
£15,000, besides Brerewood Lodge - a very independent person, I promise you.
There are bills here for £200; any larger sum you may have, or credit abroad, as
soon as your motions require it.«
    The first use which occurred to Waverley of his newly-acquired wealth, was
to write to honest Farmer Jopson, requesting his acceptance of a silver tankard
on the part of his friend Williams, who had not forgotten the night of the
eighteenth December last. He begged him at the same time carefully to preserve
for him his Highland garb and accoutrements, particularly the arms - curious in
themselves, and to which the friendship of the donors gave additional value.
Lady Emily undertook to find some suitable token of remembrance, likely to
flatter the vanity and please the taste of Mrs. Williams; and the Colonel, who
was a kind of farmer, promised to send the Ullswater patriarch an excellent team
of horses for cart and plough.
    One happy day Waverley spent in London; and, travelling in the manner
projected, he met with Frank Stanley at Huntingdon. The two young men were
acquainted in a minute.
    »I can read my uncle's riddle,« said Stanley. »The cautious old soldier did
not care to hint to me that I might hand over to you this passport, which I have
no occasion for; but if it should afterwards come out as the rattle-pated trick
of a young Cantab, cela ne tire à rien. You are therefore to be Francis Stanley,
with this passport.« This proposal appeared in effect to alleviate a great part
of the difficulties which Edward must otherwise have encountered at every turn;
and accordingly he scrupled not to avail himself of it, the more especially as
he had discarded all political purposes from his present journey, and could not
be accused of furthering machinations against the Government while travelling
under protection of the Secretary's passport.
    The day passed merrily away. The young student was inquisitive about
Waverley's campaigns, and the manners of the Highlands; and Edward was obliged
to satisfy his curiosity by whistling a pibroch, dancing a strathspey, and
singing a Highland song. The next morning Stanley rode a stage northward with
his new friend, and parted from him with great reluctance, upon the
remonstrances of Spontoon, who, accustomed to submit to discipline, was rigid in
enforcing it.
 

                              Chapter Sixty-Third.

                                  Desolation.

Waverley riding post, as was the usual fashion of the period, without any
adventure save one or two queries, which the talisman of his passport
sufficiently answered, reached the borders of Scotland.
