Ereheattainedthisindifference，however，hehadread，andstoredinamemoryofuncommontenacity，muchcurious，thoughill-arrangedandmiscellaneousinformation。InEnglishliteraturehewasmasterofShakspeareandMilton，ofourearlierdramaticauthors；ofmanypicturesqueandinterestingpassagesfromouroldhistoricalchronicles；andwasparticularlywellacquaintedwithSpenser，Drayton，andotherpoetswhohaveexercisedthemselvesonromanticfiction，ofallthemesthemostfascinatingtoayouthfulimagination，beforethepassionshaverousedthemselves，anddemandpoetryofamoresentimentaldescription。InthisrespecthisacquaintancewithItalianopenedhimyetawiderrange。Hehadperusedthenumerousromanticpoems，which，fromthedaysofPulci，havebeenafavouriteexerciseofthewitsofItaly；andhadsoughtgratificationinthenumerouscollectionsof_novelle，_whichwerebroughtforthbythegeniusofthatelegantthoughluxuriousnation，inemulationoftheDecameron。Inclassicalliterature，Waverleyhadmadetheusualprogress，andreadtheusualauthors；andtheFrenchhadaffordedhimanalmostexhaustlesscollectionofmemoirs，scarcelymorefaithfulthanromances，andofromancessowellwrittenashardlytobedistinguishedfrommemoirs。
ThesplendidpagesofFroissart，withhisheart-stirringandeye-dazzlingdescriptionsofwarandoftournaments，wereamonghischieffavourites；andfromthoseofBrantomeanddelaNouehelearnedtocomparethewildandlooseyetsuperstitiouscharacterofthenoblesoftheLeague，withthestern，rigid，andsometimesturbulentdispositionoftheHuguenotparty。TheSpanishhadcontributedtohisstockofchivalrousandromanticlore。Theearlierliteratureofthenorthernnationsdidnotescapethestudyofonewhoreadrathertoawakentheimaginationthantobenefittheunderstanding。Andyet，knowingmuchthatisknownbuttofew，EdwardWaverleymightjustlybeconsideredasignorant，sinceheknewlittleofwhataddsdignitytoman，andqualifieshimtosupportandadornanelevatedsituationinsociety。
Theoccasionalattentionofhisparentsmightindeedhavebeenofservice，topreventthedissipationofmindincidentaltosuchadesultorycourseofreading。Buthismotherdiedintheseventhyearafterthereconciliationbetweenthebrothers，andRichardWaverleyhimself，who，afterthisevent，residedmoreconstantlyinLondon，wastoomuchinterestedinhisownplansofwealthandambition，tonoticemorerespectingEdward，thanthathewasofaverybookishturn，andprobablydestinedtobeabishop。Ifhecouldhavediscoveredandanalyzedhisson’swakingdreams，hewouldhaveformedaverydifferentconclusion。
Ihavealreadyhinted，thatthedainty，squeamish，andfastidioustasteacquiredbyasurfeitofidlereading，hadnotonlyrenderedourherounfitforseriousandsoberstudy，buthadevendisgustedhiminsomedegreewiththatinwhichhehadhithertoindulged。
Hewasinhissixteenthyear，whenhishabitsofabstractionandloveofsolitudebecamesomuchmarked，astoexciteSirEverard’saffectionateapprehension。Hetriedtocounterbalancethesepropensities，byengaginghisnephewinfieldsports，whichhadbeenthechiefpleasureofhisownyouthfuldays。
ButalthoughEdwardeagerlycarriedthegunforoneseason，yetwhenpracticehadgivenhimsomedexterity，thepastimeceasedtoaffordhimamusement。
Inthesucceedingspring，theperusalofoldIsaacWalton’sfascinatingvolumedeterminedEdwardtobecomeabrotheroftheangle。’’Butofalldiversionswhichingenuityeverdevisedforthereliefofidleness，fishingistheworstqualifiedtoamuseamanwhoisatonceindolentandimpatient；andourhero’srodwasspeedilyflungaside。Societyandexample，which，morethananyothermotives，masterandswaythenaturalbentofourpassions，mighthavehadtheirusualeffectupontheyouthfulvisionary；buttheneighbourhoodwasthinlyinhabited，andthehome-bredyoungsquireswhomitafforded，werenotofaclassfittoformEdward’susualcompanions，farlesstoexcitehimtoemulationinthepracticeofthosepastimeswhichcomposedtheseriousbusinessoftheirlives。
