CHAPTER XXVII
UPON THE SAME SUBJECT
Fergus Mac-Ivor had too much tact and delicacy to renew the subjectwhich he had interrupted. His head was, or appeared to be, so full ofguns, broadswords, bonnets, canteens, and tartan hose that Waverleycould not for some time draw his attention to any other topic.
'Are you to take the field so soon, Fergus,' he asked, 'that you aremaking all these martial preparations?'
'When we have settled that you go with me, you shall know all; butotherwise, the knowledge might rather be prejudicial to you.'
'But are you serious in your purpose, with such inferior forces, torise against an established government? It is mere frenzy.'
'Laissez faire a Don Antoine; I shall take good care of myself. Weshall at least use the compliment of Conan, who never got a stroke buthe gave one. I would not, however,' continued the Chieftain, 'have youthink me mad enough to stir till a favourable opportunity: I will notslip my dog before the game's afoot. But, once more, will you join withus, and you shall know all?'
'How can I?' said Waverley; 'I, who have so lately held that commissionwhich is now posting back to those that gave it? My accepting itimplied a promise of fidelity, and an acknowledgment of the legality ofthe government.'
'A rash promise,' answered Fergus, 'is not a steel handcuff, it may beshaken off, especially when it was given under deception, and has beenrepaid by insult. But if you cannot immediately make up your mind to aglorious revenge, go to England, and ere you cross the Tweed you willhear tidings that will make the world ring; and if Sir Everard be thegallant old cavalier I have heard him described by some of our HONESTgentlemen of the year one thousand seven hundred and fifteen, he willfind you a better horse-troop and a better cause than you have lost.'
'But your sister, Fergus?'
'Out, hyperbolical fiend!' replied the Chief, laughing; 'how vexestthou this man! Speak'st thou of nothing but of ladies?'
'Nay, be serious, my dear friend,' said Waverley; 'I feel that thehappiness of my future life must depend upon the answer which MissMac-Ivor shall make to what I ventured to tell her this morning.'
'And is this your very sober earnest,' said Fergus, more gravely, 'orare we in the land of romance and fiction?'
'My earnest, undoubtedly. How could you suppose me jesting on such asubject?'
'Then, in very sober earnest,' answered his friend, 'I am very glad tohear it; and so highly do I think of Flora, that you are the only manin England for whom I would say so much. But before you shake my handso warmly, there is more to be considered. Your own family--will theyapprove your connecting yourself with the sister of a high-bornHighland beggar?'
'My uncle's situation,' said Waverley, 'his general opinions, and hisuniform indulgence, entitle me to say, that birth and personalqualities are all he would look to in such a connection. And where canI find both united in such excellence as in your sister?'
'O nowhere! cela va sans dire,' replied Fergus, with a smile. 'But yourfather will expect a father's prerogative in being consulted.'
'Surely; but his late breach with the ruling powers removes allapprehension of objection on his part, especially as I am convincedthat my uncle will be warm in my cause.'
'Religion perhaps,' said Fergus, 'may make obstacles, though we are notbigotted Catholics.'
'My grandmother was of the Church of Rome, and her religion was neverobjected to by my family. Do not think of MY friends, dear Fergus; letme rather have your influence where it may be more necessary to removeobstacles--I mean with your lovely sister.'
'My lovely sister,' replied Fergus, 'like her loving brother, is veryapt to have a pretty decisive will of her own, by which, in this case,you must be ruled; but you shall not want my interest, nor my counsel.And, in the first place, I will give you one hint--Loyalty is herruling passion; and since she could spell an English book she has beenin love with the memory of the gallant Captain Wogan, who renounced theservice of the usurper Cromwell to join the standard of Charles II,marched a handful of cavalry from London to the Highlands to joinMiddleton, then in arms for the king, and at length died gloriously inthe royal cause. Ask her to show you some verses she made on hishistory and fate; they have been much admired, I assure you. The nextpoint is--I think I saw Flora go up towards the waterfall a short timesince; follow, man, follow! don't allow the garrison time to strengthenits purposes of resistance. Alerte a la muraille! Seek Flora out, andlearn her decision as soon as you can, and Cupid go with you, while Igo to look over belts and cartouch-boxes.'
