must have much to say to your friend; I will detain you no longer from your private conversation; but remember, we expect you both to attend us in the evening. It may be perhaps the last night we may enjoy in these halls, and as we go to the field with a clear conscience, we will spend the eve of battle merrily." Thus licensed, the Chief and Waverley left the presence-chamber. CHAPTER XLI. The Mystery begins to be cleared up. "How do you like him?" was Fergus's first question, as they descended the large stone staircase. "A prince to live and die under," was Waverley's enthusiastic answer. "I knew you would think so when you saw him, and I intended you should have met earlier, but was prevented by your sprain. And yet he has his foibles, or rather he has difficult cards to play, and his Irish officers, who are much about him, are but sorry advisers, they cannot discriminate among the numerous pretensions that are set up. Would you think it--I have been obliged for the present to suppress an earl's patent, granted for services rendered ten years ago, for fear of exciting the jealousy, forsooth, of C and M. But you were very right, Edward, to refuse the situation of aide-de-camp. There are two vacant, indeed, but Clanronald and Lochiel, and almost all of us, have requested one for young Aberchallader, and the Lowlanders and the Irish party are equally desirous to have the other for the Master of FNow, if either of these candidates were to be superseded in your favour, you would make enemies. And then I am surprised that the Prince should have offered you a majority, when he knows very well that nothing short of lieutenant-colonel will satisfy others, who cannot bring one hundred and fifty men to the field. 'But patience, cousin, and shuffle the cards!' It is all very well for the present, and we must have you properly equipped for the evening in your new costume; for, to say truth, your outward man is scarce fit for a court." "Why," said Waverley, looking at his soiled dress, "my shooting-jacket has seen service since we parted; but that, probably, you, my friend, know as well or better than I." "You do my second-sight too much honour," said Fergus. "We were so busy, first with the scheme of giving battle to Cope, and afterwards with our operations in the Lowlands, that I could only give general directions to such of our people as were left in Perthshire to respect and protect you, should you come in their way. But let me hear the full story of your adventures, for they have reached us in a very partial and mutilated manner." Chief, she being a person with whom good looks and good-humour were sure to secure an interest, whatever might be the party's political opinions. Here Callum Beg received them with a smile of recognition. "Callum," said the Chief, "call Shemus an Snachad" (James of the Needle.) This was the hereditary tailor of Vich Ian Vohr. 66 Shemus, Mr Waverley is to wear the cath dath (battle colour, or tartan ;) his trews must be ready in four hours. You know the measure of a well made man: two double nails to the small of the leg" "Eleven from haunch to heel, seven round the waist-I give your honour leave to hang Shemus, if there's a pair of sheers in the Highlands that has a baulder sneck than her's ain at the cumadh an fra". truais" (shape of the trews.) "Get a plaid of Mac-Ivor tartan, and sash," continued the Chieftain, "and a blue bonnet of the Prince's pattern, at Mr Mouat's in the Crames. My short green coat, with silver lace and silver buttons, will fit him exactly, and I have never worn it. Tell Ensign Maccombich to pick out a handsome target from among mine. The Prince has given Mr Waverley broadsword and pistols, I will furnish him with a dirk and purse; add but a pair of low-heeled shoes, and then, my dear Edward (turning to him), you will be a complete son of Ivor." These necessary directions given, the Chieftain resumed the subject of Waverley's adventures. “It is plain," he said, "that you have been in the custody of Donald Bean Lean. You must know, that when I marched away my clan to join the Prince, I laid my injunctions on that worthy member of society to perform a certain piece of service, which done, he was to join me with all the force he could muster. But instead of doing so, the gentleman, finding the coast clear, thought it better to make war on his own account, and has scoured the country, plundering, I believe, both friend and foe, under pretence of levying black mail, sometimes as if by my authority, and sometimes (and be cursed to his consummate impudence) in his own great name! Upon my honour, if I live to see the cairn of Benmore again, I shall be tempted to hang that fellow ! I recognise his hand particularly in the mode of your rescue from that canting rascal Gilfillan, and I have