Thatyouaretoexplain；-butdidyounot，forexample，sendtohimforsomebooks？’’
　　Youremindmeofatriflingcommission，’’saidWaverley，whichIgaveSergeantHoughtonbecausemysergeantcouldnotread。IdorecollectIbadehimbyletterselectsomebooks，ofwhichIsenthimalist，andsendthemtomeatTully-Veolan。’’
　　Andofwhatdescriptionwerethosebooks？’’
　　Theyrelatedalmostentirelytoelegantliterature；theyweredesignedforalady’sperusal。’’
　　Weretherenot，Mr。Waverley，treasonabletractsandpamphletsamongthem？’’
　　Thereweresomepoliticaltreatises，intowhichIhardlylooked。Theyhadbeensenttomebytheofficiousnessofakindfriend，whoseheartismoretobeesteemedthanhisprudenceorpoliticalsagacity；theyseemedtobedullcompositions。’’
　　Thatfriend，’’continuedtheperseveringinquirer，wasaMr。Pembroke，anon-juringclergyman，theauthoroftwotreasonableworks，ofwhichthemanuscriptswerefoundamongyourbaggage？’’
　　Butofwhich，Igiveyoumyhonourasagentleman，’’
　　repliedWaverley，Ineverreadsixpages。’’
　　“Iamnotyourjudge，Mr。Waverley；yourexaminationwillbetransmittedelsewhere。Andnowtoproceed-DoyouknowapersonthatpassesbythenameofWilyWill，orWillRuthven？’’
　　Ineverheardofsuchanametillthismoment。’’
　　Didyouneverthroughsuchaperson，oranyotherperson，communicatewithSergeantHumphryHoughton，instigatinghimtodesertwithasmanyofhiscomradesashecouldseducetojoinhim，andunitewiththeHighlandersandotherrebelsnowinarmsunderthecommandoftheyoungPretender？’’
　　IassureyouIamnotonlyentirelyguiltlessoftheplotyouhavelaidtomycharge，butIdetestitfromtheverybottomofmysoul，norwouldIbeguiltyofsuchtreacherytogainathroneeitherformyselforanyothermanalive。’’
　　YetwhenIconsiderthisenvelope，inthehandwritingofoneofthosemisguidedgentlemenwhoarenowinarmsagainsttheircountry，andtheverseswhichitenclosed，IcannotbutfindsomeanalogybetweentheenterpriseIhavementionedandtheexploitofWogan，whichthewriterseemstoexpectyoushouldimitate。’’
　　Waverleywasstruckwiththecoincidence，butdeniedthatthewishesorexpectationsoftheletter-writerweretoberegardedasproofsofachargeotherwisechimerical。
　　But，ifIamrightlyinformed，yourtimewasspent，duringyourabsencefromtheregiment，betweenthehouseofthisHighlandChieftainandthatofMr。BradwardineofBradwardine，alsoinarmsforthisunfortunatecause？’’
　　Idonotmeantodisguiseit，butIdodeny，mostresolutely，beingprivytoanyoftheirdesignsagainsttheGovernment。’’
　　Youdonot，however，Ipresume，intendtodenythatyouattendedyourhostGlennaquoichtoarendezvous，where，underapretenceofageneralhunting-match，mostoftheaccomplicesofhistreasonwereassembledtoconcertmeasuresfortakingarms？’’
　　Iacknowledgehavingbeenatsuchameeting，’’saidWaverley；
　　butIneitherheardnorsawanythingwhichcouldgiveitthecharacteryouaffixtoit。’’
　　Fromthenceyouproceeded，’’continuedthemagistrate，withGlennaquoichandapartofhisclantojointhearmyoftheyoungPretender，andreturned，afterhavingpaidyourhomagetohim，todisciplineandarmtheremainder，andunitethemtohisbandsontheirwaysouthward？’’
　　IneverwentwithGlennaquoichonsuchanerrand。I
　　neversomuchasheardthatthepersonwhomyoumentionwasinthecountry。’’
　　Hethendetailedthehistoryofhismisfortuneatthehunting-match，andadded，thatonhisreturnhefoundhimselfsuddenlydeprivedofhiscommission，anddidnotdenythathethen，forthefirsttime，observedsymptomswhichindicatedadispositionintheHighlanderstotakearms；butadded，thathavingnoinclinationtojointheircause，andnolongeranyreasonforremaininginScotland，hewasnowonhisreturntohisnativecountry，towhichhehadbeensummonedbythosewhohadarighttodirecthismotions，asMajorMelvillewouldperceivefromthelettersonthetable。
