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。_
withsupernaturalbeauty，andallthepropertiesofintellectualwealth。
ButerethecharmsofMissCeciliaStubbshaderectedherintoapositivegoddess，orelevatedheratleasttoalevelwiththesainthernamesake，Mrs。RachelWaverleygainedsomeintimationwhichdeterminedhertopreventtheapproachingapotheosis。EventhemostsimpleandunsuspiciousofthefemalesexhaveGodblessthem！aninstinctivesharpnessofperceptioninsuchmatters，whichsometimesgoesthelengthofobservingpartialitiesthatneverexisted，butrarelymissestodetectsuchaspassactuallyundertheirobservation。Mrs。
Rachelappliedherselfwithgreatprudence，nottocombat，buttoeludetheapproachingdanger，andsuggestedtoherbrotherthenecessitythattheheirofhishouseshouldseesomethingmoreoftheworldthanwasconsistentwithconstantresidenceatWaverley-Honour。
SirEverardwouldnotatfirstlistentoaproposalwhichwenttoseparatehisnephewfromhim。Edwardwasalittlebookish，headmitted，butyouth，hehadalwaysheard，wastheseasonforlearning，and，nodoubt，whenhisrageforletterswasabated，andhisheadfullystockedwithknowledge，hisnephewwouldtaketofieldsportsandcountrybusiness。Hehadoften，hesaid，himselfregrettedthathehadnotspentsometimeinstudyduringhisyouth：hewouldneitherhaveshotnorhuntedwithlessskill，andhemighthavemadetheroofofSt。Stephen’sechotolongerorationsthanwerecomprisedinthosezealousNoeswithwhich，whenamemberoftheHouseduringGodolphin’sadministration，heencounteredeverymeasureofgovernment。
AuntRachel’sanxiety，however，lentheraddresstocarryherpoint。Everyrepresentativeoftheirhousehadvisitedforeignparts，orservedhiscountryinthearmy，beforehesettledforlifeatWaverley-Honour，andsheappealedforthetruthofherassertiontothegenealogicalpedigree，anauthoritywhichSirEverardwasneverknowntocontradict。Inshort，aproposalwasmadetoMr。RichardWaverleythathissonshouldtravel，underthedirectionofhispresenttutor，Mr。Pembroke，withasuitableallowancefromtheBaronet’sliberality。Thefatherhimselfsawnoobjectiontothisoverture；butuponmentioningitcasuallyatthetableoftheMinister，thegreatmanlookedgrave。Thereasonwasexplainedinprivate。TheunhappyturnofSirEverard’spolitics，theMinisterobserved，wassuchaswouldrenderithighlyimproperthatayounggentlemanofsuchhopefulprospectsshouldtravelontheContinentwithatutordoubtlessofhisuncle’schoosing，anddirectinghiscoursebyhisinstructions。WhatmightMr。EdwardWaverley’ssocietybeatParis，whatatRome，whereallmannerofstareswerespreadbythePretenderandhissons-thesewerepointsforMr。Waverleytoconsider。Thishecouldhimselfsay，thatheknewhisMajestyhadsuchajustsenseofMr。RichardWaverley’smerits，thatifhissonadoptedthearmyforafewyears，atroop，hebelieved，mightbereckoneduponinoneofthedragoonregimentslatelyreturnedfromFlanders。
Ahintthusconveyedandenforcedwasnottobeneglectedwithimpunity；andRichardWaverley，thoughwithgreatdreadofshockinghisbrother’sprejudices，deemedhecouldnotavoidacceptingthecommission，thusofferedhimforhisson。
Thetruthis，hecalculatedmuch，andjustly，uponSirEverard’sfondnessforEdward，whichmadehimunlikelytoresentanystepthathemighttakeinduesubmissiontoparentalauthority。
TwolettersannouncedthisdeterminationtotheBaronetandhisnephew。Thelatterbarelycommunicatedthefact，andpointedoutthenecessarypreparationforjoininghisregiment。
