Themummery，too，ofexposingthesenselesshead-theyhavenotthewittograceminewithapapercoronet；therewouldbesomesatireinthat，Edward。IhopetheywillsetitontheScotchgatethough，thatImaylook，evenafterdeath，tothebluehillsofmyowncountry，whichIlovesodearly。TheBaronwouldhaveadded，Moritur，etmoriensdulces，reminisciturArgos。’’
　　Abustle，andthesoundofwheelsandhorses’feet，wasnowheardinthecourt-yardoftheCastle。AsIhavetoldyouwhyyoumustnotfollowme，andthesesoundsadmonishmethatmytimefliesfast，tellmehowyoufoundpoorFlora？’’
　　Waverley，withavoiceinterruptedbysuffocatingsensations，gavesomeaccountofthestateofhermind。
　　PoorFlora！’’answeredtheChief，Shecouldhaveborneherownsentenceofdeath，butnotmine。You，Waverley，willsoonknowthehappinessofmutualaffectioninthemarriedstate-long，long，mayRoseandyouenjoyit！-butyoucanneverknowthepurityoffeelingwhichcombinestwoorphans，likeFloraandme，leftaloneasitwereintheworld，andbeingallinalltoeachotherfromourveryinfancy。Butherstrongsenseofduty，andpredominantfeelingofloyalty，willgivenewnervetohermindaftertheimmediateandacutesensationofthispartinghaspassedaway。ShewillthenthinkofFergusasoftheheroesofourrace，uponwhosedeedsshelovedtodwell。’’
　　Shallshenotseeyou，then？’’askedWaverley。Sheseemedtoexpectit。’’
　　Anecessarydeceitwillspareherthelastdreadfulparting：
　　Icouldnotpartwithherwithouttears，andIcannotbearthatthesemenshouldthinktheyhavepowertoextortthem。Shewasmadetobelieveshewouldseemeatalaterhour，andthisletter，whichmyconfessorwilldeliver，willappriseherthatallisover。’’
　　Anofficernowappeared，andintimatedthattheHighSheriffandhisattendantswaitedbeforethegateoftheCastle，toclaimthebodiesofFergusMac-IvorandEvanMaccombich。I
　　come，’’saidFergus。Accordingly，supportingEdwardbythearm，andfollowedbyEvanDhuandthepriest，hemoveddownthestairsofthetower，thesoldiersbringinguptherear。Thecourtwasoccupiedbyasquadronofdragoonsandabattalionofinfantry，drawnupinhollowsquare。Withintheirrankswasthesledge，orhurdle，onwhichtheprisonersweretobedrawntotheplaceofexecution，aboutamiledistantfromCarlisle。Itwaspaintedblack，anddrawnbyawhitehorse。
　　AtoneendofthevehiclesattheExecutioner，ahorrid-lookingfellow，asbeseemedhistrade，withthebroadaxeinhishand；
　　attheotherend，nextthehorse，wasanemptyseatfortwopersons。ThroughthedeepanddarkGothicarchway，thatopenedonthedrawbridge，wereseenonhorsebacktheHighSheriffandhisattendants，whomtheetiquettebetwixtthecivilandmilitarypowersdidnotpermittocomefarther。Thisiswell=gotup=foraclosingscene，’’saidFergus，smilingdisdainfullyashegazedaroundupontheapparatusofterror。
　　EvanDhuexclaimedwithsomeeagerness，afterlookingatthedragoons，ThesearetheverychieldsthatgallopedoffatGladsmuir，beforewecouldkilladozeno’them。Theylookboldenoughnow，however。’’Thepriestentreatedhimtobesilent。
　　Thesledgenowapproached，andFergusturninground，embracedWaverley，kissedhimoneachsideoftheface，andsteppednimblyintohisplace。Evansatdownbyhisside。
　　Thepriestwastofollowinacarriagebelongingtohispatron，theCatholicgentlemanatwhosehouseFloraresided。AsFerguswavedhishandtoEdward，theranksclosedaroundthesledge，andthewholeprocessionbegantomoveforward。Therewasamomentarystopatthegateway，whilethegovernoroftheCastleandtheHighSheriffwentthroughashortceremony，themilitaryofficertheredeliveringoverthepersonsofthecriminalstothecivilpower。GodsaveKingGeorge！’’saidtheHighSheriff，Whentheformalityconcluded，Fergusstooderectinthesledge，andwithafirmandsteadyvoice，replied，GodsaveKing_James！_’’ThesewerethelastwordswhichWaverleyheardhimspeak。
　　Theprocessionresumeditsmarch，andthesledgevanishedfrombeneaththeportal，underwhichithadstoppedforaninstant。Thedeadmarchwasthenheard，anditsmelancholysoundsweremingledwiththoseofamuffledpeal，tolledfromtheneighbouringcathedral。Thesoundofthemilitarymusicdiedawayastheprocessionmovedon-thesullenclangofthebellswassoonheardtosoundalone。
