Thatyouaretoexplain；-butdidyounot，forexample，sendtohimforsomebooks？’’
Youremindmeofatriflingcommission，’’saidWaverley，whichIgaveSergeantHoughtonbecausemysergeantcouldnotread。IdorecollectIbadehimbyletterselectsomebooks，ofwhichIsenthimalist，andsendthemtomeatTully-Veolan。’’
Andofwhatdescriptionwerethosebooks？’’
Theyrelatedalmostentirelytoelegantliterature；theyweredesignedforalady’sperusal。’’
Weretherenot，Mr。Waverley，treasonabletractsandpamphletsamongthem？’’
Thereweresomepoliticaltreatises，intowhichIhardlylooked。Theyhadbeensenttomebytheofficiousnessofakindfriend，whoseheartismoretobeesteemedthanhisprudenceorpoliticalsagacity；theyseemedtobedullcompositions。’’
Thatfriend，’’continuedtheperseveringinquirer，wasaMr。Pembroke，anon-juringclergyman，theauthoroftwotreasonableworks，ofwhichthemanuscriptswerefoundamongyourbaggage？’’
Butofwhich，Igiveyoumyhonourasagentleman，’’
repliedWaverley，Ineverreadsixpages。’’
“Iamnotyourjudge，Mr。Waverley；yourexaminationwillbetransmittedelsewhere。Andnowtoproceed-DoyouknowapersonthatpassesbythenameofWilyWill，orWillRuthven？’’
Ineverheardofsuchanametillthismoment。’’
Didyouneverthroughsuchaperson，oranyotherperson，communicatewithSergeantHumphryHoughton，instigatinghimtodesertwithasmanyofhiscomradesashecouldseducetojoinhim，andunitewiththeHighlandersandotherrebelsnowinarmsunderthecommandoftheyoungPretender？’’
IassureyouIamnotonlyentirelyguiltlessoftheplotyouhavelaidtomycharge，butIdetestitfromtheverybottomofmysoul，norwouldIbeguiltyofsuchtreacherytogainathroneeitherformyselforanyothermanalive。’’
YetwhenIconsiderthisenvelope，inthehandwritingofoneofthosemisguidedgentlemenwhoarenowinarmsagainsttheircountry，andtheverseswhichitenclosed，IcannotbutfindsomeanalogybetweentheenterpriseIhavementionedandtheexploitofWogan，whichthewriterseemstoexpectyoushouldimitate。’’
Waverleywasstruckwiththecoincidence，butdeniedthatthewishesorexpectationsoftheletter-writerweretoberegardedasproofsofachargeotherwisechimerical。
But，ifIamrightlyinformed，yourtimewasspent，duringyourabsencefromtheregiment，betweenthehouseofthisHighlandChieftainandthatofMr。BradwardineofBradwardine，alsoinarmsforthisunfortunatecause？’’
Idonotmeantodisguiseit，butIdodeny，mostresolutely，beingprivytoanyoftheirdesignsagainsttheGovernment。’’
Youdonot，however，Ipresume，intendtodenythatyouattendedyourhostGlennaquoichtoarendezvous，where，underapretenceofageneralhunting-match，mostoftheaccomplicesofhistreasonwereassembledtoconcertmeasuresfortakingarms？’’
Iacknowledgehavingbeenatsuchameeting，’’saidWaverley；
butIneitherheardnorsawanythingwhichcouldgiveitthecharacteryouaffixtoit。’’
Fromthenceyouproceeded，’’continuedthemagistrate，withGlennaquoichandapartofhisclantojointhearmyoftheyoungPretender，andreturned，afterhavingpaidyourhomagetohim，todisciplineandarmtheremainder，andunitethemtohisbandsontheirwaysouthward？’’
IneverwentwithGlennaquoichonsuchanerrand。I
neversomuchasheardthatthepersonwhomyoumentionwasinthecountry。’’
Hethendetailedthehistoryofhismisfortuneatthehunting-match，andadded，thatonhisreturnhefoundhimselfsuddenlydeprivedofhiscommission，anddidnotdenythathethen，forthefirsttime，observedsymptomswhichindicatedadispositionintheHighlanderstotakearms；butadded，thathavingnoinclinationtojointheircause，andnolongeranyreasonforremaininginScotland，hewasnowonhisreturntohisnativecountry，towhichhehadbeensummonedbythosewhohadarighttodirecthismotions，asMajorMelvillewouldperceivefromthelettersonthetable。
