Itisbuttoowellknownhowmanygentlemenofrank，education，andfortune，tookaconcernintheill-fatedanddesperateundertakingof1745。Theladies，also，ofScotlandverygenerallyespousedthecauseofthegallantandhandsomeyoungPrince，whothrewhimselfuponthemercyofhiscountrymen，ratherlikeaheroofromancethanacalculatingpolitician。
Itisnot，therefore，tobewonderedthatEdward，whohadspentthegreaterpartofhislifeinthesolemnseclusionofWaverley-Honour，shouldhavebeendazzledatthelivelinessandeleganceofthescenenowexhibitedinthelong-desertedhallsoftheScottishpalace。Theaccompaniments，indeed，fellshortofsplendour，beingsuchastheconfusionandhurryofthetimeadmitted；still，however，thegeneraleffectwasstriking，andtherankofthecompanyconsidered，mightwellbecalledbrilliant。
Itwasnotlongbeforethelover’seyediscoveredtheobjectofhisattachment。FloraMac-Ivorwasintheactofreturningtoherseat，nearthetopoftheroom，withRoseBradwardinebyherside。Amongmucheleganceandbeauty，theyhadattractedagreatdegreeofthepublicattention，beingcertainlytwoofthehandsomestwomenpresent。ThePrincetookmuchnoticeofboth，particularlyofFlora，withwhomhedanced；apreferencewhichsheprobablyowedtoherforeigneducationandcommandoftheFrenchandItalianlanguages。
Whenthebustleattendingtheconclusionofthedancepermitted，Edward，almostintuitively，followedFergustotheplacewhereMissMac-Ivorwasseated。Thesensationofhopewithwhichhehadnursedhisaffectioninabsenceofthebelovedobjectseemedtovanishinherpresence，and，likeonestrivingtorecovertheparticularsofaforgottendream，hewouldhavegiventheworldatthatmomenttohaverecollectedthegroundsonwhichhehadfoundedexpectationswhichnowseemedsodelusive。HeaccompaniedFerguswithdowncasteyes，tinglingears，andthefeelingsofthecriminal，who，whilethemelancholycartmovesslowlythroughthecrowdsthathaveassembledtobeholdhisexecution，receivesnoclearsensationeitherfromthenoisewhichfillshisears，orthetumultonwhichhecastshiswanderinglook。
Floraseemedalittle-averylittle-affectedanddiscomposedathisapproach。IbringyouanadoptedsonofIvor，’’saidFergus。
AndIreceivehimasasecondbrother，’’repliedFlora。
Therewasaslightemphasisontheword，whichwouldhaveescapedeveryearbutonethatwasfeverishwithapprehension。
Itwas，however，distinctlymarked，and，combinedwithherwholetoneandmanner，plainlyintimated，IwillneverthinkofMr。Waverleyasamoreintimateconnexion。’’Edwardstopped，bowed，andlookedatFergus，whobithislip；amovementofanger，whichprovedthathealsohadputasinisterinterpretationonthereceptionwhichhissisterhadgivenhisfriend。Thisthenisanendofmyday-dream！’’SuchwasWaverley’sfirstthought，anditwassoexquisitelypainfulastobanishfromhischeekeverydropofblood。
GoodGod！’’saidRoseBradwardine，heisnotyetrecovered！’’
Thesewords，whichsheutteredwithgreatemotion，wereoverheardbytheChevalierhimself，whosteppedhastilyforward，andtakingWaverleybythehand，inquiredkindlyafterhishealth，andadded，thathewishedtospeakwithhim。Byastrongandsuddeneffort，whichthecircumstancesrenderedindispensable，WaverleyrecoveredhimselfsofarastofollowtheChevalierinsilencetoarecessintheapartment。
HerethePrincedetainedhimsometime，askingvariousquestionsaboutthegreatToryandCatholicfamiliesofEngland，theirconnexions，theirinfluence，andthestateoftheiraffectionstowardsthehouseofStuart。TothesequeriesEdwardcouldnotatanytimehavegivenmorethangeneralanswers，anditmaybesupposedthat，inthepresentstateofhisfeelings，hisresponseswereindistinct，eventoconfusion。TheChevaliersmiledonceortwiceattheincongruityofhisreplies，butcontinuedthesamestyleofconversation，althoughhefoundhimselfobligedtooccupytheprincipalshareofit，untilheperceivedthatWaverleyhadrecoveredhispresenceofmind。ItisprobablethatthislongaudiencewaspartlymeanttofurthertheideawhichthePrincedesiredshouldbeentertainedamonghisfollowers，thatWaverleywasacharacterofpoliticalinfluence。
Butitappearedfromhisconcludingexpressions，thathehadadifferentandgood-naturedmotive，personaltoourhero，forprolongingtheconference。Icannotresistthetemptation，’’
hesaid，ofboastingofmyowndiscretionasalady’sconfidant。
Yousee，Mr。Waverley，thatIknowall，andIassureyouI
