A DISCOVERY--WAVERLEY BECOMES DOMESTICATED AT TULLY-VEOLAN
The next day Edward arose betimes, and in a morning walk around
the house and its vicinity came suddenly upon a small court in
front of the dog-kennel, where his friend Davie was employed about
his four-footed charge. One quick glance of his eye recognised
Waverley, when, instantly turning his back, as if he had not
observed him, he began to sing part of an old ballad:--
Young men will love thee more fair and more fast;
Heard ye so merry the little bird sing?
Old men's love the longest will last,
And the throstle-cock's head is under his wing.
The young man's wrath is like light straw on fire;
Heard ye so merry the little bird sing?
But like red-hot steel is the old man's ire,
And the throstle-cock's head is under his wing.
The young man will brawl at the evening board;
Heard ye so merry the little bird sing?
But the old man will draw at the dawning the sword,
And the throstle-cock's head is under his wing.
Waverley could not avoid observing that Davie laid something like
a satirical emphasis on these lines. He therefore approached, and
endeavoured, by sundry queries, to elicit from him what the
innuendo might mean; but Davie had no mind to explain, and had wit
enough to make his folly cloak his knavery. Edward could collect
nothing from him, excepting that the Laird of Balmawhapple had
gone home yesterday morning 'wi' his boots fu' o' bluid.' In the
garden, however, he met the old butler, who no longer attempted to
conceal that, having been bred in the nursery line with Sumack and
Co. of Newcastle, he sometimes wrought a turn in the flower-
borders to oblige the Laird and Miss Rose. By a series of queries,
Edward at length discovered, with a painful feeling of surprise
and shame, that Balmawhapple's submission and apology had been the
consequence of a rencontre with the Baron before his guest had
quitted his pillow, in which the younger combatant had been
disarmed and wounded in the sword arm.
Greatly mortified at this information, Edward sought out his
friendly host, and anxiously expostulated with him upon the
injustice he had done him in anticipating his meeting with Mr.
Falconer, a circumstance which, considering his youth and the
profession of arms which he had just adopted, was capable of being
represented much to his prejudice. The Baron justified himself at
greater length than I choose to repeat. He urged that the quarrel
was common to them, and that Balmawhapple could not, by the code
of honour, evite giving satisfaction to both, which he had done in
his case by an honourable meeting, and in that of Edward by such a
palinode as rendered the use of the sword unnecessary, and which,
being made and accepted, must necessarily sopite the whole affair.
With this excuse, or explanation, Waverley was silenced, if not
satisfied; but he could not help testifying some displeasure
against the Blessed Bear, which had given rise to the quarrel, nor
refrain from hinting that the sanctified epithet was hardly
appropriate. The Baron observed, he could not deny that 'the Bear,
though allowed by heralds as a most honourable ordinary, had,
nevertheless, somewhat fierce, churlish, and morose in his
disposition (as might be read in Archibald Simson, pastor of
Dalkeith's 'Hieroglyphica Animalium') and had thus been the type
of many quarrels and dissensions which had occurred in the house
of Bradwardine; of which,' he continued, 'I might commemorate mine
own unfortunate dissension with my third cousin by the mother's
side, Sir Hew Halbert, who was so unthinking as to deride my
family name, as if it had been QUASI BEAR-WARDEN; a most uncivil
jest, since it not only insinuated that the founder of our house
occupied such a mean situation as to be a custodier of wild
beasts, a charge which, ye must have observed, is only entrusted
to the very basest plebeians; but, moreover, seemed to infer that
our coat-armour had not been achieved by honourable actions in
war, but bestowed by way of paranomasia, or pun, upon our family
appellation,--a sort of bearing which the French call armoires
parlantes, the Latins arma cantantia, and your English authorities
canting heraldry, [Footnote: See Note 12] being indeed a species of
emblazoning more befitting canters, gaberlunzies, and such like
mendicants, whose gibberish is formed upon playing upon the word,
than the noble, honourable, and useful science of heraldry, which
assigns armorial bearings as the reward of noble and generous
actions, and not to tickle the ear with vain quodlibets, such as
are found in jestbooks.' Of his quarrel with Sir Hew he said
nothing more than that it was settled in a fitting manner.
