第79章

Alas，no，’’answeredWaverley；Ihavebeenrefusedadmittance。’’

Itaccordswiththerest，’’shesaid；butwemustsubmit。

Shallyouobtainleave，doyousuppose？’’

For-for-to-morrow，’’saidWaverley；butmutteringthelastwordsofaintlythatitwasalmostunintelligible。

Ay，thenornever，’’saidFlora，until’’-sheadded，lookingupward，thetimewhen，Itrust，weshallallmeet。ButIhopeyouwillseehimwhileearthyetbearshim。Healwayslovedyouathisheart，though-butitisvaintotalkofthepast。’’

Vainindeed！’’echoedWaverley。

Orevenofthefuture，mygoodfriend，’’saidFlora，sofarasearthlyeventsareconcerned；forhowoftenhaveIpicturedtomyselfthestrongpossibilityofthishorridissue，andtaskedmyselftoconsiderhowIcouldsupportmypart；andyethowfarhasallmyanticipationfallenshortoftheunimaginablebitternessofthishour！’’

DearFlora，ifyourstrengthofmind’’

Ay，thereitis，’’sheanswered，somewhatwildly；thereisMr。Waverley，thereisabusydevilatmyheartthatwhispers-butitweremadnesstolistentoit-thatthestrengthofmindonwhichFlorapridedherselfhasmurderedherbrother！’’

GoodGod！howcanyougiveutterancetoathoughtsoshocking？’’

Ay，isitnotso？-butyetithauntsmelikeaphantom：

Iknowitisunsubstantialandvain；butitwillbepresent-

willintrudeitshorrorsonmymind-willwhisperthatmybrother，asvolatileasardent，wouldhavedividedhisenergiesamidahundredobjects。ItwasIwhotaughthimtoconcentratethem，andtogageallonthisdreadfulanddesperatecast。

OhthatIcouldrecollectthatIhadbutoncesaidtohim，`Hethatstrikethwiththeswordshalldiebythesword；’thatIhadbutoncesaid，Remainathome；reserveyourself，yourvassals，yourlife，forenterpriseswithinthereachofman。Butoh，Mr。

Waverley，Ispurredhisfierytemper，andhalfofhisruinatleastlieswithhissister？’’

ThehorridideawhichshehadintimatedEdwardendeavouredtocombatbyeveryincoherentargumentthatoccurredtohim。

Herecalledtohertheprinciplesonwhichboththoughtittheirdutytoact，andinwhichtheyhadbeeneducated。

DonotthinkIhaveforgottenthem，’’shesaid，lookingup，witheagerquickness；Idonotregrethisattemptbecauseitwaswrong-ohno！onthatpointIamarmed-butbecauseitwasimpossibleitcouldendotherwisethanthus。’’

Yetitdidnotalwaysseemsodesperateandhazardousasitwas；anditwouldhavebeenchosenbytheboldspiritofFerguswhetheryouhadapproveditorno；yourcounselsonlyservedtogiveunityandconsistencetohisconduct；todignify，butnottoprecipitate，hisresolution。’’FlorahadsoonceasedtolistentoEdward，andwasagainintentuponherneedle-work。

Doyouremember，’’shesaid，lookingupwithaghastlysmile，youoncefoundmemakingFergus’sbride-favours，andnowIamsewinghisbridal-garment。Ourfriendshere，’’shecontinued，withsuppressedemotion，aretogivehallowedearthintheirchapeltothebloodyrelicsofthelastVichIanVohr。Buttheywillnotallresttogether；no-hishead！-I

shallnothavethelastmiserableconsolationofkissingthecoldlipsofmydear，dearFergus！’’

TheunfortunateFlorahere，afteroneortwohystericalsobs，faintedinherchair。Thelady，whohadbeenattendingintheante-room，nowenteredhastily，andbeggedEdwardtoleavetheroom，butnotthehouse。

Whenhewasrecalled，afterthespaceofnearlyhalf-an-hour，hefoundthat，byastrongeffort，MissMac-Ivorhadgreatlycomposedherself。ItwasthenheventuredtourgeMissBradwardine’sclaimtobeconsideredasanadoptedsister，andempoweredtoassistherplansforthefuture。

IhavehadaletterfrommydearRose，’’shereplied，tothesamepurpose。Sorrowisselfishandengrossing，orIwouldhavewrittentoexpressthat，eveninmyowndespair，Ifeltagleamofpleasureatlearningherhappyprospects，andathearingthatthegoodoldBaronhasescapedthegeneralwreck。GivethistomydearestRose；itisherpoorFlora’sonl