 detail necessary to the present undertaking, beyond
consideration of the grand principles of justice and truth, on which our
enterprise is grounded; and these I am certain, can only be furthered by
measures in themselves true and just. To operate upon your present feelings, my
dear Mr. Waverley, to induce you to an irretrievable step, of which you have not
considered either the justice or the danger, is, in my poor judgment, neither
the one nor the other.«
    »Incomparable Flora!« said Edward, taking her hand, »how much do I need such
a monitor?«
    »A better one by far,« said Flora, gently withdrawing her hand, »Mr.
Waverley will always find in his own bosom, when he will give its small still
voice leisure to be heard.«
    »No, Miss Mac-Ivor, I dare not hope it. A thousand circumstances of fatal
self-indulgence have made me the creature rather of imagination than reason.
Durst I but hope - could I but think - that you would deign to be to me that
affectionate, that condescending friend, who would strengthen me to redeem my
errors, my future life« --
    »Hush, my dear sir! now you carry your joy at escaping the hands of a
Jacobite recruiting officer to an unparalleled excess of gratitude.«
    »Nay, dear Flora, trifle with me no longer; you cannot mistake the meaning
of those feelings which I have almost involuntarily expressed; and since I have
broken the barrier of silence, let me profit by my audacity - Or may I, with
your permission, mention to your brother« --
    »Not for the world, Mr. Waverley!«
    »What am I to understand?« said Edward. »Is there any fatal bar - has any
prepossession« --
    »None, sir,« answered Flora. »I owe it to myself to say, that I never yet
saw the person on whom I thought with reference to the present subject.«
    »The shortness of our acquaintance, perhaps - If Miss Mac Ivor will deign to
give me time« -- »I have not even that excuse. Captain Waverley's character is
so open - is, in short, of that nature, that it cannot be misconstrued, either
in its strength or its weakness.«
    »And for that weakness you despise me?« said Edward.
    »Forgive me, Mr. Waverley, and remember it is but within this half hour that
there existed between us a barrier of a nature to me insurmountable, since I
never
