DoIranksolowinyouropinion？’’
　　Farfromit，CaptainWaverley。IwouldtoGodyouwereofourdetermination！andmadeuseoftheexpressionwhichdispleasedyou，solelyBecauseyouarenotofourquality，Butstandagainstusasanenemy。’’
　　Thattimeispast，sister，’’saidFergus；andyoumaywishEdwardWaverleynolongercaptainjoyofbeingfreedfromtheslaverytoanusurper，impliedinthatsableandill-omenedemblem。’’
　　Yes，’’saidWaverley，undoingthecockadefromhishat，ithaspleasedthekingwhobestowedthisbadgeuponmetoresumeitinamannerwhichleavesmelittlereasontoregrethisservice。’’
　　ThankGodforthat！’’criedtheenthusiast；-andOthattheymaybeblindenoughtotreateverymanofhonourwhoservesthemwiththesameindignity，thatImayhavelesstosighforwhenthestruggleapproaches！’’
　　Andnow，sister，’’saidtheChieftain，replacehiscockadewithoneofamorelivelycolour。Ithinkitwasthefashionoftheladiesofyoretoarmandsendforththeirknightstohighachievement。’’
　　Not，’’repliedthelady，tilltheknightadventurerhadwellweighedthejusticeandthedangerofthecause，Fergus。Mr。
　　Waverleyisjustnowtoomuchagitatedbyfeelingsofrecentemotion，formetopressuponhimaresolutionofconsequence。’’
　　Waverleyfelthalfalarmedatthethoughtofadoptingthebadgeofwhatwasbythemajorityofthekingdomesteemedrebellion，yethecouldnotdisguisehischagrinatthecoldnesswithwhichFloraparriedherbrother’shint。MissMac-Ivor，Iperceive，thinkstheknightunworthyofherencouragementandfavour，’’saidhe，somewhatbitterly。
　　Notso，Mr。Waverley，’’shereplied，withgreatsweetness。
　　WhyshouldIrefusemybrother’svaluedfriendaboonwhichIamdistributingtohiswholeclan？MostwillinglywouldI
　　enlisteverymanofhonourinthecausetowhichmybrotherhasdevotedhimself。ButFergushastakenhismeasureswithhiseyesopen。Hislifehasbeendevotedtothiscausefromhiscradle；withhimitscallissacred，wereitevenasummonstothetomb。ButhowcanIwishyou，Mr。Waverley，sonewtotheworld，sofarfromeveryfriendwhomightadviseandoughttoinfluenceyou-inamomenttooofsuddenpiqueandindignation-howcanIwishyoutoplungeyourselfatonceintosodesperateanenterprise？’’
　　Fergus，whodidnotunderstandthesedelicacies，strodethroughtheapartmentbitinghislip，andthen，withaconstrainedsmile，said，Well，sister，IleaveyoutoactyournewcharacterofmediatorbetweentheElectorofHanoverandthesubjectsofyourlawfulsovereignandbenefactor，’’andlefttheroom。
　　Therewasapainfulpause，whichwasatlengthbrokenbyMissMac-Ivor。Mybrotherisunjust，’’shesaid，becausehecanbearnointerruptionthatseemstothwarthisloyalzeal。’’
　　Anddoyounotsharehisardour？’’askedWaverley。
　　DoInot？’’answeredFlora-Godknowsmineexceedshis，ifthatbepossible。ButIamnot，likehim，raptbythebustleofmilitarypreparation，andtheinfinitedetailnecessarytothepresentundertaking，beyondconsiderationofthegrandprinciplesofjusticeandtruth，onwhichourenterpriseisgrounded；andtheseIamcertain，canonlybefurtheredbymeasuresinthemselvestrueandjust。Tooperateuponyourpresentfeelings，mydearMr。Waverley，toinduceyoutoanirretrievablestep，ofwhichyouhavenotconsideredeitherthejusticeorthedanger，is，inmypoorjudgment，neithertheonenortheother。’’
　　IncomparableFlora！’’saidEdward，takingherhand，howmuchdoIneedsuchamonitor？’’
　　Abetteronebyfar，’’saidFlora，gentlywithdrawingherhand，Mr。Waverleywillalwaysfindinhisownbosom，whenhewillgiveitssmallstillvoiceleisuretobeheard。’’
　　No，MissMac-Ivor，Idarenothopeit。Athousandcircumstancesoffatalself-indulgencehavemademethecreatureratherofimaginationthanreason。DurstIbuthopecouldI
　　butthink-thatyouwoulddeigntobetomethataffectionate，thatcondescendingfriend，whowouldstrengthenmetoredeemmyerrors，myfuturelife’’
　　Hush，mydearsir！nowyoucarryyourjoyatescapingthehandsofaJacobiterecruitingofficertoanunparalleledexcessofgratitude。’’
　　Nay，dearFlora，triflewithmenolonger；youcannotmistakethemeaningofthosefeelingswhichIhavealmostinvoluntarilyexpressed；andsinceIhavebrokenthebarrierofsilence，letmeprofitbymyaudacity-OrmayI，withyourpermission，mentiontoyourbrother’’
　　Notfortheworld，Mr。Waverley！’’