Therewereafewotheryouthsofbettereducation，andamoreliberalcharacter；butfromtheirsocietyalsoourherowasinsomedegreeexcluded。SirEverardhad，uponthedeathofQueenAnne，resignedhisseatinParliament，and，ashisageincreasedandthenumberofhiscontemporariesdiminished，hadgraduallywithdrawnhimselffromsociety；sothatwhen，uponanyparticularoccasion，Edwardmingledwithaccomplishedandwell-educatedyoungmenofhisownrankandexpectations，hefeltaninferiorityintheircompany，notsomuchfromdeficiencyofinformation，asfromthewantofskilltocommandandtoarrangethatwhichhepossessed。Adeepandincreasingsensibilityaddedtothisdislikeofsociety。Theideaofhavingcommittedtheslightestsolecisminpoliteness，whetherrealorimaginary，wasagonytohim；forperhapsevenguiltitselfdoesnotimposeuponsomemindssokeenasenseofshameandremorse，asamodest，sensitive，andinexperiencedyouthfeelsfromtheconsciousnessofhavingneglectedetiquette，orexcitedridicule。Wherewearenotatease，wecannotbehappy；andthereforeitisnotsurprising，thatEdwardWaverleysupposedthathedislikedandwasunfittedforsociety，merelybecausehehadnotyetacquiredthehabitoflivinginitwitheaseandcomfort，andofreciprocallygivingandreceivingpleasure。
Thehourshespentwithhisuncleandauntwereexhaustedinlisteningtotheoft-repeatedtaleofnarrativeoldage。Yeteventherehisimagination，thepredominantfacultyofhismind，wasfrequentlyexcited。Familytraditionandgenealogicalhistory，uponwhichmuchofSirEverard’sdiscourseturned，istheveryreverseofamber，which，itselfavaluablesubstance，usuallyincludesflies，straws，andothertrifles；
whereasthesestudies，beingthemselvesveryinsignificantandtrifling，doneverthelessservetoperpetuateagreatdealofwhatisrareandvaluableinancientmanners，andtorecordmanycuriousandminutefacts，whichcouldhavebeenpreservedandconveyedthroughnoothermedium。If，therefore，EdwardWaverleyyawnedattimesoverthedrydeductionofhislineofancestors，withtheirvariousintermarriages，andinwardlydeprecatedtheremorselessandprotractedaccuracywithwhichtheworthySirEverardrehearsedthevariousdegreesofpropinquitybetweenthehouseofWaverley-Honour，andthedoughtybarons，knights，andsquires，towhomtheystoodallied；ifnotwithstandinghisobligationstothethreeerminespassant
hesometimescursedinhisheartthejargonofheraldry，itsgriffins，itsmoldwarps，itswyverns，anditsdragons，withallthebitternessofHotspurhimself，thereweremomentswhenthesecommunicationsinterestedhisfancyandrewardedhisattention。
ThedeedsofWilibertofWaverleyintheHolyLand，hislongabsenceandperilousadventures，hissupposeddeath，andhisreturnintheeveningwhenthebetrothedofhishearthadweddedtheherowhohadprotectedherfrominsultandoppressionduringhisabsence；thegenerositywithwhichtheCrusaderrelinquishedhisclaims，andsoughtinaneighbouringcloisterthatpeacewhichpassethnotaway；-totheseandsimilarThereisafamilylegendtothispurpose，belongingtotheknightlyfamilyofBradshaigh，theproprietorsofHaighhall，inLancashire，where，Ihavebeentold，theeventisrecordedonapaintedglasswindow。TheGermanballadoftheNobleMoringer’’turnsuponasimilartopic。Butundoubtedlymanysuchincidentsmayhavetakenplace，where，thedistancebeinggreat，andtheintercourseinfrequent，falsereportsconcerningthefateoftheabsentCrusadersmusthavebeencommonlycirculated，andsometimesperhapsratherhastilycreditedathome。
taleshewouldharkentillhisheartglowedandhiseyeglistened。Norwashelessaffected，whenhisaunt，Mrs。
Rachel，narratedthesufferingsandfortitudeofLadyAliceWaverleyduringtheGreatCivilWar。Thebenevolentfeaturesofthevenerablespinsterkindledintomoremajesticexpression，asshetoldhowCharleshad，afterthefieldofWorcester，foundaday’srefugeatWaverley-Honour；andhow，whenatroopofcavalrywereapproachingtosearchthemansion，LadyAlicedismissedheryoungestsonwithahandfulofdomestics，chargingthemtomakegoodwiththeirlivesanhour’sdiversion，thatthekingmighthavethatspaceforescape。
And，Godhelpher，’’wouldMrs。Rachelcontinue，fixinghereyesupontheheroine’sportraitasshespoke，fulldearlydidshepurchasethesafetyofherprincewiththelifeofherdarlingchild。Theybroughthimhereaprisoner，mortallywounded；