Tohisbrother，Richardwasmorediffuseandcircuitous。Hecoincidedwithhiminthemostflatteringmanner，intheproprietyofhisson’sseeingalittlemoreoftheworld，andwasevenhumbleinexpressionsofgratitudeforhisproposedassistance；
was，howeverdeeplyconcernedthatitwasnow，unfortunately，notinEdward’spowerexactlytocomplywiththeplanwhichhadbeenchalkedoutbyhisbestfriendandbenefactor。
Hehimselfhadthoughtwithpainontheboy’sinactivity，atanagewhenallhisancestorshadbornearms；evenRoyaltyitselfhaddeignedtoinquirewhetheryoungWaverleywasnotnowinFlanders，atanagewhenhisgrandfatherwasalreadybleedingforhiskingintheGreatCivilWar。Thiswasaccompaniedbyanofferofatroopofhorse。Whatcouldhedo？Therewasnotimetoconsulthisbrother’sinclinations，evenifhecouldhaveconceivedtheremightbeobjectionsonhisparttohisnephew’sfollowingthegloriouscareerofhispredecessors。And，inshort，thatEdwardwasnowtheintermediatestepsofcornetandlieutenantbeingoverleaptwithgreatagilityCaptainWaverleyofGardiner’sregimentofdragoons，whichhemustjoinintheirquartersatDundeeinScotland，inthecourseofamonth。
SirEverardWaverleyreceivedthisintimationwithamixtureoffeelings。AttheperiodoftheHanoveriansuccessionhehadwithdrawnfromparliament，andhisconductinthememorableyear1715hadnotbeenaltogetherunsuspected。TherewerereportsofprivatemustersoftenantsandhorsesinWaverley-Chasebymoonlight，andofcasesofcarbinesandpistolspurchasedinHolland，andaddressedtotheBaronet，butinterceptedbythevigilanceofaridingofficeroftheexcise，whowasafterwardstossedinablanketonamoonlessnightbyanassociationofstoutyeomenforhisofficiousness。Nay，itwasevensaid，thatatthearrestofSirWilliamWyndham，theleaderoftheToryparty，aletterfromSirEverardwasfoundinthepocketofhisnight-gown。Buttherewasnoovertactwhichanattaindercouldbefoundedon；andgovernment，contentedwithsuppressingtheinsurrectionof1715，feltitneitherprudentnorsafetopushtheirvengeancefartherthanagainstthoseunfortunategentlemenwhoactuallytookuparms。
NordidSirEverard’sapprehensionsofpersonalconsequencesseemtocorrespondwiththereportsspreadamonghisWhigneighbours。ItwaswellknownthathehadsuppliedwithmoneyseveralofthedistressedNorthumbriansandScotchmen，who，afterbeingmadeprisonersatPrestoninLancashire，wereimprisonedinNewgateandtheMarshalsea；anditwashissolicitorandordinarycounselwhoconductedthedefenceofsomeoftheseunfortunategentlemenattheirtrial。Itwasgenerallysupposed，however，thathadministerspossessedanyrealproofofSirEverard’saccessiontotherebellion，heeitherwouldnothaveventuredthustobravetheexistinggovernment，oratleastwouldnothavedonesowithimpunity。Thefeelingswhichthendictatedhisproceedingswerethoseofayoungman，andatanagitatingperiod。SincethattimeSirEverard’sjacobitismhadbeengraduallydecaying，likeafirewhichburnsoutforwantoffuel。HisToryandHigh-churchprincipleswerekeptupbysomeoccasionalexerciseatelectionsandquarter-sessions；
