Hethenpausedforaninstant;butbeforeEdwardcouldadjustasuitablereply,orevenarrangehisideasastoitspurport,thePrincetookoutapaper,andthenproceeded:-Ishouldindeedhavenodoubtsuponthissubject,ifIcouldtrusttothisproclamation,setforthbythefriendsoftheElectorofHanover,inwhichtheyrankMr。Waverleyamongthenobilityandgentrywhoaremenacedwiththepainsofhightreasonforloyaltytotheirlegitimatesovereign。ButIdesiretogainnoadherentssavefromaffectionandconviction;andifMr。
Waverleyinclinestoprosecutehisjourneytothesouth,ortojointheforcesoftheElector,heshallhavemypassportandfreepermissiontodoso;andIcanonlyregret,thatmypresentpowerwillnotextendtoprotecthimagainsttheprobableconsequencesofsuchameasure-But,’’continuedCharlesEdward,afteranothershortpause,ifMr。Waverleyshould,likehisancestor,SirNigel,determinetoembraceacausewhichhaslittletorecommenditbutitsjustice,andfollowaprincewhothrowshimselfupontheaffectionsofhispeople,torecoverthethroneofhisancestorsorperishintheattempt,Icanonlysay,thatamongthesenoblesandgentlemenhewillfindworthyassociatesinagallantenterprise,andwillfollowamasterwhomaybeunfortunate,but,Itrust,willneverbeungrateful。’’
ThepoliticChieftainoftheraceofIvorknewhisadvantageinintroducingWaverleytothispersonalinterviewwiththeroyalAdventurer。Unaccustomedtotheaddressandmannersofapolishedcourt,inwhichCharleswaseminentlyskilful,hiswordsandhiskindnesspenetratedtheheartofourhero,andeasilyoutweighedallprudentialmotives。TobethuspersonallysolicitedforassistancebyaPrince,whoseformandmanners,aswellasthespiritwhichhedisplayedinthissingularenterprise,answeredhisideasofaheroofromance;tobecourtedbyhimintheancienthallsofhispaternalpalace,recoveredbytheswordwhichhewasalreadybendingtowardsotherconquests,gaveEdward,inhisowneyes,thedignityandimportancewhichhehadceasedtoconsiderashisattributes。Rejected,slandered,andthreatenedupontheoneside,hewasirresistiblyattractedtothecausewhichtheprejudicesofeducation,andthepoliticalprinciplesofhisfamily,hadalreadyrecommendedasthemostjust。Thesethoughtsrushedthroughhismindlikeatorrent,sweepingbeforethemeveryconsiderationofanoppositetendency,-thetime,besides,admittedofnodeliberation,-andWaverley,kneelingtoCharlesEdward,devotedhisheartandswordtothevindicationofhisrights!
ThePrincefor,althoughunfortunateinthefaultsandfolliesofhisforefathers,weshallhere,andelsewhere,givehimthetitleduetohisbirthraisedWaverleyfromtheground,andembracedhimwithanexpressionofthankstoowarmnottobegenuine。HealsothankedFergusMac-Ivorrepeatedlyforhavingbroughthimsuchanadherent,andpresentedWaverleytothevariousnoblemen,chieftains,andofficerswhowereabouthisperson,asayounggentlemanofthehighesthopesandprospects,inwhoseboldandenthusiasticavowalofhiscausetheymightseeanevidenceofthesentimentsoftheEnglishfamiliesofrankatthisimportantcrisis。Indeed,thiswasaNoteR。JacobiteSentiments。
pointmuchdoubtedamongtheadherentsofthehouseofStuart;
andasawell-foundeddisbeliefintheco-operationoftheEnglishJacobiteskeptmanyScottishmenofrankfromhisstandard,anddiminishedthecourageofthosewhohadjoinedit,nothingcouldbemoreseasonablefortheChevalierthantheopendeclarationinhisfavouroftherepresentativeofthehouseofWaverley-Honour,solongknownascavaliersandroyalists。
ThisFergushadforeseenfromthebeginning。HereallylovedWaverley,becausetheirfeelingsandprojectsneverthwartedeachother;hehopedtoseehimunitedwithFlora,andherejoicedthattheywereeffectuallyengagedinthesamecause。
But,aswebeforehinted,healsoexultedasapoliticianinbeholdingsecuredtohispartyapartisanofsuchconsequence;
andhewasfarfrombeinginsensibletothepersonalimportancewhichhehimselfgainedwiththePrince,fromhavingsomateriallyassistedinmakingtheacquisition。
CharlesEdward,onhispart,seemedeagertoshowhisattendantsthevaluewhichheattachedtohisnewadherent,byenteringimmediately,asinconfidence,uponthecircumstancesofhissituation。Youhavebeensecludedsomuchfromintelligence,Mr。Waverley,fromcausesofwhichIambutindistinctlyinformed,thatIpresumeyouareevenyetunacquaintedwiththeimportantparticularsofmypresentsituation。
