CHAPTER XXIX
WAVERLEY'S RECEPTION IN THE LOWLANDS AFTER HIS HIGHLAND TOUR
It was noon when the two friends stood at the top of the pass ofBally-Brough. 'I must go no farther,' said Fergus Mac-Ivor, whoduring the journey had in vain endeavoured to raise his friend'sspirits. 'If my cross-grained sister has any share in yourdejection, trust me she thinks highly of you, though her presentanxiety about the public cause prevents her listening to any othersubject. Confide your interest to me; I will not betray it,providing you do not again assume that vile cockade.'
'No fear of that, considering the manner in which it has beenrecalled. Adieu, Fergus; do not permit your sister to forget me.'
'And adieu, Waverley; you may soon hear of her with a proudertitle. Get home, write letters, and make friends as many and asfast as you can; there will speedily be unexpected guests on thecoast of Suffolk, or my news from France has deceivedme.' [Footnote: The sanguine Jacobites, during the eventful years1745-46, kept up the spirits of their party by the rumour ofdescents from France on behalf of the Chevalier St. George.]
Thus parted the friends; Fergus returning back to his castle,while Edward, followed by Callum Beg, the latter transformed frompoint to point into a Low-Country groom, proceeded to the littletown of--.
Edward paced on under the painful and yet not altogetherembittered feelings which separation and uncertainty produce inthe mind of a youthful lover. I am not sure if the ladiesunderstand the full value of the influence of absence, nor do Ithink it wise to teach it them, lest, like the Clelias andMandanes of yore, they should resume the humour of sending theirlovers into banishment. Distance, in truth, produces in idea thesame effect as in real perspective. Objects are softened, androunded, and rendered doubly graceful; the harsher and moreordinary points of character are mellowed down, and those by whichit is remembered are the more striking outlines that marksublimity, grace, or beauty. There are mists too in the mental aswell as the natural horizon, to conceal what is less pleasing indistant objects, and there are happy lights, to stream in fullglory upon those points which can profit by brilliantillumination.
Waverley forgot Flora Mac-Ivor's prejudices in her magnanimity,and almost pardoned her indifference towards his affection when herecollected the grand and decisive object which seemed to fill herwhole soul. She, whose sense of duty so wholly engrossed her inthe cause of a benefactor, what would be her feelings in favour ofthe happy individual who should be so fortunate as to awaken them?Then came the doubtful question, whether he might not be thathappy man,--a question which fancy endeavoured to answer in theaffirmative, by conjuring up all she had said in his praise, withthe addition of a comment much more flattering than the textwarranted. All that was commonplace, all that belonged to theevery-day world, was melted away and obliterated in those dreamsof imagination, which only remembered with advantage the points ofgrace and dignity that distinguished Flora from the generality ofher sex, not the particulars which she held in common with them.Edward was, in short, in the fair way of creating a goddess out ofa high-spirited, accomplished, and beautiful young woman; and thetime was wasted in castle-building until, at the descent of asteep hill, he saw beneath him the market-town of ----.
The Highland politeness of Callum Beg--there are few nations, bythe way, who can boast of so much natural politeness as theHighlanders [Footnote: The Highlander, in former times, had alwaysa high idea of his own gentility, and was anxious to impress thesame upon those with whom he conversed. His language abounded inthe phrases of courtesy and compliment; and the habit of carryingarms, and mixing with those who did so, made it particularlydesirable they should use cautious politeness in their intercoursewith each other.]--the Highland civility of his attendant had notpermitted him to disturb the reveries of our hero. But observinghim rouse himself at the sight of the village, Callum pressedcloser to his side, and hoped 'when they cam to the public, hishonour wad not say nothing about Vich Ian Vohr, for ta people werebitter Whigs, deil burst tem.'
Waverley assured the prudent page that he would be cautious; andas he now distinguished, not indeed the ringing of bells, but thetinkling of something like a hammer against the side of an oldmossy, green, inverted porridge-pot that hung in an open booth, ofthe size and shape of a parrot's cage, erected to grace the eastend of a building resembling an old barn, he asked Callum Beg ifit were Sunday.
'Could na say just preceesely; Sunday seldom cam aboon the pass ofBally-Brough.'
