’Could you not detain him (being such a gentleman-like young man) here in your own house, out of harm’s way, till this storm blow over?’

‘My good friend,’ said Major Melville, ’neither your house nor mine will be long out of harm’s way, even were it legal to confine him here.  I have just learned that the commander-in-chief, who marched into the Highlands to seek out and disperse the insurgents, has declined giving them battle at Coryarrick, and marched on northward with all the disposable force of government to Inverness, John-o’-Groat’s House, or the devil, for what I know, leaving the road to the Low Country open and undefended to the Highland army.’

‘Good God!’ said the clergyman.  ’Is the man a coward, a traitor, or an idiot?’

‘None of the three, I believe,’ answered Melville.  ’Sir John has the commonplace courage of a common soldier, is honest enough, does what he is commanded, and understands what is told him, but is as fit to act for himself in circumstances of importance as I, my dear parson, to occupy your pulpit.’

This important public intelligence naturally diverted the discourse from Waverley for some time; at length, however, the subject was resumed.

‘I believe,’ said Major Melville, ’that I must give this young man in charge to some of the detached parties of armed volunteers who were lately sent out to overawe the disaffected districts.  They are now recalled towards Stirling, and a small body comes this way to-morrow or next day, commanded by the westland man—­what’s his name?  You saw him, and said he was the very model of one of Cromwell’s military saints.’

‘Gilfillan, the Cameronian,’ answered Mr. Morton.  ’I wish the young gentleman may be safe with him.  Strange things are done in the heat and hurry of minds in so agitating a crisis, and I fear Gilfillan is of a sect which has suffered persecution without learning mercy.’

‘He has only to lodge Mr. Waverley in Stirling Castle,’ said the Major; ’I will give strict injunctions to treat him well.  I really cannot devise any better mode for securing him, and I fancy you would hardly advise me to encounter the responsibility of setting him at liberty.’

’But you will have no objection to my seeing him tomorrow in private?’ said the minister.

’None, certainly; your loyalty and character are my warrant.  But with what view do you make the request?’

‘Simply,’ replied Mr. Morton, ’to make the experiment whether he may not be brought to communicate to me some circumstances which may hereafter be useful to alleviate, if not to exculpate, his conduct.’

The friends now parted and retired to rest, each filled with the most anxious reflections on the state of the country.

CHAPTER XXXIII

A CONFIDANT