AndwhatdidthePrinceanswer？’’
Answer？why-itiswellitiswritten，Cursenottheking；
no，notinthythought！-why，heanswered，thattrulyhewasgladIhadmadehimmyconfidant，topreventmoregrievousdisappointment，forhecouldassureme，uponthewordofaprince，thatMissBradwardine’saffectionswereengaged，andhewasunderaparticularpromisetofavourthem。`So，mydearFergus，’saidhe，withhismostgraciouscutofsmile，`asthemarriageisutterlyoutofquestion，thereneedbenohurry。
youknow，abouttheearldom。’Andsoheglidedoff，andleftme_plant
l。_’’
Andwhatdidyoudo？’’
I’lltellyouwhatI_could_havedoneatthatmoment-soldmyselftothedevilortheElector，whicheverofferedthedearestrevenge。However，Iamnowcool。IknowheintendstomarryhertosomeofhisrascallyFrenchmen，orhisIrishofficers：butIwillwatchthemclose；andletthemanthatwouldsupplantmelookwelltohimself-_Bisognacoprirsi，Signor。_’’
Aftersomefurtherconversation，unnecessarytobedetailed，WaverleytookleaveoftheChieftain，whosefuryhadnowsubsidedintoadeepandstrongdesireofvengeance，andreturnedhome，scarceabletoanalyzethemixtureoffeelingswhichthenarrativehadawakenedinhisownbosom。
Iamtheverychildofcaprice，’’saidWaverleytohimself，asheboltedthedoorofhisapartment，andpaceditwithhastysteps-WhatisittomethatFergusMac-IvorshouldwishtomarryRoseBradwardine？-Ilovehernot-Imighthavebeenlovedbyher，perhaps；butIrejectedhersimple，natural，andaffectingattachment，insteadofcherishingitintotenderness，anddedicatedmyselftoonewhowillneverlovemortalman，unlessoldWarwick，theKing-maker，shouldarisefromthedead。TheBaron，too-Iwouldnothavecaredabouthisestate，andsothenamewouldhavebeennostumbling-block。
Thedevilmighthavetakenthebarrenmoors，anddrawnofftheroyal_calig，_foranythingIwouldhaveminded。But，framedassheisfordomesticaffectionandtenderness，forgivingandreceivingallthosekindandquietattentionswhichsweetenlifetothosewhopassittogether，sheissoughtbyFergusMac-Ivor。Hewillnotuseherill，tobesure-ofthatheisincapable-buthewillneglectherafterthefirstmonth；
hewillbetoointentonsubduingsomerivalchieftain，orcircumventingsomefavouriteatcourt，ongainingsomeheathyhillandlake，oraddingtohisbandssomenewtroopofcaterans，toinquirewhatshedoes，orhowsheamusesherself。
Andthenwillcankersorroweatherbud，Andchasethenativebeautyfromhercheek；
Andshewilllookashollowasaghost，Anddimandmeagreasanaguefit，Andsoshe’lldie。
Andsuchacatastropheofthemostgentlecreatureonearthmighthavebeenprevented，ifMr。EdwardWaverleyhadhadhiseyes！Uponmyword，IcannotunderstandhowIthoughtFlorasomuch-thatis，so_very_much-handsomerthanRose。
Sheistaller，indeed，andhermannermoreformed；butmanypeoplethinkMissBradwardine’smorenatural；andsheiscertainlymuchyounger。IshouldthinkFloraistwoyearsolderthanIam-Iwilllookatthemparticularlythisevening。’’
Andwiththisresolution，Waverleywenttodrinktea(asthefashionwasSixtyyearssince)atthehouseofaladyofqualityattachedtothecauseoftheChevalier，wherehefound，asheexpected，boththeladies。Allroseasheentered，butFloraimmediatelyresumedherplace，andtheconversationinwhichshewasengaged。Rose，onthecontrary，almostimperceptiby，madealittlewayinthecrowdedcircleforhisadvancingthecornerofachair。Hermanner，uponthewhole，ismostengaging，’’saidWaverleytohimself。
AdisputeoccurredwhethertheGaelicorItalianlanguagewasmostliquid，andbestadaptedforpoetry；theopinionfortheGaelic，whichprobablymightnothavefoundsupporterselsewhere，washerefiercelydefendedbysevenHighlandladies，whotalkedatthetopoftheirlungs，andscreamedthecompanydeaf，withexamplesofCeltic_euphonia。_FloraobservingtheLowlandladiessneeratthecomparison，producedsomereasonstoshowthatitwasnotaltogethersoabsurd；butRose，whenaskedforheropinion，gaveitwithanimation，inpraiseofItalian，whichshehadstudiedwithWaverley’sassistance。ShehasamorecorrectearthanFlora，thoughalessaccomplishedmusician，’’saidWaverleytohimself。IsupposeMissMac-IvorwillnextcompareMac-MurroughnanFonntoAriosto！’’
