Andsometimes，ifpapaandmammawerenotinthewaytokeepthemontheirgoodbehaviour，theMisseswouldtitteralittle。TheoldLairdofDuchranwouldalsohavehisoccasionaljest，andtheoldladyherremark。EventheBaroncouldnotrefrain；buthereRoseescapedeveryembarrassmentbutthatofconjecture，forhiswitwasusuallycouchedinaLatinquotation。
Theveryfootmensometimesgrinnedtoobroadly，themaid-servantsgiggledmayhaptooloud，andaprovokingairofintelligenceseemedtopervadethewholefamily。AliceBean，theprettymaidofthecavern，who，afterherfather’s_misfortune，_
asshecalledit，hadattendedRoseasfille-de-chambre，smiledandsmirkedwiththebestofthem。RoseandEdward，however，enduredalltheselittlevexatiouscircumstancesasotherfolkshavedonebeforeandsince，andprobablycontrivedtoobtainsomeidemnification，sincetheyarenotsupposed，onthewhole，tohavebeenparticularlyunhappyduringWaverley’ssixdays’
stayattheDuchran。
ItwasfinallyarrangedthatEdwardshouldgotoWaverley-Honourtomakethenecessaryarrangementsforhismarriage，thencetoLondontotakethepropermeasuresforpleadinghispardon，andreturnassoonaspossibletoclaimthehandofhisplightedbride。HealsointendedinhisjourneytovisitColonelTalbot；butaboveall，itwashismostimportantobjecttolearnthefateoftheunfortunateChiefofGlennaquoich；tovisithimatCarlisle，andtotrywhetheranythingcouldbedoneforprocuring，ifnotapardon，acommutationatleast，oralleviation，ofthepunishmenttowhichhewasalmostcertainofbeingcondemned；-andincaseoftheworst，toofferthemiserableFloraanasylumwithRose，orotherwisetoassistherviewsinanymodewhichmightseempossible。ThefateofFergusseemedhardtobeaverted。EdwardhadalreadystriventointeresthisfriendColonelTalbotinhisbehalf；buthadbeengivendistinctlytounderstand，byhisreply，thathiscreditinmattersofthatnaturewastotallyexhausted。
TheColonelwasstillinEdinburgh，andproposedtowaitthereforsomemonthsuponbusinessconfidedtohimbytheDukeofCumberland。HewastobejoinedbyLadyEmily，towhomeasytravellingandgoat’swheywererecommended，andwhowastojourneynorthwardundertheescortofFrancisStanley。Edward，therefore，mettheColonelatEdinburgh，whowishedhimjoyinthekindestmanneronhisapproachinghappiness，andcheerfullyundertookmanycommissionswhichourherowasnecessarilyobligedtodelegatetohischarge。
ButonthesubjectofFergushewasinexorable。HesatisfiedEdward，indeed，thathisinterferencewouldbeunavailing；
butbesides，ColonelTalbotownedthathecouldnotconscientiouslyuseanyinfluenceinfavourofthatunfortunategentleman。
Justice，’’hesaid，whichdemandedsomepenaltyofthosewhohadwrappedthewholenationinfearandinmourning，couldnotperhapshaveselectedafittervictim。Hecametothefieldwiththefullestlightuponthenatureofhisattempt。
Hehadstudiedandunderstoodthesubject。Hisfather’sfatecouldnotintimidatehim；thelenityofthelawswhichhadrestoredtohimhisfather’spropertyandrightscouldnotmelthim。Thathewasbrave，generous，andpossessedmanygoodqualities，onlyrenderedhimthemoredangerous；thathewasenlightenedandaccomplishedmadehiscrimethelessexcusable；
thathewasanenthusiastinawrongcauseonlymadehimthemorefittobeitsmartyr。Aboveall，hehadbeenthemeansofbringingmanyhundredsofmenintothefieldwho，withouthim，wouldneverhavebrokenthepeaceofthecountry。’’
Irepeatit，’’saidtheColonel，thoughHeavenknowswithaheartdistressedforhimasanindividual，thatthisyounggentlemanhasstudiedandfullyunderstoodthedesperategamewhichhehasplayed。Hethrewforlifeordeath，acoronetoracoffin；andhecannotnowbepermitted，withjusticetothecountry，todrawstakesbecausethedicehavegoneagainsthim。’’
Suchwasthereasoningofthosetimes，heldevenbybraveandhumanementowardsavanquishedenemy。Letusdevoutlyhopethat，inthisrespectatleast，weshallneverseethescenes，orholdthesentiments，thatweregeneralinBritainSixtyYearssince。
CHAPTERSIXTY-EIGHTH。
To-morrow？Oh，that’ssudden！Sparehim！sparehim！
Shakspeare。
Edward，attendedbyhisformerservantAlickPolwarth，whohadre-enteredhisserviceatEdinburgh，reachedCarlislewhilethecommissionofOyerandTermineronhisunfortunateassociateswasyetsitting。Hehadpushedforwardinhaste-