Youhave,however,heardofmylandingintheremotedistrictofMoidart,withonlysevenattendants,andofthenumerouschiefsandclanswhoseloyalenthusiasmatonceplacedasolitaryadventurerattheheadofagallantarmy。Youmustalso,I
think,havelearned,thattheCommander-in-chiefoftheHanoverianElector,SirJohnCope,marchedintotheHighlandsattheheadofanumerousandwell-appointedmilitaryforce,withtheintentionofgivingusbattle,butthathiscouragefailedhimwhenwewerewithinthreehours’marchofeachother,sothathefairlygaveustheslip,andmarchednorthwardtoAberdeen,leavingtheLowCountryopenandundefended。Nottolosesofavourableanopportunity,Imarchedontothismetropolis,drivingbeforemetworegimentsofhorse,Gardiner’sandHamilton’s,whohadthreatenedtocuttopieceseveryHighlanderthatshouldventuretopassStirling;andwhilediscussionswerecarryingforwardamongthemagistracyandcitizensofEdinburgh,whethertheyshoulddefendthemselvesorsurrender,mygoodfriendLochiellayinghishandontheshoulderofthatgallantandaccomplishedchieftainsavedthemthetroubleoffartherdeliberation,byenteringthegateswithfivehundredCamerons。Thusfar,therefore,wehavedonewell;but,inthemeanwhile,thisdoughtygeneral’snervesbeingbracedbythekeenairofAberdeen,hehastakenshippingforDunbar,andIhavejustreceivedcertaininformationthathelandedthereyesterday。Hispurposemustunquestionablybetomarchtowardsustorecoverpossessionofthecapital。
Now,therearetwoopinionsinmycouncilofwar:one,thatbeinginferiorprobablyinnumbers,andcertainlyindisciplineandmilitaryappointments,nottomentionourtotalwantofartillery,andtheweaknessofourcavalry,itwillbesafesttofallbacktowardsthemountains,andthereprotractthewar,untilfreshsuccoursarrivefromFrance,andthewholebodyoftheHighlandclansshallhavetakenarmsinourfavour。Theoppositeopinionmaintains,thataretrogrademovement,inourcircumstance,iscertaintothrowutterdiscreditonourarmsandundertaking;and,farfromgainingusnewpartisans,willbethemeansofdishearteningthosewhohavejoinedourstandard。Theofficerswhousedtheselastarguments,amongwhomisyourfriendFergusMac-Ivor,maintainthatiftheHighlandersarestrangerstotheusualmilitarydisciplineofEurope,thesoldierswhomtheyaretoencounterarenolessstrangerstotheirpeculiarandformidablemodeofattack:thattheattachmentandcourageofthechiefsandgentlemenarenottobedoubted;andthatastheywillbeinthemidstoftheenemy,theirclansmenwillassurelyfollowthem;infine,thathavingdrawnthesword,weshouldthrowawaythescabbard,andtrustourcausetobattle,andtotheGodofBattles。WillMr。Waverleyfavouruswithhisopinioninthesearduouscircumstances?’’
Waverleycolouredhighbetwixtpleasureandmodestyatthedistinctionimpliedinthisquestion,andanswered,withequalspiritandreadiness,thathecouldnotventuretoofferanopinionasderivedfrommilitaryskill,butthatthecouncilwouldbefarthemostacceptabletohimwhichshouldfirstaffordhimanopportunitytoevincehiszealinhisRoyalHighness’sservice。
SpokenlikeaWaverley!’’answeredCharlesEdward;andthatyoumayholdarankinsomedegreecorrespondingtoyourname,allowme,insteadofthecaptain’scommissionwhichyouhavelost,toofferyouthebrevetrankofmajorinmyservice,withtheadvantageofactingasoneofmyaides-de-campuntilyoucanbeattachedtoaregiment,ofwhichIhopeseveralwillbespeedilyembodied。’’
YourRoyalHighnesswillforgiveme,’’answeredWaverleyforhisrecollectionturnedtoBalmawhappleandhisscantytroop,ifIdeclineacceptinganyrankuntilthetimeandplacewhereImayhaveinterestenoughtoraiseasufficientbodyofmentomakemycommandusefultoyourRoyalHighness’sservice。Inthemeanwhile,IhopeforyourpermissiontoserveasavolunteerundermyfriendFergusMac-Ivor。’’
Atleast,’’saidthePrince,whowasobviouslypleasedwiththisproposal,allowmethepleasureofarmingyouaftertheHighlandfashion。’’Withthesewords,heunbuckledthebroadswordwhichhewore,thebeltofwhichwasplatedwithsilver,andthesteelbaskethiltrichlyandcuriouslyinlaid。Theblade,’’saidthePrince,isagenuineAndreaFerrara;ithasbeenasortofheir-loominourfamily;butIamconvincedI
putitintobetterhandsthanmyown,andwilladdtoitpistolsofthesameworkmanship-ColonelMac-Ivor,youmusthavemuchtosaytoyourfriend;Iwilldetainyounolongerfromyourprivateconversation;butrememberweexpectyoubothtoattendusintheevening。Itmaybeperhapsthelastnightwemayenjoyinthesehalls,andaswegotothefieldwithaclearconscience,wewillspendtheeveofbattlemerrily。’’
