Theseletters，asmighthavebeenexpected，highlyexcitedWaverley’sindignation。Fromthedesultorystyleofhisstudies，hehadnotanyfixedpoliticalopiniontoplaceinoppositiontothemovementsofindignationwhichhefeltathisfather’ssupposedwrongs。Oftherealcauseofhisdisgrace，Edwardwastotallyignorant；norhadhishabitsatallledhimtoinvestigatethepoliticsoftheperiodinwhichhelived，orremarktheintriguesinwhichhisfatherhadbeensoactivelyengaged。Indeed，anyimpressionswhichhehadaccidentallyadoptedconcerningthepartiesofthetimes，wereowingtothesocietyinwhichhehadlivedatWaverley-Honourofanatureratherunfavourabletotheexistinggovernmentanddynasty。
　　Heentered，therefore，withouthesitation，intotheresentfulfeelingoftherelationswhohadthebesttitletodictatehisconduct；andnotperhapsthelesswillingly，whenherememberedthetediumofhisquarters，andtheinferiorfigurewhichhehadmadeamongtheofficersofhisregiment。Ifhecouldhavehadanydoubtuponthesubject，itwouldhavebeendecidedbythefollowingletterfromhiscommanding-officer，which，asitisveryshort，shallbeinsertedverbatim：-
　　=Sir，=
　　Havingcarriedsomewhatbeyondthelineofmyduty，anindulgencewhicheventhelightsofnature，andmuchmorethoseofChristianity，directtowardserrorswhichmayarisefromyouthandinexperience，andthataltogetherwithouteffect，Iamreluctantlycompelled，atthepresentcrisis，tousetheonlyremainingremedywhichisinmypower。Youare，therefore，herebycommandedtorepairto，theheadquartersoftheregiment，withinthreedaysafterthedateofthisletter。Ifyoushallfailtodoso，ImustreportyoutotheWar-Officeasabsentwithoutleave，andalsotakeothersteps，whichwillbedisagreeabletoyou，aswellasto，Sir，YourobedientServant，J。=Gardiner，=Lieut-Col。
　　CommandingtheRegt。Dragoons。’’
　　Edward’sbloodboiledwithinhimashereadthisletter。Hehadbeenaccustomedfromhisveryinfancytopossess，inagreatmeasure，thedisposalofhisowntime，andthusacquiredhabitswhichrenderedtherulesofmilitarydisciplineasunpleasingtohiminthisastheywereinsomeotherrespects。
　　Anideathatinhisowncasetheywouldnotbeenforcedinaveryrigidmannerhadalsoobtainedfullpossessionofhismind，andhadhithertobeensanctionedbytheindulgentconductofhislieutenant-colonel。Neitherhadanythingoccurred，tohisknowledge，thatshouldhaveinducedhiscommanding-officer，withoutanyotherwarningthanthehintswenoticedattheendofthefourteenthchapter，sosuddenlytoassumeaharsh，and，asEdwarddeemedit，soinsolentatoneofdictatorialauthority。
　　Connectingitwiththelettershehadjustreceivedfromhisfamily，hecouldnotbutsupposethatitwasdesignedtomakehimfeel，inhispresentsituation，thesamepressureofauthoritywhichhadbeenexercisedinhisfather’scase，andthatthewholewasaconcertedschemetodepressanddegradeeverymemberoftheWaverleyfamily。
　　Withoutapause，therefore，Edwardwroteafewcoldlines，thankinghislieutenant-colonelforpastcivilities，andexpressingregretthatheshouldhavechosentoeffacetheremembranceofthem，byassumingadifferenttonetowardshim。Thestrainofhisletter，aswellaswhatheEdwardconceivedtobehisduty，inthepresentcrisis，calleduponhimtolaydownhiscommission；andhethereforeenclosedtheformalresignationofasituationwhichsubjectedhimtosounpleasantacorrespondence，andrequestedColonelGardinerwouldhavethegoodnesstoforwardittotheproperauthorities。
　　Havingfinishedthismagnanimousepistle，hefeltsomewhatuncertainconcerningthetermsinwhichhisresignationoughttobeexpressed，uponwhichsubjectheresolvedtoconsultFergusMac-Ivor。Itmaybeobservedinpassing，thattheboldandprompthabitsofthinking，acting，andspeaking，whichdistinguishedthisyoungChieftain，hadgivenhimaconsiderableascendencyoverthemindofWaverley。Endowedwithatleastequalpowersofunderstanding，andwithmuchfinergenius，Edwardyetstoopedtotheboldanddecisiveactivityofanintellectwhichwassharpenedbythehabitofactingonapreconceivedandregularsystem，aswellasbyextensiveknowledgeoftheworld。
