ThislastdilemmahadalmostdisturbedFergus’sgravity。
　　Why，’’saidhe，youknow，Baron，theproverbtellsus，`It’silltakingthebreeksoffaHighlandman，’-andthebootsarehereinthesamepredicament。’’
　　Theword_calig，_however，’’continuedtheBaron，thoughIadmit，that，byfamilytradition，andeveninourancientevidents，itisexplained_lie_=boots，=means，initsprimitivesense，rathersandals；andCaiusCsar，thenephewandsuccessorofCaiusTiberius，receivedtheagnomenofCaligula，_acaligulis，sivecaligislevioribus，quibusadolescentiorususfueratinexercituGermanicipatrissui。_Andthe_calig_werealsopropertothemonasticbodies；forwereadinanancientGlossarium，upontheruleofStBenedict，intheAbbeyofSt。Amand，that_calig_
　　weretiedwithlatchets。’’
　　Thatwillapplytothebrogues，’’saidFergus。
　　Itwillso，mydearGlennaquoich；andthewordsareexpress：_Caligdictsuntquialigantur；namsoccinonligantur，sedtantumintromittuntur；_thatis，_calig_aredenominatedfromtheligatureswherewiththeyarebound；whereas_socci，_whichmaybeanalogoustoourmules，whilktheEnglishdenominateslippers，areonlyslippeduponthefeet。Thewordsofthecharterarealsoalternative，-_exuere，seudetrahere；_thatis，to_undo，_asinthecaseofsandalsorbrogues；andto_pulloff，_aswesayvernacularly，concerningboots。YetIwouldwehadmorelight；butIfearthereislittlechanceoffindinghereaboutanyeruditeauthor_derevestiari。_’’
　　Ishoulddoubtitverymuch，’’saidtheChieftain，lookingaroundonthestragglingHighlanders，whowerereturningloadedwithspoilsoftheslain，thoughthe_resvestiaria_itselfseemstobeinsomerequestatpresent。’’
　　ThisremarkcomingwithintheBaron’sideaofjocularity，hehonoureditwithasmile，butimmediatelyresumedwhattohimappearedveryseriousbusiness。
　　BailieMacwheebleindeedholdsanopinion，thatthishonoraryserviceisdue，fromitsverynature，_sipetaturtantum；_
　　onlyifhisRoyalHighnessshallrequireofthegreattenantofthecrowntoperformthatpersonalduty；andindeedhepointedoutthecaseinDirleton’sDoubtsandQueries，Grippet_versus_
　　Spicer，anenttheevictionofanestate_obnonsolutumcanonem，_
　　thatis，fornon-paymentofafeu-dutyofthreepeppercornsa-year，whilkweretaxttobeworthseven-eighthsofapennyScots，inwhilkthedefenderwasassoilzied。ButIdeemitsafest，wi’yourgoodfavour，toplacemyselfinthewayofrenderingthePrincethisservice，andtoprofferperformancethereof；andIshallcausetheBailietoattendwithascheduleofaprotest，whilkhehasherepreparedtakingoutapaper，intimating，thatifitshallbehisRoyalHighness’spleasuretoacceptofotherassistanceatpullingoffhis_calig_whetherthesameshallberenderedbootsorbroguessavethatofthesaidBaronofBradwardine，whoisinpresencereadyandwillingtoperformthesame，itshallinnowiseimpingeuponorprejudicetherightofthesaidCosmoComyneBradwardinetoperformthesaidserviceinfuture；norshallitgiveanyesquire，valetofthechamber，squire，orpage，whoseassistanceitmaypleasehisRoyalHighnesstoemploy，anyright，title，orground，forevictingfromthesaidCosmo，ComyneBradwardinetheestateandbaronyofBradwardine，andothersheldasaforesaid，bythedueandfaithfulperformancethereof。’’
　　Fergushighlyapplaudedthisarrangement；andtheBarontookafriendlyleaveofthem，withasmileofcontentedimportanceuponhisvisage。
　　LongliveourdearfriendtheBaron，’’exclaimedtheChief，assoonashewasoutofhearing，forthemostabsurdoriginalthatexistsnorthoftheTweed！IwishtoheavenIhadrecommendedhimtoattendthecirclethiseveningwithaboot-ketchunderhisarm。Ithinkhemighthaveadoptedthesuggestion，ifithadbeenmadewithsuitablegravity。’’
　　Andhowcanyoutakepleasureinmakingamanofhisworthsoridiculous？’’
