第41章

Romeboundwithoakherpatriots’brows，AsAlbynshadowsWogan’stomb。

WhatevermightbetherealmeritofFloraMac-Ivor’spoetry，theenthusiasmwhichitintimatedwaswellcalculatedtomakeacorrespondingimpressionuponherlover。Thelineswereread-readagain-thendepositedinWaverley’sbosom-thenagaindrawnout，andreadlinebyline，inalowandsmotheredvoice，andwithfrequentpauseswhichprolongedthementaltreat，asanepicureprotracts，bysippingslowly，theenjoymentofadeliciousbeverage。TheentranceofMrs。Cruickshanks，withthesublunaryarticlesofdinnerandwine，hardlyinterruptedthispantomimeofaffectionateenthusiasm。

AtlengththetallungainlyfigureandungraciousvisageofEbenezerpresentedthemselves。Theupperpartofhisform，notwithstandingtheseasonrequirednosuchdefence，wasshroudedinalargegreat-coat，beltedoverhisunderhabiliments，andcrestedwithahugecowlofthesamestale，which，whendrawnovertheheadandhat，completelyovershadowedboth，andbeingbuttonedbeneaththechin，wascalledatrot-cozy。

Hishandgraspedahugejockey-whip，garnishedwithbrassmounting。Histhinlegstenantedapairofgambadoes，fastenedatthesideswithrustyclasps。Thusaccoutred，hestalkedintothemidstoftheapartment，andannouncedhiserrandinbriefphrase：-Yerhorsesareready。’’

Yougowithmeyourselfthen，landlord？’’

Ido，asfarasPerth；whereyoumaybesuppliedwithaguidetoEmbro’，asyouroccasionsshallrequire。’’

Thussaying，heplacedunderWaverley’seyethebillwhichheheldinhishand；andatthesametime，self-invited，filledaglassofwine，anddrankdevoutlytoablessingontheirjourney。Waverleystaredattheman’simpudence，but，astheirconnectionwastobeshort，andpromisedtobeconvenient，hemadenoobservationuponit；and，havingpaidhisreckoning，expressedhisintentiontodepartimmediately。HemountedDermidaccordingly，andsalliedforthfromtheGoldenCandlestick，followedbythepuritanicalfigurewehavedescribed，afterhehad，attheexpenseofsometimeanddifficulty，andbytheassistanceofalouping-on-stane，’’orstructureofmasonryerectedforthetraveller’sconvenienceinfrontofthehouse，elevatedhispersontothebackofalong-backed，raw-boned，thin-guttedphantomofabroken-downblood-horse，onwhichWaverley’sportmanteauwasdeposited。Ourhero，thoughnotinaverygayhumour，couldhardlyhelplaughingattheappearanceofhisnewsquire，andatimaginingtheastonishmentwhichhispersonandequipagewouldhaveexcitedatWaverley-Honour。

Edward’stendencytomirthdidnotescapeminehostoftheCandlestick，who，consciousofthecause，infusedadoubleportionofsouringintothepharisaicalleavenofhiscountenance，andresolvedinternallythatinonewayorothertheyoungEnglishershouldpaydearlyforthecontemptwithwhichheseemedtoregardhim。Callumalsostoodatthegate，andenjoyed，withundissembledglee，theridiculousfigureofMr。Cruickshanks。AsWaverleypassedhimhepulledoffhishatrespectfully，andapproachinghisstirrup，badehimTakheedtheauldWhigdeevilplayedhimnaecantrip。’’

Waverleyoncemorethankedandbadehimfarewell，andthenrodebrisklyonward，notsorrytobeoutofhearingoftheshoutsofthechildren，astheybeheldoldEbenezerriseandsinkinhisstirrups，toavoidtheconcussionsoccasionedbyahardtrotuponahard-pavedstreet。Thevillageofwassoonseveralmilesbehindhim。

CHAPTERTHIRTIETH。

SHOWSTHATTHELOSSOFAHORSE’SSHOEMAYBEASERIOUSINCONVENIENCE。

ThemannerandairofWaverley，butaboveall，theglitteringcontentsofhispurse，andtheindifferencewithwhichheseemedtoregardthem，somewhatoverawedhiscompanion，anddeterredhimfrommakinganyattemptstoenteruponconversation。

Hisownreflectionswere，moreover，agitatedbyvarioussurmises，andbyplansofself-interest，withwhichthesewereintimatelyconnected。Thetravellersjourneyed，therefore，insilence，untilitwasint