whosevoicewasheardaround，Loudasatrumpetwithasilversound。
ThatofFlora，onthecontrary，wassoftandsweet，-anexcellentthinginwoman；’’yet，inurginganyfavouritetopic，whichsheoftenpursuedwithnaturaleloquence，itpossessedaswellthetoneswhichimpressaweandconviction，asthoseofpersuasiveinsinuation。Theeagerglanceofthekeenblackeye，whichintheChieftainseemedimpatientevenofthematerialobstaclesitencountered，had，inhissister，acquiredagentlepensiveness。Hislooksseemedtoseekglory，power，allthatcouldexalthimaboveothersintheraceofhumanity；
whilethoseofhissister，asifshewerealreadyconsciousofmentalsuperiority，seemedtopity，ratherthanenvy，thosewhowerestrugglingforanyfartherdistinction。Hersentimentscorrespondedwiththeexpressionofhercountenance。Earlyeducationhadimpresseduponhermind，aswellasonthatoftheChieftain，themostdevotedattachmenttotheexiledfamilyofStuart。Shebelieveditthedutyofherbrother，ofhisclan，ofeverymaninBritain，atwhateverpersonalhazard，tocontributetothatrestorationwhichthepartizansoftheChevalierdeSt。Georgehadnotceasedtohopefor。Forthisshewaspreparedtodoall，tosufferall，tosacrificeall。Butherloyalty，asitexceededherbrother’sinfanaticism，excelleditalsoinpurity。Accustomedtopettyintrigue，andnecessarilyinvolvedinathousandpaltryandselfishdiscussions，ambitiousalsobynature，hispoliticalfaithwastinctured，atleast，ifnottainted，bytheviewsofinterestandadvancementsoeasilycombinedwithit；andatthemomentheshouldunsheathehisclaymore，itmightbedifficulttosaywhetheritwouldbemostwiththeviewofmakingJamesStuartaking，orFergusMac-Ivoranearl。This，indeed，wasamixtureoffeelingwhichhedidnotavoweventohimself，butitexisted，nevertheless，inapowerfuldegree。
InFlora’sbosom，onthecontrary，thezealofloyaltyburntpureandunmixedwithanyselfishfeeling；shewouldhaveassoonmadereligionthemaskofambitiousandinterestedviews，ashaveshroudedthemundertheopinionswhichshehadbeentaughttothinkpatriotism。SuchinstancesofdevotionwerenotuncommonamongthefollowersoftheunhappyraceofStuart，ofwhichmanymemorableproofswillrecurtothemindofmostofmyreaders。ButpeculiarattentiononthepartoftheChevalierdeSt。GeorgeandhisprincesstotheparentsofFergusandhissister，andtothemselveswhenorphans，hadrivettedtheirfaith。Fergus，uponthedeathofhisparents，hadbeenforsometimeapageofhonourinthetrainoftheChevalier’slady，and，fromhisbeautyandsprightlytemper，wasuniformlytreatedbyherwiththeutmostdistinction。ThiswasalsoextendedtoFlora，whowasmaintainedforsometimeataconventofthefirstorder，attheprincess’sexpense，andremovedfromthenceintoherownfamily，whereshespentnearlytwoyears。Bothbrotherandsisterretainedthedeepestandmostgratefulsenseofherkindness。
HavingthustouchedupontheleadingprincipleofFlora’scharacter，Imaydismisstherestmoreslightly。Shewashighlyaccomplished，andhadacquiredthoseelegantmannerstobeexpectedfromonewho，inearlyyouth，hadbeenthecompanionofaprincess；yetshehadnotlearnedtosubstitutetheglossofpolitenessfortherealityoffeeling。WhensettledinthelonelyregionsofGlennaquoich，shefoundthatherresourcesinFrench，English，andItalianliterature，werelikelytobefewandinterrupted；and，inordertofillupthevacanttime，shebestowedapartofituponthemusicandpoeticaltraditionsoftheHighlanders，andbeganreallytofeelthepleasureinthepursuit，whichherbrother，whoseperceptionsofliterarymeritweremoreblunt，ratheraffectedforthesakeofpopularitythanactuallyexperienced。Herresolutionwasstrengthenedintheseresearchesbytheextremedelightwhichherinquiriesseemedtoaffordthosetowhomsheresortedforinformation。
