Yourintentionsmaybekind，sir，’’saidWaverley，drily；
butyourlanguageisharsh，oratleastperemptory。’’
OnmyreturntoEngland，’’continuedColonelTalbot，afterlongabsence，Ifoundyouruncle，SirEverardWaverley，inthecustodyofakingsmessenger，inconsequenceofthesuspicionbroughtuponhimbyyourconduct。Heismyoldestfriend-howoftenshallIrepeatit？-mybestbenefactor；hesacrificedhisownviewsofhappinesstomine-heneverutteredaword，heneverharbouredathought，thatbenevolenceitselfmightnothavethoughtorspoken。Ifoundthismaninconfinement，renderedharshertohimbyhishabitsoflife，hisnaturaldignityoffeeling，and-forgiveme，Mr。Waverley-bythecausethroughwhichthiscalamityhadcomeuponhim。I
cannotdisguisefromyoumyfeelingsuponthisoccasion；theyweremostpainfullyunfavourabletoyou。Having，bymyfamilyinterest，whichyouprobablyknowisnotinconsiderable，succeededinobtainingSirEverard’srelease，IsetoutforScotland。IsawColonelGardiner，amanwhosefatealoneissufficienttorenderthisinsurrectionforeverexecrable。Inthecourseofconversationwithhim，Ifound，that，fromlatecircumstances，fromare-examinationofthepersonsengagedinthemutiny，andfromhisoriginalgoodopinionofyourcharacter，hewasmuchsoftenedtowardsyou；andIdoubtednot，thatifIcouldbesofortunateastodiscoveryouallmightyetbewell。Butthisunnaturalrebellionhasruinedall。Ihave，forthefirsttime，inalongandactivemilitarylife，seenBritonsdisgracethemselvesbyapanicflight，andthatbeforeafoewithouteitherarmsordiscipline！andnowIfindtheheirofmydearestfriend-theson，Imaysay，ofhisaffections-sharingatriumph，forwhichheoughtthefirsttohaveblushed。
WhyshouldIlamentGardiner？hislotwashappy，comparedtomine！’’
TherewassomuchdignityinColonelTalbot’smanner，suchamixtureofmilitaryprideandmanlysorrow，andthenewsofSirEverard’simprisonmentwastoldinsodeepatoneoffeeling，thatEdwardstoodmortified，abashed，anddistressed，inpresenceoftheprisoner，whoowedtohimhislifenotmanyhoursbefore。HewasnotsorrywhenFergusinterruptedtheirconferenceasecondtime。
HisRoyalHighnesscommandsMr。Waverley’sattendance。’’
ColonelTalbotthrewuponEdwardareproachfulglance，whichdidnotescapethequickeyeoftheHighlandChief。His_immediate_attendance，’’herepeated，withconsiderableemphasis。WaverleyturnedagaintowardstheColonel。
Weshallmeet，again，’’hesaid；inthemeanwhile，everypossibleaccommodation’’-
Idesirenone，’’saidtheColonel；letmefarelikethemeanestofthosebravemen，who，onthisdayofcalamity，havepreferredwoundsandcaptivitytoflight；Iwouldalmostexchangeplaceswithoneofthosewhohavefallen，toknowthatmywordshavemadeasuitableimpressiononyourmind。’’
LetColonelTalbotbecarefullysecured，’’saidFergustotheHighlandofficer，whocommandedtheguardovertheprisoners；
ItisthePrince’sparticularcommand；heisaprisoneroftheutmostimportance。’’
Butlethimwantnoaccommodationsuitabletohisrank，’’
saidWaverley。
Consistentalwayswithsecurecustody，’’reiteratedFergus。
Theofficersignifiedhisacquiescenceinbothcommands，andEdwardfollowedFergustothegarden-gate，whereCallumBeg，withthreesaddle-horses，awaitedthem。Turninghishead，hesawColonelTalbotreconductedtohisplaceofconfinementbyafileofHighlanders；helingeredonthethresholdofthedoor，andmadeasignalwithhishandtowardsWaverley，asifenforcingthelanguagehehadheldtowardshim。
Horses，’’saidFergus，ashemounted，arenowasplentyasblackberries；everymanmayhavethemforthecatching。
Come，letCallumadjustyourstirrups，andletustoPinkie-houseasfastastheseci-divantdragoon-horseschooseCharlesEdwardtookuphisquartersafterthebattleatPinkie-house，adjoiningtoMusselburgh。
tocarryus。’’
Iwasturnedback，’’saidFergustoEdwardastheygallopedfromPrestontoPinkie-house，byamessagefromthePrince。
