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
Waverley forgot Flora Mac-Ivor's prejudices in her magnanimity, and
almost pardoned her indifference towards his affection when he
recollected the grand and decisive object which seemed to fill her
whole soul. She, whose sense of duty so wholly engrossed her in the
cause of a benefactor, what would be her feelings in favour of the
happy individual who should be so fortunate as to awaken them? Then
came the doubtful question, whether he might not be that happy man,--a
question which fancy endeavoured to answer in the affirmative, by
conjuring up all she had said in his praise, with the addition of a
comment much more flattering than the text warranted. All that was
commonplace, all that belonged to the every-day world, was melted away
and obliterated in those dreams of imagination, which only remembered
with advantage the points of grace and dignity that distinguished Flora
from the generality of her sex, not the particulars which she held in
common with them. Edward was, in short, in the fair way of creating a
goddess out of a high-spirited, accomplished, and beautiful young
woman; and the time was wasted in castle-building until, at the descent
of a steep hill, he saw beneath him the market-town of ----.
The Highland politeness of Callum Beg--there are few nations, by the
way, who can boast of so much natural politeness as the Highlanders
[Footnote: The Highlander, in former times, had always a high idea of
his own gentility, and was anxious to impress the same upon those with
whom he conversed. His language abounded in the phrases of courtesy and
compliment; and the habit of carrying arms, and mixing with those who
did so, made it particularly desirable they should use cautious
politeness in their intercourse with each other.]--the Highland
civility of his attendant had not permitted him to disturb the reveries
of our hero. But observing him rouse himself at the sight of the
village, Callum pressed closer to his side, and hoped 'when they cam to
the public, his honour wad not say nothing about Vich Ian Vohr, for ta
people were bitter Whigs, deil burst tem.'
Waverley assured the prudent page that he would be cautious; and as he
now distinguished, not indeed the ringing of bells, but the tinkling of
something like a hammer against the side of an old mossy, green,
inverted porridge-pot that hung in an open booth, of the size and shape
of a parrot's cage, erected to grace the east end of a building
resembling an old barn, he asked Callum Beg if it were Sunday.
'Could na say just preceesely; Sunday seldom cam aboon the pass of
Bally-Brough.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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