Lastly，itsobefellthatthecompanydifferedwhetherFergusshouldbeaskedtoperformontheflute，atwhichhewasanadept，orWaverleyinvitedtoreadaplayofShakspeare；andtheladyofthehousegood-humouredlyundertooktocollectthevotesofthecompanyforpoetryormusic，underthecondition，thatthegentlemanwhosetalentswerenotlaidundercontributionthatevening，shouldcontributethemtoenliventhenext。ItchancedthatRosehadthecastingvote。NowFlora，whoseemedtoimposeitasaruleuponherselfnevertocountenanceanyproposalwhichmightseemtoencourageWaverley，hadvotedformusic，providingtheBaronwouldtakehisviolintoaccompanyFergus。Iwishyoujoyofyourtaste，MissMac-Ivor，’’
thoughtEdward，astheysoughtforhisbook。IthoughtitbetterwhenwewereatGlennaquoich；butcertainlytheBaronisnogreatperformer，andShakespeareisworthlisteningto。’’
RomeoandJulietwasselected，andEdwardreadwithtaste，feeling，andspirit，severalscenesfromthatplay。Allthecompanyapplaudedwiththeirhands，andmanywiththeirtears。Flora，towhomthedramawaswellknown，wasamongtheformer；Rose，towhomitwasaltogethernew，belongedtothelatterclassofadmirers。Shehasmorefeeling，too，’’saidWaverley，internally。
Theconversationturningupontheincidentsoftheplay，anduponthecharacters，Fergusdeclaredthattheonlyoneworthnaming，asamanoffashionandspirit，wasMercutio。Icouldnot，’’hesaid，quitefollowallhisold-fashionedwit，buthemusthavebeenaveryprettyfellow，accordingtotheideasofhistime。’’
Anditwasashame，’’saidEnsignMaccombich，whousuallyfollowedhisColoneleverywhere，forthatTibbert，orTaggart，orwhateverwashisname，tostickhimundertheothergentleman’sarm，whilehewasreddingthefray。’’
Theladies，ofcourse，declaredloudlyinfavourofRomeo；
butthisopiniondidnotgoundisputed。Themistressofthehouse，andseveralotherladies，severelyreprobatedthelevitywithwhichtheherotransfershisaffectionsfromRosalindtoJuliet。Floraremainedsilentuntilheropinionwasrepeatedlyrequested，andthenanswered，shethoughtthecircumstanceobjectedtonotonlyreconcilabletonaturebutsuchasinthehighestdegreeevincedtheartofthepoet。Romepisdescribed，’’saidshe，asayoungman，peculiarlysusceptibleofthesofterpassions；hisloveisatfirstfixeduponawomanwhocouldafforditnoreturn；thisherepeatedlytellsyou，-
Fromlove’sweakchildishbowshelivesunharmed；
andagain，-
Shehathforsworntolove。
Now，asitwasimpossiblethatRomeo’slove，supposinghimareasonablebeing，couldcontinuetosubsistwithouthope，thepoethas，withgreatart，seizedthemomentwhenhewasreducedactuallytodespair，tothrowinhiswayanobjectmoreaccomplishedthanherbywhomhehadbeenrejected，andwhoisdisposedtorepayhisattachment。IcanscarceconceiveasituationmorecalculatedtoenhancetheardourofRomeo’saffectionforJuliet，thanhisbeingatonceraisedbyherfromthestateofdroopingmelancholyinwhichheappearsfirstuponthescene，totheecstaticstateinwhichheexclaims-
comewhatsorrowcan，ItcannotcountervailtheexchangeofjoyThatoneshortmomentgivesmeinhersight。’’
Good，now，MissMac-Ivor，’’saidayoungladyofquality，doyoumeantocheatusoutofourprerogative？willyoupersuadeuslovecannotsubsistwithouthope，orthatthelovermustbecomefickleiftheladyiscruel？Ofie！Ididnotexpectsuchanunsentimentalconclusion。’’
Alover，mydearLadyBetty，’’saidFlora，may，Iconceive，persevereinhissuit，underverydiscouragingcircumstances。
Affectioncan(nowandthen)withstandveryseverestormsofrigour，butnotalongpolarfrostofdownrightindifference。
Don’t，evenwith_your_attractions，trytheexperimentuponanyloverwhosefaithyouvalue。Lovewillsubsistonwonderfullylittlehope，butnotaltogetherwithoutit。’’
