第76章

DesiroustobindWaverleytohisservice，andwishingalsotodoakindandfriendlyaction，thePrincenextassailedtheBarononthesubjectofsettlinghisestateuponhisdaughter。

Mr。Bradwardineacquiesced；buttheconsequencewas，thatFerguswasimmediatelyinducedtopreferhisdoublesuitforawifeandanearldom，whichtheprincerejectedinthemannerwehaveseen。TheChevalier，constantlyengagedinhisownmultipliedaffairs，hadnothithertosoughtanyexplanationwithWaverley，thoughoftenmeaningtodoso。ButafterFergus’sdeclaration，hesawthenecessityofappearingneutralbetweentherivals，devoutlyhopingthatthematter，whichnowseemedfraughtwiththeseedsofstrife，mightbepermittedtolieovertilltheterminationoftheexpedition。WhenonthemarchtoDerby，Fergus，beingquestionedconcerninghisquarrelwithWaverley，allegedasthecause，thatEdwardwasdesirousofretractingthesuithemadetohissister，theChevalierplainlytoldhim，thathehadhimselfobservedMissMac-Ivor’sbehaviourtoWaverley，andthathewasconvincedthatFerguswasundertheinfluenceofamistakeinjudgingofWaverley’sconduct，who，hehadeveryreasontobelieve，wasengagedtoMissBradwardine。ThequarrelwhichensuedbetweenEdwardandthechieftainis，Ihope，stillintheremembranceofthereader。Thesecircumstanceswillservetoexplainsuchpointsofournarrativeas，accordingtothecustomofstory-tellers，wedeemeditfittoleaveunexplained，forthepurposeofexcitingthereader’scuriosity。

WhenJanethadoncefinishedtheleadingfactsofthisnarrative，Waverleywaseasilyenabledtoapplytheclewwhichtheyafforded，toothermazesofthelabyrinthinwhichhehadbeenengaged。ToRoseBradwardine，then，heowedthelifewhichhenowthoughthecouldwillinglyhavelaiddowntoserveher。Alittlereflectionconvincedhim，however，thattoliveforhersakewasmoreconvenientandagreeable，andthat，beingpossessedofindependence，shemightshareitwithhimeitherinforeigncountriesorinhisown。ThepleasureofbeingalliedtoamanoftheBaron’shighworth，andwhowassomuchvaluedbyhisuncleSirEverard，wasalsoanagreeableconsideration，hadanythingbeenwantingtorecommendthematch。Hisabsurdities，whichhadappearedgrotesquelyludicrousduringhisprosperity，seemed，inthesunsetofhisfortune，tobeharmonisedandassimilatedwiththenoblefeaturesofhischaracter，soastoaddpeculiaritywithoutexcitingridicule。

Hismindoccupiedwithsuchprojectsoffuturehappiness，EdwardsoughtLittleVeolan，thehabitationofMr。DuncanMacwheeble。

NowisCupidlikeachildofconscience-hemakesrestitution。

Shakspeare。

Mr。DuncanMacwheeble，nolongercommissaryorBailie，thoughstillenjoyingtheemptynameofthelatterdignity，hadescapedproscriptionbyanearlysecessionfromtheinsurgentparty，andbyhisinsignificance。

Edwardfoundhiminhisoffice，immersedamongpapersandaccounts。Beforehimwasalargebickerofoatmeal-porridge，andatthesidethereof，ahorn-spoonandabottleoftwo-penny。

Eagerlyrunninghiseyeoveravoluminouslaw-paper，hefromtimetotimeshovelledanimmensespoonfulofthesenutritiveviandsintohiscapaciousmouth。Apot-belliedDutchbottleofbrandywhichstoodby，intimatedeitherthatthishonestlimbofthelawhadtakenhis_morning_already，orthathemeanttoseasonhisporridgewithsuchdigestive；orperhapsbothcircumstancesmightreasonablybeinferred。Hisnight-capandmorning-gownhadwhilomebeenoftartan，but，equallycautiousandfrugal，thehonestBailiehadgotthemdyedblack，lesttheiroriginalill-omenedcolourmightremindhisvisitorsofhisunluckyexcursiontoDerby。Tosumupthepicture，hisfacewasdaubedwithsnuffuptotheeyes，andhisfingerswithinkuptotheknuckles。HelookeddubiouslyatWaverleyasheapproachedthelittlegreenrailwhichfencedhisdeskandstoolfromtheapproachofthevulgar。NothingcouldgivetheBailiemoreannoyancethantheideaofhisacquaintancebeingclaimedbyanyoftheunfortunategentlemenwhowerenowsomuchmorelikelytoneedassistancethantoaffordprofit。ButthiswastherichyoungEnglishman-whoknewwhatmightbehissituation？-hewastheBaron’sfriendtoo-whatwastobedone？

Whilethesereflectionsgaveanairofabsurdperplexitytothepoorman’svisage，Waverley，reflectingonthecommunicationhewasabouttomaketohim，ofanaturesoridiculouslycontrastedwiththeappearanceoftheindividual，couldnothelpbursti