第59章

ThislastdilemmahadalmostdisturbedFergus’sgravity。 Why，’’saidhe，youknow，Baron，theproverbtellsus，`It’silltakingthebreeksoffaHighlandman，’-andthebootsarehereinthesamepredicament。’’ Theword_calig，_however，’’continuedtheBaron，thoughIadmit，that，byfamilytradition，andeveninourancientevidents，itisexplained_lie_=boots，=means，initsprimitivesense，rathersandals；andCaiusCsar，thenephewandsuccessorofCaiusTiberius，receivedtheagnomenofCaligula，_acaligulis，sivecaligislevioribus，quibusadolescentiorususfueratinexercituGermanicipatrissui。_Andthe_calig_werealsopropertothemonasticbodies；forwereadinanancientGlossarium，upontheruleofStBenedict，intheAbbeyofSt。Amand，that_calig_ weretiedwithlatchets。’’ Thatwillapplytothebrogues，’’saidFergus。 Itwillso，mydearGlennaquoich；andthewordsareexpress：_Caligdictsuntquialigantur；namsoccinonligantur，sedtantumintromittuntur；_thatis，_calig_aredenominatedfromtheligatureswherewiththeyarebound；whereas_socci，_whichmaybeanalogoustoourmules，whilktheEnglishdenominateslippers，areonlyslippeduponthefeet。Thewordsofthecharterarealsoalternative，-_exuere，seudetrahere；_thatis，to_undo，_asinthecaseofsandalsorbrogues；andto_pulloff，_aswesayvernacularly，concerningboots。YetIwouldwehadmorelight；butIfearthereislittlechanceoffindinghereaboutanyeruditeauthor_derevestiari。_’’ Ishoulddoubtitverymuch，’’saidtheChieftain，lookingaroundonthestragglingHighlanders，whowerereturningloadedwithspoilsoftheslain，thoughthe_resvestiaria_itselfseemstobeinsomerequestatpresent。’’ ThisremarkcomingwithintheBaron’sideaofjocularity，hehonoureditwithasmile，butimmediatelyresumedwhattohimappearedveryseriousbusiness。 BailieMacwheebleindeedholdsanopinion，thatthishonoraryserviceisdue，fromitsverynature，_sipetaturtantum；_ onlyifhisRoyalHighnessshallrequireofthegreattenantofthecrowntoperformthatpersonalduty；andindeedhepointedoutthecaseinDirleton’sDoubtsandQueries，Grippet_versus_ Spicer，anenttheevictionofanestate_obnonsolutumcanonem，_ thatis，fornon-paymentofafeu-dutyofthreepeppercornsa-year，whilkweretaxttobeworthseven-eighthsofapennyScots，inwhilkthedefenderwasassoilzied。ButIdeemitsafest，wi’yourgoodfavour，toplacemyselfinthewayofrenderingthePrincethisservice，andtoprofferperformancethereof；andIshallcausetheBailietoattendwithascheduleofaprotest，whilkhehashereprepared(takingoutapaper)，intimating，thatifitshallbehisRoyalHighness’spleasuretoacceptofotherassistanceatpullingoffhis_calig_(whetherthesameshallberenderedbootsorbrogues)savethatofthesaidBaronofBradwardine，whoisinpresencereadyandwillingtoperformthesame，itshallinnowiseimpingeuponorprejudicetherightofthesaidCosmoComyneBradwardinetoperformthesaidserviceinfuture；norshallitgiveanyesquire，valetofthechamber，squire，orpage，whoseassistanceitmaypleasehisRoyalHighnesstoemploy，anyright，title，orground，forevictingfromthesaidCosmo，ComyneBradwardinetheestateandbaronyofBradwardine，andothersheldasaforesaid，bythedueandfaithfulperformancethereof。’’ Fergushighlyapplaudedthisarrangement；andtheBarontookafriendlyleaveofthem，withasmileofcontentedimportanceuponhisvisage。 LongliveourdearfriendtheBaron，’’exclaimedtheChief，assoonashewasoutofhearing，forthemostabsurdoriginalthatexistsnorthoftheTweed！IwishtoheavenIhadrecommendedhimtoattendthecirclethiseveningwithaboot-ketchunderhisarm。Ithinkhemighthaveadoptedthesuggestion，ifithadbeenmadewithsuitablegravity。’’ Andhowcanyoutakepleasureinmakingamanofhisworthsoridiculous？’’ Beggingpardon，mydearWaverley，youareasridiculousashe。Why，doyounotseethattheman’swholemindiswrappedupinthisceremony？Hehasheardandthoughtofitsinceinfancy，asthemostaugustprivilegeandceremonyintheworld；andIdoubtnotbuttheexpectedpleasureofperformingitwasaprincipalmotivewithhimfortakinguparms。