Waverley; Or 'Tis Sixty Years Since — Complete by Walter Scott
CHAPTER LXVI
Now is Cupid a child of conscience--he makes restitution.
SHAKSPEARE
Mr. Duncan MacWheeble, no longer Commissary or Bailie, though stillenjoying the empty name of the latter dignity, had escaped proscriptionby an early secession from the insurgent party and by hisinsignificance.
Edward found him in his office, immersed among papers and accounts.Before him was a large bicker of oatmeal porridge, and at the sidethereof a horn spoon and a bottle of two-penny. Eagerly running his eyeover a voluminous law-paper, he from time to time shovelled an immensespoonful of these nutritive viands into his capacious mouth. Apot-bellied Dutch bottle of brandy which stood by intimated either thatthis honest limb of the law had taken his morning already, or that hemeant to season his porridge with such digestive; or perhaps bothcircumstances might reasonably be inferred. His night-cap andmorning-gown, had whilome been of tartan, but, equally cautious andfrugal, the honest Bailie had got them dyed black, lest their originalill-omened colour might remind his visitors of his unlucky excursion toDerby. To sum up the picture, his face was daubed with snuff up to theeyes, and his fingers with ink up to the knuckles. He looked dubiouslyat Waverley as he approached the little green rail which fenced hisdesk and stool from the approach of the vulgar. Nothing could give theBailie more annoyance than the idea of his acquaintance being claimedby any of the unfortunate gentlemen who were now so much more likely toneed assistance than to afford profit. But this was the rich youngEnglishman; who knew what might be his situation? He was the Baron'sfriend too; what was to be done?
While these reflections gave an air of absurd perplexity to the poorman's visage, Waverley, reflecting on the communication he was about tomake to him, of a nature so ridiculously contrasted with the appearanceof the individual, could not help bursting out a-laughing, as hechecked 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 who waseither encircled by peril or oppressed by poverty, the hilarity ofEdward's countenance greatly relieved the embarrassment of his own,and, giving him a tolerably hearty welcome to Little Veolan, he askedwhat he would choose for breakfast. His visitor had, in the firstplace, something for his private ear, and begged leave to bolt thedoor. Duncan by no means liked this precaution, which savoured ofdanger to be apprehended; but he could not now draw back.
Convinced he might trust this man, as he could make it his interest tobe faithful, Edward communicated his present situation and futureschemes to Macwheeble. The wily agent listened with apprehension whenhe found Waverley was still in a state of proscription; was somewhatcomforted by learning that he had a passport; rubbed his hands withglee when he mentioned the amount of his present fortune; opened hugeeyes when he heard the brilliancy of his future expectations; but whenhe expressed his intention to share them with Miss Rose Bradwardine,ecstasy had almost deprived the honest man of his senses. The Bailiestarted from his three-footed stool like the Pythoness from her tripod;flung his best wig out of the window, because the block on which it wasplaced stood in the way of his career; chucked his cap to the ceiling,caught it as it fell; whistled 'Tullochgorum'; danced a Highland flingwith inimitable grace and agility, and then threw himself exhaustedinto a chair, exclaiming, 'Lady Wauverley! ten thousand a year theleast penny! Lord preserve my poor understanding!'
'Amen with all my heart,' said Waverley; 'but now, Mr. Macwheeble, letus proceed to business.' This word had somewhat a sedative effect, butthe Bailie's head, as he expressed himself, was still 'in the bees.' Hemended his pen, however, marked half a dozen sheets of paper with anample marginal fold, whipped down Dallas of St. Martin's 'Styles' froma shelf, where that venerable work roosted with Stair's 'Institutions,'Dirleton's 'Doubts,' Balfour's 'Practiques,' and a parcel of oldaccount-books, opened the volume at the article Contract of Marriage,and prepared to make what he called a'sma' minute to prevent partiesfrae resiling.'
With some difficulty Waverley made him comprehend that he was going alittle too fast. He explained to him that he should want hisassistance, in the first place, to make his residence safe for thetime, by writing to the officer at Tully-Veolan that Mr. Stanley, anEnglish gentleman nearly related to Colonel Talbot, was upon a visit ofbusiness at Mr. Macwheeble's, and, knowing the state of the country,had sent his passport for Captain Foster's inspection. This produced apolite answer from the officer, with an invitation to Mr. Stanley todine with him, which was declined (as may easily be supposed) underpretence of business.
Waverley's next request was, that Mr. Macwheeble would despatch a manand horse to ----, the post-town at which Colonel Talbot was to addresshim, with directions to wait there until the post should bring a letterfor Mr. Stanley, and then to forward it to Little Veolan with allspeed. In a moment the Bailie was in search of his apprentice (orservitor, as he was called Sixty Years Since), Jock Scriever, and innot much greater space of time Jock was on the back of the white pony.'Tak care ye guide him weel, sir, for he's aye been short in the windsince--ahem--Lord be gude to me! (in a low voice), I was gaun to comeout wi'--since I rode whip and spur to fetch the Chevalier to redd Mr.Wauverley and Vich lan Vohr; and an uncanny coup I gat for my pains.Lord forgie your honour! I might hae broken my neck; but troth it wasin a venture, mae ways nor ane; but this maks amends for a'. LadyWauverley! ten thousand a 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 and out--ayear's rent's worth a' Balmawhapple, fee and life-rent! Lord make usthankful!'
To turn the current of his feelings, Edward inquired if he had heardanything lately of the Chieftain of Glennaquoich.
