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"I have omitted, Mr Waverley, to enquire after a matter of less consequence, but which has nevertheless been publicly. talked of to your disadvantage. It is said that a treasonable toast having been proposed in your hearing and presence, you, holding his majesty's commission, suffered the task of resenting it to devolve upon another gentleman of the company. This, sir, cannot be charged against you in a court of justice; but if, as I am informed, the officers of your regiment requested an explanation of such a rumour, as a gentleman and soldier, I cannot but be surprised that you did not afford it to them."

This was too much. Beset and pressed on every hand by accusations, in which gross falsehoods were blended with such circumstances of truth as could not fail to procure them credit,-alone, unfriended, and in a strange land, Waverley almost gave up his life and honour for lost, and, leaning his head upon his hand, resolutely refused to answer any further questions,

since the fair and candid statement he had already made had only served to furnish arms against him.

Without expressing either surprise or displeasure at the change in Waverley's manner, Major Melville proceeded composedly to put several other queries to him. "What does it avail me to answer you?" said Edward, sullenly. "You appear convinced of my guilt, and wrest every reply I have made to support your own preconceived opinion. Enjoy it then, and torment me no further. If I am capable of the cowardice and treachery your charge burdens me with, I am not worthy to be believed in any reply I can make you. If I am not deserving of your suspicionand God and my own conscience bear evidence with me that it is so-then I do not see why I should, by my candour, lend my accusers arms against my innocence. There is no reason I should answer a word And again he resumed his posture of sullen and determined silence.

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"Allow me," said the magistrate, remind you of one reason that may suggest the propriety of a candid and open confession. The inexperience of youth, Mr Waverley, lays it open to the plans of the more designing and artful, and one of your friends at least-I mean Mac-Ivor of Glennaquoich-ranks high in the latter class; as, from your apparent ingenuousness, youth, and unacquaintance with the manners of the Highlands, I should be disposed to place you among the former. In such a case, a false step, or error like yours, which I shall be happy to consider as involuntary, may be atoned for, and I would willingly act as intercessor. But as you must necessarily be acquainted with the strength of the individuals in this country who have assumed arms, with their means, and with their plans, I must expect you will merit this mediation on my part by a frank and candid avowal of all that has come to your knowledge upon these heads. In which case, I think I

can promise that a very short personal restraint will be the only ill consequence that can arise from your accession to these unhappy intrigues.”

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Waverley listened with great composure until the end of this exhortation, when, springing from his seat, with an energy he had not yet displayed, he replied, “Major Melville, since that is your name, I have hitherto answered your questions with candour, or declined them with temper, because their import concerned myself alone. But as you presume to esteem me mean enough to commence informer against others, who received me-whatever may be their public misconduct as a guest and friend, I declare to you that I consider your questions as an insult infinitely more offensive than your calumnious suspicions; and that, since my hard fortune permits me no other mode of resenting them than by defiance, you should sooner have my heart out of my bosom, than a single syllable of information upon

subjects which I could only become ac quainted with in the full confidence of unsuspecting hospitality."

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Mr Morton and the Major looked at each other, and the former [who, in the course of the examination, had been repeatedly troubled with a sorry rheum, had recourse to his snuff-box and his handkerchief. de ma ct 1. berh

"Mr Waverley," said the Major, " my present situation prohibits me alike from giving or receiving offence, and I will not protract a discussion which approaches to either. I am afraid I must sign a warrant for detaining you in custody, but this house shall for the present be your prison. I fear I cannot persuade you to accept a share of our supper?-(Edward shook his head)-but I will order refreshments in your apartment.”

Our hero bowed and withdrew, under guard of the officers of justice, tó a handsome but small room, where, declining all offers of food or wine, he flung himself

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