第46章

Onthepresentoccasion，hepiquedhimselfuponleavinginthemindsofhiscompanionsafavourableimpressionofonewho，undersuchdisastrouscircumstances，couldsustainhismisfortuneswitheaseandgaiety。Hisspirits，thoughnotunyielding，wereabundantlyelastic，andsoonsecondedhisefforts。Thetriowereengagedinverylivelydiscourse，apparentlydelightedwitheachother，andthekindhostwaspressingathirdbottleofBurgundy，whenthesoundofadrumwasheardatsomedistance。TheMajor，who，inthegleeofanoldsoldier，hadforgotthedutiesofamagistrate，cursed，withamutteredmilitaryoath，thecircumstanceswhichrecalledhimtohisofficialfunctions。Heroseandwenttowardsthewindow，whichcommandedaverynearviewofthehigh-road，andhewasfollowedbyhisguests。

Thedrumadvanced，beatingnomeasuredmartialtune，butakindofrub-a-dub-dub，likethatwithwhichthefire-drumstartlestheslumberingartizansofaScotchburgh。Itistheobjectofthishistorytodojusticetoallmen；Imustthereforerecord，injusticetothedrummer，thatheprotestedhecouldbeatanyknownmarchorpointofwarknownintheBritisharmy，andhadaccordinglycommencedwithDumbarton’sDrums，’’whenhewassilencedbyGiftedGilfillan，thecommanderoftheparty，whorefusedtopermithisfollowerstomovetothisprofane，andeven，ashesaid，persecutingtune，andcommandedthedrummertobeatthe119thPsalm。Asthiswasbeyondthecapacityofthedrubberofsheepskin，hewasfaintohaverecoursetotheinoffensiverow-de-dow，asaharmlesssubstituteforthesacredmusicwhichhisinstrumentorskillwereunabletoachieve。Thismaybeheldatriflinganecdote，butthedrummerinquestionwasnolessthantown-drummerofAnderton。Irememberhissuccessorinoffice，amemberofthatenlightenedbody，theBritishConvention：behismemory，therefore，treatedwithduerespect。

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIFTH。

AVOLUNTEERSIXTYYEARSSINCE。

Onhearingtheunwelcomesoundofthedrum，MajorMelvillehastilyopenedasashed-door，andsteppedoutuponasortofterracewhichdividedhishousefromthehigh-roadfromwhichthemartialmusicproceeded。Waverleyandhisnewfriendfollowedhim，thoughprobablyhewouldhavedispensedwiththeirattendance。Theysoonrecognisedinsolemnmarch，first，theperformeruponthedrum；secondly，alargeflagoffourcompartments，onwhichwereinscribedthewords=Covenant，Kirk，King，Kingdoms。=Thepersonwhowashonouredwiththischargewasfollowedbythecommanderoftheparty，athin，dark，rigid-lookingman，aboutsixtyyearsold。Thespiritualpride，whichinmineHostoftheCandlestickmantledinasortofsupercilioushypocrisy，wasinthisman’sfaceelevatedandyetdarkenedbygenuineandundoubtingfanaticism。Itwasimpossibletobeholdhimwithoutimaginationplacinghiminsomestrangecrisis，wherereligiouszealwastherulingprinciple。

Amartyratthestake，asoldierinthefield，alonelyandbanishedwandererconsoledbytheintensityandsupposedpurityofhisfaithundereveryearthlyprivation；perhapsapersecutinginquisitor，asterrificinpowerasunyieldinginadversity；anyoftheseseemedcongenialcharacterstothispersonage。Withthesehightraitsofenergy，therewassomethingintheaffectedprecisionandsolemnityofhisdeportmentanddiscoursethatborderedupontheludicrous；sothat，accordingtothemoodofthespectator’smind，andthelightunderwhichMr。Gilfillanpresentedhimself，onemighthavefeared，admired，orlaughedathim。

Hisdresswasthatofawest-countrypeasant，ofbettermaterialsindeedthanthatofthelowerrank，butinnorespectaffectingeitherthemodeoftheage，oroftheScottishgentryatanyperiod。Hisarmswereabroadswordandpistols，which，fromtheantiquityoftheirappearance，mighthaveseentheroutofPentland，orBothwellBrigg。

AshecameupafewstepstomeetMajorMelville，andtouchedsolemnly，butslightly，hishugeandoverbrimmedbluebonnetinanswertotheMajor，whohadcourteouslyraisedasmalltriangulargold-lacedhat，Waverleywasirresistiblyimpressedwiththeideat