Having been so minute with respect to the diversions of Tully-
Veolan on the first days of Edward's arrival, for the purpose of
introducing its inmates to the reader's acquaintance, it becomes
less necessary to trace the progress of his intercourse with the
same accuracy. It is probable that a young man, accustomed to more
cheerful society, would have tired of the conversation of so
violent an assertor of the 'boast of heraldry' as the Baron; but
Edward found an agreeable variety in that of Miss Bradwardine, who
listened with eagerness to his remarks upon literature, and showed
great justness of taste in her answers. The sweetness of her
disposition had made her submit with complacency, and even
pleasure, to the course of reading prescribed by her father,
although it not only comprehended several heavy folios of history,
but certain gigantic tomes in high-church polemics. In heraldry he
was fortunately contented to give her only such a slight tincture
as might be acquired by perusal of the two folio volumes of
Nisbet. Rose was indeed the very apple of her father's eye. Her
constant liveliness, her attention to all those little observances
most gratifying to those who would never think of exacting them,
her beauty, in which he recalled the features of his beloved wife,
her unfeigned piety, and the noble generosity of her disposition,
would have justified the affection of the most doting father.
His anxiety on her behalf did not, however, seem to extend itself
in that quarter where, according to the general opinion, it is
most efficiently displayed, in labouring, namely, to establish her
in life, either by a large dowry or a wealthy marriage. By an old
settlement, almost all the landed estates of the Baron went, after
his death, to a distant relation; and it was supposed that Miss
Bradwardine would remain but slenderly provided for, as the good
gentleman's cash matters had been too long under the exclusive
charge of Bailie Macwheeble to admit of any great expectations
from his personal succession. It is true, the said Bailie loved
his patron and his patron's daughter next (though at an
incomparable distance) to himself. He thought it was possible to
set aside the settlement on the male line, and had actually
procured an opinion to that effect (and, as he boasted, without a
fee) from an eminent Scottish counsel, under whose notice he
contrived to bring the point while consulting him regularly on
some other business. But the Baron would not listen to such a
proposal for an instant. On the contrary, he used to have a
perverse pleasure in boasting that the barony of Bradwardine was a
male fief, the first charter having been given at that early
period when women were not deemed capable to hold a feudal grant;
because, according to Les coustusmes de Normandie, c'est l'homme
ki se bast et ki conseille; or, as is yet more ungallantly
expressed by other authorities, all of whose barbarous names he
delighted to quote at full length, because a woman could not serve
the superior, or feudal lord, in war, on account of the decorum of
her sex, nor assist him with advice, because of her limited
intellect, nor keep his counsel, owing to the infirmity of her
disposition. He would triumphantly ask, how it would become a
female, and that female a Bradwardine, to be seen employed in
servitio exuendi, seu detrahendi, caligas regis post battaliam?
that is, in pulling off the king's boots after an engagement,
which was the feudal service by which he held the barony of
Bradwardine. 'No,' he said, 'beyond hesitation, procul dubio, many
females, as worthy as Rose, had been excluded, in order to make
way for my own succession, and Heaven forbid that I should do
aught that might contravene the destination of my forefathers, or
impinge upon the right of my kinsman, Malcolm Bradwardine of
Inchgrabbit, an honourable, though decayed branch of my own
family.'
The Bailie, as prime minister, having received this decisive
communication from his sovereign, durst not press his own opinion
any farther, but contented himself with deploring, on all suitable
occasions, to Saunderson, the minister of the interior, the
laird's self-willedness, and with laying plans for uniting Rose
with the young Laird of Balmawhapple, who had a fine estate, only
moderately burdened, and was a faultless young gentleman, being as
sober as a saint--if you keep brandy from him and him from brandy
--and who, in brief, had no imperfection but that of keeping light
company at a time; such as Jinker, the horse-couper, and Gibby
Gaethroughwi't, the piper o' Cupar; 'o' whilk follies, Mr.
Saunderson, he'll mend, he'll mend,' pronounced the Bailie.
'Like sour ale in simmer,' added Davie Gellatley, who happened to
be nearer the conclave than they were aware of.
