice and entreaty of his most powerful and most sage +partizans. Surely a man who had been carried bound on board the +vessel which brought him to so desperate an enterprise would have +taken the opportunity afforded by the reluctance of his partizans +to return to France in safety. + +It is averred in Johnstone's Memoirs that Charles Edward left the +field of Culloden without doing the utmost to dispute the victory; +and, to give the evidence on both sides, there is in existence the +more trustworthy testimony of Lord Elcho, who states that he +himself earnestly exhorted the Prince to charge at the head of the +left wing, which was entire, and retrieve the day or die with +honour. And on his counsel being declined, Lord Elcho took leave +of him with a bitter execration, swearing he would never look on +his face again, and kept his word. + +On the other hand, it seems to have been the opinion of almost all +the other officers that the day was irretrievably lost, one wing +of the Highlanders being entirely routed, the rest of the army +outnumbered, outflanked, and in a condition totally hopeless. In +this situation of things the Irish officers who surrounded +Charles's person interfered to force him off the field. A cornet +who was close to the Prince left a strong attestation that he had +seen Sir Thomas Sheridan seize the bridle of his horse and turn +him round. There is some discrepancy of evidence; but the opinion +of Lord Elcho, a man of fiery temper and desperate at the ruin +which he beheld impending, cannot fairly be taken in prejudice of +a character for courage which is intimated by the nature of the +enterprise itself, by the Prince's eagerness to fight on all +occasions, by his determination to advance from Derby to London, +and by the presence of mind which he manifested during the +romantic perils of his escape. The author is far from claiming for +this unfortunate person the praise due to splendid talents; but he +continues to be of opinion that at the period of his enterprise he +had a mind capable of facing danger and aspiring to fame. + +That Charles Edward had the advantages of a graceful presence, +courtesy, and an address and manner becoming his station, the +author never heard disputed by any who approached his person, nor +does he conceive that these qualities are overcharged in the +present attempt to sketch his portrait. + +The following extracts corroborative of the general opinion +respecting the Prince's amiable disposition are taken from a +manuscript account of his romantic expedition, by James Maxwell of +Kirkconnell, of which I possess a copy, by the friendship of J. +Menzies, Esq., of Pitfoddells. The author, though partial to the +Prince, whom he faithfully followed, seems to have been a fair and +candid man, and well acquainted with the intrigues among the +adventurer's council:-- + +'Everybody was mightily taken with the Prince's figure and +personal behaviour. There was but one voice about them. Those whom +interest or prejudice made a runaway to his cause could not help +acknowledging that they wished him well in all other respects, and +could hardly blame him for his present undertaking. Sundry things +had concurred to raise his character to the highest pitch, besides +the greatness of the enterprise and the conduct that had hitherto +appeared in the execution of it. + +'There were several instances of good nature and humanity that had +made a great impression on people's minds. I shall confine myself +to two or three. + +'Immediately after the battle, as the Prince was riding along the +ground that Cope's army had occupied a few minutes before, one of +the officers came up to congratulate him, and said, pointing to +the killed, "Sir, there are your enemies at your feet." The +Prince, far from exulting, expressed a great deal of compassion +for his father's deluded subjects, whom he declared he was +heartily sorry to see in that posture. + +'Next day, while the Prince was at Pinkie House, a citizen of +Edinburgh came to make some representation to Secretary Murray +about the tents that city was ordered to furnish against a certain +day. Murray happened to be out of the way, which the Prince +hearing of called to have