thestateofmannersandlawscastsanecessarycolouring；butthebearings，tousethelanguageofheraldry，remainthesame，thoughthetincturemaybenotonlydifferent，butopposedinstrongcontradistinction。Thewrathofourancestors，forexample，wascoloured_gules；_itbrokeforthinactsofopenandsanguinaryviolenceagainsttheobjectsofitsfury。Ourmalignantfeelings，whichmustseekgratificationthroughmoreindirectchannels，andunderminetheobstacleswhichtheycannotopenlybeardown，mayberathersaidtobetincturedsable。
Butthedeep-rulingimpulseisthesameinbothcases；andtheproudpeerwhocannowonlyruinhisneighbouraccordingtolaw，byprotractedsuits，isthegenuinedescendantofthebaronwhowrappedthecastleofhiscompetitorinflames，andknockedhimontheheadasheendeavouredtoescapefromtheconflagration。
ItisfromthegreatbookofNature，thesamethroughathousandeditions，whetherofblack-letter，orwire-woveandhot-pressed，thatIhaveventurouslyessayedtoreadachaptertothepublic。Somefavourableopportunitiesofcontrasthavebeenaffordedme，bythestateofsocietyinthenorthernpartoftheislandattheperiodofmyhistory，andmayserveatoncetovaryandtoillustratethemorallessons，whichIwouldwillinglyconsiderasthemostimportantpartofmyplan；
althoughIamsensiblehowshortthesewillfalloftheiraim，ifIshallbefoundunabletomixthemwithamusement，-atasknotquitesoeasyinthiscriticalgenerationasitwasSixtyYearssince。’’
Itis，then，sixtyyearssinceEdwardWaverley，theheroofTheprecisedate1745waswithheldfromtheoriginaledition，lestitshouldanticipatethenatureofthetalebyannouncingsoremarkableanera。
thefollowingpages，tookleaveofhisfamily，tojointheregimentofdragoonsinwhichhehadlatelyobtainedacommission。
ItwasamelancholydayatWaverley-HonourwhentheyoungofficerpartedwithSirEverard，theaffectionateolduncletowhosetitleandestatehewaspresumptiveheir。
AdifferenceinpoliticalopinionshadearlyseparatedtheBaronetfromhisyoungerbrotherRichardWaverley，thefatherofourhero。SirEverardhadinheritedfromhissiresthewholetrainofToryorHigh-Churchpredilectionsandprejudices，whichhaddistinguishedthehouseofWaverleysincetheGreatCivilWar。Richard，onthecontrary，whowastenyearsyounger，beheldhimselfborntothefortuneofasecondbrother，andanticipatedneitherdignitynorentertainmentinsustainingthecharacterofWillWimble。Hesawearly，that，tosucceedintheraceoflife，itwasnecessaryheshouldcarryaslittleweightaspossible。Painterstalkofthedifficultyofexpressingtheexistenceofcompoundpassionsinthesamefeaturesatthesamemoment：itwouldbenolessdifficultforthemoralisttoanalyzethemixedmotiveswhichunitetoformtheimpulseofouractions。RichardWaverleyreadandsatisfiedhimself，fromhistoryandsoundargument，that，inthewordsoftheoldsong，Passiveobediencewasajest，Andpshaw！wasnon-resistance；
yetreasonwouldhaveprobablybeenunabletocombatandremovehereditaryprejudice，couldRichardhaveanticipatedthathiselderbrother，SirEverard，takingtoheartanearlydisappointment，wouldhaveremainedabacheloratseventy-two。
Theprospectofsuccession，howeverremote，mightinthatcasehaveledhimtoenduredraggingthroughthegreaterpartofhislifeasMasterRichardattheHall，thebaronet’sbrother，’’inthehopethatereitsconclusionheshouldbedistinguishedasSirRichardWaverleyofWaverley-Honour，successortoaprincelyestate，andtoextendedpoliticalconnectionsasheadofthecountyinterestintheshirewhereitlay。ButthiswasaconsummationofthingsnottobeexpectedatRichard’soutset，whenSirEverardwasintheprimeoflife，andcertaintobeanacceptablesuitorinalmostanyfamily，whetherwealthorbeautyshouldbetheobjectofhispursuit，andwhen，indeed，hisspeedymarriagewasareportwhichregularlyamusedtheneighbourhoodoncea-year。Hisyoungerbrothersawnopracticableroadtoindependencesavethatofrelyinguponhisownexertions，andadoptingapoliticalcreedmoreconsonantbothtoreasonandhisowninterestthanthehereditaryfaithofSirEverardinHigh-ChurchandinthehouseofStewart。Hethereforereadhisrecantationatthebeginningofhiscareer，andenteredlifeasanavowedWhig，andfriendoftheHanoversuccession。