Miss Bradwardine, such as we have described her, with all the
simplicity and curiosity of a recluse, attached herself to the
opportunities of increasing her store of literature which Edward's
visit afforded her. He sent for some of his books from his
quarters, and they opened to her sources of delight of which she
had hitherto had no idea. The best English poets, of every
description, and other works on belles-lettres, made a part of
this precious cargo. Her music, even her flowers, were neglected,
and Saunders not only mourned over, but began to mutiny against,
the labour for which he now scarce received thanks. These new
pleasures became gradually enhanced by sharing them with one of a
kindred taste. Edward's readiness to comment, to recite, to
explain difficult passages, rendered his assistance invaluable;
and the wild romance of his spirit delighted a character too young
and inexperienced to observe its deficiencies. Upon subjects which
interested him, and when quite at ease, he possessed that flow of
natural, and somewhat florid eloquence, which has been supposed as
powerful even as figure, fashion, fame, or fortune, in winning the
female heart. There was, therefore, an increasing danger in this
constant intercourse to poor Rose's peace of mind, which was the
more imminent as her father was greatly too much abstracted in his
studies, and wrapped up in his own dignity, to dream of his
daughter's incurring it. The daughters of the house of Bradwardine
were, in his opinion, like those of the house of Bourbon or
Austria, placed high above the clouds of passion which might
obfuscate the intellects of meaner females; they moved in another
sphere, were governed by other feelings, and amenable to other
rules than those of idle and fantastic affection. In short, he
shut his eyes so resolutely to the natural consequences of
Edward's intimacy with Miss Bradwardine, that the whole
neighbourhood concluded that he had opened them to the advantages
of a match between his daughter and the wealthy young Englishman,
and pronounced him much less a fool than he had generally shown
himself in cases where his own interest was concerned.
If the Baron, however, had really meditated such an alliance, the
indifference of Waverley would have been an insuperable bar to his
project. Our hero, since mixing more freely with the world, had
learned to think with great shame and confusion upon his mental
legend of Saint Cecilia, and the vexation of these reflections was
likely, for some time at least, to counterbalance the natural
susceptibility of his disposition. Besides, Rose Bradwardine,
beautiful and amiable as we have described her, had not precisely
the sort of beauty or merit which captivates a romantic
imagination in early youth. She was too frank, too confiding, too
kind; amiable qualities, undoubtedly, but destructive of the
marvellous, with which a youth of imagination delights to dress
the empress of his affections. Was it possible to bow, to tremble,
and to adore, before the timid, yet playful little girl, who now
asked Edward to mend her pen, now to construe a stanza in Tasso,
and now how to spell a very--very long word in her version of it?
All these incidents have their fascination on the mind at a
certain period of life, but not when a youth is entering it, and
rather looking out for some object whose affection may dignify him
in his own eyes than stooping to one who looks up to him for such
distinction. Hence, though there can be no rule in so capricious a
passion, early love is frequently ambitious in choosing its
object; or, which comes to the same, selects her (as in the case
of Saint Cecilia aforesaid) from a situation that gives fair scope
for le beau ideal, which the reality of intimate and familiar life
rather tends to limit and impair. I knew a very accomplished and
sensible young man cured of a violent passion for a pretty woman,
whose talents were not equal to her face and figure, by being
permitted to bear her company for a whole afternoon. Thus, it is
certain, that had Edward enjoyed such an opportunity of conversing
with Miss Stubbs, Aunt Rachel's precaution would have been
unnecessary, for he would as soon have fallen in love with the
dairy-maid. And although Miss Bradwardine was a very different
character, it seems probable that the very intimacy of their
intercourse prevented his feeling for her other sentiments than
those of a brother for an amiable and accomplished sister; while
the sentiments of poor Rose were gradually, and without her being
conscious, assuming a shade of warmer affection.
I ought to have said that Edward, when he sent to Dundee for the
books before mentioned, had applied for, and received permission,
extending his leave of absence. But the letter of his commanding
officer contained a friendly recommendation to him not to spend
his time exclusively with persons who, estimable as they might be
in a general sense, could not be supposed well affected to a
government which they declined to acknowledge by taking the oath
of allegiance. The letter further insinuated, though with great
delicacy, that although some family connections might be supposed
to render it necessary for Captain Waverley to communicate with
gentlemen who were in this unpleasant state of suspicion, yet his
father's situation and wishes ought to prevent his prolonging
those attentions into exclusive intimacy. And it was intimated,
that, while his political principles were endangered by
communicating with laymen of this description, he might also
receive erroneous impressions in religion from the prelatic
clergy, who so perversely laboured to set up the royal prerogative
in things sacred.
This last insinuation probably induced Waverley to set both down
to the prejudices of his commanding officer. He was sensible that
Mr. Bradwardine had acted with the most scrupulous delicacy, in
never entering upon any discussion that had the most remote
tendency to bias his mind in political opinions, although he was
himself not only a decided partisan of the exiled family, but had
been trusted at different times with important commissions for
their service. Sensible, therefore, that there was no risk of his
being perverted from his allegiance, Edward felt as if he should
do his uncle's old friend injustice in removing from a house where
he gave and received pleasure and amusement, merely to gratify a
prejudiced and ill-judged suspicion. He therefore wrote a very
general answer, assuring his commanding officer that his loyalty
was not in the most distant danger of contamination, and continued
an honoured guest and inmate of the house of Tully-Veolan.