首页 >出版文学> WAVERLEY>第82章

第82章

  ForGod’ssake,tothepoint,sir-Ihaveallthatbyheart,’’
  saidtheColonel。
  ToCosmoComyneBradwardine,Esq。,’’pursuedtheBailie,hisheirsandassignees,simplyandirredeemably-tobeheldeither_ameveldeme_’’
  Prayreadshort,sir。’’
  Ontheconscienceofanhonestman,Colonel,Ireadasshortasisconsistentwithstyle-Uudertheburdenandreservationalways’’
  Mr。Macwheeble,thiswouldoutlastaRussianwinter-Givemeleave。Inshort,Mr。Bradwardine,yourfamilyestateisyourownoncemoreinfullproperty,andatyourabsolutedisposal,butonlyburdenedwiththesumadvancedtorepurchaseit,whichIunderstandisutterlydisproportionedtoitsvalue。’’
  Anauldsang-anauldsang,ifitpleaseyourhonours,’’
  criedtheBailie,rubbinghishands;-lookattherental-book。’’
  WhichsumbeingadvancedbyMr。EdwardWaverley,chieflyfromthepriceofhisfather’spropertywhichIboughtfromhim,issecuredtohisladyyourdaughter,andherfamilybythismarriage。’’
  ItisaCatholicsecurity,’’shoutedtheBailie,toRoseComyneBradwardine,_alias_Wauverley,inliferent,andthechildrenofthesaidmarriageinfee;andImadeupaweebitminuteofanantenuptialcontract,_intuitumatrimonij,_soitcannotbesubjecttoreductionhereafter,asadonation_intervirumetuxorem。_’’
  ItisdifficulttosaywhethertheworthyBaronwasmostdelightedwiththerestitutionofhisfamilyproperty,orwiththedelicacyandgenerositythatlefthimunfetteredtopursuehispurposeindisposingofitafterhisdeath,andwhichavoided,asmuchaspossible,eventheappearanceoflayinghimunderpecuniaryobligation。Whenhisfirstpauseofjoyandastonishmentwasover,histhoughtsturnedtotheunworthyheir-male,who,hepronounced,hadsoldhisbirthright,likeEsau,foramesso’pottage。’’
  Butwhacookittheparritchforhim?’’exclaimedtheBailie;Iwadliketokenthat-whabutyourhonour’stocommand,DuncanMacwheeble?Hishonour,youngMr。
  Wauverley,putita’intomyhandfraethebeginning-fraethefirstcallingo’thesummons,asImaysay。Icircumventedthem-Iplayedatbogleaboutthebushwi’them-Icajoledthem;andifIhavenagienInch-GrabbitandJamieHowieabonniebegunk,theykenthemselves。Himawriter!Ididnagaeslapdashtothemwi’ouryoungbra’bridegroom,togarthembaudupthemarket;na,na;Iscaredthemwi’ourwildtenantry,andtheMac-Ivors,thatarebutillsettledyet,tilltheydurstnaononyerrandwhatsoevergangowerthedoor-staneaftergloaming,forfearJohnHeatherblutter,orsomesiccandare-the-deil,shouldtakabaffatthem:then,ontheotherhand,Ibeflumm’dthemwi’ColonelTalbot-wadtheyoffertokeepupthepriceagain’theDuke’sfriend?didtheynakenwhawasmaster?hadtheynaseeneneugh,bythesadexampleofmonyapairmisguidedunhappybody’’
  WhowenttoDerby,forexample,Mr。Macwheeble?’’saidtheColoneltohim,aside。
  Owhisht,Colonel,fortheloveo’God!letthatfleesticki’thewa’。ThereweremonygoodfolkatDerby;andit’sillspeakingofhalters,’’-withaslycastofhiseyetowardtheBaron,whowasinadeepreverie。
  Startingoutofitatonce,hetookMacwheeblebythebutton,andledhimintooneofthedeepwindowrecesses,whenceonlyfragmentsoftheirconversationreachedtherestoftheparty。
  Itcertainlyrelatedtostamp-paperandparchment;fornoothersubject,evenfromthemouthofhispatron,andhe,oncemore,anefficientone,couldhavearrestedsodeeplytheBailie’sreverentandabsorbedattention。
  Iunderstandyourhonourperfectly;itcanbeduneaseasyastakingoutadecreetinabsence。’’
  Toherandhim,aftermydemise,andtotheirheirs-male,-
  butpreferringthesecondson,ifGodshallblessthemwithtwo,whoistocarrythenameandarmsofBradwardineofthatIlk,withoutanyothernameorarmorialbearingswhatsoever。’’
  Tut,yourhonour!’’whisperedtheBailie,I’llmakaslightjottingthemorn;itwillcostbutacharterofresignation_infavorem;_andI’llhaeitreadyforthenextterminExchequer。’’
  Theirprivateconversationended,theBaronwasnowsummonedtodothehonoursofTully-Veolantonewguests。Thesewere,MajorMelvilleofCairnvreckan,andtheReverendMr。
