TheBaron’sstorywasshort，whendivestedoftheadagesandcommonplaces，Latin，English，andScotch，withwhichhiseruditiongarnishedit。HeinsistedmuchuponhisgriefatthelossofEdwardandofGlennaquoich，foughtthefieldsofFalkirkandCulloden，andrelatedhow，afterallwaslostinthelastbattle，hehadreturnedhome，undertheideaofmoreeasilyfindingshelteramonghisowntenantsandonhisownestate，thanelsewhere。Apartyofsoldiershadbeensenttolaywastehisproperty，forclemencywasnottheorderoftheday。Theirproceedings，however，werecheckedbyanorderfromthecivilcourt。Theestate，itwasfound，mightnotbeforfeitedtothecrown，totheprejudiceofMalcolmBradwardineofInch-Grabbit，theheir-male，whoseclaimcouldnotbeprejudicedbytheBaron’sattainder，asderivingnorightthroughhim，andwho，therefore，likeotherheirsofentailinthesamesituation，entereduponpossession。But，unlikemanyinsimilarcircumstances，thenewlairdspeedilyshowedthatheintendedutterlytoexcludehispredecessorfromallbenefitoradvantageintheestate，andthatitwashispurposetoavailhimselfoftheoldBaron’sevilfortunetothefullextent。Thiswasthemoreungenerous，asitwasgenerallyknown，that，fromaromanticideaofnotprejudicingthisyoungman’srightasheir-male，theBaronhadrefrainedfromsettlinghisestateonhisdaughter。
Thisselfishinjusticewasresentedbythecountrypeople，whowerepartialtotheiroldmaster，andirritatedagainsthissuccessor。IntheBaron’sownwords，ThematterdidnotcoincidewiththefeelingsofthecommonsofBradwardine，Mr。
Waverley；andthetenantswereslackandrepugnantinpaymentoftheirmailsandduties；andwhenmykinsmancametothevillagewi’thenewfactor，Mr。JamesHowie，tolifttherents，somewanchancyperson-IsuspectJohnHeatherblutter，theauldgamekeeper，thatwasoutwi’meintheyearfifteen-firedashotathiminthegloaming，wherebyhewassoaffrighted，thatImaysaywithTulliusinCatilinam，_Abiit，evasit，erupit，effugit。_Hefled，sir，asonemaysay，incontinenttoStirling。Andnowhehathadvertisedtheestateforsale，beinghimselfthelastsubstituteintheentail-AndifI
weretolamentaboutsicmatters，thiswouldgrievememairthanitspassingfrommyimmediatepossession，whilk，bythecourseofnature，musthavehappenedinafewyears。Whereasnowitpassesfromthelineagethatshouldhavepossesseditin_sculasculorum。_ButGod’swillbedone，_humanaperpessisumus。_SirJohnofBradwardine-BlackSirJohn，asheiscalled-whowasthecommonancestorofourhouseandtheInch-Grabbits，littlethoughtsuchapersonwouldhavesprungfromhisloins。Meantime，hehasaccusedmetosomeofthe_primates，_therulersforthetime，asifIwereacut-throat，andanabettorofbravoesandassassinates，andcoupe-jarrets。Andtheyhavesentsoldiersheretoabideontheestate，andhuntmelikeapartridgeuponthemountains，asScripturesaysofgoodKingDavid，orlikeourvaliantSirWilliamWallace，-
notthatIbringmyselfintocomparisonwitheither-Ithought，whenIheardyouatthedoor，theyhaddriventheaulddeertohisdenatlast；andsoIe’enproposedtodieatbay，likeabuckofthefirsthead-Butnow，Janet，cannayegieussomethingforsupper？’’
Ouay，sir，I’llbranderthemoorfowlthatJohnHeatherblutterbroughtinthismorning；andyeseepuirDavie’sroastingtheblackhen’seggs-Idaursay，Mr。Wauverley，yeneverkendthata’theeggsthatweresaeweelroastedatsupperintheHa’-housewereayeturnedbyourDavie？-there’snothelikeo’himonygateforpowteringwi’hisfingersamangthehetpeat-ashes，androastingeggs。’’Davieallthiswhilelaywithhisnosealmostinthefire，nuzzlingamongtheashes，kickinghisheels，mumblingtohimself，turningtheeggsastheylayinthehotembers，asiftoconfutetheproverb，thattheregoesreasontoroastingofeggs，’’andjustifytheeulogiumwhichpoorJanetpouredoutuponHimwhomsheloved，heridiotboy。
Davie’snosaesillyasfolktakhimfor，Mr。Wauverley；
hewadnahaebroughtyouhereunlesshehadkendyewasafriendtohisHonour-indeedtheverydogskendye，Mr。
Wauverley，foryewasayekindtobeastandbody-Icantellyouastoryo’Davie，wi’hisHonour’sleave：HisHonour，yesee，beingunderhidinginthaesairtimes-themair’sthepity-
