第47章

Hismatterwascopious，hisvoicepowerful，andhismemorystrong；sothattherewaslittlechanceofhisendinghisexhortationtillthepartyhadreachedStirling，hadnothisattentionbeenattractedbyapedlarwhohadjoinedthemarchfromacross-road，andwhosighedorgroanedwithgreatregularityatallfittingpausesofhishomily。

Andwhatmayyebefriend？’’saidtheGiftedGilfillan。

Apuirpedlar，that’sboundforStirling，andcravestheprotectionofyourhonour’spartyinthesekittletimes。Ah！

yourhonourhasanotablefacultyinsearchingandexplainingthesecret，-ay，thesecretandobscureandincomprehensiblecausesofthebackslidingsoftheland；ay，yourhonourtouchestherooto’thematter。’’

Friend，’’saidGilfillan，withamorecomplacentvoicethanhehadhithertoused，honournotme。Idonotgoouttopark-dikes，andtosteadings，andtomarket-towns，tohaveherdsandcottarsandburgherspullofftheirbonnetstomeastheydotoMajorMelvilleo’Cairnvreckan，andca’melaird，orcaptain，orhonour；-no；mysma’means，whilkarenotaboontwentythousandmerk，havehadtheblessingofincrease，buttheprideofhearthasnotincreasedwiththem；nordoIdelighttobecalledcaptain，thoughIhavethesubscribedcommissionofthatgospel-searchingnobleman，theEarlofGlencairn，inwhilkIamsodesignated。WhileIlive，IamandwillbecalledHabakkukGilfillan，whowillstandupforthestandardsofdoctrineagreedonbytheance-famousKirkofScotland，beforeshetraffickedwiththeaccursedAchan，whilehehasaplackinhispurse，oradrapo’bluidinhisbody。’’

Ah，’’saidthepedlar，IhaveseenyourlandaboutMauchlin-afertilespot！yourlineshavefalleninpleasantplaces！-andsiccanabreedo’cattleisnotinonylaird’slandinScotland。’’

Yesayright，-yesayright，friend，’’retortedGilfillaneagerly，forhewasnotinaccessibletoflatteryuponthissubject，-yesayright；theyaretherealLancashire，andthere’snothelikeo’themevenattheMainsofKilmaurs；’’andhethenenteredintoadiscussionoftheirexcellences，towhichourreaderswillprobablybeasindifferentasourhero。Afterthisexcursion，theleaderreturnedtohistheologicaldiscussions，whilethepedlar，lessprofounduponthosemysticpoints，contentedhimselfwithgroaning，andexpressinghisedificationatsuitableintervals。

WhatablessingitwouldhetothepuirblindedpopishnationsamongwhomIhaesojourned，tohavesiccanalighttotheirpaths！IhaebeenasfarasMuscoviainmysma’tradingway，asatravellingmerchant；andIhaebeenthroughFrance，andtheLowCountries，anda’Poland，andmaistfecko’Germany；

andI！itwouldgrieveyourhonour’ssoultoseethemurmuring，andthesinging，andmassing，that’sinthekirk，andthepipingthat’sinthequire，andtheheathenishdancinganddicingupontheSabbath！’’

ThissetGilfillanoffupontheBookofSportsandtheCovenant，andtheEngagers，andtheProtesters，andtheWhiggamore’sRaidandtheassemblyofDivinesatWestminster，andtheLongerandShorterCatechism，andtheExcommunicationatTorwood，andtheslaughterofArchbishopSharp。Thislasttopic，again，ledhimintothelawfulnessofdefensivearms，onwhichsubjectheutteredmuchmoresensethancouldhavebeenexpectedfromsomeotherpartsofhisharangue，andattractedevenWaverley’sattention，whohadhithertobeenlostinhisownsadreflections。Mr。Gilfillanthenconsideredthelawfulnessofaprivateman’sstandingforthastheavengerofpublicoppression，andashewaslabouringwithgreatearnestnessthecauseofMasJamesMitchell，whofiredattheArchbishopofSt。Andrewssomeyearsbeforetheprelate’sassassinationonMagusMuir，anincidentoccurredwhichinterruptedhisharangue。

Theraysofthesunwerelingeringontheveryvergeofthehorizon，asthepartyascendedahollowandsomewhatsteeppath，whichledtothesummitofarisingground。Thecountrywasunenclosed，beingpartofaveryextensiveheathorcommon；butitwasfarfromlevel，exhibitinginmanyplaceshollowsfilledwithfurzeandbroom；inotherslittledinglesofstuntedbrushwood。

Athicketofthelatterdescriptioncrownedthehillupwhichthepartyascended。Theforemostoftheband，beingthestoutestandmostactive，hadpushedon，andhavingsurmountedtheascent，wereoutofkenforthepresent。Gilfillan，withthepedlar，andasmallpartywhowereWaverley’smoreimmediateguard，werenearthetopoftheascent，andtheremainderstraggledafterthemataconsiderableinterval。

Suchwasthesituationofmatters，whenthepedlar，missing，ashesaid，alittledoggiewhichbelongedtohim，begantohaltandwhistlefortheanimal。Thissignal，repeatedmorethanonce，gaveoffencetotherigourofhiscompanion，theratherbecauseitappearedtoindicateinattentiontothetreasuresoftheologicalandcontrovers