``And what becomes of the homage?''
``Curse the homage!---I believe Rose is to pull of the queen's slipper on her coronation-day, or some such trash.Well, sir, as Rose Bradwardine would always have made a suitable match for me, but for this idiotical predilection of her father for the heir-male, it occurred to me there now remained no obstacle, unless that the Baron might expect his daughter's husband to take the name of Bradwardine (which you know would be impossible in my case), and that this might be evaded by my assuming the title to which I had so good a right, and which, of course, would supersede that difficulty.If she was to be also Viscountess Bradwardine in her own right, after her father's demise, so much the better; I could have no objection.''
``But, Fergus,'' said Waverley, ``I had no idea that you had any affection for Miss Bradwardine, and you are always sneering at her father.''
``I have as much affection for Miss Bradwardine, my good friend, as I think it necessary to have for the future mistress of my family, and the mother of my children.She is a very pretty, intelligent girl, and is certainly of one of the very first Lowland families; and, with a little of Flora's instructions and forming, will make a very good figure.As to her father, he is an original, it is true, and an absurd one enough; but he has given such severe lessons to Sir New Halbert, that dear defunct the Laird of Balmawhapple, and others, that nobody dare laugh at him, so his absurdity goes for nothing.I tell you there could have been no earthly objection---none.I had settled the thing entirely in my own mind.''
``But had you asked the Baron's consent,'' said Waverley, ``or Rose's?''
``To what purpose? To have spoke to the Baron before Ihad assumed my title would have only provoked a premature and irritating discussion on the subject of the change of name, when, as Earl of Glennaquoich, I had only to propose to him to carry his d---d bear and bootjack _party per pale,_ or in a scutcheon of pretence, or in a separate shield perhaps---any way that wou1d not blemish my own coat-of-arms.And as to Rose, I don't see what objection she could have made, if her father was satisfied.''
``Perhaps the same that your sister makes to me, you being satisfied.''
Fergus gave a broad stare at the comparison which this supposition implied, but cautiously suppressed the answer which rose to his tongue.``O, we should easily have arranged all that.---So, sir, I craved a private interview, and this morning was assigned; and I asked you to meet me here, thinking, like a fool, that I should want your countenance as bride's-man.
Well---I state my pretensions---they are not denied; the promises so repeatedly made, and the patent granted---they are acknowledged.But I propose, as a natural consequence, to assume the rank which the patent bestowed---I have the old story of the jealousy of C------ and M------ trumped up against me---I resist this pretext, and offer to procure their written acquiescence, in virtue of the date of my patent as prior to their silly claims---I assure you I would have had such a consent from them, if it had been at the point of the sword.And then, out comes the red truth; and he dares to tell me, to my face, that my patent must be suppressed for the present, for fear of disgusting that rascally coward and _faineant_---(naming the rival chief of his own clan)---who has no better title to be a chieftain, than I to be Emperor of China; and who is pleased to shelter his dastardly reluctance to come out, agreeable to his promise twenty times pledged, under a pretended jealousy of the Prince's partiality to me.And, to leave this miserable driveller without a pretence for his cowardice, the Prince asks it as a personal favour of me, forsooth, not to press my just and reasonable request at this moment.After this, put your faith in princes!''
``And did your audience end here?''
``End? O no! I was determined to leave him no pretence for his ingratitude, and I therefore stated, with all the composure I could muster,---for I promise you I trembled with passion, ---the particular reasons I had for wishing that his Royal Highness would impose upon me any other mode of exhibiting my duty and devotion, as my views in life made, what at any other time would have been a mere trifle, at this crisis a severe sacrifice; and then I explained to him my full plan.''
``And what did the Prince answer?''
``Answer? why---it is well it is written, Curse not the king;no, not in thy thought!---why, he answered, that truly he was glad I had made him my confidant, to prevent more grievous disappointment, for he could assure me, upon the word of a prince, that Miss Bradwardine's affections were engaged, and he was under a particular promise to favour them.`So, my dear Fergus,' said he, with his most gracious cut of smile, `as the marriage is utterly out of question, there need be no hurry.
you know, about the earldom.' And so he glided off, and left me _plant<e'> l<a`>._''
``And what did you do?''
``I'll tell you what I _could_ have done at that moment---sold myself to the devil or the Elector, whichever offered the dearest revenge.However, I am now cool.I know he intends to marry her to some of his rascally Frenchmen, or his Irish officers: but I will watch them close; and let the man that would supplant me look well to himself---_Bisogna coprirsi, Signor._''
After some further conversation, unnecessary to be detailed, Waverley took leave of the Chieftain, whose fury had now subsided into a deep and strong desire of vengeance, and returned home, scarce able to analyze the mixture of feelings which the narrative had awakened in his own bosom.