'Not one word,' answered Macwheeble, 'but that he was still in CarlisleCastle, and was soon to be panelled for his life. I dinna wish theyoung gentleman ill,' he said, 'but I hope that they that hae got himwill keep him, and no let him back to this Hieland border to plague uswi' black-mail and a' manner o' violent, wrongous, and masterfu'oppression and spoliation, both by himself and others of his causing,sending, and hounding out; and he couldna tak care o' the siller whenhe had gotten it neither, but flung it a' into yon idle quean's lap atEdinburgh; but light come light gane. For my part, I never wish to seea kilt in the country again, nor a red-coat, nor a gun, for thatmatter, unless it were to shoot a paitrick; they're a' tarr'd wi' aestick. And when they have done ye wrang, even when ye hae gottendecreet of spuilzie, oppression, and violent profits against them, whatbetter are ye? They hae na a plack to pay ye; ye need never extract it.'
With such discourse, and the intervening topics of business, the timepassed until dinner, Macwheeble meanwhile promising to devise some modeof introducing Edward at the Duchran, where Rose at present resided,without risk of danger or suspicion; which seemed no very easy task,since the laird was a very zealous friend to government. Thepoultry-yard had been laid under requisition, and cockyleeky and Scotchcollops soon reeked in the Bailie's little parlour. The landlord'scork-screw was just introduced into the muzzle of a pint bottle ofclaret (cribbed possibly from the cellars of Tully-Veolan), when thesight of the grey pony passing the window at full trot induced theBailie, but with due precaution, to place it aside for the moment.Enter Jock Scriever with a packet for Mr. Stanley; it is ColonelTalbot's seal, and Edward's ringers tremble as he undoes it. Twoofficial papers, folded, signed, and sealed in all formality, drop out.They were hastily picked up by the Bailie, who had a natural respectfor everything resembling a deed, and, glancing slily on their titles,his eyes, or rather spectacles, are greeted with 'Protection by hisRoyal Highness to the person of Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, Esq., of thatilk, commonly called Baron of Bradwardine, forfeited for his accessionto the late rebellion.' The other proves to be a protection of the sametenor in favour of Edward Waverley, Esq. Colonel Talbot's letter was
'My DEAR EDWARD,
'I am just arrived here, and yet I have finished my business; it hascost me some trouble though, as you shall hear. I waited upon his RoyalHighness immediately on my arrival, and found him in no very goodhumour for my purpose. Three or four Scotch gentlemen were just leavinghis levee. After he had expressed himself to me very courteously;"Would you think it," he said, "Talbot, here have been half a dozen ofthe most respectable gentlemen and best friends to government north ofthe Forth, Major Melville of Cairnvreckan, Rubrick of Duchran, andothers, who have fairly wrung from me, by their downright importunity,a present protection and the promise of a future pardon for thatstubborn old rebel whom they call Baron of Bradwardine. They allegethat his high personal character, and the clemency which he showed tosuch of our people as fell into the rebels' hands, should weigh in hisfavour, especially as the loss of his estate is likely to be a severeenough punishment. Rubrick has undertaken to keep him at his own housetill things are settled in the country; but it's a little hard to beforced in a manner to pardon such a mortal enemy to the House ofBrunswick." This was no favourable moment for opening my business;however, I said I was rejoiced to learn that his Royal Highness was inthe course of granting such requests, as it emboldened me to presentone of the like nature in my own name. He was very angry, but Ipersisted; I mentioned the uniform support of our three votes in, thehouse, touched modestly on services abroad, though valuable only in hisRoyal Highness's having been pleased kindly to accept them, and foundedpretty strongly on his own expressions of friendship and good-will. Hewas embarrassed, but obstinate. I hinted the policy of detaching, onall future occasions, the heir of such a fortune as your uncle's fromthe machinations of the disaffected. But I made no impression. Imentioned the obligations which I lay under to Sir Everard and to youpersonally, and claimed, as the sole reward of my services, that hewould be pleased to afford me the means of evincing my gratitude. Iperceived that he still meditated a refusal, and, taking my commissionfrom my pocket, I said (as a last resource) that, as his Royal Highnessdid not, under these pressing circumstances, think me worthy of afavour which he had not scrupled to grant to other gentlemen whoseservices I could hardly judge more important than my own, I must begleave to deposit, with all humility, my commission in his RoyalHighness's hands, and to retire from the service. He was not preparedfor this; he told me to take up my commission, said some handsomethings of my services, and granted my request. You are therefore oncemore a free man, and I have promised for you that you will be a goodboy in future, and remember what you owe to the lenity of government.Thus you see my prince can be as generous as yours. I do not pretend,indeed, that he confers a favour with all the foreign graces andcompliments of your Chevalier errant; but he has a plain Englishmanner, and the evident reluctance with which he grants your requestindicates the sacrifice which he makes of his own inclination to yourwishes. My friend, the adjutant-general, has procured me a duplicate ofthe Baron's protection (the original being in Major Melville'spossession), which I send to you, as I know that if you can find himyou will have pleasure in being the first to communicate the joyfulintelligence. He will of course repair to the Duchran without loss oftime, there to ride quarantine for a few weeks. As for you, I give youleave to escort him thither, and to stay a week there, as I understanda certain fair lady is in that quarter. And I have the pleasure to tellyou that whatever progress you can make in her good graces will behighly agreeable to Sir Everard and Mrs. Rachel, who will never believeyour views and prospects settled, and the three ermines passant inactual safety, until you present them with a Mrs. Edward Waverley. Now,certain love-affairs of my own--a good many years since--interruptedsome measures which were then proposed in favour of the three erminespassant; so I am bound in honour to make them amends. Therefore makegood use of your time, for, when your week is expired, it will benecessary that you go to London to plead your pardon in the law courts.
'Ever, dear Waverley, yours most truly, 'PHILIP TALBOT.'