Unthreadtherudeeyeofrebellion，Andwelcomehomeagaindiscardedfaith，SeekoutPrinceCharles，andfallbeforehisfeet？
AllthathasbeenrecordedofexcellenceandworthinthehouseofWaverleyhasbeenfoundedupontheirloyalfaithtothehouseofStuart。FromtheinterpretationwhichthisScotchmagistratehasputuponthelettersofmyuncleandfather，itisplainthatIoughttohaveunderstoodthemasmarshallingmetothecourseofmyancestors；andithasbeenmygrossdulness，joinedtotheobscurityofexpressionwhichtheyadoptedforthesakeofsecurity，thathasconfoundedmyjudgment。
HadIyieldedtothefirstgenerousimpulseofindignationwhenIlearnedthatmyhonourwaspractisedupon，howdifferenthadbeenmypresentsituation！Ihadthenbeenfreeandinarms，fighting，likemyforefathers，forlove，forloyalty，andforfame。
AndnowIamhere，nettedandinthetoils，atthedisposalofasuspicious，stern，andcold-heartedman，perhapstobeturnedovertothesolitudeofadungeon，ortheinfamyofapublicexecution。OFergus！howtruehasyourprophecyproved；
andhowspeedy，howveryspeedy，hasbeenitsaccomplishment！’’
WhileEdwardwasruminatingonthesepainfulsubjectsofcontemplation，andverynaturally，thoughnotquitesojustly，bestowinguponthereigningdynastythatblamewhichwasduetochance，or，inpartatleast，tohisownunreflectingconduct，Mr。MortonavailedhimselfofMajorMelville’spermissiontopayhimanearlyvisit。
Waverley’sfirstimpulsewastointimateadesirethathemightnotbedisturbedwithquestionsorconversation；buthesuppressedituponobservingthebenevolentandreverendappearanceoftheclergymanwhohadrescuedhimfromtheimmediateviolenceofthevillagers。
Ibelieve，sir，’’saidtheunfortunateyoungman，thatinanyothercircumstancesIshouldhavehadasmuchgratitudetoexpresstoyouasthesafetyofmylifemaybeworth；butsuchisthepresenttumultofmymind，andsuchismyanticipationofwhatIamyetlikelytoendure，thatIcanhardlyofferyouthanksforyourinterposition。’’
Mr。Mortonreplied，that，farfrommakinganyclaimuponhisgoodopinion，hisonlywishandthesolepurposeofhisvisitwastofindoutthemeansofdeservingit。Myexcellentfriend，MajorMelville，’’hecontinued，hasfeelingsanddutiesasasoldierandpublicfunctionary，bywhichIamnotfettered；
norcanIalwayscoincideinopinionswhichheforms，perhapswithtoolittleallowancefortheimperfectionsofhumannature。’’
Hepaused，andthenproceeded：Idonotintrudemyselfonyourconfidence，Mr。Waverley，forthepurposeoflearninganycircumstances，theknowledgeofwhichcanbeprejudicialeithertoyourselfortoothers；butIownmyearnestwishis，thatyouwouldentrustmewithanyparticularswhichcouldleadtoyourexculpation。Icansolemnlyassureyoutheywillbedepositedwithafaithfuland，totheextentofhislimitedpowers，azealousagent。’’
Youare，sir，Ipresume，aPresbyterianclergyman？’’-Mr。
Mortonbowed-WereItobeguidedbytheprepossessionsofeducation，Imightdistrustyourfriendlyprofessionsinmycase：
butIhaveobservedthatsimilarprejudicesarenourishedinthiscountryagainstyourprofessionalbrethrenoftheEpiscopalpersuasion，andIamwillingtobelievethemequallyunfoundedinbothcases。’’
Eviltohimthatthinksotherwise，’’saidMr。Morton；orwhoholdschurchgovernmentandceremoniesastheexclusivegageofChristianfaithormoralvirtue。’’
But，’’continuedWaverley，IcannotperceivewhyIshouldtroubleyouwithadetailofparticulars，outofwhich，afterrevolvingthemascarefullyaspossibleinmyrecollection，Ifindmyselfunabletoexplainmuchofwhatischargedagainstme。
Iknow，indeed，thatIaminnocent，butIhardlyseehowIcanhopetoprovemyselfso。’’
Itisforthatveryreason，Mr。Waverley，’’saidtheclergyman，thatIventuretosolicityourconfidence。Myknowledgeofindividualsinthiscountryisprettygeneral，andcanuponoccasionbeextended。Yoursituationwill，Ifear，precludeyourtakingthoseactivestepsforrecoveringintelligence，ortracingimposture，whichIwouldwillinglyundertakeinyourbehalf；andifyouarenotbenefitedbymyexertions，atleasttheycannotbeprejudicialtoyou。’’
