第71章

Waverley，withfeelingsmoreeasilyconceivedthandescribed，sawhimselfobligedtofollowthisdoughtyfemalecommander。

Thegallanttrooperwasaslikealambasadrunkcorporalofdragoons，aboutsixfeethigh，withverybroadshoulders，andverythinlegs，nottomentionagreatscaracrosshisnose，couldwellbe。Mrs。Nosebagaddressedhimwithsomethingwhich，ifnotanoath，soundedverylikeone，andcommandedhimtoattendtohisduty。Youbed-dfora，’’commencedthegallantcavalier；but，lookingupinordertosuittheactiontothewords，andalsotoenforcetheepithetwhichhemeditated，withanadjectiveapplicabletotheparty，herecognisedthespeaker，madehismilitarysalam，andalteredhistone-Lordloveyourhandsomeface，MadamNosebag，isityou？Why，ifapoorfellowdoeshappentofireaslugofamorning，Iamsureyouwerenevertheladytobringhimtoharm。’’

Well，yourascallion，go，mindyourduty；thisgentlemanandIbelongtotheservice；butbesureyoulookafterthatshycockintheslouchedhatthatsitsinthecornerofthecoach。

Ibelievehe’soneoftherebelsindisguise。’’

D-nhergooseberrywig！’’saidthecorporal，whenshewasoutofhearing。Thatgimlet-eyedjade-motheradjutant，aswecallher-isagreaterplaguetotheregimentthanprevot-marshal，sergeant-major，andoldHubble-de-Shuffthecolonelintothebargain-Come，MasterConstable，let’sseeifthisshycock，asshecallshim，(who，bytheway，wasaQuakerfromLeeds，withwhomMrs。Nosebaghadhadsometartargumentonthelegalityofbearingarms，)willstandgodfathertoasupofbrandy，foryourYorkshirealeiscoldonmystomach。’’

Thevivacityofthisgoodlady，asithelpedEdwardoutofthisscrape，wasliketohavedrawnhimintooneortwoothers。

Ineverytownwheretheystopped，shewishedtoexaminethe_corpsdegarde，_iftherewasone，andonceverynarrowlymissedintroducingWaverleytoarecruiting-sergeantofhisownregiment。ThensheCaptain’dandButler’dhimtillhewasalmostmadwithvexationandanxiety；andneverwashemorerejoicedinhislifeattheterminationofajourney，thanwhenthearrivalofthecoachinLondonfreedhimfromtheattentionsofMadamNosebag。

Itwastwilightwhentheyarrivedintown；andhavingshakenoffhiscompanions，andwalkedthroughagoodmanystreetstoavoidthepossibilityofbeingtracedbythem，Edwardtookahackney-coachanddrovetoColonelTalbot’shouse，inoneoftheprincipalsquaresatthewestendofthetown。Thatgentleman，bythedeathofrelations，hadsucceededsincehismarriagetoalargefortune，possessedconsiderablepoliticalinterest，andlivedinwhatiscalledgreatstyle。

WhenWaverleyknockedathisdoor，hefounditatfirstdifficulttoprocureadmittance，butatlengthwasshownintoanapartmentwheretheColonelwasattable。LadyEmily，whoseverybeautifulfeatureswerestillpallidfromindisposition，sateoppositetohim。TheinstantheheardWaverley’svoice，hestartedupandembracedhimFrankStanley，mydearboy，howd’yedo？-Emily，mylove，thisisyoungStanley。’’

ThebloodstartedtotheLady’scheekasshegaveWaverleyareception，inwhichcourtesywasmingledwithkindness，whilehertremblinghandandfalteringvoiceshowedhowmuchshewasstartledanddiscomposed。Dinnerwashastilyreplaced，andwhileWaverleywasengagedinrefreshinghimself，theColonelproceeded-Iwonderyouhavecomehere，Frank；

thedoctorstellmetheairofLondonisverybadforyourcomplaints。Youshouldnothaveriskedit。ButIamdelightedtoseeyou，andsoisEmily，thoughIfearwemustnotreckonuponyourstayinglong。’’

Someparticularbusinessbroughtmeup，’’mutteredWaverley。

Isupposedso，butIshan’tallowyoutostaylong-Spontoon’’

(toanelderlymilitary-lookingservantoutoflivery)，takeawaythesethings，andanswerthebellyourself，ifI

ring。Don’tletanyoftheotherfellowsdisturbus-MynephewandIhavebusinesstotalkof。’’

Whentheservantshadretired，InthenameofGod，Waverley，whathasbroughtyouhere？Itmaybeasmuchasyourlifeisworth。’’

DearMr。Waverley，’’saidLadyEmily，towhomIowesomuchmorethanacknowledgmentscaneve