YousawwhenCorrinaschianraisedhisvoiceingreatpassion，andlaidhishanduponhissword，Waverleyliftedhisheadasifhehadjustawakedfromadream，andasked，withgreatcomposure，whatthematterwas。’’
Well，anddidnotthelaughtertheyfellintoathisabsenceofmind，servebettertobreakoffthedisputethananythinghecouldhavesaidtothem？’’
True，mydear，’’answeredFlora；butnotquitesocreditablyforWaverleyasifhehadbroughtthemtotheirsensesbyforceofreason。’’
Wouldyouhavehimpeace-makergeneralbetweenallthegunpowderHighlandersinthearmy？Ibegyourpardon，Flora-yourbrother，youknow，isoutofthequestion；hehasmoresensethanhalfofthem。Butcanyouthinkthefierce，hot，furiousspirits，ofwhosebrawlsweseemuch，andhearmore，andwhoterrifymeoutofmylifeeverydayintheworld，areatalltobecomparedtoWaverley？’’
Idonotcomparehimwiththoseuneducatedmen，mydearRose。Ionlylament，that，withhistalentsandgenius，hedoesnotassumethatplaceinsocietyforwhichtheyeminentlyfithim，andthathedoesnotlendtheirfullimpulsetothenoblecauseinwhichhehasenlisted。AretherenotLochiel，andP，andM，andG，allmenofthehighesteducation，aswellasthefirsttalents？-whywillhenotstooplikethemtobealiveanduseful？-Ioftenbelievehiszealisfrozenbythatproudcold-bloodedEnglishman，whomhenowliveswithsomuch。’’
ColonelTalbot？-heisaverydisagreeableperson，tobesure。HelooksasifhethoughtnoScottishwomanworththetroubleofhandingheracupoftea。ButWaverleyissogentle，sowellinformed’’
Yes，’’saidFlora，smiling；hecanadmirethemoon，andquoteastanzafromTasso。’’
Besides，youknowhowhefought，’’addedMissBradwardine。
Formerefighting，’’answeredFlora，Ibelieveallmen(thatis，whodeservethename)areprettymuchalike；thereisgenerallymorecouragerequiredtorunaway。Theyhave，besides，whenconfrontedwitheachother，acertaininstinctforstrife，asweseeinothermaleanimals，suchasdogs，bulls，andsoforth。ButhighandperilousenterpriseisnotWaverley’sforte。HewouldneverhavebeenhiscelebratedancestorSirNigel，butonlySirNigel’seulogistandpoet。Iwilltellyouwherehewillbeathome，mydear，andinhisplace，-inthequietcircleofdomestichappiness，letteredindolence，andelegantenjoyments，ofWaverley-Honour。AndhewillrefittheoldlibraryinthemostexquisiteGothictaste，andgarnishitsshelveswiththerarestandmostvaluablevolumesandhewilldrawplansandlandscapes，andwriteverses，andreartemples，anddiggrottoes；-andhewillstandinaclearsummernightinthecolonnadebeforethehall，andgazeonthedeerastheystrayinthemoonlight，orlieshadowedbytheboughsofthehugeoldfantasticoaks；-andhewillrepeatversestohisbeautifulwife，whowillhanguponhisarm；-andhewillbeahappyman。’’
Andshewillbeahappywoman，’’thoughtpoorRose。Butsheonlysighed，anddroppedtheconversation。
Waverleyhad，indeed，ashelookedcloserintothestateoftheChevalier’sCourt，lessreasontobesatisfiedwithit。Itcontained，astheysayanacornincludesalltheramificationsofthefutureoak，asmanyseedsof_tracasserie_andintrigueasmighthavedonehonourtotheCourtofalargeempire。Everypersonofconsequencehadsomeseparateobject，whichhepursuedwithafurythatWaverleyconsideredasaltogetherdisproportionedtoitsimportance。Almostallhadtheirreasonsfordiscontent，althoughthemostlegitimatewasthatoftheworthyoldBaron，whowasonlydistressedonaccountofthecommoncause。
Weshallhardly，’’saidheonemorningtoWaverley，whentheyhadbeenviewingtheCastle，-weshallhardlygaintheobsidionalcrown，whichyouwotwellwasmadeoftherootsorgrainwhichtakesrootwithintheplacebesieged，oritmaybeoftheherbwoodbine，_paretaria，_orpellitory；weshallnot，I
say，gainitbythissameblockadeorleaguerofEdinburghCastle。’’Forthisopinionhegavemostlearnedandsatisfactoryreasons，thatthereadermaynotcaretohearrepeated。
Havingescapedfromtheoldgentleman，WaverleywenttoFergus’slodgingsbyappointmenttoawaithisreturnfromHolyrood-House。Iamtohaveaparticularaudienceto-morrow，’’