　　MajorMelvilleaccordinglyperusedthelettersofRichardWaverley，ofSirEverard，andofAuntRachel；buttheinferenceshedrewfromthemweredifferentfromwhatWaverleyexpected。TheyheldthelanguageofdiscontentwithGovernment，threwoutnoobscurehintsofrevenge；andthatofpoorAuntRachel，whichplainlyassertedthejusticeoftheStuartcause，washeldtocontaintheopenavowalofwhattheotheronlyventuredtoinsinuate。
　　Permitmeanotherquestion，Mr。Waverley，’’saidMajorMelville。Didyounotreceiverepeatedlettersfromyourcommanding-officerwarningyouandcommandingyoutoreturntoyourpost，andacquaintingyouwiththeusemadeofyournametospreaddiscontentamongyoursoldiers？’’
　　Ineverdid，MajorMelville。Oneletter，indeed，Ireceivedfromhim，containingacivilintimationofhiswishthatIwouldemploymyleaveofabsenceotherwisethaninconstantresidenceatBradwardine，astowhich，Iown，Ithoughthewasnotcalledontointerfere；andfinally，Ireceived，onthesamedayonwhichIobservedmyselfsupersededintheGazette，asecondletterfromColonelGardiner，commandingmetojointheregiment-
　　anorderwhich，owingtomyabsence，alreadymentionedandaccountedfor，Ireceivedtoolatetobeobeyed。Iftherewereanyintermediateletters-andcertainlyfromtheColonel’shighcharacterIthinkitprobablethattherewere-theyhaveneverreachedme。’’
　　Ihaveomitted，Mr。Waverley，’’continuedMajorMelville，toinquireafteramatteroflessconsequence，butwhichhas，nevertheless，beenpubliclytalkedoftoyourdisadvantage。Itissaidthatatreasonabletoasthavingbeenproposedinyourhearingandpresence，you，holdinghisMajesty’scommission，sufferedthetaskofresentingittodevolveuponanothergentlemanofthecompany。This，sir，cannotbechargedagainstyouinacourtofjustice；butif，asIaminformed，theofficersofyourregimentrequestedanexplanationofsucharumour，asagentlemanandsoldier，Icannotbutbesurprisedthatyoudidnotaffordittothem。’’
　　Thiswastoomuch。Besetandpressedoneveryhandbyaccusations，inwhichgrossfalsehoodswereblendedwithsuchcircumstancesoftruthascouldnotfailtoprocurethemcredit-alone，unfriended，andinastrangeland，Waverleyalmostgaveuphislifeandhonourforlost，andleaninghisheaduponhishand，resolutelyrefusedtoansweranyfurtherquestions，sincethefairandcandidstatementhehadalreadymadehadonlyservedtofurnisharmsagainsthim。
　　WithoutexpressingeithersurpriseordispleasureatthechangeinWaverley’smanner，MajorMelvilleproceededcomposedlytoputseveralotherqueriestohim。Whatdoesitavailmetoansweryou？’’saidEdwardsullenly。Youappearconvincedofmyguilt，andwresteveryreplyIhavemadetosupportyourownpreconceivedopinion。Enjoyyoursupposedtriumph，then，andtormentmenofurther。IfIamcapableofthecowardiceandtreacheryyourchargeburdensmewith，IamnotworthytobebelievedinanyreplyIcanmaketoyou。IfIamnotdeservingofyoursuspicion-andGodandmyownconsciencebearevidencewithmethatitisso-thenIdonotseewhyIshouldbymycandourlendmyaccusersarmsagainstmyinnocence。ThereisnoreasonIshouldanswerawordmore，andIamdeterminedtoabidebythisresolution。’’Andagainheresumedhispostureofsullenanddeterminedsilence。
　　Allowme，’’saidthemagistrate，toremindyouofonereasonthatmaysuggesttheproprietyofacandidandopenconfession。
　　Theinexperienceofyouth，Mr。Waverley，laysitopentotheplansofthemoredesigningandartful；andoneofyourfriendsatleast-ImeanMac-IvorofGlennaquoich-rankshighinthelatterclass，asfromyourapparentingenuousness，youth，andunacquaintancewiththemannersoftheHighlands，I