little doubt that Donald himself played the part of the pedlar on that occasion; but how he should not have plundered you, or put you to ransom, or availed himself in some way or other of your captivity for his own advantage, passes my judgment." "When and how did you hear the intelligence of my confinement?" asked Waverley. "The Prince himself told me," said Fergus," and inquired very minutely into your history. He then mentioned your being at that moment in the power of one of our northern parties - you know I could not ask him to explain particulars - and requested my opinion about disposing of you. I recommend Waverley then detailed at length the circum-ed that you should be brought here as a prisoner, stances with which the reader is already acquainted, to which Fergus listened with great attention. By this time they had reached the door of his quarters, which he had taken up in a small paved court, retiring from the street called the Canongate, at the house of a buxom widow of forty, who seemed to smile very graciously upon the handsome young 1 See Note 2 D,- The Chevalier's Army. because I did not wish to prejudice you farther with the English Government, in case you pursued your purpose of going southward. I knew nothing, you must recollect, of the charge brought against you of aiding and abetting high treason, which, I presume, had some share in changing your original plan. That sullen, good-for-nothing brute, Balawhapple, was sent to escort you from Doune, with what he calls his troop of horse. As to his belia viour, in addition to his natural antipathy to every thing that resembles a gentleman, I presume his adventure with Bradwardine rankles in his recollection, the rather that I dare say his mode of telling that story contributed to the evil reports which reached your quondam regiment." "Very likely," said Waverley; "but now surely, my dear Fergus, you may find time to tell me something of Flora." "Why," replied Fergus, "I can only tell you that she is well, and residing for the present with a relation in this city. I thought it better she should come here, as since our success a good many ladies of rank attend our military court; and I assure you, that there is a sort of consequence annexed to the near relative of such a person as Flora Mac-Ivor; and where there is such a justling of claims and requests, a man must use every fair means to enhance his importance." ༧.༤༧་ཝ་༤ ༥ There was something in this last sentence which grated on Waverley's feelings. He could not bear that Flora should be considered as conducing to her brother's preferment, by the admiration which she must unquestionably attract; and although it was in strict correspondence with many points of Fergus's character, it shocked him as selfish, and unworthy of his sister's high mind, and his own independent pride. Fergus, to whom such manouvres were familiar, as to one brought up at the French court, did not observe the unfavourable impression which he had unwarily made upon his friend's mind, and concluded by saying, "that they could hardly see Flora before the evening, when she would be at the concert and ball, with which the Prince's party were to be entertained. She and I had a quarrel about her not appearing to take leave of you. I am unwilling to renew it, by soliciting her to receive you this morning; and perhaps my doing so might not only be ineffectual, but prevent your meeting this evening." While thus conversing, Waverley heard in the court, before the windows of the parlour, a wellknown voice. "I aver to you, my worthy friend," said the speaker," that it is a total dereliction of military discipline; and were you not as it were a tyro, your purpose would deserve strong reprobation. For a prisoner of war is on no account to be coerced with fetters, or detained in ergastulo, as would have been the case had you put this gentleman into the pit of the peel-house at Balmawhapple. I grant, indeed, that such a prisoner may for security be coerced in carcere, that is, in a public prison." small tower The growling voice of Balmawhapple was heard as taking leave in displeasure, but the word "landlouper" alone was distinctly audible. He had disappeared before Waverley reached the house, in order to greet the worthy Baron of Bradwardine. The uniform in which he was now attired, a blue coat, namely, with gold lace, a scarlet waistcoat and breeches, and immense jack-boots, seemed to have added fresh stiffness and rigidity to his tall, perpendicular figure; and the consciousness of military command and authority had increased, in the same proportion, the self-importance of his demeanour, and the dogmatism of his conversation. He received Waverley with his usual kindness, and expressed immediate anxiety to hear an explanation of the circumstances