Alas，no，’’answeredWaverley；Ihavebeenrefusedadmittance。’’
　　Itaccordswiththerest，’’shesaid；butwemustsubmit。
　　Shallyouobtainleave，doyousuppose？’’
　　For-for-to-morrow，’’saidWaverley；butmutteringthelastwordsofaintlythatitwasalmostunintelligible。
　　Ay，thenornever，’’saidFlora，until’’-sheadded，lookingupward，thetimewhen，Itrust，weshallallmeet。ButIhopeyouwillseehimwhileearthyetbearshim。Healwayslovedyouathisheart，though-butitisvaintotalkofthepast。’’
　　Vainindeed！’’echoedWaverley。
　　Orevenofthefuture，mygoodfriend，’’saidFlora，sofarasearthlyeventsareconcerned；forhowoftenhaveIpicturedtomyselfthestrongpossibilityofthishorridissue，andtaskedmyselftoconsiderhowIcouldsupportmypart；andyethowfarhasallmyanticipationfallenshortoftheunimaginablebitternessofthishour！’’
　　DearFlora，ifyourstrengthofmind’’
　　Ay，thereitis，’’sheanswered，somewhatwildly；thereisMr。Waverley，thereisabusydevilatmyheartthatwhispers-butitweremadnesstolistentoit-thatthestrengthofmindonwhichFlorapridedherselfhasmurderedherbrother！’’
　　GoodGod！howcanyougiveutterancetoathoughtsoshocking？’’
　　Ay，isitnotso？-butyetithauntsmelikeaphantom：
　　Iknowitisunsubstantialandvain；butitwillbepresent-
　　willintrudeitshorrorsonmymind-willwhisperthatmybrother，asvolatileasardent，wouldhavedividedhisenergiesamidahundredobjects。ItwasIwhotaughthimtoconcentratethem，andtogageallonthisdreadfulanddesperatecast。
　　OhthatIcouldrecollectthatIhadbutoncesaidtohim，`Hethatstrikethwiththeswordshalldiebythesword；’thatIhadbutoncesaid，Remainathome；reserveyourself，yourvassals，yourlife，forenterpriseswithinthereachofman。Butoh，Mr。
　　Waverley，Ispurredhisfierytemper，andhalfofhisruinatleastlieswithhissister？’’
　　ThehorridideawhichshehadintimatedEdwardendeavouredtocombatbyeveryincoherentargumentthatoccurredtohim。
　　Herecalledtohertheprinciplesonwhichboththoughtittheirdutytoact，andinwhichtheyhadbeeneducated。
　　DonotthinkIhaveforgottenthem，’’shesaid，lookingup，witheagerquickness；Idonotregrethisattemptbecauseitwaswrong-ohno！onthatpointIamarmed-butbecauseitwasimpossibleitcouldendotherwisethanthus。’’
　　Yetitdidnotalwaysseemsodesperateandhazardousasitwas；anditwouldhavebeenchosenbytheboldspiritofFerguswhetheryouhadapproveditorno；yourcounselsonlyservedtogiveunityandconsistencetohisconduct；todignify，butnottoprecipitate，hisresolution。’’FlorahadsoonceasedtolistentoEdward，andwasagainintentuponherneedle-work。
　　Doyouremember，’’shesaid，lookingupwithaghastlysmile，youoncefoundmemakingFergus’sbride-favours，andnowIamsewinghisbridal-garment。Ourfriendshere，’’shecontinued，withsuppressedemotion，aretogivehallowedearthintheirchapeltothebloodyrelicsofthelastVichIanVohr。Buttheywillnotallresttogether；no-hishead！-I
　　shallnothavethelastmiserableconsolationofkissingthecoldlipsofmydear，dearFergus！’’
　　TheunfortunateFlorahere，afteroneortwohystericalsobs，faintedinherchair。Thelady，whohadbeenattendingintheante-room，nowenteredhastily，andbeggedEdwardtoleavetheroom，butnotthehouse。
　　Whenhewasrecalled，afterthespaceofnearlyhalf-an-hour，hefoundthat，byastrongeffort，MissMac-Ivorhadgreatlycomposedherself。ItwasthenheventuredtourgeMissBradwardine’sclaimtobeconsideredasanadoptedsister，andempoweredtoassistherplansforthefuture。
