AsFloraconcludedhersong，Fergusstoodbeforethem。I
knewIshouldfindyouhere，evenwithouttheassistanceofmyfriendBran。Asimpleandunsublimedtastenow，likemyown，wouldpreferajetd’eauatVersaillestothiscascadewithallitsaccompanimentsofrockandroar；butthisisFlora’sParnassus，CaptainWaverley，andthatfountainherHelicon。Itwouldbegreatlyforthebenefitofmycellarifshecouldteachhercoadjutor，Mac-Murrough，thevalueofitsinfluence：hehasjustdrunkapintofusquebaughtocorrect，hesaid，thecoldnessoftheclaret-Letmetryitsvirtues。’’Hesippedalittlewaterinthehollowofhishand，andimmediatelycommenced，withatheatricalair，-
OLadyofthedesert，hail！
Thatlov’sttheharpingoftheGael，Throughfairandfertileregionsborne，Whereneveryetgrewgrassorcorn。
ButEnglishpoetrywillneversucceedundertheinfluenceofaHighlandHelicon-_Allonscourage！_-
Ovous，quibuvez，
tassepleine，Acetteheureusefontaine，Oonnevoit，surlerivage，Quequelquesvilainstroupeaux，Suivisdenymphesdevillage，Quilesescortentsanssabots’’
Atruce，dearFergus！spareusthosemosttediousandinsipidpersonsofallArcadia，Donot，forheaven’ssake，bringdownCorridonandLindoruponus。’’
Nay，ifyoucannotrelish_lahouletteetlechalumeau，_havewithyouinheroicstrains。’’
DearFergus，youhavecertainlypartakenoftheinspirationofMac-Murrough’scupratherthanofmine。’’
Idisclaimit，_mabelledemoiselle，_althoughIprotestitwouldbethemorecongenialofthetwo。Whichofyourcrack-brainedItalianromancersisitthatsays，Iod’EliconanienteMicuro，infediDio，che’lbered’acque(Beachibernevuol)sempremespiacque！<>
Goodsooth，IrecknotofyourHelicon；
Drinkwaterwhosowill，infaithIwilldrinknone。
ButifyouprefertheGaelic，CaptainWaverley，hereislittleCathleenshallsingyouDrimmindhu-Come，Cathleen，_astore_
(_i。e。_mydear)，begin；noapologiestothe_Ceankinn。_’’
CathleensungwithmuchlivelinessalittleGaelicsong，theburlesqueelegyofacountrymanonthelossofhiscow，thecomictonesofwhich，thoughhedidnotunderstandthelanguage，madeWaverleylaughmorethanonce。<>
ThisancientGaelicdittyisstillwellknown，bothintheHighlandsandinIreland。ItwastranslatedintoEnglish，andpublished，ifImistakenot，undertheauspicesofthefacetiousTomD’Urfey，bythetitleofColley，myCow。’’
Admirable，Cathleen！’’criedtheChieftain；Imustfindyouahandsomehusbandamongtheclansmenoneofthesedays。’’
Cathleenlaughed，blushed，andshelteredherselfbehindhercompanion。
Intheprogressoftheirreturntothecastle，theChieftainwarmlypressedWaverleytoremainforaweekortwo，inordertoseeagrandhuntingparty，inwhichheandsomeotherHighlandgentlemenproposedtojoin。ThecharmsofmelodyandbeautyweretoostronglyimpressedinEdward’sbreasttopermithisdeclininganinvitationsopleasing。Itwasagreed，therefore，thatheshouldwriteanotetotheBaronofBradwardine，expressinghisintentiontostayafortnightatGlennaquoich，andrequestinghimtoforwardbythebearer(a_gilly_oftheChieftain’s)anyletterswhichmighthavearrivedforhim。
ThisturnedthediscourseupontheBaron，whomFergushighlyextolledasagentlemanandsoldier。HischaracterwastouchedwithyetmorediscriminationbyFlora，whoobservedthathewastheverymodeloftheoldScottishcavalier，withallhisexcellencesandpeculiarities。Itisacharacter，CaptainWaverley，whichisfastdisappearing；foritsbestpointwasaself-respect，whichwasneverlostsightoftillnow。Butinthepresenttimethegentlemenwhoseprinciplesdonotpermitthemtopaycourttotheexistinggovernmentareneglectedanddegraded，andmanyconductthemselvesaccordingly；and，likesomeofthepersonsyouhaveseenatTully-Veolan，adopthabitsandcompanionsinconsistentwiththeirbirthandbreeding。Theruthlessproscriptionofpartyseemstodegradethevictimswhomitbrands，howeverunjustly。Butletushopethatabrighterdayisapproaching，whenaScottishcountry-gentlemanmaybeascholarwithoutthepedantryofourfriendtheBaron；asportsmanwithoutthelowhabitsofMr。Falconer；andajudiciousimproverofhisproperty，withoutbecomingaboorishtwo-leggedsteerlikeKillancureit。’’
