 they were the natural effects of a retired
education, the sacrifice might have been completed, as doubtless has happened in
many similar instances, had it not been for the courage of an elder sister, who
revealed to the wealthy suitor that Lady Emily's affections were fixed upon a
young soldier of fortune, a near relation of her own. Sir Everard manifested
great emotion on receiving this intelligence, which was confirmed to him, in a
private interview, by the young lady herself, although under the most dreadful
apprehensions of her father's indignation.
    Honour and generosity were hereditary attributes of the house of Waverley.
With a grace and delicacy worthy the hero of a romance, Sir Everard withdrew his
claim to the hand of Lady Emily. He had even, before leaving Blandeville Castle,
the address to extort from her father a consent to her union with the object of
her choice. What arguments he used on this point cannot exactly be known, for
Sir Everard was never supposed strong in the powers of persuasion; but the young
officer, immediately after this transaction, rose in the army with a rapidity
far surpassing the usual pace of unpatronized professional merit, although, to
outward appearance, that was all he had to depend upon.
    The shock which Sir Everard encountered upon this occasion, although
diminished by the consciousness of having acted virtuously and generously, had
its effect upon his future life. His resolution of marriage had been adopted in
a fit of indignation; the labour of courtship did not quite suit the dignified
indolence of his habits; he had but just escaped the risk of marrying a woman
who could never love him; and his pride could not be greatly flattered by the
termination of his amour, even if his heart had not suffered. The result of the
whole matter was his return to Waverley-Honour without any transfer of his
affections, notwithstanding the sighs and languishments of the fair tell-tale,
who had revealed, in mere sisterly affection, the secret of Lady Emily's
attachment, and in despite of the nods, winks, and inuendoes of the officious
lady mother, and the grave eulogiums which the Earl pronounced successively on
the prudence, and good sense, and admirable dispositions, of his first, second,
third, fourth, and fifth daughters. The memory of his unsuccessful amour was
with Sir Everard, as with many more of his temper, at once shy, proud,
sensitive, and indolent, a beacon against exposing himself to similar
mortification, pain, and fruitless exertion for the time to come. He continued
to live at Waverley-Honour in the style of an