attending the loss of his commission in Gardiner's dragoons; "not," he VOL. I. No. VIII. 113 Fergus Mac-Ivor, who had now joined them, went hastily over the circumstances of Waverley's story, and concluded with the flattering reception he had met from the young Chevalier.. The Baron listened in silence, and at the conclusion shook Waverley heartily by the hand, and congratulated him upon entering the service of his lawful Prince. "For," continued he," although it has been justly held in all nations a matter of scandal and dishonour to infringe the sacramentum militare, and that whether it was taken by each soldier singly, whilk the Romans denominated per conjurationem, or by one soldier in name of the rest, yet no one ever doubted that the allegiance so sworn was discharged by the dimissio, or discharging of a soldier, whose case would be as hard as that of colliers, salters, and other adscripti gleba, or slaves of the soil, were it to be accounted otherwise. This is something like the brocard expressed by the learned Sanchez in his work De Jure-jurando, which you have questionless consulted upon this occasion. As for those who have calumniated you by leasing-making, I protest to Heaven I think they have justly incurred the penalty of the Memnonia lex, also called Lex Rhemnia, which is prelected upon by Tullius in his lectured oration In Verrem. I should have deemed, however, Mr Waverley, that before destining yourself to any special service in the army of the Prince, ye might have inquired what rank the old Bradwardine held there, and whether he would not have been peculiarly happy to have had your services in the regiment of horse which he is now about to levy." Edward eluded this reproach by pleading the necessity of giving an immediate answer to the Prince's proposal, and his uncertainty at the moment whether his friend the Baron was with the army, or engaged upon service elsewhere. This punctilio being settled, Waverley made inquiry after Miss Bradwardine, and was informed she had come to Edinburgh with Flora Mac-Ivor, under guard of a party of the Chieftain's men. This step was indeed necessary, Tully-Veolan having become a very unpleasant, and even dangerous place of residence for an unprotected young lady, on account of its vicinity to the Highlands, and also to one or two large villages, which, from aversion as much to the Caterans as zeal for presbytery, had declared themselves on the side of Government, and formed irregular bodies of partisans, who had frequent skirmishes with the mountaineers, and sometimes attacked the houses of the Jacobite gentry in the braes, or frontier betwixt the mountain and plain. 66 "I would propose to you," continued the Baron, "to walk as far as my quarters in the Luckenbooths, and to admire in your passage the High Street, whilk is, beyond a shadow of dubitation, finer than any street, whether in London or Paris. But Rose, poor thing, is sorely discomposed with the firing of the Castle, though I have proved to her from Blonl'ele went G del and Coehorn, that it is impossible a bullet can reach these buildings; and, besides, I have it in charge from his Royal Highness to go to the camp, or leaguer of our army, to see that the men do conclamare casa, that is, truss up their bag and baggage for to-morrow's march." "That will be easily done by most of us," said Mac-Ivor, laughing. "Craving your pardon, Colonel Mac-Ivor, not quite so easily as ye seem to opine. I grant most of your folk left the Highlands, expedited as it were, and free from the incumbrance of baggage; but it is unspeakable the quantity of useless sprechery which they have collected on their march. I saw one fellow of yours (craving your pardon once more) a marrer. with a pier-glass upon his back." liput between “Ay," said Fergus, still in good-humour, "he would have told you, if you had questioned him, a ganging foot is aye getting.-But come, my dear Baron, you know as well as I, that a hundred Uhlans, or a single troop of Schmirschitz's Pandours, would make more havock in a country than the knight of the mirror and all the rest of our clans put together." windong "And that is very true likewise," replied the Baron; "they are, as the heathen author says, ferociores in aspectu, mitiores in actu, of a horrid and grim visage, but more benign in demeanour than their physiognomy or aspect might infer.-But I stand here talking to you two youngsters, when I should be in the King's Park." "But you will dine with Waverley and me on your return? I assure you, Baron, though I can live like a Highlander when needs must, I remember my Paris education, and understand perfectly faire la meilleure chère." "And wha the deil doubts it," quoth the Baron, laughing, "when ye bring only the cookery, and the gude toun must furnish the materials?