``But you forget, Mr.Macwheeble, we want the Baron's consent ---the lady's------''
``Never fear, I'se be caution for them---I'se gie you my personal warrandice---ten thousand a-year! it dings Balmawhapple out and out---a year's rent's worth a' Balmawhapple, fee and life-rent! Lord make us thankful!''
To turn the current of his feelings, Edward inquired if he had heard anything lately of the Chieftain of Glennaquoich?
``Not one word,'' answered Macwheeble, ``but that he was still in Carlisle Castle, and was soon to be panelled for his life.I dinna wish the young gentleman ill,'' he said, ``but Ihope that they that hae got him will keep him, and no let him back to this Hieland border to plague us wi' black-mail, and a' manner o' violent, wrongous, and masterfu' oppression and spoliation, both by himself and others of his causing, sending, and hounding out:---and he couldna tak care o' the siller when he had gotten it neither, but flung it a' into yon idle quean's lap at Edinburgh---but light come light gane.For my part, I never wish to see a kilt in the country again, nor a red-coat, nor a gun, for that matter, unless it were to shoot a paitrick: they're a' tarr'd wi' ae stick.And when they have done ye wrang, even when ye hae gotten decreet of spulzie, oppression, and violent profits against them, what better are ye?---they hae na a plack to pay ye; ye need never extract it.''
With such discourse, and the intervening topics of business, the time passed until dinner, Macwheeble meanwhile promising to devise some mode of introducing Edward at the Duchran, where Rose at present resided, without risk of danger or suspicion; which seemed no very easy task, since the laird was a very zealous friend to Government---The poultry-yard had been laid under requisition and cockyleeky and Scotch collops soon reeked in the Bailie's little parlour.The landlord's corkscrew was just introduded into the muzzle of a pint-bottle of claret (cribbed possibly from the cellars of Tully-Veolan), when the sight of the grey pony, passing the window at full trot, induced the Bailie, but with due precaution, to place it aside for the moment.Enter Jock Scriever with a packet for Mr.
Stanley: it is Colonel Talbot's seal; and Edward's fingers tremble as he undoes it.Two official papers, folded, signed, and sealed in all formality, drop out.They were hastily picked up by the Bailie, who had a natural respect for everything resembling a deed, and, glancing slyly on their titles, his eyes, or rather spectacles, are greeted with ``Protection by his Royal Highness to the person of Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, Esq.
of that ilk, commonly called Baron of Bradwardine, forfeited for his accession to the late rebellion.'' The other proves to be a protection of the same tenor in favour of Edward Waverley, Esq.Colonel Talbot's letter was in these words:---``=My Dear Edward,=