ItwillbejustlikeDuncanMac-Girdie’smare，’’saidEvan，ifyourladyshipsplease；hewantedtouseherbydegreestolivewithoutmeat，andjustashehadputheronastrawa-day，thepoorthingdied！’’
Evan’sillustrationsetthecompanya-laughing，andthediscoursetookadifferentturn。Shortlyafterwardsthepartybrokeup，andEdwardreturnedhome，musingonwhatFlorahadsaid。
IwilllovemyRosalindnomore，’’saidhe：shehasgivenmeabroadenoughhintforthat；andIwillspeaktoherbrother，andresignmysuit。ButforaJuliet-woulditbehandsometointerferewithFergus’spretensions？-thoughitisimpossibletheycaneversucceed：andshouldtheymiscarry，whatthen？-
whythen_alorscommealors。_’’Andwiththisresolution，ofbeingguidedbycircumstances，didourherocommithimselftorepose。
Ifmyfairreadersshouldbeofopinionthatmyhero’slevityinloveisaltogetherunpardonable，Imustremindthemthatallhisgriefsanddifficultiesdidnotarisefromthatsentimentalsource。Eventhelyricpoet，whocomplainssofeelinglyofthepainsoflove，couldnotforget，that，atthesametime，hewasindebtandindrink，’’which，doubtless，weregreataggravationsofhisdistress。TherewereindeedwholedaysinwhichWaverleythoughtneitherofFloranorRoseBradwardine，butwhichwerespentinmelancholyconjecturesontheprobablestateofmattersatWaverley-Honour，andthedubiousissueofthecivilcontestinwhichhewaspledged。ColonelTalbotoftenengagedhimindiscussionsuponthejusticeofthecausehehadespoused。Not，’’hesaid，thatitispossibleforyoutoquititatthispresentmoment，for，comewhatwill，youmuststandbyyourrashengagement。ButIwishyoutobeawarethattherightisnotwithyou；thatyouarefightingagainsttherealinterestsofyourcountry；andthatyouought，asanEnglishmanandapatriot，totakethefirstopportunitytoleavethisunhappyexpeditionbeforethesnow-ballmelts。’’
Insuchpoliticaldisputes，Waverleyusuallyopposedthecommonargumentsofhisparty，withwhichitisunnecessarytotroublethereader。ButhehadlittletosaywhentheColonelurgedhimtocomparethestrengthbywhichtheyhadundertakentooverthrowtheGovernmentwiththatwhichwasnowassemblingveryrapidlyforitssupport。TothisstatementWaverleyhadbutoneanswer：IfthecauseIhaveundertakenbeperilous，therewouldbethegreaterdisgraceinabandoningit。’’AndinhisturnhegenerallysilencedColonelTalbot，andsucceededinchangingthesubject。
Onenight，when，afteralongdisputeofthisnature，thefriendshadseparated，andourherohadretiredtobed，hewasawakenedaboutmidnightbyasuppressedgroan。Hestartedupandlistened；itcamefromtheapartmentofColonelTalbot，whichwasdividedfromhisownbyawainscotedpartition，withadoorofcommunication。Waverleyapproachedthisdoor，anddistinctlyheardoneortwodeepdrawnsighs。Whatcouldbethematter？TheColonelhadpartedfromhim，apparently，inhisusualstateofspirits。Hemusthavebeentakensuddenlyill。Underthisimpression，heopenedthedoorofcommunicationverygently，andperceivedtheColonelinhisnight-gown，seatedbyatable，onwhichlayaletterandapicture。Heraisedhisheadhastily，asEdwardstooduncertainwhethertoadvanceorretire，andWaverleyperceivedthathischeekswerestainedwithtears。
Asifashamedatbeingfoundgivingwaytosuchemotion，ColonelTalbotrosewithapparentdispleasure，andsaid，withsomesternness，Ithink，Mr。Waverley，myownapartment，andthehour，mighthavesecuredevenaprisoneragainst’’
Donotsay_intrusion，_ColonelTalbot；Iheardyoubreathehard，andfearedyouwereill；thatalonecouldhaveinducedmetobreakinuponyou。’’
Iamwell，’’saidtheColonel，perfectlywell。’’
Butyouaredistressed，’’saidEdward：isthereanythingcanbedone？’’
Nothing，Mr。Waverley：Iwasonlythinkingofhome，andofsomeunpleasantoccurrencesthere。’’
GoodGod，myuncle！’’exclaimedWaverley。
No，-itisagriefentirelymyown。Iamashamedyoushouldhaveseenitdisarmmesomuch：butitmusthaveitscourseattimes，thatitmaybeatothersmoredecentlysupported。