Alas，no，’’answeredWaverley；Ihavebeenrefusedadmittance。’’
Itaccordswiththerest，’’shesaid；butwemustsubmit。
Shallyouobtainleave，doyousuppose？’’
For-for-to-morrow，’’saidWaverley；butmutteringthelastwordsofaintlythatitwasalmostunintelligible。
Ay，thenornever，’’saidFlora，until’’-sheadded，lookingupward，thetimewhen，Itrust，weshallallmeet。ButIhopeyouwillseehimwhileearthyetbearshim。Healwayslovedyouathisheart，though-butitisvaintotalkofthepast。’’
Vainindeed！’’echoedWaverley。
Orevenofthefuture，mygoodfriend，’’saidFlora，sofarasearthlyeventsareconcerned；forhowoftenhaveIpicturedtomyselfthestrongpossibilityofthishorridissue，andtaskedmyselftoconsiderhowIcouldsupportmypart；andyethowfarhasallmyanticipationfallenshortoftheunimaginablebitternessofthishour！’’
DearFlora，ifyourstrengthofmind’’
Ay，thereitis，’’sheanswered，somewhatwildly；thereisMr。Waverley，thereisabusydevilatmyheartthatwhispers-butitweremadnesstolistentoit-thatthestrengthofmindonwhichFlorapridedherselfhasmurderedherbrother！’’
GoodGod！howcanyougiveutterancetoathoughtsoshocking？’’
Ay，isitnotso？-butyetithauntsmelikeaphantom：
Iknowitisunsubstantialandvain；butitwillbepresent-
willintrudeitshorrorsonmymind-willwhisperthatmybrother，asvolatileasardent，wouldhavedividedhisenergiesamidahundredobjects。ItwasIwhotaughthimtoconcentratethem，andtogageallonthisdreadfulanddesperatecast。
OhthatIcouldrecollectthatIhadbutoncesaidtohim，`Hethatstrikethwiththeswordshalldiebythesword；’thatIhadbutoncesaid，Remainathome；reserveyourself，yourvassals，yourlife，forenterpriseswithinthereachofman。Butoh，Mr。
Waverley，Ispurredhisfierytemper，andhalfofhisruinatleastlieswithhissister？’’
ThehorridideawhichshehadintimatedEdwardendeavouredtocombatbyeveryincoherentargumentthatoccurredtohim。
Herecalledtohertheprinciplesonwhichboththoughtittheirdutytoact，andinwhichtheyhadbeeneducated。
DonotthinkIhaveforgottenthem，’’shesaid，lookingup，witheagerquickness；Idonotregrethisattemptbecauseitwaswrong-ohno！onthatpointIamarmed-butbecauseitwasimpossibleitcouldendotherwisethanthus。’’
Yetitdidnotalwaysseemsodesperateandhazardousasitwas；anditwouldhavebeenchosenbytheboldspiritofFerguswhetheryouhadapproveditorno；yourcounselsonlyservedtogiveunityandconsistencetohisconduct；todignify，butnottoprecipitate，hisresolution。’’FlorahadsoonceasedtolistentoEdward，andwasagainintentuponherneedle-work。
Doyouremember，’’shesaid，lookingupwithaghastlysmile，youoncefoundmemakingFergus’sbride-favours，andnowIamsewinghisbridal-garment。Ourfriendshere，’’shecontinued，withsuppressedemotion，aretogivehallowedearthintheirchapeltothebloodyrelicsofthelastVichIanVohr。Buttheywillnotallresttogether；no-hishead！-I
shallnothavethelastmiserableconsolationofkissingthecoldlipsofmydear，dearFergus！’’
TheunfortunateFlorahere，afteroneortwohystericalsobs，faintedinherchair。Thelady，whohadbeenattendingintheante-room，nowenteredhastily，andbeggedEdwardtoleavetheroom，butnotthehouse。
Whenhewasrecalled，afterthespaceofnearlyhalf-an-hour，hefoundthat，byastrongeffort，MissMac-Ivorhadgreatlycomposedherself。ItwasthenheventuredtourgeMissBradwardine’sclaimtobeconsideredasanadoptedsister，andempoweredtoassistherplansforthefuture。
