第25章

This，bytheway，prettywellexplainedthecauseofquarrelbetweentheBaronandhisHighlandally。Buthewentontostatesomanycuriousparticularsconcerningthemanners，customs，andhabitsofthispatriarchalrace，thatEdward’scuriositybecamehighlyinterested，andheinquiredwhetheritwaspossibletomakewithsafetyanexcursionintotheneighbouringHighlands，whoseduskybarrierofmountainshadalreadyexcitedhiswishtopenetratebeyondthem。TheBaronassuredhisguestthatnothingwouldbemoreeasy，providingthisquarrelwerefirstmadeup，sincehecouldhimselfgivehimletterstomanyofthedistinguishedchiefs，whowouldreceivehimwiththeutmostcourtesyandhospitality。

Whiletheywereonthistopic，thedoorsuddenlyopened，and，usheredbySaundersSaunderson，aHighlander，fullyarmedandequipped，enteredtheapartment。HaditnotbeenthatSaundersactedthepartofmasteroftheceremoniestothismartialapparition，withoutappearingtodeviatefromhisusualcomposure，andthatneitherMr。BradwardinenorRoseexhibitedanyemotion，Edwardwouldcertainlyhavethoughttheintrusionhostile。Asitwas，hestartedatthesightofwhathehadnotyethappenedtosee，amountaineerinhisfullnationalcostume。

TheindividualGaelwasastout，dark，youngman，oflowstature，theamplefoldsofwhoseplaidaddedtotheappearanceofstrengthwhichhispersonexhibited。Theshortkilt，orpetticoat，showedhissinewyandclean-madelimbs；thegoat-skinpurse，flankedbytheusualdefences，adirkandsteel-wroughtpistol，hungbeforehim；hisbonnethadashortfeather，whichindicatedhisclaimtobetreatedasaDuinh

wassel，orsortofgentleman；abroadsworddangledbyhisside，atargethunguponhisshoulder，andalongSpanishfowling-pieceoccupiedoneofhishands。Withtheotherhandhepulledoffhisbonnet，andtheBaron，whowellknewtheircustoms，andthepropermodeofaddressingthem，immediatelysaid，withanairofdignity，butwithoutrising，andmuch，asEdwardthought，inthemannerofaprincereceivinganembassy，Welcome，EvanDhuMaccombich！whatnewsfromFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr？’’

FergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，’’saidtheambassador，ingoodEnglish，greetsyouwell，BaronofBradwardineandTully-Veolan，andissorrytherehasbeenathickcloudinterposedbetweenyouandhim，whichhaskeptyoufromseeingandconsideringthefriendshipandalliancesthathavebeenbetweenyourhousesandforbearsofold；andhepraysyouthatthecloudmaypassaway，andthatthingsmaybeastheyhavebeenheretoforebetweentheclanIvorandthehouseofBradwardine，whentherewasaneggbetweenthemforaflint，andaknifeforasword。Andheexpectsyouwillalsosay，youaresorryforthecloud，andnomanshallhereafteraskwhetheritdescendedfromthehilltothevalley，orrosefromthevalleytothehill；fortheyneverstruckwiththescabbardwhodidnotreceivewiththesword；andwoetohimwhowouldlosehisfriendforthestormycloudofaspringmorning！’’

TothistheBaronofBradwardineanswered，withsuitabledignity，thatheknewthechiefofclanIvortobeawell-wishertothe_King，_andhewassorrythereshouldhavebeenacloudbetweenhimandanygentlemanofsuchsoundprinciples，forwhenfolksarebandingtogether，feebleishewhohathnobrother。’’

Thisappearingperfectlysatisfactory，thatthepeacebetweentheseaugustpersonsmightbedulysolemnized，theBaronorderedastoupofusquebaugh，and，fillingaglass，dranktothehealthandprosperityofMac-IvorofGlennaquoich；uponwhichtheCelticambassador，torequitehispoliteness，turneddownamightybumperofthesamegenerousliquor，seasonedwithhisgoodwishestothehouseofBradwardine。

Havingthusratifiedthepreliminariesofthegeneraltreatyofpacification，theenvoyretiredtoadjustwithMr。MacwheeblesomesubordinatearticleswithwhichitwasnotthoughtnecessarytotroubletheBaron。Theseprobablyreferredtothediscontinuanceofthesubsidy，andapparentlytheBailiefoundmeanstosatisfytheirally，withoutsufferinghismastertosupposethathisdignitywascompromised。Atleast，itiscertain，thataftertheplenipotentiarieshaddrankabottleofbrandyinsingledraws，whichseemedtohavenomoreeffectuponsuchseasonedvessels，thanifithadbeenpoureduponthetwobearsatthetopoftheavenue，EvanDhuMaccombich，havingpossessedhimselfofalltheinformationwhichhecouldprocurerespectingtherobberyoftheprecedingnight，declaredhisintentiontosetofimmediatelyinpursuitofthecattle，whichhepronouncedtobenotfaroff；-theyhavebrokenthebone，’’heobserved，butthe