  Morton,followedbytwoorthreeothersoftheBaron’sacquaintances,whohadbeenmadeprivytohishavingagainacquiredtheestateofhisfathers。Theshoutsofthevillagerswerealsoheardbeneathinthecourt-yard;forSaundersSaunderson,whohadkeptthesecretforseveraldayswithlaudableprudence,hadunloosedhistongueuponbeholdingthearrivalofthecarriages。
  But,whileEdwardreceivedMajorMelvillewithpoliteness,andtheclergymanwiththemostaffectionateandgratefulkindness,hisfather-in-lawlookedalittleawkward,asuncertainhowheshouldanswerthenecessaryclaimsofhospitalitytohisguests,andforwardthefestivityofhistenants。LadyEmilyrelievedhim,byintimating,that,thoughshemustbeanindifferentrepresentativeofMrs。EdwardWaverleyinmanyrespects,shehopetheBaronwouldapproveoftheentertainmentshehadordered,inexpectationofsomanyguests;andthattheywouldfindsuchotheraccommodationsprovided,asmightinsomedegreesupporttheancienthospitalityofTully-Veolan。
  ItisimpossibletodescribethepleasurewhichthisassurancegavetheBaron,who,withanairofgallantryhalfappertainingtothestiffScottishlaird,andhalftotheofficerintheFrenchservice,offeredhisarmtothefairspeaker,andledtheway,insomethingbetweenastrideandaminuetstep,intothelargediningparlour,followedbyalltherestofthegoodcompany。
  BydintofSaunderson’sdirectionsandexertions,allhere,aswellasintheotherapartments,hadbeendisposedasmuchaspossibleaccordingtotheoldarrangement;andwherenewmoveableshadbeennecessary,theyhadbeenselectedinthesamecharacterwiththeoldfurniture。Therewasoneadditiontothisfineoldapartment,however,whichdrewtearsintotheBaron’seyes。Itwasalargeandspiritedpainting,representingFergusMac-IvorandWaverleyintheirHighlanddress;thesceneawild,rocky,andmountainouspass,downwhichtheclanweredescendinginthebackground。Itwastakenfromaspiritedsketch,drawnwhiletheywereinEdinburghbyayoungmanofhighgenius,andhadbeenpaintedonafull-lengthscalebyaneminentLondonartist。RaeburnhimselfwhoseHighlandChiefsdoallbutwalkoutofthecanvas
  couldnothavedonemorejusticetothesubject;andtheardent,fiery,andimpetuouscharacteroftheunfortunateChiefofGlennaquoichwasfinelycontrastedwiththecontemplative,fanciful,andenthusiasticexpressionofhishappierfriend。
  BesidethispaintinghungthearmswhichWaverleyhadborneintheunfortunatecivilwar。Thewholepiecewasbeheldwithadmiration,anddeeperfeelings。
  Menmust,however,eat,inspitebothofsentimentandvirtu;andtheBaron,whileheassumedthelowerendofthetable,insistedthatLadyEmilyshoulddothehonoursofthehead,thattheymight,hesaid,setameetexampletothe_youngfolk。_Afterapauseofdeliberation,employedinadjustinginhisownbraintheprecedencebetweenthePresbyteriankirkandEpiscopalchurchofScotland,herequestedMr。Morton,asthestranger,wouldcraveablessing,-observing,thatMr。
  Rubrick,whowasat_home,_wouldreturnthanksforthedistinguishedmerciesithadbeenhislottoexperience。Thedinnerwasexcellent。Saundersonattendedinfullcostume,withalltheformerdomestics,whohadbeencollected,exceptingoneortwo,thathadnotbeenheardofsincetheaffairofCulloden。
  Thecellarswerestockedwithwinewhichwaspronouncedtobesuperb,andithadbeencontrivedthattheBearoftheFountain,inthecourt-yard,shouldforthatnightonlyplayexcellentbrandypunchforthebenefitofthelowerorders。
  Whenthedinnerwasover,theBaron,abouttoproposeatoast,castasomewhatsorrowfullookuponthesideboard,-
  which,however,exhibitedmuchofhisplate,thathadeitherbeensecretedorpurchasedbyneighbouringgentlemenfromthesoldiery,andbythemgladlyrestoredtotheoriginalowner。
  Inthelatetimes,’’hesaid,thosemustbethankfulwhohavesavedlifeandland:yet,whenIamabouttopronouncethistoast,Icannotbutregretanoldheir-loom,LadyEmily-a_poculumpotatorium,_ColonelTalbot’’
  HeretheBaron’selbowwasgentlytouchedbyhisMajorDomo,and,turninground,hebeheld,inthehandsofAlexanderabAlexandro,thecelebratedcupofSaintDuthac,theBlessedBearofBradwardine!Iquestioniftherecoveryofhisestateaffordedhimmorerapture。Bymyhonour,’’hesaid,onemightalmostbelieveinbrowniesandfairies,LadyEmily,whenyourLadyshipisinpresence!’’