heliesa’day，andwhilesa’night，inthecoveinthedernhag；
butthoughit’sabieldyeneughbit，andtheauldgudemano’
Corse-Cleughhaspangeditwi’akempleo’straeamaist，yetwhenthecountry’squiet，andthenightverycauld，hisHonourwhilescreepsdounheretogetawarmattheingle，andasleepamongtheblankets，andgangsawainthemorning。
Andso，aemorning，siccanafrightasIgot！Twaunluckyred-coatswereupforblack-fishing，orsomesiccanploy-forthenebo’them’sneverouto’mischief-andtheyjustgotaglisko’hisHonourashegaedintothewood，andbangedaffagunathim。Ioutlikeajer-falcon，andcried，-`Wadtheyshootanhonestwoman’spoorinnocentbairn？’AndIfleytatthem，andthreepititwasmyson；andthedamnedandswuiratmethatitwastheauldrebel，asthevillainsca’dhisHonour；andDaviewasinthewood，andheardthetuilzie，andhe，justouto’hisainhead，gotuptheauldgreymantlethathisHonourhadflungoffhimtogangthefaster，andhecameouto’theverysamebito’thewood，majoringandlookingaboutsaelikehisHonour，thattheywerecleanbeguiled，andthoughttheyhadlettenafftheirgunatcrack-brainedSawney，astheyca’dhim；andtheygaemesaxpence，andtwasaumonfish，tosaynaethingaboutit-Na，na；Davie’snojustlikeotherfolk，puirfallow；buthe’snosaesillyasfolktakhimfor-But，tobesure，howcanwedoeneughforhisHonour，whenweandourshavelivedonhisgroundthistwahundredyears；andwhenhekeepitmypuirJamieatschoolandcollege，andevenattheHa’-house，tillhegaedtoabetterplace；andwhenhesavedmefraebeingta’entoPerthasawitch-Lordforgi’ethemthatwouldtouchsicapuirsillyauldbody！-andhasmaintainedpuirDavieatheckandmangermaistfecko’hislife？’’
WaverleyatlengthfoundanopportunitytointerruptJanet’snarrative，byaninquiryafterMissBradwardine。
She’sweelandsafe，thankGod！attheDuchran，’’answeredtheBaron。Thelaird’sdistantlyrelatedtous，andmorenearlytomychaplain，Mr。Rubrick；and，thoughhebeofWhigprinciples，yethe’snotforgetfulofauldfriendshipatthistime。TheBailie’sdoingwhathecantosavesomethingoutofthewreckforpuirRose；butIdoubt，Idoubt，Ishallneverseeheragain，forImaunlaymybanesinsomefarcountry。’’
Houtna，yourHonour，’’saidoldJanet；yewerejustasillaftinthefeifteen，andgotthebonniebaronieback，ana’-
Andnowtheeggsisready，andthemuir-cock’sbrandered，andthere’silkaneatrencherandsomesaut，andtheheelo’thewhiteloafthatcamfraetheBailie’s；andthere’splentyo’
brandyinthegreybeardthatLuckieMacleariesentdoun；andwinnayebesupperedlikeprinces？’’
IwishonePrince，atleast，ofouracquaintance，maybenoworseoff，’’saidtheBarontoWaverley，whojoinedhimincordialhopesforthesafetyoftheunfortunateChevalier。
Theythenbegantotalkoftheirfutureprospects。TheBaron’splanwasverysimple。Itwas，toescapetoFrance，where，bytheinterestofhisoldfriends，hehopedtogetsomemilitaryemployment，ofwhichhestillconceivedhimselfcapable。HeinvitedWaverleytogowithhim，aproposalinwhichheacquiesced，providingtheinterestofColonelTalbotshouldfailinprocuringhispardon。TacitlyhehopedtheBaronwouldsanctionhisaddressestoRose，andgivehimarighttoassisthiminhisexile；butheforboretospeakonthissubjectuntilhisownfateshouldbedecided。TheythentalkedofGlennaquoich，forwhomtheBaronexpressedgreatanxiety，although，heobserved，hewastheveryAchillesofHoratiusFlaccus，-
Impiger，iracuindus，inexorabilis，acer。
Which，’’hecontinued，hasbeenthusrenderedvernacularly
byStruanRobertson：-
Afieryetter-cap，afractiouschiel，Ashetasginger，andasstieveassteel。’’
Florahadalargeandunqualifiedshareofthegoodoldman’ssympathy。
