第48章

Atlength，uponaccurateexamination，theinfirmstateofhiswoodenprison-houseappearedtosupplythemeansofgratifyinghiscuriosity，foroutofaspotwhichwassomewhatdecayedhewasabletoextractanail。Throughthisminuteaperturehecouldperceiveafemaleform，wrappedinaplaid，intheactofconversingwithJanet。But，sincethedaysofourgrandmotherEvethegratificationofinordinatecuriosityhasgenerallyborneitspenaltyindisappointment。TheformwasnotthatofFlora，norwasthefacevisible；and，tocrownhisvexation，whilehelabouredwiththenailtoenlargethehole，thathemightobtainamorecompleteview，aslightnoisebetrayedhispurpose，andtheobjectofhiscuriosityinstantlydisappeared；nor，sofarashecouldobserve，didsheagainrevisitthecottage。

Allprecautionstoblockadehisviewwerefromthattimeabandoned，andhewasnotonlypermitted，butassistedtoriseandquitwhathadbeen，inaliteralsense，hiscouchofconfinement。

Buthewasnotallowedtoleavethehut；fortheyoungHighlanderhadnowrejoinedhissenior，andoneorotherwasconstantlyonthewatch。WheneverWaverleyapproachedthecottagedoor，thesentinelupondutycivilly，butresolutely，placedhimselfagainstitandopposedhisexit，accompanyinghisactionwithsignswhichseemedtoimplytherewasdangerintheattempt，andanenemyintheneighbourhood。OldJanetappearedanxiousanduponthewatch；andWaverley，whohadnotyetrecoveredstrengthenoughtoattempttotakehisdepartureinspiteoftheoppositionofhishosts，wasunderthenecessityofremainingpatient。Hisfarewas，ineverypointofview，betterthanhecouldhaveconceived；forpoultry，andevenwinewerenostrangerstohistable。TheHighlandersneverpresumedtoeatwithhim，andunlessinthecircumstanceofwatchinghim，treatedhimwithgreatrespect。Hissoleamusementwasgazingfromthewindow，orrathertheshapelessaperturewhichwasmeanttoanswerthepurposeofawindow，uponalargeandroughbrook，whichragedandfoamedthrougharockychannel，closelycanopiedwithtreesandbushes，abouttenfeetbeneaththesiteofhishouseofcaptivity。

Uponthesixthdayofhisconfinement，Waverleyfoundhimselfsowellthathebegantomeditatehisescapefromthisdullandmiserableprison-house，thinkinganyriskwhichhemightincurintheattemptpreferabletothestupifyingandintolerableuniformityofJanet’sretirement。Thequestionindeedoccurred，whitherhewastodirecthiscoursewhenagainathisowndisposal。Twoschemesseemedpracticable，yetbothattendedwithdangeranddifficulty。OnewastogobacktoGlennaquoich，andjoinFergusMac-Ivor，bywhomhewassuretobekindlyreceived；andinthepresentstateofhismind，therigourwithwhichhehadbeentreatedfullyabsolvedhim，inhisowneyes，fromhisallegiancetotheexistinggovernment。

TheotherprojectwastoendeavourtoattainaScottishseaport，andthencetotakeshippingforEngland。Hismindwaveredbetweentheseplans；andprobably，ifhehadeffectedhisescapeinthemannerheproposed，hewouldhavebeenfinallydeterminedbythecomparativefacilitybywhicheithermighthavebeenexecuted。Buthisfortunehadsettledthathewasnottobelefttohisoption。

Upontheeveningoftheseventhdaythedoorofthehutsuddenlyopened，andtwoHighlandersentered，whomWaverleyrecognisedashavingbeenapartofhisoriginalescorttothiscottage。Theyconversedforashorttimewiththeoldmanandhiscompanion，andthenmadeWaverleyunderstand，byverysignificantsigns，thathewastopreparetoaccompanythem。

Thiswasajoyfulcommunication。Whathadalreadypassedduringhisconfinementmadeitevidentthatnopersonalinjurywasdesignedtohim；andhisromanticspirit，havingrecoveredduringhisreposemuchofthatelasticitywhichanxiety，resentment，disappointment，andthemixtureofunpleasantfeelingsexcitedbyhislateadventures，hadforatimesubjugated，wasnowweariedwithinaction。Hispassionforthewonderful，althoughitisthenatureofsuchdispositionstobeexcitedbythatdegreeofdangerwhichmerelygivesdignitytothefeelingoftheindividualexposedtoit，hadsunkundertheextraordinaryandapparentlyinsurmountableevilsbywhichheappearedenvironedatCairnvreckan。Infact，thiscompoundofintensecuriosityandexaltedimaginationformsapeculiarspeciesofcourage，whichsomewhatresemblesthelightusuallycarriedbyaminer，-sufficientlycompetent，indeed，toaffordhim