第20章

Waverleywasunaccustomedtotheuseofwine，exceptingwithgreattemperance。Hesleptthereforesoundlytilllateinthesucceedingmorning，andthenawakenedtoapainfulrecollectionofthesceneoftheprecedingevening。Hehadreceivedapersonalaffront，-he，agentleman，asoldier，andaWaverley。

True，thepersonwhohadoffereditwasnot，atthetimeitwasgiven，possessedofthemoderateshareofsensewhichnaturehadallottedhim；truealso，inresentingthisinsult，hewouldbreakthelawsofHeaven，aswellasofhiscountry；true，indoingso，hemighttakethelifeofayoungmanwhoperhapsrespectablydischargedthesocialduties，andrenderhisfamilymiserable；orhemightlosehisown；-nopleasantalternativeeventothebravest，whenitisdebatedcoollyandinprivate。

Allthispressedonhismind；yettheoriginalstatementrecurredwiththesameirresistibleforce。Hehadreceivedapersonalinsult；hewasofthehouseofWaverley；andheboreacommission。Therewasnoalternative；andhedescendedtothebreakfastparlourwiththeintentionoftakingleaveofthefamily，andwritingtooneofhisbrotherofficerstomeethimattheinnmid-waybetweenTully-Veolanandthetownwheretheywerequartered，inorderthathemightconveysuchamessagetotheLairdofBalmawhappleasthecircumstancesseemedtodemand。HefoundMissBradwardinepresidingovertheteaandcoffee，thetableloadedwithwarmbread，bothofflour，oatmeal，andbarley-meal，intheshapeofloaves，cakes，biscuits，andothervarieties，togetherwitheggs，rein-deerham，muttonandbeefditto，smokedsalmon，marmalade，andallotherdelicacieswhichinducedevenJohnsonhimselftoextoltheluxuryofaScotchbreakfastabovethatofallothercountries。

Amessofoatmealporridge，flankedbyasilverjug，whichheldanequalmixtureofcreamandbutter-milk，wasplacedfortheBaron’sshareofthisrepast；butRoseobservedhehadwalkedoutearlyinthemorning，aftergivingordersthathisguestshouldnotbedisturbed。

Waverleysatdownalmostinsilence，andwithanairofabsenceandabstraction，whichcouldnotgiveMissBradwardineafavourableopinionofhistalentsforconversation。Heansweredatrandomoneortwoobservationswhichsheventuredtomakeuponordinarytopics；sothatfeelingherselfalmostrepulsedinhereffortsatentertaininghim，andsecretlywonderingthatascarletcoatshouldcovernobetterbreeding，shelefthimtohismentalamusementofcursingDr。Doubleit’sfavouriteconstellationofUrsaMajor，asthecauseofallthemischiefwhichhadalreadyhappened，andwaslikelytoensue。Atoncehestarted，andhiscolourheightened，as，lookingtowardthewindow，hebeheldtheBaronandyoungBalmawhapplepassarminarm，apparentlyindeepconversation；andhehastilyasked，DidMr。Falconersleepherelastnight？’’Rose，notmuchpleasedwiththeabruptnessofthefirstquestionwhichtheyoungstrangerhadaddressedtoher，answereddrylyinthenegative，andtheconversationagainsunkintosilence。

AtthismomentMr。Saundersonappeared，withamessagefromhismasterrequestingtospeakwithCaptainWaverleyinanotherapartment。Withaheartwhichbeatalittlequicker，notindeedfromfear，butfromuncertaintyandanxiety，Edwardobeyedthesummons。Hefoundthetwogentlemenstandingtogether，anairofcomplacentdignityonthebrowoftheBaron，whilesomethinglikesullenness，orshame，orboth，blankedtheboldvisageofBalmawhapple。Theformerslippedhisarmthroughthatofthelatter，andthusseemingtowalkwithhim，whileinrealityheledhim，advancedtomeetWaverley，and，stoppinginthemidstoftheapartment，madeingreatstatethefollowingoration：CaptainWaverley，-myyoungandesteemedfriend，Mr。FalconerofBalmawhapple，hascravedofmyageandexperience，asofonenotwhollyunskilledinthedependenciesandpunctiliosoftheduelloormonomachia，tobehisinterlocutorinexpressingtoyoutheregretwithwhichhecallstoremembrancecertainpassagesofoursymposionlastnight，whichcouldnotbutbehighlydispleasingtoyou，asservingforthetimeunderthispresentexistinggovernment。

Hecravesyou，sir，todrowninoblivionthememoryofsuchsolecismsagainstthelawsofpoliteness，asbeingwhathisbetterreasondisavows，andtoreceivethehandwhichheoffersyouinamity；andImustneedsassureyou，thatnothinglessthanasenseofbeing_danssontort，_asagallantFrenchchevalier，Mons。LeBretailleur，oncesaidtomeonsuchanoccasion，andanopinionalsoofyourpeculiarmerit，couldhaveextortedsuchconcessions；forheandallhisfamilyare，andhavebeentimeoutofmind，_Mavortiapectora，_asBuchanansaith，aboldandwarlikesept，orpeople。’’

