A CONFERENCE AND THE CONSEQUENCE.
Major Melville had detained Mr.Morton during his examination of Waverley, both because he thought he might derive assistance from his practical good sense and approved loyalty, and also because it was agreeable to have a witness of unimpeached candour and veracity to proceedings which touched the honour and safety of a young Englishman of high rank and family, and the expectant heir of a large fortune.Every step he knew would be rigorously canvassed, and it was his business to place the justice and integrity of his own conduct beyond the limits of question.
When Waverley retired, the laird and clergyman of Cairnvreckan sat down in silence to their evening meal.While the servants were in attendance, neither chose to say anything on the circumstances which occupied their minds, and neither felt it easy to speak upon any other.The youth and apparent frankness of Waverley stood in strong contrast to the shades of suspicion which darkened around him, and he had a sort of naivet<e'> and openness of demeanour, that seemed to belong to one unhackneyed in the ways of intrigue, and which pleaded highly in his favour.
Each mused over the particulars of the examination, and each viewed it through the medium of his own feelings.Both were men of ready and acute talent, and both were equally competent to combine various parts of evidence, and to deduce from them the necessary conclusions.But the wide difference of their habits and education often occasioned a great discrepancy in their respective deductions from admitted premises.
Major Melville had been versed in camps and cities; he was vigilant by profession, and cautious from experience; had met with much evil in the world, and therefore, though himself an upright magistrate and an honourable man, his opinions of others were always strict, and sometimes unjustly severe.Mr.
Morton, on the contrary, had passed from the literary pursuits of a college, where he was beloved by his companions, and respected by his teachers, to the case and simplicity of his present charge, where his opportunities of witnessing evil were few, and never dwelt upon but in order to encourage repentance and amendment; and where the love and respect of his parishioners repaid his affectionate zeal in their behalf, by endeavouring to disguise from him what they knew would give him the most acute pain, namely, their own occasional transgressions of the duties which it was the business of his life to recommend.Thus it was a common saying in the neighbourhood (though both were popular characters), that the laird knew only the ill in the parish, and the minister only the good.
A love of letters, though kept in subordination to his clerical studies and duties, also distinguished the pastor of Cairnvreckan, and had tinged his mind in earlier days with a slight feeling of romance, which no after incidents of real life had entirely dissipated.The early loss of an amiable young woman, whom he had married for love, and who was quickly followed to the grave by an only child, had also served, even after the lapse of many years, to soften a disposition naturally mild and contemplative.
His feelings on the present occasion were therefore likely to differ from those of the severe disciplinarian, strict magistrate, and distrustful man of the world.
When the servants had withdrawn, the silence of both parties continued, until Major Melville, filling his glass, and pushing the bottle to Mr.Morton, commenced.
``A distressing affair this, Mr.Morton.I fear this youngster has brought himself within the compass of a halter.''
``God forbid!'' answered the clergyman.
``Marry, and amen,'' said the temporal magistrate; ``but Ithink even your merciful logic will hardly deny the conclusion.''
``Surely, Major,'' answered the clergyman, ``I should hope it might be averted, for aught we have heard to-night?''
``Indeed!'' replied Melville.``But, my good parson, you are one of those who would communicate to every criminal the benefit of clergy.''
``Unquestionably I would: mercy and long-suffering are the grounds of the doctrine I am called to teach.''
``True, religiously speaking; but mercy to a criminal may be gross injustice to the community.I don't speak of this young fellow in particular, who I heartily wish may be able to clear himself, for I like both his modesty and his spirit.But I fear he has rushed upon his fate.''
``And why? Hundreds of misguided gentlemen are now in arms against the Government; many, doubtless, upon principles which education and early prejudice have gilded with the names of patriotism and heroism;---Justice, when she selects her victims from such a multitude (for surely all will not be destroyed), must regard the moral motive.He whom ambition, or hope of personal advantage, has led to disturb the peace of a well-ordered government, let him fall a victim to the laws;but surely youth, misled by the wild visions of chivalry and imaginary loyalty, may plead for pardon.''
``If visionary chivalry and imaginary loyalty come within the predicament of high treason,'' replied the magistrate, ``I know no court in Christendom, my dear Mr.Morton, where they can sue out their Habeas Corpus.''
``But I cannot see that this youth's guilt is at all established to my satisfaction,'' said the clergyman.
