spectbeforehim，heatlengtharrivednearthecascade，where，asFergushadaugured，hefoundFloraseated。
Shewasquitealone；and，assoonassheobservedhisapproach，shearose，andcametomeethim。Edwardattemptedtosaysomethingwithinthevergeofordinarycomplimentandconversation，butfoundhimselfunequaltothetask。Floraseemedatfirstequallyembarrassed，butrecoveredherselfmorespeedily，andanunfavourableauguryforWaverley’ssuitwasthefirsttoenteruponthesubjectoftheirlastinterview。Itistooimportant，ineverypointofview，Mr。Waverley，topermitmetoleaveyouindoubtonmysentiments。’’
Donotspeakthemspeedily，’’saidWaverley，muchagitated，unlesstheyaresuchas，Ifearfromyourmanner，Imustnotdaretoanticipate。Lettime-letmyfutureconduct-letyourbrother’sinfluence’’
Forgiveme，Mr。Waverley，’’saidFlora，hercomplexionalittleheightened，buthervoicefirmandcomposed。Ishouldincurmyownheavycensure，didIdelayexpressingmysincereconvictionthatIcanneverregardyouotherwisethanasavaluedfriend。IshoulddoyouthehighestinjusticedidI
concealmysentimentsforamoment。IseeIdistressyou，andIgrieveforit，butbetternowthanlater；andO，betterathousandtimes，Mr。Waverley，thatyoushouldfeelapresentmomentarydisappointment，thanthelongandheart-sickeninggriefswhichattendarashandill-assortedmarriage！’’
GoodGod！’’exclaimedWaverley，whyshouldyouanticipatesuchconsequencesfromaunionwherebirthisequal，wherefortuneisfavourable，where，ifImayventuretosayso，thetastesaresimilar，whereyouallegenopreferenceforanother，whereyouevenexpressafavourableopinionofhimwhomyoureject？’’
Mr。Waverley，I_have_thatfavourableopinion，’’answeredFlora；andsostrongly，thatthoughIwouldratherhavebeensilentonthegroundsofmyresolution，youshallcommandthem，ifyouexactsuchamarkofmyesteemandconfidence。’’
Shesatdownuponafragmentofrock，andWaverley，placinghimselfnearher，anxiouslypressedfortheexplanationsheoffered。
Idarehardly，’’shesaid，tellyouthesituationofmyfeelings，theyaresodifferentfromthoseusuallyascribedtoyoungwomenatmyperiodoflife；andIdarehardlytouchuponwhatIconjecturetobethenatureofyours，lestIshouldgiveoffencewhereIwouldwillinglyadministerconsolation。
Formyself，frommyinfancytillthisday，Ihavehadbutonewish-therestorationofmyroyalbenefactorstotheirrightfulthrone。Itisimpossibletoexpresstoyouthedevotionofmyfeelingstothissinglesubject；andIwillfranklyconfess，thatithassooccupiedmymindastoexcludeeverythoughtrespectingwhatiscalledmyownsettlementinlife。Letmebutlivetoseethedayofthathappyrestoration，andaHighlandcottage，aFrenchconvent，oranEnglishpalace，willbealikeindifferenttome。’’
But，dearestFlora，howisyourenthusiasticzealfortheexiledfamilyinconsistentwithmyhappiness？’’
Becauseyouseek，oroughttoseekintheobjectofyourattachment，aheartwhoseprincipaldelightshouldbeinaugmentingyourdomesticfelicity，andreturningyouraffection，eventotheheightofromance。Toamanoflesskeensensibility，andlessenthusiastictendernessofdisposition，FloraMac-Ivormightgivecontent，ifnothappiness；forweretheirrevocablewordsspoken，neverwouldshebedeficientinthedutieswhichshevowed。’’
Andwhy-why，MissMac-Ivor，shouldyouthinkyourselfamorevaluabletreasuretoonewhoislesscapableofloving，ofadmiringyou，thantome？’’
Simplybecausethetoneofouraffectionswouldbemoreinunison，andbecausehismorebluntedsensibilitywouldnotrequirethereturnofenthusiasmwhichIhavenottobestow。
