And an air of bashfulness, which was in reality the effect of want of habitual intercourse with the world, gave interest to his features, without injuring their grace or intelligence. "He's a pratty man; a very pratty man," said Evan Dhu (now Ensign Maccombich) to Fergus's buxom landlady.

"He's vera weel," said the widow Flockhart, "but no naithing so weel-far'd as your colonel, ensign.'

"I was na comparing them," quoth Evan, "nor was I speaking about his being weel-favoured; but only that Mr. Waverley looks clean-made and deliver, and like proper lad o' his quarters, that will not cry barley in a brulzie. And, indeed, he's gleg aneuch at the broad-sword and target. I have played wi' him mysel at Glennaquoich, and sae has Vich Ian Vohr, often of a Sunday afternoon."

"Lord forgie ye, Ensign Maccombich, I'm sure the colonel wad never do the like o' that.”

"Hout! hout! Mrs. Flockhart, we're young blude, ye ken; and young saints auld deils."

"But will ye fight wi' Sir John Cope, the morn, Ensign Maccombich?"

"Troth I'se ensure him, an he'll bide us, Mrs. Flockhart."

"And will ye face thae tearing chields, the dragoons, Ensign Maccombich?"

"Claw for claw, as Conan said to Satan, Mrs. Flockhart, and the deil tak the shortest nails."

"And will the colonel venture on the bagganets himsell?"

"Ye may swear it, Mrs. Flockhart; the very first man will he be, by Saint Phedar.”

"Merciful goodness! and if he's killed amang the red coats!"

Troth, if it should sae befall, Mrs. Flockhart, I ken ane that will na be living to weep for him. But we maun a' live the day, and have our dinner; and there's Vich Ian Vohr has packed his dorlach, and Mr. Waverley's wearied wi' majoring yonder afore the muc

kle pier-glass, and that gray auld stoor carle, the Baron o' Bradwardine, that shot young Ronald of Ballankeiroch, he's coming down the close wi' that droghling coghling baillie body they ca' Macwhupple, just like the laird o? Kittlegab's French cook, wi' his turnspit doggie trindling ahint him, and I am as hungry as a gled, my bonny dow; sae bid Kate set on the broo,' and do ye put on your pinners, for ye know Vich Ian Vohr winna sit down till ye be at the head o' the table ;—and dinna forget the pint bottle o' brandy, my woman."

This hint produced dinner. Mrs. Flockhart, smiling in her weeds like the sun through a mist, took the head of the table, thinking within herself perhaps, that she cared not how long the rebellion lasted that brought her into company so much above her usual associates. She was supported by Waverley and the baron, with the advantage of the chieftain vis-a-vis. The men of peace and of war, that is, Baillie Macwheeble and Ensign Maccombich, after many profound congés to their superiors and each other, took their places on each side of the chieftain. Their fare was excellent, time, place, and circumstances considered, and Fergus's spirits were extravagantly high. Regardless of danger, and sanguine from temper, youth, and ambition, he saw in imagination all his prospects crowned with success, and was totally indifferent to the probable alternative of a soldier's grave. The baron apologized slightly for bringing Macwheeble. They had been providing, he said, for the expenses of the campaign. "And, by my faith," said the old man," as I think this will be my last, so I just end where I began-I hae evermore found the sinews of war, as a learned author calls the caisse militaire, mair difficult to come by than either its flesh, blood, or bones."

"What, have you raised our only efficient body of cavalry, and got ye none of the louis-d'ors out of the Doutelle to help you?"

"No, Glennaquoich; cleverer fellows have been before me.

"That's a scandal said the young Highlander; "but you will share what is left of my subsidy: It will save you an anxious thought to-night, and be all one to-morrow, for we shall all be provided for one way or other before the sun sets." Waverley blushing deeply, but with great earnestness, pressed the same request. "I thank ye baith my good lads," said the baron, "but I will not infringe upon your peculium Baillie Macwheeble has provided the sum which is

necessary.

Here the baillie shifted, and fidgeted about in his seat, and appeared extremely uneasy. At length, after several preliminary hems, and much tautological expression of his devotion to his honour's service, by night or day, living or dead, he began to insinuate, "that the banks had removed a' their ready cash into the castle; that, nae doubt, Sandi Goldie, the silversmith, would do mickle for his honour; but there was little time to get the wadset made out; and, doubtless, if his honour, Glennaquoich, or Mr. Waverley, could accommodate"

"but

"Let me hear of no such nonsense, sir," said the baron, in a tone which made Macwheeble mute, proceed as we accorded before dinner, if it be your wish to remain in my service."

