‘Well,’ said Colonel Talbot, smiling, ’leave me my thoughts and hopes at least at liberty, if not my speech.  But have you never examined your mysterious packet?’

‘It is in my baggage,’ replied Edward; ’we shall find it in Edinburgh.’

In Edinburgh they soon arrived.  Waverley’s quarters had been assigned to him, by the Prince’s express orders, in a handsome lodging, where there was accommodation for Colonel Talbot.  His first business was to examine his portmanteau, and, after a very short search, out tumbled the expected packet.  Waverley opened it eagerly.  Under a blank cover, simply addressed to E. Waverley, Esq., he found a number of open letters.  The uppermost were two from Colonel Gardiner addressed to himself.  The earliest in date was a kind and gentle remonstrance for neglect of the writer’s advice respecting the disposal of his time during his leave of absence, the renewal of which, he reminded Captain Waverley, would speedily expire.  ‘Indeed,’ the letter proceeded, ’had it been otherwise, the news from abroad and my instructions from the War Office must have compelled me to recall it, as there is great danger, since the disaster in Flanders, both of foreign invasion and insurrection among the disaffected at home.  I therefore entreat you will repair as soon as possible to the headquarters of the regiment; and I am concerned to add that this is still the more necessary as there is some discontent in your troop, and I postpone inquiry into particulars until I can have the advantage of your assistance.’

The second letter, dated eight days later, was in such a style as might have been expected from the Colonel’s receiving no answer to the first.  It reminded Waverley of his duty as a man of honour, an officer, and a Briton; took notice of the increasing dissatisfaction of his men, and that some of them had been heard to hint that their Captain encouraged and approved of their mutinous behaviour; and, finally, the writer expressed the utmost regret and surprise that he had not obeyed his commands by repairing to headquarters, reminded him that his leave of absence had been recalled, and conjured him, in a style in which paternal remonstrance was mingled with military authority, to redeem his error by immediately joining his regiment.  ’That I may be certain,’ concluded the letter, ’that this actually reaches you, I despatch it by Corporal Tims of your troop, with orders to deliver it into your own hand.’

Upon reading these letters Waverley, with great bitterness of feeling, was compelled to make the amende honorable to the memory of the brave and excellent writer; for surely, as Colonel Gardiner must have had every reason to conclude they had come safely to hand, less could not follow, on their being neglected, than that third and final summons, which Waverley actually received at Glennaquoich, though too late to obey it.  And his being superseded, in consequence of his apparent neglect of this last command, was so far from being