Edwardimmediately，andwithnaturalpoliteness，acceptedthehandwhichBalmawhapple，orrathertheBaroninhischaracterofmediator，extendedtowardshim。Itwasimpossible，’’

hesaid，forhimtorememberwhatagentlemanexpressedhiswishhehadnotuttered；andhewillinglyimputedwhathadpassedtotheexuberantfestivityoftheday。’’

Thatisveryhandsomelysaid，’’answeredtheBaron；forundoubtedlyifamanbe_ebrius，_orintoxicated-anincidentwhich，onsolemnandfestiveoccasions，mayandwilltakeplaceinthelifeofamanofhonour；andifthesamegentleman，beingfreshandsober，recantsthecontumelieswhichhehathspokeninhisliquor，itmustbeheld_vinumlocutum_est；thewordsceasetobehisown。YetwouldInotfindthisexculpationrelevantinthecaseofonewhowas_ebriosus，_oranhabitualdrunkard；because，ifsuchapersonchoosetopassthegreaterpartofhistimeinthepredicamentofintoxication，hehathnotitletobeexeemedfromtheobligationsofthecodeofpoliteness，butshouldlearntodeporthimselfpeaceablyandcourteouslywhenundertheinfluenceofthevinousstimulus-

Andnowletusproceedtobreakfast，andthinknomoreofthisdaftbusiness。’’

Imustconfess，whateverinferencemaybedrawnfromthecircumstance，thatEdward，aftersosatisfactoryanexplanation，didmuchgreaterhonourtothedelicaciesofMissBradwardine’sbreakfast-tablethanhiscommencementhadpromised。Balmawhapple，onthecontrary，seemedembarrassedanddejected；

andWaverleynow，forthefirsttime，observedthathisarmwasinasling，whichseemedtoaccountfortheawkwardandembarrassedmannerwithwhichhehadpresentedhishand。

ToaquestionfromMissBradwardine，hemuttered，inanswer，somethingabouthishorsehavingfallen；and，seemingdesiroustoescapebothfromthesubjectandthecompany，hearoseassoonasbreakfastwasover，madehisbowtotheparty，and，decliningtheBaron’sinvitationtotarrytillafterdinner，mountedhishorseandreturnedtohisownhome。

WaverleynowannouncedhispurposeofleavingTully-Veolanearlyenoughafterdinnertogainthestageatwhichhemeanttosleep；buttheunaffectedanddeepmortificationwithwhichthegood-naturedandaffectionateoldgentlemanheardtheproposal，quitedeprivedhimofcouragetopersistinit。NosoonerhadhegainedWaverley’sconsenttolengthenhisvisitforafewdays，thanhelabouredtoremovethegroundsuponwhichheconceivedhehadmeditatedamoreearlyretreat。Iwouldnothaveyouopine，CaptainWaverley，thatIambypracticeorpreceptanadvocateofebriety，thoughitmaybethat，inourfestivityoflastnight，someofourfriends，ifnotperchancealtogether_ebrii，_ordrunken，were，tosaytheleast，_ebrioli，_bywhichtheancientsdesignedthosewhowerefuddled，or，asyourEnglishvernacularandmetaphoricalphrasegoes，half-seas-over。

NotthatIwouldsoinsinuaterespectingyou，CaptainWaverley，who，likeaprudentyouth，didratherabstainfrompotation；norcanitbetrulysaidofmyself，who，havingassistedatthetablesofmanygreatgeneralsandmarechalsattheirsolemncarousals，havethearttocarrymywinediscreetly，anddidnot，duringthewholeevening，asyemusthavedoubtlessobserved，exceedtheboundsofamodesthilarity。’’

Therewasnorefusingassenttoapropositionsodecidedlylaiddownbyhimwhoundoubtedlywasthebestjudge；although，hadEdwardformedhisopinionfromhisownrecollections，hewouldhavepronouncedthattheBaronwasnotonly_ebriolus，_

butvergingtobecome_ebrius；_or，inplainEnglish，wasincomparablythemostdrunkoftheparty，exceptperhapshisantagonisttheLairdofBalmawhapple。However，havingreceivedtheexpected，orrathertherequired，complimentonhissobriety，theBaronproceeded，-No，sir，thoughIammyselfofastrongtemperament，Iabhorebriety，anddetestthosewhoswallowwine_gulcausa，_fortheoblectationofthegullet；

albeitImightdeprecatethelawofPittacusofMitylene，whopunisheddoublyacrimecommittedundertheinfluenceof_LiberPater；_norwouldIutterlyaccedetotheobjurgationoftheyoungerPlinius，inthefourteenthbookofhis`HistoriaNaturalis。’No，sir；Idistinguish，Idiscriminate，andapproveofwinesofaronlyasitmakethgladtheface，or，inthelanguageofFlaccus，_receptoamico。_’’

