``And if,'' said Waverley, modestly, ``there were a situation in life which would put Miss Bradwardine beyond the uncertainty of fortune, and in the rank to which she was born, would you object to it, my dear Baron, because it would make one of your friends the happiest man in the world?'' The Baron turned, and looked at him with great earnestness.``Yes,'' continued Edward, ``I shall not consider my sentence of banishment as repealed, unless you will give me permission to accompany you to the Duchran, and''------The Baron seemed collecting all his dignity to make a suitable reply to what, at another time, he would have treated as the propounding a treaty of alliance between the houses of Bradwardine and Waverley.But his efforts were in vain; the father was too mighty for the Baron; the pride of birth and rank were swept away: in the joyful surprise, a slight convulsion passed rapidly over his features, as he gave way to the feelings of nature, threw his arms around Waverley's neck, and sobbed out,---``My son! my son!--if I had been to search the world, Iwould have made my choice here.'' Edward returned the embrace with great sympathy of feeling, and for a little while they both kept silence.At length it was broken by Edward.
``But Miss Bradwardine?''
``She had never a will but her old father's; besides, you are a likely youth, of honest principles, and high birth; no, she never had any other will than mine, and in my proudest days I could not have wished a mair eligible espousal for her than the nephew of my excellent old friend, Sir Everard---But Ihope, young man, ye deal na rashly in this matter? I hope ye hae secured the approbation of your ain friends and allies, particularly of your uncle, who is _in loco parentis?_ Ah! we maun tak heed o' that.'' Edward assured him that Sir Everard would think himself highly honoured in the flattering reception his proposal had met with, and that it had his entire approbation;in evidence of which, he put Colonel Talbot's letter into the Baron's hand.The Baron read it with great attention.
``Sir Everard,'' he said, ``always despised wealth in comparison of honour and birth; and indeed he had no occasion to court the _Diva Pecunia._ Yet I now wish, since this Malcolm turns out such a parricide, for I can call him no better, as to think of alienating the family inheritance---I now wish (his eyes fixed on a part of the roof which was visible above the trees) that I could have left Rose the auld hurley-house, and the riggs belonging to it.---And yet,'' said he, resuming more cheerfully, ``it's maybe as weel as it is; for, as Baron of Bradwardine, Imight have thought it my duty to insist upon certain compliances respecting name and bearings, whilk now, as a landless laird wi' a tocherless daughter, no one can blame me for departing from.''
``Now, Heaven be praised!'' thought Edward, ``that Sir Everard does not hear these scruples!---the three ermines passant and rampant bear would certainly have gone together by the ears.'' He then, with all the ardour of a young lover, assured the Baron, that he sought for his happiness only in Rose's heart and hand, and thought himself as happy in her father's simple approbation, as if he had settled an earldom upon his daughter.
They now reached Little Veolan.The goose was smoking on the table, and the Bailie brandished his knife and fork.Ajoyous greeting took place between him and his patron.The kitchen, too, had its company.Auld Janet was established at the ingle-nook; Davie had turned the spit to his immortal honour; and even Ban and Buscar, in the liberality of Macwheeble's joy, had been stuffed to the throat with food, and now lay snoring on the floor.
The next day conducted the Baron and his young friend to the Duchran, where the former was expected, in consequence of the success of the nearly unanimous application of the Scottish friends of Government in his favour.This had been so general and so powerful that it was almost thought his estate might have been saved, had it not passed into the rapacious hands of his unworthy kinsman, whose right, arising out of the Baron's attainder, could not be affected by a pardon from the crown.
The old gentleman, however, said, with his usual spirit, he was more gratified by the hold he possessed in the good opinion of his neighbours than he would have been in being ``rehabilitated and restored _in integrum,_ had it been found practicable.''