ThusdidFloraprophesyarevolution，whichtimeindeedhasproduced，butinamannerverydifferentfromwhatshehadinhermind。
TheamiableRosewasnextmentioned，withthewarmestencomiumonherperson，manners，andmind。Thatman，’’
saidFlora，willfindaninestimabletreasureintheaffectionsofRoseBradwardinewhoshallbesofortunateastobecometheirobject。Herverysoulisinhome，andinthedischargeofallthosequietvirtuesofwhichhomeisthecentre。Herhusbandwillbetoherwhatherfathernowis-theobjectofallhercare，solicitude，andaffection。Shewillseenothing，andconnectherselfwithnothing，butbyhimandthroughhim。Ifheisamanofsenseandvirtue，shewillsympathiseinhissorrows，diverthisfatigue，andsharehispleasures。Ifshebecomesthepropertyofachurlishornegligenthusband，shewillsuithistastealso，forshewillnotlongsurvivehisunkindness。And，alas，howgreatisthechancethatsomesuchunworthylotmaybethatofmypoorfriend！-OthatIwereaqueenthismoment，andcouldcommandthemostamiableandworthyyouthofmykingdomtoaccepthappinesswiththehandofRoseBradwardine！’’
Iwishyouwouldcommandhertoacceptmine_enattendant，_’’
saidFerguslaughing。
Idon’tknowbywhatcapriceitwasthatthiswish，howeverjocularlyexpressed，ratherjarredonEdward’sfeelings，notwithstandinghisgrowinginclinationtoFlora，andhisindifferencetoMissBradwardine。Thisisoneoftheinexplicabilitiesofhumannature，whichweleavewithoutcomment。
Yours，brother？’’answeredFlora，regardinghimsteadily。
No；youhaveanotherbride-Honour；andthedangersyoumustruninpursuitofherrivalwouldbreakpoorRose’sheart。’’
Withthisdiscoursetheyreachedthecastle，andWaverleysoonpreparedhisdespatchesforTully-Veolan。AsheknewtheBaronwaspunctiliousinsuchmatters，hewasabouttoimpresshisbilletwithasealonwhichhisarmorialbearingswereengraved，buthedidnotfinditathiswatch，andthoughthemusthaveleftitatTully-Veolan。Hementionedhisloss，borrowingatthesametimethefamilysealoftheChieftain。
Surely，’’saidMissMac-Ivor，DonaldBeanLeanwouldnot’’
Mylifeforhiminsuchcircumstances，’’answeredherbrother；
besides，hewouldneverhaveleftthewatchbehind。’’
Afterall，Fergus，’’saidFlora，andwitheveryallowance，Iamsurprisedyoucancountenancethatman。’’
Icountenancehim！-Thiskindsisterofminewouldpersuadeyou，CaptainWaverley，thatItakewhatthepeopleofoldusedtocalla`steakraid，’thatis，a`collopoftheforay，’or，inplainerwords，aportionoftherobber’sbooty，paidbyhimtotheLairdorChiefthroughwhosegroundshedrovehisprey。
O，itiscertain，thatunlessIcanfindsomewaytocharmFlora’stongue，GeneralBlakencywillsendasergeant’spartyfromStirling(thishesaidwithhaughtyandemphaticirony)toseizeVichIanVohr，astheynicknameme，inhisowncastle。’’
Now，Fergus，mustnotourguestbesensiblethatallthisisfollyandaffectation？Youhavemenenoughtoserveyouwithoutenlistingbanditti，andyourownhonourisabovetaint-
Whydon’tyousendthisDonaldBeanLean，whomIhateforhissmoothnessandduplicityevenmorethanforhisrapine，outofyourcountryatonce？Nocauseshouldinducemetotoleratesuchacharacter。’’
_No_cause，Flora？’’saidtheChieftainsignificantly。
Nocause，Fergus！noteventhatwhichisnearesttomyheart。Spareittheomenofsuchevilsupporters！’’
Obut，sister，’’rejoinedtheChiefgaily，youdon’tconsidermyrespectfor_labellepassion。_EvanDhuMaccombichisinlovewithDonald’sdaughter，Alice，andyoucannotexpectmetodisturbhiminhisamours。Why，thewholeclanwouldcryshameonme。Youknowitisoneoftheirwisesayingsthatakinsmanispartofaman’sbody，butafoster-brotherisapieceofhisheart。’’
Well，Fergus，thereisnodisputingwithyou；butIwouldallthismayendwell。’’
Devoutlyprayed，mydearandpropheticsister，andthebestwayintheworldtocloseadubiousargument-Buthearyenotthepipes，CaptainWaverley？Perhapsyouwilllikebettertodancetotheminthehall，thantobedeafenedwiththeirharmonywithouttakingpartintheexercisetheyinviteusto。’’