On entering the town, however, and advancing towards the mostapparent public-house which presented itself, the numbers of oldwomen, in tartan screens and red cloaks, who streamed from thebarn-resembling building, debating as they went the comparativemerits of the blessed youth Jabesh Rentowel and that chosen vesselMaister Goukthrapple, induced Callum to assure his temporarymaster 'that it was either ta muckle Sunday hersell, or ta littlegovernment Sunday that they ca'd ta fast.'
On alighting at the sign of the Seven-branched Golden Candlestick,which, for the further delectation of the guests, was graced witha short Hebrew motto, they were received by mine host, a tall thinpuritanical figure, who seemed to debate with himself whether heought to give shelter to those who travelled on such a day.Reflecting, however, in all probability, that he possessed thepower of mulcting them for this irregularity, a penalty which theymight escape by passing into Gregor Duncanson's, at the sign ofthe Highlander and the Hawick Gill, Mr. Ebenezer Cruickshankscondescended to admit them into his dwelling.
To this sanctified person Waverley addressed his request that hewould procure him a guide, with a saddle-horse, to carry hisportmanteau to Edinburgh.
'And whar may ye be coming from?' demanded mine host of theCandlestick.
'I have told you where I wish to go; I do not conceive any furtherinformation necessary either for the guide or his saddle-horse.'
'Hem! Ahem!' returned he of the Candlestick, somewhat disconcertedat this rebuff. 'It's the general fast, sir, and I cannot enterinto ony carnal transactions on sic a day, when the people shouldbe humbled and the backsliders should return, as worthy Mr.Goukthrapple said; and moreover when, as the precious Mr. JabeshRentowel did weel observe, the land was mourning for covenantsburnt, broken, and buried.'
'My good friend,' said Waverley, 'if you cannot let me have ahorse and guide, my servant shall seek them elsewhere.'
'Aweel! Your servant? and what for gangs he not forward wi' youhimsell?'
Waverley had but very little of a captain of horse's spirit withinhim--I mean of that sort of spirit which I have been obliged towhen I happened, in a mail coach or diligence, to meet somemilitary man who has kindly taken upon him the disciplining of thewaiters and the taxing of reckonings. Some of this useful talentour hero had, however, acquired during his military service, andon this gross provocation it began seriously to arise. 'Look ye,sir; I came here for my own accommodation, and not to answerimpertinent questions. Either say you can, or cannot, get me whatI want; I shall pursue my course in either case.'
Mr. Ebenezer Cruickshanks left the room with some indistinctmutterings; but whether negative or acquiescent, Edward could notwell distinguish. The hostess, a civil, quiet, laborious drudge,came to take his orders for dinner, but declined to make answer onthe subject of the horse and guide; for the Salique law, it seems,extended to the stables of the Golden Candlestick.
From a window which overlooked the dark and narrow court in whichCallum Beg rubbed down the horses after their journey, Waverleyheard the following dialogue betwixt the subtle foot-page of VichIan Vohr and his landlord:--
'Ye'll be frae the north, young man?' began the latter.
'And ye may say that,' answered Callum.
'And ye'll hae ridden a lang way the day, it may weel be?'
'Sae lang, that I could weel tak a dram.'
'Gudewife, bring the gill stoup.'
Here some compliments passed fitting the occasion, when my host ofthe Golden Candlestick, having, as he thought, opened his guest'sheart by this hospitable propitiation, resum
ed his scrutiny.
'Ye'll no hae mickle better whisky than that aboon the Pass?'
'I am nae frae aboon the Pass.'
'Ye're a Highlandman by your tongue?'
'Na; I am but just Aberdeen-a-way.'
'And did your master come frae Aberdeen wi' you?'
'Ay; that's when I left it mysell,' answered the cool andimpenetrable Callum Beg.
'And what kind of a gentleman is he?'
'I believe he is ane o' King George's state officers; at leasthe's aye for ganging on to the south, and he has a hantle siller,and never grudges onything till a poor body, or in the way of alawing.'
'He wants a guide and a horse frae hence to Edinburgh?'
'Ay, and ye maun find it him forthwith.'
'Ahem! It will be chargeable.'
'He cares na for that a bodle.'
'Aweel, Duncan--did ye say your name was Duncan, or Donald?'
'Na, man--Jamie--Jamie Steenson--I telt ye before.'
