’I countenance him?  This kind sister of mine would persuade you, Captain Waverley, that I take what the people of old used to call “a steakraid,” that is, a “collop of the foray,” or, in plainer words, a portion of the robber’s booty, paid by him to the Laird, or Chief, through whose grounds he drove his prey.  O, it is certain that, unless I can find some way to charm Flora’s tongue, General Blakeney will send a sergeant’s party from Stirling (this he said with haughty and emphatic irony) to seize Vich lan Vohr, as they nickname me, in his own castle.’

’Now, Fergus, must not our guest be sensible that all this is folly and affectation?  You have men enough to serve you without enlisting banditti, and your own honour is above taint.  Why don’t you send this Donald Bean Lean, whom I hate for his smoothness and duplicity even more than for his rapine, out of your country at once?  No cause should induce me to tolerate such a character.’

‘No cause, Flora?’ said the Chieftain significantly.

’No cause, Fergus! not even that which is nearest to my heart.  Spare it the omen of such evil supporters!’

‘O but, sister,’ rejoined the Chief gaily, ’you don’t consider my respect for la belle passion.  Evan Dhu Maccombich is in love with Donald’s daughter, Alice, and you cannot expect me to disturb him in his amours.  Why, the whole clan would cry shame on me.  You know it is one of their wise sayings, that a kinsman is part of a man’s body, but a foster-brother is a piece of his heart.’

’Well, Fergus, there is no disputing with you; but I would all this may end well.’

’Devoutly prayed, my dear and prophetic sister, and the best way in the world to close a dubious argument.  But hear ye not the pipes, Captain Waverley?  Perhaps you will like better to dance to them in the hall than to be deafened with their harmony without taking part in the exercise they invite us to.’

Waverley took Flora’s hand.  The dance, song, and merry-making proceeded, and closed the day’s entertainment at the castle of Vich Ian Vohr.  Edward at length retired, his mind agitated by a variety of new and conflicting feelings, which detained him from rest for some time, in that not unpleasing state of mind in which fancy takes the helm, and the soul rather drifts passively along with the rapid and confused tide of reflections than exerts itself to encounter, systematise, or examine them.  At a late hour he fell asleep, and dreamed of Flora Mac-Ivor.

CHAPTER XXIV

A STAG-HUNT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES