 resumed his
posture of sullen and determined silence.
    »Allow me,« said the magistrate, »to remind you of one reason that may
suggest the propriety of a candid and open confession. The inexperience of
youth, Mr. Waverley, lays it open to the plans of the more designing and artful;
and one of your friends at least - I mean Mac-Ivor of Glennaquoich - ranks high
in the latter class, as from your apparent ingenuousness, youth, and
unacquaintance with the manners of the Highlands, I should be disposed to place
you among the former. In such a case, a false step or error like yours, which I
shall be happy to consider as involuntary, may be atoned for, and I would
willingly act as intercessor. But as you must necessarily be acquainted with the
strength of the individuals in this country who have assumed arms, with their
means, and with their plans, I must expect you will merit this mediation on my
part by a frank and candid avowal of all that has come to your knowledge upon
these heads. In which case, I think I can venture to promise that a very short
personal restraint will be the only ill consequence that can arise from your
accession to these unhappy intrigues.«
    Waverley listened with great composure until the end of this exhortation,
when, springing from his seat, with an energy he had not yet displayed, he
replied, »Major Melville, since that is your name, I have hitherto answered your
questions with candour, or declined them with temper, because their import
concerned myself alone; but as you presume to esteem me mean enough to commence
informer against others, who received me, whatever may be their public
misconduct, as a guest and friend, - I declare to you that I consider your
questions as an insult infinitely more offensive than your calumnious
suspicions; and that, since my hard fortune permits me no other mode of
resenting them than by verbal defiance, you should sooner have my heart out of
my bosom, than a single syllable of information on subjects which I could only
become acquainted with in the full confidence of unsuspecting hospitality.«
    Mr. Morton and the Major looked at each other; and the former, who, in the
course of the examination, had been repeatedly troubled with a sorry rheum, had
recourse to his snuffbox and his handkerchief.
    »Mr. Waverley,« said the Major, »my present situation prohibits me alike
from giving or receiving offence, and I will not protract a discussion which
approaches to either. I am afraid I must sign a warrant for detaining you in