-Weel, I have some business in the toun too: But I'll join you at three, if the vivers can tarry so long." So saying, he took leave of his friends, and went to look after the charge which had been assigned him. CHAPTER XLII. A Soldier's Dinner. JAMES OF THE NEEDLE was a man of his word, when whisky was no party to the contract; and upon this occasion Callum Beg, who still thought himself in Waverley's debt, since he had declined accepting compensation at the expense of mine Host of the Candlestick's person, took the opportunity of discharging the obligation, by mounting guard over the hereditary tailor of Sliochd nan Ivor; and, as he expressed himself, " targed him tightly" till the finishing of the job. To rid himself of this restraint, Shemus's needle flew through the tartan like lightning; and as the artist kept chanting some dreadful skirmish of Fin Macoul, he accomplished at least three stitches to the death of every hero. The dress was, therefore, soon ready, for the short coat fitted the wearer, and the rest of the apparel required little adjustment. Our hero having now fairly assumed the "garb of old Gaul," well calculated as it was to give an appearance of strength to.a figure, which, though tail and well-made, was rather elegant than robust, I hope my fair readers will excuse him if he looked at himself in the mirror more than once, and could not help acknowledging that the reflection seemed that of a very handsome young fellow. In fact, there was no disguising it. His light-brown hair - for he wore no periwig, notwithstanding the universal fashion of the time--became the bonnet which surmounted it. His person promised firmness and agility, to which the ample folds of the tartan added an air of dignity. His blue eye seemed of that kind, "Which melted in love, and which kindled in war;" and an air of bashfulness, which was in reality the effect of want of habitual intercourse with the world, gave interest to his features, without injuring their grace or intelligence. "He's a pratty man-a very pratty man," said Evan Dhu (now Ensign Maccombich) to Fergus's buxom landlady. "He's vera weel," said the Widow Flockhart, "but no naething sae weel-far'd as your colonel, ensign." nor "I wasna comparing them," quoth Evan, " was I speaking about his being weel-favoured; but only that Mr Waverley looks clean-made and deliver, and like a proper lad of his quarters, that will not cry barley in a brulzie. And, indeed, he's gleg aneuch at the broadsword and target. I hae played wi' him mysell at Glennaquoich, and sae has Vich Ian Vohr, often of a Sunday afternoon." "Lord forgie ye, Ensign Maccombich," said the alarmed Presbyterian; "I'm sure the colonel wad never do the like o' that!" "Hout! hout! Mrs Flockhart," replied the ensign, "we're young blude, ye ken; and young saints, auld deils." "But will ye fight wi' Sir John Cope the morn, Ensign Maccombich?" demanded Mrs Flockhart of her guest. "Troth I'se ensure him, an' he'll bide us, Mrs Flockhart," replied the Gael. "And will ye face thae tearing chields, the dragoons, Ensign Maccombich?" again inquired the landlady. "Claw for elaw, as Conan said to Satan, Mrs Flockhart, and the deevil tak the shortest nails." "And will the colonel venture on the bagganets himsell?" "Ye may swear it, Mrs Flockhart; the very first man will he be, by Saint Phedar." "Merciful goodness! and if he's killed amang the red-coats!" exclaimed the soft-hearted widow. "Troth, if it should sae befall, Mrs Flockhart, I ken ane that will no be living to weep for him. But we maun a' live the day, and have our dinner; and there's Vich Ian Vohr has packed his dorlach, and Mr Waverley's wearied wi' majoring yonder afore the muckle pier-glass; and that grey auld stoor carle, the Baron o' Bradwardine, that shot young Ronald of Ballenkeiroch, he's coming down the close wi' that droghling coghling bailie body they ca' Macwhupple, just like the Laird o' Kittlegab's French cook, wi' his turnspit doggie trindling ahint him, and I am as hungry as a gled, my bonny dow; sae bid Kate set on the broo', and do ye put on your pinners, for ye ken Vich Ian Vohr winna sit down till ye be at the head o' the table;-and dinna forget the pint bottle o' brandy, my woman." This hint produced dinner. Mrs Flockhart, smiling in her weeds like the sun through a mist, took the head of the table, thinking within herself, perhaps, that she cared not how long the rebellion lasted, that brought her into company so much above her usual associates. She was supported by Waverley and the Baron, with the advantage of the Chieftain vis-à-vis. The men of peace and of war, that is, Bailie Macwheeble and Ensign Maccombich, after many profound congés to their superiors and each other, took their places on each side of the Chieftain. Their fare was