　　Thelastofthesoldiershadnowdisappearedfromunderthevaultedarchwaythroughwhichtheyhadbeenfilingforseveralminutes；thecourt-yardwasnowtotallyempty，butWaverleystillstoodthereasifstupefied，hiseyesfixeduponthedarkpasswherehehadsolatelyseenthelastglimpseofhisfriend。
　　Atlength，afemaleservantofthegovernor’s，struckwithcompassionatthestupefiedmiserywhichhiscountenanceexpressed，askedhimifhewouldnotwalkintohermaster’shouseandsitdown？Shewasobligedtorepeatherquestiontwiceerehecomprehendedher，butatlengthitrecalledhimtohimself。Decliningthecourtesybyahastygesture，hepulledhishatoverhiseyes，and，leavingtheCastle，walkedasswiftlyashecouldthroughtheemptystreets，tillheregainedhisinn，thenrushedintoanapartment，andboltedthedoor。
　　Inaboutanhourandahalf，whichseemedanageofunutterablesuspense，thesoundofthedrumsandfifes，performingalivelyair，andtheconfusedmurmurofthecrowdwhichnowfilledthestreets，solatelydeserted，apprizedhimthatallwasfinished，andthatthemilitaryandpopulacewerereturningfromthedreadfulscene。Iwillnotattempttodescribehissensations。
　　Intheeveningthepriestmadehimavisit，andinformedhimthathedidsobydirectionsofhisdeceasedfriend，toassurehimthatFergusMac-Ivorhaddiedashelived，andrememberedhisfriendshiptothelast。Headded，hehadalsoseenFlora，whosestateofmindseemedmorecomposedsinceallwasover。Withher，andsisterTheresa，thepriestproposednextdaytoleaveCarlisle，forthenearestseaportfromwhichtheycouldembarkforFrance。Waverleyforcedonthisgoodmanaringofsomevalue，andasumofmoneytobeemployedashethoughtmightgratifyFloraintheservicesoftheCatholicchurch，forthememoryofhisfriend。_Fungarqueinanimunere，_’’herepeated，astheecclesiasticretired。Yetwhynotclasstheseactsofremembrancewithotherhonours，withwhichaffection，inallsects，pursuesthememoryofthedead？’’
　　Thenextmorning，ereday-light，hetookleaveofthetownofCarlisle，promisingtohimselfneveragaintoenteritswalls。
　　HedaredhardlylookbacktowardstheGothicbattlementsofthefortifiedgateunderwhichhepassedfortheplaceissurroundedwithanoldwall。They’renothere，’’saidAlickPolwarth，whoguessedthecauseofthedubiouslookwhichWaverleycastbackward，andwho，withthevulgarappetiteforthehorrible，wasmasterofeachdetailofthebutchery-theheadsareowertheScotchgate，astheyca’it。It’sagreatpityofEvanDhu，whowasaveryweel-meaning，good-naturedman，tobeaHielandman；andindeedsowastheLairdo’
　　Glennaquoichtoo，forthatmatter，whenhewasnainaneo’histirrivies。’’
　　TheimpressionofhorrorwithwhichWaverleyleftCarlislesoftenedbydegreesintomelancholy-agradationwhichwasacceleratedbythepainful，yetsoothingtaskofwritingtoRose；
　　and，whilehecouldnotsuppresshisownfeelingsofthecalamity，heendeavouredtoplaceitinalightwhichmightgrieveherwithoutshockingherimagination。Thepicturewhichhedrewforherbenefithegraduallyfamiliarisedtohisownmind；andhisnextlettersweremorecheerful，andreferredtotheprospectsofpeaceandhappinesswhichlaybeforethem。Yet，thoughhisfirsthorriblesensationshadsunkintomelancholy，Edwardhadreachedhisnativecountybeforehecould，asusualonformeroccasions，lookroundforenjoymentuponthefaceofnature。
　　Hethen，forthefirsttimesinceleavingEdinburgh，begantoexperiencethatpleasurewhichalmostallfeelwhoreturntoaverdant，populous，andhighlycultivatedcountry，fromscenesofwastedesolation，orofsolitaryandmelancholygrandeur。Buthowwerethosefeelingsenhancedwhenheenteredonthedomainsolongpossessedbyhisforefathers；recognisedtheoldoaksofWaverley-Chase；thoughtwithwhatdelightheshouldintroduceRosetoallhisfavouritehaunts；beheldatlengththetowersofthevenerablehallariseabovethewoodswhichemboweredit，andfinallythrewhimselfintothearmsofthevenerablerelationstowhomheowedsomuchdutyandaffection！
