Wauverley, put it a' into my hand frae the beginning---frae the first calling o' the summons, as I may say.I circumvented them---I played at bogle about the bush wi' them---I cajoled them; and if I havena gien Inch-Grabbit and Jamie Howie a bonnie begunk, they ken themselves.Him a writer! I didna gae slapdash to them wi' our young bra' bridegroom, to gar them baud up the market; na, na; I scared them wi' our wild tenantry, and the Mac-Ivors, that are but ill settled yet, till they durstna on ony errand whatsoever gang ower the door-stane after gloaming, for fear John Heatherblutter, or some siccan dare-the-deil, should tak a baff at them: then, on the other hand, I beflumm'd them wi' Colonel Talbot---wad they offer to keep up the price again' the Duke's friend? did they na ken wha was master? had they na seen eneugh, by the sad example of mony a pair misguided unhappy body''------``Who went to Derby, for example, Mr.Macwheeble?'' said the Colonel to him, aside.
``O whisht, Colonel, for the love o' God! let that flee stick i' the wa'.There were mony good folk at Derby; and it's ill speaking of halters,''---with a sly cast of his eye toward the Baron, who was in a deep reverie.
Starting out of it at once, he took Macwheeble by the button, and led him into one of the deep window recesses, whence only fragments of their conversation reached the rest of the party.
It certainly related to stamp-paper and parchment; for no other subject, even from the mouth of his patron, and he, once more, an efficient one, could have arrested so deeply the Bailie's reverent and absorbed attention.
``I understand your honour perfectly; it can be dune as easy as taking out a decreet in absence.''
``To her and him, after my demise, and to their heirs-male,---but preferring the second son, if God shall bless them with two, who is to carry the name and arms of Bradwardine of that Ilk, without any other name or armorial bearings whatsoever.''
``Tut, your honour!'' whispered the Bailie, ``I'll mak a slight jotting the morn; it will cost but a charter of resignation _in favorem;_ and I'll hae it ready for the next term in Exchequer.''
Their private conversation ended, the Baron was now summoned to do the honours of Tully-Veolan to new guests.These were, Major Melville of Cairnvreckan, and the Reverend Mr.
Morton, followed by two or three others of the Baron's acquaintances, who had been made privy to his having again acquired the estate of his fathers.The shouts of the villagers were also heard beneath in the court-yard; for Saunders Saunderson, who had kept the secret for several days with laudable prudence, had unloosed his tongue upon beholding the arrival of the carriages.
But, while Edward received Major Melville with politeness, and the clergyman with the most affectionate and grateful kindness, his father-in-law looked a little awkward, as uncertain how he should answer the necessary claims of hospitality to his guests, and forward the festivity of his tenants.Lady Emily relieved him, by intimating, that, though she must be an indifferent representative of Mrs.Edward Waverley in many respects, she hope the Baron would approve of the entertainment she had ordered, in expectation of so many guests; and that they would find such other accommodations provided, as might in some degree support the ancient hospitality of Tully-Veolan.
It is impossible to describe the pleasure which this assurance gave the Baron, who, with an air of gallantry half appertaining to the stiff Scottish laird, and half to the officer in the French service, offered his arm to the fair speaker, and led the way, in something between a stride and a minuet step, into the large dining parlour, followed by all the rest of the good company.
