AsFloraconcludedhersong，Fergusstoodbeforethem。I
　　knewIshouldfindyouhere，evenwithouttheassistanceofmyfriendBran。Asimpleandunsublimedtastenow，likemyown，wouldpreferajetd’eauatVersaillestothiscascadewithallitsaccompanimentsofrockandroar；butthisisFlora’sParnassus，CaptainWaverley，andthatfountainherHelicon。Itwouldbegreatlyforthebenefitofmycellarifshecouldteachhercoadjutor，Mac-Murrough，thevalueofitsinfluence：hehasjustdrunkapintofusquebaughtocorrect，hesaid，thecoldnessoftheclaret-Letmetryitsvirtues。’’Hesippedalittlewaterinthehollowofhishand，andimmediatelycommenced，withatheatricalair，-
　　OLadyofthedesert，hail！
　　Thatlov’sttheharpingoftheGael，Throughfairandfertileregionsborne，Whereneveryetgrewgrassorcorn。
　　ButEnglishpoetrywillneversucceedundertheinfluenceofaHighlandHelicon-_Allonscourage！_-
　　Ovous，quibuvez，tassepleine，Acetteheureusefontaine，Oonnevoit，surlerivage，Quequelquesvilainstroupeaux，Suivisdenymphesdevillage，Quilesescortentsanssabots’’
　　Atruce，dearFergus！spareusthosemosttediousandinsipidpersonsofallArcadia，Donot，forheaven’ssake，bringdownCorridonandLindoruponus。’’
　　Nay，ifyoucannotrelish_lahouletteetlechalumeau，_havewithyouinheroicstrains。’’
　　DearFergus，youhavecertainlypartakenoftheinspirationofMac-Murrough’scupratherthanofmine。’’
　　Idisclaimit，_mabelledemoiselle，_althoughIprotestitwouldbethemorecongenialofthetwo。Whichofyourcrack-brainedItalianromancersisitthatsays，Iod’EliconanienteMicuro，infediDio，che’lbered’acqueBeachibernevuolsempremespiacque！
　　Goodsooth，IrecknotofyourHelicon；
　　Drinkwaterwhosowill，infaithIwilldrinknone。
　　ButifyouprefertheGaelic，CaptainWaverley，hereislittleCathleenshallsingyouDrimmindhu-Come，Cathleen，_astore_
　　_i。e。_mydear，begin；noapologiestothe_Ceankinn。_’’
　　CathleensungwithmuchlivelinessalittleGaelicsong，theburlesqueelegyofacountrymanonthelossofhiscow，thecomictonesofwhich，thoughhedidnotunderstandthelanguage，madeWaverleylaughmorethanonce。
　　ThisancientGaelicdittyisstillwellknown，bothintheHighlandsandinIreland。ItwastranslatedintoEnglish，andpublished，ifImistakenot，undertheauspicesofthefacetiousTomD’Urfey，bythetitleofColley，myCow。’’
　　Admirable，Cathleen！’’criedtheChieftain；Imustfindyouahandsomehusbandamongtheclansmenoneofthesedays。’’
　　Cathleenlaughed，blushed，andshelteredherselfbehindhercompanion。
　　Intheprogressoftheirreturntothecastle，theChieftainwarmlypressedWaverleytoremainforaweekortwo，inordertoseeagrandhuntingparty，inwhichheandsomeotherHighlandgentlemenproposedtojoin。ThecharmsofmelodyandbeautyweretoostronglyimpressedinEdward’sbreasttopermithisdeclininganinvitationsopleasing。Itwasagreed，therefore，thatheshouldwriteanotetotheBaronofBradwardine，expressinghisintentiontostayafortnightatGlennaquoich，andrequestinghimtoforwardbythebearera_gilly_oftheChieftain’sanyletterswhichmighthavearrivedforhim。
　　ThisturnedthediscourseupontheBaron，whomFergushighlyextolledasagentlemanandsoldier。HischaracterwastouchedwithyetmorediscriminationbyFlora，whoobservedthathewastheverymodeloftheoldScottishcavalier，withallhisexcellencesandpeculiarities。Itisacharacter，CaptainWaverley，whichisfastdisappearing；foritsbestpointwasaself-respect，whichwasneverlostsightoftillnow。Butinthepresenttimethegentlemenwhoseprinciplesdonotpermitthemtopaycourttotheexistinggovernmentareneglectedanddegraded，andmanyconductthemselvesaccordingly；and，likesomeofthepersonsyouhaveseenatTully-Veolan，adopthabitsandcompanionsinconsistentwiththeirbirthandbreeding。Theruthlessproscriptionofpartyseemstodegradethevictimswhomitbrands，howeverunjustly。Butletushopethatabrighterdayisapproaching，whenaScottishcountry-gentlemanmaybeascholarwithoutthepedantryofourfriendtheBaron；asportsmanwithoutthelowhabitsofMr。Falconer；andajudiciousimproverofhisproperty，withoutbecomingaboorishtwo-leggedsteerlikeKillancureit。’’