　　WhenEdwardfoundhisfriend，thelatterhadstillinhishandthenewspaperwhichhehadperused，andadvancedtomeethimwiththeembarrassmentofonewhohasunpleasingnewstocommunicate。Doyourletters，CaptainWaverley。
　　confirmtheimpleasinginformationwhichIfindinthispaper？’’
　　Heputthepaperintohishand，wherehisfather’sdisgracewasregisteredinthemostbitterterms，transferredprobablyfromsomeLondonjournal。Attheendoftheparagraphwasthisremarkableinnuendo：-
　　Weunderstandthat`thissame_Richard，_whohathdoneallthis，’isnottheonlyexampleofthe_WaveringHonour_ofW-v-rl-yH-n-r。SeetheGazetteofthisday。’’
　　Withhurriedandfeverishapprehensionourheroturnedtotheplacereferredto，andfoundthereinrecorded，EdwardWaverley，captaininregimentdragoons，supersededforabsencewithoutleave；’’andinthelistofmilitarypromotions，referringtothesameregiment，hediscoveredthisfartherarticle，Lieut。JuliusButler，tobecaptain，_vice_EdwardWaverley，superseded。’’
　　Ourhero’sbosomglowedwiththeresentmentwhichundeservedandapparentlypremeditatedinsultwascalculatedtoexciteinthebosomofonewhohadaspiredafterhonour，andwasthuswantonlyhelduptopublicscornanddisgrace。Uponcomparingthedateofhiscolonel’sletterwiththatofthearticleintheGazette，heperceivedthathisthreatofmakingareportuponhisabsencehadbeenliterallyfulfilled，andwithoutinquiry，asitseemed，whetherEdwardhadeitherreceivedhissummons，orwasdisposedtocomplywithit。Thewhole，therefore，appearedaformedplantodegradehimintheeyesofthepublic；andtheideaofitshavingsucceededfilledhimwithsuchbitteremotions，that，aftervariousattemptstoconcealthem，heatlengththrewhimselfintoMac-Ivor’sarms，andgaveventtotearsofshameandindignation。
　　ItwasnoneofthisChieftain’sfaultstobeindifferenttothewrongsofhisfriends；andforEdward，independentofcertainplanswithwhichhewasconnected，hefeltadeepandsincereinterest。TheproceedingappearedasextraordinarytohimasithaddonetoEdward。HeindeedknewofmoremotivesthanWaverleywasprivyto，fortheperemptoryorderthatheshouldjoinhisregiment。Butthat，withoutfurtherinquiryintothecircumstancesofanecessarydelay，thecommandingofficer，incontradictiontohisknownandestablishedcharacter，shouldhaveproceededinsoharshandunusualamanner，wasamysterywhichhecouldnotpenetrate。Hesoothedourhero，however，tothebestofhispower，andbegantoturnhisthoughtsonrevengeforhisinsultedhonour。
　　Edwardeagerlygraspedattheidea。WillyoucarryamessageformetoColonelGardiner，mydearFergus，andobligemeforever？’’
　　Ferguspaused。Itisanactoffriendshipwhichyoushouldcommand，coulditbeuseful，orleadtotherightingyourhonour；
　　butinthepresentcase，Idoubtifyourcommanding-officerwouldgiveyouthemeetingonaccountofhishavingtakenmeasures，which，howeverharshandexasperating，werestillwithinthestrictboundsofhisduty。Besides，GardinerisapreciseHuguenot，andhasadoptedcertainideasaboutthesinfulnessofsuchrencontres，fromwhichitwouldbeimpossibletomakehimdepart，especiallyashiscourageisbeyondallsuspicion。Andbesides，I-I-tosaythetruth-Idarenotatthismoment，forsomeveryweightyreasons，gonearanyofthemilitaryquartersorgarrisonsbelongingtothisgovernment。’’
　　AndamI，’’saidWaverley，tositdownquietandcontentedundertheinjuryIhavereceived？’’
　　ThatwillIneveradvise，myfriend，’’repliedMac-Ivor。
　　ButIwouldhavevengeancetofallonthehead，notonthehand；onthetyrannicalandoppressiveGovernmentwhichdesignedanddirectedthesepremeditatedandreiteratedinsults，notonthetoolsofofficewhichtheyemployedintheexecutionoftheinjuriestheyaimedatyou。’’
　　OntheGovernment！’’saidWaverley。
　　Yes，’’repliedtheimpetuousHighlander，ontheusurpingHouseofHanover，whomyourgrandfatherwouldnomorehaveservedthanhewouldhavetakenwagesofred-hotgoldfromthegreatfiendofhell！’’
　　Butsincethetimeofmygrandfathertwogenerationsofthisdynastyhavepossessedthethrone，’’saidEdwardcoolly。
