EreWaverleyenteredthebanquetinghall，hewasofferedthepatriarchalrefreshmentofabathforthefeet，whichthesultryweather，andthemorasseshehadtraversed，renderedhighlyacceptable。Hewasnot，indeed，soluxuriouslyattendeduponthisoccasionastheheroictravellersintheOdyssey；thetaskofablutionandabstersionbeingperformed，notbyabeautifuldamsel，trainedTochafethelimb，andpourthefragrantoil，butbyasmoke-driedskinnyoldHighlandwoman，whodidnotseemtothinkherselfmuchhonouredbythedutyimposeduponher，butmutteredbetweenherteeth，Ourfathers’herdsdidnotfeedsoneartogether，thatIshoulddoyouthisservice。’’A
smalldonation，however，amplyreconciledthisancienthandmaidentothesupposeddegradation；and，asEdwardproceededtothehall，shegavehimherblessing，intheGaelicproverb，Maytheopenhandbefilledthefullest。’’
Thehall，inwhichthefeastwasprepared，occupiedthefirststoreyofIannanChaistel’soriginalerection，andahugeoakentableextendedthroughitswholelength。Theapparatusfordinnerwassimple，eventorudeness，andthecompanynumerous，eventocrowding。AttheheadofthetablewastheChiefhimself，withEdward，andtwoorthreeHighlandvisitorsofneighbouringclans；theeldersofhisowntribe，wadsetters，andtacksmen，astheywerecalled，whooccupiedportionsofhisestateasmortgagersorlessees，satnextinrank；beneaththem，theirsons，andnephews，andfoster-brethren；thentheofficersoftheChief’shousehold，accordingtotheirorder；and，lowestofall，thetenantswhoactuallycultivatedtheground。Evenbeyondthislongperspective，Edwardmightseeuponthegreen，towhichahugepairoffoldingdoorsopened，amultitudeofHighlandersofayetinferiordescription，who，nevertheless，wereconsideredasguests，andhadtheirsharebothofthecountenanceoftheentertainer，andofthecheeroftheday。Inthedistance，andfluctuatingroundthisextremevergeofthebanquet，wasachangefulgroupofwomen，raggedboysandgirls，beggars，youngandold，largegreyhounds，andterriers，andpointers，andcursoflowdegree；allofwhomtooksomeinterest，moreorlessimmediate，inthemainactionofthepiece。
Thishospitality，apparentlyunbounded，hadyetitslineofeconomy。Somepainshadbeenbestowedindressingthedishesoffish，game，etc。，whichwereattheupperendofthetable，andimmediatelyundertheeyeoftheEnglishstranger。Lowerdownstoodimmenseclumsyjointsofmuttonandbeef，which，butfortheabsenceofpork，<>abhorredintheHighlands，resembledPorkorswine’sflesh，inanyshape，was，tilloflateyears，muchabominatedbytheScotch，norisityetafavouritefoodamongstthem。
KingJamiecarriedthisprejudicetoEngland，andisknowntohaveabhorredporkalmostasmuchashedidtobacco。BenJonsonhasrecordedthispeculiarity，wherethegipsyinamasque，examiningtheking’shand，says-
Youshould，bythisline，Loveahorse，andahound，butnopartofaswine。’’
_TheGipsiesMetamorphosed。_
James’sownproposedbanquetforthedevilwasaloinofporkandapollofling，withapipeoftobaccofordigestion。
therudefestivityofthebanquetofPenelope’ssuitors。
Butthecentraldishwasayearlinglamb，called，ahoginhar’st，’’roastedwhole。Itwassetuponitslegs，withabunchofparsleyinitsmouth，andwasprobablyexhibitedinthatformtogratifytheprideofthecook，whopiquedhimselfmoreontheplentythantheeleganceofhismaster’stable。Thesidesofthispooranimalwerefiercelyattackedbytheclansmen，somewithdirks，otherswiththekniveswhichwereusuallyinthesamesheathwiththedagger，sothatitwassoonrenderedamangledandruefulspectacle。Lowerdownstill，thevictualsseemedofyetcoarserquality，thoughsufficientlyabundant。
Broth，onions，cheese，andthefragmentsofthefeast，regaledthesonsofIvorwhofeastedintheopenair。
Theliquorwassuppliedinthesameproportion，andundersimilarregulations。ExcellentclaretandchampagnewereliberallydistributedamongtheChief’simmediateneighbours；