But，IsupposeyouknowthevalueofthismostnobleColonelTalbotasaprisoner。Heisheldoneofthebestofficersamongthered-coats；aspecialfriendandfavouriteoftheElectorhimself，andofthatdreadfulherotheDukeofCumberland，whohasbeensummonedfromhistriumphsatFontenoy，tocomeoveranddevouruspoorHighlandersalive。HashebeentellingyouhowthebellsofSt。James’sring？Not`turnagain，Whittington，’likethoseofBow，inthedaysofyore？’’
Fergus！’’saidWaverley，withareproachfullook。
Nay，Icannottellwhattomakeofyou，’’answeredtheChiefofMac-Ivor，youareblownaboutwitheverywindofdoctrine。Herehavewegainedavictory，unparalleledinhistory-andyourbehaviourispraisedbyeverylivingmortaltotheskies-andthePrinceiseagertothankyouinperson-andallourbeautiesoftheWhiteRosearepullingcapsforyou，-andyou，the_preuxchevalier_oftheday，arestoopingonyourhorse’snecklikeabutter-womanridingtomarket，andlookingasblackasafuneral。’’
IamsorryforpoorColonelGardiner’sdeath：hewasonceverykindtome。’’
Why，then，besorryforfiveminutes，andthenbegladagain；
hischanceto-daymaybeoursto-morrow。Andwhatdoesitsignify？-thenextbestthingtovictoryishonourabledeath；
butitisa_pis-aller，_andonewouldratherafoehaditthanone’sself。’’
ButColonelTalbothasinformedmethatmyfatherandunclearebothimprisonedbygovernmentonmyaccount。’’
We’llputinbail，myboy；oldAndrewFerrarashalllodgeNoteX。AndreadiFerrara。
hissecurity；andIshouldliketoseehimputtojustifyitinWestminsterHall。’’
Nay，theyarealreadyatliberty，uponbailofamorecivicdisposition。’’
Thenwhyisthynoblespiritcastdown，Edward？DostthinkthattheElector’sMinistersaresuchdovesastosettheirenemiesatlibertyatthiscriticalmoment，iftheycouldordurstconfineandpunishthem？Assurethyselfthateithertheyhavenochargeagainstyourrelationsonwhichtheycancontinuetheirimprisonment，orelsetheyareafraidofourfriends，thejollycavaliersofoldEngland。Atanyrate，youneednotbeapprehensiveupontheiraccount；andwewillfindsomemeansofconveyingtothemassurancesofyoursafety。’’
Edwardwassilencedbutnotsatisfiedwiththesereasons。
HehadnowbeenmorethanonceshockedatthesmalldegreeofsympathywhichFergusexhibitedforthefeelingsevenofthosewhomheloved，iftheydidnotcorrespondwithhisownmoodatthetime，andmoreespeciallyiftheythwartedhimwhileearnestinafavouritepursuit。FergussometimesindeedobservedthathehadoffendedWaverley，but，alwaysintentuponsomefavouriteplanorprojectofhisown，hewasneversufficientlyawareoftheextentordurationofhisdispleasure，sothatthereiterationofthesepettyoffencessomewhatcooledthevolunteer’sextremeattachmenttohisofficer。
TheChevalierreceivedWaverleywithhisusualfavour，andpaidhimmanycomplimentsonhisdistinguishedbravery。
Hethentookhimapart，mademanyinquiriesconcerningColonelTalbot，andwhenhehadreceivedalltheinformationwhichEdwardwasabletogiveconcerninghimandhisconnexions，heproceeded，-Icannotbutthink，Mr。Waverley，thatsincethisgentlemanissoparticularlyconnectedwithourworthyandexcellentfriend，SirEverardWaverley，andsincehisladyisofthehouseofBlandeville，whosedevotiontothetrueandloyalprinciplesoftheChurchofEnglandissogenerallyknown，theColonel’sownprivatesentimentscannotbeunfavourabletous，whatevermaskhemayhaveassumedtoaccommodatehimselftothetimes。’’
IfIamtojudgefromthelanguagehethisdayheldtome，IamunderthenecessityofdifferingwidelyfromyourRoyalHighness。’’
Well，itisworthmakingatrialatleast。IthereforeentrustyouwiththechargeofColonelTalbot，withpowertoactconcerninghimasyouthinkmostadvisable；-andIhopeyouwillfindmeansofascertainingwhatarehisrealdispositionstowardsourRoyalFather’srestoration。’’
Iamconvinced，’’saidWaverley，bowing，thatifColonelTalbotchoosestogranthisparole，itmaybesecurelydependedupon；butifherefusesit，ItrustyourRoyalHighnesswilldevolveonsomeotherpersonthanthenephewofhisfriend，thetaskoflayinghimunderthenecessaryrestraint。’’
