hen proposed in favour of the three ermines passant;
so I am bound in honour to make them amends. Therefore make good use of
your time, for, when your week is expired, it will be necessary that you
go to London to plead your pardon in the law courts.

'Ever, dear Waverley, yours most truly, 'PHILIP TALBOT.'

CHAPTER XXXVIII

Happy's the wooing
That's not long a doing.

When the first rapturous sensation occasioned by these excellent tidings
had somewhat subsided, Edward proposed instantly to go down to the glen
to acquaint the Baron with their import. But the cautious Bailie justly
observed that, if the Baron were to appear instantly in public, the
tenantry and villagers might become riotous in expressing their joy, and
give offence to 'the powers that be,' a sort of persons for whom the
Bailie always had unlimited respect. He therefore proposed that Mr.
Waverley should go to Janet Gellatley's and bring the Baron up under
cloud of night to Little Veolan, where he might once more enjoy the
luxury of a good bed. In the meanwhile, he said, he himself would go to
Captain Foster and show him the Baron's protection, and obtain his
countenance for harbouring him that night, and he would have horses ready
on the morrow to set him on his way to the Duchran along with Mr.
Stanley, 'whilk denomination, I apprehend, your honour will for the
present retain,' said the Bailie.

'Certainly, Mr. Macwheeble; but will you not go down to the glen yourself
in the evening to meet your patron?'

'That I wad wi' a' my heart; and mickle obliged to your honour for
putting me in mind o' my bounden duty. But it will be past sunset afore I
get back frae the Captain's, and at these unsonsy hours the glen has a
bad name; there's something no that canny about auld Janet Gellatley. The
Laird he'll no believe thae things, but he was aye ower rash and
venturesome, and feared neither man nor deevil, an sae's seen o't. But
right sure am I Sir George Mackenyie says, that no divine can doubt there
are witches, since the Bible says thou shalt not suffer them to live; and
that no lawyer in Scotland can doubt it, since it is punishable with
death by our law. So there's baith law and gospel for it. An his honour
winna believe the Leviticus, he might aye believe the Statute-book; but
he may tak his ain way o't; it's a' ane to Duncan Macwheeble. However, I
shall send to ask up auld Janet this e'en; it's best no to lightly them
that have th