and when her mind had admitted that joyful news, it was equally hard to make her believe that he was not to enter again upon possession of his estate.  ‘It behoved to be,’ she said, ’he wad get it back again; naebody wad be sae gripple as to tak his gear after they had gi’en him a pardon:  and for that Inch-Grabbit, I could whiles wish mysell a witch for his sake, if I werena feared the Enemy wad tak me at my word.’  Waverley then gave her some money, and promised that her fidelity should be rewarded.  ’How can I be rewarded, sir, sae weel as just to see my auld maister and Miss Rose come back and bruik their ain?’

Waverley now took leave of Janet, and soon stood beneath the Baron’s Patmos.  At a low whistle he observed the veteran peeping out to reconnoitre, like an old badger with his head out of his hole.  ‘Ye hae come rather early, my good lad,’ said he, descending; ’I question if the red-coats hae beat the tattoo yet, and we’re not safe till then.’

‘Good news cannot be told too soon,’ said Waverley; and with infinite joy communicated to him the happy tidings.  The old man stood for a moment in silent devotion, then exclaimed, ’Praise be to God!  I shall see my bairn again.’

‘And never, I hope, to part with her more,’ said Waverley.

’I trust in God not, unless it be to win the means of supporting her; for my things are but in a bruckle state;—­but what signifies warld’s gear?’

‘And if,’ said Waverley modestly, ’there were a situation in life which would put Miss Bradwardine beyond the uncertainty of fortune, and in the rank to which she was born, would you object to it, my dear Baron, because it would make one of your friends the happiest man in the world?’ The Baron turned and looked at him with great earnestness.  ‘Yes,’ continued Edward, ’I shall not consider my sentence of banishment as repealed unless you will give me permission to accompany you to the Duchran, and—­’

The Baron seemed collecting all his dignity to make a suitable reply to what, at another time, he would have treated as the propounding a treaty of alliance between the houses of Bradwardine and Waverley.  But his efforts were in vain; the father was too mighty for the Baron; the pride of birth and rank were swept away; in the joyful surprise a slight convulsion passed rapidly over his features, as he gave way to the feelings of nature, threw his arms around Waverley’s neck, and sobbed out—­’My son, my son! if I had been to search the world, I would have made my choice here.’  Edward returned the embrace with great sympathy of feeling, and for a little while they both kept silence.  At length it was broken by Edward.  ‘But Miss Bradwardine?’