第60章

Yourintentionsmaybekind，sir，’’saidWaverley，drily；

butyourlanguageisharsh，oratleastperemptory。’’

OnmyreturntoEngland，’’continuedColonelTalbot，afterlongabsence，Ifoundyouruncle，SirEverardWaverley，inthecustodyofakingsmessenger，inconsequenceofthesuspicionbroughtuponhimbyyourconduct。Heismyoldestfriend-howoftenshallIrepeatit？-mybestbenefactor；hesacrificedhisownviewsofhappinesstomine-heneverutteredaword，heneverharbouredathought，thatbenevolenceitselfmightnothavethoughtorspoken。Ifoundthismaninconfinement，renderedharshertohimbyhishabitsoflife，hisnaturaldignityoffeeling，and-forgiveme，Mr。Waverley-bythecausethroughwhichthiscalamityhadcomeuponhim。I

cannotdisguisefromyoumyfeelingsuponthisoccasion；theyweremostpainfullyunfavourabletoyou。Having，bymyfamilyinterest，whichyouprobablyknowisnotinconsiderable，succeededinobtainingSirEverard’srelease，IsetoutforScotland。IsawColonelGardiner，amanwhosefatealoneissufficienttorenderthisinsurrectionforeverexecrable。Inthecourseofconversationwithhim，Ifound，that，fromlatecircumstances，fromare-examinationofthepersonsengagedinthemutiny，andfromhisoriginalgoodopinionofyourcharacter，hewasmuchsoftenedtowardsyou；andIdoubtednot，thatifIcouldbesofortunateastodiscoveryouallmightyetbewell。Butthisunnaturalrebellionhasruinedall。Ihave，forthefirsttime，inalongandactivemilitarylife，seenBritonsdisgracethemselvesbyapanicflight，andthatbeforeafoewithouteitherarmsordiscipline！andnowIfindtheheirofmydearestfriend-theson，Imaysay，ofhisaffections-sharingatriumph，forwhichheoughtthefirsttohaveblushed。

WhyshouldIlamentGardiner？hislotwashappy，comparedtomine！’’

TherewassomuchdignityinColonelTalbot’smanner，suchamixtureofmilitaryprideandmanlysorrow，andthenewsofSirEverard’simprisonmentwastoldinsodeepatoneoffeeling，thatEdwardstoodmortified，abashed，anddistressed，inpresenceoftheprisoner，whoowedtohimhislifenotmanyhoursbefore。HewasnotsorrywhenFergusinterruptedtheirconferenceasecondtime。

HisRoyalHighnesscommandsMr。Waverley’sattendance。’’

ColonelTalbotthrewuponEdwardareproachfulglance，whichdidnotescapethequickeyeoftheHighlandChief。His_immediate_attendance，’’herepeated，withconsiderableemphasis。WaverleyturnedagaintowardstheColonel。

Weshallmeet，again，’’hesaid；inthemeanwhile，everypossibleaccommodation’’-

Idesirenone，’’saidtheColonel；letmefarelikethemeanestofthosebravemen，who，onthisdayofcalamity，havepreferredwoundsandcaptivitytoflight；Iwouldalmostexchangeplaceswithoneofthosewhohavefallen，toknowthatmywordshavemadeasuitableimpressiononyourmind。’’

LetColonelTalbotbecarefullysecured，’’saidFergustotheHighlandofficer，whocommandedtheguardovertheprisoners；

ItisthePrince’sparticularcommand；heisaprisoneroftheutmostimportance。’’

Butlethimwantnoaccommodationsuitabletohisrank，’’

saidWaverley。

Consistentalwayswithsecurecustody，’’reiteratedFergus。

Theofficersignifiedhisacquiescenceinbothcommands，andEdwardfollowedFergustothegarden-gate，whereCallumBeg，withthreesaddle-horses，awaitedthem。Turninghishead，hesawColonelTalbotreconductedtohisplaceofconfinementbyafileofHighlanders；helingeredonthethresholdofthedoor，andmadeasignalwithhishandtowardsWaverley，asifenforcingthelanguagehehadheldtowardshim。

Horses，’’saidFergus，ashemounted，arenowasplentyasblackberries；everymanmayhavethemforthecatching。

Come，letCallumadjustyourstirrups，andletustoPinkie-house<>asfastastheseci-divantdragoon-horseschooseCharlesEdwardtookuphisquartersafterthebattleatPinkie-house，adjoiningtoMusselburgh。

tocarryus。’’

Iwasturnedback，’’saidFergustoEdwardastheygallopedfromPrestontoPinkie-house，byamessagefromthePrince。

But，IsupposeyouknowthevalueofthismostnobleColonelTalbotasaprisoner。Heisheldoneofthebestofficersamongthered-coats；aspecialfriendandfavouriteoftheElectorhimsel