A CONFIDANT.
Waverley awoke in the morning from troubled dreams and unrefreshing slumbers, to a full consciousness of the horrors of his situation.How it might terminate he knew not.He might be delivered up to military law, which, in the midst of civil war, was not likely to be scrupulous in the choice of its victims or the quality of the evidence.Nor did he feel much more comfortable at the thoughts of a trial before a Scottish court of justice, where he knew the laws and forms differed in many respects from those of England, and had been taught to believe, however erroneously, that the liberty and rights of the subject were less carefully protected.A sentiment of bitterness rose in his mind against the Government, which he considered as the cause of his embarrassment and peril, and he cursed internally his scrupulous rejection of Mac-Ivor's invitation to accompany him to the field.
``Why did not I,'' he said to himself, ``like other men of honour, take the earliest opportunity to welcome to Britain the descendant of her ancient kings, and linear heir of her throne?
Why did not I
Unthread the rude eye of rebellion, And welcome home again discarded faith, Seek out Prince Charles, and fall before his feet?
All that has been recorded of excellence and worth in the house of Waverley has been founded upon their loyal faith to the house of Stuart.From the interpretation which this Scotch magistrate has put upon the letters of my uncle and father, it is plain that I ought to have understood them as marshalling me to the course of my ancestors; and it has been my gross dulness, joined to the obscurity of expression which they adopted for the sake of security, that has confounded my judgment.
Had I yielded to the first generous impulse of indignation when I learned that my honour was practised upon, how different had been my present situation! I had then been free and in arms, fighting, like my forefathers, for love, for loyalty, and for fame.
And now I am here, netted and in the toils, at the disposal of a suspicious, stern, and cold-hearted man, perhaps to be turned over to the solitude of a dungeon, or the infamy of a public execution.O Fergus! how true has your prophecy proved;and how speedy, how very speedy, has been its accomplishment!''
While Edward was ruminating on these painful subjects of contemplation, and very naturally, though not quite so justly, bestowing upon the reigning dynasty that blame which was due to chance, or, in part at least, to his own unreflecting conduct, Mr.Morton availed himself of Major Melville's permission to pay him an early visit.
Waverley's first impulse was to intimate a desire that he might not be disturbed with questions or conversation; but he suppressed it upon observing the benevolent and reverend appearance of the clergyman who had rescued him from the immediate violence of the villagers.
``I believe, sir,'' said the unfortunate young man, ``that in any other circumstances I should have had as much gratitude to express to you as the safety of my life may be worth; but such is the present tumult of my mind, and such is my anticipation of what I am yet likely to endure, that I can hardly offer you thanks for your interposition.''
Mr.Morton replied, ``that, far from making any claim upon his good opinion, his only wish and the sole purpose of his visit was to find out the means of deserving it.My excellent friend, Major Melville,'' he continued, ``has feelings and duties as a soldier and public functionary, by which I am not fettered;nor can I always coincide in opinions which he forms, perhaps with too little allowance for the imperfections of human nature.''
He paused, and then proceeded: ``I do not intrude myself on your confidence, Mr.Waverley, for the purpose of learning any circumstances, the knowledge of which can be prejudicial either to yourself or to others; but I own my earnest wish is, that you would entrust me with any particulars which could lead to your exculpation.I can solemnly assure you they will be deposited with a faithful and, to the extent of his limited powers, a zealous agent.''
``You are, sir, I presume, a Presbyterian clergyman?''---Mr.
Morton bowed.---``Were I to be guided by the prepossessions of education, I might distrust your friendly professions in my case:
but I have observed that similar prejudices are nourished in this country against your professional brethren of the Episcopal persuasion, and I am willing to believe them equally unfounded in both cases.''
``Evil to him that thinks otherwise,'' said Mr.Morton; ``or who holds church government and ceremonies as the exclusive gage of Christian faith or moral virtue.''
``But,'' continued Waverley, ``I cannot perceive why I should trouble you with a detail of particulars, out of which, after revolving them as carefully as possible in my recollection, I find myself unable to explain much of what is charged against me.
I know, indeed, that I am innocent, but I hardly see how I can hope to prove myself so.''
``It is for that very reason, Mr.Waverley,'' said the clergyman, ``that I venture to solicit your confidence.My knowledge of individuals in this country is pretty general, and can upon occasion be extended.Your situation will, I fear, preclude your taking those active steps for recovering intelligence, or tracing imposture, which I would willingly undertake in your behalf; and if you are not benefited by my exertions, at least they cannot be prejudicial to you.''
