Waverley; Or 'Tis Sixty Years Since — Complete

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER VII

  A HORSE-QUARTER IN SCOTLAND

  The next morning, amid varied feelings, the chief of which was apredominant, anxious, and even solemn impression, that he was now in agreat measure abandoned to his own guidance and direction, EdwardWaverley departed from the Hall amid the blessings and tears of all theold domestics and the inhabitants of the village, mingled with some slypetitions for sergeantcies and corporalships, and so forth, on the partof those who professed that 'they never thoft to ha' seen Jacob, andGiles, and Jonathan go off for soldiers, save to attend his honour, asin duty bound.' Edward, as in duty bound, extricated himself from thesupplicants with the pledge of fewer promises than might have beenexpected from a young man so little accustomed to the world. After ashort visit to London, he proceeded on horseback, then the general modeof travelling, to Edinburgh, and from thence to Dundee, a seaport onthe eastern coast of Angus-shire, where his regiment was then quartered.

  He now entered upon a new world, where, for a time, all was beautifulbecause all was new. Colonel Gardiner, the commanding officer of theregiment, was himself a study for a romantic, and at the same time aninquisitive youth. In person he was tall, handsome, and active, thoughsomewhat advanced in life. In his early years he had been what iscalled, by manner of palliative, a very gay young man, and strangestories were circulated about his sudden conversion from doubt, if notinfidelity, to a serious and even enthusiastic turn of mind. It waswhispered that a supernatural communication, of a nature obvious evento the exterior senses, had produced this wonderful change; and thoughsome mentioned the proselyte as an enthusiast, none hinted at his beinga hypocrite. This singular and mystical circumstance gave ColonelGardiner a peculiar and solemn interest in the eyes of the youngsoldier. [Footnote: See Note 5.] It may be easily imagined that theofficers, of a regiment commanded by so respectable a person composed asociety more sedate and orderly than a military mess always exhibits;and that Waverley escaped some temptations to which he might otherwisehave been exposed.

  Meanwhile his military education proceeded. Already a good horseman, hewas now initiated into the arts of the manege, which, when carried toperfection, almost realise the fable of the Centaur, the guidance ofthe horse appearing to proceed from the rider's mere volition, ratherthan from the use of any external and apparent signal of motion. Hereceived also instructions in his field duty; but I must own, that whenhis first ardour was past, his progress fell short in the latterparticular of what he wished and expected. The duty of an officer, themost imposing of all others to the inexperienced mind, becauseaccompanied with so much outward pomp and circumstance, is in itsessence a very dry and abstract task, depending chiefly uponarithmetical combinations, requiring much attention, and a cool andreasoning head to bring them into action. Our hero was liable to fitsof absence, in which his blunders excited some mirth, and called downsome reproof. This circumstance impressed him with a painful sense ofinferiority in those qualities which appeared most to deserve andobtain regard in his new profession. He asked himself in vain, why hiseye could not judge of distance or space so well as those of hiscompanions; why his head was not always successful in disentangling thevarious partial movements necessary to execute a particular evolution;and why his memory, so alert upon most occasions, did not correctlyretain technical phrases and minute points of etiquette or fielddiscipline. Waverley was naturally modest, and therefore did not fallinto the egregious mistake of supposing such minuter rules of militaryduty beneath his notice, or conceiting himself to be born a general,because he made an indifferent subaltern. The truth was, that the vagueand unsatisfactory course of reading which he had pursued, working upona temper naturally retired and abstracted, had given him that waveringand unsettled habit of mind which is most averse to study and rivetedattention. Time, in the mean while, hung heavy on his hands. The gentryof the neighbourhood were disaffected, and showed little hospitality tothe military guests; and the people of the town, chiefly engaged inmercantile pursuits, were not such as Waverley chose to associate with.The arrival of summer, and a curiosity to know something more ofScotland than he could see in a ride from his quarters, determined himto request leave of absence for a few weeks. He resolved first to visithis uncle's ancient friend and correspondent, with the purpose ofextending or shortening the time of his residence according tocircumstances. He travelled of course on horse-back, and with a singleattendant, and passed his first night at a miserable inn, where thelandlady had neither shoes nor stockings, and the landlord, who calledhimself a gentleman, was disposed to be rude to his guest, because hehad not bespoke the pleasure of his society to supper. [Footnote: SeeNote 6.] The next day, traversing an open and uninclosed country,Edward gradually approached the Highlands of Perthshire, which at firsthad appeared a blue outline in the horizon, but now swelled into hugegigantic masses, which frowned defiance over the more level countrythat lay beneath them. Near the bottom of this stupendous barrier, butstill in the Lowland country, dwelt Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine ofBradwardine; and, if grey-haired eld can be in aught believed, therehad dwelt his ancestors, with all their heritage, since the days of thegracious King Duncan.