　　Beggingpardon，mydearWaverley，youareasridiculousashe。Why，doyounotseethattheman’swholemindiswrappedupinthisceremony？Hehasheardandthoughtofitsinceinfancy，asthemostaugustprivilegeandceremonyintheworld；andIdoubtnotbuttheexpectedpleasureofperformingitwasaprincipalmotivewithhimfortakinguparms。Dependuponit，hadIendeavouredtodiverthimfromexposinghimself，hewouldhavetreatedmeasanignorantconceitedcoxcomb，orperhapsmighthavetakenafancytocutmythroat；apleasurewhichheonceproposedtohimselfuponsomepointofetiquette，nothalfsoimportant，inhiseyes，asthismatterofbootsorbrogues，ofwhateverthecaligshallfinallybepronouncedbythelearned。ButImustgotohead-quarterstopreparethePrinceforthisextraordinaryscene。
　　Myinformationwillbewelltaken，foritwillgivehimaheartylaughatpresent，andputhimonhisguardagainstlaughing，whenitmightbevery_mal-a-propos。_So，_aurevoir，_mydearWaverley。’’
　　ThefirstoccupationofWaverley，afterhedepartedfromtheChieftain，wastogoinquestoftheofficerwhoselifehehadsaved。Hewasguarded，alongwithhiscompanionsinmisfortune，whowereverynumerous，inagentleman’shousenearthefieldofbattle。
　　Onenteringtheroomwheretheystoodcrowdedtogether，Waverleyeasilyrecognisedtheobjectofhisvisit，notonlybythepeculiardignityofhisappearance，butbytheappendageofDugaldMahony，withhisbattle-axe，whohadstucktohimfromthemomentofhiscaptivity，asifhehadbeenskeweredtohisside。Thiscloseattendancewas，perhaps，forthepurposeofsecuringhispromisedrewardfromEdward，butitalsooperatedtosavetheEnglishgentlemanfrombeingplunderedinthesceneofgeneralconfusion；forDugaldsagaciouslyargued，thattheamountofthesalvagewhichhemightbeallowed，wouldberegulatedbythestateoftheprisoner，whenheshoulddeliverhimovertoWaverley。HehastenedtoassureWaverley，therefore，withmorewordsthanheusuallyemployed，thathehadkeepitta_sidierroy_haill，andthathewasnaaplackthewaursincetheferrymomentwhenhishonourforbadhertogiehimabitclamhewitwi’herLochaberaxe。’’
　　WaverleyassuredDugaldofaliberalrecompense，and，approachingtheEnglishofficer，expressedhisanxietytodoanythingwhichmightcontributetohisconvenienceunderhispresentunpleasantcircumstances。
　　Iamnotsoinexperiencedasoldier，sir，’’answeredtheEnglishman，astocomplainofthefortuneofwar。Iamonlygrievedtoseethosescenesactedinourownisland，whichIhaveoftenwitnessedelsewherewithcomparativeindifference。’’
　　Anothersuchdayasthis，’’saidWaverley，andItrustthecauseofyourregretswillberemoved，andallwillagainreturntopeaceandorder。’’
　　Theofficersmiledandshookhishead。Imustnotforgetmysituationsofarastoattemptaformalconfutationofthatopinion；but，notwithstandingyoursuccess，andthevalourwhichachievedit，youhaveundertakenatasktowhichyourstrengthappearswhollyinadequate。’’
　　AtthismomentFerguspushedintothepress。
　　Come，Edward，comealong；thePrincehasgonetoPinkie-houseforthenight；andwemustfollow，orloosethewholeceremonyofthe_calig。_Yourfriend，theBaron，hasbeenguiltyofagreatpieceofcruelty；hehasinsistedupondraggingBailieMacwheebleouttothefieldofbattle。NowyoumustknowtheBailie’sgreatesthorrorisanarmedHighlander，oraloadedgun；andtherehestands，listeningtotheBaron’sinstructionsconcerningtheprotest，duckinghisheadlikeasea-gullatthereportofeverygunandpistolthatouridleboysarefiringuponthefields；andundergoing，bywayofpenance，ateverysymptomofflinching，asevererebukefromhispatron，whowouldnotadmitthedischargeofawholebatteryofcannon，withinpoint-blankdistance，asanapologyforneglectingadiscourse，inwhichthehonourofhisfamilyisinterested。’’
　　ButhowhasMr。Bradwardinegothimtoventuresofar？’’
　　saidEdward。
　　Why，hehadcomeasfarasMusselburgh，Ifancy，inhopesofmakingsomeofourwills；andtheperemptorycommandsoftheBarondraggedhimforwardtoPrestonafterthebattlewasover。Hecomplainsofoneortwoofourragamuffinshavingputhiminperilofhislife，bypresentingtheirpiecesathim；
　　butastheylimitedhisransomtoanEnglishpenny，Idon’tthinkweneedtroubletheprovost-marshaluponthatsubject。So，comealong，Waverley。’’
　　Waverley！’’saidtheEnglishofficer，withgreatemotion；