not，alas！withthemostdistanthopeofsavingFergus，buttoseehimforthelasttime。Ioughttohavementionedthathehadfurnishedfundsforthedefenceoftheprisonersinthemostliberalmanner，assoonasheheardthatthedayoftrialwasfixed。Asolicitor，andthefirstcounsel，accordinglyattended；
butitwasuponthesamefootingonwhichthefirstphysiciansareusuallysummonedtothebedsideofsomedyingmanofrank；-thedoctorstotaketheadvantageofsomeincalculablechanceofanexertionofnature-thelawyerstoavailthemselvesofthebarelypossibleoccurrenceofsomelegalflaw。Edwardpressedintothecourt，whichwasextremelycrowded；butbyhisarrivingfromthenorth，andhisextremeeagernessandagitation，itwassupposedhewasarelationoftheprisoners，andpeoplemadewayforhim。Itwasthethirdsittingofthecourt，andthereweretwomenatthebar。Theverdictof=Guilty=wasalreadypronounced。Edwardjustglancedatthebarduringthemomentouspausewhichensued。TherewasnomistakingthestatelyformandnoblefeaturesofFergusMac-Ivor，althoughhisdresswassqualidandhiscountenancetingedwiththesicklyyellowhueoflongandcloseimprisonment。
ByhissidewasEvanMaccombich。Edwardfeltsickanddizzyashegazedonthem；buthewasrecalledtohimselfastheClerkoftheArraignspronouncedthesolemnwords：FergusMac-IvorofGlennaquoich，otherwisecalledVichIanVohr，andEvanMac-Ivor，intheDhuofTarrascleugh，otherwisecalledEvanDhu，otherwisecalledEvanMaccombich，orEvanDhuMaccombich-you，andeachofyou，standattaintedofhightreason。WhathaveyoutosayforyourselveswhytheCourtshouldnotpronouncejudgmentagainstyou，thatyoudieaccordingtolaw？’’
Fergus，asthepresidingJudgewasputtingonthefatalcapofjudgment，placedhisownbonnetuponhishead，regardedhimwithasteadfastandsternlook，andrepliedinafirmvoice，IcannotletthisnumerousaudiencesupposethattosuchanappealIhavenoanswertomake。ButwhatIhavetosay，youwouldnotbeartohear，formydefencewouldbeyourcondemnation。Proceed，then，inthenameofGod，todowhatispermittedtoyou。Yesterday，andthedaybefore，youhavecondemnedloyalandhonourablebloodtobepouredforthlikewater。Sparenotmine。Werethatofallmyancestorsinmyveins，Iwouldhaveperil’ditinthisquarrel。’’Heresumedhisseat，andrefusedagaintorise。
EvanMaccombichlookedathimwithgreatearnestness，and，risingup，seemedanxioustospeak；buttheconfusionofthecourt，andtheperplexityarisingfromthinkinginalanguagedifferentfromthatinwhichhewastoexpresshimself，kepthimsilent。Therewasamurmurofcompassionamongthespectators，fromanideathatthepoorfellowintendedtopleadtheinfluenceofhissuperiorasanexcuseforhiscrime。TheJudgecommandedsilence，andencouragedEvantoproceed。
Iwasonlygangingtosay，myLord，’’saidEvan，inwhathemeanttobeinaninsinuatingmanner，thatifyourexcellenthonour，andthehonourableCourt，wouldletVichIanVohrgofreejustthisonce，andlethimgaebacktoFrance，andnototroubleKingGeorge’sgovernmentagain，thatonysixo’theverybestofhisclanwillbewillingtobejustifiedinhisstead；
andifyou’lljustletmegaedowntoGlennaquoich，I’llfetchthemuptoyemysell，toheadorhang，andyoumaybeginwi’
metheveryfirstman。’’
Notwithstandingthesolemnityoftheoccasion，asortoflaughwasheardinthecourtattheextraordinarynatureoftheproposal。TheJudgecheckedthisindecency，andEvan，lookingsternlyaround，whenthemurmurabated，IftheSaxongentlemenarelaughing，’’hesaid，becauseapoorman，suchasme，thinksmylife，orthelifeofsixofmydegree，isworththatofVichIanVhor，it’slikeenoughtheymaybeveryright；
butiftheylaughbecausetheythinkIwouldnotkeepmyword，andcomebacktoredeemhim，IcantellthemtheykenneithertheheartofaHielandman，northehonourofagentleman。’’
Therewasnofurtherinclinationtolaughamongtheaudience，andadeadsilenceensued。
TheJudgethenpronounceduponbothprisonersthesentenceofthelawofhightreason，withallitshorribleaccompaniments。
Theexecutionwasappointedfortheensuingday。Foryou，FergusMac-Ivor，’’continuedtheJudge，Icanholdoutnohopeofmercy。Youmustprepareagainstto-morrowforyourlastsufferingshere，andyourgreataudithereafter。’’
