AndwhatdidthePrinceanswer？’’
　　Answer？why-itiswellitiswritten，Cursenottheking；
　　no，notinthythought！-why，heanswered，thattrulyhewasgladIhadmadehimmyconfidant，topreventmoregrievousdisappointment，forhecouldassureme，uponthewordofaprince，thatMissBradwardine’saffectionswereengaged，andhewasunderaparticularpromisetofavourthem。`So，mydearFergus，’saidhe，withhismostgraciouscutofsmile，`asthemarriageisutterlyoutofquestion，thereneedbenohurry。
　　youknow，abouttheearldom。’Andsoheglidedoff，andleftme_plantl。_’’
　　Andwhatdidyoudo？’’
　　I’lltellyouwhatI_could_havedoneatthatmoment-soldmyselftothedevilortheElector，whicheverofferedthedearestrevenge。However，Iamnowcool。IknowheintendstomarryhertosomeofhisrascallyFrenchmen，orhisIrishofficers：butIwillwatchthemclose；andletthemanthatwouldsupplantmelookwelltohimself-_Bisognacoprirsi，Signor。_’’
　　Aftersomefurtherconversation，unnecessarytobedetailed，WaverleytookleaveoftheChieftain，whosefuryhadnowsubsidedintoadeepandstrongdesireofvengeance，andreturnedhome，scarceabletoanalyzethemixtureoffeelingswhichthenarrativehadawakenedinhisownbosom。
　　Iamtheverychildofcaprice，’’saidWaverleytohimself，asheboltedthedoorofhisapartment，andpaceditwithhastysteps-WhatisittomethatFergusMac-IvorshouldwishtomarryRoseBradwardine？-Ilovehernot-Imighthavebeenlovedbyher，perhaps；butIrejectedhersimple，natural，andaffectingattachment，insteadofcherishingitintotenderness，anddedicatedmyselftoonewhowillneverlovemortalman，unlessoldWarwick，theKing-maker，shouldarisefromthedead。TheBaron，too-Iwouldnothavecaredabouthisestate，andsothenamewouldhavebeennostumbling-block。
　　Thedevilmighthavetakenthebarrenmoors，anddrawnofftheroyal_calig，_foranythingIwouldhaveminded。But，framedassheisfordomesticaffectionandtenderness，forgivingandreceivingallthosekindandquietattentionswhichsweetenlifetothosewhopassittogether，sheissoughtbyFergusMac-Ivor。Hewillnotuseherill，tobesure-ofthatheisincapable-buthewillneglectherafterthefirstmonth；
　　hewillbetoointentonsubduingsomerivalchieftain，orcircumventingsomefavouriteatcourt，ongainingsomeheathyhillandlake，oraddingtohisbandssomenewtroopofcaterans，toinquirewhatshedoes，orhowsheamusesherself。
　　Andthenwillcankersorroweatherbud，Andchasethenativebeautyfromhercheek；
　　Andshewilllookashollowasaghost，Anddimandmeagreasanaguefit，Andsoshe’lldie。
　　Andsuchacatastropheofthemostgentlecreatureonearthmighthavebeenprevented，ifMr。EdwardWaverleyhadhadhiseyes！Uponmyword，IcannotunderstandhowIthoughtFlorasomuch-thatis，so_very_much-handsomerthanRose。
　　Sheistaller，indeed，andhermannermoreformed；butmanypeoplethinkMissBradwardine’smorenatural；andsheiscertainlymuchyounger。IshouldthinkFloraistwoyearsolderthanIam-Iwilllookatthemparticularlythisevening。’’
　　Andwiththisresolution，WaverleywenttodrinkteaasthefashionwasSixtyyearssinceatthehouseofaladyofqualityattachedtothecauseoftheChevalier，wherehefound，asheexpected，boththeladies。Allroseasheentered，butFloraimmediatelyresumedherplace，andtheconversationinwhichshewasengaged。Rose，onthecontrary，almostimperceptiby，madealittlewayinthecrowdedcircleforhisadvancingthecornerofachair。Hermanner，uponthewhole，ismostengaging，’’saidWaverleytohimself。
　　AdisputeoccurredwhethertheGaelicorItalianlanguagewasmostliquid，andbestadaptedforpoetry；theopinionfortheGaelic，whichprobablymightnothavefoundsupporterselsewhere，washerefiercelydefendedbysevenHighlandladies，whotalkedatthetopoftheirlungs，andscreamedthecompanydeaf，withexamplesofCeltic_euphonia。_FloraobservingtheLowlandladiessneeratthecomparison，producedsomereasonstoshowthatitwasnotaltogethersoabsurd；butRose，whenaskedforheropinion，gaveitwithanimation，inpraiseofItalian，whichshehadstudiedwithWaverley’sassistance。ShehasamorecorrectearthanFlora，thoughalessaccomplishedmusician，’’saidWaverleytohimself。IsupposeMissMac-IvorwillnextcompareMac-MurroughnanFonntoAriosto！’’