　　shouldbedisposedtoplaceyouamongtheformer。Insuchacase，afalsesteporerrorlikeyours，whichIshallbehappytoconsiderasinvoluntary，maybeatonedfor，andIwouldwillinglyactasintercessor。Butasyoumustnecessarilybeacquaintedwiththestrengthoftheindividualsinthiscountrywhohaveassumedarms，withtheirmeans，andwiththeirplans，Imustexpectyouwillmeritthismediationonmypartbyafrankandcandidavowalofallthathascometoyourknowledgeupontheseheads。Inwhichcase，IthinkIcanventuretopromisethataveryshortpersonalrestraintwillbetheonlyillconsequencethatcanarisefromyouraccessiontotheseunhappyintrigues。’’
　　Waverleylistenedwithgreatcomposureuntiltheendofthisexhortation，when，springingfromhisseat，withanenergyhehadnotyetdisplayed，hereplied，MajorMelville，sincethatisyourname，Ihavehithertoansweredyourquestionswithcandour，ordeclinedthemwithtemper，becausetheirimportconcernedmyselfalone；butasyoupresumetoesteemmemeanenoughtocommenceinformeragainstothers，whoreceivedme，whatevermaybetheirpublicmisconduct，asaguestandfriend，-IdeclaretoyouthatIconsideryourquestionsasaninsultinfinitelymoreoffensivethanyourcalumnioussuspicions；andthat，sincemyhardfortunepermitsmenoothermodeofresentingthemthanbyverbaldefiance，youshouldsoonerhavemyheartoutofmybosom，thanasinglesyllableofinformationonsubjectswhichIcouldonlybecomeacquaintedwithinthefullconfidenceofunsuspectinghospitality。’’
　　Mr。MortonandtheMajorlookedateachother；andtheformer，who，inthecourseoftheexamination，hadbeenrepeatedlytroubledwithasorryrheum，hadrecoursetohissnuff-boxandhishandkerchief。
　　Mr。Waverley，’’saidtheMajor，mypresentsituationprohibitsmealikefromgivingorreceivingoffence，andIwillnotprotractadiscussionwhichapproachestoeither。IamafraidImustsignawarrantfordetainingyouincustody，butthishouseshallforthepresentbeyourprison。IfearIcannotpersuadeyoutoacceptashareofoursupper？-Edwardshookhishead-butIwillorderrefreshmentsinyourapartment。’’
　　Ourherobowedandwithdrew，underguardoftheofficersofjustice，toasmallbuthandsomeroom，where，decliningalloffersoffoodorwine，heflunghimselfonthebed，andstupifiedbytheharassingeventsandmentalfatigueofthismiserableday，hesunkintoadeepandheavyslumber。Thiswasmorethanhehimselfcouldhaveexpected；butitismentionedoftheNorthAmericanIndians，whenatthestakeoftorture，thatontheleastintermissionofagony，theywillsleepuntilthefireisappliedtoawakenthem。
　　CHAPTERTHIRTY-SECOND。
　　ACONFERENCEANDTHECONSEQUENCE。
　　MajorMelvillehaddetainedMr。MortonduringhisexaminationofWaverley，bothbecausehethoughthemightderiveassistancefromhispracticalgoodsenseandapprovedloyalty，andalsobecauseitwasagreeabletohaveawitnessofunimpeachedcandourandveracitytoproceedingswhichtouchedthehonourandsafetyofayoungEnglishmanofhighrankandfamily，andtheexpectantheirofalargefortune。Everystepheknewwouldberigorouslycanvassed，anditwashisbusinesstoplacethejusticeandintegrityofhisownconductbeyondthelimitsofquestion。
　　WhenWaverleyretired，thelairdandclergymanofCairnvreckansatdowninsilencetotheireveningmeal。Whiletheservantswereinattendance，neitherchosetosayanythingonthecircumstanceswhichoccupiedtheirminds，andneitherfeltiteasytospeakuponanyother。TheyouthandapparentfranknessofWaverleystoodinstrongcontrasttotheshadesofsuspicionwhichdarkenedaroundhim，andhehadasortofnaivetandopennessofdemeanour，thatseemedtobelongtooneunhackneyedinthewaysofintrigue，andwhichpleadedhighlyinhisfavour。