butthoserespectinghereditaryrightwerefallenintoasortofabeyance。Yetitjarredseverelyuponhisfeelings，thathisnephewshouldgointothearmyundertheBrunswickdynasty；andthemoreso，as，independentofhishighandconscientiousideasofpaternalauthority，itwasimpossible，oratleasthighlyimprudent，tointerfereauthoritativelytopreventit。Thissuppressedvexationgaverisetomanypoohsandpshaws，whichwereplacedtotheaccountofanincipientfitofgout，until，havingsentfortheArmyList，theworthyBaronetconsoledhimselfwithreckoningthedescendantsofthehousesofgenuineloyalty-Mordaunts，Granvilles，andStanleys，whosenamesweretobefoundinthatmilitaryrecord；andcallingupallhisfeelingsoffamilygrandeurandwarlikeglory，heconcluded，withlogicsomethinglikeFalstaff’s，thatwhenwarwasathand，althoughitwereshametobeonanysidebutone，itwereworseshametobeidlethantobeontheworstside，thoughblackerthanusurpationcouldmakeit。AsforAuntRachel，herschemehadnotexactlyterminatedaccordingtoherwishesbutshewasunderthenecessityofsubmittingtocircumstances；
andhermortificationwasdivertedbytheemploymentshefoundinfittingouthernephewforthecampaign，andgreatlyconsoledbytheprospectofbeholdinghimblazeincompleteuniform。
EdwardWaverleyhimselfreceivedwithanimatedandundefinedsurprisethismostunexpectedintelligence。Itwas，asafineoldpoemexpressesit，likeafiretoheatherset，’’thatcoversasolitaryhillwithsmoke，andilluminesitatthesametimewithduskyfire。Histutor，or，Ishouldsay，Mr。Pembroke，forhescarceassumedthenameoftutor，pickedupaboutEdward’sroomsomefragmentsofirregularverse，whichheappearedtohavecomposedundertheinfluenceoftheagitatingfeelingsoccasionedbythissuddenpagebeingturneduptohiminthebookoflife。Thedoctor，whowasabelieverinallpoetrywhichwascomposedbyhisfriends，andwrittenoutinfairstraightlines，withacapitalatthebeginningofeach，communicatedthistreasuretoAuntRachel，who，withherspectaclesdimmedwithtears，transferredthemtohercommonplacebook，amongchoicereceiptsforcookeryandmedicine，favouritetexts，andportionsfromHigh-churchdivines，andafewsongs，amatoryandjacobitical，whichshehadcarolledinheryoungerdays，fromwhencehernephew’spoetical_tentamina_
wereextracted，whenthevolumeitself，withotherauthenticrecordsoftheWaverleyfamily，wereexposedtotheinspectionoftheunworthyeditorofthismemorablehistory。Iftheyaffordthereadernohigheramusement，theywillserve，atleast，betterthannarrativeofanykind，toacquainthimwiththewildandirregularspiritofourhero：-
MirkwoodMere。
Late，whentheAutumneveningfellOnMirkwood-Mere’sromanticdell，Thelakereturned，inchastenedgleam，Thepurplecloud，thegoldenbeamReflectedinthecrystalpool，Headlandandbanklayfairandcool；
Theweather-tintedrockandtower，Eachdroopingtree，eachfairyflower，Sotrue，sosoft，themirrorgave，Asiftherelaybeneaththewave，Securefromtrouble，toil，andcare，Aworldthanearthlyworldmorefair。
Butdistantwindsbegantowake，AndrousedtheGeniusoftheLake！
Heheardthegroaningoftheoak，Anddonnedatoncehissablecloak。
Aswarrior，atthebattle-cry，Investshimwithhispanoply：
Thenasthewhirlwindnearerpressed，He’gantoshakehisfoamycrestO’erfurrowedbrowandblackenedcheek，Andbadehissurgeinthunderspeak。
Inwildandbrokeneddieswhirled，Flittedthatfondidealworld，And，totheshoreintumulttost，Therealmsoffairyblisswerelost。
Yet，withasterndelightandstrange，Isawthespirit-stirringchange，Aswarredthewindwithwaveandwood。
UpontheruinedtowerIstood，Andfeltmyheartmorestronglybound，Responsivetotheloftysound，While，joyinginthemightyroar，Imournedthattranquilscenenomore。