IhavehadaletterfrommydearRose，’’shereplied，tothesamepurpose。Sorrowisselfishandengrossing，orIwouldhavewrittentoexpressthat，eveninmyowndespair，Ifeltagleamofpleasureatlearningherhappyprospects，andathearingthatthegoodoldBaronhasescapedthegeneralwreck。GivethistomydearestRose；itisherpoorFlora’sonlyornamentofvalue，andwasthegiftofaprincess。’’Sheputintohishandsacasecontainingthechainofdiamondswithwhichsheusedtodecorateherhair。Tomeitisinfutureuseless。ThekindnessofmyfriendshassecuredmearetreatintheconventoftheScottishBenedictinenunsinParis。To-morrow-ifindeedIcansurviveto-morrow-Isetforwardonmyjourneywiththisvenerablesister。Andnow，Mr。Waverley，adieu！MayyoubeashappywithRoseasyouramiabledispositionsdeserve！-
andthinksometimesonthefriendsyouhavelost。Donotattempttoseemeagain！itwouldbemistakenkindness。’’
Shegavehimherhand，onwhichEdwardshedatorrentoftears，and，withafalteringstep，withdrewfromtheapartment，andreturnedtothetownofCarlisle。Attheinnhefoundaletterfromhislawfriend，intimatingthathewouldbeadmittedtoFergusnextmorningassoonastheCastlegateswereopened，andpermittedtoremainwithhimtillthearrivaloftheSheriffgavesignalforthefatalprocession。
Adarkerdepartureisnear，Thedeath-drumismuffled，andsablethebier。
Campbell。
Afterasleeplessnight，thefirstdawnofmorningfoundWaverleyontheesplanadeinfrontoftheoldGothicgateofCarlisleCastle。Buthepaceditlongineverydirectionbeforethehourwhen，accordingtotherulesofthegarrison，thegateswereopenedandthedrawbridgelowered。Heproducedhisordertothesergeantoftheguard，andwasadmitted。
TheplaceofFergus’sconfinementwasagloomyandvaultedapartmentinthecentralpartoftheCastle-ahugeoldtower，supposedtobeofgreatantiquity，andsurroundedbyoutworks，seeminglyofHenryVIII。’stime，orsomewhatlater。Thegratingofthelargeold-fashionedbarsandbolts，withdrawnforthepurposeofadmittingEdward，wasansweredbytheclashofchains，astheunfortunateChieftain，stronglyandheavilyfettered，shuffledalongthestonefloorofhisprisontoflinghimselfintohisfriend’sarms。
MydearEdward，’’hesaid，inafirm，andevencheerfulvoice，thisistrulykind。Iheardofyourapproachinghappinesswiththehighestpleasure。AndhowdoesRose？andhowisouroldwhimsicalfriendtheBaron？Well，Itrust，sinceIseeyouatfreedom-Andhowwillyousettleprecedencebetweenthethreeerminespassantandthebearandboot-jack？’’
How，Ohow，mydearFergus，canyoutalkofsuchthingsatsuchamoment！’’
Why，wehaveenteredCarlislewithhappierauspices，tobesure-onthe16thofNovemberlast，forexample，whenwemarchedin，sidebyside，andhoistedthewhiteflagontheseancienttowers。ButIamnoboy，tositdownandweepbecausetheluckhasgoneagainstme。IknewthestakewhichIrisked；
weplayedthegameboldly，andtheforfeitshallbepaidmanfully。
Andnow，sincemytimeisshort，letmecometothequestionsthatinterestmemost-ThePrince？hasheescapedtheblood-hounds？’’
Hehas，andisinsafety。’’
PraisedbeGodforthat！Tellmetheparticularsofhisescape。’’
Waverleycommunicatedthatremarkablehistorysofarasithadthentranspired，towhichFerguslistenedwithdeepinterest。
Hethenaskedafterseveralotherfriends；andmademanyminuteinquiriesconcerningthefateofhisownclansmen。Theyhadsufferedlessthanothertribeswhohadbeenengagedintheaffair；for，havinginagreatmeasuredispersedandreturnedhomeafterthecaptivityoftheirChieftain，accordingtotheuniversalcustomoftheHighlanders，theywerenotinarmswhentheinsurrectionwasfinallysuppressed，andconsequentlyweretreatedwithlessrigour。ThisFergusheardwithgreatsatisfaction。
Youarerich，’’hesaid，Waverley，andyouaregenerous。
WhenyouhearofthesepoorMac-lvorsbeingdistressedabouttheirmiserablepossessionsbysomeharshoverseeroragentofgovernment，rememberyouhaveworntheirtartan，andareanadoptedsonoftheirrace。TheBaron，whoknowsourmanners，andlivesnearourcountry，willapprizeyouofthetimeandmeanstobetheirprotector。WillyoupromisethistothelastVichIanVohr？’’