Herloveofherclan，anattachmentwhichwasalmosthereditaryinherbosom，was，likeherloyalty，amorepurepassionthanthatofherbrother。Hewastoothoroughapolitician，regardedhispatriarchalinfluencetoomuchasthemeansofaccomplishinghisownaggrandizement，thatweshouldtermhimthemodelofaHighlandChieftain。Florafeltthesameanxietyforcherishingandextendingtheirpatriarchalsway，butitwaswiththegenerousdesireofvindicatingfrompoverty，oratleastfromwantandforeignoppression，thosewhomherbrotherwasbybirth，accordingtothenotionsofthetimeandcountry，entitledtogovern。Thesavingsofherincome，forshehadasmallpensionfromthePrincessSobieski，werededicated，nottoaddtothecomfortsofthepeasantry，forthatwasawordwhichtheyneitherknewnorapparentlywishedtoknow，buttorelievetheirabsolutenecessities，wheninsicknessorextremeoldage。Ateveryotherperiod，theyrathertoiledtoprocuresomethingwhichtheymightsharewiththeChiefasaproofoftheirattachment，thanexpectedotherassistancefromhimsavewhatwasaffordedbytherudehospitalityofhiscastle，andthegeneraldivisionandsubdivisionofhisestateamongthem。Florawassomuchbelovedbythem，thatwhenMac-Murroughcomposedasong，inwhichheenumeratedantheprincipalbeautiesofthedistrict，andintimatedhersuperioritybyconcluding，thatthefairestapplehungonthehighestbough，’’hereceived，indonativesfromtheindividualsoftheclan，moreseed-barleythanwouldhavesowedhisHighlandParnassus，the_Bard’scroft，_asitwascalled，tentimesover。
Fromsituation，aswellaschoice，MissMac-Ivor’ssocietywasextremelylimited。HermostintimatefriendhadbeenRoseBradwardine，towhomshewasmuchattached；andwhenseentogether，theywouldhaveaffordedanartisttwoadmirablesubjectsforthegayandthemelancholymuse。IndeedRosewassotenderlywatchedbyherfather，andhercircleofwisheswassolimited，thatnonearosebutwhathewaswillingtogratify，andscarceanywhichdidnotcomewithinthecompassofhispower。WithFloraitwasotherwise。Whilealmostagirl，shehadundergonethemostcompletechangeofscene，fromgaietyandsplendourtoabsolutesolitudeandcomparativepoverty；andtheideasandwisheswhichshechieflyfostered，respectedgreatnationalevents，andchangesnottobebroughtroundwithoutbothhazardandbloodshed，andthereforenottobethoughtofwithlevity。Hermanner，consequently，wasgrave，thoughshereadilycontributedhertalentstotheamusementofsociety，andstoodveryhighintheopinionoftheoldBaron，whousedtosingalongwithhersuchFrenchduetsofLindorandCloris，etc。，aswereinfashionabouttheendofthereignofoldLouisleGrand。
Itwasgenerallybelieved，thoughnoonedursthavehintedittotheBaronofBradwardine，thatFlora’sentreatieshadnosmallshareinallayingthewrathofFergusuponoccasionoftheirquarrel。Shetookherbrotherontheassailableside，bydwellingfirstupontheBaron’sage，andthenrepresentingtheinjurywhichthecausemightsustain，andthedamagewhichmustarisetohisowncharacterinpointofprudence，sonecessarytoapoliticalagent，ifhepersistedincarryingittoextremity。Otherwiseitisprobableitwouldhaveterminatedinaduel，bothbecausetheBaronhad，onaformeroccasion，shedbloodoftheclan，thoughthematterhadbeentimelyaccommodated，andonaccountofhishighreputationforaddressathisweapon，whichFergusalmostcondescendedtoenvy。Forthesamereasonshehadurgedtheirreconciliation，whichtheChieftainthemorereadilyagreedto，asitfavouredsomeulteriorprojectsofhisown。
