第66章

Tellmenothingofthat，’’saidTalbot；Iwishtocarrynonewsofyourmotions。’’

Simplythen，adieu。Say，withathousandkindgreetings，allthatisdutifulandaffectionatetoSirEverardandAuntRachel。Thinkofmeaskindlyasyoucanspeakofmeasindulgentlyasyourconsciencewillpermit，andoncemoreadieu。’’

Andadieu，mydearWaverley！-many，manythanksforyourkindness。Unplaidyourselfonthefirstopportunity。I

shalleverthinkonyouwithgratitude，andtheworstofmycensureshallbe，_Quediablealloit-ilfairedanscettegalre？_’’

Andthustheyparted，ColonelTalbotgoingonboardoftheboat，andWaverleyreturningtoEdinburgh。

Itisnotourpurposetointrudeupontheprovinceofhistory。

Weshallthereforeonlyremindourreaders，thataboutthebeginningofNovembertheYoungChevalier，attheheadofaboutsixthousandmenattheutmost，resolvedtoperilhiscauseonanattempttopenetrateintothecentreofEngland，althoughawareofthemightypreparationswhichweremadeforhisreception。Theysetforwardonthiscrusadeinweatherwhichwouldhaverenderedanyothertroopsincapableofmarching，butwhichinrealitygavetheseactivemountaineersadvantagesoveralesshardyenemy。IndefianceofasuperiorarmylyingupontheBorders，underFieldMarshalWade，theybesiegedandtookCarlisle，andsoonafterwardsprosecutedtheirdaringmarchtothesouthward。

AsColonelMac-Ivor’sregimentmarchedinthevanoftheclans，heandWaverley，whonowequalledanyHighlanderintheenduranceoffatigue，andwasbecomesomewhatacquaintedwiththeirlanguage，wereperpetuallyatitshead。Theymarkedtheprogressofthearmy，however，withverydifferenteyes。

Fergus，allairandfire，andconfidentagainsttheworldinarms，measurednothingbutthateverystepwasayardnearerLondon。Heneitherasked，expected，nordesiredanyaid，exceptthatoftheclans，toplacetheStuartsoncemoreonthethrone；andwhenbychanceafewadherentsjoinedthestandard，healwaysconsideredtheminthelightofnewclaimantsuponthefavoursofthefuturemonarch，who，heconcluded，mustthereforesubtractfortheirgratificationsomuchofthebountywhichoughttobesharedamonghisHighlandfollowers。

Edward’sviewswereverydifferent。Hecouldnotbutobserve，thatinthosetownsinwhichtheyproclaimedJamestheThird，nomancried，Godblesshim。’’Themobstaredandlistened，heartless，stupified，anddull，butgavefewsignsevenofthatboisterousspiritwhichinducesthemtoshoutuponalloccasions，forthemereexerciseoftheirmostsweetvoices。

TheJacobiteshadbeentaughttobelievethatthenorth-westerncountiesaboundedwithwealthysquiresandhardyyeomen，devotedtothecauseoftheWhiteRose。ButofthewealthierToriestheysawlittle。Somefledfromtheirhouses，somefeignedthemselvessick，somesurrenderedthemselvestotheGovernmentassuspectedpersons。Ofsuchasremained，theignorantgazedwithastonishment，mixedwithhorrorandaversion，atthewildappearance，unknownlanguage，andsingulargarboftheScottishclans。Andtothemoreprudent，theirscantynumbers，apparentdeficiencyindiscipline，andpovertyofequipment，seemedcertaintokensofthecalamitousterminationoftheirrashundertaking。Thusthefewwhojoinedthemweresuchasbigotryofpoliticalprincipleblindedtoconsequences，orwhosebrokenfortunesinducedthemtohazardallonarisksodesperate。

TheBaronofBradwardinebeingaskedwhathethoughtoftheserecruits，tookalongpinchofsnuff，andanswereddrily，thathecouldnotbuthaveanexcellentopinionofthem，sincetheyresembledpreciselythefollowerswhoattachedthemselvestothegoodKingDavidatthecaveofAdullam；

videlicet，everyonethatwasindistress，andeveryonethatwasindebt，andeveryonethatwasdiscontented，whichtheVulgaterendersbitterofsoul；anddoubtless，’’hesaid，theywillprovemightymenoftheirhands，andthereismuchneedthattheyshould，forIhaveseenmanyasourlookcastuponus。’’

ButnoneoftheseconsiderationsmovedFergus。Headmiredthel