AN UNEXPECTED EMBARRASSMENT.
When the battle was over, and all things coming into order, the Baron of Bradwardine, returning from the duty of the day, and having disposed those under his command in their proper stations, sought the Chieftain of Glennaquoich and his friend Edward Waverley.He found the former busied in determining disputes among his clansmen about points of precedence and deeds of valour, besides sundry high and doubtful questions concerning plunder.The most important of the last respected the property of a gold watch, which had once belonged to some unfortunate English officer.The party against whom judgment was awarded consoled himself by observing, ``She (_i.e._ the watch, which he took for a living animal) died the very night Vich Ian Vohr gave her to Murdock;'' the machine having, in fact, stopped for want of winding up.
It was just when this important question was decided, that the Baron of Bradwardine, with a careful and yet important expression of countenance, joined the two young men.He descended from his reeking charger, the care of which he recommended to one of his grooms.``I seldom ban, sir,'' said he to the man; ``but if you play any of your hound's-foot tricks, and leave puir Berwick before he's sorted, to rin after spuilzie, deil be wi' me if I do not give your craig a thraw.'' He then stroked with great complacency the animal which had borne him through the fatigues of the day, and having taken a tender leave of him,---``Weel, my good young friends, a glorious and decisive victory,'' said he; ``but these loons of troopers fled ower soon.I should have liked to have shown you the true points of the _pr<ae>lium equestre,_ or equestrian combat, whilk their cowardice has postponed, and which I hold to be the pride and terror of warfare.Weel, I have fought once more in this old quarrel, though I admit I could not be so far _ben_ as you lads, being that it was my point of duty to keep together our handful of horse.And no cavalier ought in any wise to begrudge honour that befalls his companions, even though they are ordered upon thrice his danger, whilk, another time, by the blessing of God, may be his own case.---But, Glennaquoich, and you, Mr.Waverley, I pray ye to give me your best advice on a matter of mickle weight, and which deeply affects the honour of the house of Bradwardine.---I crave your pardon, Ensign Maccombich, and yours, Inveraughlin, and yours, Edderalshendrach, and yours, sir.''
The last person he addressed was Ballenkeiroch, who, remembering the death of his son, lowered on him with a look of savage defiance.The Baron, quick as lightning at taking umbrage, had already bent his brow, when Glennaquoich dragged his major from the spot, and remonstrated with him, in the authoritative tone of a chieftain, on the madness of reviving a quarrel in such a moment.
``The ground is cumbered with carcases,'' said the old mountaineer, turning sullenly away; ``_one more_ would hardly have been kenn'd upon it; and if it wasna for yoursell, Vich Ian Vohr, that one should be Bradwardine's or mine.''
The chief soothed while he hurried him away; and then returned to the Baron.``It is Ballenkeiroch,'' he said, in an under and confidential voice, ``father of the young man who fell eight years since in the unlucky affair at the Mains.''
``Ah!'' said the Baron, instantly relaxing the doubtful sternness of his features, ``I can take mickle fra a man to whom I have unhappily rendered sic a displeasure as that.Ye were right to apprize me, Glennaquoich; he may look as black as midnight at Martinmas ere Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine shall say he does him wrang.Ah! I have nae male lineage, and I should bear with one I have made childless, though you are aware the blood-wit was made up to your ain satisfaction by assythment, and that I have since expedited letters of slains.
---Weel, as I have said, I have no male issue, and yet it is needful that I maintain the honour of my house; and it is on that score I prayed ye for your peculiar and private attention.''
The two young men awaited to hear him in anxious curiosity.
``I doubt na, lads,'' he proceeded, ``but your education has been sae seen to, that ye understand the true nature of the feudal tenures?''
Fergus, afraid of an endless dissertation, answered, ``Intimately, Baron,'' and touched Waverley, as a signal to express no ignorance.
``And ye are aware, I doubt not, that the holding of the Barony of Bradwardine is of a nature alike honourable and peculiar, being blanch (which Craig opines ought to be Latinated _blancum,_ or rather _francum,_ a free holding) _pro servitio detrahendi, seu exuendi, caligas regis post battalliam._'' Here Fergus turned his falcon eye upon Edward, with an almost imperceptible rise of his eyebrow, to which his shoulders corresponded in the same degree of elevation.``Now, twa points of dubitation occur to me upon this topic.First, whether this service, or feudal homage, be at any event due to the person of the Prince, the words being, _per expressum, caligas_ =regis,= the boots of the king himself; and I pray your opinion anent that particular before we proceed farther.''
``Why, he is Prince Regent,'' answered Mac-Ivor, with laudable composure of countenance; ``and in the court of France all the honours are rendered to the person of the Regent which are due to that of the King.Besides, were I to pull off either of their boots, I would render that service to the young Chevalier ten times more willingly than to his father.''
