‘I wish you would command her to accept mine en attendant,’ said Fergus, laughing.

I don’t know by what caprice it was that this wish, however jocularly expressed, rather jarred on Edward’s feelings, notwithstanding his growing inclination to Flora, and his indifference to Miss Bradwardine.  This is one of the inexplicabilities of human nature, which we leave without comment.

‘Yours, brother?’ answered Flora, regarding him steadily.  ’No; you have another bride—­Honour; and the dangers you must run in pursuit of her rival would break poor Rose’s heart.’

With this discourse they reached the castle, and Waverley soon prepared his dispatches for Tully-Veolan.  As he knew the Baron was punctilious in such matters, he was about to impress his billet with a seal on which his armorial bearings were engraved, but he did not find it at his watch, and thought he must have left it at Tully-Veolan.  He mentioned his loss, borrowing at the same time the family seal of the Chieftain.

‘Surely,’ said Miss Mac-Ivor, ‘Donald Bean Lean would not—­’

‘My life for him, in such circumstances,’ answered her brother;—­’besides, he would never have left the watch behind.’

‘After all, Fergus,’ said Flora,’ and with every allowance, I am surprised you can countenance that man.’

’I countenance him!—­This kind sister of mine would persuade you, Captain Waverley, that I take what the people of old used to call “a steakraid,” that is, a “collop of the foray,” or, in plainer words, a portion of the robber’s booty, paid by him to the Laird, or Chief, through whose grounds he drove his prey.  Oh, it is certain, that unless I can find some way to charm Flora’s tongue, General Blakeney will send a sergeant’s party from Stirling (this he said with haughty and emphatic irony) to seize Vich Ian Vohr, as they nickname me, in his own castle.’

’Now, Fergus, must not our guest be sensible that all this is folly and affectation?  You have men enough to serve you without enlisting a banditti, and your own honour is above taint.—­Why don’t you send this Donald Bean Lean, whom I hate for his smoothness and duplicity, even more than for his rapine, out of your country at once?  No cause should induce me to tolerate such a character.’

‘No cause, Flora?’ said the Chieftain, significantly.

’No cause, Fergus! not even that which is nearest to my heart.  Spare it the omen of such evil supporters!’

‘Oh, but, sister,’ rejoined the Chief, gaily, ’you don’t consider my respect for la Belle passion.  Evan Dhu Maccombich is in love with Donald’s daughter, Alice, and you cannot expect me to disturb him in his amours.  Why, the whole clan would cry shame on me.  You know it is one of their wise sayings, that a kinsman is part of a man’s body, but a foster-brother is a piece of his heart.’

’Well, Fergus, there is no disputing with you; but I would all this may end well.’