　　WhatamItounderstand？’’saidEdward。Isthereanyfatalbar-hasanyprepossession’’
　　None，sir，’’answeredFlora。Ioweittomyselftosay，thatIneveryetsawthepersononwhomIthoughtwithreferencetothepresentsubject。’’
　　Theshortnessofouracquaintance，perhaps-IfMissMac-Ivorwilldeigntogivemetime’’
　　Ihavenoteventhatexcuse。CaptainWaverley’scharacterissoopen-is，inshort，ofthatnature，thatitcannotbemisconstrued，eitherinitsstrengthoritsweakness。’’
　　Andforthatweaknessyoudespiseme？’’saidEdward。
　　Forgiveme，Mr。Waverley，andrememberitisbutwithinthishalfhourthatthereexistedbetweenusabarrierofanaturetomeinsurmountable，sinceInevercouldthinkofanofficerintheserviceoftheElectorofHanoverinanyotherlightthanasacasualacquaintance。Permitmethentoarrangemyideasuponsounexpectedatopic，andinlessthananhourIwillbereadytogiveyousuchreasonsfortheresolutionIshallexpress，asmaybesatisfactoryatleast，ifnotpleasingtoyou。’’Sosaying，Florawithdrew，leavingWaverleytomeditateuponthemannerinwhichshehadreceivedhisaddresses。
　　Erehecouldmakeuphismindwhethertobelievehissuithadbeenacceptableorno，Fergusre-enteredtheapartment。
　　What，_lamort，_Waverley？’’hecried。Comedownwithmetothecourt，andyoushallseeasightworthallthetiradesofyourromances。Anhundredfirelocks，myfriend，andasmanybroadswords，justarrivedfromgoodfriends；andtwoorthreehundredstoutfellowsalmostfightingwhichshallfirstpossessthem-Butletmelookatyoucloser-Why，atrueHighlanderwouldsayyouhadbeenblightedbyanevileye-
　　Orcanitbethissillygirlthathasthusblankedyourspirit？-
　　Nevermindher，dearEdward；thewisestofhersexarefoolsinwhatregardsthebusinessoflife。’’
　　Indeed，mygoodfriend，’’answeredWaverley，allthatI
　　canchargeagainstyoursisteris，thatsheistoosensible，tooreasonable。’’
　　Ifthatbeall，Iensureyouforalouis-d’oragainstthemoodlastingfour-and-twentyhours。Nowomanwaseversteadilysensibleforthatperiod；andIwillengage，ifthatwillpleaseyou，Florashallbeasunreasonableto-morrowasanyofhersex。Youmustlearn，mydearEdward，toconsiderwomen_enmousquetaire。_’’Sosaying，heseizedWaverley’sarm，anddraggedhimofftoreviewhismilitarypreparations。
　　CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVENTH
　　UPONTHESAMESUBJECT。
　　FergusMac-Ivorhadtoomuchtactanddelicacytorenewthesubjectwhichhehadinterrupted。Hisheadwas，orappearedtobe，sofullofguns，broadswords，bonnets，canteens，andtartanhose，thatWaverleycouldnotforsometimedrawhisattentiontoanyothertopic。
　　Areyoutotakethefieldsosoon，Fergus，’’heasked，thatyouaremakingallthesemartialpreparations？’’
　　Whenwehavesettledthatyougowithme，youshallknowall；butotherwise，theknowledgemightratherbeprejudicialtoyou。’’
　　Butareyouseriousinyourpurpose，withsuchinferiorforces，toriseagainstanestablishedgovernment？Itismerefrenzy。’’
　　_LaissezfaireDonAntoine_-Ishalltakegoodcareofmyself。WeshallatleastusethecomplimentofConan，whonevergotastrokebuthegaveone。Iwouldnot，however，’’
　　continuedtheChieftain，haveyouthinkmemadenoughtostirtillafavourableopportunity：Iwillnotslipmydogbeforethegame’safoot。Butoncemore，willyoujoinwithusandyoushallknowall？’’
　　HowcanI？’’saidWaverley；Iwhohavesolatelyheldthatcommissionwhichisnowpostingbacktothosethatgaveit？Myacceptingitimpliedapromiseoffidelity，andanacknowledgmentofthelegalityofthegovernment。’’
　　Arashpromise，’’answeredFergus，isnotasteelhandcuff；
　　itmaybeshakenoff，especiallywhenitwasgivenunderdeception，andhasbeenrepaidbyinsult。Butifyoucannotimmediatelymakeupyourmindtoagloriousrevenge，gotoEngland，andereyoucrosstheTweed，youwillheartidingsthatwillmaketheworldring；andifSirEverardbethegallantoldcavalierIhaveheardhimdescribedbysomeofourhonestgentlemenoftheyearonethousandsevenhundredandfifteen，hewillfindyouabetterhorse-troopandabettercausethanyouhavelost。’’
　　Butyoursister，Fergus？’’
　　Out，hyperbolicalfiend，’’repliedtheChief，laughing；howvexestthouthisman！-Speakestthouofnothingbutofladies？’’
