Waverley; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since Read online

  CHAPTER XXVIII

  A LETTER FROM TULLY-VEOLAN

  In the morning, when Waverley's troubled reflections had for some timegiven way to repose, there came music to his dreams, but not the voiceof Selma. He imagined himself transported back to Tully-Veolan, and thathe heard Davie Gellatley singing in the court those matins which usedgenerally to be the first sounds that disturbed his repose while aguest of the Baron of Bradwardine. The notes which suggested thisvision continued, and waxed louder, until Edward awoke in earnest. Theillusion, however, did not seem entirely dispelled. The apartment wasin the fortress of Ian nan Chaistel, but it was still the voice of DavieGellatley that made the following lines resound under the window:--

  My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go. [These lines form the burden of an old song to which Burns wrote additional verses.]

  Curious to know what could have determined Mr. Gellatley on an excursionof such unwonted extent, Edward began to dress himself in all haste,during which operation the minstrelsy of Davie changed its tune morethan once:--

  There's naught in the Highlands but syboes and leeks, And lang-leggit callants gaun wanting the breeks; Wanting the breeks, and without hose and shoon, But we'll a' win the breeks when King Jamie comes hame. [These lines are also ancient, and I believe to the tune of 'We'll never hae peace till Jamie comes hame;' to which Burns likewise wrote some verses.]

  By the time Waverley was dressed and had issued forth, David hadassociated himself with two or three of the numerous Highland loungerswho always graced the gates of the castle with their presence, and wascapering and dancing full merrily in the doubles and full career of aScotch foursome reel, to the music of his own whistling. In this doublecapacity of dancer and musician, he continued, until an idle piper, whoobserved his zeal, obeyed the unanimous call of SEID SUAS (i.e. blowup), and relieved him from the latter part of his trouble. Young and oldthen mingled in the dance as they could find partners. The appearanceof Waverley did not interrupt David's exercise, though he contrived, bygrinning, nodding, and throwing one or two inclinations of the body intothe graces with which he performed the Highland fling, to convey to ourhero symptoms of recognition. Then, while busily employed in setting,whooping all the while, and snapping his fingers over his head, he of asudden prolonged his side-step until it brought him to the place whereEdward was standing, and, still keeping time to the music like Harlequinin a pantomime, he thrust a letter into our hero's hand, and continuedhis saltation without pause or intermission, Edward, who perceived thatthe address was in Rose's handwriting, retired to peruse it, leaving thefaithful bearer to continue his exercise until the piper or he should betired out.

  The contents of the letter greatly surprised him. It had originallycommenced with DEAR SIR; but these words had been carefully erased,and the monosyllable, SIR, substituted in their place. The rest of thecontents shall be given in Rose's own language:--

  'I fear I am using an improper freedom by intruding upon you, yet Icannot trust to any one else to let you know some things which havehappened here, with which it seems necessary you should be acquainted.Forgive me if I am wrong in what I am doing; for, alas! Mr. Waverley, Ihave no better advice than that of my own feelings;--my dear fatheris gone from this place, and when he can return to my assistanceand protection, God alone knows. You have probably heard, that inconsequence of some troublesome news from the Highlands, warrants weresent out for apprehending several gentlemen in these parts, and, amongothers, my dear father. In spite of all my tears and entreaties that hewould surrender himself to the Government, he joined with Mr. Falconerand some other gentlemen, and they have all gone northwards, with a bodyof about forty horsemen. So I am not so anxious concerning his immediatesafety, as about what may follow afterwards, for these troubles are onlybeginning. But all this is nothing to you, Mr. Waverley, only I thoughtyou would be glad to learn that my father has escaped, in case youhappen to have heard that he was in danger.

