mustbegleavetodeposit，withallhumility，mycommissioninhisRoyalHighness’shands，andtoretirefromtheservice。Hewasnotpreparedforthis；-hetoldmetotakeupmycommission；
　　saidsomehandsomethingsofmyservices，andgrantedmyrequest。Youarethereforeoncemoreafreeman，andIhavepromisedforyouthatyouwillbeagoodboyinfuture，andrememberwhatyouowetothelenityofGovernment。
　　Thusyousee_my_princecanbeasgenerousas_yours。_
　　Idonotpretend，indeed，thatheconfersafavourwithalltheforeigngracesandcomplimentsofyourChevaliererrant；buthehasaplainEnglishmanner，andtheevidentreluctancewithwhichhegrantsyourrequest，indicatesthesacrificewhichhemakesofhisowninclinationtoyourwishes。Myfriend，theadjutant-general，hasprocuredmeaduplicateoftheBaron’sprotectiontheoriginalbeinginMajorMelville’spossession，whichIsendtoyou，asIknowthatifyoucanfindhimyouwillhavepleasureinbeingthefirsttocommunicatethejoyfulintelligence。HewillofcourserepairtotheDuchranwithoutlossoftime，theretoridequarantineforafewweeks。Asforyou，Igiveyouleavetoescorthimthither，andtostayaweekthere，asIunderstandacertainfairladyisinthatquarter。
　　AndIhavethepleasuretotellyou，thatwhateverprogressyoucanmakeinhergoodgraceswillbehighlyagreeabletoSirEverardandMrs。Rachel，whowillneverbelieveyourviewsandprospectssettled，andthethreeerminespassantinactualsafety，untilyoupresentthemwithaMrs。EdwardWaverley。
　　Now，certainlove-affairsofmyown-agoodmanyyearssince-interruptedsomemeasureswhichwerethenproposedinfavourofthethreeerminespassant；soIamboundinhonourtomakethemamends。Thereforemakegooduseofyourtime，forwhenyourweekisexpired，itwillbenecessarythatyougotoLondontopleadyourpardoninthelawcourts。
　　Ever，dearWaverley，yoursmosttruly，=PhilipTalbot。=’’
　　Happy’sthewooingThat’snotlongadoing。
　　Whenthefirstrapturoussensationoccasionedbytheseexcellenttidingshadsomewhatsubsided，EdwardproposedinstantlytogodowntotheglentoacquainttheBaronwiththeirimport。
　　ButthecautiousBailiejustlyobserved，thatiftheBaronweretoappearinstantlyinpublic，thetenantryandvillagersmightbecomeriotousinexpressingtheirjoy，andgiveoffencetothepowersthatbe，’’asortofpersonsforwhomtheBailiealwayshadunlimitedrespect。HethereforeproposedthatMr。WaverleyshouldgotoJanetGellatley’s，andbringtheBaronupundercloudofnighttoLittleVeolan，wherehemightoncemoreenjoytheluxuryofagoodbed。Inthemeanwhile，hesaid，hehimselfwouldgotoCaptainFoster，andshowhimtheBaron’sprotection，andobtainhiscountenanceforharbouringhimthatnight，-andhewouldhavehorsesreadyonthemorrowtosethimonhiswaytotheDuchranalongwithMr。Stanley，whilkdenomination，Iapprehend，yourhonourwillforthepresentretain，’’saidtheBailie。
　　Certainly，Mr。Macwheeble；butwillyounotgodowntotheglenyourselfintheeveningtomeetyourpatron？’’
　　ThatIwadwi’a’myheart；andmickleobligedtoyourhonourforputtingmeinmindo’myboundenduty。ButitwillbepastsunsetaforeIgetbackfraetheCaptain’s，andattheseunsonsyhourstheglenhasabadname-there’ssomethingnothatcannyaboutauldJanetGellatley。TheLairdhe’llnobelievethaethings，buthewasayeowerrashandventuresome-andfearedneithermannordeevil-andsae’sseeno’t。ButrightsureamISirGeorgeMackenyiesays，thatnodivinecandoubttherearewitches，sincetheBiblesaysthoushaltnotsufferthemtolive；andthatnolawyerinScotlandcandoubtit，sinceitispunishablewithdeathbyourlaw。Sothere’sbaithlawandgospelforit。AnhishonourwinnabelievetheLeviticus，hemightayebelievetheStatute-book；
　　buthemaytakhisainwayo’t-it’sa’anetoDuncanMacwheeble。
　　However，IshallsendtoaskupauldJanetthise’en；
　　it’sbestnotolightlythemthathavethatcharacter-andwe’llwantDavietoturnthespit，forI’llgarEppieputdownafatgoosetothefireforyourhonourstoyoursupper。’’
　　Whenitwasnearsunset，Waverleyhastenedtothehut：
