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Waverley; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since - Volume 2

Chapter 2 CHOICE OF A PROFESSION

Word Count: 3100    |    Released on: 04/12/2017

dably communicated to his imagination, the reader may perhaps anticipate, in the following tale,

the present state of things was calculated to exhibit the reality of those visions in which he loved to indulge, that he dreaded nothing more than the detection of such sentiments as were dictated by his musings, he neither had nor wished to have a confidant, with whom to communicate his reveries; and so sensible was he of the ridicule attached to them, that, had he been to choose between any punishment short of ignominy, and the necessity of giving a cold an

oes not always exclude MALICE PREPENSE, or whether it was from a conformity of taste, that Miss Cecilia more than once crossed Edward in his favourite walks through Waverley-Chase. He had not as yet assumed courage to accost her on these occasions; but the meeting was not without its effect. A romantic lover is a strange idolater, who sometimes cares not out of what lo

e and unsuspicious of the female sex have (God bless them!) an instinctive sharpness of perception in such matters, which sometimes goes the length of observing partialities that never existed, but rarely misses to detect such as pass actually under their observation. Mr

ted, and his head fully stocked with knowledge, his nephew would take to field sports and country business. He had often, he said, himself regretted that he had not spent some time in study during his youth: he would neither have shot nor hunted w

ke, with a suitable allowance from the baronet's liberality. The father himself saw no objection to this overture; but upon mentioning it casually at the table of the Minister, the great man looked grave. The reason was explained in private. The unhappy turn of Sir Everard's politics, the Minister observed, was such as would render it highly improper that a young gentleman of such hopeful prospects should travel on the Continent with a tutor doubtless of his uncle's choosing, and dir

other, Richard was more diffuse and circuitous. He coincided with him in the most flattering manner, in the propriety of his son's seeing a little more of the world, and was even humble in expressions of gratitude for his proposed assistance; was, however, deeply concerned that it was now, unfortunately, not in Edward's power exactly to comply with the plan which had been chalked out by his best friend and benefactor. He himself had thought with pain on the boy's inactivity, at an age when all his ancestors had borne arms; even Royalty itself had deigned to inquire whether young Waverley was not now in Flander

bines and pistols purchased in Holland, and addressed to the Baronet, but intercepted by the vigilance of a riding officer of the excise, who was afterwards tossed in a blanket on a moonless night, by an association of stout yeomen, for his officiousness. Nay, it was even said, that at the arrest of Sir William Wyndham, the leader of the Tory

gitating period. Since that time Sir Everard's jacobitism had been gradually decaying, like a fire which burns out for want of fuel. His Tory and High Church principles were kept up by some occasional exercise at elections and quarter-sessions: but those respecting hereditary right were fallen into a sort of abeyance. Yet it jarred severely upon his feelings, that his nephew should go into the army under the Brunswick dynasty; and the more so, as, independent of his high and conscientious ideas of paternal authority, it was impossible, or at least highly imprudent, to interfere authoritatively to prevent it. This suppressed vexation gave rise to many poohs and pshaws, which were placed to the account of an incipient fit of gout, until, having sent for the Army List, the worthy Baronet consoled

tating feelings occasioned by this sudden page being turned up to him in the book of life. The doctor, who was a believer in all poetry which was composed by his friends, and written out in fair straight lines, with a capital at the beginning of each, communicated this treasure to Aunt Rachel, who, with her spectacles dimmed with tears, transferred them to her commonplace book, among choice receipts for cookery and medicine, favourite texts, and portions from High Church divin

he Autumn e

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h his new destinies excited. She appeared, indeed, in full splendour in her father's pew upon the Sunday when he attended service for the last time at the old parish

deed summoned up every assistance which art could afford to beauty; but, alas! hoop, patches, frizzled locks, and a new mantua of genuine French silk, were lost up

as all on h

not stoop

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to the aforesaid Jonas, son of the Baronet's steward, and heir (no unfertile prospect) to a steward's fortune; besides the snug probability of succeeding to his father's office. All these advantages moved Squire Stubbs, as much as the ruddy brow and manly form of the suitor influenced his daughter, to abate somewhat in the article of their gentry; and so the match was concluded. None seemed more

sex and impatience give them the greatest right to complain of these circumstances, into a flying chariot drawn by hippogriffs, or moved by enchantment. Mine is a humble English post-chaise, drawn upon four wheels, and keeping his Majesty's highway. Such as dislike the vehicle may leave it at the next halt, and wait for the conveyance of Prince Hussein's tapestry, or Malek the Weaver's flying sentry-box. Those who are contented to remain with me will be occasionally exposed to the dullness inseparable from hea