　　Thehappinessoftheirmeetingwasnottarnishedbyasinglewordofreproach。Onthecontrary，whateverpainSirEverardandMrs。RachelhadfeltduringWaverley’sperilousengagementwiththeyoungChevalier，itassortedtoowellwiththeprinciplesinwhichtheyhadbeenbroughtup，toincurreprobation，orevencensure。ColonelTalbotalsohadsmoothedtheway，withgreataddress，forEdward’sfavourablereception，bydwellinguponhisgallantbehaviourinthemilitarycharacter，particularlyhisbraveryandgenerosityatPreston；until，warmedattheideaoftheirnephew’sengaginginsinglecombat，makingprisoner，andsayingfromslaughtersodistinguishedanofficerastheColonelhimself，theimaginationoftheBaronetandhissisterrankedtheexploitsofEdwardwiththoseofWilibert，Hildebrand，andNigel，thevauntedheroesoftheirline。
　　TheappearanceofWaverley，embrownedbyexercise，anddignifiedbythehabitsofmilitarydiscipline，hadacquiredanathleticandhardycharacter，whichnotonlyverifiedtheColonel’snarration，butsurprisedanddelightedalltheinhabitantsofWaverley-Honour。Theycrowdedtosee，tohearhim，andtosinghispraises。Mr。Pembroke，whosecretlyextolledhisspiritandcourageinembracingthegenuinecauseoftheChurchofEngland，censuredhispupilgently，nevertheless，forbeingsocarelessofhismanuscripts，whichindeedhesaid，hadoccasionedhimsomepersonalinconvenience，as，upontheBaronet’sbeingarrestedbyaking’smessenger，hehaddeemeditprudenttoretiretoaconcealmentcalledThePriest’sHole，’’fromtheuseithadbeenputtoinformerdays；whereheassuredourhero，thebutlerhadthoughtitsafetoventurewithfoodonlyonceintheday，sothathehadbeenrepeatedlycompelledtodineuponvictualseitherabsolutelycold，or，whatwasworse，onlyhalfwarm，nottomentionthatsometimeshisbedhadnotbeenarrangedfortwodaystogether。Waverley’smindinvoluntarilyturnedtothePatmosoftheBaronofBradwardine，whowaswellpleasedwithJanet’sfare，andafewbunchesofstrawstowedinacleftinthefrontofasand-cliff：buthemadenoremarksuponacontrastwhichcouldonlymortifyhisworthytutor。
　　AllwasnowinabustletoprepareforthenuptialsofEdward，aneventtowhichthegoodoldBaronetandMrs。
　　Rachellookedforwardasiftotherenewaloftheirownyouth。
　　Thematch，asColonelTalbothadintimated，hadseemedtotheminthehighestdegreeeligible，havingeveryrecommendationbutwealth，ofwhichtheythemselveshadmorethanenough。
　　Mr。ClippursewasthereforesummonedtoWaverley-Honour，underbetterauspicesthanatthecommencementofourstory。
　　ButMr。Clippursecamenotalone；for，beingnowstrickeninyears，hehadassociatedwithhimanephew，ayoungervultureasourEnglishJuvenal，whotellsthetaleofSwallowtheattorney，mighthavecalledhim，andtheynowcarriedonbusinessasMessrs。ClippurseandHookem。Theseworthygentlemenhaddirectionstomakethenecessarysettlementsonthemostsplendidscaleofliberality，asifEdwardweretowedapeeressinherownright，withherpaternalestatetackedtothefringeofherermine。
　　Butbeforeenteringuponasubjectofproverbialdelay，I
　　mustremindmyreaderoftheprogressofastonerolleddownhillbyanidletruantboyapastimeatwhichIwasmyselfexpertinmymorejuvenileyears：itmovesatfirstslowly，avoidingbyinflectioneveryobstacleoftheleastimportance；
　　butwhenithasattaineditsfullimpulse，anddrawsneartheconclusionofitscareer，itsmokesandthundersdown，takingaroodateveryspring，clearinghedgeandditchlikeaYorkshirehuntsman，andbecomingmostfuriouslyrapidinitscoursewhenitisnearesttobeingconsignedtorestforever。Evensuchisthecourseofanarrativelikethatwhichyouareperusing。Theearliereventsarestudiouslydweltupon，thatyou，kindreader，maybeintroducedtothecharacterratherbynarrative，thanbythedullermediumofdirectdescription；butwhenthestorydrawsnearitsclose，wehurryoverthecircumstances，howeverimportant，whichyourimaginationmusthaveforestalled，andleaveyoutosupposethosethingswhichitwouldbeabusingyourpatiencetorelateatlength。