第37章

DoIranksolowinyouropinion？’’

Farfromit，CaptainWaverley。IwouldtoGodyouwereofourdetermination！andmadeuseoftheexpressionwhichdispleasedyou，solelyBecauseyouarenotofourquality，Butstandagainstusasanenemy。’’

Thattimeispast，sister，’’saidFergus；andyoumaywishEdwardWaverley(nolongercaptain)joyofbeingfreedfromtheslaverytoanusurper，impliedinthatsableandill-omenedemblem。’’

Yes，’’saidWaverley，undoingthecockadefromhishat，ithaspleasedthekingwhobestowedthisbadgeuponmetoresumeitinamannerwhichleavesmelittlereasontoregrethisservice。’’

ThankGodforthat！’’criedtheenthusiast；-andOthattheymaybeblindenoughtotreateverymanofhonourwhoservesthemwiththesameindignity，thatImayhavelesstosighforwhenthestruggleapproaches！’’

Andnow，sister，’’saidtheChieftain，replacehiscockadewithoneofamorelivelycolour。Ithinkitwasthefashionoftheladiesofyoretoarmandsendforththeirknightstohighachievement。’’

Not，’’repliedthelady，tilltheknightadventurerhadwellweighedthejusticeandthedangerofthecause，Fergus。Mr。

Waverleyisjustnowtoomuchagitatedbyfeelingsofrecentemotion，formetopressuponhimaresolutionofconsequence。’’

Waverleyfelthalfalarmedatthethoughtofadoptingthebadgeofwhatwasbythemajorityofthekingdomesteemedrebellion，yethecouldnotdisguisehischagrinatthecoldnesswithwhichFloraparriedherbrother’shint。MissMac-Ivor，Iperceive，thinkstheknightunworthyofherencouragementandfavour，’’saidhe，somewhatbitterly。

Notso，Mr。Waverley，’’shereplied，withgreatsweetness。

WhyshouldIrefusemybrother’svaluedfriendaboonwhichIamdistributingtohiswholeclan？MostwillinglywouldI

enlisteverymanofhonourinthecausetowhichmybrotherhasdevotedhimself。ButFergushastakenhismeasureswithhiseyesopen。Hislifehasbeendevotedtothiscausefromhiscradle；withhimitscallissacred，wereitevenasummonstothetomb。ButhowcanIwishyou，Mr。Waverley，sonewtotheworld，sofarfromeveryfriendwhomightadviseandoughttoinfluenceyou-inamomenttooofsuddenpiqueandindignation-howcanIwishyoutoplungeyourselfatonceintosodesperateanenterprise？’’

Fergus，whodidnotunderstandthesedelicacies，strodethroughtheapartmentbitinghislip，andthen，withaconstrainedsmile，said，Well，sister，IleaveyoutoactyournewcharacterofmediatorbetweentheElectorofHanoverandthesubjectsofyourlawfulsovereignandbenefactor，’’andlefttheroom。

Therewasapainfulpause，whichwasatlengthbrokenbyMissMac-Ivor。Mybrotherisunjust，’’shesaid，becausehecanbearnointerruptionthatseemstothwarthisloyalzeal。’’

Anddoyounotsharehisardour？’’askedWaverley。

DoInot？’’answeredFlora-Godknowsmineexceedshis，ifthatbepossible。ButIamnot，likehim，raptbythebustleofmilitarypreparation，andtheinfinitedetailnecessarytothepresentundertaking，beyondconsiderationofthegrandprinciplesofjusticeandtruth，onwhichourenterpriseisgrounded；andtheseIamcertain，canonlybefurtheredbymeasuresinthemselvestrueandjust。Tooperateuponyourpresentfeelings，mydearMr。Waverley，toinduceyoutoanirretrievablestep，ofwhichyouhavenotconsideredeitherthejusticeorthedanger，is，inmypoorjudgment，neithertheonenortheother。’’

IncomparableFlora！’’saidEdward，takingherhand，howmuchdoIneedsuchamonitor？’’

Abetteronebyfar，’’saidFlora，gentlywithdrawingherhand，Mr。Waverleywillalwaysfindinhisownbosom，whenhewillgiveitssmallstillvoiceleisuretobeheard。’’

No，MissMac-Ivor，Idarenothopeit。Athousandcircumstancesoffatalself-indulgencehavemademethecreatureratherofimaginationthanreason。DurstIbuthopecouldI

butthink-thatyouwoulddeigntobetomethataffectionate，thatcondescendingfriend，whowouldstrengthenmetoredeemmyerrors，myfuturelife’’

Hush，mydearsir！nowyoucarryyourjoyatescapingthehandsofaJacobiterecruitingofficertoanunparalleledexcessofgratitude。’’

Nay，dearFlora，triflewithmenolonger；youcannotmistakethemeaningofthosefeelingswhichIhavealmostinvoluntarilyexpressed；andsinceIhavebrokenthebarrierofsilence，letmeprofitbymyaudacity-OrmayI，withyourpermission，mentiontoyourbrother’’

Notfortheworld，Mr。Waverley！’’