  'The day after my father went off, there came a party of soldiers toTully-Veolan, and behaved very rudely to Bailie Macwheeble; but theofficer was very civil to me, only said his duty obliged him to searchfor arms and papers. My father had provided against this by taking awayall the arms except the old useless things which hung in the hall; andhe had put all his papers out of the way. But oh! Mr. Waverley, howshall I tell you that they made strict inquiry after you, and asked whenyou had been at Tully-Veolan, and where you now were. The officer isgone back with his party, but a non-commissioned officer and four menremain as a sort of garrison in the house. They have hitherto behavedvery well, as we are forced to keep them in good humour. But thesesoldiers have hinted as if on your falling into their hands you wouldbe in great danger; I cannot prevail on myself to write what wickedfalsehoods they said, for I am sure they are falsehoods; but you willbest judge what you ought to do. The party that returned carried offyour servant prisoner, with your two horses, and everything that youleft at Tully-Veolan. I hope God will protect you, and that you will getsafe home to England, where you used to tell me there was no militaryviolence nor fighting among clans permitted, but everything was doneaccording to an equal law that protected all who were harmless andinnocent. I hope you will exert your indulgence as to my boldness inwriting to you, where it seems to me, though perhaps erroneously, thatyour safety and honour are concerned. I am sure--at least I think,my father would approve of my writing; for Mr. Rubrick is fled to hiscousin's at the Duchran, to be out of danger from the soldiers and theWhigs, and Bailie Macwheeble does not like to meddle (he says) in othermen's concerns, though I hope what may serve my father's friend atsuch a time as this, cannot be termed improper interference. Farewell,Captain Waverley! I shall probably never see you more; for it wouldbe very improper to wish you to call at Tully-Veolan just now, evenif these men were gone; but I will always remember with gratitude yourkindness in assisting so poor a scholar as myself, and your attentionsto my dear, dear father.

  'I remain, your obliged servant,

  'ROSE COMYNE BRADWARDINE.

  'PS.--I hope you will send me a line by David Gellatley, just to say youhave received this, and that you will take care of yourself; and forgiveme if I entreat you, for your own sake, to join none of these unhappycabals, but escape, as fast as possible, to your own fortunatecountry.--My compliments to my dear Flora, and, to Glennaquoich. Is shenot as handsome and accomplished as I have described her?'

  Thus concluded the letter of Rose Bradwardine, the contents of whichboth surprised and affected Waverley. That the Baron should fall underthe suspicions of Government, in consequence of the present stiramong the partisans of the house of Stuart, seemed only the naturalconsequence of his political predilections; but how he himself shouldhave been involved in such suspicions, conscious that until yesterdayhe had been free from harbouring a thought against the prosperity ofthe reigning family, seemed inexplicable. Both at Tully-Veolan andGlennaquoich, his hosts had respected his engagements with the existinggovernment, and though enough passed by accidental innuendo that mightinduce him to reckon the Baron and the Chief among those disaffectedgentlemen who were still numerous in Scotland, yet until his ownconnexion with the army had been broken off by the resumption ofhis commission, he had no reason to suppose that they nourished anyimmediate or hostile attempts against the present establishment. Stillhe was aware that unless he meant at once to embrace the proposal ofFergus Mac-Ivor, it would deeply concern him to leave the suspiciousneighbourhood without delay, and repair where his conduct might undergoa satisfactory examination. Upon this he the rather determined, asFlora's advice favoured his doing so, and because he felt inexpressiblerepugnance at the idea of being accessory to the plague of civil war.Whatever were the original rights of the Stuarts, calm reflection toldhim, that, omitting the question how far James the Second could forfeitthose of his post
erity, he had, according to the united voice of thewhole nation, justly forfeited his own. Since that period, four monarchshad reigned in peace and glory over Britain, sustaining and exalting thecharacter of the nation abroad, and its liberties at home. Reasonasked, was it worth while to disturb a government so long settled andestablished, and to plunge a kingdom into all the miseries of civilwar, for the purpose of replacing upon the throne the descendants of amonarch by whom it had been wilfully forfeited? If, on the other hand,his own final conviction of the goodness of their cause, or the commandsof his father or uncle, should recommend to him allegiance to theStuarts, still it was necessary to clear his own character by showingthat he had not, as seemed to be falsely insinuated, taken any step tothis purpose, during his holding the commission of the reigning monarch.

