Waverley; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since — Volume 2

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER LXVI

  Now is Cupid a child of conscience--he makes restitution.

  SHAKSPEARE

  Mr. Duncan MacWheeble, no longer Commissary or Bailie, thoughstill enjoying the empty name of the latter dignity, had escapedproscription by an early secession from the insurgent party and byhis insignificance.

  Edward found him in his office, immersed among papers andaccounts. Before him was a large bicker of oatmeal porridge, andat the side thereof a horn spoon and a bottle of two-penny.Eagerly running his eye over a voluminous law-paper, he from timeto time shovelled an immense spoonful of these nutritive viandsinto his capacious mouth. A pot-bellied Dutch bottle of brandywhich stood by intimated either that this honest limb of the lawhad taken his morning already, or that he meant to season hisporridge with such digestive; or perhaps both circumstances mightreasonably be inferred. His night-cap and morning-gown, hadwhilome been of tartan, but, equally cautious and frugal, thehonest Bailie had got them dyed black, lest their original ill-omened colour might remind his visitors of his unlucky excursionto Derby. To sum up the picture, his face was daubed with snuff upto the eyes, and his fingers with ink up to the knuckles. Helooked dubiously at Waverley as he approached the little greenrail which fenced his desk and stool from the approach of thevulgar. Nothing could give the Bailie more annoyance than the ideaof his acquaintance being claimed by any of the unfortunategentlemen who were now so much more likely to need assistance thanto afford profit. But this was the rich young Englishman; who knewwhat might be his situation? He was the Baron's friend too; whatwas to be done?

  While these reflections gave an air of absurd perplexity to thepoor man's visage, Waverley, reflecting on the communication hewas about to make to him, of a nature so ridiculously contrastedwith the appearance of the individual, could not help bursting outa-laughing, as he checked the propensity to exclaim with Syphax--

  Cato's a proper person to intrust A love-tale with.

  As Mr. Macwheeble had no idea of any person laughing heartily whowas either encircled by peril or oppressed by poverty, thehilarity of Edward's countenance greatly relieved theembarrassment of his own, and, giving him a tolerably heartywelcome to Little Veolan, he asked what he would choose forbreakfast. His visitor had, in the first place, something for hisprivate ear, and begged leave to bolt the door. Duncan by no meansliked this precaution, which savoured of danger to be apprehended;but he could not now draw back.

  Convinced he might trust this man, as he could make it hisinterest to be faithful, Edward communicated his present situationand future schemes to Macwheeble. The wily agent listened withapprehension when he found Waverley was still in a state ofproscription; was somewhat comforted by learning that he had apassport; rubbed his hands with glee when he mentioned the amountof his present fortune; opened huge eyes when he heard thebrilliancy of his future expectations; but when he expressed hisintention to share them with Miss Rose Bradwardine, ecstasy hadalmost deprived the honest man of his senses. The Bailie startedfrom his three-footed stool like the Pythoness from her tripod;flung his best wig out of the window, because the block on whichit was placed stood in the way of his career; chucked his cap tothe ceiling, caught it as it fell; whistled 'Tullochgorum'; danceda Highland fling with inimitable grace and agility, and then threwhimself exhausted into a chair, exclaiming, 'Lady Wauverley! tenthousand a year the least penny! Lord preserve my poorunderstanding!'

  'Amen with all my heart,' said Waverley; 'but now, Mr. Macwheeble,let us proceed to business.' This word had somewhat a sedativeeffect, but the Bailie's head, as he expressed himself, was still'in the bees.' He mended his pen, however, marked half a dozensheets of paper with an ample marginal fold, whipped down Dallasof St. Martin's 'Styles' from a shelf, where that venerable workroosted with Stair's 'Institutions,' Dirleton's 'Doubts,'Balfour's 'Practiques,' and a parcel of old account-books, openedthe volume at the article Contract of Marriage, and prepared tomake what he called a'sma' minute to prevent parties fraeresiling.'

