'Well, then,' said Mac-Ivor, 'I shall certainly find you exerting your poetical talents in elegies upon a prison, or your antiquarian researches in detecting the Oggam [The Oggam is a species of the old Irish character. The idea of the correspondence betwixt the Celtic and Punic, founded on a scene in Plautus, was not started till General Vallancey 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 a body 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 an Englishman; secondly, a gentleman; thirdly, a prelatist abjured; and, fourthly, they have not had an opportunity to exercise their talents on such a subject this long while. But don't be cast down, beloved: all will 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 I shall want no horse, as I must march on foot at the head of the children of 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, I will not refuse money at the entrance of a campaign: his price is twenty guineas, [Remember, reader, it was Sixty Years since.] And when do you propose to depart?' 'The sooner the better,' answered Waverley. 'You are right, since go you must, or rather, since go you will: I will take Flora's pony, and ride with you as far as Bally-Brough.--Callum Beg, see that our horses are ready, with a pony for yourself, to attend and carry Mr. Waverley's baggage as far as--(naming a small town), where he 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 cut it out: Mr. Waverley rides Dermid,' Then turning to Edward, 'You will take 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 her farewell before he leaves us.--But Rose Bradwardine,--her situation must be thought of. I wish she were here. And why should she not? There are but four red-coats at Tully-Veolan, and their muskets would be very useful to us.' To these broken remarks Edward made no answer; his ear indeed received them, but his soul was intent upon the expected entrance of Flora. The door opened--it was but Cathleen, with her lady's excuse, and wishes for Captain Waverley's health and happiness. CHAPTER XXIX WAVERLEY'S RECEPTION IN THE LOWLANDS AFTER HIS HIGHLAND TOUR