第72章

Indeed，itseemslikelythattheyonlyprolongthewartoplacetheChevalier’spersonoutofdanger，andthentomakesometermsforthemselves。Toburdenthemwithmypresencewouldmerelyaddanotherparty，whomtheywouldnotgiveup，andcouldnotdefend。IunderstandtheyleftalmostalltheirEnglishadherentsingarrisonatCarlisle，forthatveryreason：-

andonamoregeneralview，Colonel，toconfessthetruth，thoughitmaylowermeinyouropinion，Iamheartilytiredofthetradeofwar，andam，asFletcher’sHumorousLieutenantsays，`evenaswearyofthisfighting’’’

Fighting？pooh，whathaveyouseenbutaskirmishortwo？-

Ah！ifyousawwaronthegrandscale-sixtyorahundredthousandmeninthefieldoneachside！’’

Iamnotatallcurious，Colonel-`Enough，’saysourhomelyproverb，`isasgoodasafeast。’Theplumedtroopsandthebigwarusedtoenchantmeinpoetry；butthenightmarches，vigils，couchedunderthewintrysky，andsuchaccompanimentsoftheglorioustrade，arenotatalltomytasteinpractice：-

thenfordryblows，Ihad_my_filloffightingatClifton，whereI

escapedbyahair’s-breadthhalf-a-dozentimes；andyou，Ishouldthink-’’Hestopped。

HadenoughofitatPreston？youmeantosay，’’answeredtheColonellaughing；but，`’tismyvocation，Hal。’’’

Itisnotmine，though，’’saidWaverley；andhavinghonourablygotridofthesword，whichIdrewonlyasavolunteer，Iamquitesatisfiedwithmymilitaryexperience，andshallbeinnohurrytotakeitupagain。’’

Iamverygladyouareofthatmind-butthen，whatwouldyoudointheNorth？’’

Inthefirstplace，therearesomeseaportsontheeasterncoastofScotlandstillinthehandsoftheChevalier’sfriends；

shouldIgainanyofthem，IcaneasilyembarkfortheContinent。’’

Good-yoursecondreason？’’

Why，tospeaktheverytruth，thereisapersoninScotlanduponwhomInowfindmyhappinessdependsmorethanI

wasalwaysaware，andaboutwhosesituationIamveryanxious。’’

ThenEmilywasright，andthereisaloveaffairinthecaseafterall？-AndwhichofthesetwoprettyScotchwomen，whomyouinsisteduponmyadmiring，isthedistinguishedfair？-

notMissGlen-Ihope。’’

No。’’

Ah，passfortheother：simplicitymaybeimproved，butprideandconceitnever。Well，Idon’tdiscourageyou；IthinkitwillpleaseSirEverard，fromwhathesaidwhenIjestedwithhimaboutit；onlyIhopethatintolerablepapa，withhisbrogue，andhissnuff，andhisLatin，andhisinsufferablelongstoriesabouttheDukeofBerwick，willfinditnecessaryhereafter，tobeaninhabitantofforeignparts。Butastothedaughter，thoughIthinkyoumightfindasfittingamatchinEngland，yetifyourheartbereallysetuponthisScotchRosebud，whytheBaronethasagreatopinionofherfatherandofhisfamily，andhewishesmuchtoseeyoumarriedandsettled，bothforyourownsakeandforthatofthethreeerminespassant，whichmayotherwisepassawayaltogether。ButIwillbringyouhismindfullyuponthesubject，sinceyouaredebarredcorrespondenceforthepresent，forIthinkyouwillnotbelonginScotlandbeforeme。’’

Indeed！andwhatcaninduceyoutothinkofreturningtoScotland？NorelentlesslongingstowardsthelandofmountainsandfloodsIamafraid。’’

None，onmyword；butEmily’shealthisnow，thankGod，re-established，and，totellyouthetruth，IhavelittlehopesofconcludingthebusinesswhichIhaveatpresentmostatheart，untilIcanhaveapersonalinterviewwithhisRoyalHighnesstheCommander-in-Chief；for，asFluellensays，`Thedukedothlovemewell，andIthankheaven，Ihavedeservedsomeloveathishands。’Iamnowgoingoutforanhourortwotoarrangemattersforyourdeparture；yourlibertyextendstothenextroom，LadyEmily’sparlour，whereyouwillfindherwhenyouaredisposedformusic，reading，orconversation。WehavetakenmeasurestoexcludeallservantsbutSpontoon，whoisastrueassteel。’’

InabouttwohoursColonelTalbotreturned，andfoundhisyoungfriendconversingwithhislady；shepleasedwithhismannersandinformation，andhedelightedatbeingrestored，thoughbutforamoment，tothesocietyofhisownrank，fromwhichhehad