andyoumaytracethedropsofhisbloodfromthegreathalldooralongthelittlegallery，anduptothesaloon，wheretheylaidhimdowntodieathismother’sfeet。Buttherewascomfortexchangedbetweenthem；forheknewfromtheglanceofhismother’seye，thatthepurposeofhisdesperatedefencewasattained。Ah！Iremember，’’shecontinued，Irememberwelltohaveseenonethatknewandlovedhim。MissLucySt。Aubinlivedanddiedamaidforhissake，thoughoneofthemostbeautifulandwealthymatchesinthiscountry；alltheworldranafterher，butsheworewidow’smourningallherlifeforpoorWilliam，fortheywerebetrothedthoughnotmarried，anddiedin-Icannotthinkofthedate；butIremember，intheNovemberofthatveryyear，whenshefoundherselfsinking，shedesiredtobebroughttoWaverley-Honouroncemore，andvisitedalltheplaceswhereshehadbeenwithmygrand-uncle，andcausedthecarpetstoberaisedthatshemighttracetheimpressionofhisblood，andiftearscouldhavewasheditout，ithadnotbeentherenow；fortherewasnotadryeyeinthehouse。Youwouldhavethought，Edward，thattheverytreesmournedforher，fortheirleavesdroptaroundherwithoutagustofwind；and，indeed，shelookedlikeonethatwouldneverseethemgreenagain。’’
Fromsuchlegendsourherowouldstealawaytoindulgethefanciestheyexcited。Inthecornerofthelargeandsombrelibrary，withnootherlightthanwasaffordedbythedecayingbrandsonitsponderousandamplehearth，hewouldexerciseforhoursthatinternalsorcery，bywhichpastorimaginaryeventsarepresentedinaction，asitwere，totheeyeofthemuser。ThenaroseinlongandfairarraythesplendourofthebridalfeastatWaverleyCastle；thetallandemaciatedformofitsreallord，ashestoodinhispilgrim’sweeds，anunnoticedspectatorofthefestivitiesofhissupposedheirandintendedbride；theelectricalshockoccasionedbythediscovery；thespringingofthevassalstoarms；theastonishmentofthebridegroom；theterrorandconfusionofthebride；theagonywithwhichWilibertobservedthatherheartaswellasconsentwasinthesenuptials；theairofdignity，yetofdeepfeeling，withwhichheflungdownthehalf-drawnsword，andturnedawayforeverfromthehouseofhisancestors。Thenwouldhechangethescene，andfancywouldathiswishrepresentAuntRachel’stragedy。HesawtheLadyWaverleyseatedinherbower，herearstrainedtoeverysound，herheartthrobbingwithdoubleagony，nowlisteningtothedecayingechoofthehoofsoftheking’shorse，and，whenthathaddiedaway，hearingineverybreezethatshookthetreesofthepark，thenoiseoftheremoteskirmish。Adistantsoundisheardliketherushingofaswolnstream；itcomesnearer，andEdwardcanplainlydistinguishthegallopingofhorses，thecriesandshoutsofmen，withstragglingpistol-shotsbetween，rollingforwardstothehall。Theladystartsup-aterrifiedmenialrushesin-butwhypursuesuchadescription？
Aslivinginthisidealworldbecamedailymoredelectabletoourhero，interruptionwasdisagreeableinproportion。TheextensivedomainthatsurroundedtheHall，which，farexceedingthedimensionsofapark，wasusuallytermedWaverleyChase，hadoriginallybeenforestground，andstill，thoughbrokenbyextensiveglades，inwhichtheyoungdeerweresporting，retaineditspristineandsavagecharacter。Itwastraversedbybroadavenues，inmanyplaceshalfgrownupwithbrush-wood，wherethebeautiesofformerdaysusedtotaketheirstandtoseethestagcoursedwithgreyhounds，ortogainanaimathimwiththecross-bow。Inonespot，distinguishedbyamoss-grownGothicmonument，whichretainedthenameofQueen’sStanding，Elizabethherselfwassaidtohavepiercedsevenbuckswithherownarrows。ThiswasaveryfavouritehauntofWaverley。Atothertimes，withhisgunandhisspaniel，whichservedasanapologytoothers，andwithabookinhispocket，whichperhapsservedasanapologytohimself，heusedtopursueoneoftheselongavenues，which，afteranascendingsweepoffourmiles，graduallynarrowedintoarudeandcontractedpaththroughthecliffyandwoodypasscalledMirkwoodDingle，andopenedsuddenlyuponadeep，dark，andsmalllake，named，fromthesamecause，MirkwoodMere。
Therestood，informertimes，asolitarytoweruponarockalmostsurroundedbythewater，whichhadacquiredthenameoftheStrengthofWaverley，because，inperiloustimes，ithadoftenbeentherefugeofthefamily。There，inthewarsofYorkandLancaster，thelastadherentsoftheRedRosewhodaredtomaintainhercause，carriedonaharassingandpredatorywarfare，tillthestrongholdwasreducedbythecelebratedRichardofGloucester。Here，too，apartyofcavalierslongmaintainedthemselvesunderNigelWaverley，elderbrotherofthatWilliamwhosefateAuntRachelcommemorated。ThroughthesescenesitwasthatEdwardlovedtochewthecudofsweetandbitterfancy，’’and，likeachildamonghistoys，culledandarranged，fromthesplendidyetuselessimageryandemblemswithwhichhisimaginationwasstored，visionsasbrilliantandasfadingasthoseofaneveningsky。Theeffectofthisindulgenceuponhistemperandcharacterwillappearinthenextchapter。