ThusterminatedtheapologywhichtheBaronofBradwardinethoughtitnecessarytomakeforthesuperabundanceofhishospitality；anditmaybeeasilybelievedthathewasneitherinterruptedbydissent，noranyexpressionofincredulity。

Hetheninvitedhisguesttoamorningride，andorderedthatDavieGellatleyshouldmeetthematthe_dernpath_withBanandBuscar。For，untiltheshootingseasoncommenced，Iwouldwillinglyshowyousomesport，andwemay，Godwilling，meetwitharoe。Theroe，CaptainWaverley，maybehuntedatalltimesalike；forneverbeinginwhatiscalled_prideofgrease，_heisalsoneveroutofseason，thoughitbeatruththathisvenisonisnotequaltothatofeithertheredorfallowdeer。<>ButhewillservetoshowhowmydogsrunThelearnedincookerydissentfromtheBaronofBradwardine，andholdtheroe-venisondryandindifferentfood，unlesswhendressedinsoupandScotchcollops。

andthereforetheyshallattenduswithDavieGellatley。’’

WaverleyexpressedhissurprisethathisfriendDaviewascapableofsuchtrust；buttheBarongavehimtounderstandthatthispoorsimpletonwasneitherfatuous_necnaturaliteridiota，_asisexpressedinthebrievesoffuriosity，butsimplyacrackbrainedknave，whocouldexecuteverywellanycommissionwhichjumpedwithhisownhumour，andmadehisfollyapleaforavoidingeveryother。Hehasmadeaninterestwithus，’’continuedtheBaron，bysavingRosefromagreatdangerwithhisownproperperil；andtheroguishloonmustthereforeeatofourbreadanddrinkofourcup，anddowhathecan，orwhathewill；which，ifthesuspicionsofSaundersonandtheBailiearewellfounded，mayperchanceinhiscasebecommensurateterms。’’

MissBradwardinethengaveWaverleytounderstand，thatthispoorsimpletonwasdoatinglyfondofmusic，deeplyaffectedbythatwhichwasmelancholy，andtransportedintoextravagantgaietybylightandlivelyairs。Hehadinthisrespectaprodigiousmemory，storedwithmiscellaneoussnatchesandfragmentsofalltunesandsongs，whichhesometimesapplied，withconsiderableaddress，asthevehiclesofremonstrance，explanation，orsatire。Daviewasmuchattachedtothefewwhoshowedhimkindness；andbothawareofanyslightorillusagewhichhehappenedtoreceive，andsufficientlyapt，wherehesawopportunity，torevengeit。Thecommonpeople，whooftenjudgehardlyofeachother，aswellasoftheirbetters，althoughtheyhadexpressedgreatcompassionforthepoor_innocent_whilesufferedtowanderinragsaboutthevillage，nosoonerbeheldhimdecentlyclothed，providedfor，andevenasortoffavourite，thantheycalledupalltheinstancesofsharpnessandingenuity，inactionandrepartee，whichhisannalsafforded，andcharitablybottomedthereuponahypothesis，thatDavieGellatleywasnofartherfoolthanwasnecessarytoavoidhardlabour。ThisopinionwasnotbetterfoundedthanthatoftheNegroes，who，fromtheacuteandmischievouspranksofthemonkeys，supposethattheyhavethegiftofspeech，andonlysuppresstheirpowersofelocutiontoescapebeingsettowork。Butthehypothesiswasentirelyimaginary。DavieGellatleywasingoodearnestthehalf-crazedsimpletonwhichheappeared，andwasincapableofanyconstantandsteadyexertion。Hehadjustsomuchsolidityaskeptonthewindysideofinsanity；somuchwildwitassavedhimfromtheimputationofidiocy；somedexterityinfieldsports(inwhichwehaveknownasgreatfoolsexcel)，greatkindnessandhumanityinthetreatmentofanimalsentrustedtohim，warmaffections，aprodigiousmemory，andanearformusic。

Thestampingofhorseswasnowheardinthecourt，andDavie’svoicesingingtothetwolargedeergreyhounds，-

Hieaway，hieaway，Overbankandoverbrae，Wherethecopsewoodisthegreenest，Wherethefountainsglistensheenest，Wherethelady-ferngrowsstrongest，Wherethemorningdewlieslongest，Wheretheblack-cocksweetestsipsit，Wherethefairylatesttripsit：

Hietohauntsrightseldomseen，Lovely，lonesome，cool，andgreen，Overbankandoverbrae，Hieaway，hieaway。

Dotheverseshesings，’’askedWaverley，belongtooldScottishpoetry，MissBradwardine？’’