Waverley ascended the glen with an anxious and throbbing heart. Love,with all its romantic train of hopes, fears, and wishes, was mingledwith other feelings of a nature less easily defined. He could not butremember how much this morning had changed his fate, and into what acomplication of perplexity it was likely to plunge him. Sunrise hadseen him possessed of an esteemed rank in the honourable profession ofarms, his father to all appearance rapidly rising in the favour of hissovereign. All this had passed away like a dream: he himself wasdishonoured, his father disgraced, and he had become involuntarily theconfidant at least, if not the accomplice, of plans, dark, deep, anddangerous, which must infer either the subversion of the government hehad so lately served or the destruction of all who had participated inthem. Should Flora even listen to his suit favourably, what prospectwas there of its being brought to a happy termination amid the tumultof an impending insurrection? Or how could he make the selfish requestthat she should leave Fergus, to whom she was so much attached, and,retiring with him to England, wait, as a distant spectator, the successof her brother's undertaking, or the ruin of all his hopes andfortunes? Or, on the other hand, to engage himself, with no other aidthan his single arm, in the dangerous and precipitate counsels of theChieftain, to be whirled along by him, the partaker of all hisdesperate and impetuous motions, renouncing almost the power ofjudging, or deciding upon the rectitude or prudence of his actions,this was no pleasing prospect for the secret pride of Waverley to stoopto. And yet what other conclusion remained, saving the rejection of hisaddresses by Flora, an alternative not to be thought of in the presenthigh-wrought state of his feelings with anything short of mental agony.Pondering the doubtful and dangerous prospect before him, he at lengtharrived near the cascade, where, as Fergus had augured, he found Floraseated.
She was quite alone, and as soon as she observed his approach she roseand came to meet him. Edward attempted to say something within theverge of ordinary compliment and conversation, but found himselfunequal to the task. Flora seemed at first equally embarrassed, butrecovered herself more speedily, and (an unfavourable augury forWaverley's suit) was the first to enter upon the subject of their lastinterview. 'It is too important, in every point of view, Mr. Waverley,to permit me to leave you in doubt on my sentiments.'
'Do not speak them speedily,' said Waverley, much agitated, 'unlessthey are such as I fear, from your manner, I must not dare toanticipate. Let time--let my future conduct--let your brother'sinfluence--'
'Forgive me, Mr. Waverley,' said Flora, her complexion a littleheightened, but her voice firm and composed. 'I should incur my ownheavy censure did I delay expressing my sincere conviction that I cannever regard you otherwise than as a valued friend. I should do you thehighest injustice did I conceal my sentiments for a moment. I see Idistress you, and I grieve for it, but better now than later; and O,better a thousand times, Mr. Waverley, that you should feel a presentmomentary disappointment than the long and heart-sickening griefs whichattend a rash and ill-assorted marriage!'
'Good God!' exclaimed Waverley, 'why should you anticipate suchconsequences from a union where birth is equal, where fortune isfavourable, where, if I may venture to say so, the tastes are similar,where you allege no preference for another, where you even express afavourable opinion of him whom you reject?'
'Mr. Waverley, I HAVE that favourable opinion,' answered Flora; 'and sostrongly that, though I would rather have been silent on the grounds ofmy resolution, you shall comma
nd them, if you exact such a mark of myesteem and confidence.'
She sat down upon a fragment of rock, and Waverley, placing himselfnear her, anxiously pressed for the explanation she offered.
'I dare hardly,' she said, 'tell you the situation of my feelings, theyare so different from those usually ascribed to young women at myperiod of life; and I dare hardly touch upon what I conjecture to bethe nature of yours, lest I should give offence where I would willinglyadminister consolation. For myself, from my infancy till this day Ihave had but one wish--the restoration of my royal benefactors to theirrightful throne. It is impossible to express to you the devotion of myfeelings to this single subject; and I will frankly confess that it hasso occupied my mind as to exclude every thought respecting what iscalled my own settlement in life. Let me but live to see the day ofthat happy restoration, and a Highland cottage, a French convent, or anEnglish palace will be alike indifferent to me.'
'But, dearest Flora, how is your enthusiastic zeal for the exiledfamily inconsistent with my happiness?'
'Because you seek, or ought to seek, in the object of your attachment aheart whose principal delight should be in augmenting your domesticfelicity and returning your affection, even to the height of romance.To a man of less keen sensibility, and less enthusiastic tenderness ofdisposition, Flora Mac-Ivor might give content, if not happiness; for,were the irrevocable words spoken, never would she be deficient in theduties which she vowed.'
'And why,--why, Miss Mac-Ivor, should you think yourself a morevaluable treasure to one who is less capable of loving, of admiringyou, than to me?'
'Simply because the tone of our affections would be more in unison, andbecause his more blunted sensibility would not require the return ofenthusiasm which I have not to bestow. But you, Mr. Waverley, would forever refer to the idea of domestic happiness which your imagination iscapable of painting, and whatever fell short of that idealrepresentation would be construed into coolness and indifference, whileyou might consider the enthusiasm with which I regarded the success ofthe royal family as defrauding your affection of its due return.'
'In other words, Miss Mac-Ivor, you cannot love me?' said her suitordejectedly.