To this peremptory order the baillie, though he felt as if condemned to suffer a transfusion of blood from his own veins into those of the baron, did not presume to make any reply. After fidgeting a little. while longer, however, he addressed himself to Glennaquoich, and told him if his honour had mair ready siller than was sufficient for his occasions in the field, he could put it out at use for his honour in safe hands, and at great profit at this time. At this proposal Fergus laughed heartily, and answered when he had recovered his breath, "Many thanks baillie; but you must know it is a general custom among us soldiers to

make our landlady our bauker. Here, Mrs. Flockhart," said he, taking four or five broad pieces out of a well-filled purse, and tossing the purse itself, with its remaining contents into her apron, "these will serve my occasions; do you take the rest: be my banker if I live, and my executor if I die; but take care to give something to the Highland cailliachs that shall cry the coronach loudest for the last Vich an Vohr." The soft heart of Mrs. Flockhart was melted within her at this speech; she set up a lamentable blubbering, and positively refused to touch the bequest, which Fergus was therefore obliged to resume. "Well, then," said the chief, "if I fall, it will go to the grenadier that knocks my brains out, and I shall take care he works hard for it."

"It is the ancient testamentum militare," quoth the baron, "whilk, as Binkerschoekius and Pagenstecherus agree, was privilegiate to be nuncupative, ita delego commilitones."

his

Baillie Macwheeble was again tempted to put in oar, for where cash was concerned, he did not wilingly remain silent. "Perhaps he had better carry the goud to Miss Mac-Ivor, in case of mortality, or accidents of war. It might take the form of a mortis causa donation in the young leddie's favour, and wad cost but the scrape of a pen to make it out."

"The young lady," said Fergus, "should such an event happen, will have other matters to think of than these wretched louis d'ors."

"True-undeniable-there's nae doubt o' that; but your honour kens that a full sorrow".

"Is endurable by most folks more easily than a hungry one? True, baillie, very true; and I believe there may even be some who would be consoled by such a reflection for the loss of the whole existing generation; but there is a sorrow which knows neither hunger nor thirst; and poor Flora"-He paused and the whole company sympathized in his emotion.

The baron's thoughts naturally reverted to the un

+

protected state of his daughter, and the big tear came to the veteran's eye. "If I fall, Macwheeble, you have all my papers, and know all my affairs; be just to Rose."

The baillie was a man of earthly mould after all, a good deal of dirt and dross about him undoubtedly, but some kindly and just feelings he had, especially where the baron or his young mistress were concerned. He set up a lamentable howl. "If this doleful day should come, while Duncan Macwheeblee had a boddle, it should be Miss Rose's. He wad scroll for a plack the sheet, or she kend what it was to want; if indeed a' the bonnie baronie o' Bradwardine and Tully-Veolan, with the fortalice and manor-place thereof, (he kept sobbing and whining at every pause) tofts,crofts-mosses,muirs-outfield,infield-buildings

-orchards-dove-cotes-with the right of net and coble in the water and loch of Veolan-tiends, parsonage and vicarage-annexis, connexis-rights of pasturage-fuel, feal, peat and divot-parts pendicles, and pertinents whatsoever (here he had recourse to the end of his long cravat to wipe his eyes, which overflowed in spite of him, at the ideas this technical jargon conjured up)-all as more fully described in the proper evidents and titles thereof-and lying within the parish of Bradwardine and the shire of Perthif, as aforesaid, this must a' pass from my master's child to Inch-Grabbit, wha's a whig and a Hanoverian, and be managed by his doer, Jamie Howie, wha's no fit to be a birlieman, let be a ballie".

The beginning of this lamentation really had something affecting, but the conclusion rendered laughter irresistible. "Never mind, baillie," said Ensign Maccombich, "for the gude auld times of rugging and riving (pulling and tearing) are come back again, an Sneckus Mac Snackus, and a' the rest of your friends, maun gie place to the langest claymore.

"And that claymore shall be ours, baillie," said the