  The affectionate simplicity of Rose, and her anxiety for hissafety,--his sense, too, of her unprotected state, and of the terror andactual dangers to which she might be exposed, made an impression uponhis mind, and he instantly wrote to thank her in the kindest terms forher solicitude on his account, to express his earnest good wishes forher welfare and that of her father, and to assure her of his own safety.The feelings which this task excited were speedily lost in the necessitywhich he now saw of bidding farewell to Flora Mac-Ivor, perhaps forever. The pang attending this reflection were inexpressible; for herhigh-minded elevation of character, her self-devotion to the cause whichshe had embraced, united to her scrupulous rectitude as to the means ofserving it, had vindicated to his judgement the choice adopted by hispassions. But time pressed, calumny was busy with his fame, and everyhour's delay increased the power to injure it. His departure must beinstant.

  With this determination he sought out Fergus, and communicated to himthe contents of Rose's letter, with his own resolution instantly togo to Edinburgh, and put into the hands of some one or other of thosepersons of influence to whom he had letters from his father, hisexculpation from any charge which might be preferred against him.

  'You run your head into the lion's mouth,' answered Mac-Ivor. 'You donot know the severity of a Government harassed by just apprehensions,and a consciousness of their own illegality and insecurity. I shall haveto deliver you from some dungeon in Stirling or Edinburgh Castle.'

  'My innocence, my rank, my father's intimacy with Lord M--, General G--,&c., will be a sufficient protection,' said Waverley.

  'You will find the contrary,' replied the Chieftain;--'these gentlemenwill have enough to do about their own matters. Once more, will youtake the plaid, and stay a little while with us among the mists and thecrows, in the bravest cause ever sword was drawn in?' [A Highland rhymeon Glencairn's Expedition, in 1650, has these lines--

  We'll hide a while among ta crows, 'We'll wiske ta sword and bend ta bows.]

  'For many reasons, my dear Fergus, you must hold me excused.'

  'Well, then,' said Mac-Ivor, 'I shall certainly find you exertingyour poetical talents in elegies upon a prison, or your antiquarianresearches in detecting the Oggam [The Oggam is a species of the oldIrish character. The idea of the correspondence betwixt the Celticand Punic, founded on a scene in Plautus, was not started till GeneralVallancey set up his theory, long after the date of Fergus Mac-Ivor.]character, or some Punic hieroglyphic upon the key-stones of a vault,curiously arched. Or what say you to UN PETIT PENDEMENT BIEN JOLI?against which awkward ceremony I don't warrant you, should you meet abody of the armed west-country Whigs.'

  'And why should they use me so?' said Waverley.

  'For a hundred good reasons,' answered Fergus: 'First, you are anEnglishman; secondly, a gentleman; thirdly, a prelatist abjured; and,fourthly, they have not had an opportunity to exercise their talentson such a subject this long while. But don't be cast down, beloved: allwill be done in the fear of the Lord.'

  'Well, I must run my hazard,'

  'You are determined, then?'

  'I am.'

  'Wilful will do 't,' said Fergus;--'but you cannot go on foot and Ishall want no horse, as I must march on foot at the head of the childrenof Ivor; you shall have Brown Dermid.'

  'If you will sell him, I shall certainly be much obliged.'

  'If your proud English heart cannot be obliged by a gift or loan, Iwill not refuse money at the entrance of a campaign: his price is twentyguineas, [Remember, reader, it was Sixty Years since.] And when do youpropose to depart?'

  'The sooner the better,' answered Waverley.

  'You are right, since go you must, or rather, since go you will: I willtake Flora's pony, and ride with you as far as Bally-Brough.--CallumBeg, see that our horses are ready, with a pony for yourself, to attendand carry Mr. Waverley's baggage as far as--(naming a small town), wherehe can have a horse and guide to Edinburgh. Put on a Lowland dress,Callum, and see you keep your tongue close, if you would not have me cutit out: Mr. Waverley rides Dermid,' Then turning to Edward, 'You willtake leave of my sister?'

  'Surely--that is, if Miss Mac-Ivor will honour me so far.'

  'Cathleen, let my sister know that Mr. Waverley wishes to bid herfarewell before he leaves us.--But Rose Bradwardine,--her situation mustbe thought of. I wish she were here. And why should she not? There arebut four red-coats at Tully-Veolan, and their muskets would be veryuseful to us.'

  To these broken remarks Edward made no answer; his ear indeed receivedthem, but his soul was intent upon the expected entrance of Flora. Thedoor opened--it was but Cathleen, with her lady's excuse, and wishes forCaptain Waverley's health and happiness.