第53章

Hout！hout！Mrs。Flockhart，’’repliedtheensign，we’reyoungblude，yeken；andyoungsaints，aulddeils。’’

Butwillyefightwi’SirJohnCopethemorn，EnsignMaccombich？’’demandedMrs。Flockhartofherguest。

TrothI’seensurehim，an’he’llbideus，Mrs。Flockhart，’’

repliedtheGael。

Andwillyefacethaetearingchields，thedragoons，EnsignMaccombich？’’againinquiredthelandlady。

ClawforclawasConansaidtoSatan，Mrs。Flockhart，andthedeeviltaktheshortestnails。’’

Andwillthecolonelventureonthebagganetshimself？’’

Yemayswearit，Mrs。Flockhart；theveryfirstmanwillhebe，bySaintPhedar。’’

Mercifulgoodness！andifhe’skilledamangthered-coats！’’

exclaimedthesoftheartedwidow。

Troth，ifitshouldsaebefall，Mrs。Flockhart，Ikenanethatwillnobelivingtoweepforhim。Butwemauna’livetheday，andhaveourdinner；andthere’sVichIanVohrhaspackedhis_dorlach，_andMr。Waverley’sweariedwi’majoringyonderaforethemucklepier-glass；andthatgreyauldstoorcarle，theBarono’Bradwardine，thatshotyoungRonaldofBallenkeiroch，he’scomingdowntheclosewi’thatdroghlingcoghlingbailiebodytheyca’Macwhupple，justliketheLairdo’Kittlegab’sFrenchcook，wi’histurnspitdoggietrindlingahinthim，andIamashungryasagled，mybonniedow；saebidKatesetonthebroo’，anddoyeputonyourpinners，foryekenVichIanVohrwinnasitdowntillyebeattheheado’

thetable；-anddinnaforgetthepintbottleo’brandy，mywoman。’’

Thishintproduceddinner。Mrs。Flockhart，smilinginherweedslikethesunthroughamist，tooktheheadofthetable，thinkingwithinherself，perhaps，thatshecarednothowlongtherebellionlasted，thatbroughtherintocompany，somuchaboveherusualassociates。ShewassupportedbyWaverleyandtheBaron，withtheadvantageoftheChieftain_vis--vis。_

Themenofpeaceandofwar，thatis，BailieMacwheebleandEnsignMaccombich，aftermanyprofoundcongstotheirsuperiorsandeachother，tooktheirplacesoneachsideoftheChieftain。Theirfarewasexcellent，time，place，andcircumstancesconsidered，andFergus’sspiritswereextravagantlyhigh。

Regardlessofdanger，andsanguinefromtemper，youth，andambition，hesawinimaginationallhisprospectscrownedwithsuccess，andwastotallyindifferenttotheprobablealternativeofasoldier’sgrave。TheBaronapologisedslightlyforbringingMacwheeble。Theyhadbeenproviding，hesaid，fortheexpensesofthecampaign。And，bymyfaith，’’saidtheoldman，asIthinkthiswillbemylast，soIjustendwhereI

began-Ihaeevermorefoundthesinewsofwar，asalearnedauthorcallsthe_caissemilitaire，_mairdifficulttocomebythaneitheritsflesh，blood，orbones。’’

What！haveyouraisedouronlyefficientbodyofcavalry，andgotyenoneofthelouis-d’oroutoftheDoutelle，<>tohelpThe_Doutelle_wasanarmedvessel，whichbroughtasmallsupplyofmoneyandarmsfromFrancefortheuseoftheinsurgents。

you？’’

No，Glennaquoich；clevererfellowshavebeenbeforeme。’’

That’sascandal，’’saidtheyoungHighlander；butyouwillsharewhatisleftofmysubsidy：itwillsaveyouananxiousthoughtto-night，andwillbealloneto-morrow，forweshallallbeprovidedfor，onewayorother，beforethesunsets。’’Waverley，blushingdeeply，butwithgreatearnestness，pressedthesamerequest。

Ithankyebaith，mygoodlads，’’saidtheBaron，butI

willnotinfringeuponyourpeculium。BailieMacwheeblehasprovidedthesumwhichisnecessary。’’

HeretheBailieshiftedandfidgetedaboutinhisseat，andappearedextremelyuneasy。Atlength，afterseveralpreliminaryhems，andmuchtautologicalexpressionofhisdevotiontohishonour’sservice，bynightorday，livingordead，hebegantoinsinuate，thattheBankshadremoveda’theirreadycashintotheCastle；that，naed