第64章

AndwhatdidthePrinceanswer？’’

Answer？why-itiswellitiswritten，Cursenottheking；

no，notinthythought！-why，heanswered，thattrulyhewasgladIhadmadehimmyconfidant，topreventmoregrievousdisappointment，forhecouldassureme，uponthewordofaprince，thatMissBradwardine’saffectionswereengaged，andhewasunderaparticularpromisetofavourthem。`So，mydearFergus，’saidhe，withhismostgraciouscutofsmile，`asthemarriageisutterlyoutofquestion，thereneedbenohurry。

youknow，abouttheearldom。’Andsoheglidedoff，andleftme_plantl。_’’

Andwhatdidyoudo？’’

I’lltellyouwhatI_could_havedoneatthatmoment-soldmyselftothedevilortheElector，whicheverofferedthedearestrevenge。However，Iamnowcool。IknowheintendstomarryhertosomeofhisrascallyFrenchmen，orhisIrishofficers：butIwillwatchthemclose；andletthemanthatwouldsupplantmelookwelltohimself-_Bisognacoprirsi，Signor。_’’

Aftersomefurtherconversation，unnecessarytobedetailed，WaverleytookleaveoftheChieftain，whosefuryhadnowsubsidedintoadeepandstrongdesireofvengeance，andreturnedhome，scarceabletoanalyzethemixtureoffeelingswhichthenarrativehadawakenedinhisownbosom。

Iamtheverychildofcaprice，’’saidWaverleytohimself，asheboltedthedoorofhisapartment，andpaceditwithhastysteps-WhatisittomethatFergusMac-IvorshouldwishtomarryRoseBradwardine？-Ilovehernot-Imighthavebeenlovedbyher，perhaps；butIrejectedhersimple，natural，andaffectingattachment，insteadofcherishingitintotenderness，anddedicatedmyselftoonewhowillneverlovemortalman，unlessoldWarwick，theKing-maker，shouldarisefromthedead。TheBaron，too-Iwouldnothavecaredabouthisestate，andsothenamewouldhavebeennostumbling-block。

Thedevilmighthavetakenthebarrenmoors，anddrawnofftheroyal_calig，_foranythingIwouldhaveminded。But，framedassheisfordomesticaffectionandtenderness，forgivingandreceivingallthosekindandquietattentionswhichsweetenlifetothosewhopassittogether，sheissoughtbyFergusMac-Ivor。Hewillnotuseherill，tobesure-ofthatheisincapable-buthewillneglectherafterthefirstmonth；

hewillbetoointentonsubduingsomerivalchieftain，orcircumventingsomefavouriteatcourt，ongainingsomeheathyhillandlake，oraddingtohisbandssomenewtroopofcaterans，toinquirewhatshedoes，orhowsheamusesherself。

Andthenwillcankersorroweatherbud，Andchasethenativebeautyfromhercheek；

Andshewilllookashollowasaghost，Anddimandmeagreasanaguefit，Andsoshe’lldie。

Andsuchacatastropheofthemostgentlecreatureonearthmighthavebeenprevented，ifMr。EdwardWaverleyhadhadhiseyes！Uponmyword，IcannotunderstandhowIthoughtFlorasomuch-thatis，so_very_much-handsomerthanRose。

Sheistaller，indeed，andhermannermoreformed；butmanypeoplethinkMissBradwardine’smorenatural；andsheiscertainlymuchyounger。IshouldthinkFloraistwoyearsolderthanIam-Iwilllookatthemparticularlythisevening。’’

Andwiththisresolution，Waverleywenttodrinktea(asthefashionwasSixtyyearssince)atthehouseofaladyofqualityattachedtothecauseoftheChevalier，wherehefound，asheexpected，boththeladies。Allroseasheentered，butFloraimmediatelyresumedherplace，andtheconversationinwhichshewasengaged。Rose，onthecontrary，almostimperceptiby，madealittlewayinthecrowdedcircleforhisadvancingthecornerofachair。Hermanner，uponthewhole，ismostengaging，’’saidWaverleytohimself。

AdisputeoccurredwhethertheGaelicorItalianlanguagewasmostliquid，andbestadaptedforpoetry；theopinionfortheGaelic，whichprobablymightnothavefoundsupporterselsewhere，washerefiercelydefendedbysevenHighlandladies，whotalkedatthetopoftheirlungs，andscreamedthecompanydeaf，withexamplesofCeltic_euphonia。_FloraobservingtheLowlandladiessneeratthecomparison，producedsomereasonstoshowthatitwasnotaltogethersoabsurd；butRose，whenaskedforheropinion，gaveitwithanimation，inpraiseofItalian，whi