WaverleytookFlora’shand。Thedance，song，andmerry-makingproceeded，andclosedtheday’sentertainmentatthecastleofVichIanVohr。Edwardatlengthretired，hismindagitatedbyavarietyofnewandconflictingfeelings，whichdetainedhimfromrestforsometime，inthatnotunpleasingstateofmindinwhichfancytakesthehelm，andthesoulratherdriftspassivelyalongwiththerapidandconfusedtideofreflections，thanexertsitselftoencounter，systematise，orexaminethem。Atalatehourhefellasleep，anddreamedofFloraMac-Ivor。
Shallthisbealongorashortchapter？-Thisisaquestioninwhichyou，gentlereader，havenovote，howevermuchyoumaybeinterestedintheconsequences；justasyoumay(likemyself)probablyhavenothingtodowiththeimposinganewtax，exceptingthetriflingcircumstanceofbeingobligedtopayit。Morehappysurelyinthepresentcase，since，thoughitlieswithinmyarbitrarypowertoextendmymaterialsasI
thinkproper，IcannotcallyouintoExchequerifyoudonotthinkpropertoreadmynarrative。Letmethereforeconsider。
ItistruethattheannalsanddocumentsinmyhandssaybutlittleofthisHighlandchase；butthenIcanfindcopiousmaterialsfordescriptionelsewhere。ThereisoldLindsayofPitscottiereadyatmyelbow，withhisAtholehunting，andhisloftedandjoistedpalaceofgreentimber；withallkindofdrinktobehadinburghandland，asale，beer，wine，muscadel，malvaise，hippocras，andaquavit；withwheat-bread，main-bread，gingerbread，beef，mutton，lamb，veal，venison，goose，grice，capon，coney，crane，swan，partridge，plover，duck，drake，brissel-cock，pawnies，black-cock，muir-fowl，andcapercailzies；’’
notforgettingthecostlybedding，vaiselle，andnapry，’’andleastofall，theexcellingstewards，cunningbaxters，excellentcooksandpottingars，withconfectionsanddrugsforthedesserts。’’
BesidestheparticularswhichmaybethencegleanedforthisHighlandfeast(thesplendourofwhichinducedthePope’slegatetodissentfromanopinionwhichhehadhithertoheld，thatScotland，namely，wasthe-the-thelatterendoftheworld)-besidesthese，mightInotilluminatemypageswithTaylortheWaterPoet’shuntinginthebraesofMar，where，Throughheather，mosse，’mongfrogs，andbogs，andfogs，’Mongstcraggycliffsandthunder-batteredhills，Hares，hinds，bucks，roes，arechasedbymenanddogs，Wheretwohours’huntingfourscorefatdeerkills。
Lowland，yoursportsarelowasisyourseat；
TheHighlandgamesandmindsarehighandgreat。
Butwithoutfarthertyrannyovermyreaders，ordisplayoftheextentofmyownreading，IshallcontentmyselfwithborrowingasingleincidentfromthememorablehuntingatLude，commemoratedintheingeniousMr。Gunn’sEssayontheCaledonianHarp，andsoproceedinmystorywithallthebrevitythatmynaturalstyleofcomposition，partakingofwhatscholarscalltheperiphrasticandambagitory，andthevulgarthecircumbendibus，willpermitme。
Thesolemnhuntingwasdelayed，fromvariouscauses，foraboutthreeweeks。TheintervalwasspentbyWaverleywithgreatsatisfactionatGlennaquoich；fortheimpressionwhichFlorahadmadeonhismindattheirfirstmeetinggrewdailystronger。Shewaspreciselythecharactertofascinateayouthofromanticimagination。Hermanners，herlanguage，hertalentsforpoetryandmusic，gaveadditionalandvariedinfluencetohereminentpersonalcharms。EveninherhoursofgaietyshewasinhisfancyexaltedabovetheordinarydaughtersofEve，andseemedonlytostoopforaninstanttothosetopicsofamusementandgallantrywhichothersappeartolivefor。
Intheneighbourhoodofthisenchantress，whilesportconsumedthemorning，andmusicandthedanceledonthehoursofevening，Waverleybecamedailymoredelightedwithhishospitablelandlord，andmoreenamouredofhisbewitchingsister。
Atlengththeperiodfixedforthegrandhuntingarrived，andWaverleyandtheChieftaindepartedfortheplaceofrendezvous，whichwasaday’sjourneytothenorthwardofGlennaquoich。
Ferguswasattendedonthisoccasionbyaboutthreehundredofhisclan，wellarmed，andaccoutredintheirbestfashion。
Waverleycompliedsofarwiththecustomofthecountryastoadoptthetrews(hecouldnotbereconciledtothekilt)，brogues，andbonnet，asthefittestdressfortheexerciseinwhichhewastobeengaged，andwhichleastexposedhimtobestaredatasastrangerwhentheyshouldreachtheplaceofrendezvous。