ThislastdilemmahadalmostdisturbedFergus’sgravity。
Why，’’saidhe，youknow，Baron，theproverbtellsus，`It’silltakingthebreeksoffaHighlandman，’-andthebootsarehereinthesamepredicament。’’
Theword_calig，_however，’’continuedtheBaron，thoughIadmit，that，byfamilytradition，andeveninourancientevidents，itisexplained_lie_=boots，=means，initsprimitivesense，rathersandals；andCaiusCsar，thenephewandsuccessorofCaiusTiberius，receivedtheagnomenofCaligula，_acaligulis，sivecaligislevioribus，quibusadolescentiorususfueratinexercituGermanicipatrissui。_Andthe_calig_werealsopropertothemonasticbodies；forwereadinanancientGlossarium，upontheruleofStBenedict，intheAbbeyofSt。Amand，that_calig_
weretiedwithlatchets。’’
Thatwillapplytothebrogues，’’saidFergus。
Itwillso，mydearGlennaquoich；andthewordsareexpress：_Caligdictsuntquialigantur；namsoccinonligantur，sedtantumintromittuntur；_thatis，_calig_aredenominatedfromtheligatureswherewiththeyarebound；whereas_socci，_whichmaybeanalogoustoourmules，whilktheEnglishdenominateslippers，areonlyslippeduponthefeet。Thewordsofthecharterarealsoalternative，-_exuere，seudetrahere；_thatis，to_undo，_asinthecaseofsandalsorbrogues；andto_pulloff，_aswesayvernacularly，concerningboots。YetIwouldwehadmorelight；butIfearthereislittlechanceoffindinghereaboutanyeruditeauthor_derevestiari。_’’
Ishoulddoubtitverymuch，’’saidtheChieftain，lookingaroundonthestragglingHighlanders，whowerereturningloadedwithspoilsoftheslain，thoughthe_resvestiaria_itselfseemstobeinsomerequestatpresent。’’
ThisremarkcomingwithintheBaron’sideaofjocularity，hehonoureditwithasmile，butimmediatelyresumedwhattohimappearedveryseriousbusiness。
BailieMacwheebleindeedholdsanopinion，thatthishonoraryserviceisdue，fromitsverynature，_sipetaturtantum；_
onlyifhisRoyalHighnessshallrequireofthegreattenantofthecrowntoperformthatpersonalduty；andindeedhepointedoutthecaseinDirleton’sDoubtsandQueries，Grippet_versus_
Spicer，anenttheevictionofanestate_obnonsolutumcanonem，_
thatis，fornon-paymentofafeu-dutyofthreepeppercornsa-year，whilkweretaxttobeworthseven-eighthsofapennyScots，inwhilkthedefenderwasassoilzied。ButIdeemitsafest，wi’yourgoodfavour，toplacemyselfinthewayofrenderingthePrincethisservice，andtoprofferperformancethereof；andIshallcausetheBailietoattendwithascheduleofaprotest，whilkhehasherepreparedtakingoutapaper，intimating，thatifitshallbehisRoyalHighness’spleasuretoacceptofotherassistanceatpullingoffhis_calig_whetherthesameshallberenderedbootsorbroguessavethatofthesaidBaronofBradwardine，whoisinpresencereadyandwillingtoperformthesame，itshallinnowiseimpingeuponorprejudicetherightofthesaidCosmoComyneBradwardinetoperformthesaidserviceinfuture；norshallitgiveanyesquire，valetofthechamber，squire，orpage，whoseassistanceitmaypleasehisRoyalHighnesstoemploy，anyright，title，orground，forevictingfromthesaidCosmo，ComyneBradwardinetheestateandbaronyofBradwardine，andothersheldasaforesaid，bythedueandfaithfulperformancethereof。’’
Fergushighlyapplaudedthisarrangement；andtheBarontookafriendlyleaveofthem，withasmileofcontentedimportanceuponhisvisage。
LongliveourdearfriendtheBaron，’’exclaimedtheChief，assoonashewasoutofhearing，forthemostabsurdoriginalthatexistsnorthoftheTweed！IwishtoheavenIhadrecommendedhimtoattendthecirclethiseveningwithaboot-ketchunderhisarm。Ithinkhemighthaveadoptedthesuggestion，ifithadbeenmadewithsuitablegravity。’’
Andhowcanyoutakepleasureinmakingamanofhisworthsoridiculous？’’