saidFergustoWaverley，overnight，andyoumustmeetmetowishmejoyofthesuccesswhichIsecurelyanticipate。’’
Themorrowcame，andintheChief’sapartmenthefoundEnsignMaccombichwaitingtomakereportofhisturnofdutyinasortofditchwhichtheyhaddugacrosstheCastle-hill，andcalledatrench。InashorttimetheChief’svoicewasheardonthestairinatoneofimpatientfury：-Callum，-why，CallumBeg，-Diaoul！’’Heenteredtheroomwithallthemarksofamanagitatedbyatoweringpassion；andtherewerefewuponwhosefeaturesrageproducedamoreviolenteffect。
Theveinsofhisforeheadswelledwhenhewasinsuchagitation；
hisnostrilbecamedilated；hischeekandeyeinflamed；andhislookthatofademoniac。Theseappearancesofhalf-suppressedragewerethemorefrightful，becausetheywereobviouslycausedbyastrongefforttotemperwithdiscretionanalmostungovernableparoxysmofpassion，andresultedfromaninternalconflictofthemostdreadfulkind，whichagitatedhiswholeframeofmortality。
Asheenteredtheapartment，heunbuckledhisbroadsword，andthrowingitdownwithsuchviolencethattheweaponrolledtotheotherendoftheroom，Iknownotwhat，’’heexclaimed，withholdsmefromtakingasolemnoaththatIwillnevermoredrawitinhiscause。Loadmypistols，Callum，andbringthemhitherinstantly；-instantly。’’Callum，whomnothingeverstartled，dismayed，ordisconcerted，obeyedverycoolly。
EvanDhu，uponwhosebrowthesuspicionthathisChiefhadbeeninsulted，calledupacorrespondingstorm，swelledinsullensilence，awaitingtolearnwhereoruponwhomvengeancewastodescend。
So，Waverley，youarethere，’’saidtheChief，afteramoment’srecollection；-Yes，IrememberIaskedyoutosharemytriumph，andyouhavecometowitnessmy-disappointmentweshallcallit。’’Evannowpresentedthewrittenreporthehadinhishand，whichFergusthrewfromhimwithgreatpassion。IwishtoGod，’’hesaid，theolddenwouldtumbledownupontheheadsofthefoolswhoattack，andtheknaveswhodefendit！Isee，Waverley，youthinkIammad-
leaveus，Evan，butbewithincall。’’
TheColonel’sinanuncokippage，’’saidMrs。FlockharttoEvan，ashedescended；Iwishhemaybeweel，-theveryveinsonhisbrentbrowaxeswelledlikewhip-cord；wadhenotaksomething？’’
Heusuallyletsbloodforthesefits，’’answeredtheHighlandancientwithgreatcomposure。
Whenthisofficerlefttheroom，theChieftaingraduallyreassumedsomedegreeofcomposure-Iknow，Waverley，’’
hesaid，thatColonelTalbothaspersuadedyoutocursetentimesa-dayyourengagementwithus；-nay，neverdenyit，forIamatthismomenttemptedtocursemyown。Wouldyoubelieveit，ImadethisverymorningtwosuitstothePrince，andhehasrejectedthemboth：whatdoyouthinkofit？’’
WhatcanIthink，’’answeredWaverley，tillIknowwhatyourrequestswere？’’
Why，whatsignifieswhattheywere，man？ItellyouitwasIthatmadethem，-I，towhomheowesmorethantoanythree，whohavejoinedthestandard；forInegotiatedthewholebusiness，andbroughtinallthePerthshiremenwhennotonewouldhavestirred。Iamnotlikely，Ithink，toaskanythingveryunreasonable，andifIdidtheymighthavestretchedapoint-Well，butyoushallknowall，nowthatIcandrawmybreathagainwithsomefreedom-Youremembermyearl’spatent；itisdatedsomeyearsback，forservicesthenrendered；
andcertainlymymerithasnotbeendiminished，tosaytheleast，bymysubsequentbehaviour。Nowsir，Ivaluethisbaubleofacoronetaslittleasyoucan，oranyphilosopheronearth；forIholdthatthechiefofsuchaclanastheSliochdnanIvorissuperiorinranktoanyearlinScotland。ButIhadaparticularreasonforassumingthiscursedtitleatthistime。Youmustknow，thatIlearnedaccidentallythatthePrincehasbeenpressingthatoldfoolishbaronofBradwardinetodisinherithismaleheirornineteenthortwentiethcousin，whohastakenacommandintheElectorofHanover’smilitia，andtosettlehisestateuponyourprettylittlefriendRose；andthis，asbeingthecommandofhiskingandoverlord，whomayalterthedestinationofafiefatpleasure，the，oldgentlemanseemswellreconciledto。’’
