"three hundred horse of gentlemen born, besides servants, and some score or two of Highland lairds, who never got on horseback, were present on the occasion."

But his pride found some consolation in reflecting, that he and his son-in-law having been so lately in arms against government, it might give matter of reasonable fear and offence to the ruling powers, if they were to collect together the kith, kin, and allies of their houses, arrayed in effeir of war, as was the ancient custom of Scotland on these occasions"And, without dubitation," he concluded with a sigh," many of those who would have rejoiced most freely upon these joyful espousals, are either gone to a better place, or are now exiles from their native land."

The marriage took place on the appointed day. The Reverend Mr. Rubrick, kinsman to the proprie tor of the hospitable mansion where it was solemnized, and chaplain to the baron of Bradwardine, had the satisfaction to unite their hands; and Frank Stanley acted as bridesman, having joined Edward with that view soon after his arrival. Lady Emily and Colonel Talbot had proposed being present, but her health, when the day approached, was found inadequate to the journey. In amends, it was arranged that Edward Waverley and his lady, who, with the baron, proposed an immediate journey to WaverleyHonour, should, in their way, spend a few days at an estate which Colonel Talbot had been tempted to purchase in Scotland as a very great bargain, and at which he proposed to reside for some time.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

"This is no mine ain house, I ken by the bigging o't."
OLD SONG.

THE nuptial party travelled in great style. There was a coach and six upon the newest pattern, that dazzled with its splendour the eyes of one half of Scotland, which Sir Everard had presented to his nephew; there was the family coach of Mr. Rubrick; both these were crowded with ladies; and there were gentlemen on horseback with their servants, to the number of a round score. Nevertheless, without having the fear of famine before his eyes, Baillie Macwheeble met them in the road to entreat that they would pass by his house at Little Veolan. The Baron stared, and said his son and he would certainly ride by Little Veolan, and pay their compliments to the baillie, but could not think of bringing with them the "hail comitatus nuptialis, or matrimonial procession." He added, "that as he understood that the barony had been sold by its unworthy possessor, he was glad to see his old friend Duncan had regained his situation under the new Dominus, or proprietor." The baillie ducked, bowed, and fidgetted, and then again insisted upon his invitation; until the baron, though rather piqued at the pertinacity of his instances, could not, nevertheless, refuse to consent without making evident sensations which he was anxious to conceal.

He fell into a deep study as they approached the top of the avenue, and was only startled from it by observing that the battlements were replaced, the ruins cleared away, and (most wonderful of all) that the two great stone bears, those mutilated Dagons of his idolatry, had resumed their posts over the gate

way. "Now this new proprietor," said he to Edward," has shown mair gusto, as the Italians call it, in the short time he has had this domain, than that hound Malcolm, though I bred him here mysell, has acquired vita adhuc durante.-And now I talk of hounds, is not yon Ban and Buscar, come scouping up the avenue with Davie Gellatly?"

"And I vote we should go to meet them, sir, for I believe the present master of the house is Colonel Talbot, who will expect to see us. We hesitated to mention to you at first that he had purchased your ancient patrimonial property, and even yet, if you do not incline to visit him, we can pass on to the baillie's."

The baron had occasion for his magnanimity. However, he drew a long breath, took a long snuff, and observed, since they had brought him so far, he could not pass the colonel's gate, and he would be happy to see the new master of his old tenants. He alighted accordingly, as did the other gentlemen and ladies; he gave his arm to his daughter, and as they descended the avenue, pointed out to her how speedily the "Diva Pecunia of the Southern-their tutelary deity, he might call her had removed the marks of spoliation."

In truth, not only had the felled trees been removed, but their stumps being grubbed up, and the earth round them levelled and sown with grass, it was evident that the marks of devastation, unless to an eye intimately acquainted with the spot, were totally obliterated. There was a similar reformation in the outward man of David Gellatly, who met them, every now and then stopping to admire the new suit which graced his person, in the same colours as formerly, but bedizened fine enough to have served Touchstone himself. He danced up with his usual ungainly frolicks, first to the baron, and then to Rose, passing his hands over his clothes, crying, "Bra', bra' Davie," and scarce able to sing a bar to an end

of his thousand-and one songs, for the breathless extravagance of his joy. The dogs also acknowledged their old master with a thousand gambols. "Upon my conscience, Rose, the gratitude o' the dumb brutes, and of that puir innocent, brings the tears into my auld een, while that schellum Malcolm-But I'm obliged to Colonel Talbot for putting my hounds into such good condition, and likewise for puir Davie. But Rose, my dear, we must not permit them to be a life-rent burden upon the estate."

As he spoke, lady Emily, leaning upon the arm of her husband, met the party at the lower gate, with a thousand welcomes. After the ceremony of introduction had been gone through, much abridged by the ease and excellent breeding of Lady Emily, she apologized for having used a little art to wile them back to a place which might awaken some painful reflections" But as it was to change masters, we are. very desirous that the Baron—”

"Mr. Bradwardine, madam, if you please," said the old gentleman.

"Mr. Bradwardine, then, and Mr. Waverley, should see what we have done towards restoring the mansion of your fathers to its former state.

The baron answered with a low bow. Indeed, when he entered the court, excepting that the heavy stables, which had been burned down, were replaced by buildings of a lighter and more picturesque appearance, all seemed as much as possible restored to the state in which he had left it, when he assumed arms some months before. The pigeon-house was replenished, the fountain played with its usual activity, and not only the bear who predominated over its basin, but all the other bears whatsoever were replaced upon their stations, and renewed or repaired with so much care, that they bore no tokens of the violence which had so lately descended upon them. While these minutiæ had been so heedfully attended to, it is scarce necessary to add, that the house itself had been

thoroughly repaired, as well as the gardens, with the strictest attention to maintain the original character of both, and to remove, as far as possible, all appearance of the ravage they had sustained. The baron gazed in silent wonder; at length he addressed Colonel Talbot.

"While I acknowledge my obligation to you for the restoration of the badge of our family, I can not but marvel that you have no where established your own crest, Colonel Talbot, whilk is, I believe, a mastiff, anciently called a talbot; as the poet has it,

• A talbot strong—a sturdy tyke.”

"At least such a dog is the crest of the martial and renowned Earls of Shrewsbury, to whom your family are probably blood relations.

"I believe," said the colonel, smiling, " our dogs are whelps of the same litter-for my part, if crests were to dispute precedence, I should be apt to let them, as the proverb says, fight dog fight bear." "

As he made this speech, at which the baron took another long pinch of snuff, they had entered the house, that is, the baron, Rose, and Lady Emily, with young Stanley and the baillie, for Edward and the rest of the party remained on the terrace, to examine a new green house stocked with the finest plants. The baron resumed his favourite topic: "However it may please you to derogate from the honour of your burgonet, Colonel Talbot, which is doubtless your humour, as I have seen in other gentlemen of birth and honour in your country, I must again repeat, it is a most ancient and distinguished bearing, as well as that of my young friend, Francis Stanley, which is the eagle and child."

"The bird and bantling they call it in Derbyshire, sir," said Stanley.

"Ye're a daft callant, sir;" said the baron, who had a great liking to this young man, perhaps, be