And such a catastrophe of the most gentle creature on earth might have been prevented, if Mr. Edward Waverley had had his eyes!  Upon my word, I cannot understand how I thought Flora so much—­that is, so very much—­handsomer than Rose.  She is taller, indeed, and her manner more formed; but many people think Miss Bradwardine’s more natural; and she is certainly much younger.  I should think Flora is two years older than I am—­I will look at them particularly this evening.’

And with this resolution Waverley went to drink tea (as the fashion was Sixty Years since) at the house of a lady of quality attached to the cause of the Chevalier, where he found, as he expected, both the ladies.  All rose as he entered, but Flora immediately resumed her place, and the conversation in which she was engaged.  Rose, on the contrary, almost imperceptibly, made a little way in the crowded circle for his advancing the corner of a chair.  ‘Her manner, upon the whole, is most engaging,’ said Waverley to himself.

A dispute occurred whether the Gaelic or Italian language was most liquid, and best adapted for poetry; the opinion for the Gaelic, which probably might not have found supporters elsewhere, was here fiercely defended by seven Highland ladies, who talked at the top of their lungs, and screamed the company deaf, with examples of Celtic EUPHONIA.  Flora, observing the Lowland ladies sneer at the comparison, produced some reasons to show that it was not altogether so absurd; but Rose, when asked for her opinion, gave it with animation in praise of Italian, which she had studied with Waverley’s assistance.  ’She has a more correct ear than Flora, though a less accomplished musician,’ said Waverley to himself.  ’I suppose Miss Mac-Ivor will next compare Mac-Murrough nan Fonn to Ariosto!’

Lastly, it so befell that the company differed whether Fergus should be asked to perform on the flute, at which he was an adept, or Waverley invited to read a play of Shakespeare; and the lady of the house good-humouredly undertook to collect the votes of the company for poetry or music, under the condition, that the gentleman whose talents were not laid under contribution that evening, should contribute them to enliven the next.  It chanced that Rose had the casting vote.  Now Flora, who seemed to impose it as a rule upon herself never to countenance any proposal which might seem to encourage Waverley, had voted for music, providing the Baron would take his violin to accompany Fergus.  ’I wish you joy of your taste, Miss Mac-Ivor,’ thought Edward, as they sought for his book.  ’I thought it better when we were at Glennaquoich; but certainly the Baron is no great performer, and Shakespeare is worth listening to.’

Romeo and Juliet was selected, and Edward read with taste, feeling, and spirit, several scenes from that play.  All the company applauded with their hands, and many with their tears.  Flora, to whom the drama was well known, was among the former; Rose, to whom it was altogether new, belonged to the latter class of admirers.  ‘She has more feeling, too,’ said Waverley, internally.