Hisanxietyonherbehalfdidnot，however，seemtoextenditselfinthatquarter，where，accordingtothegeneralopinion，itismostefficientlydisplayed；inlabouring，namely，toestablishherinlife，eitherbyalargedowryorawealthymarriage。Byanoldsettlement，almostallthelandedestatesoftheBaronwent，afterhisdeath，toadistantrelation；anditwassupposedthatMissBradwardinewouldremainbutslenderlyprovidedfor，asthegoodgentleman’scashmattershadbeentoolongundertheexclusivechargeofBailieMacwheeble，toadmitofanygreatexpectationsfromhispersonalsuccession。Itistrue，thesaidBailielovedhispatronandhispatron’sdaughternextalthoughatanincomparabledistancetohimself。Hethoughtitwaspossibletosetasidethesettlementonthemaleline，andhadactuallyprocuredanopiniontothateffectand，asheboasted，withoutafeefromaneminentScottishcounsel，underwhosenoticehecontrivedtobringthepointwhileconsultinghimregularlyonsomeotherbusiness。ButtheBaronwouldnotlistentosuchaproposalforaninstant。Onthecontrary，heusedtohaveaperversepleasureinboastingthatthebaronyofBradwardinewasamalefief，thefirstcharterhavingbeengivenatthatearlyperiodwhenwomenwerenotdeemedcapabletoholdafeudalgrant；because，accordingto_LescoustusmesdeNormandie，c’estl’hommekisebastetkiconseille；_or，asisyetmoreungallantlyexpressedbyotherauthorities，allofwhosebarbarousnameshedelightedtoquoteatfulllength，becauseawomancouldnotservethesuperior，orfeudallord，inwar，onaccountofthedecorumofhersex，norassisthimwithadvice，becauseofherlimitedintellect，norkeephiscounsel，owingtotheinfirmityofherdisposition。Hewouldtriumphantlyask，howitwouldbecomeafemale，andthatfemaleaBradwardine，tobeseenemployed_inservitioexuendi，seudetrahendi，caligasregispostbattaliam？_thatisinpullingofftheking’sbootsafteranengagement，whichwasthefeudalservicebywhichheheldthebaronyofBradwardine。No，’’hesaid，beyondhesitation，_proculdubio，_manyfemales，asworthyasRose，hadbeenexcluded，inordertomakewayformyownsuccession，andHeavenforbidthatIshoulddoaughtthatmightcontravenethedestinationofmyforefathers，orimpingeupontherightofmykinsman，MalcolmBradwardineofInchgrabbit，anhonourablethoughdecayedbranchofmyownfamily。’’
　　TheBailie，asprimeminister，havingreceivedthisdecisivecommunicationfromhissovereign，durstnotpresshisownopinionanyfarther，butcontentedhimselfwithdeploring，onallsuitableoccasions，toSaunderson，theministeroftheinterior，theLaird’sself-willedness，andwithlayingplansforunitingRosewiththeyounglairdofBalmawhapple，whohadafineestate，onlymoderatelyburdened，andwasafaultlessyounggentleman，beingassoberasasaint-ifyoukeepbrandyfromhim，andhimfrombrandy-andwho，inbrief，hadnoimperfectionbutthatofkeepinglightcompanyatatime；suchasJinker，thehorse-couper，andGibbyGaethroughwi’t，thepipero’Cupar；o’whilkfollies，Mr。Saunderson，he’llmend，he’llmend，’’-pronouncedtheBailie。
　　Likesouraleinsimmer，’’addedDavieGellatley，whohappenedtobenearertheconclavethantheywereawareof。
　　MissBradwardine，suchaswehavedescribedher，withallthesimplicityandcuriosityofarecluse，attachedherselftotheopportunitiesofincreasingherstoreofliteraturewhichEdward’svisitaffordedher。Hesentforsomeofhisbooksfromhisquarters，andtheyopenedtohersourcesofdelightofwhichshehadhithertohadnoidea。ThebestEnglishpoets，ofeverydescription，andotherworksonbelleslettres，madeapartofthispreciouscargo。Hermusic，evenherflowers，wereneglected，andSaundersnotonlymournedover，butbegantomutinyagainst，thelabourforwhichhenowscarcereceivedthanks。
　　Thesenewpleasuresbecamegraduallyenhancedbysharingthemwithoneofakindredtaste。Edward’sreadinesstocomment，torecite，toexplaindifficultpassages，renderedhisassistanceinvaluable；andthewildromanceofhisspiritdelightedacharactertooyoungandinexperiencedtoobserveitsdeficiencies。Uponsubjectswhichinterestedhim，andwhenquiteatease，hepossessedthatflowofnatural，andsomewhatflorideloquence，whichhasbeensupposedaspowerfulevenasfigure，fashion，fame，orfortune，inwinningthefemaleheart。