　　thenephewofSirEverardWaverley，ofshire？’’
　　Thesame，Sir，’’repliedourhero，somewhatsurprisedatthetoneinwhichhewasaddressed。
　　Iamatoncehappyandgrieved，’’saidtheprisoner，tohavemetwithyou。’’
　　Iamignorant，sir，’’answeredWaverley，howIhavedeservedsomuchinterest。’’
　　DidyourunclenevermentionafriendcalledTalbot？’’
　　Ihaveheardhimtalkwithgreatregardofsuchaperson，’’
　　repliedEdward；acolonel，Ibelieve，inthearmy，andthehusbandofLadyEmilyBlandeville；butIthoughtColonelTalbothadbeenabroad。’’
　　Iamjustreturned，’’answeredtheofficer；andbeinginScotland，thoughtitmydutytoactwheremyservicespromisedtobeuseful。Yes，Mr。Waverley，IamthatColonelTalbot，thehusbandoftheladyyouhavenamed；andIamproudtoacknowledgethatIowealikemyprofessionalrankandmydomestichappinesstoyourgenerousandnoble-mindedrelative。
　　GoodGod！thatIshouldfindhisnephewinsuchadress，andengagedinsuchacause！’’
　　Sir，’’saidFergus，haughtily，thedressandcausearethoseofmenofbirthandhonour。’’
　　Mysituationforbidsmetodisputeyourassertion，’’saidColonelTalbot；otherwiseitwerenodifficultmattertoshow，thatneithercouragenorprideoflineagecangildabadcause。
　　But，withMr。Waverley’spermission，andyours，sir，ifyoursalsomustbeasked，Iwouldwillinglyspeakafewwordswithhimonaffairsconnectedwithhisownfamily。’’
　　Mr。Waverley，sir，regulateshisownmotions-Youwillfollowme，Isuppose，toPinkie，’’saidFergus，turningtoEdward，whenyouhavefinishedyourdiscoursewiththisnewacquaintance？’’
　　Sosaying，theChiefofGlennaquoichadjustedhisplaidwithrathermorethanhisusualairofhaughtyassumption，andlefttheapartment。
　　TheinterestofWaverleyreadilyprocuredforColonelTalbotthefreedomofadjourningtoalargegardenbelongingtohisplaceofconfinement。Theywalkedafewpacesinsilence，ColonelTalbotapparentlystudyinghowtoopenwhathehadtosay；atlengthheaddressedEdward。
　　Mr。Waverley，youhavethisdaysavedmylife；andyetI
　　wouldtoGodthatIhadlostit，ereIhadfoundyouwearingtheuniformandcockadeofthesemen。’’
　　Iforgiveyourreproach，ColonelTalbot；itiswellmeant，andyoureducationandprejudicesrenderitnatural。Butthereisnothingextraordinaryinfindingaman，whosehonourhasbeenpubliclyandunjustlyassailed，inthesituationwhichpromisedmostfairtoaffordhimsatisfactiononhiscalumniators。’’
　　Ishouldrathersay，inthesituationmostlikelytoconfirmthereportswhichtheyhavecirculated，’’saidColonelTalbot，byfollowingtheverylineofconductascribedtoyou。Areyouaware，Mr。Waverley，oftheinfinitedistressandevendanger，whichyourpresentconducthasoccasionedtoyournearestrelatives？’’
　　Danger！’’
　　Yes，sir，danger。WhenIleftEngland，youruncleandfatherhadbeenobligedtofindbailtoanswerachargeoftreason，towhichtheywereonlyadmittedbytheexertionofthemostpowerfulinterest。IcamedowntoScotland，withthesolepurposeofrescuingyoufromthegulfintowhichyouhaveprecipitatedyourself；norcanIestimatetheconsequencestoyourfamilyofyourhavingopenlyjoinedtherebellion，sincetheverysuspicionofyourintentionwassoperiloustothem。
　　MostdeeplydoIregretthatIdidnotmeetyoubeforethislastandfatalerror。’’
　　Iamreallyignorant，’’saidWaverleyinatoneofreserve，whyColonelTalbotshouldhavetakensomuchtroubleonmyaccount。’’
　　Mr。Waverley，’’answeredTalbot，Iamdullatapprehendingirony；andthereforeIshallansweryourwordsaccordingtotheirplainmeaning。Iamindebtedtoyouruncleforbenefitsgreaterthanthosewhichasonowestoafather。I
　　acknowledgetohimthedutyofason；andasIknowthereisnomannerinwhichIcanrequitehiskindnesssowellasbyservingyou，Iwillserveyou，ifpossible，whetheryouwillpermitmeorno。Thepersonalobligationwhichyouhavethisdaylaidmeunderalthoughincommonestimationasgreatasonehumanbeingcanbestowonanotheraddsnothingtomyzealonyourbehalf；norcanthatzealbeabatedbyanycoolnesswithwhichyoumaypleasetoreceiveit。’’