MajorMelvilleaccordinglyperusedthelettersofRichardWaverley，ofSirEverard，andofAuntRachel；buttheinferenceshedrewfromthemweredifferentfromwhatWaverleyexpected。TheyheldthelanguageofdiscontentwithGovernment，threwoutnoobscurehintsofrevenge；andthatofpoorAuntRachel，whichplainlyassertedthejusticeoftheStuartcause，washeldtocontaintheopenavowalofwhattheotheronlyventuredtoinsinuate。
Permitmeanotherquestion，Mr。Waverley，’’saidMajorMelville。Didyounotreceiverepeatedlettersfromyourcommanding-officerwarningyouandcommandingyoutoreturntoyourpost，andacquaintingyouwiththeusemadeofyournametospreaddiscontentamongyoursoldiers？’’
Ineverdid，MajorMelville。Oneletter，indeed，Ireceivedfromhim，containingacivilintimationofhiswishthatIwouldemploymyleaveofabsenceotherwisethaninconstantresidenceatBradwardine，astowhich，Iown，Ithoughthewasnotcalledontointerfere；andfinally，Ireceived，onthesamedayonwhichIobservedmyselfsupersededintheGazette，asecondletterfromColonelGardiner，commandingmetojointheregiment-
anorderwhich，owingtomyabsence，alreadymentionedandaccountedfor，Ireceivedtoolatetobeobeyed。Iftherewereanyintermediateletters-andcertainlyfromtheColonel’shighcharacterIthinkitprobablethattherewere-theyhaveneverreachedme。’’
Ihaveomitted，Mr。Waverley，’’continuedMajorMelville，toinquireafteramatteroflessconsequence，butwhichhas，nevertheless，beenpubliclytalkedoftoyourdisadvantage。Itissaidthatatreasonabletoasthavingbeenproposedinyourhearingandpresence，you，holdinghisMajesty’scommission，sufferedthetaskofresentingittodevolveuponanothergentlemanofthecompany。This，sir，cannotbechargedagainstyouinacourtofjustice；butif，asIaminformed，theofficersofyourregimentrequestedanexplanationofsucharumour，asagentlemanandsoldier，Icannotbutbesurprisedthatyoudidnotaffordittothem。’’
Thiswastoomuch。Besetandpressedoneveryhandbyaccusations，inwhichgrossfalsehoodswereblendedwithsuchcircumstancesoftruthascouldnotfailtoprocurethemcredit-alone，unfriended，andinastrangeland，Waverleyalmostgaveuphislifeandhonourforlost，andleaninghisheaduponhishand，resolutelyrefusedtoansweranyfurtherquestions，sincethefairandcandidstatementhehadalreadymadehadonlyservedtofurnisharmsagainsthim。
WithoutexpressingeithersurpriseordispleasureatthechangeinWaverley’smanner，MajorMelvilleproceededcomposedlytoputseveralotherqueriestohim。Whatdoesitavailmetoansweryou？’’saidEdwardsullenly。Youappearconvincedofmyguilt，andwresteveryreplyIhavemadetosupportyourownpreconceivedopinion。Enjoyyoursupposedtriumph，then，andtormentmenofurther。IfIamcapableofthecowardiceandtreacheryyourchargeburdensmewith，IamnotworthytobebelievedinanyreplyIcanmaketoyou。IfIamnotdeservingofyoursuspicion-andGodandmyownconsciencebearevidencewithmethatitisso-thenIdonotseewhyIshouldbymycandourlendmyaccusersarmsagainstmyinnocence。ThereisnoreasonIshouldanswerawordmore，andIamdeterminedtoabidebythisresolution。’’Andagainheresumedhispostureofsullenanddeterminedsilence。
Allowme，’’saidthemagistrate，toremindyouofonereasonthatmaysuggesttheproprietyofacandidandopenconfession。
Theinexperienceofyouth，Mr。Waverley，laysitopentotheplansofthemoredesigningandartful；andoneofyourfriendsatleast-ImeanMac-IvorofGlennaquoich-rankshighinthelatterclass，asfromyourapparentingenuousness，youth，andunacquaintancewiththemannersoftheHighlands，I