Idesirenothingelse，mylord，’’answeredFergus，inthesamemanlyandfirmtone。
ThehardeyesofEvan，whichhadbeenperpetuallybentonhisChief，weremoistenedwithatear。Foryou，poorignorantman，’’continuedtheJudge，who，followingtheideasinwhichyouhavebeeneducated，havethisdaygivenusastrikingexamplehowtheloyaltyduetothekingandstatealone，is，fromyourunhappyideasofclanship，transferredtosomeambitiousindividual，whoendsbymakingyouthetoolofhiscrimes-foryou，Isay，Ifeelsomuchcompassion，thatifyoucanmakeupyourmindtopetitionforgrace，Iwillendeavourtoprocureitforyou。Otherwise’’
Gracemenograce，’’saidEvan；sinceyouaretoshedVichIanVohr’sblood，theonlyfavourIwouldacceptfromyouis-tobidthemloosemyhandsandgiememyclaymore，andbideyoujustaminutesittingwhereyouare！’’
Removetheprisoners，’’saidtheJudge；hisbloodbeuponhisownhead。’’
Almoststupefiedwithhisfeelings，Edwardfoundthattherushofthecrowdhadconveyedhimoutintothestreet，ereheknewwhathewasdoing-HisimmediatewishwastoseeandspeakwithFergusoncemore。HeappliedattheCastle，wherehisunfortunatefriendwasconfined，butwasrefusedadmittance。TheHighSheriff，’’anon-commissionedofficersaid，hadrequestedofthegovernorthatnoneshouldbeadmittedtoseetheprisonerexceptinghisconfessorandhissister。’’
AndwherewasMissMac-Ivor？’’Theygavehimthedirection。
ItwasthehouseofarespectableCatholicfamilynearCarlisle。
RepulsedfromthegateoftheCastle，andnotventuringtomakeapplicationtotheHighSherifforJudgesinhisownunpopularname，hehadrecoursetothesolicitorwhocamedowninFergus’sbehalf。Thisgentlemantoldhim，thatitwasthoughtthepublicmindwasindangerofbeingdebauchedbytheaccountofthelastmomentsofthesepersons，asgivenbythefriendsofthePretender；thattherehadbeenaresolution，therefore，toexcludeallsuchpersonsashadnotthepleaofnearkindredforattendinguponthem。Yethepromised(toobligetheheirofWaverley-Honour)togethimanorderforadmittancetotheprisonerthenextmorning，beforehisironswereknockedoffforexecution。
IsitofFergusMac-Ivortheyspeakthus，’’thoughtWaverley，ordoIdream？ofFergus，thebold，thechivalrous，thefree-minded-theloftychieftainofatribedevotedtohim？Isithe，thatIhaveseenleadthechaseandheadtheattack，-
thebrave，theactive，theyoung，thenoble，theloveofladies，andthethemeofsong-isithewhoisironedlikeamalefactor-whoistobedraggedonahurdletothecommongallows-todiealingeringandcrueldeath，andtobemangledbythehandofthemostoutcastofwretches？EvilindeedwasthespectrethatbodedsuchafateasthistothebraveChiefofGlennaquoich！’’
WithafalteringvoiceherequestedthesolicitortofindmeanstowarnFergusofhisintendedvisit，shouldheobtainpermissiontomakeit。Hethenturnedawayfromhim，and，returningtotheinn，wroteascarcelyintelligiblenotetoFloraMac-Ivor，intimatinghispurposetowaituponherthatevening。
ThemessengerbroughtbackaletterinFlora’sbeautifulItalianhand，whichseemedscarcetotrembleevenunderthisloadofmisery。MissFloraMac-Ivor，’’theletterbore，couldnotrefusetoseethedearestfriendofherdearbrother，eveninherpresentcircumstancesofunparalleleddistress。’’
WhenEdwardreachedMissMac-Ivor’spresentplaceofabode，hewasinstantlyadmitted。Inalargeandgloomytapestriedapartment，Florawasseatedbyalatticedwindow，sewingwhatseemedtobeagarmentofwhiteflannel。Atalittledistancesatanelderleywoman，apparentlyaforeigner，andofareligiousorder。ShewasreadinginabookofCatholicdevotion；butwhenWaverleyentered，laiditonthetableandlefttheroom。
Florarosetoreceivehim，andstretchedoutherhand，butneitherventuredtoattemptspeech。Herfinecomplexionwastotallygone；herpersonconsiderablyemaciated；andherfaceandhandsaswhiteasthepureststatuarymarble，formingastrongcontrastwithhersabledressandjet-blackhair。Yet，amidthesemarksofdistress，therewasnothingnegligentorill-arrangedaboutherattire；evenherhair，thoughtotallywithoutornament，wasdisposedwithherusualattentiontoneatness。Thefirstwordssheutteredwere，Haveyouseenhim？’’