　　Therewas，therefore，anincreasingdangerinthisconstantintercourse，topoorRose’speaceofmind，whichwasthemoreimminent，asherfatherwasgreatlytoomuchabstractedinhisstudies，andwrappedupinhisowndignity，todreamofhisdaughter’sincurringit。The，daughtersofthehouseofBradwardinewere，inhisopinion，likethoseofthehouseofBourbonorAustria，placedhighabovethecloudsofpassionwhichmightobfuscatetheintellectsofmeanerfemales；theymovedinanothersphere，weregovernedbyotherfeelings，andamenabletootherrules，thanthoseofidleandfantasticaffection。Inshort，heshuthiseyessoresolutelytothenaturalconsequencesofEdward’sintimacywithMissBradwardine，thatthewholeneighbourhoodconcludedthathehadopenedthemtotheadvantagesofamatchbetweenhisdaughterandthewealthyyoungEnglishman，andpronouncedhimmuchlessafoolthenhehadgenerallyshownhimselfincaseswherehisowninterestwasconcerned。
　　IftheBaron，however，hadreallymeditatedsuchanalliance，theindifferenceofWaverleywouldhavebeenaninsuperablebartohisproject。Ourhero，sincemixingmorefreelywiththeworld，hadlearnedtothinkwithgreatshameandconfusionuponhismentallegendofSaintCecilia，andthevexationofthesereflectionswaslikely，forsometimeatleast，tocounter-balancethenaturalsusceptibilityofhisdisposition。Besides，RoseBradwardine，beautifulandamiableaswehavedescribedher，hadnotpreciselythesortofbeautyormeritwhichcaptivatesaromanticimaginationinearlyyouth。Shewastoofrank，tooconfiding，tookind；amiablequalities，undoubtedly，butdestructiveofthemarvellous，withwhichayouthofimaginationdelightstoaddresstheempressofhisaffections。Wasitpossibletobow，totremble，andtoadore，beforethetimid，yetplayfullittlegirl，whonowaskedEdwardtomendherpen，nowtoconstrueastanzainTasso，andnowhowtospellavery-verylongwordinherversionofit？Alltheseincidentshavetheirfascinationonthemindatacertainperiodoflife，butnotwhenayouthisenteringit，andratherlookingoutforsomeobjectwhoseaffectionmaydignifyhiminhisowneyes，thanstoopingtoonewholooksuptohimforsuchdistinction。
　　Hence，thoughtherecanbenoruleinsocapriciousapassion，earlyloveisfrequentlyambitiousinchoosingitsobject；or，whichcomestothesame，selectsherasinthecaseofSaintCeciliaaforesaidfromasituationthatgivesfairscopefor_lebeauidal，_whichtherealityofintimateandfamiliarliferathertendstolimitandimpair。Iknewaveryaccomplishedandsensibleyoungmancuredofaviolentpassionforaprettywoman，whosetalentswerenotequaltoherfaceandfigure，bybeingpermittedtobearhercompanyforawholeafternoon。
　　Thusitiscertain，thathadEdwardenjoyedsuchanopportunityofconversingwithMissStubbs，AuntRachel’sprecautionwouldhavebeenunnecessary，forhewouldassoonhavefalleninlovewiththedairy-maid。AndalthoughMissBradwardinewasaverydifferentcharacter，itseemsprobablethattheveryintimacyoftheirintercoursepreventedhisfeelingforherothersentimentsthanthoseofabrotherforanamiableandaccomplishedsister；whilethesentimentsofpoorRoseweregradually，andwithoutherbeingconscious，assumingashadeofwarmeraffection。
　　IoughttohavesaidthatEdward，whenhesenttoDundeeforthebooksbeforementioned，hadappliedfor，andreceivedpermission，extendinghisleaveofabsence。Buttheletterofhiscommanding-officercontainedafriendlyrecommendationtohim，nottospendhistimeexclusivelywithpersons，who，estimableastheymightbeinageneralsense，couldnotbesupposedwellaffectedtoagovernmentwhichtheydeclinedtoacknowledgebytakingtheoathofallegiance。Theletterfurtherinsinuated，thoughwithgreatdelicacy，thatalthoughsomefamilyconnectionsmightbesupposedtorenderitnecessaryforCaptainWaverleytocommunicatewithgentlemenwhowereinthisunpleasantstateofsuspicion，yethisfather’ssituationandwishesoughttopreventhisprolongingthoseattentionsintoexclusiveintimacy。Anditwasintimated，thatwhilehispoliticalprincipleswereendangeredbycommunicatingwithlaymenofthisdescription，hemightalsoreceiveerroneousimpressionsinreligionfromtheprelaticclergy，whosoperverselylabouredtosetuptheroyalprerogativeinthingssacred。
　　ThislastinsinuationprobablyinducedWaverleytosetbothdowntotheprejudicesofhiscommanding-officer。HewassensiblethatMr。Bradwardinehadactedwiththemostscrupulousdelicacy，inneverenteringuponanydiscussionthathadthemostremotetendencytobiashismindinpoliticalopinions，althoughhewashimselfnotonlyadecidedpartizanoftheexiledfamily，buthadbeentrustedatdifferenttimeswithimportantcommissionsfortheirservice。Sensible，therefore，thattherewasnoriskofhisbeingpervertedfromhisallegiance，Edwardfeltasifheshoulddohisuncle’soldfriendinjusticeinremovingfromahousewherehegaveandreceivedpleasureandamusement，merelytogratifyaprejudicedandill-judgedsuspicion。Hethereforewroteaverygeneralanswer，assuringhiscommanding-officerthathisloyaltywasnotinthemostdistantdangerofcontamination，andcontinuedanhonouredguestandinmateofthehouseofTully-Veolan。
