As to his behaviour, in addition to his natural antipathy to everything that resembles a gentleman, I presume his adventure with Bradwardine rankles in his recollection, the rather that Idaresay his mode of telling that story contributed to the evil reports which reached your quondam regiment.''
``Very likely,'' said Waverley; ``but now surely, my dear Fergus, you may find time to tell me something of Flora.''
``Why,'' replied Fergus, ``I can only tell you that she is well, and residing for the present with a relation in this city.
I thought it better she should come here, as since our success a good many ladies of rank attend our military court; and Iassure you, that there is a sort of consequence annexed to the near relative of such a person as Flora Mac-Ivor; and where there is such a justling of claims and requests, a man must use every fair means to enhance his importance.''
There was something in this last sentence which grated on Waverley's feelings.He could not bear that Flora should be considered as conducting to her brother's preferment, by the admiration which she must unquestionably attract; and although it was in strict correspondence with many points of Fergus's character, it shocked him as selfish, and unworthy of his sister's high mind, and his own independent pride.Fergus, to whom such man<oe>uvres were familiar, as to one brought up at the French court, did not observe the unfavourable impression which he had unwarily made upon his friend's mind, and concluded by saying, ``that they could hardly see Flora before the evening, when she would be at the concert and ball, with which the Prince's party were to be entertained.She and I had a quarrel about her not appearing to take leave of you.I am unwilling to renew it, by soliciting her to receive you this morning; and perhaps my doing so might not only be ineffectual, but prevent your meeting this evening.''
While thus conversing, Waverley heard in the court, before the windows of the parlour, a well-known voice.``I aver to you, my worthy friend,'' said the speaker, ``that it is a total dereliction of military discipline; and were you not as it were a _tyro,_ your purpose would deserve strong reprobation.For a prisoner of war is on no account to be coerced with fetters, or detained _in ergastulo,_ as would have been the case had you put this gentleman into the pit of the peel-house at Balmawhapple.
I grant, indeed, that such a prisoner may for security be coerced _in carcere,_ that is, in a public prison.''
The growling voice of Balmawhapple was heard as taking leave in displeasure, but the word ``land-louper,'' alone was distinctly audible.He had disappeared before Waverley reached the house, in order to greet the worthy Baron of Bradwardine.
The uniform in which he was now attired, a blue coat, namely, with gold lace, a scarlet waistcoat and breeches, and immense jack-boots, seemed to have added fresh stiffness and rigidity to his tall, perpendicular figure; and the consciousness of military command and authority had increased in the same proportion, the self-importance of his demeanour, and the dogmatism of his conversation.
He received Waverley with his usual kindness, and expressed immediate anxiety to hear an explanation of the circumstances attending the loss of his commission in Gardiner's dragoons ``not,'' he said, ``that he had the least apprehension of his young friend having done aught which could merit such ungenerous treatment as he had received from Government, but because it was right and seemly that the Baron of Bradwardine should be, in point of trust and in point of power, fully able to refute all calumnies against the heir of Waverley-Honour, whom he had so much right to regard as his own son.''
Fergus Mac-Ivor, who had now joined them, went hastily over the circumstances of Waverley's story, and concluded with the flattering reception he had met from the young Chevalier.