第45章

Unthreadtherudeeyeofrebellion，Andwelcomehomeagaindiscardedfaith，SeekoutPrinceCharles，andfallbeforehisfeet？

AllthathasbeenrecordedofexcellenceandworthinthehouseofWaverleyhasbeenfoundedupontheirloyalfaithtothehouseofStuart。FromtheinterpretationwhichthisScotchmagistratehasputuponthelettersofmyuncleandfather，itisplainthatIoughttohaveunderstoodthemasmarshallingmetothecourseofmyancestors；andithasbeenmygrossdulness，joinedtotheobscurityofexpressionwhichtheyadoptedforthesakeofsecurity，thathasconfoundedmyjudgment。

HadIyieldedtothefirstgenerousimpulseofindignationwhenIlearnedthatmyhonourwaspractisedupon，howdifferenthadbeenmypresentsituation！Ihadthenbeenfreeandinarms，fighting，likemyforefathers，forlove，forloyalty，andforfame。

AndnowIamhere，nettedandinthetoils，atthedisposalofasuspicious，stern，andcold-heartedman，perhapstobeturnedovertothesolitudeofadungeon，ortheinfamyofapublicexecution。OFergus！howtruehasyourprophecyproved；

andhowspeedy，howveryspeedy，hasbeenitsaccomplishment！’’

WhileEdwardwasruminatingonthesepainfulsubjectsofcontemplation，andverynaturally，thoughnotquitesojustly，bestowinguponthereigningdynastythatblamewhichwasduetochance，or，inpartatleast，tohisownunreflectingconduct，Mr。MortonavailedhimselfofMajorMelville’spermissiontopayhimanearlyvisit。

Waverley’sfirstimpulsewastointimateadesirethathemightnotbedisturbedwithquestionsorconversation；buthesuppressedituponobservingthebenevolentandreverendappearanceoftheclergymanwhohadrescuedhimfromtheimmediateviolenceofthevillagers。

Ibelieve，sir，’’saidtheunfortunateyoungman，thatinanyothercircumstancesIshouldhavehadasmuchgratitudetoexpresstoyouasthesafetyofmylifemaybeworth；butsuchisthepresenttumultofmymind，andsuchismyanticipationofwhatIamyetlikelytoendure，thatIcanhardlyofferyouthanksforyourinterposition。’’

Mr。Mortonreplied，that，farfrommakinganyclaimuponhisgoodopinion，hisonlywishandthesolepurposeofhisvisitwastofindoutthemeansofdeservingit。Myexcellentfriend，MajorMelville，’’hecontinued，hasfeelingsanddutiesasasoldierandpublicfunctionary，bywhichIamnotfettered；

norcanIalwayscoincideinopinionswhichheforms，perhapswithtoolittleallowancefortheimperfectionsofhumannature。’’

Hepaused，andthenproceeded：Idonotintrudemyselfonyourconfidence，Mr。Waverley，forthepurposeoflearninganycircumstances，theknowledgeofwhichcanbeprejudicialeithertoyourselfortoothers；butIownmyearnestwishis，thatyouwouldentrustmewithanyparticularswhichcouldleadtoyourexculpation。Icansolemnlyassureyoutheywillbedepositedwithafaithfuland，totheextentofhislimitedpowers，azealousagent。’’

Youare，sir，Ipresume，aPresbyterianclergyman？’’-Mr。

Mortonbowed-WereItobeguidedbytheprepossessionsofeducation，Imightdistrustyourfriendlyprofessionsinmycase：

butIhaveobservedthatsimilarprejudicesarenourishedinthiscountryagainstyourprofessionalbrethrenoftheEpiscopalpersuasion，andIamwillingtobelievethemequallyunfoundedinbothcases。’’

Eviltohimthatthinksotherwise，’’saidMr。Morton；orwhoholdschurchgovernmentandceremoniesastheexclusivegageofChristianfaithormoralvirtue。’’

But，’’continuedWaverley，IcannotperceivewhyIshouldtroubleyouwithadetailofparticulars，outofwhich，afterrevolvingthemascarefullyaspossibleinmyrecollection，Ifindmyselfunabletoexplainmuchofwhatischargedagainstme。

Iknow，indeed，thatIaminnocent，butIhardlyseehowIcanhopetoprovemyselfso。’’

Itisforthatveryreason，Mr。Waverley，’’saidtheclergyman，thatIventuretosolicityourconfidence。Myknowledgeofindividualsinthiscountryisprettygeneral，andcanuponoccasionbeextended。Yoursituationwill，Ifear，precludeyourtakingthoseactivestepsforrecoveringintelligence，ortracingimposture，whichIwouldwillinglyundertakeinyourbehalf；andifyouarenotbenefitedbymyexertions，atleasttheycannotbeprejudicialtoyou。’’

Waverley，afterafewminutes’reflection，wasconvincedthathisreposingconfidenceinMr。Morton，sofarashehimselfwasconcerned，couldhurtneitherMr。Bradwar