devotion, then exclaimed, 'Praise be to God! I shall see my bairn
again.'

'And never, I hope, to part with her more,' said Waverley.

'I trust in God not, unless it be to win the means of supporting her; for
my things are but in a bruckle state;--but what signifies warld's gear?'

'And if,' said Waverley modestly, 'there were a situation in life which
would put Miss Bradwardine beyond the uncertainty of fortune, and in the
rank to which she was born, would you object to it, my dear Baron,
because it would make one of your friends the happiest man in the world?'
The Baron turned and looked at him with great earnestness. 'Yes,'
continued Edward, 'I shall not consider my sentence of banishment as
repealed unless you will give me permission to accompany you to the
Duchran, and--'

The Baron seemed collecting all his dignity to make a suitable reply to
what, at another time, he would have treated as the propounding a treaty
of alliance between the houses of Bradwardine and Waverley. But his
efforts were in vain; the father was too mighty for the Baron; the pride
of birth and rank were swept away; in the joyful surprise a slight
convulsion passed rapidly over his features, as he gave way to the
feelings of nature, threw his arms around Waverley's neck, and sobbed
out--'My son, my son! if I had been to search the world, I would have
made my choice here.' Edward returned the embrace with great sympathy of
feeling, and for a little while they both kept silence. At length it was
broken by Edward. 'But Miss Bradwardine?'

'She had never a will but her old father's; besides, you are a likely
youth, of honest principles and high birth; no, she never had any other
will than mine, and in my proudest days I could not have wished a mair
eligible espousal for her than the nephew of my excellent old friend, Sir
Everard. But I hope, young man, ye deal na rashly in this matter? I hope
ye hae secured the approbation of your ain friends and allies,
particularly of your uncle, who is in loco parentis? Ah! we maun tak heed
o' that.' Edward assured him that Sir Everard would think himself highly
honoured in the flattering reception his proposal had met with, and that
it had his entire approbation; in evidence of which he put Colonel
Talbot's letter into the Baron's hand. The Baron read it with great
attention. 'Sir Everard,' he said, 'always despised wealth in comparison
of honour and birth; and indeed he hath no occasion to court the Diva