the gentleman brought to him, saying, he +would rather despatch the business, whatever it was, himself than +have the gentleman wait, which he did, by granting everything that +was asked. So much affability in a young prince flushed with +victory drew encomiums even from his enemies. + +'But what gave the people the highest idea of him was the negative +he gave to a thing that very nearly concerned his interest, and +upon which the success of his enterprise perhaps depended. It was +proposed to send one of the prisoners to London to demand of that +court a cartel for the exchange of prisoners taken, and to be +taken, during this war, and to intimate that a refusal would be +looked upon as a resolution on their part to give no quarter. It +was visible a cartel would be of great advantage to the Prince's +affairs; his friends would be more ready to declare for him if +they had nothing to fear but the chance of war in the field; and +if the court of London refused to settle a cartel, the Prince was +authorised to treat his prisoners in the same manner the Elector +of Hanover was determined to treat such of the Prince's friends as +might fall into his hands; it was urged that a few examples would +compel the court of London to comply. It was to be presumed that +the officers of the English army would make a point of it. They +had never engaged in the service but upon such terms as are in use +among all civilised nations, and it could be no stain upon their +honour to lay down their commissions if these terms were not +observed, and that owing to the obstinacy of their own Prince. +Though this scheme was plausible, and represented as very +important, the Prince could never be brought into it, it was below +him, he said, to make empty threats, and he would never put such +as those into execution; he would never in cold blood take away +lives which he had saved in heat of action at the peril of his +own. These were not the only proofs of good nature the Prince gave +about this time. Every day produced something new of this kind. +These things softened the rigour of a military government which +was only imputed to the necessity of his affairs, and which he +endeavoured to make as gentle and easy as possible.' + +It has been said that the Prince sometimes exacted more state and +ceremonial than seemed to suit his condition; but, on the other +hand, some strictness of etiquette was altogether indispensable +where he must otherwise have been exposed to general intrusion. He +could also endure, with a good grace, the retorts which his +affectation of ceremony sometimes exposed him to. It is said, for +example, that Grant of Glenmoriston having made a hasty march to +join Charles, at the head of his clan, rushed into the Prince's +presence at Holyrood with unceremonious haste, without having +attended to the duties of the toilet. The Prince received him +kindly, but not without a hint that a previous interview with the +barber might not have been wholly unnecessary. 'It is not +beardless boys,' answered the displeased Chief, 'who are to do +your Royal Highness's turn.' The Chevalier took the rebuke in good +part. + +On the whole, if Prince Charles had concluded his life soon after +his miraculous escape, his character in history must have stood +very high. As it was, his station is amongst those a certain +brilliant portion of whose life forms a remarkable contrast to all +which precedes and all which follows it. + +NOTE 13, p. 195 + +The following account of the skirmish at Clifton is extracted from +the manuscript Memoirs of Evan Macpherson of Cluny, Chief of the +clan Macpherson, who had the merit of supporting the principal +brunt of that spirited affair. The Memoirs appear to have been +composed about 1755, only ten years after the action had taken +place. They were written in France, where that gallant chief +resided in exile, which accounts for some Gallicisms which occur +in the narrative. + +'In the Prince's return from Derby back towards Scotland, my Lord +George Murray, Lieutenant-General, cheerfully charg'd himself with +the command of the rear, a post which, altho' honourable, was +attended with great danger, many difficulties, and no small +fatigue; for