  With some difficulty Waverley made him comprehend that he wasgoing a little too fast. He explained to him that he should wanthis assistance, in the first place, to make his residence safe forthe time, by writing to the officer at Tully-Veolan that Mr.Stanley, an English gentleman nearly related to Colonel Talbot,was upon a visit of business at Mr. Macwheeble's, and, knowing thestate of the country, had sent his passport for Captain Foster'sinspection. This produced a polite answer from the officer, withan invitation to Mr. Stanley to dine with him, which was declined(as may easily be supposed) under pretence of business.

  Waverley's next request was, that Mr. Macwheeble would despatch aman and horse to----, the post-town at which Colonel Talbot was toaddress him, with directions to wait there until the post shouldbring a letter for Mr. Stanley, and then to forward it to LittleVeolan with all speed. In a moment the Bailie was in search of hisapprentice (or servitor, as he was called Sixty Years Since), JockScriever, and in not much greater space of time Jock was on theback of the white pony. 'Tak care ye guide him weel, sir, for he'saye been short in the wind since--ahem--Lord be gude to me! (in alow voice), I was gaun to come out wi'--since I rode whip and spurto fetch the Chevalier to redd Mr. Wauverley and Vich lan Vohr;and an uncanny coup I gat for my pains. Lord forgie your honour! Imight hae broken my neck; but troth it was in a venture, mae waysnor ane; but this maks amends for a'. Lady Wauverley! ten thousanda year! Lord be gude unto me!'

  'But you forget, Mr. Macwheeble, we want the Baron's consent--thelady's--'

  'Never fear, I'se be caution for them; I'se gie you my personalwarrandice. Ten thousand a year! it dings Balmawhapple out andout--a year's rent's worth a' Balmawhapple, fee and life-rent!Lord make us thankful!'

  To turn the current of his feelings, Edward inquired if he hadheard anything lately of the Chieftain of Glennaquoich.

  'Not one word,' answered Macwheeble, 'but that he was still inCarlisle Castle, and was soon to be panelled for his life. I dinnawish the young gentleman ill,' he said, 'but I hope that they thathae got him will keep him, and no let him back to this Hielandborder to plague us wi' black-mail and a' manner o' violent,wrongous, and masterfu' oppression and spoliation, both by himselfand others of his causing, sending, and hounding out; and hecouldna tak care o' the siller when he had gotten it neither, butflung it a' into yon idle quean's lap at Edinburgh; but light comelight gane. For my part, I never wish to see a kilt in the countryagain, nor a red-coat, nor a gun, for that matter, unless it wereto shoot a paitrick; they're a' tarr'd wi' ae stick. And when theyhave done ye wrang, even when ye hae gotten decreet of spuilzie,oppression, and violent profits against them, what better are ye?They hae na a plack to pay ye; ye need never extract it.'

  With such discourse, and the intervening topics of business, thetime passed until dinner, Macwheeble meanwhile promising to devisesome mode of introducing Edward at the Duchran, where Rose atpresent resided, without risk of danger or suspicion; which seemedno very easy task, since the laird was a very zealous friend togovernment. The poultry-yard had been laid under requisition, andcockyleeky and Scotch collops soon reeked in the Bailie's littleparlour. The landlord's cork-screw was just introduced into themuzzle of a pint bottle of claret (cribbed possibly from thecellars of Tully-Veolan), when the sight of the grey pony passingthe window at full trot induced the Bailie, but with dueprecaution, to place it aside for the moment. Enter Jock Scrieverwith a packet for Mr. Stanley; it is Colonel Talbot's seal, andEdward's ringers tremble as he undoes it. Two official papers,folded, signed, and sealed in all formality, drop out. They werehastily picked up by the Bailie, who had a natural respect foreverything resembling a deed, and, glancing slily on their titles,his eyes, or rather spectacles, are greeted with 'Protection byhis Royal Highness to the person of Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine,Esq., of that ilk, commonly called Baron of Bradwardine, forfeitedfor his accession to the late rebellion.' The other proves to be aprotection of the same tenor in favour of Edward Waverley, Esq.Colonel Talbot's letter was in these
words:--