Tothisyounglady，nowpresidingatthefemaleempireofthetea-table，FergusintroducedCaptainWaverley，whomshereceivedwiththeusualformsofpoliteness。
Whenthefirstsalutationshadpassed，Fergussaidtohissister，MydearFlora，beforeIreturntothebarbarousritualofourforefathers，ImusttellyouthatCaptainWaverleyisaworshipperoftheCelticmuse，notthelesssoperhapsthathedoesnotunderstandawordofherlanguage。IhavetoldhimyouareeminentasatranslatorofHighlandpoetry，andthatMac-MurroughadmiresyourversionofhissongsuponthesameprinciplethatCaptainWaverleyadmirestheoriginal，-
becausehedoesnotcomprehendthem。WillyouhavethegoodnesstoreadorrecitetoourguestinEnglish，theextraordinarystringofnameswhichMac-MurroughhastackedtogetherinGaelic？-Mylifetoamoorfowl’sfeather，youareprovidedwithaversion；forIknowyouareinallthebard’scouncils，andacquaintedwithhissongslongbeforeherehearsestheminthehall。’’
Howcanyousayso，Fergus？YouknowhowlittletheseversescanpossiblyinterestanEnglishstranger，evenifIcouldtranslatethemasyoupretend。’’
Notlessthantheyinterestme，ladyfair。To-dayyourjointcomposition，forIinsistyouhadashareinit，hascostmethelastsilvercupinthecastle，andIsupposewillcostmesomethingelsenexttimeIhold_courplnire，_ifthemusedescendsonMac-Murrough；foryouknowourproverb，-
Whenthehandofthechiefceasestobestow，thebreathofthebardisfrozenintheutterance-Well，Iwoulditwereevenso：therearethreethingsthatareuselesstoamodernHighlander，-aswordwhichhemustnotdraw，-abardtosingofdeedswhichhedarenotimitate，-andalargegoat-skinpursewithoutalouis-d’ortoputintoit。’’
Well，brother，sinceyoubetraymysecrets，youcannotexpectmetokeepyours-Iassureyou，CaptainWaverley，thatFergusistooproudtoexchangehisbroadswordforamarchal’sbaton；thatheesteemsMac-MurroughafargreaterpoetthanHomer，andwouldnotgiveuphisgoat-skinpurseforallthelouis-d’orwhichitcouldcontain。’’
Wellpronounced，Flora；blowforblow，asConan<>saidtoNoteN。ConantheJester。’’<！p150>
thedevil。Nowdoyoutwotalkofbardsandpoetry，ifnotofpursesandclaymores，whileIreturntodothefinalhonourstothesenatorsofthetribeofIvor。’’Sosaying，helefttheroom。
TheconversationcontinuedbetweenFloraandWaverley；
fortwowell-dressedyoungwomen，whosecharacterseemedtohoverbetweenthatofcompanionsanddependants，tooknoshareinit。Theywerebothprettygirls，butservedonlyasfoilstothegraceandbeautyoftheirpatroness。ThediscoursefollowedtheturnwhichtheChieftainhadgivenit，andWaverleywasequallyamusedandsurprisedwiththeaccountwhichtheladygavehimofCelticpoetry。
Therecitation，’’shesaid，ofpoems，recordingthefeatsofheroes，thecomplaintsoflovers，andthewarsofcontendingtribes，formsthechiefamusementofawinterfiresideintheHighlands。Someofthesearesaidtobeveryancient，andiftheyareevertranslatedintoanyofthelanguagesofcivilizedEurope，cannotfailtoproduceadeepandgeneralsensation。