Waverley，afterafewminutes’reflection，wasconvincedthathisreposingconfidenceinMr。Morton，sofarashehimselfwasconcerned，couldhurtneitherMr。BradwardinenorFergusMac-Ivor，bothofwhomhadopenlyassumedarmsagainsttheGovernment，andthatitmightpossibly，iftheprofessionsofhisnewfriendcorrespondedinsinceritywiththeearnestnessofhisexpression，beofsomeservicetohimself。Hethereforeranbrieflyovermostoftheeventswithwhichthereaderisalreadyacquainted，suppressinghisattachmenttoFlora，and，indeed，neithermentioninghernorRoseBradwardineinthecourseofhisnarrative。
Mr。MortonseemedparticularlystruckwiththeaccountofWaverley’svisittoDonaldBeanLean。Iamglad，’’hesaid，youdidnotmentionthiscircumstancetotheMajor。Itiscapableofgreatmisconstructiononthepartofthosewhodonotconsiderthepowerofcuriosityandtheinfluenceofromanceasmotivesofyouthfulconduct。WhenIwasayoungmanlikeyou，Mr。Waverley，anysuchhair-brainedexpedition(Ibegyourpardonfortheexpression)wouldhavehadinexpressiblecharmsforme。Buttherearemenintheworldwhowillnotbelievethatdangerandfatigueareoftenincurredwithoutanyveryadequatecause，andthereforewhoaresometimesledtoassignmotivesofactionentirelyforeigntothetruth。ThismanBeanLeanisrenownedthroughthecountryasasortofRobinHood，andthestorieswhicharetoldofhisaddressandenterprisearethecommontalesofthewinterfireside。Hecertainlypossessestalentsbeyondtherudesphereinwhichhemoves；andbeingneitherdestituteofambitionnorencumberedwithscruples，hewillprobablyattemptbyeverymeanstodistinguishhimselfduringtheperiodoftheseunhappycommotions。’’
Mr。MortonthenmadeacarefulmemorandumofthevariousparticularsofWaverley’sinterviewwithDonaldBeanLean，andtheothercircumstanceswhichhehadcommunicated。
Theinterestwhichthisgoodmanseemedtotakeinhismisfortunes-
aboveall，thefullconfidenceheappearedtoreposeinhisinnocence-hadthenaturaleffectofsofteningEdward’sheart，whomthecoldnessofMajorMelvillehadtaughttobelievethattheworldwasleaguedtooppresshim。HeshookMr。Mortonwarmlybythehand，andassuringhimthathiskindnessandsympathyhadrelievedhismindofaheavyload，toldhim，thatwhatevermightbehisownfate，hebelongedtoafamilywhohadbothgratitudeandthepowerofdisplayingit。
Theearnestnessofhisthankscalleddropstotheeyesoftheworthyclergyman，whowasdoublyinterestedinthecauseforwhichhehadvolunteeredhisservices，byobservingthegenuineandundissembledfeelingsofhisyoungfriend。
EdwardnowinquiredifMrMortonknewwhatwaslikelytobehisdestination。
StirlingCastle，’’repliedhisfriend；andsofarIamwellpleasedforyoursake，forthegovernorisamanofhonourandhumanity。ButIammoredoubtfulofyourtreatmentupontheroad；MajorMelvilleisinvoluntarilyobligedtoentrustthecustodyofyourpersontoanother。’’
Iamgladofit，’’answeredWaverley。Idetestthatcold-bloodedcalculatingScotchmagistrate。IhopeheandIshallnevermeetmore：hehadneithersympathywithmyinnocencenormywretchedness；andthepetrifyingaccuracywithwhichheattendedtoeveryformofcivility，whilehetorturedmebyhisquestions，hissuspicions，andhisinferences，wasastormentingastheracksoftheInquisition。Donotvindicatehim，mydearsir，forthatIcannotbearwithpatience；tellmeratherwhoistohavethechargeofsoimportantastateprisonerasIam。’’
IbelieveapersoncalledGilfillan，oneofthesectwhoaretermedCameronians。’’
Ineverheardofthembefore。’’
Theyclaim，’’saidtheclergyman，torepresentthemorestrictandseverePresbyterians，whoinCharlesSecond’sandJamesSecond’sdays，refusedtoprofitbytheToleration，orIndulgence，asitwascalled，whichwasextendedtoothersofthatreligion。Theyheldconventiclesintheopenfields，andbeingtreatedwithgreatviolenceandcrueltybytheScottishgovernment，morethanoncetookarmsduringthosereigns。
Theytaketheirnamefromtheirleader，RichardCameron。’’
Irecollect，’’saidWaverley；butdidnotthetriumphofPresbyteryattheRevolutionextinguishthatsect？’’