excellent, time, place, and circumstances considered, and Fergus's spirits were extravagantly high. Regardless of danger, and sanguine from temper, youth, and ambition, he saw in imagination all his prospects crowned with success, and was totally indifferent to the probable alternative of a soldier's grave. The Baron apologized slightly for bringing Macwheeble. They had been providing, he said, for the expenses of the campaign. faith," said the old man, "And, by my my last, so I just end where I began-1 hae everas I think this will be more found the sinews of war, as a learned author calls the caisse militaire, mair difficult to come by than either its flesh, blood, or bones." "What! have you raised our only efficient body of cavalry, and got ye none of the louis-d'or out of the Doutelle, to help you?" 66 "No, Glennaquoich; cleverer fellows have been before me." "That's a scandal," said the young Highlander; but you will share what is left of my subsidy: It will save you an anxious thought to-night, and will be all one to-morrow, for we shall all be provided for, one way or other, before the sun sets." Waverley, blushing deeply, but with great earnestness, pressed the same request. answered, when he had recovered his breath,— ron, "whilk, amang the Romans, was privilegiate go to the grenadier that knocks my brains out, and his oar; for where cash was concerned, he did not "The young lady," said Fergus, "should such but your honour kens that a full sorrow "Is endurable by most folk more easily than a "I thank ye baith, my good lads," said the Ba-lieve there may even be some who would be conron," but I will not infringe upon your peculium. Bailie Macwheeble has provided the sum which is necessary." Here the Bailie shifted and fidgeted about in his seat, and appeared extremely uneasy. At length, after several preliminary hems, and much tautological expression of his devotion to his honour's service, by night or day, living or dead, he began to insinuate, that the Banks had removed a' their ready cash into the Castle; that, nae doubt, Sandie Goldie, the silversmith, would do mickle for his honour; but there was little time to get the wadset made out; and, doubtless, if his honour Glennaquoich, or Mr Wauverley, could accommodate”. "Let me hear of no such nonsense, sir," said the Baron, in a tone which rendered Macwheeble mute," but proceed as we accorded before dinner, if it be your wish to remain in my service." To this peremptory order the Bailie, though he felt as if condemned to suffer a transfusion of blood from his own veins into those of the Baron, did not presume to make any reply. After fidgeting a little while longer, however, he addressed himself to Glennaquoich, and told him, if his honour had mair ready siller than was sufficient for his occasions in the field, he could put it out at use for his honour in safe hands, and at great profit, at this time. At this proposal Fergus laughed heartily, and The Doutelle was an armed vessel, which brought a all supply of money and arms from France for the use of the insurgents. 115 or min gase soled by such a reflection for the loss of the whole unprotected state of his daughter, and the big tear all; a good deal of dirt and dross about him, un- outfield, infield - buildings-orchards-dovecots-with the right of net and coble in the water annexis, connexis-rights of pasturage—fuel, and loch of Veolan-teinds, parsonage and vicarage feal, and divot-parts, pendicles, and pertinents his long cravat to wipe his eyes, which overflowed whatsoever (here he had recourse to the end of 2 Old women, on whom devolved the duty of lamenting for the dead, which the Irish call Keenning. in spite of him, at the ideas which this technical jargon conjured up)-all as more fully described in the proper evidents and titles thereof and lying within the parish of Bradwardine, and the shire of Perth-if, as aforesaid, they must a' pass from my master's child to Inch-Grabbit, wha's a Whig and a Hanoverian, and be managed by his doer, Jamie Howie, wha's no fit to be a birlieman, let be a bailie" The beginning of this lamentation really had something affecting, but the conclusion rendered laughter irresistible. "Never mind, Bailie," said Ensign Maccombich, " for the gude auld times of rugging and riving (pulling and tearing) are come back again, an' Sneckus Mac-Snackus (meaning, probably, annexis, connexis), and a' the rest of your friends, maun gie place to the langest claymore." "And that claymore shall be ours, Bailie," said the Chieftain, who saw that Macwheeble looked very blank at this intimation. "We'll give them the metal our mountain affords, Lillibulero, bullen a la, And in place of broad-pieces, we'll pay with broadswords, Lero, lero, &c. With duns and with debts we will soon clear our