　　ThusdidFloraprophesyarevolution，whichtimeindeedhasproduced，butinamannerverydifferentfromwhatshehadinhermind。
　　TheamiableRosewasnextmentioned，withthewarmestencomiumonherperson，manners，andmind。Thatman，’’
　　saidFlora，willfindaninestimabletreasureintheaffectionsofRoseBradwardinewhoshallbesofortunateastobecometheirobject。Herverysoulisinhome，andinthedischargeofallthosequietvirtuesofwhichhomeisthecentre。Herhusbandwillbetoherwhatherfathernowis-theobjectofallhercare，solicitude，andaffection。Shewillseenothing，andconnectherselfwithnothing，butbyhimandthroughhim。Ifheisamanofsenseandvirtue，shewillsympathiseinhissorrows，diverthisfatigue，andsharehispleasures。Ifshebecomesthepropertyofachurlishornegligenthusband，shewillsuithistastealso，forshewillnotlongsurvivehisunkindness。And，alas，howgreatisthechancethatsomesuchunworthylotmaybethatofmypoorfriend！-OthatIwereaqueenthismoment，andcouldcommandthemostamiableandworthyyouthofmykingdomtoaccepthappinesswiththehandofRoseBradwardine！’’
　　Iwishyouwouldcommandhertoacceptmine_enattendant，_’’
　　saidFerguslaughing。
　　Idon’tknowbywhatcapriceitwasthatthiswish，howeverjocularlyexpressed，ratherjarredonEdward’sfeelings，notwithstandinghisgrowinginclinationtoFlora，andhisindifferencetoMissBradwardine。Thisisoneoftheinexplicabilitiesofhumannature，whichweleavewithoutcomment。
　　Yours，brother？’’answeredFlora，regardinghimsteadily。
　　No；youhaveanotherbride-Honour；andthedangersyoumustruninpursuitofherrivalwouldbreakpoorRose’sheart。’’
　　Withthisdiscoursetheyreachedthecastle，andWaverleysoonpreparedhisdespatchesforTully-Veolan。AsheknewtheBaronwaspunctiliousinsuchmatters，hewasabouttoimpresshisbilletwithasealonwhichhisarmorialbearingswereengraved，buthedidnotfinditathiswatch，andthoughthemusthaveleftitatTully-Veolan。Hementionedhisloss，borrowingatthesametimethefamilysealoftheChieftain。
　　Surely，’’saidMissMac-Ivor，DonaldBeanLeanwouldnot’’
　　Mylifeforhiminsuchcircumstances，’’answeredherbrother；
　　besides，hewouldneverhaveleftthewatchbehind。’’
　　Afterall，Fergus，’’saidFlora，andwitheveryallowance，Iamsurprisedyoucancountenancethatman。’’
　　Icountenancehim！-Thiskindsisterofminewouldpersuadeyou，CaptainWaverley，thatItakewhatthepeopleofoldusedtocalla`steakraid，’thatis，a`collopoftheforay，’or，inplainerwords，aportionoftherobber’sbooty，paidbyhimtotheLairdorChiefthroughwhosegroundshedrovehisprey。
　　O，itiscertain，thatunlessIcanfindsomewaytocharmFlora’stongue，GeneralBlakencywillsendasergeant’spartyfromStirlingthishesaidwithhaughtyandemphaticironytoseizeVichIanVohr，astheynicknameme，inhisowncastle。’’
　　Now，Fergus，mustnotourguestbesensiblethatallthisisfollyandaffectation？Youhavemenenoughtoserveyouwithoutenlistingbanditti，andyourownhonourisabovetaint-
　　Whydon’tyousendthisDonaldBeanLean，whomIhateforhissmoothnessandduplicityevenmorethanforhisrapine，outofyourcountryatonce？Nocauseshouldinducemetotoleratesuchacharacter。’’
　　_No_cause，Flora？’’saidtheChieftainsignificantly。
　　Nocause，Fergus！noteventhatwhichisnearesttomyheart。Spareittheomenofsuchevilsupporters！’’
　　Obut，sister，’’rejoinedtheChiefgaily，youdon’tconsidermyrespectfor_labellepassion。_EvanDhuMaccombichisinlovewithDonald’sdaughter，Alice，andyoucannotexpectmetodisturbhiminhisamours。Why，thewholeclanwouldcryshameonme。Youknowitisoneoftheirwisesayingsthatakinsmanispartofaman’sbody，butafoster-brotherisapieceofhisheart。’’
　　Well，Fergus，thereisnodisputingwithyou；butIwouldallthismayendwell。’’
　　Devoutlyprayed，mydearandpropheticsister，andthebestwayintheworldtocloseadubiousargument-Buthearyenotthepipes，CaptainWaverley？Perhapsyouwilllikebettertodancetotheminthehall，thantobedeafenedwiththeirharmonywithouttakingpartintheexercisetheyinviteusto。’’
