thelabourofcourtshipdidnotquitesuitthedignifiedindolenceofhishabits；hehadbutjustescapedtheriskofmarryingawomanwhocouldneverlovehim；andhispridecouldnotbegreatlyflatteredbytheterminationofhisamour，evenifhishearthadnotsuffered。TheresultofthewholematterwashisreturntoWaverley-Honourwithoutanytransferofhisaffections，notwithstandingthesighsandlanguishmentsofthefairtell-tale，whohadrevealed，inmeresisterlyaffection，thesecretofLadyEmily’sattachment，andindespiteofthenods，winks，andinuendoesoftheofficiousladymother，andthegraveeulogiumswhichtheEarlpronouncedsuccessivelyontheprudence，andgoodsense，andadmirabledispositions，ofhisfirst，second，third，fourth，andfifthdaughters。ThememoryofhisunsuccessfulamourwaswithSirEverard，aswithmanymoreofhistemper，atonceshy，proud，sensitive，andindolent，abeaconagainstexposinghimselftosimilarmortification，pain，andfruitlessexertionforthetimetocome。HecontinuedtoliveatWaverley-HonourinthestyleofanoldEnglishgentlemanofanancientdescentandopulentfortune。Hissister，MissRachelWaverley，presidedathistable；andtheybecame，bydegrees，anoldbachelorandanancientmaidenlady，thegentlestandkindestofthevotariesofcelibacy。

　　ThevehemenceofSirEverard’sresentmentagainsthisbrotherwasbutshort-lived；yethisdisliketotheWhigandtheplaceman，thoughunabletostimulatehimtoresumeanyactivemeasuresprejudicialtoRichard’sinterestinthesuccessiontothefamilyestate，continuedtomaintainthecoldnessbetweenthem。Richardknewenoughoftheworld，andofhisbrother’stemper，tobelievethatbyanyill-consideredorprecipitateadvancesonhisparthemightturnpassivedislikeintoamoreactiveprinciple。Itwasaccident，therefore，whichatlengthoccasionedarenewaloftheirintercourse。Richardhadmarriedayoungwomanofrank，bywhosefamilyinterestandprivatefortunehehopedtoadvancehiscareer。InherrighthebecamepossessorofamanorofsomevalueatthedistanceofafewmilesfromWaverley-Honour。

　　LittleEdward，theheroofourtale，theninhisfifthyear，wastheironlychild。Itchancedthattheinfantwithhismaidhadstrayedonemorningtoamile’sdistancefromtheavenueofBrerewoodLodge，hisfather’sseat。Theirattentionwasattractedbyacarriagedrawnbysixstatelylong-tailedblackhorses，andwithasmuchcarvingandgildingaswouldhavedonehonourtomylordmayor’s。Itwaswaitingfortheowner，whowasatalittledistanceinspectingtheprogressofahalf-builtfarm-house。Iknownotwhethertheboy’snursehadbeenaWelshoraScotchwoman，orinwhatmannerheassociatedashieldemblazonedwiththreeermineswiththeideaofpersonalproperty，buthenosoonerbeheldthisfamilyemblemthanhestoutlydeterminedonvindicatinghisrighttothesplendidvehicleonwhichitwasdisplayed。TheBaronetarrivedwhiletheboy’smaidwasinvainendeavouringtomakehimdesistfromhisdeterminationtoappropriatethegildedcoach-and-six。

　　TherencontrewasatahappymomentforEdward，ashisunclehadbeenjusteyeingwistfully，withsomethingofafeelinglikeenvy，thechubbyboysofthestoutyeomanwhosemansionwasbuildingbyhisdirection。Intheround-facedrosycherubbeforehim，bearinghiseyeandhisname，andvindicatingahereditarytitletohisfamilyaffectionandpatronage，bymeansofatiewhichSirEverardheldassacredaseitherGarterorBlueMantle，Providenceseemedtohavegrantedtohimtheveryobjectbestcalculatedtofillupthevoidinhishopesandaffections。SirEverardreturnedtoWaverleyHalluponaledhorsewhichwaskeptinreadinessforhim，whilethechildandhisattendantweresenthomeinthecarriagetoBrerewoodLodgewithsuchamessageasopenedtoRichardWaverleyadoorofreconciliationwithhiselderbrother。

　　Theirintercourse，however，thoughthusrenewed，continuedtoberatherformalandcivilthanpartakingofbrotherlycordiality；

......

购买会员看全站小说，或者下载APP免费观看所有作品 点击立即下载，搜索"WAVERLEY",免费读到尾