Itwasnowwearinglate。OldJanetgotintosomekindofkennelbehindthehallan。DaviehadbeenlongasleepandsnoringbetweenBanandBuscar。Thesedogshadfollowedhimtothehutafterthemansion-housewasdeserted，andthereconstantlyresided；andtheirferocity，withtheoldwoman’sreputationofbeingawitch，contributedagooddealtokeepvisitorsfromtheglen。Withthisview，BailieMacwheebleprovidedJanetunderhandwithmealfortheirmaintenance，andalsowithlittlearticlesofluxuryfortheirpatron’suse，insupplyingwhichmuchprecautionwasnecessarilyused。Aftersomecompliments，theBaronoccupiedhisusualcouch，andWaverleyreclinedinaneasychairoftatteredvelvet，whichhadoncegarnishedthestatebed-roomofTully-Veolanforthefurnitureofthismansionwasnowscatteredthroughallthecottagesinthevicinity，andwenttosleepascomfortablyasifhehadbeeninabed
Withthefirstdawnofday，oldJanetwasscuttlingaboutthehousetowaketheBaron，whousuallysleptsoundandheavily。
Imustgoback，’’hesaidtoWaverley，tomycove：willyouwalkdowntheglenwi’me？’’
Theywentouttogether，andfollowedanarrowandentangledfoot-path，whichtheoccasionalpassageofanglers，orwood-cutters，hadtracedbythesideofthestream。Ontheirway，theBaronexplainedtoWaverley，thathewouldbeundernodangerinremainingadayortwoatTully-Veolan，andeveninbeingseenwalkingabout，ifheusedtheprecautionofpretendingthathewaslookingattheestateasagentorsurveyorforanEnglishgentleman，whodesignedtobepurchaser。Withthisview，herecommendedtohimtovisittheBailie，whostilllivedatthefactor’shouse，calledLittleVeolan，aboutamilefromthevillage，thoughhewastoremoveatnextterm。
Stanley’spassportwouldbeananswertotheofficerwhocommandedthemilitary；andastoanyofthecountrypeoplewhomightrecogniseWaverley，theBaronassuredhimthathewasinnodangerofbeingbetrayedbythem。
Ibelieve，’’saidtheoldman，halfthepeopleofthebaronyknowthattheirpoorauldlairdissomewherehereabout；forI
seetheydonotsufferasinglebairntocomehereabird-nesting-apracticewhilk，whenIwasinfullpossessionofmypowerasbaron，Iwasunabletotallytoinhibit。Nay，Ioftenfindbitsofthingsinmyway，thatthepoorbodies，Godhelpthem！
leavethere，becausetheythinktheymaybeusefultome。
Ihopetheywillgetawisermaster，andaskindaoneasIwas。’’
Anaturalsighclosedthesentence；butthequietequanimitywithwhichtheBaronenduredhismisfortunes，hadsomethinginitvenerable，andevensublime。Therewasnofruitlessrepining，noturbidmelancholy；heborehislot，andthehardshipswhichitinvolved，withagood-humoured，thoughseriouscomposure，andusednoviolentlanguageagainsttheprevailingparty。
IdidwhatIthoughtmyduty，’’saidthegoodoldman，andquestionlesstheyaredoingwhattheythinktheirs。Itgrievesmesometimestolookupontheseblackenedwallsofthehouseofmyancestors；butdoubtlessofficerscannotalwayskeepthesoldier’shandfromdepredationandspuilzie；andGustavusAdolphushimself，asyemayreadinColonelMunrohisExpeditionwiththeworthyScotchregimentcalledMackay’sregiment，didoftenpermitit-IndeedIhavemyselfseenassadsightsasTully-Veolannowis，whenIservedwiththeMareschalDukeofBerwick。Tobesure，wemaysaywithVirgiliusMaro，_FuimusTroes_-andthere’stheendofanauldsang。Buthousesandfamiliesandandmenhavea’stoodlangeneughwhentheyhavestoodtilltheyfallwithhonour；andnowIhaegottenahousethatisnotunlikea_domusultima。_’’-
theywerenowstandingbelowasteeprock。WepoorJacobites，’’continuedtheBaron，lookingup，arenowliketheconiesinHolyScripturewhichthegreattravellerPocokecallethJerboa，afeeblepeople，thatmakeourabodeintherocks。So，fareyouwell，mygoodlad，tillwemeetatJanet’sintheeven；forImustgetintomyPatmos，whichisnoeasymatterformyauldstifflimbs。’’
Withthathebegantoascendtherock，striding，withthehelpofhishands，fromoneprecariousfootsteptoanother，tillhegotabouthalf-wayup，wheretwoorthreebushesconcealedthemouthofahole，resemblinganoven，intowhichtheBaroninsinuated，firsthisheadandshoulders，andthen，byslowgradation，therestofhislongbody；hislegsandfeetfinallydisappearing，coileduplikeahugesnakeenteringhisretreat，oralongpedigreeintroducedwithcareanddifficultyintothenarrowpigeon-holeofanoldcabinet。Waverleyhadthecuriositytoclamberupandlookinuponhiminhisden，asthelurking-placemightwellbetermed。Uponthewhole，helookednotunlikethatingeniouspuzzle，called_areelinabottle，_