shouldbedisposedtoplaceyouamongtheformer。Insuchacase，afalsesteporerrorlikeyours，whichIshallbehappytoconsiderasinvoluntary，maybeatonedfor，andIwouldwillinglyactasintercessor。Butasyoumustnecessarilybeacquaintedwiththestrengthoftheindividualsinthiscountrywhohaveassumedarms，withtheirmeans，andwiththeirplans，Imustexpectyouwillmeritthismediationonmypartbyafrankandcandidavowalofallthathascometoyourknowledgeupontheseheads。Inwhichcase，IthinkIcanventuretopromisethataveryshortpersonalrestraintwillbetheonlyillconsequencethatcanarisefromyouraccessiontotheseunhappyintrigues。’’
Waverleylistenedwithgreatcomposureuntiltheendofthisexhortation，when，springingfromhisseat，withanenergyhehadnotyetdisplayed，hereplied，MajorMelville，sincethatisyourname，Ihavehithertoansweredyourquestionswithcandour，ordeclinedthemwithtemper，becausetheirimportconcernedmyselfalone；butasyoupresumetoesteemmemeanenoughtocommenceinformeragainstothers，whoreceivedme，whatevermaybetheirpublicmisconduct，asaguestandfriend，-IdeclaretoyouthatIconsideryourquestionsasaninsultinfinitelymoreoffensivethanyourcalumnioussuspicions；andthat，sincemyhardfortunepermitsmenoothermodeofresentingthemthanbyverbaldefiance，youshouldsoonerhavemyheartoutofmybosom，thanasinglesyllableofinformationonsubjectswhichIcouldonlybecomeacquaintedwithinthefullconfidenceofunsuspectinghospitality。’’
Mr。MortonandtheMajorlookedateachother；andtheformer，who，inthecourseoftheexamination，hadbeenrepeatedlytroubledwithasorryrheum，hadrecoursetohissnuff-boxandhishandkerchief。
Mr。Waverley，’’saidtheMajor，mypresentsituationprohibitsmealikefromgivingorreceivingoffence，andIwillnotprotractadiscussionwhichapproachestoeither。IamafraidImustsignawarrantfordetainingyouincustody，butthishouseshallforthepresentbeyourprison。IfearIcannotpersuadeyoutoacceptashareofoursupper？-Edwardshookhishead-butIwillorderrefreshmentsinyourapartment。’’
Ourherobowedandwithdrew，underguardoftheofficersofjustice，toasmallbuthandsomeroom，where，decliningalloffersoffoodorwine，heflunghimselfonthebed，andstupifiedbytheharassingeventsandmentalfatigueofthismiserableday，hesunkintoadeepandheavyslumber。Thiswasmorethanhehimselfcouldhaveexpected；butitismentionedoftheNorthAmericanIndians，whenatthestakeoftorture，thatontheleastintermissionofagony，theywillsleepuntilthefireisappliedtoawakenthem。
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SECOND。
ACONFERENCEANDTHECONSEQUENCE。
MajorMelvillehaddetainedMr。MortonduringhisexaminationofWaverley，bothbecausehethoughthemightderiveassistancefromhispracticalgoodsenseandapprovedloyalty，andalsobecauseitwasagreeabletohaveawitnessofunimpeachedcandourandveracitytoproceedingswhichtouchedthehonourandsafetyofayoungEnglishmanofhighrankandfamily，andtheexpectantheirofalargefortune。Everystepheknewwouldberigorouslycanvassed，anditwashisbusinesstoplacethejusticeandintegrityofhisownconductbeyondthelimitsofquestion。
WhenWaverleyretired，thelairdandclergymanofCairnvreckansatdowninsilencetotheireveningmeal。Whiletheservantswereinattendance，neitherchosetosayanythingonthecircumstanceswhichoccupiedtheirminds，andneitherfeltiteasytospeakuponanyother。TheyouthandapparentfranknessofWaverleystoodinstrongcontrasttotheshadesofsuspicionwhichdarkenedaroundhim，andhehadasortofnaivetandopennessofdemeanour，thatseemedtobelongtooneunhackneyedinthewaysofintrigue，andwhichpleadedhighlyinhisfavour。