 the cause which she had
embraced, united to her scrupulous rectitude as to the means of serving it, had
vindicated to his judgment the choice adopted by his passions. But time pressed,
calumny was busy with his fame, and every hour's delay increased the power to
injure it. His departure must be instant.
    With this determination he sought out Fergus, and communicated to him the
contents of Rose's letter, with his own resolution instantly to go to Edinburgh,
and put into the hands of some one or other of those persons of influence to
whom he had letters from his father, his exculpation from any charge which might
be preferred against him.
    »You run your head into the lion's mouth,« answered Mac-Ivor. »You do not
know the severity of a Government harassed by just apprehensions, and a
consciousness of their own illegality and insecurity. I shall have to deliver
you from some dungeon in Stirling or Edinburgh Castle.«
    »My innocence, my rank, my father's intimacy with Lord M --, General G --,
etc., will be a sufficient protection,« said Waverley.
    »You will find the contrary,« replied the Chieftain; »these gentlemen will
have enough to do about their own matters. Once more, will you take the plaid,
and stay a little while with us among the mists and the crows, in the bravest
cause ever sword was drawn in?«63
    »For many reasons, my dear Fergus, you must hold me excused.«
    »Well, then,« said Mac-Ivor, »I shall certainly find you exerting your
poetical talents in elegies upon a prison, or your antiquarian researches in
detecting the Oggam64 character, or some Punic hieroglyphic upon the key-stones
of a vault, curiously arched. Or what say you to un petit pendement bien joli?
against which awkward ceremony I don't warrant you, should you meet a body of
the armed west-country Whigs.«
    »And why should they use me so?« said Waverley.
    »For a hundred good reasons,« answered Fergus: »First, you are an
Englishman; secondly, a gentleman; thirdly, a prelatist abjured; and fourthly,
they have not had an opportunity to exercise their talents on such a subject
this long while. But don't be cast down, beloved: all will be done in the fear
of the Lord.«
    »Well, I must run my hazard.«
    »You are determined, then?«
    »I am.«
    »Wilful will
