Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — CompleteScott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Complete
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
'We understand that "this same RICHARD who hath done all this" is not
the only example of the WAVERING HONOUR of W-v-r-ly H-n-r. See the
Gazette of this day.'
With hurried and feverish apprehension our hero turned to the place
referred to, and found therein recorded, 'Edward Waverley, captain in
---- regiment dragoons, superseded for absence without leave'; and in
the list of military promotions, referring to the same regiment, he
discovered this farther article, 'Lieut. Julius Butler, to be captain,
VICE Edward Waverley, superseded.'
Our hero's bosom glowed with the resentment which undeserved and
apparently premeditated insult was calculated to excite in the bosom of
one who had aspired after honour, and was thus wantonly held up to
public scorn and disgrace. Upon comparing the date of his colonel's
letter with that of the article in the Gazette, he perceived that his
threat of making a report upon his absence had been literally
fulfilled, and without inquiry, as it seemed, whether Edward had either
received his summons or was disposed to comply with it. The whole,
therefore, appeared a formed plan to degrade him in the eyes of the
public; and the idea of its having succeeded filled him with such
bitter emotions that, after various attempts to conceal them, he at
length threw himself into Mac-Ivor's arms, and gave vent to tears of
shame and indignation.
It was none of this Chieftain's faults to be indifferent to the wrongs
of his friends; and for Edward, independent of certain plans with which
he was connected, he felt a deep and sincere interest. The proceeding
appeared as extraordinary to him as it had done to Edward. He indeed
knew of more motives than Waverley was privy to for the peremptory
order that he should join his regiment. But that, without further
inquiry into the circumstances of a necessary delay, the commanding
officer, in contradiction to his known and established character,
should have proceeded in so harsh and unusual a manner was a mystery
which he could not penetrate. He soothed our hero, however, to the best
of his power, and began to turn his thoughts on revenge for his
insulted honour.
Edward eagerly grasped at the idea. 'Will you carry a message for me to
Colonel Gardiner, my dear Fergus, and oblige me for ever?'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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