whisky，plainordiluted，andstrongbeer，refreshedthosewhosatnearthelowerend。Nordidthisinequalityofdistributionappeartogivetheleastoffence。Everyonepresentunderstoodthathistastewastobeformedaccordingtotherankwhichheheldattable；and，consequently，thetacksmenandtheirdependantsalwaysprofessedthewinewastoocoldfortheirstomachs，andcalled，apparentlyoutofchoice，fortheliquorwhichwasassignedtothemfromeconomy。<>Thebagpipers，NoteM。AScottishDinnerTable。<！p142>
threeinnumber，screamed，duringthewholetimeofdinner，atremendouswar-tune；andtheechoingofthevaultedroof，andclangoftheCeltictongue，producedsuchaBabelofnoises，thatWaverleydreadedhisearswouldneverrecoverit。Mac-Ivor，indeed，apologisedfortheconfusionoccasionedbysolargeaparty，andpleadedthenecessityofhissituation，onwhichunlimitedhospitalitywasimposedasaparamountduty。Thesestoutidlekinsmenofmine，’’hesaid，accountmyestateasheldintrustfortheirsupport；andImustfindthembeefandale，whiletherogueswilldonothingforthemselvesbutpractisethebroadsword，orwanderaboutthehills，shooting，fishing，hunting，drinking，andmakinglovetothelassesofthestrath。
ButwhatcanIdo，CaptainWaverley？everythingwillkeepafteritskind，whetheritbeahawkoraHighlander。’’Edwardmadetheexpectedanswer，inacomplimentuponhispossessingsomanyboldandattachedfollowers。
Why，yes，’’repliedtheChief，wereIdisposed，likemyfather，toputmyselfinthewayofgettingoneblowonthehead，ortwoontheneck，Ibelievetheloonswouldstandbyme。Butwhothinksofthatinthepresentday，whenthemaximis-`Betteranoldwomanwithapurseinherhand，thanthreemenwithbeltedbrands？’’’Then，turningtothecompany，heproposedtheHealthofCaptainWaverley，aworthyfriendofhiskindneighbourandally，theBaronofBradwardine。’’
Heiswelcomehither，’’saidoneoftheelders，ifhecomefromCosmoComyneBradwardine。’’
Isaynaytothat，’’saidanoldman，whoapparentlydidnotmeantopledgethetoast；Isaynaytothat；-whilethereisagreenleafintheforest，therewillbefraudinaComyne。’’
ThereisnothingbuthonourintheBaronofBradwardine，’’
answeredanotherancient；andtheguestthatcomeshitherfromhimshouldbewelcome，thoughhecamewithbloodonhishand，unlessitwerebloodoftheraceofIvor。’’
Theoldman，whosecupremainedfull，replied，TherehasbeenbloodenoughoftheraceofIvoronthehandofBradwardine。’’
Ah！Ballenkeiroch，’’repliedthefirst，youthinkratheroftheflashofthecarbineattheMainsofTully-Veolan，thantheglanceoftheswordthatfoughtforthecauseatPreston。’’
AndwellImay，’’answeredBallenkeiroch；theflashoftheguncostmeafair-hairedson，andtheglanceoftheswordhasdonebutlittleforKingJames。’’
TheChieftain，intwowordsofFrench，explainedtoWaverley，thattheBaronhadshotthisoldman’ssoninafraynearTully-Veolanaboutsevenyearsbefore；andthenhastenedtoremoveBallenkeiroch’sprejudice，byinforminghimthatWaverleywasanEnglishman，unconnectedbybirthoralliancewiththefamilyofBradwardine；uponwhichtheoldgentlemanraisedthehitherto-untastedcup，andcourteouslydranktohishealth。Thisceremonybeingrequitedinkind，theChieftainmadeasignalforthepipestocease，andsaidaloud，Whereisthesonghidden，myfriends，thatMac-Murroughcannotfindit？’’
Mac-Murrough，thefamily_bhairdh，_anagedman，immediatelytookthehint，andbegantochant，withlowandrapidutterance，aprofusionofCelticverses，whichwerereceivedbytheaudiencewithalltheapplauseofenthusiasm。Asheadvancedinhisdeclamation，hisardourseemedtoincrease。
Hehadatfirstspokenwithhiseyesfixedontheground；henowcastthemaroundasifbeseeching，andanonasifcommanding，attention，andhistonesroseintowildandimpassionednotes，accompaniedwithappropriategestures。HeseemedtoEdward，whoattendedtohimwithmuchinterest，torecitemanypropernames，tolamentthedead，toapostrophizetheabsent，toexhort，andentreat，andanimatethosewhowerepresent。Waverleythoughtheevendiscernedhisownname，andwasconvincedhisconjecturewasright，fromtheeyesofthecompanybeingatthatmomentturnedtowardshimsimultaneously。Theardourofthepoetappearedtocommunicateitselftotheaudience。Theirwildandsun-burntcountenancesassumedafiercerandmoreanimatedexpression；allbentforwardtowardsthereciter，manysprungupandwavedtheirarmsinecstasy，andsomelaidtheirhandsontheirswords。Whenthesongceased，therewasadeeppause，whilethearousedfeelingsofthepoetandofthehearersgraduallysubsidedintotheirusualchannel。