Butyou，Mr。Waverley，wouldforeverrefertotheideaofdomestichappinesswhichyourimaginationiscapableofpainting，andwhateverfellshortofthatidealrepresentationwouldbeconstruedintocoolnessandindifference，whileyoumightconsidertheenthusiasmwithwhichIregardedthesuccessoftheroyalfamilyasdefraudingyouraffectionofitsduereturn。’’
Inotherwords，MissMac-Ivor，youcannotloveme？’’saidhersuitordejectedly。
Icouldesteemyou，Mr。Waverley，asmuch，perhapsmore，thananymanIhaveeverseen；butIcannotloveyouasyououghttobeloved。O！donot，foryourownsake，desiresohazardousanexperiment！Thewomanwhomyoumarryoughttohaveaffectionsandopinionsmouldeduponyours。Herstudiesoughttobeyourstudies；-herwishes，herfeelings，herhopes，herfears，shouldallminglewithyours。Sheshouldenhanceyourpleasures，shareyoursorrows，andcheeryourmelancholy。’’
Andwhywillnotyou，MissMac-Ivor，whocansowelldescribeahappyunion-whywillnotyoubeyourselfthepersonyoudescribe？’’
Isitpossibleyoudonotyetcomprehendme？’’answeredFlora。HaveInottoldyouthateverykeenersensationofmymindisbentexclusivelytowardsanevent，uponwhich，indeed，Ihavenopowerbutthoseofmyearnestprayers？’’
AndmightnotthegrantingthesuitIsolicit，’’saidWaverley，tooearnestonhispurposetoconsiderwhathewasabouttosay，evenadvancetheinteresttowhichyouhavedevotedyourself？Myfamilyiswealthyandpowerful，inclinedinprinciplestotheStuartrace，andshouldafavourableopportunity’’
Afavourableopportunity！’’saidFlorasomewhatscornfullyinclinedinprinciples！-Cansuchlukewarmadherencebehonourabletoyourselves，orgratifyingtoyourlawfulsovereign？-
Think，frommypresentfeelings，whatIshouldsufferwhenIheldtheplaceofmemberinafamilywheretherightswhichIholdmostsacredaresubjectedtocolddiscussion，andonlydeemedworthyofsupportwhentheyshallappearonthepointoftriumphingwithoutit！’’
Yourdoubts，’’quicklyrepliedWaverley，areunjustasfarasconcernsmyself。ThecausethatIshallassertIdaresupportthrougheverydanger，asundauntedlyastheboldestwhodrawsswordinitsbehalf。’’
Ofthat，’’answeredFlora，Icannotdoubtforamoment。
Butconsultyourowngoodsenseandreasonratherthanaprepossessionhastilyadopted，probablyonlybecauseyouhavemetayoungwomanpossessedoftheusualaccomplishmentsinasequesteredandromanticsituation。Letyourpartinthisgreatandperilousdramarestuponconviction，andnotonahurried，andprobablyatemporaryfeeling。’’
Waverleyattemptedtoreply，buthiswordsfailedhim。
EverysentimentthatFlorahadutteredvindicatedthestrengthofhisattachment；forevenherloyalty，althoughwildlyenthusiastic，wasgenerousandnoble，anddisdainedtoavailitselfofanyindirectmeansofsupportingthecausetowhichshewasdevoted。
Afterwalkingalittlewayinsilencedownthepath，Florathusresumedtheconversation-Onewordmore，Mr。Waverley，erewebidfarewelltothistopicforever；andforgivemyboldnessifthatwordhavetheairofadvice。MybrotherFergusisanxiousthatyoushouldjoinhiminhispresententerprise。
Butdonotconsenttothis；youcouldnotbyyoursingleexertionsfurtherhissuccess，andyouwouldinevitablysharehisfall，ifitbeGod’spleasurethatfallhemust。Yourcharacterwouldalsosufferirretrievably。Letmebegyouwillreturntoyourowncountry；andhavingpubliclyfreedyourselffromeverytietotheusurpinggovernment，Itrustyouwillseecause，andfindopportunity，toserveyourinjuredsovereignwitheffect，andstandforth，asyourloyalancestors，attheheadofyournaturalfollowersandadherents，aworthyrepresentativeofthehouseofWaverley。’’
