of a high-born Highland beggar?«
    »My uncle's situation,« said Waverley, »his general opinions, and his
uniform indulgence, entitle me to say, that birth and personal qualities are all
he would look to in such a connexion. And where can I find both united in such
excellence as in your sister?«
    »O nowhere! - cela va sans dire,« replied Fergus with a smile. »But your
father will expect a father's prerogative in being consulted.«
    »Surely; but his late breach with the ruling powers removes all apprehension
of objection on his part, especially as I am convinced that my uncle will be
warm in my cause.«
    »Religion, perhaps,« said Fergus, »may make obstacles, though we are not
bigoted Catholics.«
    »My grandmother was of the Church of Rome, and her religion was never
objected to by my family. - Do not think of my friends, dear Fergus; let me
rather have your influence where it may be more necessary to remove obstacles -
I mean with your lovely sister.«
    »My lovely sister,« replied Fergus, »like her loving brother, is very apt to
have a pretty decisive will of her own, by which, in this case, you must be
ruled; but you shall not want my interest nor my counsel. And, in the first
place, I will give you one hint -Loyalty is her ruling passion; and since she
could spell an English book, she has been in love with the memory of the gallant
Captain Wogan, who renounced the service of the usurper Cromwell to join the
standard of Charles II., marched a handful of cavalry from London to the
Highlands to join Middleton, then in arms for the king, and at length died
gloriously in the royal cause. Ask her to show you some verses she made on his
history and fate; they have been much admired, I assure you. The next point is
-- I think I saw Flora go up towards the waterfall a short time since - follow,
man, follow! don't allow the garrison time to strengthen its purposes of
resistance - Alerte à la muraille! Seek Flora out, and learn her decision as
soon as you can - and Cupid go with you, while I go to look over belts and
cartouch-boxes.«
    Waverley ascended the glen with an anxious and throbbing heart. Love, with
all its romantic train of hopes, fears, and wishes, was mingled with other
feelings of a nature less easily defined. He could