  Iamtrulyhappy,’’saidColonelTalbot,thatbytherecoveryofthispieceoffamilyantiquity,ithasfallenwithinmypowertogiveyousometokenofmydeepinterestinallthatconcernsmyyoungfriendEdward。ButthatyoumaynotsuspectLadyEmilyforasorceress,ormeforaconjuror,whichisnojokeinScotland,ImusttellyouthatFrankStanley,yourfriend,whohasbeenseizedwithatartanfevereversinceheheardEdward’stalesofoldScottishmanners,happenedtodescribetousatsecondhandthisremarkablecup。Myservant,Spontoon,who,likeatrueoldsoldier,observeseverythingandsayslittle,gavemeafterwardstounderstandthathethoughthehadseenthepieceofplateMr。Stanleymentioned,inthepossessionofacertainMrs。Nosebag,who,havingbeenoriginallythehelpmateofapawnbroker,hadfoundopportunity,duringthelateunpleasantscenesinScotland,totradealittleinheroldline,andsobecamethedepositaryofthemorevaluablepartofthespoilofhalfthearmy。Youmaybelievethecupwasspeedilyrecovered;anditwillgivemeverygreatpleasureifyouallowmetosupposethatitsvalueisnotdiminishedbyhavingbeenrestoredthroughmymeans。’’
  AtearmingledwiththewinewhichtheBaronfilled,asheproposedacupofgratitudetoColonelTalbot,andTheProsperityoftheunitedHousesofWaverley-HonourandBradwardine!’’
  Itonlyremainsformetosay,thatasnowishwaseverutteredwithmoreaffectionatesincerity,therearefewwhich,allowingforthenecessarymutabilityofhumanevents,havebeen,uponthewhole,morehappilyfulfilled。
  Ourjourneyisnowfinished,gentlereader;andifyourpatiencehasaccompaniedmethroughthesesheets,thecontractis,onyourpart,strictlyfulfilled。Yet,likethedriverwhohasreceivedhisfullhire,Istilllingernearyou,andmake,withbecomingdiffidence,atriflingadditionalclaimuponyourbountyandgoodnature。Youareasfree,however,toshutthevolumeoftheonepetitioner,astocloseyourdoorinthefaceoftheother。
  Thisshouldhavebeenaprefatorychapter,butfortworeasons:-First,thatmostnovelreaders,asmyownconscienceremindsme,areapttobeguiltyofthesinofomissionrespectingthatsamematterofprefaces;-Secondly,thatitisageneralcustomwiththatclassofstudents,tobeginwiththelastchapterofawork;sothat,afterall,theseremarks,beingintroducedlastinorder,havestillthebestchancetobereadintheirproperplace。
  ThereisnoEuropeannationwhich,withinthecourseofhalfacentury,orlittlemore,hasundergonesocompleteachangeasthiskingdomofScotland。Theeffectsoftheinsurrectionof1745-thedestructionofthepatriarchalpoweroftheHighlandchiefs-theabolitionoftheheritablejurisdictionsoftheLowlandnobilityandbarons-thetotaleradicationoftheJacobiteparty,which,aversetointerminglewiththeEnglish,oradopttheircustoms,longcontinuedtopridethemselvesuponmaintainingancientScottishmannersandcustoms-commencedthisinnovation。Thegradualinfluxofwealth,andextensionofcommerce,havesinceunitedtorenderthepresentpeopleofScotlandaclassofbeingsasdifferentfromtheirgrandfathersastheexistingEnglisharefromthoseofQueenElizabeth’stime。
  ThepoliticalandeconomicaleffectsofthesechangeshavebeentracedbyLordSelkirkwithgreatprecisionandaccuracy。Butthechange,thoughsteadilyandrapidlyprogressive,has,nevertheless,beengradual;andlikethosewhodriftdownthestreamofadeepandsmoothriver,wearenotawareoftheprogresswehavemade,untilwefixoureyeonthenowdistantpointfromwhichwehavebeendrifted-Suchofthepresentgenerationascanrecollectthelasttwentyortwenty-fiveyearsoftheeighteenthcentury,willbefullysensibleofthetruthofthisstatementespeciallyiftheiracquaintanceandconnexionslayamongthosewho,inmyyoungertime,werefacetiouslycalledfolksoftheoldleaven,’’whostillcherishedalingering,thoughhopeless,attachmenttothehouseofStuart。Thisracehasnowalmostentirelyvanishedfromtheland,andwithit,doubtless,muchabsurdpoliticalprejudice-butalsomanylivingexamplesofsingularanddisinterestedattachmenttotheprinciplesofloyaltywhichtheyreceivedfromtheirfathers,andofoldScottishfaith,hospitality,worth,andhonour。