"We'll put in bail, my boy; old Andrew Ferrara shall lodge his security; and I should like to see him put to justify it in Westminster-hall!"

66 Nay, they are already at liberty, upon bail of a more civic description."

Then why is thy noble spirit cast down, Edward? Dost think the elector's ministers are such doves as to set their enemies at liberty at this critical moment, if they could or durst confine and punish them? Assure thyself that either they have no charge against your relations on which they can continue their imprisonment, or else they are afraid of our friends, the jolly cavaliers of Old England. At any rate, you need not be apprehensive upon their account; and we will find some means of conveying to them assurances of your safety.

Edward was silenced, but not satisfied, with these reasons. He had now been more than once shocked at the small degree of sympathy which Fergus exhibited for the feelings even of those whom he loved, if they did not correspond with his own mood at the time, and more especially if they thwarted him while earnest in a favourite pursuit. Fergus sometimes indeed observed that he had offended Waverley, but always intent upon some favourite plain or project of his own, he was never sufficiently aware of the extent or duration of his displeasure, so that the reiteration of these petty offences somewhat cooled the volunteer's extreme attachment to his officer.

The chevalier received Waverley with his usual favour, and paid him many compliments on his distinguished bravery.. He then took him apart, made many inquiries concerning Colonel Talbot, and when he had received all the information which Edward was able to give concerning him and his connexions, he proceeded. "I can not but think, Mr. Waverley, that since this gentleman is so particularly connected with our worthy and excellent friend, Sir Edward Waverley, and since his lady is of the house of Blan

deville, whose devotion to the true and loyal principles of the church of England is so generally known, the colonel's own private sentiments can not be unfavourable to us, whatever mask he may have assumed to accommodate himself to the times."

"If I am to judge from the language he this day held to me, I am under the necessity of differing widely from your royal highness.'

"Well, it is worth a making trial at least. I therefore entrust you with the charge of Colonel Talbot, with power to act concerning him as you think most advisable; and I trust you will find means of ascertaining what are his real dispositions towards our royal father's restoration."

"I am convinced," said Waverley, bowing, "that if Colonel Talbot chooses to grant his parole, it may be securely depended upon; but if he refuses it, I trust your royal highness will devolve on some other person than the nephew of his friend, the task of laying him under the necessary restraint."

"I will trust him with no person but you," said the prince, smiling, but peremptorily repeating his mandate; "It is of importance to my service that there should appear to be a good intelligence between you, even if you are unable to gain his confidence in earnest. You will therefore receive him into your quarters, and in case he declines giving his parole, you must apply for a proper guard. I beg you will go about this directly. We return to Edinburgh tomorrow."

Being thus remanded to the vicinity of Preston, Waverley lost the baron of Bradwardine's solemn act of homage. So little, however, was he at this time in love with vanity, that he had quite forgot the ceremony in which Fergus had laboured to engage his curiosity. But next day a formal gazette was circulated, containing a detailed account of the battle of Gladsmuir, as the Highlanders chose to denominate the victory. It concluded with an account

of the court held by the chevalier at Pinkie house in the evening, which contained this among other highflown descriptive paragraphs:

"Since that fatal treaty which annihilated Scotland as an independent nation, it has not been our happiness to see her princes receive, and her nobles discharge, those acts of feudal homage which, founded upon the splendid actions of Scottish valour, recall the memory of her early history, with the manly and chivalrous simplicity of the ties which united to the crown the homage of the warriors by who it was repeatedly upheld and defended. But upon the evening of the 20th, our memories were refreshed with one of those ceremonies which belong to the ancient days of Scotland's glory. After the circle was formed, Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, of that ilk, Colonel in the service, &c. &c. &c. came before the prince, attended by Mr. D. Macwheeble, the baillie of his ancient barony of Bradwardine, (who, we understand, has been lately named a commissary,) and, under form of instrument, claimed permission to perform, to the person of his royal highness, as representing his father, the service used and wont, for which, under a charter of Robert Bruce, (of which the original was produced, and inspected by the master of his royal highness's chancery for the time being,) the claimant held the barony of Bradwardine, and lands of Tully-Veolan. His claim being admitted and registered, his royal highness having placed his foot upon a cushion, the baron of Bradwardine, kneeling upon his right knee, proceeded to undo the latchet of the brogue, or low-heeled highland shoe, which our gallant young hero wears in compliment to his brave followers. When this was performed, his royal highness declared the ceremony completed; and, embracing the gallant veteran, protested that nothing but compliance with an ordinance of Robert Bruce, could have induced him to receive even the symbo lical performance of a menial office from hands which

fought so bravely to put the crown upon the head of his father. The baron of Bradwardine then took instruments in the hands of Mr. Commissary Macwheeble, bearing, that all points and circumstances of the act of homage had been rite et solemniter acta et peracta, and a corresponding entry was made in the protocol of the Lord High Chamberlain and in the record of Chancery. We understand that it is in contemplation of his royal highness, when his majesty's pleasure can be known, to raise Colonel Bradwardine to the peerage, by the title of Viscount Bradwardine of Bradwardine and Tully-Veolan, and that, in the meanwhile his royal highness, in his father's name and authority, has been pleased to grant him an honourable augmentation to his paternal coat. of arms, being a budget or boot jack, disposed saltier-wise with a naked broad-sword, to be borne in the dexter cantle of the shield, and as an additional motto on a scroll beneath, the words, Draw and draw off.""

.

"Were it not for the recollection of Fergus's raillery," thought Waverley to himself when he had perused this long and grave document, "how very tolerably would all this sound, and how little should I have thought of connecting it with any ludicrous idea! Well, after all, every thing has its fair as well as its seemy side; and truly I do not see why the baron's boot-jack may not stand as fair in heraldry as the water-buckets, wagons, cart-weels, plough-socks, shuttles, candlesticks, and other ordinaries, convey-. ing ideas of any thing save chivalry, which appear in the arms of some of our most ancient gentry." This, however, is an episode in respect to the principal story.

When Waverley returned to Preston, and rejoined Colonel Talbot, he found him recovered from the strong and obvious emotion with which a concurrence of unpleasing events had affected him. He had recovered his natural manner, which was that of

the English gentleman and soldier, manly, open and generous, but not unsusceptible of prejudice against those of a different country, or who opposed him in political tenets. When Waverley acquainted Colonel Talbot with the chevalier's purpose to commit him to his charge, "I did not think to have owed so much obligation to that young gentleman," he said, 16 as is implied in this destination. I can at least willingly join in the prayer of the honest presbyterian clergyman, that, as he has come among us seeking an earthly crown, his labours may be speedily rewarded with a heavenly one. I shall willingly give my parole not to attempt an escape without your knowledge, since, in fact it was to meet you I came to Scotland; and I am glad it has happened even under this predicament. But I suppose we shall be but a short time together. Your chevalier, (that is a name we may both give to him,) with his plaids and blue caps, will, I presume, be continuing his crusade southwards?"

"Not as I hear; I believe the army makes some stay in Edinburgh, to collect reinforcements."

"And besiege the castle?" said Talbot, smiling sarcastically; "well, unless my old commander, General Guest, turn false metal, or the castle sink into the North Loch, events which I deem equally probable, I think we shall have some time to make up our acquaintance. I have a guess that this gallant: chevalier has a design that I should be your prose lyte, and, as I wish you to be mine, there can not be a more fair proposal. But, as I spoke to-day under the influence of feelings I rarely give way to, I hope you will excuse my entering again upon controversy, till we are somewhat better acquainted."