This last undaunted parry altogether foiled Mr. Cruickshanks, who,though not quite satisfied either with the reserve of the masteror the extreme readiness of the man, was contented to lay a tax onthe reckoning and horse-hire that might compound for hisungratified curiosity. The circumstance of its being the fast daywas not forgotten in the charge, which, on the whole, did not,however, amount to much more than double what in fairness itshould have been.
Callum Beg soon after announced in person the ratification of thistreaty, adding, 'Ta auld deevil was ganging to ride wi' ta duinhe-wassel hersell.'
'That will not be very pleasant, Callum, nor altogether safe, forour host seems a person of great curiosity; but a traveller mustsubmit to these inconveniences. Meanwhile, my good lad, here is atrifle for you to drink Vich Ian Vohr's health.'
The hawk's eye of Callum flashed delight upon a golden guinea,with which these last words were accompanied. He hastened, notwithout a curse on the intricacies of a Saxon breeches pocket, orspleuchan, as he called it, to deposit the treasure in his fob;and then, as if he conceived the benevolence called for somerequital on his part, he gathered close up to Edward, with anexpression of countenance peculiarly knowing, and spoke in anundertone, 'If his honour thought ta auld deevil Whig carle was abit dangerous, she could easily provide for him, and teil ane tawiser.'
'How, and in what manner?'
'Her ain sell,' replied Callum, 'could wait for him a wee bit fraethe toun, and kittle his quarters wi'her skene-occle.'
'Skene-occle! what's that?'
Callum unbuttoned his coat, raised his left arm, and, with anemphatic nod, pointed to the hilt of a small dirk, snuglydeposited under it, in the lining of his jacket. Waverley thoughthe had misunderstood his meaning; he gazed in his face, anddiscovered in Callum's very handsome though embrowned featuresjust the degree of roguish malice with which a lad of the same agein England would have brought forward a plan for robbing anorchard.
'Good God, Callum, would you take the man's life?'
'Indeed,' answered the young desperado, 'and I think he has hadjust a lang enough lease o 't, when he's for betraying honest folkthat come to spend siller at his public.'
Edward saw nothing was to be gained by argument, and thereforecontented himself with enjoining Callum to lay aside all practicesagainst the person of Mr. Ebenezer Cruickshanks; in whichinjunction the page seemed to acquiesce with an air of greatindifference.
'Ta duinhe-wassel might please himsell; ta auld rudas loon hadnever done Callum nae ill. But here's a bit line frae taTighearna, tat he bade me gie your honour ere I came back.'
The letter from the Chief contained Flora's lines on the fate ofCaptain Wogan, whose enterprising character is so well drawn byClarendon. He had originally engaged in the service of theParliament, but had abjured that party upon the execution ofCharles I; and upon hearing that the royal standard was set up bythe Earl of Glencairn and General Middleton in the Highlands ofScotland, took leave of Charles II, who was then at Paris, passedinto England, assembled a body of Cavaliers in the neighbourhoodof London, and traversed the kingdom, which had been so long underdomination of the usurper, by marches conducted with such skill,dexterity, and spirit that he safely united his handful ofhorsemen with the body of Highlanders then in arms. After severalmonths of desultory warfare, in which Wogan's skill and couragegained him the highest reputation, he had the misfortune to bewounded in a dangerous manner, and no surgical assistance beingwithin reach he terminated his short but glorious career.
There were obvious reasons why the politic Chieftain was desirousto place the example of this young hero under the eye of Waverley,with whose romantic disposition it coincided so peculiarly. Buthis letter turned chiefly upon some trifling commissions whichWaverley had promised to execute for him in England, and it wasonly toward the conclusion that Edward found these words: 'I oweFlora a grudge for refusing us her company yesterday; and, as I amgiving you the trouble of reading these lines, in order to keep inyour memory your promise to procure me the fishing-tackle andcross-bow from London, I will enclose her verses on the Grave ofWogan. This I know will tease her; for, to tell you the truth, Ithink her more in love with the memory of that dead hero than sheis likely to be with any living one, unless he shall tread asimilar path. But English squires of our day keep their oak-treesto shelter their deer parks, or repair the losses of an evening atWhite's, and neither invoke them to wreathe their brows norshelter their graves. Let me hope for one brilliant exception in adear friend, to whom I would most gladly give a dearer title.'
The verses were inscribed,
To an Oak Tree
In the Church-Yard of ----, in the Highlands of Scotland, said to mark the Grave of Captain Wogan, killed in 1649.