Dependuponit，hadIendeavouredtodiverthimfromexposinghimself，hewouldhavetreatedmeasanignorantconceitedcoxcomb，orperhapsmighthavetakenafancytocutmythroat；apleasurewhichheonceproposedtohimselfuponsomepointofetiquette，nothalfsoimportant，inhiseyes，asthismatterofbootsorbrogues，ofwhateverthecaligshallfinallybepronouncedbythelearned。ButImustgotohead-quarterstopreparethePrinceforthisextraordinaryscene。 Myinformationwillbewelltaken，foritwillgivehimaheartylaughatpresent，andputhimonhisguardagainstlaughing，whenitmightbevery_mal-a-propos。_So，_aurevoir，_mydearWaverley。’’ ThefirstoccupationofWaverley，afterhedepartedfromtheChieftain，wastogoinquestoftheofficerwhoselifehehadsaved。Hewasguarded，alongwithhiscompanionsinmisfortune，whowereverynumerous，inagentleman’shousenearthefieldofbattle。 Onenteringtheroomwheretheystoodcrowdedtogether，Waverleyeasilyrecognisedtheobjectofhisvisit，notonlybythepeculiardignityofhisappearance，butbytheappendageofDugaldMahony，withhisbattle-axe，whohadstucktohimfromthemomentofhiscaptivity，asifhehadbeenskeweredtohisside。Thiscloseattendancewas，perhaps，forthepurposeofsecuringhispromisedrewardfromEdward，butitalsooperatedtosavetheEnglishgentlemanfrombeingplunderedinthesceneofgeneralconfusion；forDugaldsagaciouslyargued，thattheamountofthesalvagewhichhemightbeallowed，wouldberegulatedbythestateoftheprisoner，whenheshoulddeliverhimovertoWaverley。HehastenedtoassureWaverley，therefore，withmorewordsthanheusuallyemployed，thathehadkeepitta_sidierroy_haill，andthathewasnaaplackthewaursincetheferrymomentwhenhishonourforbadhertogiehimabitclamhewitwi’herLochaberaxe。’’ WaverleyassuredDugaldofaliberalrecompense，and，approachingtheEnglishofficer，expressedhisanxietytodoanythingwhichmightcontributetohisconvenienceunderhispresentunpleasantcircumstances。 Iamnotsoinexperiencedasoldier，sir，’’answeredtheEnglishman，astocomplainofthefortuneofwar。Iamonlygrievedtoseethosescenesactedinourownisland，whichIhaveoftenwitnessedelsewherewithcomparativeindifference。’’ Anothersuchdayasthis，’’saidWaverley，andItrustthecauseofyourregretswillberemoved，andallwillagainreturntopeaceandorder。’’ Theofficersmiledandshookhishead。Imustnotforgetmysituationsofarastoattemptaformalconfutationofthatopinion；but，notwithstandingyoursuccess，andthevalourwhichachievedit，youhaveundertakenatasktowhichyourstrengthappearswhollyinadequate。’’ AtthismomentFerguspushedintothepress。 Come，Edward，comealong；thePrincehasgonetoPinkie-houseforthenight；andwemustfollow，orloosethewholeceremonyofthe_calig。_Yourfriend，theBaron，hasbeenguiltyofagreatpieceofcruelty；hehasinsistedupondraggingBailieMacwheebleouttothefieldofbattle。NowyoumustknowtheBailie’sgreatesthorrorisanarmedHighlander，oraloadedgun；andtherehestands，listeningtotheBaron’sinstructionsconcerningtheprotest，duckinghisheadlikeasea-gullatthereportofeverygunandpistolthatouridleboysarefiringuponthefields；andundergoing，bywayofpenance，ateverysymptomofflinching，asevererebukefromhispatron，whowouldnotadmitthedischargeofawholebatteryofcannon，withinpoint-blankdistance，asanapologyforneglectingadiscourse，inwhichthehonourofhisfamilyisinterested。’’ ButhowhasMr。Bradwardinegothimtoventuresofar？’’ saidEdward。 Why，hehadcomeasfarasMusselburgh，Ifancy，inhopesofmakingsomeofourwills；andtheperemptorycommandsoftheBarondraggedhimforwardtoPrestonafterthebattlewasover。Hecomplainsofoneortwoofourragamuffinshavingputhiminperilofhislife，bypresentingtheirpiecesathim； butastheylimitedhisransomtoanEnglishpenny，Idon’tthinkweneedtroubletheprovost-marshaluponthatsubject。So，comealong，Waverley。’’ Waverley！’’