and was beloved
by Rose Bradwardine. Desirous to bind Waverley to his service, and wishing also
to do a kind and friendly action, the Prince next assailed the Baron on the
subject of settling his estate upon his daughter. Mr. Bradwardine acquiesced;
but the consequence was, that Fergus was immediately induced to prefer his
double suit for a wife and an earldom, which the prince rejected in the manner
we have seen. The Chevalier, constantly engaged in his own multiplied affairs,
had not hitherto sought any explanation with Waverley, though often meaning to
do so. But after Fergus's declaration, he saw the necessity of appearing neutral
between the rivals, devoutly hoping that the matter, which now seemed fraught
with the seeds of strife, might be permitted to lie over till the termination of
the expedition. When on the march to Derby, Fergus, being questioned concerning
his quarrel with Waverley, alleged as the cause, that Edward was desirous of
retracting the suit he made to his sister, the Chevalier plainly told him, that
he had himself observed Miss Mac-Ivor's behaviour to Waverley, and that he was
convinced that Fergus was under the influence of a mistake in judging of
Waverley's conduct, who, he had every reason to believe, was engaged to Miss
Bradwardine. The quarrel which ensued between Edward and the chieftain is, I
hope, still in the remembrance of the reader. These circumstances will serve to
explain such points of our narrative as, according to the custom of
story-tellers, we deemed it fit to leave unexplained, for the purpose of
exciting the reader's curiosity.
    When Janet had once finished the leading facts of this narrative, Waverley
was easily enabled to apply the clew which they afforded, to other mazes of the
labyrinth in which he had been engaged. To Rose Bradwardine, then, he owed the
life which he now thought he could willingly have laid down to serve her. A
little reflection convinced him, however, that to live for her sake was more
convenient and agreeable, and that, being possessed of independence, she might
share it with him either in foreign countries or in his own. The pleasure of
being allied to a man of the Baron's high worth, and who was so much valued by
his uncle Sir Everard, was also an agreeable consideration, had anything been
wanting to recommend the match. His absurdities, which had appeared grotesquely
ludicrous during his prosperity, seemed, in the sunset of his fortune, to be
harmonised and assimilated with the noble features of his character, so as to
add peculiarity without exciting