Edward，asmaywellbebelieved，pledgedhisword；whichheafterwardssoamplyredeemed，thathismemorystilllivesintheseglensbythenameoftheFriendoftheSonsofIvor。
WouldtoGod，’’continuedtheChieftain，Icouldbequeathtoyoumyrightstotheloveandobedienceofthisprimitiveandbraverace：-oratleast，asIhavestriventodo，persuadepoorEvantoacceptofhislifeupontheirterms，andbetoyouwhathehasbeentome，thekindest-thebravest-themostdevoted’’
Thetearswhichhisownfatecouldnotdrawforth，fellfastforthatofhisfoster-brother。
But，’’saidhe，dryingthem，thatcannotbe。YoucannotbetothemVichIanVohr；andthesethreemagicwords，’’saidhe，halfsmiling，aretheonly_OpenSesame_totheirfeelingsandsympathies，andpoorEvanmustattendhisfoster-brotherindeath，ashehasdonethroughhiswholelife。’’
AndIamsure，’’saidMaccombich，raisinghimselffromthefloor，onwhich，forfearofinterruptingtheirconversation，hehadlainsostill，thatintheobscurityoftheapartmentEdwardwasnotawareofhispresence-IamsureEvanneverdesiredordeservedabetterendthanjusttodiewithhisChieftain。’’
Andnow，’’saidFergus，whileweareuponthesubjectofclanship-whatthinkyounowofthepredictionoftheBodachGlas？’’-Then，beforeEdwardcouldanswer，Isawhimagainlastnight-hestoodintheslipofmoonshinewhichfellfromthathighandnarrowwindowtowardsmybed。WhyshouldI
fearhim，Ithought-to-morrow，longerethistime，Ishallbeasimmaterialashe。`FalseSpirit！’Isaid，`artthoucometoclosethywalksonearth，andtoenjoythytriumphinthefallofthelastdescendantofthineenemy！’Thespectreseemedtobeckonandtosmileashefadedfrommysight。Whatdoyouthinkofit？-Iaskedthesamequestionofthepriest，whoisagoodandsensibleman；headmittedthatthechurchallowedthatsuchapparitionswerepossible，buturgedmenottopermitmymindtodwelluponit，asimaginationplaysussuchstrangetricks。Whatdoyouthinkofit？’’
Muchasyourconfessor，’’saidWaverley，willingtoavoiddisputeuponsuchapointatsuchamoment。Atapatthedoornowannouncedthatgoodman，andEdwardretiredwhileheadministeredtobothprisonersthelastritesofreligion，inthemodewhichtheChurchofRomeprescribes。
Inaboutanhourhewasre-admitted；soonafter，afileofsoldiersenteredwithablacksmith，whostruckthefettersfromthelegsoftheprisoners。
YouseethecomplimenttheypaytoourHighlandstrengthandcourage-wehavelainchainedherelikewildbeasts，tillourlegsarecrampedintopalsy，andwhentheyfreeus，theysendsixsoldierswithloadedmusketstopreventourtakingthecastlebystorm！’’
Edwardafterwardslearnedthatthesesevereprecautionshadbeentakeninconsequenceofadesperateattemptoftheprisonerstoescape，inwhichtheyhadverynearlysucceeded。
Shortlyafterwardsthedrumsofthegarrisonbeattoarms。
Thisisthelastturn-out，’’saidFergus，thatIshallhearandobey。Andnow，mydear，dearEdward，erewepartletusspeakofFlora-asubjectwhichawakesthetenderestfeelingthatyetthrillswithinme。’’
Wepartnot_here！_’’saidWaverley。
Oyes，wedo；youmustcomenofarther。NotthatIfearwhatistofollowformyself，’’hesaidproudly；Naturehashertorturesaswellasart；andhowhappyshouldwethinkthemanwhoescapesfromthethroesofamortalandpainfuldisorder，inthespaceofashorthalfhour？Andthismatter，spinitoutastheywill，cannotlastlonger。Butwhatadyingmancansufferfirmly，maykillalivingfriendtolookupon-
Thissamelawofhightreason，’’hecontinued，withastonishingfirmnessandcomposure，isoneoftheblessings，Edward，withwhichyourfreecountryhasaccommodatedpooroldScotland：
herownjurisprudence，asIhaveheard，wasmuchmilder。ButIsupposeonedayorother-whentherearenolongeranywildHighlanderstobenefitbyitstendermercies-theywillblotitfromtheirrecords，aslevellingthemwithanationofcannibals。