　　True，’’repliedtheChieftain；andbecausewehavepassivelygiventhemsolongthemeansofshowingtheirnativecharacter-becausebothyouandImyselfhavelivedinquietsubmission，haveeventruckledtothetimessofarastoacceptcommissionsunderthem，andthushavegiventhemanopportunityofdisgracinguspubliclybyresumingthem-arewenotonthataccounttoresentinjurieswhichourfathersonlyapprehended，butwhichwehaveactuallysustained？OristhecauseoftheunfortunateStuartfamilybecomelessjustbecausetheirtitlehasdevolveduponanheirwhoisinnocentofthechargesofmisgovernmentbroughtagainsthisfather？Doyourememberthelinesofyourfavouritepoet？-
　　HadRichardunconstrainedresignedthethrone，Akingcangivenomorethanishisown；
　　ThetitlestoodentailedhadRichardhadason。
　　Yousee，mydearWaverley，IcanquotepoetryaswellasFloraandyou。Butcome，clearyourmoodybrow，andtrusttometoshowyouanhonourableroadtoaspeedyandgloriousrevenge。
　　LetusseekFlora，whoperhapshasmorenewstotellusofwhathasoccurredduringourabsence。Shewillrejoicetohearthatyouarerelievedofyourservitude。Butfirstaddapostscripttoyourletter，markingthetimewhenyoureceivedthiscalvinisticalColonel’sfirstsummons，andexpressyourregretthatthehastinessofhisproceedingspreventedyouranticipatingthembysendingyourresignation。Thenlethimblushforhisinjustice。’’
　　Theletterwassealedaccordingly，coveringaformalresignationofthecommission，andMac-Ivordespatcheditwithsomelettersofhisownbyaspecialmessenger，withchargetoputthemintothenearestpost-officeintheLowlands。
　　CHAPTERTWENTY-SIXTH。
　　ANECLAIRCISSEMENT。
　　ThehintwhichtheChieftainhadthrownoutrespectingFlorawasnotunpremeditated。HehadobservedwithgreatsatisfactionthegrowingattachmentofWaverleytohissister，nordidheseeanybartotheirunion，exceptingthesituationwhichWaverley’sfatherheldintheministry，andEdward’sowncommissioninthearmyofGeorgeII。Theseobstacleswerenowremoved，andinamannerwhichapparentlypavedthewayfortheson’sbecomingreconciledtoanotherallegiance。Ineveryotherrespectthematchwouldbemosteligible。Thesafety，happiness，andhonourableprovisionofhissister，whomhedearlyloved，appearedtobeensuredbytheproposedunion；andhisheartswelledwhenheconsideredhowhisowninterestwouldbeexaltedintheeyesoftheex-monarchtowhomhehaddedicatedhisservice，byanalliancewithoneofthoseancient，powerful，andwealthyEnglishfamiliesofthesteadycavalierfaith，toawakenwhosedecayedattachmenttotheStuartfamilywasnowamatterofsuchvitalimportancetotheStuartcause。
　　NorcouldFergusperceiveanyobstacletosuchascheme。
　　Waverley’sattachmentwasevident；andashispersonwashandsome，andhistasteapparentlycoincidedwithherown，heanticipatednooppositiononthepartofFlora。Indeed，betweenhisideasofpatriarchalpowerandthosewhichhehadacquiredinFrancerespectingthedisposaloffemalesinmarriage，anyoppositionfromhissister，dearasshewastohim，wouldhavebeenthelastobstacleonwhichhewouldhavecalculated，evenhadtheunionbeenlesseligible。
　　Influencedbythesefeelings，theChiefnowledWaverleyinquestofMissMac-Ivor，notwithoutthehopethatthepresentagitationofhisguest’sspiritsmightgivehimcouragetocutshortwhatFergustermedtheromanceofthecourtship。TheyfoundFlora，withherfaithfulattendants，UnaandCathleen，busiedinpreparingwhatappearedtoWaverleytobewhitebridalfavours。Disguisingaswellashecouldtheagitationofhismind，WaverleyaskedforwhatjoyfuloccasionMissMac-Ivormadesuchamplepreparation。
　　ItisforFergus’sbridal，’’shesaidsmiling。
　　Indeed！’’saidEdward；hehaskepthissecretwell。I
　　hopehewillallowmetobehisbride’s-man。’’
　　Thatisaman’soffice，butnotyours，asBeatricesays，’’
　　retortedFlora。
　　Andwhoisthefairlady，mayIbepermittedtoask，MissMac-Ivor？’’
　　DidnotItellyoulongsincethatFerguswooednobridebutHonour？’’answeredFlora。
　　AndamIthenincapableofbeinghisassistantandcounsellorinthepursuitofhonour？’’saidourhero，colouringdeeply。