Othersaremoremodern，thecompositionofthosefamilybardswhomthechieftainsofmoredistinguishednameandpowerretainasthepoetsandhistoriansoftheirtribes。These，ofcourse，possessvariousdegreesofmerit；butmuchofitmustevaporateintranslation，orbelostonthosewhodonotsympathisewiththefeelingsofthepoet。’’
Andyourbard，whoseeffusionsseemedtoproducesucheffectuponthecompanytoday，-ishereckonedamongthefavouritepoetsofthemountain？’’
Thatisatryingquestion。Hisreputationishighamonghiscountrymen，andyoumustnotexpectmetodepreciateit。’’<>
TheHighlandpoetalmostalwayswasanimprovisatore。CaptainBurt(authorof_LettersfromtheNorthofScotland_)，metoneofthematLovat’stable。
Butthesong，MissMac-Ivor，seemedtoawakenallthosewarriors，bothyoungandold。’’
ThesongislittlemorethanacatalogueofnamesoftheHighlandclansundertheirdistinctivepeculiarities，andanexhortationtothemtorememberandtoemulatetheactionsoftheirforefathers。’’
AndamIwronginconjecturing，howeverextraordinarytheguessappears，thattherewassomeallusiontomeintheverseswhichherecited？’’
Youhaveaquickobservation，CaptainWaverley，which，inthisinstancehasnotdeceivedyou。TheGaeliclanguage，beinguncommonlyvocalic，iswelladaptedforsuddenandextemporaneouspoetry；andabardseldomfailstoaugmenttheeffectsofapremeditatedsong，bythrowinginanystanzaswhichmaybesuggestedbythecircumstancesattendingtherecitation。’’
IwouldgivemybesthorsetoknowwhattheHighlandbardcouldfindtosayofsuchanunworthySouthronasmyself。’’
Itshallnotevencostyoualockofhismane-Una，_Mavourneen！_
(Shespokeafewwordstooneoftheyounggirlsinattendance，whoinstantlycurtsied，andtrippedoutoftheroom。)-IhavesentUnatolearnfromthebardtheexpressionsheused，andyoushallcommandmyskillasdragoman。’’
Una，returnedinafewminutes，andrepeatedtohermistressafewlinesinGaelic。Floraseemedtothinkforamoment，andthen，slightlycolouring，sheturnedtoWaverley-Itisimpossibletogratifyyourcuriosity，CaptainWaverley，withoutexposingmyownpresumption。Ifyouwillgivemeafewmomentsforconsideration，IwillendeavourtoengraftthemeaningoftheselinesuponarudeEnglishtranslation，whichIhaveattempted，ofapartoftheoriginal。Thedutiesofthetea-tableseemtobeconcluded，and，astheeveningisdelightful，Unawillshowyouthewaytooneofmyfavouritehaunts，andCathleenandIwilljoinyouthere。’’
Una，havingreceivedinstructionsinhernativelanguage，conductedWaverleyoutbyapassagedifferentfromthatthroughwhichhehadenteredtheapartment。Atadistanceheheardthehallofthechiefstillresoundingwiththeclangofbagpipesandthehighapplauseofhisguests。Havinggainedtheopenairbyaposterndoor，theywalkedalittlewayupthewild，bleak，andnarrowvalleyinwhichthehousewassituated，followingthecourseofthestreamthatwindedthroughit。Inaspot，aboutaquarterofamilefromthecastle，twobrooks，whichformedthelittleriver，hadtheirjunction。Thelargerofthetwocamedownthelongbarevalley，whichextended，apparentlywithoutanychangeorelevationofcharacter，asfarasthehillswhichformeditsboundarypermittedtheeyetoreach。Buttheotherstream，whichhaditssourceamongthemountainsonthelefthandofthestrath，seemedtoissuefromaverynarrowanddarkopeningbetwixttwolargerocks。Thesestreamsweredifferentalsoincharacter。Thelargerwasplacid，andevensulleninitscourse，wheelingindeepeddies，orsleepingindarkbluepools；butthemotionsofthelesserbrookwererapidandfurious，issuingfrombetweenprecipices，likeamaniacfromhisconfinement，allfoamanduproar。
