Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
instances of address seemed dictated by the instinctive attachment
of the poor simpleton when his patron's safety was concerned.
With Janet, Edward now sought an interview. He had recognised her
at first sight as the old woman who had nursed him during his
sickness after his delivery from Gifted Gilfillan. The hut also,
although a little repaired and somewhat better furnished, was
certainly the place of his confinement; and he now recollected on
the common moor of Tully-Veolan the trunk of a large decayed tree,
called the try sting-tree, which he had no doubt was the same at
which the Highlanders rendezvoused on that memorable night. All
this he had combined in his imagination the night before; but
reasons which may probably occur to the reader prevented him from
catechising Janet in the presence of the Baron.
He now commenced the task in good earnest; and the first question
was, Who was the young lady that visited the hut during his
illness? Janet paused for a little; and then observed, that to
keep the secret now would neither do good nor ill to anybody.
' It was just a leddy that hasna her equal in the world--Miss
Rose Bradwardine!'
'Then Miss Rose was probably also the author of my deliverance,'
inferred Waverley, delighted at the confirmation of an idea which
local circumstances had already induced him to entertain.
'I wot weel, Mr. Wauverley, and that was she e'en; but sair, sair
angry and affronted wad she hae been, puir thing, if she had
thought ye had been ever to ken a word about the matter; for she
gar'd me speak aye Gaelic when ye was in hearing, to mak ye trow
we were in the Hielands. I can speak it weil eneugh, for my mother
was a Hieland woman.'
A few more questions now brought out the whole mystery respecting
Waverley's deliverance from the bondage in which he left
Cairnvreckan. Never did music sound sweeter to an amateur than the
drowsy tautology with which old Janet detailed every circumstance
thrilled upon the ears of Waverley. But my reader is not a lover
and I must spare his patience, by attempting to condense within
reasonable compass the narrative which old Janet spread through a
harangue of nearly two hours.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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