Bynomeans，’’repliedMorton；thatgreateventfellyetfarshortofwhattheyproposed，whichwasnothinglessthanthecompleteestablishmentofthePresbyterianChurch，uponthegroundsoftheoldSolemnLeagueandCovenant。Indeed，Ibelievetheyscarceknewwhattheywanted；butbeinganumerousbodyofmen，andnotunacquaintedwiththeuseofarms，theykeptthemselvestogetherasaseparatepartyinthestate，andatthetimeoftheUnionhadnearlyformedamostunnaturalleaguewiththeiroldenemies，theJacobites，toopposethatimportantnationalmeasure。Sincethattimetheirnumbershavegraduallydiminished；butagoodmanyarestilltobefoundinthewesterncounties，andseveral，withabettertemperthanin1707，havenowtakenarmsforGovernment。
Thisperson，whomtheycallGiftedGilfillan，hasbeenlongaleaderamongthem，andnowheadsasmallparty，whichwillpasshereto-day，orto-morrow，ontheirmarchtowardsStirling，underwhoseescortMajorMelvilleproposesyoushalltravel。I
wouldwillinglyspeaktoGilfillaninyourbehalf；but，havingdeeplyimbibedalltheprejudicesofhissect，andbeingofthesamefiercedisposition，hewouldpaylittleregardtotheremonstrancesofanErastiandivine，ashewouldpolitelytermme-
Andnow，farewell，myyoungfriend；forthepresent，ImustnotwearyouttheMajor’sindulgence，thatImayobtainhispermissiontovisityouagaininthecourseoftheday。’’
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOURTH。
THINGSMENDALITTLE。
Aboutnoon，Mr。Mortonreturned，andbroughtaninvitationfromMajorMelvillethatMr。Waverleywouldhonourhimwithhiscompanytodinner，notwithstandingtheunpleasantaffairwhichdetainedhimatCairnvreckan，fromwhichheshouldheartilyrejoicetoseeMr。Waverleycompletelyextricated。Thetruthwas，thatMr。Morton’sfavourablereportandopinionhadsomewhatstaggeredthepreconceptionsoftheoldsoldierconcerningEdward’ssupposedaccessiontothemutinyintheregiment；
andintheunfortunatestateofthecountry，themeresuspicionofdisaffection，oraninclinationtojointheinsurgentJacobites，mightinfercriminalityindeed，butcertainlynotdishonour。Besides，apersonwhomtheMajortrustedhadreportedtohim(though，asitproved，inaccurately)acontradictionoftheagitatingnewsoftheprecedingevening。
Accordingtothissecondeditionoftheintelligence，theHighlandershadwithdrawnfromtheLowlandfrontierwiththepurposeoffollowingthearmyintheirmarchtoInverness。
TheMajorwasataloss，indeed，toreconcilehisinformationwiththewell-knownabilitiesofsomeofthegentlemenintheHighlandarmy，yetitwasthecoursewhichwaslikelytobemostagreeabletoothers。Herememberedthesamepolicyhaddetainedtheminthenorthintheyear1715，andheanticipatedasimilarterminationtotheinsurrectionasuponthatoccasion。
Thisnewsputhiminsuchgoodhumour，thathereadilyacquiescedinMr。Morton’sproposaltopaysomehospitableattentiontohisunfortunateguest，andvoluntarilyadded，hehopedthewholeaffairwouldproveayouthful_escapade，_whichmightbeeasilyatonedbyashortconfinement。Thekindmediatorhadsometroubletoprevailonhisyoungfriendtoaccepttheinvitation。Hedarednoturgetohimtherealmotive，whichwasagood-naturedwishtosecureafavourablereportofWaverley’scasefromMajorMelvilletoGovernorBlakeney。Heremarked，fromtheflashesofourhero’sspirit，thattouchinguponthistopicwouldbesuretodefeathispurpose。Hethereforepleaded，thattheinvitationarguedtheMajor’sdisbeliefofanypartoftheaccusationwhichwasinconsistentwithWaverley’sconductasasoldierandamanofhonourandthattodeclinehiscourtesymightbeinterpretedintoaconsciousnessthatitwasunmerited。Inshort，hesofarsatisfiedEdwardthatthemanlyandpropercoursewastomeettheMajoroneasyterms，that，suppressinghisstrongdislikeagaintoencounterhiscoldandpunctiliouscivility，Waverleyagreedtobeguidedbyhisnewfriend。
Themeeting，atfirst，wasstiffandformalenough。ButEdwardhavingacceptedtheinvitation，andhismindbeingreallysoothedandrelievedbythekindnessofMorton，heldhimselfboundtobehavewithease，thoughhecouldnotaffectcordiality。TheMajorwassomewhatofa_bonvivant，_andhiswinewasexcellent。Hetoldhisowncampaignstories，anddisplayedmuchknowledgeofmenandmanners。Mr。Mortonhadaninternalfundofplacidandquietgaiety，whichseldomfailedtoenlivenanysmallpartyinwhichhefoundhimselfpleasantlyseated。Waverley，whoselifewasadream，gavereadywaytothepredominatingimpulse，andbecamethemostlivelyoftheparty。Hehadatalltimesremarkablenaturalpowersofconversation，thougheasilysilencedbydiscouragement。
