Baillie Macwheeble was again tempted to put in his oar, for where cash was concerned, he did not willing 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 unprotected 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 Macwheeble 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 Perth-if, 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 chieftain, who saw that Macwheeble looked very blank at this intimation.

“We'll give them the mettle our mountain affords.

Lillibulero, bullen a la,

And in place of broad pieces, we'll pay with broad swords,

Lero, lero, &c.

With duns and with debts we will soon clear our score,

Lillibulero, &c.

For the man that's thus paid will crave payment no more,

Lero, lero, &c.

"But come, baillie, be not cast down; drink your wine with a joyous heart; the baron shall return safe and victorious to Tully-Veolan, and unite Killancureit's lairdship with his own, since the cowardly halfbred swine will not turn out for the prince like a gentleman."

"To be sure, they lie maist ewest," said the baillie, wiping his eyes, "and should naturally fa' under the same factory.

"And I," proceeded the chieftain, shall take care of myself, too; for you must know I have to complete a good work here, by bringing Mrs. Flockhart into the bosom of the catholic church, or at least half way, and that is to your episcopal meeting-house. O, baron! if you heard her fine counter-tenor admonishing Kate and Matty in the morning, you, who understand music, would tremble at the idea of hearing her shriek in the psalmody of Haddo's hole."

"Lord forgie you, colonel, how you rin on! But I hope your honours will tak tea before ye gang to the palace, and I maun gang and mak it for you.'

So saying, Mrs. Flockhart left the gentlemen to their own conversation, which, as might be supposed, turned chiefly upon the approaching events of the campaign.

CHAPTER V.

The Ball.

ENSIGN MACCOMBICH having gone to the Highland camp upon duty, and Baillie Macwheeble having retired to digest his dinner, and Evan Dhu's intimation of martial law, in some blind change-house, Waverley, with the baron and the chieftain, proceeded to Holyrood-House. The two last were in

full tide of spirits, and the baron rallied in his way our hero upon the handsome figure which his new dress displayed to advantage. "If you have any design upon the heart of a bonny Scottish lassie, I would premonish you, when you address her, to remember the words of Virgilius:

"Nunc insanus amor duri me Martis in armis,
Tela inter media atque adversos detinet hostes.'

Whilk verses Robertson of Struan, chief of the clan Donnochy, unless the claims of Lude ought to be preferred primo loco, has thus elegantly rendered:

For cruel love has gartan'd low my leg,

And clad my hurdies in a philabeg.'

Athough, indeed, you wear the trews, a garment whilk I approve maist of the twa, as mair ancient and seemly."

"Or rather," said Fergus," hear my song:

She wadna hae a lowland laird,
Nor be an English lady;

But she's awa with Duncan Græme,

And he's rowed her in his plaidy.'

By this time they reached the palace of Holy-Rood, and were announced respectively as they entered the apartments.

It is but too well known how many gentlemen of rank, education, and fortune took concern in the illfated and desperate undertaking of 1745. The ladies also of Scotland very generally espoused the cause of the gallant and handsome young prince, who threw himself upon the mercy of his countrymen, rather like a hero of romance than a calculating politician. It is not therefore to be wondered that Edward, who had spent the greater part of his life in the solemn seclusion of Waverley Honour, should have been dazzled at the liveliness and elegance of the scene now exhibited in the long-deserted halls of the Scot. tish palace. The accompaniments, indeed, fell short of splendour, being but such as the confusion and hurry of the time admitted; still, however, the general effect was striking, and the rank of the company considered, might well be called brilliant.

It was not long before the lover's eye discovered the object of his attachment. Flora Mac-Ivor was in the act of returning to her seat, near the top of the

room, with Rose Bradwardine by her side. Among much elegance and beauty, they had attracted a general degree of the public attention, being certainly two of the handsomest women present. The prince took much notice of both, particularly of Flora, with whom he danced; a preference which she probably owed to her foreign education, and command of the French and Italian languages.

When the bustle attending the conclusion of the dance permitted, Edward, almost intuitively, followed Fergus to the place where Miss Mac-Ivor was seated. The sensation of hope with which he had nursed his affection in absence of the beloved object, seemed to vanish in her presence, and, like one striving to recover the particulars of a forgotten dream, he would have given the world at that moment to have recollected the grounds on which he had founded expectations which now seemed so delusive. He accompanied Fergus with downcast eyes, tingling ears, and the sensation of a criminal, who, while he moves slowly through the crowds who have assembled to behold his execution, receives no clear sensation either from the noise which fills his ears, or the tumult on which he casts his wandering look.

Flora seemed a little-a very little-affected and discomposed at his approach. "I bring you an adopted son of Ivor," said Fergus.

"And I receive him as a second brother," replied Flora.

There was a slight emphasis on the word which would have escaped every ear but one that was feverish with apprehension. It was, however, distinctly marked, and, combined with her whole tone and manner, plainly intimated, "I will never think of Mr. Waverley as a more intimate connexion." Edward stopped, bowed, and looked at Fergus, who bit his lip, a movement of anger, which proved that he also put a sinister interpretation on the reception which his sister had extended his friend. "This,