　　CHAPTERFIFTEENTH。
　　ACREAGH，ANDITSCONSEQUENCES。
　　A_creagh_wasanincursionforplunder，termedontheBordersa_raid。_
　　WhenEdwardhadbeenaguestatTully-Veolannearlysixweeks，hedescriedonemorning，ashetookhisusualwalkbeforethebreakfast-hour，signsofuncommonperturbationinthefamily。Fourbare-leggeddairy-maids，witheachanemptymilk-pailinherhand，ranaboutwithfranticgestures，andutteringloudexclamationsofsurprise，grief，andresentment。
　　Fromtheirappearance，apaganmighthaveconceivedthemadetachmentofthecelebratedBelides，justcomefromtheirbalingpenance。Asnothingwastobegotfromthisdistractedchorus，exceptingLordguideus！’’andEhsirs！’’ejaculationswhichthrewnolightuponthecauseoftheirdismay，Waverleyrepairedtothefore-court，asitwascalled，wherehebeheldBailieMacwheeblecanteringhiswhiteponydowntheavenuewithallthespeeditcouldmuster。Hehadarrived，itwouldseem，uponahastysummons，andwasfollowedbyhalf-a-scoreofpeasantsfromthevillage，whohadnogreatdifficultyinkeepingpacewithhim。
　　TheBailie，greatlytoobusy，andtooimportant，toenterintoexplanationswithEdward，summonedforthMr。Saunderson，whoappearedwithacountenanceinwhichdismaywasmingledwithsolemnity，andtheyimmediatelyenteredintocloseconference。
　　DavieGellatleywasalsoseeninthegroup，idleasDiogenesatSinope，whilehiscountrymenwerepreparingforasiege。Hisspiritsalwaysrosewithanything，goodorbad，whichoccasionedtumult，andhecontinuedfrisking，hopping，dancing，andsingingtheburdenofanoldballad，Ourgear’sa’gane，until，happeningtopasstooneartheBailie，hereceivedanadmonitoryhintfromhishorse-whip，whichconvertedhissongsintolamentation。
　　Passingfromthencetowardsthegarden，WaverleybeheldtheBaroninperson，measuringandre-measuring，withswiftandtremendousstrides，thelengthoftheterrace；hiscountenancecloudedwithoffendedprideandindignation，andthewholeofhisdemeanoursuchasseemedtoindicate，thatanyinquiryconcerningthecauseofhisdiscomposurewouldgivepainatleast，ifnotoffence。Waverleythereforeglidedintothehouse，withoutaddressinghim，andtookhiswaytothebreakfast-parlour，wherehefoundhisyoungfriendRose，who，thoughsheneitherexhibitedtheresentmentofherfather，theturbidimportanceofBailieMacwheeble，northedespairofthehandmaidens，seemedvexedandthoughtful。Asinglewordexplainedthemystery。Yourbreakfastwillbeadisturbedone，CaptainWaverley。ApartyofCateranshavecomedownuponus，lastnight，andhavedrivenoffallourmilchcows。’’
　　ApartyofCaterans？’’
　　Yes；robbersfromtheneighbouringHighlands。Weusedtobequitefreefromthemwhilewepaidblack-mailtoFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr；butmyfatherthoughtitunworthyofhisrankandbirthtopayitanylonger，andsothisdisasterhashappened。Itisnotthevalueofthecattle，CaptainWaverley，thatvexesme；butmyfatherissomuchhurtattheaffront，andissoboldandhot，thatIfearhewilltrytorecoverthembythestronghand；andifheisnothurthimself，hewillhurtsomeofthesewildpeople，andthentherewillbenopeacebetweenthemandusperhapsforourlifetime；andwecannotdefendourselvesasinoldtimes，forthegovernmenthavetakenallourarms；andmydearfatherissorash-Oh，whatwillbecomeofus！’’-HerepoorRoselostheartaltogether，andburstintoafloodoftears。
　　TheBaronenteredatthismoment，andrebukedherwithmoreasperitythanWaverleyhadeverheardhimusetoanyone。Wasitnotashame，’’hesaid，thatsheshouldexhibitherselfbeforeanygentlemaninsuchalight，asifsheshedtearsforadroveofhornednoltandmilchkine，likethedaughterofaCheshireyeoman；CaptainWaverley，Imustrequestyourfavourableconstructionofhergrief，whichmay，oroughttoproceed，solelyfromseeingherfather’sestateexposedtospulzieanddepredationfromcommonthievesandsorners，whilewe_Sorners_maybetranslatedsturdybeggars，moreespeciallyindicatingthoseunwelcomevisitorswhoexactlodgingsandvictualsbyforce，orsomethingapproachingtoit，arenotallowedtokeephalf-a-scoreofmuskets，whetherfordefenceorrescue。’’