第40章

WaverleyforgotFloraMac-Ivor’sprejudicesinhermagnanimity，andalmostpardonedherindifferencetowardshisaffection，whenherecollectedthegrandanddecisiveobjectwhichseemedtofillherwholesoul。She，whosesenseofdutysowhollyengrossedherinthecauseofabenefactor，-whatwouldbeherfeelingsinfavourofthehappyindividualwhoshouldbesofortunateastoawakenthem？Thencamethedoubtfulquestion，whetherhemightnotbethathappyman，-aquestionwhichfancyendeavouredtoanswerintheaffirmative，byconjuringupallshehadsaidinhispraise，withtheadditionofacommentmuchmoreflatteringthanthetextwarranted。Allthatwascommon-place-allthatbelongedtotheevery-dayworld-wasmeltedawayandobliteratedinthosedreamsofimagination，whichonlyrememberedwithadvantagethepointsofgraceanddignitythatdistinguishedFlorafromthegeneralityofhersex，nottheparticularswhichsheheldincommonwiththem。Edwardwas，inshort，inthefairwayofcreatingagoddessoutofahigh-spirited，accomplished，andbeautifulyoungwoman；andthetimewaswastedincastle-building，until，atthedescentofasteephill，hesawbeneathhimthemarket-townof。

TheHighlandpolitenessofCallumBeg-therearefewnations，bytheway，whocanboastofsomuchnaturalpolitenessastheHighlanders<>-theHighlandcivilityofhisattendantTheHighlander，informertimes，hadalwaysahighideaofhisowngentility，andwasanxioustoimpressthesameuponthosewithwhomheconversed。Hislanguageaboundedinthephrasesofcourtesyandcompliment；

andthehabitofcarryingarms，andmixingwiththosewhodidso，madeitparticularlydesirabletheyshouldusecautiouspolitenessintheirintercoursewitheachother。

hadnotpermittedhimtodisturbthereveriesofourhero。Butobservinghimrousehimselfatthesightofthevillage，Callumpressedclosertohisside，andhopedWhentheycamtothepublic，hishonourwadnotsaynothingaboutVichIanVohr，fortapeoplewerebitterWhigs，deilbursttem。’’

Waverleyassuredtheprudentpagethathewouldbecautiousandashenowdistinguished，notindeedtheringingofbells，butthetinklingofsomethinglikeahammeragainstthesideofanoldmossy，green，invertedporridge-pot，thathunginanopenbooth，ofthesizeandshapeofaparrot’scage，erectedtogracetheeastendofabuildingresemblinganoldbarn，heaskedCallumBegifitwereSunday。

Couldnasayjustpreceesely-SundayseldomcamaboonthepawofBally-Brough。’’

Onenteringthetown，however，andadvancingtowardsthemostapparentpublichousewhichpresenteditself，thenumbersofoldwomen，intartanscreensandredcloaks，whostreamedfromthebarn-resemblingbuilding，debatingastheywentthecomparativemeritsoftheblessedyouthJabeshRentowel，andthatchosenvesselMaisterGoukthrapple，inducedCallumtoassurehistemporarymaster，thatitwaseithertamuckleSundayherself，ortalittlegovernmentSundaythattheyca’dtafast。’’

OnalightingatthesignoftheSeven-branchedGoldenCandlestick，which，forthefurtherdelectationoftheguests，wasgracedwithashortHebrewmotto，theywerereceivedbyminehost，atallthinpuritanicalfigure，whoseemedtodebatewithhimselfwhetherheoughttogivesheltertothosewhotravelledonsuchaday。Reflecting，however，inallprobability，thathepossessedthepowerofmulctingthemforthisirregularity，apenaltywhichtheymightescapebypassingintoGregorDuncanson’s，atthesignoftheHighlanderandtheHawickGill，Mr。EbenezerCruickshankscondescendedtoadmitthemintohisdwelling。

TothissanctifiedpersonWaverleyaddressedhisrequestthathewouldprocurehimaguide，withasaddle-horse，tocarryhisportmanteautoEdinburgh。

Andwharmayyebecomingfrom？’’demandedminehostoftheCandlestick。

IhavetoldyouwhereIwishtogo；Idonotconceiveanyfurtherinformationnecessaryeitherfortheguideorhissaddle-horse。’’

Hem！Ahem！’’returnedheoftheCandlestick，somewhatdisconcertedatthisrebuff。It’sthegeneralfast，sir，andI

cannotenterintoonycarnaltransactionsonsicaday，whenthepeopleshouldbehumbled，andthebackslidersshouldreturn，asworthyMr。Goukthrapplesaid；andmoreoverwhen，asthepreciousMr。JabeshRentoweldidweelobserve，thelandwasmourningforcovenantsburnt，br