'I could esteem you, Mr. Waverley, as much, perhaps more, than any manI have ever seen; but I cannot love you as you ought to be loved. O! donot, for your own sake, desire so hazardous an experiment! The womanwhom you marry ought to have affections and opinions moulded uponyours. Her studies ought to be your studies; her wishes, her feelings,her hopes, her fears, should all mingle with yours. She should enhanceyour pleasures, share your sorrows, and cheer your melancholy.'
'And why will not you, Miss Mac-Ivor, who can so well describe a happyunion, why will not you be yourself the person you describe?'
'Is it possible you do not yet comprehend me?' answered Flora. 'Have Inot told you that every keener sensation of my mind is bent exclusivelytowards an event upon which, indeed, I have no power but those of myearnest prayers?'
'And might not the granting the suit I solicit,' said Waverley, tooearnest on his purpose to consider what he was about to say, 'evenadvance the interest to which you have devoted yourself? My family iswealthy and powerful, inclined in principles to the Stuart race, andshould a favourable opportunity--'
'A favourable opportunity!' said Flora--somewhat scornfully. 'Inclinedin principles! Can such lukewarm adherence be honourable to yourselves,or gratifying to your lawful sovereign? Think, from my presentfeelings, what I should suffer when I held the place of member in afamily where the rights which I hold most sacred are subjected to colddiscussion, and only deemed worthy of support when they shall appear onthe point of triumphing without it!'
'Your doubts,' quickly replied Waverley, 'are unjust as far as concernsmyself. The cause that I shall assert, I dare support through everydanger, as undauntedly as the boldest who draws sword in its behalf.'
'Of that,' answered Flora, 'I cannot doubt for a moment. But consultyour own good sense and reason rather than a prepossession hastilyadopted, probably only because you have met a young woman possessed ofthe usual accomplishments in a sequestered and romantic situation. Letyour part in this great and perilous drama rest upon conviction, andnot on a hurried and probably a temporary feeling.'
Waverley attempted to reply, but his words failed him. Every sentimentthat Flora had uttered vindicated the strength of his attachment; foreven her loyalty, although wildly enthusiastic, was generous and noble,and disdained to avail itself of any indirect means of supporting thecause to which she was devoted.
After walking a little way in silence down the path, Flora thus resumedthe conversation.--'One word more, Mr. Waverley, ere we bid farewell tothis topic for ever; and forgive my boldness if that word have the airof advice. My brother Fergus is anxious that you should join him in hispresent enterprise. But do not consent to this; you could not, by yoursingle exertions, further his success, and you would inevitably sharehis fall, if it be God's pleasure that fall he must. Your characterwould also suffer irretrievably. Let me beg you will return to your owncountry; and, having publicly freed yourself from every tie to theusurping government, I trust you will see cause, and find opportunity,to serve your injured sovereign with effect, and stand forth, as yourloyal ancestors, at the head of your natural followers and adherents, aworthy representative of the house of Waverley.'
'And should I be so happy as thus to distinguish myself, might I nothope--'
'Forgive my interruption,' said Flora. 'The present time only is ours,and I can but explain to you with candour the feelings which I nowentertain; how they might be altered by a train of events toofavourable perhaps to be hoped for, it were in vain even to conjecture.Only be assured, Mr. Waverley, that, after my brother's honour andhappiness, there is none which I shall more sincerely pray for than foryours.'
With these words she parted from him, for they were now arrived wheretwo paths separated. Waverley reached the castle amidst a medley ofconflicting passions. He avoided any private interview with Fergus, ashe did not find himself able either to encounter his raillery or replyto his solicitations. The wild revelry of the feast, for Mac-Ivor keptopen table for his clan, served in some degree to stun reflection. Whentheir festivity was ended, he began to consider how he should againmeet Miss Mac-Ivor after the painful and interesting explanation of themorning. But Flora did not appear. Fergus, whose eyes flashed when hewas told by Cathleen that her mistress designed to keep her apartmentthat evening, went himself in quest of her; but apparently hisremonstrances were in vain, for he returned with a heightenedcomplexion and manifest symptoms of displeasure. The rest of theevening passed on without any allusion, on the part either of Fergus orWaverley, to the subject which engrossed the reflections of the latter,and perhaps of both.
When retired to his own apartment, Edward endeavoured to sum up thebusiness of the day. That the repulse he had received from Flora wouldbe persisted in for the present, there was no doubt. But could he hopefor ultimate success in case circumstances permitted the renewal of hissuit? Would the enthusiastic loyalty, which at this animating momentleft no room for a softer passion, survive, at least in its engrossingforce, the success or the failure of the present politicalmachinations? And if so, could he hope that the interest which she hadacknowledged him to possess in her favour might be improved into awarmer attachment? He taxed his memory to recall every word she hadused, with the appropriate looks and gestures which had enforced them,and ended by finding himself in the same state of uncertainty. It wasvery late before sleep brought relief to the tumult of his mind, afterthe most painful and agitating day which he had ever passed.