　　andhecouldnotbutallowthatsuperstitionhadchosennoimproperlocality，orunfitobject，forthefoundationofherfantasticterrors。ItresembledexactlythedescriptionofSpenser：
　　There，inagloomyhollowglen，shefoundAlittlecottagebuiltofsticksandreeds，Inhomelywise，andwall’dwithsodsaround，Inwhichawitchdiddwellinloathlyweeds，Andwilfulwant，allcarelessofherneeds；
　　SochoosingsolitarytoabideFarfromallneighbours，thatherdevilishdeeds，Andhellisharts，frompeopleshemighthide，Andhurtfaroff，unknown，whomsoeversheespied。
　　Heenteredthecottagewiththeseversesinhismemory。
　　PooroldJanet，bentdoublewithage，andblearedwithpeat-smoke，wastotteringaboutthehutwithabirchbroom，mutteringtoherselfassheendeavouredtomakeherhearthandflooralittlecleanforthereceptionofherexpectedguests。Waverley’sstepmadeherstart，lookup，andfalla-trembling，somuchhadhernervesbeenontherackforherpatron’ssafety。WithdifficultyWaverleymadehercomprehendthattheBaronwasnowsafefrompersonaldanger；andwhenhermindhadadmittedthatjoyfulnews，itwasequallyhardtomakeherbelievethathewasnottoenteragainuponpossessionofhisestate。
　　Itbehovedtobe，’’shesaid，hewadgetitbackagain；naebodywadbesaegrippleastotakhisgearaftertheyhadgi’enhimapardon；andforthatInch-Grabbit，Icouldwhileswishmysellawitchforhissake，ifIwerenafearedtheEnemywadtakmeatmyword。’’Waverleythengavehersomemoney，andpromisedthatherfidelityshouldberewarded。HowcanIberewarded，sir，saeweel，asjusttoseemyauldmaisterandMissRosecomebackandbruiktheirain？’’
　　WaverleynowtookleaveofJanet，andsoonstoodbeneaththeBaron’sPatmos。Atalowwhistle，heobservedtheveteranpeepingouttoreconnoitre，likeanoldbadgerwithhisheadoutofhishole。Yehaecomeratherearly，mygoodlad，’’saidhe，descending；Iquestionifthered-coatshaebeatthetattooyet，andwe’renotsafetillthen。’’
　　Goodnewscannotbetoldtoosoon，’’saidWaverley；andwithinfinitejoycommunicatedtohimthehappytidings。
　　Theoldmanstoodforamomentinsilentdevotion，thenexclaimed，PraisebetoGod！-Ishallseemybairnagain。’’
　　Andnever，Ihope，topartwithhermore，’’saidWaverley。
　　ItrustinGod，not，unlessitbetowinthemeansofsupportingher；
　　formythingsarebutinabrucklestate；-butwhatsignifieswarld’sgear？’’
　　Andif，’’saidWaverley，modestly，therewereasituationinlifewhichwouldputMissBradwardinebeyondtheuncertaintyoffortune，andintheranktowhichshewasborn，wouldyouobjecttoit，mydearBaron，becauseitwouldmakeoneofyourfriendsthehappiestmanintheworld？’’TheBaronturned，andlookedathimwithgreatearnestness。Yes，’’continuedEdward，Ishallnotconsidermysentenceofbanishmentasrepealed，unlessyouwillgivemepermissiontoaccompanyyoutotheDuchran，and’’
　　TheBaronseemedcollectingallhisdignitytomakeasuitablereplytowhat，atanothertime，hewouldhavetreatedasthepropoundingatreatyofalliancebetweenthehousesofBradwardineandWaverley。Buthiseffortswereinvain；thefatherwastoomightyfortheBaron；theprideofbirthandrankweresweptaway：inthejoyfulsurprise，aslightconvulsionpassedrapidlyoverhisfeatures，ashegavewaytothefeelingsofnature，threwhisarmsaroundWaverley’sneck，andsobbedout，-Myson！myson！ifIhadbeentosearchtheworld，I
　　wouldhavemademychoicehere。’’Edwardreturnedtheembracewithgreatsympathyoffeeling，andforalittlewhiletheybothkeptsilence。AtlengthitwasbrokenbyEdward。
　　ButMissBradwardine？’’
　　Shehadneverawillbutheroldfather’s；besides，youarealikelyyouth，ofhonestprinciples，andhighbirth；no，sheneverhadanyotherwillthanmine，andinmyproudestdaysIcouldnothavewishedamaireligibleespousalforherthanthenephewofmyexcellentoldfriend，SirEverard-ButI
　　hope，youngman，yedealnarashlyinthismatter？Ihopeyehaesecuredtheapprobationofyourainfriendsandallies，particularlyofyouruncle，whois_inlocoparentis？_Ah！wemauntakheedo’that。’’EdwardassuredhimthatSirEverardwouldthinkhimselfhighlyhonouredintheflatteringreceptionhisproposalhadmetwith，andthatithadhisentireapprobation；