AndshouldIbesohappyasthustodistinguishmyself，mightInothope’’
Forgivemyinterruption，’’saidFlora。Thepresenttimeonlyisours，andIcanbutexplaintoyouwithcandourthefeelingswhichInowentertain；howtheymightbealteredbyatrainofevents，toofavourableperhapstobehopedfor，itwereinvaineventoconjecture；onlybeassured，Mr。Waverley，thataftermybrother’shonourandhappinessthereisnonewhichI
shallmoresincerelyprayforthanforyours。’’
Withthesewordsshepartedfromhim，fortheywerenowarrivedwheretwopathsseparated。Waverleyreachedthecastleamidstamedleyofconflictingpassions。HeavoidedanyprivateinterviewwithFergus，ashedidnotfindhimselfableeithertoencounterhisrailleryorreplytohissolicitations。Thewildrevelryofthefeast，forMac-Ivorkeptopentableforhisclan，servedinsomedegreetostunreflection。WhentheirfestivitywasendedhebegantoconsiderhowheshouldagainmeetMissMac-Ivorafterthepainfulandinterestingexplanationofthemorning。ButFloradidnotappear。Fergus，whoseeyesflashedwhenhewastoldbyCathleenthathermistressdesignedtokeepherapartmentthatevening，wenthimselfinquestofher；butapparentlyhisremonstranceswereinvain，forhereturnedwithaheightenedcomplexion，andmanifestsymptomsofdispleasure。Therestoftheeveningpassedonwithoutanyallusion，ontheparteitherofFergusorWaverley，tothesubjectwhichengrossedthereflectionsofthelatter，andperhapsofboth。
Whenretiredtohisownapartment，Edwardendeavouredtosumupthebusinessoftheday。ThattherepulsehehadreceivedfromFlorawouldbepersistedinforthepresenttherewasnodoubt。Butcouldhehopeforultimatesuccessincasecircumstancespermittedtherenewalofhissuit？Wouldtheenthusiasticloyalty，whichatthisanimatingmomentleftnoroomforasofterpassion，survive，atleastinitsengrossingforce，thesuccessorthefailureofthepresentpoliticalmachinations？
Andifso，couldhehopethattheinterestwhichshehadacknowledgedhimtopossessinherfavourmightbeimprovedintoawarmerattachment？Hetaxedhismemorytorecalleverywordshehadused，withtheappropriatelooksandgestureswhichhadenforcedthem，andendedbyfindinghimselfinthesamestateofuncertainty。Itwasverylatebeforesleepbroughtrelieftothetumultofhismind，afterthemostpainfulandagitatingdaywhichhehadeverpassed。
InthemorningwhenWaverley’stroubledreflectionshadforsometimegivenwaytorepose，therecamemusictohisdreams，butnotthevoiceofSelma。HeimaginedhimselftransportedbacktoTully-Veolan，andthatheheardDavieGellatleysinginginthecourtthosematinswhichusedgenerallytobethefirstsoundsthatdisturbedhisreposewhileaguestoftheBaronofBradwardine。Thenoteswhichsuggestedthisvisioncontinued，andwaxedlouder，untilEdwardawokeinearnest。Theillusion，however，didnotseementirelydispelled。
TheapartmentwasinthefortressofIannanChaistel，butitwasstillthevoiceofDavieGellatleythatmadethefollowinglinesresoundunderthewindow：-
Myheart’sintheHighlands，myheartisnothere，Myheart’sintheHighlandsa-chasingthedeer；
Achasingthewilddeer，andfollowingtheroe，Myheart’sintheHighlandswhereverIgo。
TheselinesformtheburdenofanoldsongtowhichBurnswroteadditionalverses。
CurioustoknowwhatcouldhavedeterminedMr。Gellatleyonanexcursionofsuchunwontedextent，Edwardbegantodresshimselfinallhaste，duringwhichoperationtheminstrelsyofDaviechangeditstunemorethanonce：-
