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。
　　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：-