　　Lastly，itsobefellthatthecompanydifferedwhetherFergusshouldbeaskedtoperformontheflute，atwhichhewasanadept，orWaverleyinvitedtoreadaplayofShakspeare；andtheladyofthehousegood-humouredlyundertooktocollectthevotesofthecompanyforpoetryormusic，underthecondition，thatthegentlemanwhosetalentswerenotlaidundercontributionthatevening，shouldcontributethemtoenliventhenext。ItchancedthatRosehadthecastingvote。NowFlora，whoseemedtoimposeitasaruleuponherselfnevertocountenanceanyproposalwhichmightseemtoencourageWaverley，hadvotedformusic，providingtheBaronwouldtakehisviolintoaccompanyFergus。Iwishyoujoyofyourtaste，MissMac-Ivor，’’
　　thoughtEdward，astheysoughtforhisbook。IthoughtitbetterwhenwewereatGlennaquoich；butcertainlytheBaronisnogreatperformer，andShakespeareisworthlisteningto。’’
　　RomeoandJulietwasselected，andEdwardreadwithtaste，feeling，andspirit，severalscenesfromthatplay。Allthecompanyapplaudedwiththeirhands，andmanywiththeirtears。Flora，towhomthedramawaswellknown，wasamongtheformer；Rose，towhomitwasaltogethernew，belongedtothelatterclassofadmirers。Shehasmorefeeling，too，’’saidWaverley，internally。
　　Theconversationturningupontheincidentsoftheplay，anduponthecharacters，Fergusdeclaredthattheonlyoneworthnaming，asamanoffashionandspirit，wasMercutio。Icouldnot，’’hesaid，quitefollowallhisold-fashionedwit，buthemusthavebeenaveryprettyfellow，accordingtotheideasofhistime。’’
　　Anditwasashame，’’saidEnsignMaccombich，whousuallyfollowedhisColoneleverywhere，forthatTibbert，orTaggart，orwhateverwashisname，tostickhimundertheothergentleman’sarm，whilehewasreddingthefray。’’
　　Theladies，ofcourse，declaredloudlyinfavourofRomeo；
　　butthisopiniondidnotgoundisputed。Themistressofthehouse，andseveralotherladies，severelyreprobatedthelevitywithwhichtheherotransfershisaffectionsfromRosalindtoJuliet。Floraremainedsilentuntilheropinionwasrepeatedlyrequested，andthenanswered，shethoughtthecircumstanceobjectedtonotonlyreconcilabletonaturebutsuchasinthehighestdegreeevincedtheartofthepoet。Romepisdescribed，’’saidshe，asayoungman，peculiarlysusceptibleofthesofterpassions；hisloveisatfirstfixeduponawomanwhocouldafforditnoreturn；thisherepeatedlytellsyou，-
　　Fromlove’sweakchildishbowshelivesunharmed；
　　andagain，-
　　Shehathforsworntolove。
　　Now，asitwasimpossiblethatRomeo’slove，supposinghimareasonablebeing，couldcontinuetosubsistwithouthope，thepoethas，withgreatart，seizedthemomentwhenhewasreducedactuallytodespair，tothrowinhiswayanobjectmoreaccomplishedthanherbywhomhehadbeenrejected，andwhoisdisposedtorepayhisattachment。IcanscarceconceiveasituationmorecalculatedtoenhancetheardourofRomeo’saffectionforJuliet，thanhisbeingatonceraisedbyherfromthestateofdroopingmelancholyinwhichheappearsfirstuponthescene，totheecstaticstateinwhichheexclaims-
　　comewhatsorrowcan，ItcannotcountervailtheexchangeofjoyThatoneshortmomentgivesmeinhersight。’’
　　Good，now，MissMac-Ivor，’’saidayoungladyofquality，doyoumeantocheatusoutofourprerogative？willyoupersuadeuslovecannotsubsistwithouthope，orthatthelovermustbecomefickleiftheladyiscruel？Ofie！Ididnotexpectsuchanunsentimentalconclusion。’’
　　Alover，mydearLadyBetty，’’saidFlora，may，Iconceive，persevereinhissuit，underverydiscouragingcircumstances。
　　Affectioncannowandthenwithstandveryseverestormsofrigour，butnotalongpolarfrostofdownrightindifference。
　　Don’t，evenwith_your_attractions，trytheexperimentuponanyloverwhosefaithyouvalue。Lovewillsubsistonwonderfullylittlehope，butnotaltogetherwithoutit。’’
