``All that is settled: your baggage is packed, my horses wait, and a boat has been engaged, by the Prince's permission, to put you on board the Fox frigate.I sent a messenger down to Leith on purpose.''
``That will do excellently well.Captain Beaver is my particular friend: he will put me ashore at Berwick or Shields, from whence I can ride post to London;---and you must entrust me with the packet of papers which you recovered by means of your Miss Bean Lean.I may have an opportunity of using them to your advantage---But I see your Highland friend, Glen------what do you call his barbarous name? and his orderly with him---I must not call him his orderly cut-throat any more, I suppose.See how he walks as if the world were his own, with the bonnet on one side of his head, and his plaid puffed out across his breast! I should like now to meet that youth where my hands were not tied: I would tame his pride, or he should tame mine.''
``For shame, Colonel Talbot! you swell at sight of tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet.You and Mac-Ivor have some points not much unlike, so far as national prejudice is concerned.''
The latter part of this discourse took place in the street.
They passed the Chief, the Colonel and he sternly and punctiliously greeting each other, like two duellists before they take their ground.It was evident the dislike was mutual.``Inever see that surly fellow that dogs his heels,'' said the Colonel, after he had mounted his horse, ``but he reminds me of lines Ihave somewhere heard---upon the stage, I think:
--------------- Close behind him Stalks sullen Bertram, like a sorcerer's fiend, Pressing to be employed.''
``I assure you, Colonel,'' said Waverley, ``that you judge too harshly of the Highlanders.''
``Not a whit, not a whit; I cannot spare them a jot---Icannot bate them an ace.Let them stay in their own barren mountains, and puff and swell, and hang their bonnets on the horns of the moon, if they have a mind: but what business have they to come where people wear breeches, and speak an intelligible language? I mean intelligible in comparison with their gibberish, for even the Lowlanders talk a kind of English little better than the negroes in Jamaica.I could pity the Pr------, I mean the Chevalier himself, for having so many desperadoes about him.And they learn their trade so early.
There is a kind of subaltern imp, for example, a sort of sucking devil, whom your friend Glenna---Glenamuck there, has sometimes in his train.To look at him he is about fifteen years;but he is a century old in mischief and villany.He was playing at quoits the other day in the court; a gentleman---a decent-looking person enough---came past, and as a quoit hit his shin, he lifted his cane: but my young bravo whips out his pistol, like Beau Clincher in the trip to the Jubilee, and had not a scream of _Gardez l'eau_ from an upper window set all parties a scampering for fear of the inevitable consequences, the poor gentleman would have lost his life by the hands of that little cockatrice.''
``A fine character you'll give of Scotland upon your return, Colonel Talbot.''
``O, Justice Shallow,'' said the Colonel, ``will save me the trouble---`Barren, barren---beggars all, beggars all.Marry, good air,'---and that only when you are fairly out of Edinburgh, and not yet come to Leith, as is our case at present.''
In a short time they arrived at the seaport:
The boat rocked at the pier of Leith, Full loud the wind blew down the ferry;The ship rode at the Berwick Law------
``Farewell, Colonel; may you find all as you would wish it!
Perhaps we may meet sooner than you expect: they talk of an immediate route to England.''
``Tell me nothing of that,'' said Talbot; ``I wish to carry no news of your motions.''
``Simply then, adieu.Say, with a thousand kind greetings, all that is dutiful and affectionate to Sir Everard and Aunt Rachel.Think of me as kindly as you can----speak of me as indulgently as your conscience will permit, and once more adieu.''
``And adieu, my dear Waverley!---many, many thanks for your kindness.Unplaid yourself on the first opportunity.Ishall ever think on you with gratitude, and the worst of my censure shall be, _Que diable alloit-il faire dans cette gal<e`>re?_''
And thus they parted, Colonel Talbot going on board of the boat, and Waverley returning to Edinburgh.