saidtheEnglishofficer，withgreatemotion； thenephewofSirEverardWaverley，ofshire？’’ Thesame，Sir，’’repliedourhero，somewhatsurprisedatthetoneinwhichhewasaddressed。 Iamatoncehappyandgrieved，’’saidtheprisoner，tohavemetwithyou。’’ Iamignorant，sir，’’answeredWaverley，howIhavedeservedsomuchinterest。’’ DidyourunclenevermentionafriendcalledTalbot？’’ Ihaveheardhimtalkwithgreatregardofsuchaperson，’’ repliedEdward；acolonel，Ibelieve，inthearmy，andthehusbandofLadyEmilyBlandeville；butIthoughtColonelTalbothadbeenabroad。’’ Iamjustreturned，’’answeredtheofficer；andbeinginScotland，thoughtitmydutytoactwheremyservicespromisedtobeuseful。Yes，Mr。Waverley，IamthatColonelTalbot，thehusbandoftheladyyouhavenamed；andIamproudtoacknowledgethatIowealikemyprofessionalrankandmydomestichappinesstoyourgenerousandnoble-mindedrelative。 GoodGod！thatIshouldfindhisnephewinsuchadress，andengagedinsuchacause！’’ Sir，’’saidFergus，haughtily，thedressandcausearethoseofmenofbirthandhonour。’’ Mysituationforbidsmetodisputeyourassertion，’’saidColonelTalbot；otherwiseitwerenodifficultmattertoshow，thatneithercouragenorprideoflineagecangildabadcause。 But，withMr。Waverley’spermission，andyours，sir，ifyoursalsomustbeasked，Iwouldwillinglyspeakafewwordswithhimonaffairsconnectedwithhisownfamily。’’ Mr。Waverley，sir，regulateshisownmotions-Youwillfollowme，Isuppose，toPinkie，’’saidFergus，turningtoEdward，whenyouhavefinishedyourdiscoursewiththisnewacquaintance？’’ Sosaying，theChiefofGlennaquoichadjustedhisplaidwithrathermorethanhisusualairofhaughtyassumption，andlefttheapartment。 TheinterestofWaverleyreadilyprocuredforColonelTalbotthefreedomofadjourningtoalargegardenbelongingtohisplaceofconfinement。Theywalkedafewpacesinsilence，ColonelTalbotapparentlystudyinghowtoopenwhathehadtosay；atlengthheaddressedEdward。 Mr。Waverley，youhavethisdaysavedmylife；andyetI wouldtoGodthatIhadlostit，ereIhadfoundyouwearingtheuniformandcockadeofthesemen。’’ Iforgiveyourreproach，ColonelTalbot；itiswellmeant，andyoureducationandprejudicesrenderitnatural。Butthereisnothingextraordinaryinfindingaman，whosehonourhasbeenpubliclyandunjustlyassailed，inthesituationwhichpromisedmostfairtoaffordhimsatisfactiononhiscalumniators。’’ Ishouldrathersay，inthesituationmostlikelytoconfirmthereportswhichtheyhavecirculated，’’saidColonelTalbot，byfollowingtheverylineofconductascribedtoyou。Areyouaware，Mr。Waverley，oftheinfinitedistressandevendanger，whichyourpresentconducthasoccasionedtoyournearestrelatives？’’ Danger！’’ Yes，sir，danger。WhenIleftEngland，youruncleandfatherhadbeenobligedtofindbailtoanswerachargeoftreason，towhichtheywereonlyadmittedbytheexertionofthemostpowerfulinterest。IcamedowntoScotland，withthesolepurposeofrescuingyoufromthegulfintowhichyouhaveprecipitatedyourself；norcanIestimatetheconsequencestoyourfamilyofyourhavingopenlyjoinedtherebellion，sincetheverysuspicionofyourintentionwassoperiloustothem。 MostdeeplydoIregretthatIdidnotmeetyoubeforethislastandfatalerror。’’ Iamreallyignorant，’’saidWaverleyinatoneofreserve，whyColonelTalbotshouldhavetakensomuchtroubleonmyaccount。’’ Mr。Waverley，’’answeredTalbot，Iamdullatapprehendingirony；andthereforeIshallansweryourwordsaccordingtotheirplainmeaning。Iamindebtedtoyouruncleforbenefitsgreaterthanthosewhichasonowestoafather。I acknowledgetohimthedutyofason；andasIknowthereisnomannerinwhichIcanrequitehiskindnesssowellasbyservingyou，Iwillserveyou，ifpossible，whetheryouwillpermitmeorno。Thepersonalobligationwhichyouhavethisdaylaidmeunder(althoughincommonestimationasgreatasonehumanbeingcanbestowonanother)addsnothingtomyzealonyourbehalf；norcanthatzealbeabatedbyanycoolnesswithwhichyoumaypleasetoreceiveit。’’