the Prince, being apprehensive that his retreat to +Scotland might be cut off by Marischall Wade, who lay to the +northward of him with an armie much supperior to what H.R.H. had, +while the Duke of Comberland with his whole cavalrie followed hard +in the rear, was obliged to hasten his marches. It was not, +therefore, possible for the artilirie to march so fast as the +Prince's army, in the depth of winter, extremely bad weather, and +the worst roads in England; so Lord George Murray was obliged +often to continue his marches long after it was dark almost every +night, while at the same time he had frequent allarms and +disturbances from the Duke of Comberland's advanc'd parties. + +'Towards the evening of the twentie-eight December 1745 the Prince +entered the town of Penrith, in the Province of Comberland. But as +Lord George Murray could not bring up the artilirie so fast as he +wou'd have wish'd, he was oblig'd to pass the night six miles +short of that town, together with the regiment of MacDonel of +Glengarrie, which that day happened to have the arrear guard. The +Prince, in order to refresh his armie, and to give My Lord George +and the artilirie time to come up, resolved to sejour the 29th at +Penrith; so ordered his little army to appear in the morning under +arms, in order to be reviewed, and to know in what manner the +numbers stood from his haveing entered England. It did not at that +time amount to 5000 foot in all, with about 400 cavalrie, compos'd +of the noblesse who serv'd as volunteers, part of whom form'd a +first troop of guards for the Prince, under the command of My Lord +Elchoe, now Comte de Weems, who, being proscribed, is presently in +France. Another part formed a second troup of guards under the +command of My Lord Balmirino, who was beheaded at the Tower of +London. A third part serv'd under My Lord le Comte de Kilmarnock, +who was likewise beheaded at the Tower. A fourth part serv'd under +My Lord Pitsligow, who is also proscribed; which cavalrie, tho' +very few in numbers, being all noblesse, were very brave, and of +infinite advantage to the foot, not only in the day of battle, but +in serving as advanced guards on the several marches, and in +patroling dureing the night on the different roads which led +towards the towns where the army happened to quarter. + +'While this small army was out in a body on the 2Qth December, +upon a riseing ground to the northward of Penrith, passing review, +Mons. de Cluny, with his tribe, was ordered to the Bridge of +Clifton, about a mile to southward of Penrith, after having pass'd +in review before Mons. Pattullo, who was charged with the +inspection of the troops, and was likeways Quarter-Master-General +of the army, and is now in France. They remained under arms at the +bridge, waiting the arrival of My Lord George Murray with the +artilirie, whom Mons. de Cluny had orders to cover in passing the +bridge. They arrived about sunsett closly pursued by the Duke of +Comberland with the whole body of his cavalrie, reckoned upwards +of 3000 strong, about a thousand of whom, as near as might be +computed, dismounted, in order to cut off the passage of the +artilirie towards the bridge, while the Duke and the others +remained on horseback in order to attack the rear. + +'My Lord George Murray advanced, and although he found Mons. de +Cluny and his tribe in good spirits under arms, yet the +circumstance appear'd extremely delicate. The numbers were vastly +unequall, and the attack seem'd very dangerous; so My Lord George +declin'd giving orders to such time as he ask'd Mons. de Cluny's +oppinion. "I will attack them with all my heart," says Mons. de +Cluny, "if you order me." "I do order it then," answered My Lord +George, and immediately went on himself along with Mons. de Cluny, +and fought sword in hand on foot at the head of the single tribe +of Macphersons. They in a moment made their way through a strong +hedge of thorns, under the cover whereof the cavalrie had taken +their station, in the strugle of passing which hedge My Lord +George Murray, being dressed en montagnard, as all the army were, +lost his bonet and wig; so continued to fight bare-headed during +the action. They at first