Thuslicensed,thechiefandWaverleyleftthepresence-chamber。
Howdoyoulikehim?’’wasFergus’sfirstquestion,astheydescendedthelargestonestaircase。
Aprincetoliveanddieunder,’’wasWaverley’senthusiasticanswer。
Iknewyouwouldthinksowhenyousawhim,andI
intendedyoushouldhavemetearlier,butwaspreventedbyyoursprain。Andyethehashisfoibles,orratherhehasdifficultcardstoplay,andhisIrishofficers,whoaremuchabouthimNoteS。Irishofficers。
arebutsorryadvisers,-theycannotdiscriminateamongthenumerouspretensionsthataresetup。Wouldyouthinkit,-
Ihavebeenobligedforthepresenttosuppressanearl’spatent,grantedforservicesrenderedtenyearsago,forfearofexcitingthejealousy,forsooth,ofCandM。Butyouwereveryright,Edward,torefusethesituationofaide-de-camp。Therearetwovacant,indeed,butClanronaldandLochiel,andalmostallofus,haverequestedoneforyoungAberchallader,andtheLowlandersandtheIrishpartyareequallydesiroustohavetheotherforthemasterofF。Now,ifeitherofthesecandidatesweretobesupersededinyourfavour,youwouldmakeenemies。AndthenIamsurprisedthatthePrinceshouldhaveofferedyouamajority,whenheknowsverywellthatnothingshortoflieutenant-colonelwillsatisfyothers,whocannotbringonehundredandfiftymentothefield。`Butpatience,cousin,andshufflethecards!’Itisallverywellforthepresent,andwemusthaveyouregularlyequippedfortheeveninginyournewcostume;for,tosaythetruth,youroutwardmanisscarcefitforacourt。’’
Why,’’saidWaverley,lookingathissoileddress,myshooting-jackethasseenservicesinceweparted;butthat,probably,you,myfriend,knowaswellorbetterthanI。’’
Youdomysecond-sighttoomuchhonour,’’saidFergus。
Weweresobusy,firstwiththeschemeofgivingbattletoCope,andafterwardswithouroperationsintheLowlands,thatIcouldonlygivegeneraldirectionstosuchofourpeopleaswereleftinPerthshiretorespectandprotectyou,shouldyoucomeintheirway。Butletmehearthefullstoryofyouradventures,fortheyhavereachedusinaverypartialandmutilatedmanner。’’
Waverleythendetailedatlengththecircumstanceswithwhichthereaderisalreadyacquainted,towhichFerguslistenedwithgreatattention。Bythistimetheyhadreachedthedoorofhisquarters,whichhehadtakenupinasmallpavedcourt,retiringfromthestreetcalledtheCanongate,atthehouseofabuxomwidowofforty,whoseemedtosmileverygraciouslyuponthehandsomeyoungchief,shebeingapersonwithwhomgoodlooksandgoodhumourweresuretosecureaninterest,whatevermightbetheparty’spoliticalopinions。HereCallumBegreceivedthemwithasmileofrecognition。Callum,’’saidtheChief,callShemusanSnachad’’JamesoftheNeedle。
ThiswasthehereditarytailorofVichIanVohr。Shemus,Mr。Waverleyistowearthe_cathdath_battlecolour,ortartan;
histrewsmustbereadyinfourhours。Youknowthemeasureofawell-mademan:twodoublenailstothesmalloftheleg’’
Elevenfromhaunchtoheel,sevenroundthewaist-IgiveyourhonourleavetohangShemus,ifthere’sapairofsheersintheHighlandsthathasabauldersneckthanher’sainatthe_cumadhantruais_’’shapeofthetrews。
GetaplaidofMac-Ivortartan,andsash,’’continuedtheChieftain,andabluebonnetofthePrince’spattern,atMr。
Mouat’sintheCrames。Myshortgreencoat,withsilverlaceandsilverbuttons,willfithimexactly,andIhaveneverwornit。TellEnsignMaccombichtopickoutahandsometargetfromamongmine。TheprincehasgivenMr。Waverleybroadswordandpistols,Iwillfurnishhimwithadirkandpurse;
addbutapairoflowheeledshoes,andthenmydearEdwardturningtohimyouwillbeacompletesonofIvor。’’
Thesenecessarydirectionsgiven,theChieftainresumedthesubjectofWaverley’sadventures。Itisplain,’’hesaid,thatyouhavebeeninthecustodyofDonaldBeanLean。Youmustknow,thatwhenImarchedawaymyclantojointhePrince,Ilaidmyinjunctionsonthatworthymemberofsocietytoperformacertainpieceofservice,whichdone,hewastojoinmewithalltheforcehecouldmuster。Butinsteadofdoingso,thegentleman,findingthecoastclear,thoughtitbettertomakewaronhisownaccount,andhasscouredthecountry,plundering,Ibelieve,bothfriendandfoe,underpretenceoflevyingblackmail,sometimesasifbymyauthority,andsometimesandbecursedtohisconsummateimpudenceinhisowngreatname!Uponmyhonour,ifIlivetoseethecairnofBenmoreagain,Ishallbetemptedtohangthatfellow!
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