Andwhatbecomesofthehomage？’’
Cursethehomage！-IbelieveRoseistopullofthequeen’sslipperonhercoronation-day，orsomesuchtrash。Well，sir，asRoseBradwardinewouldalwayshavemadeasuitablematchforme，butforthisidioticalpredilectionofherfatherfortheheir-male，itoccurredtometherenowremainednoobstacle，unlessthattheBaronmightexpecthisdaughter’shusbandtotakethenameofBradwardine(whichyouknowwouldbeimpossibleinmycase)，andthatthismightbeevadedbymyassumingthetitletowhichIhadsogoodaright，andwhich，ofcourse，wouldsupersedethatdifficulty。IfshewastobealsoViscountessBradwardineinherownright，afterherfather’sdemise，somuchthebetter；Icouldhavenoobjection。’’
But，Fergus，’’saidWaverley，IhadnoideathatyouhadanyaffectionforMissBradwardine，andyouarealwayssneeringatherfather。’’
IhaveasmuchaffectionforMissBradwardine，mygoodfriend，asIthinkitnecessarytohaveforthefuturemistressofmyfamily，andthemotherofmychildren。Sheisaverypretty，intelligentgirl，andiscertainlyofoneoftheveryfirstLowlandfamilies；and，withalittleofFlora’sinstructionsandforming，willmakeaverygoodfigure。Astoherfather，heisanoriginal，itistrue，andanabsurdoneenough；buthehasgivensuchseverelessonstoSirNewHalbert，thatdeardefuncttheLairdofBalmawhapple，andothers，thatnobodydarelaughathim，sohisabsurditygoesfornothing。Itellyoutherecouldhavebeennoearthlyobjection-none。Ihadsettledthethingentirelyinmyownmind。’’
ButhadyouaskedtheBaron’sconsent，’’saidWaverley，orRose’s？’’
Towhatpurpose？TohavespoketotheBaronbeforeI
hadassumedmytitlewouldhaveonlyprovokedaprematureandirritatingdiscussiononthesubjectofthechangeofname，when，asEarlofGlennaquoich，Ihadonlytoproposetohimtocarryhisd-dbearandbootjack_partyperpale，_orinascutcheonofpretence，orinaseparateshieldperhaps-anywaythatwou1dnotblemishmyowncoat-of-arms。AndastoRose，Idon’tseewhatobjectionshecouldhavemade，ifherfatherwassatisfied。’’
Perhapsthesamethatyoursistermakestome，youbeingsatisfied。’’
Fergusgaveabroadstareatthecomparisonwhichthissuppositionimplied，butcautiouslysuppressedtheanswerwhichrosetohistongue。O，weshouldeasilyhavearrangedallthat-So，sir，Icravedaprivateinterview，andthismorningwasassigned；andIaskedyoutomeetmehere，thinking，likeafool，thatIshouldwantyourcountenanceasbride’s-man。
Well-Istatemypretensions-theyarenotdenied；thepromisessorepeatedlymade，andthepatentgranted-theyareacknowledged。ButIpropose，asanaturalconsequence，toassumetherankwhichthepatentbestowed-IhavetheoldstoryofthejealousyofCandMtrumpedupagainstme-Iresistthispretext，andoffertoprocuretheirwrittenacquiescence，invirtueofthedateofmypatentaspriortotheirsillyclaims-IassureyouIwouldhavehadsuchaconsentfromthem，ifithadbeenatthepointofthesword。Andthen，outcomestheredtruth；andhedarestotellme，tomyface，thatmypatentmustbesuppressedforthepresent，forfearofdisgustingthatrascallycowardand_faineant_-(namingtherivalchiefofhisownclan)-whohasnobettertitletobeachieftain，thanItobeEmperorofChina；andwhoispleasedtoshelterhisdastardlyreluctancetocomeout，agreeabletohispromisetwentytimespledged，underapretendedjealousyofthePrince’spartialitytome。And，toleavethismiserabledrivellerwithoutapretenceforhiscowardice，thePrinceasksitasapersonalfavourofme，forsooth，nottopressmyjustandreasonablerequestatthismoment。Afterthis，putyourfaithinprinces！’’
Anddidyouraudienceendhere？’’
End？Ono！Iwasdeterminedtoleavehimnopretenceforhisingratitude，andIthereforestated，withallthecomposureIcouldmuster，-forIpromiseyouItrembledwithpassion，-theparticularreasonsIhadforwishingthathisRoyalHighnesswouldimposeuponmeanyothermodeofexhibitingmydutyanddevotion，asmyviewsinlifemade，whatatanyothertimewouldhavebeenameretrifle，atthiscrisisaseveresacrifice；andthenIexplainedtohimmyfullplan。’’
