right, and which, of course, would supersede that difficulty. If she was to be also Viscountess Bradwardine, in her own right, after her father's demise, so much the better; I could have no objection.>> «But, Fergus," said Waverley, «I had no idea that you had any affection for Miss Bradwardine, and you are always sneering at her father.» " I have as much affection for Miss Bradwardine, my good friend, as I think it necessary to have for the future mistress of my family, and the mother of my children. She is a very pretty intelligent girl, and is certainly of one of the very first Lowland families; and, with a little of Flora's instructions and forming, will make a very good figure. As to her father, he is an original, it is true, and an absurd one enough; but he has given such severe lessons to Sir Hew Halbert, that dear defunct the Laird of Balmawhapple, and others, that nobody dare laugh at him, so his absurdity goes for nothing. I tell you there could have been no earthly objection-none. I had settled the thing entirely in my own mind.» « But had you asked the Baron's consent, or Rose's?» << To what purpose? To have spoke to the Baron before I had assumed my title, would have only provoked a premature and irritating discussion on the subject of the change of name, when, as earl of Glennaquoich, I had only to propose to him to carry his d-d bear and boot-jack party per pale, or in a scutcheon of pretence, or in a separate shield perhaps any way that would not blemish my own coat-of-arms. And as to Rose, I don't see what objection she could have made, if her father was satisfied.» " Perhaps the same that your sister makes to me, you being satisfied.» Fergus gave a broad stare at the comparison which this supposition implied, but cautiously suppressed the answer which rose to his tongue. «O, we should easily have arranged all that; so, Sir, I craved a private interview, and this morning was assigned, and I asked you to meet me here, thinking, like a fool, that I should want your countenance as bride's-man. Well I state my pretensions, they are not denied the promises so repeatedly made, and the patent granted—they are acknowledged. But I propose, as a natural consequence, to assume the rank which the patent bestowed-I have the old story of the jealousy of C and M――trumpt up against me—I resist this pretext, and offer to procure their written acquiescence, in virtue of the date of my patent as prior to their silly claims-I assure you I would have had such a consent from them, if it had been at point of the sword-And then out comes the real truth; and he dares to tell me, to my face, that my patent must be suppressed for the present, for fear of disgusting that rascally coward and fainéant-naming the rival chief of his own clan) who has no better title to be a chieftain than I to be Emperor of China; and who is pleased to shelter his dastardly reluctance to come out agreeable to his promise twenty times pledged, under a pretended jealousy of the Prince's partiality to me. And, to leave this miserable driveller without a pretence for his cowardice, the Prince asks it as a personal favour of me, forsooth, not to press my just and reasonable request at this moment. After this put your faith in princes! >> "And did your audience end here?>> «< End? O no: I was determined to leave him no pretence for his ingratitude, and I therefore stated, with all the composure I could muster, for I promise you I trembled with passion, the particular reasons I had for wishing that his Royal Highness would impose upon me any other mode of exhibiting my duty and devotion, as my views in life made, what would at any other time have been a mere trifle, at this crisis, a severe sacrifice; and then I explained to him my full plan.>> « And what did the Prince answer?»> << Answer? why-it is well it is written, curse not the king, no, not in thy thought!—why, he answered, that truly he was glad I had made him my confidant to prevent more grievous disappointment, for he could assure me, upon the word of a prince, that Miss Bradwardine's affections were engaged, and he was under a particular promise to favour them. 'So, my dear Fergus,' said he, with his most gracious cast of smile, 'as the marriage is utterly out of question, there need be no hurry, you know, about the earldom.' And so he glided off, and left me planté là.» And what did you do?» « I'll tell you what I could have done at that moment-sold myself to the devil or the Elector, whichever offered the dearest revenge. However I am now cool. I know he intends to marry her to some of his rascally Frenchmen, or his Irish officers, but I will watch them close; and let the man that would supplant me look well to himself.-Bisogna coprersi, Signor.» After some further conversation, unnecessary to be detailed, Waverley took leave of the Chieftain, whose fury had now subsided into a deep and strong desire of vengeance, and returned home, scarce able to analyse the mixture of feelings which the narrative had awakened in his own bosom. CHAPTER VII. «To one thing constant never.» << I AM the very child of caprice,» said Waverley to himself, as he bolted the door of his apartment, and paced it with hasty steps—« What is it to me that Fergus Mac-Ivor should wish to marry Rose Bradwardine?-I love her not -I might have been loved by her perhapsbut I rejected her simple, natural, and affecting attachment, instead of cherishing it into tenderness, and dedicated myself to one who will never love mortal man, unless old Warwick, the King-maker, should arise from the dead. The Baron too-I would not have cared about his estate, and so the name would have been no stumbling-block. The devil might have taken the barren moors, and drawn off the royal caliga, for what I would have minded. But framed as she is for domestic affection and tenderness, for giving and receiving all those kind and quiet attentions which sweeten life to those who pass it together, she is |