　　WaverleytookFlora’shand。Thedance，song，andmerry-makingproceeded，andclosedtheday’sentertainmentatthecastleofVichIanVohr。Edwardatlengthretired，hismindagitatedbyavarietyofnewandconflictingfeelings，whichdetainedhimfromrestforsometime，inthatnotunpleasingstateofmindinwhichfancytakesthehelm，andthesoulratherdriftspassivelyalongwiththerapidandconfusedtideofreflections，thanexertsitselftoencounter，systematise，orexaminethem。Atalatehourhefellasleep，anddreamedofFloraMac-Ivor。
　　Shallthisbealongorashortchapter？-Thisisaquestioninwhichyou，gentlereader，havenovote，howevermuchyoumaybeinterestedintheconsequences；justasyoumaylikemyselfprobablyhavenothingtodowiththeimposinganewtax，exceptingthetriflingcircumstanceofbeingobligedtopayit。Morehappysurelyinthepresentcase，since，thoughitlieswithinmyarbitrarypowertoextendmymaterialsasI
　　thinkproper，IcannotcallyouintoExchequerifyoudonotthinkpropertoreadmynarrative。Letmethereforeconsider。
　　ItistruethattheannalsanddocumentsinmyhandssaybutlittleofthisHighlandchase；butthenIcanfindcopiousmaterialsfordescriptionelsewhere。ThereisoldLindsayofPitscottiereadyatmyelbow，withhisAtholehunting，andhisloftedandjoistedpalaceofgreentimber；withallkindofdrinktobehadinburghandland，asale，beer，wine，muscadel，malvaise，hippocras，andaquavit；withwheat-bread，main-bread，gingerbread，beef，mutton，lamb，veal，venison，goose，grice，capon，coney，crane，swan，partridge，plover，duck，drake，brissel-cock，pawnies，black-cock，muir-fowl，andcapercailzies；’’
　　notforgettingthecostlybedding，vaiselle，andnapry，’’andleastofall，theexcellingstewards，cunningbaxters，excellentcooksandpottingars，withconfectionsanddrugsforthedesserts。’’
　　BesidestheparticularswhichmaybethencegleanedforthisHighlandfeastthesplendourofwhichinducedthePope’slegatetodissentfromanopinionwhichhehadhithertoheld，thatScotland，namely，wasthe-the-thelatterendoftheworld-besidesthese，mightInotilluminatemypageswithTaylortheWaterPoet’shuntinginthebraesofMar，where，Throughheather，mosse，’mongfrogs，andbogs，andfogs，’Mongstcraggycliffsandthunder-batteredhills，Hares，hinds，bucks，roes，arechasedbymenanddogs，Wheretwohours’huntingfourscorefatdeerkills。
　　Lowland，yoursportsarelowasisyourseat；
　　TheHighlandgamesandmindsarehighandgreat。
　　Butwithoutfarthertyrannyovermyreaders，ordisplayoftheextentofmyownreading，IshallcontentmyselfwithborrowingasingleincidentfromthememorablehuntingatLude，commemoratedintheingeniousMr。Gunn’sEssayontheCaledonianHarp，andsoproceedinmystorywithallthebrevitythatmynaturalstyleofcomposition，partakingofwhatscholarscalltheperiphrasticandambagitory，andthevulgarthecircumbendibus，willpermitme。
　　Thesolemnhuntingwasdelayed，fromvariouscauses，foraboutthreeweeks。TheintervalwasspentbyWaverleywithgreatsatisfactionatGlennaquoich；fortheimpressionwhichFlorahadmadeonhismindattheirfirstmeetinggrewdailystronger。Shewaspreciselythecharactertofascinateayouthofromanticimagination。Hermanners，herlanguage，hertalentsforpoetryandmusic，gaveadditionalandvariedinfluencetohereminentpersonalcharms。EveninherhoursofgaietyshewasinhisfancyexaltedabovetheordinarydaughtersofEve，andseemedonlytostoopforaninstanttothosetopicsofamusementandgallantrywhichothersappeartolivefor。
　　Intheneighbourhoodofthisenchantress，whilesportconsumedthemorning，andmusicandthedanceledonthehoursofevening，Waverleybecamedailymoredelightedwithhishospitablelandlord，andmoreenamouredofhisbewitchingsister。
　　Atlengththeperiodfixedforthegrandhuntingarrived，andWaverleyandtheChieftaindepartedfortheplaceofrendezvous，whichwasaday’sjourneytothenorthwardofGlennaquoich。
　　Ferguswasattendedonthisoccasionbyaboutthreehundredofhisclan，wellarmed，andaccoutredintheirbestfashion。
　　Waverleycompliedsofarwiththecustomofthecountryastoadoptthetrewshecouldnotbereconciledtothekilt，brogues，andbonnet，asthefittestdressfortheexerciseinwhichhewastobeengaged，andwhichleastexposedhimtobestaredatasastrangerwhentheyshouldreachtheplaceofrendezvous。