Emblem of England's ancient faith, Full proudly may thy branches wave, Where loyalty lies low in death, And valour fills a timeless grave.
And thou, brave tenant of the tomb! Repine not if our clime deny, Above thine honour'd sod to bloom The flowerets of a milder sky.
These owe their birth to genial May; Beneath a fiercer sun they pine, Before the winter storm decay; And can their worth be type of thine?
No! for, 'mid storms of Fate opposing, Still higher swell'd thy dauntless heart, And, while Despair the scene was closing, Commenced thy brief but brilliant part.
'T was then thou sought'st on Albyn's hill, (When England's sons the strife resign'd) A rugged race resisting still, And unsubdued though unrefined.
Thy death's hour heard no kindred wail, No holy knell thy requiem rung; Thy mourners were the plaided Gael, Thy dirge the clamourous pibroch sung.
Yet who, in Fortune's summer-shine To waste life's longest term away, Would change that glorious dawn of thine, Though darken'd ere its noontide day!
Be thine the tree whose dauntless boughs Brave summer's drought and winter's gloom. Rome bound with oak her patriots' brows, As Albyn shadows Wogan's tomb.
Whatever might be the real merit of Flora Mac-Ivor'spoetry, the enthusiasm which it intimated was well calculated tomake a corresponding impression upon her lover. The lines wereread--read again, then deposited in Waverley's bosom, then againdrawn out, and read line by line, in a low and smothered voice,and with frequent pauses which prolonged the mental treat, as anepicure protracts, by sipping slowly, the enjoyment of a deliciousbeverage. The entrance of Mrs. Cruickshanks with the sublunaryarticles of dinner and wine hardly interrupted this pantomime ofaffectionate enthusiasm.
At length the tall ungainly figure and ungracious visage ofEbenezer presented themselves. The upper part of his form,notwithstanding the season required no such defence, was shroudedin a large great-coat, belted over his under habiliments, andcrested with a huge cowl of the same stuff, which, when drawn overthe head and hat, completely overshadowed both, and, beingbuttoned beneath the chin, was called a trot-cozy. His handgrasped a huge jockey-whip, garnished with brassmounting. His
thinlegs tenanted a pair of gambadoes, fastened at the sides withrusty clasps. Thus accoutred, he stalked into the midst of theapartment, and announced his errand in brief phrase: 'Yer horsesare ready.'
'You go with me yourself then, landlord?'
'I do, as far as Perth; where ye may be supplied with a guide toEmbro', as your occasions shall require.'
Thus saying, he placed under Waverley's eye the bill which he heldin his hand; and at the same time, self-invited, filled a glassof wine and drank devoutly to a blessing on their journey.Waverley stared at the man's impudence, but, as their connectionwas to be short and promised to be convenient, he made noobservation upon it; and, having paid his reckoning, expressed hisintention to depart immediately. He mounted Dermid accordingly andsallied forth from the Golden Candlestick, followed by thepuritanical figure we have described, after he had, at the expenseof some time and difficulty, and by the assistance of a 'louping-on-stane,' or structure of masonry erected for the traveller'sconvenience in front of the house, elevated his person to the backof a long-backed, raw-boned, thin-gutted phantom of a broken-downblood-horse, on which Waverley's portmanteau was deposited. Ourhero, though not in a very gay humour, could hardly help laughingat the appearance of his new squire, and at imagining theastonishment which his person and equipage would have excited atWaverley-Honour.
Edward's tendency to mirth did not escape mine host of theCandlestick, who, conscious of the cause, infused a double portionof souring into the pharisaical leaven of his countenance, andresolved internally that, in one way or other, the young'Englisher' should pay dearly for the contempt with which heseemed to regard him. Callum also stood at the gate and enjoyed,with undissembled glee, the ridiculous figure of Mr. Cruickshanks.As Waverley passed him he pulled off his hat respectfully, and,approaching his stirrup, bade him 'Tak heed the auld whig deevilplayed him nae cantrip.'
Waverley once more thanked and bade him farewell, and then rodebriskly onward, not sorry to be out of hearing of the shouts ofthe children, as they beheld old Ebenezer rise and sink in hisstirrups to avoid the concussions occasioned by a hard trot upon ahalf-paved street. The village of--was soon several miles behindhim.