TheministryofGeorgetheFirst’stimewereprudentlyanxioustodiminishthephalanxofopposition。TheTorynobility，dependingfortheirreflectedlustreuponthesunshineofacourt，hadforsometimebeengraduallyreconcilingthemselvestothenewdynasty。ButthewealthycountrygentlemenofEngland，arankwhichretained，withmuchofancientmannersandprimitiveintegrity，agreatproportionofobstinateandunyieldingprejudice，stoodaloofinhaughtyandsullenopposition，andcastmanyalookofmingledregretandhopetoBoisleDuc，Avignon，andItaly。TheaccessionofthenearrelationofoneWheretheChevalierSaintGeorge，or，ashewastermed，theOldPretender，heldhisexiledcourt，ashissituationcompelledhimtoshifthisplaceofresidence。
ofthosesteadyandinflexibleopponentswasconsideredasameansofbringingovermoreconverts，andthereforeRichardWaverleymetwithashareofministerialfavour，morethanproportionedtohistalentsorhispoliticalimportance。Itwas，however，discoveredthathehadrespectabletalentsforpublicbusiness，andthefirstadmittancetotheminister’sleveebeingnegotiated，hissuccessbecamerapid。SirEverardlearnedfromthepublicNews-Letter，-first，thatRichardWaverley，Esquire，wasreturnedfortheministerialboroughofBarterfaith；next，thatRichardWaverley，Esquire，hadtakenadistinguishedpartinthedebateupontheExcisebillinthesupportofgovernment；and，lastly，thatRichardWaverley，Esquire，hadbeenhonouredwithaseatatoneofthoseboards，wherethepleasureofservingthecountryiscombinedwithotherimportantgratifications，which，torenderthemthemoreacceptable，occurregularlyonceaquarter。
Althoughtheseeventsfollowedeachothersocloselythatthesagacityoftheeditorofamodernnewspaperwouldhavepresagedthelasttwoevenwhileheannouncedthefirst，yettheycameuponSirEverardgradually，anddropbydrop，asitwere，distilledthroughthecoolandprocrastinatingalembicofDyer’sWeeklyLetter。Foritmaybeobservedinpassing，thatinsteadLongtheoracleofthecountrygentlemenofthehighToryparty。TheancientNews-Letterwaswritteninmanuscriptandcopiedbyclerks，whoaddressedthecopiestothesubscribers。Thepoliticianbywhomtheywerecompiledpickeduphisintelligenceatcoffee-houses，andoftenpleadedforanadditionalgratuity，inconsiderationoftheextraexpenseattachedtofrequentingsuchplacesoffashionableresort。
ofthosemail-coaches，bymeansofwhicheverymechanicathissixpennyclubmaynightlylearnfromtwentycontradictorychannelstheyesterday’snewsofthecapital，aweeklypostbrought，inthosedays，toWaverley-Honour，aWeeklyIntelligencer，which，afterithadgratifiedSirEverard’scuriosity，hissister’s，andthatofhisagedbutler，wasregularlytransferredfromtheHalltotheRectory，fromtheRectorytoSquireStubbs’attheGrange，fromtheSquiretotheBaronet’sstewardathisneatwhitehouseontheheath，fromthestewardtothebailiff，andfromhimthroughahugecircleofhonestdamesandgaffers，bywhosehardandhornyhandsitwasgenerallyworntopiecesinaboutamonthafteritsarrival。
ThisslowsuccessionofintelligencewasofsomeadvantagetoRichardWaverleyinthecasebeforeus；for，hadthesumtotalofhisenormitiesreachedtheearsofSirEverardatonce，therecanbenodoubtthatthenewcommissionerwouldhavehadlittlereasontopiquehimselfonthesuccessofhispolitics。TheBaronet，althoughthemildestofhumanbeings，wasnotwithoutsensitivepointsinhischaracter；hisbrother’sconducthadwoundedthesedeeply；theWaverleyestatewasfetteredbynoentailforithadneverenteredintotheheadofanyofitsformerpossessorsthatoneoftheirprogenycouldbeguiltyoftheatrocitieslaidbyDyer’sLettertothedoorofRichard，andifithad，themarriageoftheproprietormighthavebeenfataltoacollateralheir。ThesevariousideasfloatedthroughthebrainofSirEverard，without，however，producinganydeterminedconclusion。
Heexaminedthetreeofhisgenealogy，which，emblazonedwithmanyanemblematicmarkofhonourandheroicachievement，hunguponthewell-varnishedwainscotofhishall。ThenearestdescendantsofSirHildebrandWaverley，failingthoseofhiseldestsonWilfred，ofwhomSirEverardandhisbrotherweretheonlyrepresentatives，were，asthishonouredregisterinformedhimand，indeed，ashehimselfwellknew，theWaverleysofHighleyPark，com。Hants；withwhomthemainbranch，orratherstock，ofthehousehadrenouncedallconnexion，sincethegreatlawsuitin1670。