  'My DEAR EDWARD,

  'I am just arrived here, and yet I have finished my business; ithas cost me some trouble though, as you shall hear. I waited uponhis Royal Highness immediately on my arrival, and found him in novery good humour for my purpose. Three or four Scotch gentlemenwere just leaving his levee. After he had expressed himself to mevery courteously; "Would you think it," he said, "Talbot, herehave been half a dozen of the most respectable gentlemen and bestfriends to government north of the Forth, Major Melville ofCairnvreckan, Rubrick of Duchran, and others, who have fairlywrung from me, by their downright importunity, a presentprotection and the promise of a future pardon for that stubbornold rebel whom they call Baron of Bradwardine. They allege thathis high personal character, and the clemency which he showed tosuch of our people as fell into the rebels' hands, should weigh inhis favour, especially as the loss of his estate is likely to be asevere enough punishment. Rubrick has undertaken to keep him athis own house till things are settled in the country; but it's alittle hard to be forced in a manner to pardon such a mortal enemyto the House of Brunswick." This was no favourable moment foropening my business; however, I said I was rejoiced to learn thathis Royal Highness was in the course of granting such requests, asit emboldened me to present one of the like nature in my own name.He was very angry, but I persisted; I mentioned the uniformsupport of our three votes in, the house, touched modestly onservices abroad, though valuable only in his Royal Highness'shaving been pleased kindly to accept them, and founded prettystrongly on his own expressions of friendship and good-will. Hewas embarrassed, but obstinate. I hinted the policy of detaching,on all future occasions, the heir of such a fortune as youruncle's from the machinations of the disaffected. But I made noimpression. I mentioned the obligations which I lay under to SirEverard and to you personally, and claimed, as the sole reward ofmy services, that he would be pleased to afford me the means ofevincing my gratitude. I perceived that he still meditated arefusal, and, taking my commission from my pocket, I said (as alast resource) that, as his Royal Highness did not, under thesepressing circumstances, think me worthy of a favour which he hadnot scrupled to grant to other gentlemen whose services I couldhardly judge more important than my own, I must beg leave todeposit, with all humility, my commission in his Royal Highness'shands, and to retire from the service. He was not prepared forthis; he told me to take up my commission, said some handsomethings of my services, and granted my request. You are thereforeonce more a free man, and I have promised for you that you will bea good boy in future, and remember what you owe to the lenity ofgovernment. Thus you see my prince can be as generous as yours. Ido not pretend, indeed, that he confers a favour with all theforeign graces and compliments of your Chevalier errant; but hehas a plain English manner, and the evident reluctance with whichhe grants your request indicates the sacrifice which he makes ofhis own inclination to your wishes. My friend, the adjutant-general, has procured me a duplicate of the Baron's protection(the original being in Major Melville's possession), which I sendto you, as I know that if you can find him you will have pleasurein being the first to communicate the joyful intelligence. He willof course repair to the Duchran without loss of time, there toride quarantine for a few weeks. As for you, I give you leave toescort him thither, and to stay a week there, as I understand acertain fair lady is in that quarter. And I have the pleasure totell you that whatever progress you can make in her good graceswill be highly agreeable to Sir Everard and Mrs. Rachel, who willnever believe your views and prospects settled, and the threeermines passant in actual safety, until you present them with aMrs. Edward Waverley. Now, certain love-affairs of my own--a goodmany years since--interrupted some measures which were thenproposed in favour of the three ermines passant; so I am bound inhonour to make them amends. Therefore make good use of your time,for, when your week is expired, it will be necessary that you goto London to plead your pardon in the law courts.

  'Ever, dear Waverley, yours most truly, 'PHILIP TALBOT.'