Beggingpardon，mydearWaverley，youareasridiculousashe。Why，doyounotseethattheman’swholemindiswrappedupinthisceremony？Hehasheardandthoughtofitsinceinfancy，asthemostaugustprivilegeandceremonyintheworld；andIdoubtnotbuttheexpectedpleasureofperformingitwasaprincipalmotivewithhimfortakinguparms。Dependuponit，hadIendeavouredtodiverthimfromexposinghimself，hewouldhavetreatedmeasanignorantconceitedcoxcomb，orperhapsmighthavetakenafancytocutmythroat；apleasurewhichheonceproposedtohimselfuponsomepointofetiquette，nothalfsoimportant，inhiseyes，asthismatterofbootsorbrogues，ofwhateverthecaligshallfinallybepronouncedbythelearned。ButImustgotohead-quarterstopreparethePrinceforthisextraordinaryscene。
Myinformationwillbewelltaken，foritwillgivehimaheartylaughatpresent，andputhimonhisguardagainstlaughing，whenitmightbevery_mal-a-propos。_So，_aurevoir，_mydearWaverley。’’
ThefirstoccupationofWaverley，afterhedepartedfromtheChieftain，wastogoinquestoftheofficerwhoselifehehadsaved。Hewasguarded，alongwithhiscompanionsinmisfortune，whowereverynumerous，inagentleman’shousenearthefieldofbattle。
Onenteringtheroomwheretheystoodcrowdedtogether，Waverleyeasilyrecognisedtheobjectofhisvisit，notonlybythepeculiardignityofhisappearance，butbytheappendageofDugaldMahony，withhisbattle-axe，whohadstucktohimfromthemomentofhiscaptivity，asifhehadbeenskeweredtohisside。Thiscloseattendancewas，perhaps，forthepurposeofsecuringhispromisedrewardfromEdward，butitalsooperatedtosavetheEnglishgentlemanfrombeingplunderedinthesceneofgeneralconfusion；forDugaldsagaciouslyargued，thattheamountofthesalvagewhichhemightbeallowed，wouldberegulatedbythestateoftheprisoner，whenheshoulddeliverhimovertoWaverley。HehastenedtoassureWaverley，therefore，withmorewordsthanheusuallyemployed，thathehadkeepitta_sidierroy_haill，andthathewasnaaplackthewaursincetheferrymomentwhenhishonourforbadhertogiehimabitclamhewitwi’herLochaberaxe。’’
WaverleyassuredDugaldofaliberalrecompense，and，approachingtheEnglishofficer，expressedhisanxietytodoanythingwhichmightcontributetohisconvenienceunderhispresentunpleasantcircumstances。
Iamnotsoinexperiencedasoldier，sir，’’answeredtheEnglishman，astocomplainofthefortuneofwar。Iamonlygrievedtoseethosescenesactedinourownisland，whichIhaveoftenwitnessedelsewherewithcomparativeindifference。’’
Anothersuchdayasthis，’’saidWaverley，andItrustthecauseofyourregretswillberemoved，andallwillagainreturntopeaceandorder。’’
Theofficersmiledandshookhishead。Imustnotforgetmysituationsofarastoattemptaformalconfutationofthatopinion；but，notwithstandingyoursuccess，andthevalourwhichachievedit，youhaveundertakenatasktowhichyourstrengthappearswhollyinadequate。’’
AtthismomentFerguspushedintothepress。
Come，Edward，comealong；thePrincehasgonetoPinkie-houseforthenight；andwemustfollow，orloosethewholeceremonyofthe_calig。_Yourfriend，theBaron，hasbeenguiltyofagreatpieceofcruelty；hehasinsistedupondraggingBailieMacwheebleouttothefieldofbattle。NowyoumustknowtheBailie’sgreatesthorrorisanarmedHighlander，oraloadedgun；andtherehestands，listeningtotheBaron’sinstructionsconcerningtheprotest，duckinghisheadlikeasea-gullatthereportofeverygunandpistolthatouridleboysarefiringuponthefields；andundergoing，bywayofpenance，ateverysymptomofflinching，asevererebukefromhispatron，whowouldnotadmitthedischargeofawholebatteryofcannon，withinpoint-blankdistance，asanapologyforneglectingadiscourse，inwhichthehonourofhisfamilyisinterested。’’
ButhowhasMr。Bradwardinegothimtoventuresofar？’’
saidEdward。
Why，hehadcomeasfarasMusselburgh，Ifancy，inhopesofmakingsomeofourwills；andtheperemptorycommandsoftheBarondraggedhimforwardtoPrestonafterthebattlewasover。Hecomplainsofoneortwoofourragamuffinshavingputhiminperilofhislife，bypresentingtheirpiecesathim；
butastheylimitedhisransomtoanEnglishpenny，Idon’tthinkweneedtroubletheprovost-marshaluponthatsubject。So，comealong，Waverley。’’