made a brisk discharge of their firearms +on the enemy, then attacked them with their sabres, and made a +great slaughter a considerable time, which obliged Comberland and +his cavalrie to fly with precipitation and in great confusion; in +so much that, if the Prince had been provided in a sufficient +number of cavalrie to have taken advantage of the disorder, it is +beyond question that the Duke of Comberland and the bulk of his +cavalrie had been taken prisoners. + +'By this time it was so dark that it was not possible to view or +number the slain who filled all the ditches which happened to be +on the ground where they stood. But it was computed that, besides +those who went off wounded, upwards of a hundred at least were +left on the spot, among whom was Colonel Honywood, who commanded +the dismounted cavalrie, whose sabre of considerable value Mons. +de Cluny brought off and still preserves; and his tribe lykeways +brought off many arms;--the Colonel was afterwards taken up, and, +his wounds being dress'd, with great difficultie recovered. Mons. +de Cluny lost only in the action twelve men, of whom some haveing +been only wounded, fell afterwards into the hands of the enemy, +and were sent as slaves to America, whence several of them +returned, and one of them is now in France, a sergeant in the +Regiment of Royal Scots. How soon the accounts of the enemies +approach had reached the Prince, H.R.H. had immediately ordered +Mi-Lord le Comte de Nairne, Brigadier, who, being proscribed, is +now in France, with the three batalions of the Duke of Athol, the +batalion of the Duke of Perth, and some other troups under his +command, in order to support Cluny, and to bring off the +artilirie. But the action was entirely over before the Comte de +Nairne, with his command, cou'd reach nigh to the place. They +therefore return'd all to Penrith, and the artilirie marched up in +good order. + +'Nor did the Duke of Comberland ever afterwards dare to come +within a day's march of the Prince and his army dureing the course +of all that retreat, which was conducted with great prudence and +safety when in some manner surrounded by enemies.' + +NOTE 14, p. 215 + +As the heathen deities contracted an indelible obligation if they +swore by Styx, the Scottish Highlanders had usually some peculiar +solemnity attached to an oath which they intended should be +binding on them. Very frequently it consisted in laying their +hand, as they swore, on their own drawn dirk; which dagger, +becoming a party to the transaction, was invoked to punish any +breach of faith. But by whatever ritual the oath was sanctioned, +the party was extremely desirous to keep secret what the especial +oath was which he considered as irrevocable. This was a matter of +great convenience, as he felt no scruple in breaking his +asseveration when made in any other form than that which he +accounted as peculiarly solemn; and therefore readily granted any +engagement which bound him no longer than he inclined. Whereas, if +the oath which he accounted inviolable was once publicly known, no +party with whom he might have occasion to contract would have +rested satisfied with any other. + +Louis XI of France practised the same sophistry, for he also had a +peculiar species of oath, the only one which he was ever known to +respect, and which, therefore, he was very unwilling to pledge. +The only engagement which that wily tyrant accounted binding upon +him was an oath by the Holy Cross of Saint Lo d'Angers, which +contained a portion of the True Cross. If he prevaricated after +taking this oath Louis believed he should die within the year. The +Constable Saint Paul, being invited to a personal conference with +Louis, refused to meet the king unless he would agree to ensure +him safe conduct under sanction of this oath. But, says Comines, +the king replied, he would never again pledge that engagement to +mortal man, though he was willing to take any other oath which +could be devised. The treaty broke oft, therefore, after much +chaffering concerning the nature of the vow which Louis was to +take. Such is the difference between the dictates of superstition +and those of conscience. + + + + + +GLOSSARY + + +A', all. + +ABOON, abune, above. + +AE, one. + +AFF, off. + +AFORE, before. + +AHINT, behind. + +AIN, own. + +AITS, oats. + +AMAIST, almost. + +AMBRY, a cupboard, a pantry. + +AN, if. + +ANE, one. + +ANEUCH, enough. + +ARRAY, annoy, trouble. + +ASSOILZIED, absolved, acquitted. + +ASSYTHMENT, satisfaction, + +AULD, old. + +BAFF, a blow. + +BAGGANET, a bayonet. + +BAILIE, a city magistrate in Scotland. + +BAIRN, a child. + +BAITH, both. + +BANES, bones. + +BANG-UP, get up quickly, bounce. + +BARLEY, a parley, a truce. + +BAULD, bold. + +BAULDER, bolder. + +BAWBEE, a halfpenny. + +BAWTY, sly, cunning. + +BEES, in the, bewildered, stupefied. + +BEFLUMM'D, flattered, cajoled. + +BEGUNK, a trick, a cheat. + +BEN, within, inside. + +BENEMPT, named. + +BICKER, a wooden dish. + +BIDE, stay, endure. + +BIELDY, affording shelter. + +BIGGING, building. + +BIRLIEMAN, a peace officer. + +BLACK-COCK, the black grouse. + +BLACK-FISHING, ashing by torchlight, poaching. + +BLUDE, bluid, blood. + +BODDLE, bodle, a copper coin, worth one third of an English penny. + +BOGLE ABOUT THE BUSH, beat about the bush, a children's game. + +BONNIE, beautiful, comely, fine, + +BOUNE, prepared. + +BRA', fine, handsome, showy. + +BRANDER, broil. + +BREEKS, breeches. + +BRENT, smooth, unwrinkled. + +BROGUES, Highland shoes. + +BROO, brew, broth. + +BRUCKLE, brittle, infirm. + +BRUIK, enjoy. + +BRULZIE, bruilzie, a broil, a fray. + +BUCKIE, a perverse or refractory person. + +BUTTOCK-MAIL, a fine for fornication. + +BYDAND, awaiting. + +CA', call. + +CADGER, a country carrier. + +CAILLIACHS, old women on whom devolved the duty of lamenting for +the dead, which the Irish call keening. + +CALLANT, a stripling, a fine fellow. + +CANNILY, prudently. + +CANNY, cautious, lucky. + +CARLE, a churl, an old man. + +CATERAN, a freebooter. + +CHIEL, a young man. + +CLACHAN, a village, a hamlet. + +CLAMYHEWIT, a blow, a drubbing. + +CLASH, chatter, gossip. + +CLATTER, tattle, noisy talk. + +CLOSE, a narrow passage. + +CLOUR, a bump, a bruise. + +COCKY-LEEKY, a soup made of a cock, seasoned with leeks. + +COGHLING AND DROGHLING, wheezing and blowing. + +CORONACH, a dirge. + +CORRIE, a mountain hollow. + +COUP, fall. + +COW YER CRACKS, cut short your talk, hold your tongues. + +CRACK, boast. + +CRAIG, the neck, the throat. + +CRAMES, merchants' shops, booths. + +CUT-LUGGED, crop-eared. + +DAFT, foolish, mad, crazy. + +DAUR, dare. + +DEAVING, deafening. + +DECREET, an order of decree. + +DELIVER, light, agile. + +DERN, hidden, concealed, secret. + +DING, knock, beat, surpass. + +DINGLE, dinnle, tingle, vibrate with sound. + +DOER, an agent, a manager. + +DOG-HEAD, the hammer of a gun. + +DOILED, crazed, silly. + +DOITED, having the faculties impaired. + +DORLACH, a bundle. + +DOW, a dove. + +DOWF, dowff, dull, spiritless. + +DRAPPIE, a little drop, a small quantity of drink. + +EFFEIR, what is becoming. + +ENEUGH, enough. + +ETTER-CAP, a spider, an ill-natured person. + +EVITE, avoid, escape. + +EWEST, ewast, contiguous. + +FALLOW, a fellow. + +FAULD, fold. + +FEARED, afraid. + +FECK, a quantity. + +FLEYT, frightened, shy. + +FRAE, from. + +GAD, a goad, a rod. + +GANE, gone; gang, go. + +GAR, make. + +GATE, way. + +GAUN, going. + +GEAR, goods. + +GHAIST, a ghost. + +GIN, if. + +GITE, crazy, a noodle, + +GLED, a kite. + +GLEG, quick, clever. + +GLISK, a glimpse. + +GOWD, gold. + +GRANING, groaning. + +GRAT, wept. + +GREE, agree. + +GREYBEARD, a stone bottle or jug. + +GRICE, gryce, gris, a pig. + +GRIPPLE, griping, niggardly. + +GUDE, guid, good. + +GULPIN, a simpleton. + +HA', hall. + +HAG, a portion of copse marked off for cutting. + +HAGGIS, a pudding peculiar to Scotland, containing oatmeal, suet, +minced sheep's liver, heart, etc., seasoned with onions, pepper, +and salt, the whole mixture boiled in a sheep's stomach. + +HAIL, whole. + +HECK, a hay rack; at heck and manger, in plenty. + +HET, hot. + +HOG, a young sheep before its first shearing. + +HORSE-COUPER, horse-cowper, a horse-dealer. + +HURDLES, the buttocks. + +HURLEY-HOUSE, a large house fallen into disrepair. + + ILK, same; of that ilk, of the same name or place, + +ILKA, every. + +INGLE, a fire burning upon the hearth. + +IN THE