ls of the
sport in which he engaged him. Edward easily exculpated the Chieftain,
who, indeed, at his own personal risk, had probably saved his life.

This greeting over, Fergus said three or four words to his sister in
Gaelic. The tears instantly sprang to her eyes, but they seemed to be
tears of devotion and joy, for she looked up to heaven, and folded her
hands as in a solemn expression of prayer or gratitude. After the
pause of a minute, she presented to Edward some letters which had been
forwarded from Tully-Veolan during his absence, and, at the same time,
delivered some to her brother. To the latter she likewise gave three
or four numbers of the CALEDONIAN MERCURY, the only newspaper which was
then published to the north of the Tweed.

Both gentlemen retired to examine their dispatches, and Edward speedily
found that those which he had received contained matters of very deep
interest.

CHAPTER XXV

NEWS FROM ENGLAND

The letters which Waverley had hitherto received from his relations
in England, were not such as required any particular notice in this
narrative. His father usually wrote to him with the pompous affectation
of one who was too much oppressed by public affairs to find leisure to
attend to those of his own family. Now and then he mentioned persons of
rank in Scotland to whom he wished his son should pay some attention;
but Waverley, hitherto occupied by the amusements which he had found at
Tully-Veolan and Glennaquoich, dispensed with paying any attention to
hints so coldly thrown out, especially as distance, shortness of leave
of absence, and so forth, furnished a ready apology. But latterly the
burden of Mr. Richard Waverley's paternal epistles consisted in certain
mysterious hints of greatness and influence which he was speedily
to attain, and which would ensure his son's obtaining the most rapid
promotion, should he remain in the military service. Sir Everard's
letters were of a different tenor. They were short; for the good Baronet
was none of your illimitable correspondents, whose manuscript overflows
the folds of their large post paper, and leaves no room for the seal;
but they were kind and affectionate, and seldom concluded without some
allusion to our hero's stud, some question about the state of his purse,
and a special inquiry after such of his recruits as had preceded him
from Waverley-Honour. Aunt Rachel charged him to remember his principles
of religion, to take care of his heal