Theseletters，asmighthavebeenexpected，highlyexcitedWaverley’sindignation。Fromthedesultorystyleofhisstudies，hehadnotanyfixedpoliticalopiniontoplaceinoppositiontothemovementsofindignationwhichhefeltathisfather’ssupposedwrongs。Oftherealcauseofhisdisgrace，Edwardwastotallyignorant；norhadhishabitsatallledhimtoinvestigatethepoliticsoftheperiodinwhichhelived，orremarktheintriguesinwhichhisfatherhadbeensoactivelyengaged。Indeed，anyimpressionswhichhehadaccidentallyadoptedconcerningthepartiesofthetimes，wereowingtothesocietyinwhichhehadlivedatWaverley-Honourofanatureratherunfavourabletotheexistinggovernmentanddynasty。
Heentered，therefore，withouthesitation，intotheresentfulfeelingoftherelationswhohadthebesttitletodictatehisconduct；andnotperhapsthelesswillingly，whenherememberedthetediumofhisquarters，andtheinferiorfigurewhichhehadmadeamongtheofficersofhisregiment。Ifhecouldhavehadanydoubtuponthesubject，itwouldhavebeendecidedbythefollowingletterfromhiscommanding-officer，which，asitisveryshort，shallbeinsertedverbatim：-
=Sir，=
Havingcarriedsomewhatbeyondthelineofmyduty，anindulgencewhicheventhelightsofnature，andmuchmorethoseofChristianity，directtowardserrorswhichmayarisefromyouthandinexperience，andthataltogetherwithouteffect，Iamreluctantlycompelled，atthepresentcrisis，tousetheonlyremainingremedywhichisinmypower。Youare，therefore，herebycommandedtorepairto，theheadquartersoftheregiment，withinthreedaysafterthedateofthisletter。Ifyoushallfailtodoso，ImustreportyoutotheWar-Officeasabsentwithoutleave，andalsotakeothersteps，whichwillbedisagreeabletoyou，aswellasto，Sir，YourobedientServant，J。=Gardiner，=Lieut-Col。
CommandingtheRegt。Dragoons。’’