TheChieftain，whoduringthisscenehadappearedrathertowatchtheemotionswhichwereexcited，thantopartaketheirhightoneofenthusiasm，filledwithclaretasmallsilvercupwhichstoodbyhim。Givethis，’’hesaidtoanattendant，toMac-MurroughnanFonn(_i。e。_ofthesongs)，andwhenhehasdrankthejuice，bidhimkeep，forthesakeofVichIanVohr，theshellofthegourdwhichcontainedit。’’ThegiftwasreceivedbyMacMurroughwithprofoundgratitude；hedrankthewine，and，kissingthecup，shroudeditwithreverenceintheplaidwhichwasfoldedonhisbosom。HethenburstforthintowhatEdwardjustlysupposedtobeanextemporaneouseffusionofthanks，andpraisesofhisChief。Itwasreceivedwithapplause，butdidnotproducetheeffectofhisfirstpoem。
Itwasobvious，however，thattheclanregardedthegenerosityoftheirChieftainwithhighapprobation。ManyapprovedGaelictoastswerethenproposed，ofsomeofwhichtheChieftaingavehisguestthefollowingversions：-
Tohimthatwillnotturnhisbackonfriendorfoe。’’Tohimthatneverforsookacomrade。’’Tohimthatneverboughtorsoldjustice。’’Hospitalitytotheexile，andbrokenbonestothetyrant。’’Theladswiththekilts。’’Highlanders，shouldertoshoulder，’’-withmanyotherpithysentimentsofthelikenature。
Edwardwasparticularlysolicitoustoknowthemeaningofthatsongwhichappearedtoproducesucheffectuponthepassionsofthecompany，andhintedhiscuriositytohishost。
AsIobserve，’’saidtheChieftain，thatyouhavepassedthebottleduringthelastthreerounds，Iwasabouttoproposetoyoutoretiretomysister’stea-table，whocanexplainthesethingstoyoubetterthanIcan。AlthoughIcannotstintmyclanintheusualcurrentoftheirfestivity，yetIneitheramaddictedmyselftoexceedinitsamount，nordoI，’’addedhe，smiling，keepaBeartodevourtheintellectsofsuchascanmakegooduseofthem。’’
Edwardreadilyassentedtothisproposal，andtheChieftain，sayingafewwordstothosearoundhim，leftthetable，followedbyWaverley。Asthedoorclosedbehindthem，EdwardheardVichIanVohr’shealthinvokedwithawildandanimatedcheer，thatexpressedthesatisfactionoftheguests，andthedepthoftheirdevotiontohisservice。
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIRST。
THECHIEFTAIN’SSISTER。
Thedrawing-roomofFloraMac-Ivorwasfurnishedintheplainestandmostsimplemanner；foratGlennaquoicheveryothersortofexpenditurewasretrenchedasmuchaspossible，forthepurposeofmaintaining，initsfulldignity，thehospitalityoftheChieftain，andretainingandmultiplyingthenumberofhisdependantsandadherents。Buttherewasnoappearanceofthisparsimonyinthedressoftheladyherself，whichwasintextureelegant，andevenrich，andarrangedinamannerwhichpartookpartlyoftheParisianfashion，andpartlyofthemoresimpledressoftheHighlands，blendedtogetherwithgreattaste。
Herhairwasnotdisfiguredbytheartofthefriseur，butfellinjettyringletsonherneck，confinedonlybyacirclet，richlysetwithdiamonds。ThispeculiaritysheadoptedincompliancewiththeHighlandprejudices，whichcouldnotendurethatawoman’sheadshouldbecoveredbeforewedlock。
FloraMac-IvorboreamoststrikingresemblancetoherbrotherFergus；somuchso，thattheymighthaveplayedViolaandSebastianwiththesameexquisiteeffectproducedbytheappearanceofMrs。HenrySiddonsandherbrother，Mr。
WilliamMurray，inthesecharacters。Theyhadthesameantiqueandregularcorrectnessofprofile；thesamedarkeyes，eye-lashes，andeye-brows；thesameclearnessofcomplexion，exceptingthatFergus’swasembrownedbyexercise，andFlora’spossessedtheutmostfemininedelicacy。Butthehaughty，andsomewhatsternregularityofFergus’sfeatureswasbeautifullysoftenedinthoseofFlora。Theirvoiceswerealsosimilarintone，thoughdifferinginthekey。ThatofFergus，especiallywhileissuingorderstohisfollowersduringtheirmilitaryexercise，remindedEdwardofafavouritepassageinthedescriptionofEmetrius：-
