his ears would never recover it.  Mac-Ivor, indeed, apologized for the confusion occasioned by so large a party, and pleaded the necessity of his situation, on which unlimited hospitality was imposed as a paramount duty.  ‘These stout idle kinsmen of mine,’ he said, ’account my estate as held in trust for their support; and I must find them beef and ale, while the rogues will do nothing for themselves but practise the broadsword, or wander about the hills, shooting, fishing, hunting, drinking, and making love to the lasses of the strath.  But what can I do, Captain Waverley? everything will keep after its kind, whether it be a hawk or a Highlander.’  Edward made the expected answer, in a compliment upon his possessing so many bold and attached followers.

‘Why, yes,’ replied the Chief,’ were I disposed, like my father, to put myself in the way of getting one blow on the head, or two on the neck, I believe the loons would stand by me.  But who thinks of that in the present day, when the maxim is,—­“Better an old woman with a purse in her hand, than three men with belted brands?"’ Then, turning to the company, he proposed the ’Health of Captain Waverley, a worthy friend of his kind neighbour and ally, the Baron of Bradwardine.’

‘He is welcome hither,’ said one of the elders, ’if he come from Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine.’

‘I say nay to that,’ said an old man, who apparently did not mean to pledge the toast:  ’I say nay to that;—­while there is a green leaf in the forest, there will be fraud in a Comyne.’

‘There is nothing but honour in the Baron of Bradwardine,’ answered another ancient; ’and the guest that comes hither from him should be welcome, though he came with blood on his hand, unless it were blood of the race of Ivor.’

The old man, whose cup remained full, replied, ’There has been blood enough of the race of Ivor on the hand of Bradwardine.’

‘Ah!  Ballenkeiroch,’ replied the first, ’you think rather of the flash of the carbine at the Mains of Tully-Veolan, than the glance of the sword that fought for the cause at Preston.’

‘And well I may,’ answered Ballenkeiroch; ’the flash of the gun cost me a fair-haired son, and the glance of the sword has done but little for King James.’

The Chieftain, in two words of French, explained to Waverley, that the Baron had shot this old man’s son in a fray near Tully-Veolan about seven years before; and then hastened to remove Ballenkeiroch’s prejudice, by informing him that Waverley was an Englishman, unconnected by birth or alliance with the family of Bradwardine; upon which the old gentleman raised the hitherto-untasted cup, and courteously drank to his health.  This ceremony being requited in kind, the Chieftain made a signal for the pipes to cease, and said aloud, ’Where is the song hidden, my friends, that Mac-Murrough cannot find it?’