amdeeplyinterestedintheaffair。But，mygoodyoungfriend，youmustputamoresevererestraintuponyourfeelings。Therearemanyherewhoseeyescanseeasclearlyasmine，buttheprudenceofwhosetonguesmaynotbeequallytrusted。’’
Sosaying，heturnedeasilyaway，andjoinedacircleofofficersatafewpaces’distance，leavingWaverleytomeditateuponhispartingexpression，which，thoughnotintelligibletohiminitswholepurport，wassufficientlysointhecautionwhichthelastwordrecommended。Making，therefore，anefforttoshowhimselfworthyoftheinterestwhichhisnewmasterhadexpressed，byinstantobediencetohisrecommendation，hewalkeduptothespotwhereFloraandMissBradwardinewerestillseated，andhavingmadehiscomplimentstothelatter，hesucceeded，evenbeyondhisownexpectation，inenteringintoconversationupongeneraltopics。
If，mydearreader，thouhasteverhappenedtotakepost-horsesat，orat(oneatleastofwhichblanks，ormoreprobablyboth，youwillbeabletofillupfromaninnnearyourownresidence)，youmusthaveobserved，anddoubtlesswithsympatheticpain，thereluctantagonywithwhichthepoorjadesatfirstapplytheirgalledneckstothecollarsoftheharness。
Butwhentheirresistibleargumentsofthepost-boyhaveprevaileduponthemtoproceedamileortwo，theywillbecomecalloustothefirstsensation；andbeing_warmintheharness，_asthesaidpost-boymaytermit，proceedasiftheirwitherswerealtogetherunwrung。ThissimilesomuchcorrespondswiththestateofWaverley’sfeelingsinthecourseofthismemorableevening，thatIpreferit(especiallyasbeing，Itrust，whollyoriginal)toanymoresplendidillustration，withwhichByshe’sArtofPoetrymightsupplyme。
Exertion，likevirtue，isitsownreward；andourherohad，moreover，otherstimulatingmotivesforperseveringinadisplayofaffectedcomposureandindifferencetoFlora’sobviousunkindness。Pride，whichsuppliesitscausticasauseful，thoughsevere，remedyforthewoundsofaffection，camerapidlytohisaid。Distinguishedbythefavourofaprince；destined，hehadroomtohope，toplayaconspicuouspartintherevolutionwhichawaitedamightykingdom；excelling，probably，inmentalacquirements，andequalling，atleast，inpersonalaccomplishments，mostofthenobleanddistinguishedpersonswithwhomhewasnowranked；young，wealthy，andhigh-born-
couldhe，oroughthetodroopbeneaththefrownofacapriciousbeauty？
Onymph，unrelentingandcoldasthouart，Mybosomisproudasthineown。
Withthefeelingexpressedinthesebeautifullines(which，however，werenotthenwritten)，<>WaverleydetermineduponTheyoccurinMissSeward’sfineverses，beginning-
Tothyrock，stormyLannow，adieu。
convincingFlorathathewasnottobedepressedbyarejection，inwhichhisvanitywhisperedthatperhapsshedidherownprospectsasmuchinjusticeashis。And，toaidthischangeoffeeling，therelurkedthesecretandunacknowledgedhope，thatshemightlearntoprizehisaffectionmorehighly，whenshedidnotconceiveittobealtogetherwithinherownchoicetoattractorrepulseit。Therewasamystictoneofencouragement，also，intheChevalier’swords，thoughhefearedtheyonlyreferredtothewishesofFergusinfavourofaunionbetweenhimandhissister。Butthewholecircumstancesoftime，place，andincident，combinedatoncetoawakenhisimagination，andtocalluponhimforamanlyandadecisivetoneofconduct，leavingtofatetodisposeoftheissue。Shouldheappeartobetheonlyonesadanddisheartenedontheeveofbattle，howgreedilywouldthetalebecommenteduponbytheslanderwhichhadbeenalreadybuttoobusywithhisfame？Never，never，heinternallyresolved，shallmyunprovokedenemiespossesssuchanadvantageovermyreputation。
Undertheinfluenceofthesemixedsensations，andcheeredattimesbyasmileofintelligenceandapprobationfromthePrinceashepassedthegroup，Waverleyexertedhispowersoffancy，animation，andeloquence，andattractedthegeneraladmirationofthecompany。Theconversationgraduallyassumedthetonebestqualifiedforthedisplayofhistalentsandacquisitions。Thegaietyoftheeveningwasexaltedincharacter，ratherthanchecked，bytheapproachingdangersofthemorrow。Allnerveswerestrungforthefuture，andpreparedtoenjoythepresent。Thismoodofmindishighlyfavourablefortheexerciseofthepowersofimagination，forpoetry，andforthateloquencewhichisalliedtopoetry。
