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
They now reached Little Veolan. The goose was smoking on the
table, and the Bailie brandished his knife and fork. A joyous
greeting took place between him and his patron. The kitchen, too,
had its company. Auld Janet was established at the ingle-nook;
Davie had turned the spit to his immortal honour; and even Ban and
Buscar, in the liberality of Macwheeble's joy, had been stuffed to
the throat with food, and now lay snoring on the floor.
The next day conducted the Baron and his young friend to the
Duchran, where the former was expected, in consequence of the
success of the nearly unanimous application of the Scottish
friends of government in his favour. This had been so general and
so powerful that it was almost thought his estate might have been
saved, had it not passed into the rapacious hands of his unworthy
kinsman, whose right, arising out of the Baron's attainder, could
not be affected by a pardon from the crown. The old gentleman,
however, said, with his usual spirit, he was more gratified by the
hold he possessed in the good opinion of his neighbours than he
would have been in being rehabilitated and restored in integrum,
had it been found practicable.'
We shall not attempt to describe the meeting of the father and
daughter, loving each other so affectionately, and separated under
such perilous circumstances. Still less shall we attempt to
analyse the deep blush of Rose at receiving the compliments of
Waverley, or stop to inquire whether she had any curiosity
respecting the particular cause of his journey to Scotland at that
period. We shall not even trouble the reader with the humdrum
details of a courtship Sixty Years Since. It is enough to say
that, under so strict a martinet as the Baron, all things were
conducted in due form. He took upon himself, the morning after
their arrival, the task of announcing the proposal of Waverley to
Rose, which she heard with a proper degree of maiden timidity.
Fame does, however, say that Waverley had the evening before found
five minutes to apprise her of what was coming, while the rest of
the company were looking at three twisted serpents which formed a,
jet d'eau in the garden.
My fair readers will judge for themselves; but, for my part, I
cannot conceive how so important an affair could be communicated
in so short a space of time; at least, it certainly took a full
hour in the Baron's mode of conveying it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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