Thisdegeneratescionhadcommittedafartheroffenceagainsttheheadandsourceoftheirgentility，bytheintermarriageoftheirrepresentativewithJudith，heiressofOliverBradshawe，ofHighleyPark，whosearms，thesamewiththoseofBradshawe，theregicide，theyhadquarteredwiththeancientcoatofWaverley。
Theseoffences，however，hadvanishedfromSirEverard’srecollectionintheheatofhisresentment；andhadLawyerClippurse，forwhomhisgroomwasdespatchedexpress，arrivedbutanhourearlier，hemighthavehadthebenefitofdrawinganewsettlementofthelordshipandmanorofWaverleyHonour，withallitsdependencies。Butanhourofcoolreflectionisagreatmatter，whenemployedinweighingthecomparativeeviloftwomeasures，toneitherofwhichweareinternallypartial。LawyerClippursefoundhispatroninvolvedinadeepstudy，whichhewastoorespectfultodisturb，otherwisethanbyproducinghispaperandleathernink-case，aspreparedtominutehishonour’scommands。EventhisslightmanuvrewasembarrassingtoSirEverard，whofeltitasareproachtohisindecision。Helookedattheattorneywithsomedesiretoissuehisfiat，whenthesun，emergingfrombehindacloud，pouredatonceitschequeredlightthroughthestainedwindowofthegloomycabinetinwhichtheywereseated。TheBaronet’seye，asheraisedittothesplendour，fellrightuponthecentralscutcheon，impressedwiththesamedevicewhichhisancestorwassaidtohaveborneinthefieldofHastings；threeerminespassant，argent，inafieldazure，withitsappropriatemotto，_Sanstache。_Mayournameratherperish，’’exclaimedSirEverard，thanthatancientandloyalsymbolshouldbeblendedwiththedishonouredinsigniaofatraitorousRoundhead！’’
Allthiswastheeffectoftheglimpseofasunbeam，justsufficienttolightLawyerClippursetomendhispen。Thepenwasmendedinvain。Theattorneywasdismissed，withdirectionstoholdhimselfinreadinessonthefirstsummons。
TheapparitionofLawyerClippurseattheHalloccasionedmuchspeculationinthatportionoftheworldtowhichWaverley-Honourformedthecentre；butthemorejudiciouspoliticiansofthismicrocosmauguredyetworseconsequencestoRichardWaverleyfromamovementwhichshortlyfollowedhisapostasy。
ThiswasnolessthananexcursionoftheBaronetinhiscoach-and-six，withfourattendantsinrichliveries，tomakeavisitofsomedurationtoanoblepeerontheconfinesoftheshire，ofuntainteddescent，steadyToryprinciples，andthehappyfatherofsixunmarriedandaccomplisheddaughters。
SirEverard’sreceptioninthisfamilywas，asitmaybeeasilyconceived，sufficientlyfavourable；butofthesixyoungladies，histasteunfortunatelydeterminedhiminfavourofLadyEmily，theyoungest，whoreceivedhisattentionswithanembarrassmentwhichshewedatoncethatshedurstnotdeclinethem，andthattheyaffordedheranythingbutpleasure。
SirEverardcouldnotbutperceivesomethinguncommonintherestrainedemotionswhichtheyoungladytestifiedattheadvanceshehazarded；butassuredbytheprudentCountessthattheywerethenaturaleffectsofaretirededucation，thesacrificemighthavebeencompleted，asdoubtlesshashappenedinmanysimilarinstances，haditnotbeenforthecourageofaneldersister，whorevealedtothewealthysuitorthatLadyEmily’saffectionswerefixeduponayoungsoldieroffortune，anearrelationofherown。SirEverardmanifestedgreatemotiononreceivingthisintelligence，whichwasconfirmedtohim，inaprivateinterview，bytheyoungladyherself，althoughunderthemostdreadfulapprehensionsofherfather’sindignation。
HonourandgenerositywerehereditaryattributesofthehouseofWaverley。Withagraceanddelicacyworthytheheroofaromance，SirEverardwithdrewhisclaimtothehandofLadyEmily。Hehadeven，beforeleavingBlandevilleCastle，theaddresstoextortfromherfatheraconsenttoherunionwiththeobjectofherchoice。Whatargumentsheusedonthispointcannotexactlybeknown，forSirEverardwasneversupposedstronginthepowersofpersuasion；buttheyoungofficer，immediatelyafterthistransaction，roseinthearmywitharapidityfarsurpassingtheusualpaceofunpatronizedprofessionalmerit，although，tooutwardappearance，thatwasallhehadtodependupon。
TheshockwhichSirEverardencountereduponthisoccasion，althoughdiminishedbytheconsciousnessofhavingactedvirtuouslyandgenerously，haditseffectuponhisfuturelife。Hisresolutionofmarriagehadbeenadoptedinafitofindignation；