FromtheminutenesswithwhichIhavetracedWaverley’spursuits，andthebiaswhichtheseunavoidablycommunicatedtohisimagination，thereadermayperhapsanticipate，inthefollowingtale，animitationoftheromanceofCervantes。Buthewilldomyprudenceinjusticeinthesupposition。Myintentionisnottofollowthestepsofthatinimitableauthor，indescribingsuchtotalperversionofintellectasmisconstruestheobjectsactuallypresentedtothesenses，butthatmorecommonaberrationfromsoundjudgment，whichapprehendsoccurrencesindeedintheirreality，butcommunicatestothematinctureofitsownromantictoneandcolouring。SofarwasEdwardWaverleyfromexpectinggeneralsympathywithhisownfeelings，orconcludingthatthepresentstateofthingswascalculatedtoexhibittherealityofthosevisionsinwhichhelovedtoindulge，thathedreadednothingmorethanthedetectionofsuchsentimentsasweredictatedbyhismusings。

　　Heneitherhadnorwishedtohaveaconfidant，withwhomtocommunicatehisreveries；andsosensiblewasheoftheridiculeattachedtothem，that，hadhebeentochoosebetweenanypunishmentshortofignominy，andthenecessityofgivingacoldandcomposedaccountoftheidealworldinwhichhelivedthebetterpartofhisdays，Ithinkhewouldnothavehesitatedtoprefertheformerinfliction。Thissecrecybecamedoublyprecious，ashefeltinadvancinglifetheinfluenceoftheawakeningpassions。Femaleformsofexquisitegraceandbeautybegantomingleinhismentaladventures；norwashelongwithoutlookingabroadtocomparethecreaturesofhisownimaginationwiththefemalesofactuallife。

　　ThelistofthebeautieswhodisplayedtheirhebdomadalfineryattheparishchurchofWaverleywasneithernumerousnorselect。ByfarthemostpassablewasMissSissly，or，assheratherchosetobecalled，MissCeciliaStubbs，daughterofSquireStubbsattheGrange。Iknownotwhetheritwasbythemerestaccidentintheworld，’’aphrasewhich，fromfemalelips，doesnotalwaysexclude_maliceprepense，_orwhetheritwasfromaconformityoftaste，thatMissCeciliamorethanoncecrossedEdwardinhisfavouritewalksthroughWaverley-Chase。

　　Hehadnotasyetassumedcouragetoaccostherontheseoccasions；

　　butthemeetingwasnotwithoutitseffect。Aromanticloverisastrangeidolater，whosometimescaresnotoutofwhatlogheframestheobjectofhisadoration；atleast，ifnaturehasgiventhatobjectanypassableproportionofpersonalcharms，hecaneasilyplaytheJewellerandDerviseintheOrientaltale，andsupplyherrichly，outofthestoresofhisownimagination，SeeHoppner’sTaleof_TheSevenLovers。_

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