Waverley，aswehaveelsewhereobserved，possessedattimesawonderfulflowofrhetoric；and，onthepresentoccasion，hetouchedmorethanoncethehighernotesoffeeling，andthenagainranoffinawildvoluntaryoffancifulmirth。Hewassupportedandexcitedbykindredspirits，whofeltthesameimpulseofmoodandtime；andeventhoseofmorecoldandcalculatinghabitswerehurriedalongbythetorrent。Manyladiesdeclinedthedance，whichstillwentforward，and，undervariouspretences，joinedthepartytowhichthehandsomeyoungEnglishman’’seemedtohaveattachedhimself。Hewaspresentedtoseveralofthefirstrank，andhismanners，whichforthepresentwerealtogetherfreefromthebashfulrestraintbywhich，inamomentoflessexcitation，theywereusuallyclouded，gaveuniversaldelight。
FloraMac-Ivorappearedtobetheonlyfemalepresentwhoregardedhimwithadegreeofcoldnessandreserve；yetevenshecouldnotsuppressasortofwonderattalents，which，inthecourseoftheiracquaintance，shehadneverseendisplayedwithequalbrilliancyandimpressiveeffect。Idonotknowwhethershemightnotfeelamomentaryregretathavingtakensodecisivearesolutionupontheaddressesofalover，whoseemedfittedsowelltofillahighplaceinthehigheststationsofsociety。CertainlyshehadhithertoaccountedamongtheincurabledeficienciesofEdward’sdisposition，themauvaisehonte，which，asshehadbeeneducatedinthefirstforeigncircles，andwaslittleacquaintedwiththeshynessofEnglishmanners，was，inheropinion，toonearlyrelatedtotimidityandimbecilityofdisposition。ButifapassingwishoccurredthatWaverleycouldhaverenderedhimselfuniformlythusamiableandattractive，itsinfluencewasmomentary；forcircumstanceshadarisensincetheymet，whichrendered，inhereyes，theresolutionshehadformedrespectinghim，finalandirrevocable。
Withoppositefeelings，RoseBradwardinebentherwholesoultolisten。Shefeltasecrettriumphatthepublictributepaidtoonewhosemeritshehadlearnedtoprizetooearlyandtoofondly。Withoutathoughtofjealousy，withoutafeelingoffear，pain，ordoubt，andundisturbedbyasingleselfishconsideration，sheresignedherselftothepleasureofobservingthegeneralmurmurofapplause。WhenWaverleyspoke，herearwasexclusivelyfilledwithhisvoice；whenothersanswered，hereyetookitsturnofobservation，andseemedtowatchhisreply。Perhapsthedelightwhichsheexperiencedinthecourseofthatevening，thoughtransient，andfollowedbymuchsorrow，wasinitsnaturethemostpureanddisinterestedwhichthehumanmindiscapableofenjoying。
Baron，’’saidtheChevalier，Iwouldnottrustmymistressinthecompanyofyouryoungfriend。Heisreally，thoughperhapssomewhatromantic，oneofthemostfascinatingyoungmenwhomIhaveeverseen。’’
Andbymyhonour，sir，’’repliedtheBaron，theladcansometimesbeasdowffasasexagenarylikemyself。IfyourRoyalHighnesshadseenhimdreaminganddozingaboutthebanksofTully-Veolanlikeanhypochondriacperson，or，asBurton’sAnatomiahathit，aphrenesiacorlethargicpatient，youwouldwonderwherehehathsaesuddenlyacquiredallthisfinesprackfestivityandjocularity。’’
Truly，’’saidFergusMac-Ivor，Ithinkitcanonlybetheinspirationofthetartans；for，thoughWaverleybealwaysayoungfellowofsenseandhonour，Ihavehithertooftenfoundhimaveryabsentandinattentivecompanion。’’
Wearethemoreobligedtohim，’’saidthePrince，forhavingreservedforthiseveningqualitieswhichevensuchintimatefriendshadnotdiscovered-Butcome，gentlemen，thenightadvances，andthebusinessofto-morrowmustbeearlythoughtupon。Eachtakechargeofhisfairpartner，andhonourasmallrefreshmentwithyourcompany。’’
Heledthewaytoanothersuiteofapartments，andassumedtheseatandcanopyattheheadofalongrangeoftables，withanairofdignitymingledwithcourtesy，whichwellbecamehishighbirthandloftypretensions。Anhourhadhardlyflownawaywhenthemusiciansplayedthesignalforparting，sowellknowninScotland。<>
Whichis，orwaswonttobe，theoldairofGood-night，andjoybewiyoua’！’’
Good-night，then，’’saidtheChevalier，rising；Good-night，andjoybewithyou！-Good-night，fairladies，whohavesohighlyhonouredaproscribedandbanishedPrince-Good-night，mybravefriends-maythehappinesswehavethiseveningexperiencedbeanomenofourreturntotheseourpaternalhalls，speedilyandintriumph，andofmanyandmanyfuturemeetingsofmirthandpleasureinthepalaceofHolyrood！’’
WhentheBaronofBradwardineafterwardsmentionedthisadieuoftheChevalier，heneverfailedtorepeat，inamelancholytone，Audiit，etvotiPhbussuccederepartemMentededit；partemvolucresdispersitinauras；
which，’’asheadded，isweelrenderedintoEnglishmetrebymyfriendBangour：
Aehalftheprayer，wi’Phbusgracedidfind，Thet’otherhalfhewhistleddownthewind。’’