　　Nay，beserious，mydearfriend，’’saidWaverley；IfeelthatthehappinessofmyfuturelifemustdependupontheanswerwhichMissMac-IvorshallmaketowhatIventuredtotellherthismorning。’’
　　Andisthisyourverysoberearnest，’’saidFergus，moregravely，orareweinthelandofromanceandfiction？’’
　　Myearnest，undoubtedly。Howcouldyousupposemejestingonsuchasubject？’’
　　Then，inverysoberearnest，’’answeredhisfriend，Iamverygladtohearit；andsohighlydoIthinkofFlora，thatyouaretheonlymaninEnglandforwhomIwouldsaysomuch-Butbeforeyoushakemyhandsowarmly，thereismoretobeconsidered-Yourownfamily-willtheyapproveyourconnectingyourselfwiththesisterofahigh-bornHighlandbeggar？’’
　　Myuncle’ssituation，’’saidWaverley，hisgeneralopinions，andhisuniformindulgence，entitlemetosay，thatbirthandpersonalqualitiesareallhewouldlooktoinsuchaconnexion。
　　AndwherecanIfindbothunitedinsuchexcellenceasinyoursister？’’
　　Onowhere！_celavasansdire，_’’repliedFerguswithasmile。Butyourfatherwillexpectafather’sprerogativeinbeingconsulted。’’
　　Surely；buthislatebreachwiththerulingpowersremovesallapprehensionofobjectiononhispart，especiallyasIamconvincedthatmyunclewillbewarminmycause。’’
　　Religion，perhaps，’’saidFergus，maymakeobstacles，thoughwearenotbigotedCatholics。’’
　　MygrandmotherwasoftheChurchofRome，andherreligionwasneverobjectedtobymyfamily-Donotthinkofmyfriends，dearFergus；letmeratherhaveyourinfluencewhereitmaybemorenecessarytoremoveobstacles-Imeanwithyourlovelysister。’’
　　Mylovelysister，’’repliedFergus，likeherlovingbrother，isveryapttohaveaprettydecisivewillofherown，bywhich，inthiscase，youmustberuled；butyoushallnotwantmyinterestnormycounsel。And，inthefirstplace，Iwillgiveyouonehint-Loyaltyisherrulingpassion；andsinceshecouldspellanEnglishbook，shehasbeeninlovewiththememoryofthegallantCaptainWogan，whorenouncedtheserviceoftheusurperCromwelltojointhestandardofCharlesII。，marchedahandfulofcavalryfromLondontotheHighlandstojoinMiddleton，theninarmfortheking，andatlengthdiedgloriouslyintheroyalcause。Askhertoshowyousomeversesshemadeonhishistoryandfate；theyhavebeenmuchadmired，Iassureyou。ThenextpointisIthinkIsawFloragouptowardsthewaterfallashorttimesince-follow，man，follow！
　　don’tallowthegarrisontimetostrengthenitspurposesofresistance-_Alertelamuraille！_SeekFloraout，andlearnherdecisionassoonasyoucan-andCupidgowithyou，whileI
　　gotolookoverbeltsandcartouch-boxes。’’
　　Waverleyascendedtheglenwithananxiousandthrobbingheart。Love，withallitsromantictrainofhopes，fears，andwishes，wasmingledwithotherfeelingsofanaturelesseasilydefined。Hecouldnotbutrememberhowmuchthismorninghadchangedhisfate，andintowhatacomplicationofperplexityitwaslikelytoplungehim。Sunrisehadseenhimpossessedofanesteemedrankinthehonourableprofessionofarms，hisfathertoallappearancerapidlyrisinginthefavourofhissovereign；-allthishadpassedawaylikeadream-hehimselfwasdishonoured，hisfatherdisgraced，andhehadbecomeinvoluntarilytheconfidantatleast，ifnottheaccomplice，ofplansdark，deep，anddangerous，whichmustinfereithersubversionofthegovernmenthehadsolatelyserved，orthedestructionofallwhohadparticipatedinthem。ShouldFloraevenlistentohissuitfavourably，whatprospectwasthereofitsbeingbroughttoahappytermination，amidthetumultofanimpendinginsurrection？OrhowcouldhemaketheselfishrequestthatsheshouldleaveFergus，towhomshewassomuchattached，and，retiringwithhimtoEngland，wait，asadistantspectator，thesuccessofherbrother’sundertaking，ortheruinofallhishopesandfortunes！-Or，ontheotherhand，toengagehimself，withnootheraidthanhissinglearm，inthedangerousandprecipitatecounselsoftheChieftain，-tobewhirledalongbyhim，thepartakerofallhisdesperateandimpetuousmotions，-renouncingalmostthepowerofjudging，ordecidingupontherectitudeorprudenceofhisactions，-thiswasnopleasingprospectforthesecretprideofWaverleytostoopto。Andyetwhatotherconclusionremained，savingtherejectionofhisaddressesbyFlora，analternativenottobethoughtofinthepresenthigh-wroughtstateofhisfeelings，withanythingshortofmentalagony。Ponderingthedoubtfulanddangerouspro。