　　IhavehadaletterfrommydearRose，’’shereplied，tothesamepurpose。Sorrowisselfishandengrossing，orIwouldhavewrittentoexpressthat，eveninmyowndespair，Ifeltagleamofpleasureatlearningherhappyprospects，andathearingthatthegoodoldBaronhasescapedthegeneralwreck。GivethistomydearestRose；itisherpoorFlora’sonlyornamentofvalue，andwasthegiftofaprincess。’’Sheputintohishandsacasecontainingthechainofdiamondswithwhichsheusedtodecorateherhair。Tomeitisinfutureuseless。ThekindnessofmyfriendshassecuredmearetreatintheconventoftheScottishBenedictinenunsinParis。To-morrow-ifindeedIcansurviveto-morrow-Isetforwardonmyjourneywiththisvenerablesister。Andnow，Mr。Waverley，adieu！MayyoubeashappywithRoseasyouramiabledispositionsdeserve！-
　　andthinksometimesonthefriendsyouhavelost。Donotattempttoseemeagain！itwouldbemistakenkindness。’’
　　Shegavehimherhand，onwhichEdwardshedatorrentoftears，and，withafalteringstep，withdrewfromtheapartment，andreturnedtothetownofCarlisle。Attheinnhefoundaletterfromhislawfriend，intimatingthathewouldbeadmittedtoFergusnextmorningassoonastheCastlegateswereopened，andpermittedtoremainwithhimtillthearrivaloftheSheriffgavesignalforthefatalprocession。
　　Adarkerdepartureisnear，Thedeath-drumismuffled，andsablethebier。
　　Campbell。
　　Afterasleeplessnight，thefirstdawnofmorningfoundWaverleyontheesplanadeinfrontoftheoldGothicgateofCarlisleCastle。Buthepaceditlongineverydirectionbeforethehourwhen，accordingtotherulesofthegarrison，thegateswereopenedandthedrawbridgelowered。Heproducedhisordertothesergeantoftheguard，andwasadmitted。
　　TheplaceofFergus’sconfinementwasagloomyandvaultedapartmentinthecentralpartoftheCastle-ahugeoldtower，supposedtobeofgreatantiquity，andsurroundedbyoutworks，seeminglyofHenryVIII。’stime，orsomewhatlater。Thegratingofthelargeold-fashionedbarsandbolts，withdrawnforthepurposeofadmittingEdward，wasansweredbytheclashofchains，astheunfortunateChieftain，stronglyandheavilyfettered，shuffledalongthestonefloorofhisprisontoflinghimselfintohisfriend’sarms。
　　MydearEdward，’’hesaid，inafirm，andevencheerfulvoice，thisistrulykind。Iheardofyourapproachinghappinesswiththehighestpleasure。AndhowdoesRose？andhowisouroldwhimsicalfriendtheBaron？Well，Itrust，sinceIseeyouatfreedom-Andhowwillyousettleprecedencebetweenthethreeerminespassantandthebearandboot-jack？’’
　　How，Ohow，mydearFergus，canyoutalkofsuchthingsatsuchamoment！’’
　　Why，wehaveenteredCarlislewithhappierauspices，tobesure-onthe16thofNovemberlast，forexample，whenwemarchedin，sidebyside，andhoistedthewhiteflagontheseancienttowers。ButIamnoboy，tositdownandweepbecausetheluckhasgoneagainstme。IknewthestakewhichIrisked；
　　weplayedthegameboldly，andtheforfeitshallbepaidmanfully。
　　Andnow，sincemytimeisshort，letmecometothequestionsthatinterestmemost-ThePrince？hasheescapedtheblood-hounds？’’
　　Hehas，andisinsafety。’’
　　PraisedbeGodforthat！Tellmetheparticularsofhisescape。’’
　　Waverleycommunicatedthatremarkablehistorysofarasithadthentranspired，towhichFerguslistenedwithdeepinterest。
　　Hethenaskedafterseveralotherfriends；andmademanyminuteinquiriesconcerningthefateofhisownclansmen。Theyhadsufferedlessthanothertribeswhohadbeenengagedintheaffair；for，havinginagreatmeasuredispersedandreturnedhomeafterthecaptivityoftheirChieftain，accordingtotheuniversalcustomoftheHighlanders，theywerenotinarmswhentheinsurrectionwasfinallysuppressed，andconsequentlyweretreatedwithlessrigour。ThisFergusheardwithgreatsatisfaction。
　　Youarerich，’’hesaid，Waverley，andyouaregenerous。
　　WhenyouhearofthesepoorMac-lvorsbeingdistressedabouttheirmiserablepossessionsbysomeharshoverseeroragentofgovernment，rememberyouhaveworntheirtartan，andareanadoptedsonoftheirrace。TheBaron，whoknowsourmanners，andlivesnearourcountry，willapprizeyouofthetimeandmeanstobetheirprotector。WillyoupromisethistothelastVichIanVohr？’’