　　inevidenceofwhich，heputColonelTalbot’sletterintotheBaron’shand。TheBaronreaditwithgreatattention。
　　SirEverard，’’hesaid，alwaysdespisedwealthincomparisonofhonourandbirth；andindeedhehadnooccasiontocourtthe_DivaPecunia。_YetInowwish，sincethisMalcolmturnsoutsuchaparricide，forIcancallhimnobetter，astothinkofalienatingthefamilyinheritance-InowwishhiseyesfixedonapartoftheroofwhichwasvisibleabovethetreesthatIcouldhaveleftRosetheauldhurley-house，andtheriggsbelongingtoit-Andyet，’’saidhe，resumingmorecheerfully，it’smaybeasweelasitis；for，asBaronofBradwardine，I
　　mighthavethoughtitmydutytoinsistuponcertaincompliancesrespectingnameandbearings，whilknow，asalandlesslairdwi’atocherlessdaughter，noonecanblamemefordepartingfrom。’’
　　Now，Heavenbepraised！’’thoughtEdward，thatSirEverarddoesnothearthesescruples！-thethreeerminespassantandrampantbearwouldcertainlyhavegonetogetherbytheears。’’Hethen，withalltheardourofayounglover，assuredtheBaron，thathesoughtforhishappinessonlyinRose’sheartandhand，andthoughthimselfashappyinherfather’ssimpleapprobation，asifhehadsettledanearldomuponhisdaughter。
　　TheynowreachedLittleVeolan。Thegoosewassmokingonthetable，andtheBailiebrandishedhisknifeandfork。A
　　joyousgreetingtookplacebetweenhimandhispatron。Thekitchen，too，haditscompany。AuldJanetwasestablishedattheingle-nook；Daviehadturnedthespittohisimmortalhonour；andevenBanandBuscar，intheliberalityofMacwheeble’sjoy，hadbeenstuffedtothethroatwithfood，andnowlaysnoringonthefloor。
　　ThenextdayconductedtheBaronandhisyoungfriendtotheDuchran，wheretheformerwasexpected，inconsequenceofthesuccessofthenearlyunanimousapplicationoftheScottishfriendsofGovernmentinhisfavour。Thishadbeensogeneralandsopowerfulthatitwasalmostthoughthisestatemighthavebeensaved，haditnotpassedintotherapacioushandsofhisunworthykinsman，whoseright，arisingoutoftheBaron’sattainder，couldnotbeaffectedbyapardonfromthecrown。
　　Theoldgentleman，however，said，withhisusualspirit，hewasmoregratifiedbytheholdhepossessedinthegoodopinionofhisneighboursthanhewouldhavebeeninbeingrehabilitatedandrestored_inintegrum，_haditbeenfoundpracticable。’’
　　Weshallnotattempttodescribethemeetingofthefatheranddaughter-lovingeachothersoaffectionately，andseparatedtundersuchperilouscircumstances。StilllessshallweattempttoanalyzethedeepblushofRoseatreceivingthecomplimentsofWaverley，orstoptoinquirewhethershehadanycuriosityrespectingtheparticularcauseofhisjourneytoScotlandatthatperiod。WeshallnoteventroublethereaderwiththehumdrumdetailsofacourtshipSixtyYearssince。Itisenoughtosay，thatundersostrictamartinetastheBaronallthingswere，conductedindueform。Hetookuponhimself，themorningaftertheirarrival，thetaskofannouncingtheproposalofWaverleytoRose，whichsheheardwithaproperdegreeofmaidentimidity。Famedoes，however，say，thatWaverleyhad，theeveningbefore，foundfiveminutestoapprizeherofwhatwascoming，whiletherestofthecompanywerelookingatthreetwistedserpentswhichformeda_jetd’eau_inthegarden。
　　Myfairreaderswilljudgeforthemselves；but，formypart，Icannotconceivehowsoimportantanaffaircouldbecommunicatedinsoshortaspaceoftime；atleast，itcertainlytookafullhourintheBaron’smodeofconveyingit。
　　Waverleywasnowconsideredasareceivedloverinalltheforms。Hewasmade，bydintofsmirkingandnoddingonthepartoftheladyofthehouse，tositnexttoMissBradwardineatdinner，tobeMissBradwardine’spartneratcards。Ifhecameintotheroom，sheofthefourMissRubrickswhochancedtobenextRosewassuretorecollectthatherthimble，orherscissors，wereattheotherendoftheroom，inordertoleavetheseatnearesttoMissBradwardinevacantforhisoccupation。