score, Lillibulero, &c. For the man that's thus paid will crave payment no more, Lero, lero,' &c.1 way our hero upon the handsome figure which his new dress displayed to advantage. "If you have any design upon the heart of a bonny Scotch lassie, I would premonish you, when you address her, to remember and quote the words of Virgilius: Nunc insanus amor duri me Martis in armis, Tela inter media atque adversos detinet hostes:" Whilk verses Robertson of Struan, Chief of the Clan Donnochy (unless the claims of Lude ought to be preferred primo loco), has thus elegantly rendered: For cruel love has gartan'd low my leg, And clad my hurdies in a philabeg.' Although, indeed, ye wear the trews, a garment whilk I approve maist of the twa, as mair ancient and seemly." "Or rather," said Fergus, "hear my song: She wadna hae a Lowland laird, But she's away with Duncan Græme, By this time they reached the palace of Holyrood, and were announced respectively as they entered the apartments. It is but too well known how many gentlemen of rank, education, and fortune, took a concern in the ill-fated and desperate undertaking of 1745. The ladies, also, of Scotland very generally espoused the cause of the gallant and handsome young Prince, But come, Bailie, be not cast down; drink your wine with a joyous heart; the Baron shall return safe and victorious to Tully-Veolan, and unite Kill-who threw himself upon the mercy of his countryancureit's lairdship with his own, since the cowardly half-bred swine will not turn out for the Prince like a gentleman." "To be sure, they lie maist ewest," "2 said the Bailie, wiping his eyes," and should naturally fa' under the same factory." "And I," proceeded the Chieftain, "shall take care of myself, too; for you must know, I have to complete a good work here, by bringing Mrs Flockhart into the bosom of the Catholic church, or at least half way, and that is to your Episcopal meetinghouse. O Baron! if you heard her fine countertenor admonishing Kate and Matty in the morning, you, who understand music, would tremble at the idea of hearing her shriek in the psalmody of Haddo's Hole." "Lord forgie you, colonel, how ye rin on! But I hope your honours will tak tea before ye gang to the palace, and I maun gang and mask it for you." So saying, Mrs Flockhart left the gentlemen to their own conversation, which, as might be supposed, turned chiefly upon the approaching events of the campaign. CHAPTER XLIII. The Ball. ENSIGN MACCOMBICH having gone to the Highland camp upon duty, and Bailie Macwheeble having retired to digest his dinner and Evan Dhu's intimation of martial law, in some blind changehouse, Waverley, with the Baron and the Chieftain, proceeded to Holyrood-House. The two last were in full tide of spirits, and the Baron rallied in his 1 These lines, or something like them, occur in an old Magazine of the pericd. 2 i. e. contiguous. men, rather like a hero of romance than a calculating politician. It is not, therefore, to be wondered that Edward, who had spent the greater part of his life in the solemn seclusion of WaverleyHonour, should have been dazzled at the liveliness and elegance of the scene now exhibited in the longdeserted halls of the Scottish palace. The accompaniments, indeed, fell short of splendour, being such as the confusion and hurry of the time admitted; still, however, the general effect was striking, and, the rank of the company considered, might well be called brilliant. It was not long before the lover's eye discovered the object of his attachment. Flora Mac-Ivor was in the act of returning to her seat, near the top of the room, with Rose Bradwardine by her side. Among much elegance and beauty, they had attracted a great degree of the public attention, being certainly two of the handsomest women present. The Prince took much notice of both, particularly of Flora, with whom he danced; a preference which she probably owed to her foreign education, and command of the French and Italian languages. When the bustle attending the conclusion of the dance permitted, Edward, almost intuitively, followed Fergus to the place where Miss Mac-Ivor was seated. The sensation of hope, with which he had nursed his affection in absence of the beloved object, seemed to vanish in her presence, and, like one striving to recover the particulars of a forgotten dream, he would have given the world at that moment to have recollected the grounds on which he had founded expectations which now seemed so delusive. He accompanied Fergus with downcast eyes, tingling ears, and the feelings of the criminal, who, while the melancholy cart moves slowly through the crowds that have assembled to behold his execution, receives no clear sensation either from the noise which fills his ears, or the tumult on which he casts his wandering look. |