　　ItwillbejustlikeDuncanMac-Girdie’smare，’’saidEvan，ifyourladyshipsplease；hewantedtouseherbydegreestolivewithoutmeat，andjustashehadputheronastrawa-day，thepoorthingdied！’’
　　Evan’sillustrationsetthecompanya-laughing，andthediscoursetookadifferentturn。Shortlyafterwardsthepartybrokeup，andEdwardreturnedhome，musingonwhatFlorahadsaid。
　　IwilllovemyRosalindnomore，’’saidhe：shehasgivenmeabroadenoughhintforthat；andIwillspeaktoherbrother，andresignmysuit。ButforaJuliet-woulditbehandsometointerferewithFergus’spretensions？-thoughitisimpossibletheycaneversucceed：andshouldtheymiscarry，whatthen？-
　　whythen_alorscommealors。_’’Andwiththisresolution，ofbeingguidedbycircumstances，didourherocommithimselftorepose。
　　Ifmyfairreadersshouldbeofopinionthatmyhero’slevityinloveisaltogetherunpardonable，Imustremindthemthatallhisgriefsanddifficultiesdidnotarisefromthatsentimentalsource。Eventhelyricpoet，whocomplainssofeelinglyofthepainsoflove，couldnotforget，that，atthesametime，hewasindebtandindrink，’’which，doubtless，weregreataggravationsofhisdistress。TherewereindeedwholedaysinwhichWaverleythoughtneitherofFloranorRoseBradwardine，butwhichwerespentinmelancholyconjecturesontheprobablestateofmattersatWaverley-Honour，andthedubiousissueofthecivilcontestinwhichhewaspledged。ColonelTalbotoftenengagedhimindiscussionsuponthejusticeofthecausehehadespoused。Not，’’hesaid，thatitispossibleforyoutoquititatthispresentmoment，for，comewhatwill，youmuststandbyyourrashengagement。ButIwishyoutobeawarethattherightisnotwithyou；thatyouarefightingagainsttherealinterestsofyourcountry；andthatyouought，asanEnglishmanandapatriot，totakethefirstopportunitytoleavethisunhappyexpeditionbeforethesnow-ballmelts。’’
　　Insuchpoliticaldisputes，Waverleyusuallyopposedthecommonargumentsofhisparty，withwhichitisunnecessarytotroublethereader。ButhehadlittletosaywhentheColonelurgedhimtocomparethestrengthbywhichtheyhadundertakentooverthrowtheGovernmentwiththatwhichwasnowassemblingveryrapidlyforitssupport。TothisstatementWaverleyhadbutoneanswer：IfthecauseIhaveundertakenbeperilous，therewouldbethegreaterdisgraceinabandoningit。’’AndinhisturnhegenerallysilencedColonelTalbot，andsucceededinchangingthesubject。
　　Onenight，when，afteralongdisputeofthisnature，thefriendshadseparated，andourherohadretiredtobed，hewasawakenedaboutmidnightbyasuppressedgroan。Hestartedupandlistened；itcamefromtheapartmentofColonelTalbot，whichwasdividedfromhisownbyawainscotedpartition，withadoorofcommunication。Waverleyapproachedthisdoor，anddistinctlyheardoneortwodeepdrawnsighs。Whatcouldbethematter？TheColonelhadpartedfromhim，apparently，inhisusualstateofspirits。Hemusthavebeentakensuddenlyill。Underthisimpression，heopenedthedoorofcommunicationverygently，andperceivedtheColonelinhisnight-gown，seatedbyatable，onwhichlayaletterandapicture。Heraisedhisheadhastily，asEdwardstooduncertainwhethertoadvanceorretire，andWaverleyperceivedthathischeekswerestainedwithtears。
　　Asifashamedatbeingfoundgivingwaytosuchemotion，ColonelTalbotrosewithapparentdispleasure，andsaid，withsomesternness，Ithink，Mr。Waverley，myownapartment，andthehour，mighthavesecuredevenaprisoneragainst’’
　　Donotsay_intrusion，_ColonelTalbot；Iheardyoubreathehard，andfearedyouwereill；thatalonecouldhaveinducedmetobreakinuponyou。’’
　　Iamwell，’’saidtheColonel，perfectlywell。’’
　　Butyouaredistressed，’’saidEdward：isthereanythingcanbedone？’’
　　Nothing，Mr。Waverley：Iwasonlythinkingofhome，andofsomeunpleasantoccurrencesthere。’’
　　GoodGod，myuncle！’’exclaimedWaverley。
　　No，-itisagriefentirelymyown。Iamashamedyoushouldhaveseenitdisarmmesomuch：butitmusthaveitscourseattimes，thatitmaybeatothersmoredecentlysupported。