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1 Chapter 1 WAVERLEY-HONOUR--A RETROSPECT2 Chapter 2 CHOICE OF A PROFESSION3 Chapter 3 THE ADIEUS OF WAVERLEY4 Chapter 4 MORE OF THE MANOR-HOUSE AND ITS ENVIRONS5 Chapter 5 ROSE BRADWARDINE AND HER FATHER6 Chapter 6 THE BANQUET7 Chapter 7 REPENTANCE AND A RECONCILIATION8 Chapter 8 A MORE RATIONAL DAY THAN THE LAST9 Chapter 9 A DISCOVERY-WAVERLEY BECOMES DOMESTICATED AT TULLY-VEOLAN10 Chapter 10 No.1011 Chapter 11 AN UNEXPECTED ALLY APPEARS12 Chapter 12 THE HOLD OF A HIGHLAND ROBBER13 Chapter 13 WAVERLEY PROCEEDS ON HIS JOURNEY14 Chapter 14 THE CHIEF AND HIS MANSION15 Chapter 15 A HIGHLAND FEAST16 Chapter 16 THE CHIEFTAIN'S SISTER17 Chapter 17 HIGHLAND MINSTRELSY18 Chapter 18 WAVERLEY CONTINUES AT GLENNAQUOICH19 Chapter 19 A STAG-HUNT, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES20 Chapter 20 NEWS FROM ENGLAND21 Chapter 21 AN ECLAIRCISSEMENT22 Chapter 22 UPON THE SAME SUBJECT23 Chapter 23 A LETTER FROM TULLY-VEOLAN24 Chapter 24 WAVERLEY'S RECEPTION IN THE LOWLANDS AFTER HIS HIGHLAND TOUR25 Chapter 25 SHOWS THAT THE LOSS OF A HORSE'S SHOE MAY BE A SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE26 Chapter 26 AN EXAMINATION27 Chapter 27 A CONFERENCE, AND THE CONSEQUENCE28 Chapter 28 A CONFIDANT29 Chapter 29 A VOLUNTEER SIXTY YEARS SINCE30 Chapter 30 AN INCIDENT31 Chapter 31 WAVERLEY IS STILL IN DISTRESS32 Chapter 32 A NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE33 Chapter 33 THE JOURNEY IS CONTINUED34 Chapter 34 AN OLD AND A NEW ACQUAINTANCE35 Chapter 35 THE MYSTERY BEGINS TO BE CLEARED UP36 Chapter 36 A SOLDIER'S DINNER37 Chapter 37 THE BALL38 Chapter 38 THE MARCH39 Chapter 39 AN INCIDENT GIVES RISE TO UNAVAILING REFLECTIONS40 Chapter 40 THE EVE OF BATTLE41 Chapter 41 THE CONFLICT42 Chapter 42 AN UNEXPECTED EMBARRASSMENT43 Chapter 43 THE ENGLISH PRISONER44 Chapter 44 RATHER UNIMPORTANT45 Chapter 45 INTRIGUES OF LOVE AND POLITICS46 Chapter 46 INTRIGUES OF SOCIETY AND LOVE47 Chapter 47 FERGUS A SUITOR48 Chapter 48 'TO ONE THING CONSTANT NEVER'49 Chapter 49 A BRAVE MAN IN SORROW50 Chapter 50 EXERTION51 Chapter 51 THE MARCH No.5152 Chapter 52 THE CONFUSION OF KING AGRAMANT'S CAMP53 Chapter 53 A SKIRMISH54 Chapter 54 OF ACCIDENTS55 Chapter 55 A JOURNEY TO LONDON56 Chapter 56 WHAT'S TO BE DONE NEXT 57 Chapter 57 DESOLATION58 Chapter 58 COMPARING OF NOTES59 Chapter 59 MORE EXPLANATION60 Chapter 60 No.6061 Chapter 61 No.6162 Chapter 62 LXVIII 63 Chapter 63 No.6364 Chapter 64 DOLCE DOMUM65 Chapter 65 No.6566 Chapter 66 A POSTSCRIPT, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PREFACE