BEES, stupefied. + +KEEPIT, kept. + +KEMPLE, a Scotch measure of straw or hay. + +KEN, know. + +KIPPAGE, disorder, confusion. + +KIRK, church. + +KITTLE, tickle, ticklish. + +LAIRD, lord of the manor. + +LANDLOUPER, a wanderer, a vagabond. + +LEDDY, a lady. + +LIGHTLY, make light of, disparage. + +LIMMER, a hussy, a jade. + +LOON, a worthless fellow, a lout. + +LOUP, leap, start. + +LUG, an ear. + +LUNZIE, the loins, the waist. + +MAE, more. + +MAINS, the chief farm of an estate. + +MAIR, more. + +MAIST, most, almost. MART, beef salted down for winter. + +MASK, mash, infuse. + +MAUN, must. + +MERK, an old silver coin worth 13 1/3 pence, English. + +MICKLE, large, much. + +MORN, tomorrow. + +MOUSTED, powdered. + +MUCKLE, great, much. + +MUNT, mount. + +MUTCHKIN, a measure equal to about three quarters of an imperial +pint. + +NA, nae, no, not. + +NAIGS, horses. + +NAIL, the sixteenth part of a yard. + +NATHELESS, nevertheless. + +NEB, nose, tip. + +NE'ER BE IN ME, devil be in me. + +OLD TO DO, great doings. + +OWER, over. + +PAITRICK, a partridge. + +PANGED, crammed. + +PARRITCH, oatmeal porridge. + +PAUNIE, a peacock. + +PECULIUM, private property. + +PINNERS, a headdress for women. + +PLACK, a copper coin worth one third of a penny. + +PLAIDY, an outer covering for the body. + +PLENISH, furnish. + +PLOY, an entertainment, a pastime. + +POTTINGER, an apothecary. + +POWNIE, a pony. + +POWTERING, poking, stirring. + +PRETTY MAN, a stout, warlike fellow. + +QUEAN, a young woman. + +REDD, part, separate. + +REISES, twigs, branches. + +RESILING, retracting, withdrawing. + +RIGGS, ridges, ploughed ground. + +RINTHEROUT, a roving person, a vagabond. + +ROW, roll. + +ROWED, rolled. + +ROWT, cried out, bellowed, + +ROYNISH, scurvy, coarse. + +SAE, so. + +ST. JOHNSTONE'S TIPPET, a rope or halter for hanging. + +SAIR, sore, very. + +SALL, shall. + +SARK, a shirt. + +SAUMON, a salmon. + +SAUT, salt. + +SCARTED, scratched, scribbled over. + +SCHELLUM, a rascal. + +SCROLL, engross, copy. + +SHANKS, legs. + +SHEERS, shears. + +SHOUTHER, the shoulder. + +SICCAN, sic, such. + +SILLER, money. + +SILLY, weak. + +SKIG, the least quantity of anything. + +SMA', small. + +SMOKY, suspicious. + +SNECK, cut. + +SORTED, put in proper order, adjusted. + +SOWENS, the seeds of oatmeal soured. + +SPEER, ask, investigate. + +SPENCE, the place where provisions are kept. + +SPRACK, lively. + +SPRECHERY, movables of an unimportant sort. + +SPUILZIE, spoil. + +SPUNG, pick one's pocket. + +STIEVE, firm. + +STOOR, rough, harsh. + +STRAE, straw. + +STREEKS, stretches, lies. + +SWAIR, swore. + +SYNE, before, now, ago. + +TAIGLIT, harassed, encumbered, loitered. + +TAULD, told. + +THAE, those. + +THIR, these. + +THOLE, bear, suffer. + +THRAW, twist, wrench. + +THREEPIT, maintained obstinately. + +THROSTLE, the thrush. + +TILL, to. + +TIRRIVIES, hasty fits of passion, + +TOCHERLESS, without dowry. + +TOUN, a town, a hamlet, a farm. + +TOY, an old-fashioned cap for women. + +TREWS, trousers. + +TRINDLING, rolling. + +TROW, believe. + +TUILZIE, a quarrel + +TUME, toom, empty. + +TURNSPIT DOGGIE, a kind of dog, long-bodied and short-legged, +formerly used in turning a treadmill. + +TYKE, a dog, a rough fellow. + +UMQUHILE, formerly, late. + +UNCO, strange, very, + +UNSONSY, unlucky. + +USQUEBAUGH, whiskey. + +VENY, venue, a bout. + +VIVERS, victuals. + +WA', wall + +WAD, would. + +WADSET, a deed conveying property to a creditor + +WAIN, a wagon; to remove. + +WALISE, a portmanteau, saddlebags. + +WAN, won. + +WANCHANCY, unlucky. + +WARE, spend. + +WEEL-FARD, weel-faur'd, having a good appearance. + +WEISING, inclining, directing. + +WHA, who. + +WHAR, where, + +WHAT FOR, why. + +WHEEN, a few. + +WHILE SYNE, a while ago. + +WHILES, sometimes. + +WHILK, which. + +WHIN, a few. + +WHINGEING, whining. + +WINNA, will not. + +WISKE, whisk. + +YATE, gate. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Waverley, Volume II, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAVERLEY, VOLUME II *** + +***** This file should be named 4965-8.txt or 4965-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/9/6/4965/ + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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