Waverley！’’saidtheEnglishofficer，withgreatemotion；
thenephewofSirEverardWaverley，ofshire？’’
Thesame，Sir，’’repliedourhero，somewhatsurprisedatthetoneinwhichhewasaddressed。
Iamatoncehappyandgrieved，’’saidtheprisoner，tohavemetwithyou。’’
Iamignorant，sir，’’answeredWaverley，howIhavedeservedsomuchinterest。’’
DidyourunclenevermentionafriendcalledTalbot？’’
Ihaveheardhimtalkwithgreatregardofsuchaperson，’’
repliedEdward；acolonel，Ibelieve，inthearmy，andthehusbandofLadyEmilyBlandeville；butIthoughtColonelTalbothadbeenabroad。’’
Iamjustreturned，’’answeredtheofficer；andbeinginScotland，thoughtitmydutytoactwheremyservicespromisedtobeuseful。Yes，Mr。Waverley，IamthatColonelTalbot，thehusbandoftheladyyouhavenamed；andIamproudtoacknowledgethatIowealikemyprofessionalrankandmydomestichappinesstoyourgenerousandnoble-mindedrelative。
GoodGod！thatIshouldfindhisnephewinsuchadress，andengagedinsuchacause！’’
Sir，’’saidFergus，haughtily，thedressandcausearethoseofmenofbirthandhonour。’’
Mysituationforbidsmetodisputeyourassertion，’’saidColonelTalbot；otherwiseitwerenodifficultmattertoshow，thatneithercouragenorprideoflineagecangildabadcause。
But，withMr。Waverley’spermission，andyours，sir，ifyoursalsomustbeasked，Iwouldwillinglyspeakafewwordswithhimonaffairsconnectedwithhisownfamily。’’
Mr。Waverley，sir，regulateshisownmotions-Youwillfollowme，Isuppose，toPinkie，’’saidFergus，turningtoEdward，whenyouhavefinishedyourdiscoursewiththisnewacquaintance？’’
Sosaying，theChiefofGlennaquoichadjustedhisplaidwithrathermorethanhisusualairofhaughtyassumption，andlefttheapartment。
TheinterestofWaverleyreadilyprocuredforColonelTalbotthefreedomofadjourningtoalargegardenbelongingtohisplaceofconfinement。Theywalkedafewpacesinsilence，ColonelTalbotapparentlystudyinghowtoopenwhathehadtosay；atlengthheaddressedEdward。
Mr。Waverley，youhavethisdaysavedmylife；andyetI
wouldtoGodthatIhadlostit，ereIhadfoundyouwearingtheuniformandcockadeofthesemen。’’
Iforgiveyourreproach，ColonelTalbot；itiswellmeant，andyoureducationandprejudicesrenderitnatural。Butthereisnothingextraordinaryinfindingaman，whosehonourhasbeenpubliclyandunjustlyassailed，inthesituationwhichpromisedmostfairtoaffordhimsatisfactiononhiscalumniators。’’
Ishouldrathersay，inthesituationmostlikelytoconfirmthereportswhichtheyhavecirculated，’’saidColonelTalbot，byfollowingtheverylineofconductascribedtoyou。Areyouaware，Mr。Waverley，oftheinfinitedistressandevendanger，whichyourpresentconducthasoccasionedtoyournearestrelatives？’’
Danger！’’
Yes，sir，danger。WhenIleftEngland，youruncleandfatherhadbeenobligedtofindbailtoanswerachargeoftreason，towhichtheywereonlyadmittedbytheexertionofthemostpowerfulinterest。IcamedowntoScotland，withthesolepurposeofrescuingyoufromthegulfintowhichyouhaveprecipitatedyourself；norcanIestimatetheconsequencestoyourfamilyofyourhavingopenlyjoinedtherebellion，sincetheverysuspicionofyourintentionwassoperiloustothem。
MostdeeplydoIregretthatIdidnotmeetyoubeforethislastandfatalerror。’’
Iamreallyignorant，’’saidWaverleyinatoneofreserve，whyColonelTalbotshouldhavetakensomuchtroubleonmyaccount。’’
Mr。Waverley，’’answeredTalbot，Iamdullatapprehendingirony；andthereforeIshallansweryourwordsaccordingtotheirplainmeaning。Iamindebtedtoyouruncleforbenefitsgreaterthanthosewhichasonowestoafather。I
acknowledgetohimthedutyofason；andasIknowthereisnomannerinwhichIcanrequitehiskindnesssowellasbyservingyou，Iwillserveyou，ifpossible，whetheryouwillpermitmeorno。Thepersonalobligationwhichyouhavethisdaylaidmeunderalthoughincommonestimationasgreatasonehumanbeingcanbestowonanotheraddsnothingtomyzealonyourbehalf；norcanthatzealbeabatedbyanycoolnesswithwhichyoumaypleasetoreceiveit。’’