There’snoughtintheHighlandsbutsyboesandleeks，Andlang-leggitcallantsgaunwantingthebreeks；
Wantingthebreeks，andwithouthoseandshoon，Butwe’lla’winthebreekswhenKingJamiecomeshame。
Theselinesarealsoancient，andIbelievetothetuneof
We’llneverhaepeacetillJamiecomeshame。’’
towhichBurnslikewisewrotesomeverses。
BythetimeWaverleywasdressedandhadissuedforth，DavidhadassociatedhimselfwithtwoorthreeofthenumerousHighlandloungerswhoalwaysgracedthegatesofthecastlewiththeirpresence，andwascaperinganddancingfullmerrilyinthedoublesandfullcareerofaScotchfoursomereel，tothemusicofhisownwhistling。Inthisdoublecapacityofdancerandmusician，hecontinued，untilanidlepiper，whoobservedhiszeal，obeyedtheunanimouscallof_Seidsuas__i。e。，_blowup，andrelievedhimfromthelatterpartofhistrouble。Youngandoldthenmingledinthedanceastheycouldfindpartners。
TheappearanceofWaverleydidnotinterruptDavid’sexercise，thoughhecontrivedbygrinning，nodding，andthrowingoneortwoinclinationsofthebodyintothegraceswithwhichheperformedtheHighlandfling，toconveytoourherosymptomsofrecognition。Then，whilebusilyemployedinsetting，whoopingallthewhile，andsnappinghisfingersoverhishead，heofasuddenprolongedhisside-stepuntilitbroughthimtotheplacewhereEdwardwasstanding，and，stillkeepingtimetothemusiclikeHarlequininapantomime，hethrustaletterintoourhero’shand，andcontinuedhissaltationwithoutpauseorintermission。Edward，whoperceivedthattheaddresswasinRose’shandwriting，retiredtoperuseit，leavingthefaithfulbearertocontinuehisexerciseuntilthepiperorheshouldbetiredout。
Thecontentsofthelettergreatlysurprisedhim。Ithadoriginallycommencedwith_DearSir；_butthesewordshadbeencarefullyerased，andthemonosyllable，_Sir，_substitutedintheirplace。TherestofthecontentsshallbegiveninRose’sownlanguage。
IfearIamusinganimproperfreedombyintrudinguponyou，yetIcannottrusttoanyoneelsetoletyouknowsomethingswhichhavehappenedhere，withwhichitseemsnecessaryyoushouldbeacquainted。ForgivemeifIamwronginwhatIamdoing；for，alas！Mr。Waverley，Ihavenobetteradvicethanthatofmyownfeelings；-mydearfatherisgonefromthisplace，andwhenhecanreturntomyassistanceandprotection，Godaloneknows。Youhaveprobablyheard，thatinconsequenceofsometroublesomenewsfromtheHighlands，warrantsweresentoutforapprehendingseveralgentlemenintheseparts，and，amongothers，mydearfather。InspiteofallmytearsandentreatiesthathewouldsurrenderhimselftotheGovernment，hejoinedwithMr。Falconerandsomeothergentlemen，andtheyhaveallgonenorthwards，withabodyofaboutfortyhorsemen。SoIamnotsoanxiousconcerninghisimmediatesafety，asaboutwhatmayfollowafterwards，forthesetroublesareonlybeginning。Butallthisisnothingtoyou，Mr。Waverley，onlyIthoughtyouwouldbegladtolearnthatmyfatherhasescaped，incaseyouhappentohaveheardthathewasindanger。
Thedayaftermyfatherwentoff，therecameapartyofsoldierstoTully-Veolan，andbehavedveryrudelytoBailieMacwheeble；buttheofficerwasveryciviltome，onlysaidhisdutyobligedhimtosearchforarmsandpapers。Myfatherhadprovidedagainstthisbytakingawayallthearmsexcepttheolduselessthingswhichhunginthehall；andhehadputallhispapersoutoftheway。ButO！Mr。Waverley，howshallItellyouthattheymadestrictinquiryafteryou，andaskedwhenyouhadbeenatTully-Veolan，andwhereyounowwere。
Theofficerisgonebackwithhisparty，butanon-commissionedofficerandfourmenremainasasortofgarrisoninthehouse。