Iwilltrusthimwithnopersonbutyou，’’saidthePrincesmiling，butperemptorilyrepeatinghismandate：itisofimportancetomyservicethatthereshouldappeartobeagoodintelligencebetweenyou，evenifyouareunabletogainhisconfidenceinearnest。Youwillthereforereceivehimintoyourquarters，andincasehedeclinesgivinghisparole，youmustapplyforaproperguard。Ibegyouwillgoaboutthisdirectly。WereturntoEdinburghto-morrow。’’
BeingthusremandedtothevicinityofPreston，WaverleylosttheBaronofBradwardine’ssolemnactofhomage。Solittle，however，washeatthistimeinlovewithvanity，thathehadquiteforgottentheceremonyinwhichFergushadlabouredtoengagehiscuriosity。ButnextdayaformalGazettewascirculated，containingadetailedaccountofthebattleofGladsmuir，astheHighlanderschosetodenominatetheirvictory。ItconcludedwithanaccountoftheCourtafterwardsheldbytheChevalieratPinkie-house，whichcontainedthisamongotherhigh-flowndescriptiveparagraphs：-
SincethatfataltreatywhichannihilatesScotlandasanindependentnation，ithasnotbeenourhappinesstoseeherprincesreceive，andhernoblesdischarge，thoseactsoffeudalhomage，which，foundeduponthesplendidactionsofScottishvalour，recallthememoryofherearlyhistory，withthemanlyandchivalroussimplicityofthetieswhichunitedtotheCrownthehomageofthewarriorsbywhomitwasrepeatedlyupheldanddefended。Butontheeveningofthe20th，ourmemorieswererefreshedwithoneofthoseceremonieswhichbelongtotheancientdaysofScotland’sglory。Afterthecirclewasformed，CosmoComyneBradwardine，ofthatilk，colonelintheservice，etc。etc。etc。，camebeforethePrince，attendedbyMr。
D。Macwheeble，theBailieofhisancientbaronyofBradwardinewho，weunderstand，hasbeenlatelynamedacommissary，and，underformofinstrument，claimedpermissiontoperform，tothepersonofhisRoyalHighness，asrepresentinghisfather，theserviceusedandwont，forwhich，underacharterofRobertBruceofwhichtheoriginalwasproducedandinspectedbytheMastersofhisRoyalHighness’sChancery，forthetimebeing，theclaimantheldthebaronyofBradwardine，andlandsofTully-Veolan。Hisclaimbeingadmittedandregistered，hisRoyalHighnesshavingplacedhisfootuponacushion，theBaronofBradwardine，kneelinguponhisrightknee，proceededtoundothelatchetofthebrogue，orlow-heeledHighlandshoe，whichourgallantyoungherowearsincomplimenttohisbravefollowers。Whenthiswasperformed，hisRoyalHighnessdeclaredtheceremonycompleted；andembracingthegallantveteran，protestedthatnothingbutcompliancewithanordinanceofRobertBrucecouldhaveinducedhimtoreceiveeventhesymbolicalperformanceofamenialofficefromhandswhichhadfoughtsobravelytoputthecrownupontheheadofhisfather。TheBaronofBradwardinethentookinstrumentsinthehandsofMr。CommissaryMacwheeble，bearing，thatallpointsandcircumstancesoftheactofhomagehadbeen_riteetsolenniteractaetperacta；_andacorrespondingentrywasmadeintheprotocoloftheLordHighChamberlain，andintherecordofChancery。WeunderstandthatitisincontemplationofhisRoyalHighness，whenhisMajesty’spleasurecanbeknown，toraiseColonelBradwardinetothepeerage，bythetitleofViscountBradwardine，ofBradwardineandTully-Veolan，andthat，inthemeanwhile，hisRoyalHighness，inhisfather’snameandauthority，hasbeenpleasedtogranthimanhonourableaugmentationtohispaternalcoatofarm，beingabudgetorboot-jack，disposedsaltier-wisewithanakedbroadsword，tobeborneinthedextercantleoftheshield；and，asanadditionalmotto，onascrollbeneath，thewords，`_DrawandDrawoff。_’’’
WereitnotfortherecollectionofFergus’sraillery，’’
thoughtWaverleytohimself，whenhehadperusedthislongandgravedocument，howverytolerablewouldallthissound，andhowlittleshouldIhavethoughtofconnectingitwithanyludicrousidea！Well，afterall，everythinghasitsfair，aswellasitsseamyside；andtrulyIdonotseewhytheBaron’sboot-jackmaynotstandasfairinheraldyasthewater-buckets，waggons，cartwheels，plough-socks，shuttles，candle-sticks，andotherordinaries，conveyingideasofanythingsavechivalry，whichappearinthearmsofsomeofourmostancientgentry。’’This，however，isanepisodeinrespecttotheprincipalstory。