　　Edward，asmaywellbebelieved，pledgedhisword；whichheafterwardssoamplyredeemed，thathismemorystilllivesintheseglensbythenameoftheFriendoftheSonsofIvor。
　　WouldtoGod，’’continuedtheChieftain，Icouldbequeathtoyoumyrightstotheloveandobedienceofthisprimitiveandbraverace：-oratleast，asIhavestriventodo，persuadepoorEvantoacceptofhislifeupontheirterms，andbetoyouwhathehasbeentome，thekindest-thebravest-themostdevoted’’
　　Thetearswhichhisownfatecouldnotdrawforth，fellfastforthatofhisfoster-brother。
　　But，’’saidhe，dryingthem，thatcannotbe。YoucannotbetothemVichIanVohr；andthesethreemagicwords，’’saidhe，halfsmiling，aretheonly_OpenSesame_totheirfeelingsandsympathies，andpoorEvanmustattendhisfoster-brotherindeath，ashehasdonethroughhiswholelife。’’
　　AndIamsure，’’saidMaccombich，raisinghimselffromthefloor，onwhich，forfearofinterruptingtheirconversation，hehadlainsostill，thatintheobscurityoftheapartmentEdwardwasnotawareofhispresence-IamsureEvanneverdesiredordeservedabetterendthanjusttodiewithhisChieftain。’’
　　Andnow，’’saidFergus，whileweareuponthesubjectofclanship-whatthinkyounowofthepredictionoftheBodachGlas？’’-Then，beforeEdwardcouldanswer，Isawhimagainlastnight-hestoodintheslipofmoonshinewhichfellfromthathighandnarrowwindowtowardsmybed。WhyshouldI
　　fearhim，Ithought-to-morrow，longerethistime，Ishallbeasimmaterialashe。`FalseSpirit！’Isaid，`artthoucometoclosethywalksonearth，andtoenjoythytriumphinthefallofthelastdescendantofthineenemy！’Thespectreseemedtobeckonandtosmileashefadedfrommysight。Whatdoyouthinkofit？-Iaskedthesamequestionofthepriest，whoisagoodandsensibleman；headmittedthatthechurchallowedthatsuchapparitionswerepossible，buturgedmenottopermitmymindtodwelluponit，asimaginationplaysussuchstrangetricks。Whatdoyouthinkofit？’’
　　Muchasyourconfessor，’’saidWaverley，willingtoavoiddisputeuponsuchapointatsuchamoment。Atapatthedoornowannouncedthatgoodman，andEdwardretiredwhileheadministeredtobothprisonersthelastritesofreligion，inthemodewhichtheChurchofRomeprescribes。
　　Inaboutanhourhewasre-admitted；soonafter，afileofsoldiersenteredwithablacksmith，whostruckthefettersfromthelegsoftheprisoners。
　　YouseethecomplimenttheypaytoourHighlandstrengthandcourage-wehavelainchainedherelikewildbeasts，tillourlegsarecrampedintopalsy，andwhentheyfreeus，theysendsixsoldierswithloadedmusketstopreventourtakingthecastlebystorm！’’
　　Edwardafterwardslearnedthatthesesevereprecautionshadbeentakeninconsequenceofadesperateattemptoftheprisonerstoescape，inwhichtheyhadverynearlysucceeded。
　　Shortlyafterwardsthedrumsofthegarrisonbeattoarms。
　　Thisisthelastturn-out，’’saidFergus，thatIshallhearandobey。Andnow，mydear，dearEdward，erewepartletusspeakofFlora-asubjectwhichawakesthetenderestfeelingthatyetthrillswithinme。’’
　　Wepartnot_here！_’’saidWaverley。
　　Oyes，wedo；youmustcomenofarther。NotthatIfearwhatistofollowformyself，’’hesaidproudly；Naturehashertorturesaswellasart；andhowhappyshouldwethinkthemanwhoescapesfromthethroesofamortalandpainfuldisorder，inthespaceofashorthalfhour？Andthismatter，spinitoutastheywill，cannotlastlonger。Butwhatadyingmancansufferfirmly，maykillalivingfriendtolookupon-
　　Thissamelawofhightreason，’’hecontinued，withastonishingfirmnessandcomposure，isoneoftheblessings，Edward，withwhichyourfreecountryhasaccommodatedpooroldScotland：
　　herownjurisprudence，asIhaveheard，wasmuchmilder。ButIsupposeonedayorother-whentherearenolongeranywildHighlanderstobenefitbyitstendermercies-theywillblotitfromtheirrecords，aslevellingthemwithanationofcannibals。