CHAPTER XVIII.

The Mystery begins to be cleared up.

"How do you like him ?" was Fergus's first question, as they descended the large stone staircase.

"A prince to live and die under," was Waverley's enthusiastic answer.

"I knew you would think so when you saw him, and I intended you should have met earlier, but was prevented by your sprain. And yet he has his foibles, or rather he has difficult cards to play, and his Irish officers, who are much about him, are but sorry advisers,-they cannot discriminate among the numerous pretensions that are set up. Would you think it -I have been obliged for the present to suppress an earl's patent, granted for services rendered ten years ago, for fear of exciting the jealousy, forsooth, of C—

and M- But you were very right, Edward, to refuse the situation of aid-decamp. There are two vacant indeed, but Clanronald and Lochiel, and almost all of us, have requested one for young Aber-` challader, and the Lowlanders and the Irish party are equally desirous to have the other for the Master of F. Now, if either of these candidates were to be superseded in your favour, you would make enemies. And then I am surprised that the Prince should have offered you a majority, when he knows very well that nothing short of lieutenant-colonel will satisfy others, who cannot bring one hundred and fifty men to the field. But patience, cousin, and shuffle the cards! It is all very well for the present, and we must have you properly equipped for the evening in your new costume; for, to say truth, your outward man is scarce fit for a court."

Why, my shooting jacket has seen service since we parted; but that, pro

bably, you know as well or better than I."

"You do my second-sight too much honour. We were so busy, first with the scheme of giving battle to Cope, and afterwards with our operations in the Lowlands, that I could only give general directions to such of our people as were left in Perthshire to respect and protect you, should you come in their way. But let me hear the full story of your adventures, for they have reached us in a very partial and mutilated manner."

Waverley then detailed at length the circumstances with which the reader is already acquainted, to which Fergus listened with great attention. By this time they had reached the door of his quarters, which he had taken up in a small paved court, retiring from the street, at the house of a buxom widow of forty, who seemed to smile very graciously upon the handsome young Chief, being a person with whom good looks and good humour were

sure to secure an interest, whatever might be the party's political opinions. Here Callum Beg received them with a smile of recognition. "Callum," said the Chief, "call Shemus an Snaht," (James of the Needle.) This was the hereditary tailor of Vich Ian Vohr. "Shemus, Mr Waverley is to wear the cath d'ath, (battle colour or tartan,) his trews must be ready in four hours. You know the measure of a wellmade man two double nails to the small of the leg"

"Eleven from haunch to heel, seven round the waist-I give your honour leave to hang Shemus, if there's a pair of sheers. in the Highlands that has a baulder sneck than hers ain at the cumadh an truais," (shape of the trews.)

"Get a plaid of Mac-Ivor tartan, and sash," continued the Chieftain, "and a blue bonnet of the Prince's pattern, at Mr Mouat's the haberdasher. My short green coat, with silver lace, will fit him exactly, and I have never worn it. Tell Ensign

Maccombich to pick out a handsome target from among mine. The Prince has given Mr Waverley broad sword and pistols, I will furnish him with a dirk and purse; add but a pair of low-heeled shoes, and then, my dear Edward, (turning to him,) you will be a complete son of Ivor."

These necessary directions given, the Chieftain resumed the subject of Waverley's adventures. "It is plain," he said, "that you have been in the custody of Donald Bean Lean. You must know that when I marched away my clan to join the Prince, I laid my injunctions on that wor thy member of society to perform a certain piece of service, which done, he was to join me with all the force he could musBut instead of doing so, the gentle. man, finding the coast clear, thought it better to make war on his own account, and has scoured the country, plundering, I believe, both friend and foe, under pretence of levying black mail, sometimes as if by my authority, and sometimes (and be

ter.