ey's hands. 'Good night; strive to
forget it for a few hours. It will dawn, I think, by six, and it is now
past two. Good-night.'

Edward retired, without trusting his voice with a reply.

CHAPTER LVI

EXERTION

When Colonel Talbot entered the breakfast-parlour next morning, he
learned from Waverley's servant that our hero had been abroad at an
early hour, and was not yet returned. The morning was well advanced
before he again appeared, He arrived out of breath, but with an air of
joy that astonished Colonel Talbot.

'There,' said he, throwing a paper on the table, 'there is my morning's
work.--Alick, pack up the Colonel's clothes. Make haste, make haste.'

The Colonel examined the paper with astonishment. It was a pass from the
Chevalier to Colonel Talbot, to repair to Leith, or any other port
in possession of his Royal Highness's troops, and there to embark for
England or elsewhere, at his free pleasure; he only giving his parole of
honour not to bear arms against the house of Stuart for the space of a
twelvemonth.

'In the name of God,' said the Colonel, his eyes sparkling with
eagerness, 'how did you obtain this?'

'I was at the Chevalier's levee as soon as he usually rises. He was gone
to the camp at Duddingston. I pursued him thither; asked and obtained an
audience--but I will tell you not a word more, unless I see you begin to
pack.'

'Before I know whether I can avail myself of this passport, or how it
was obtained?'

'Oh, you can take out the things again, you know.--Now I see you busy,
I will go on. When I first mentioned your name, his eyes sparkled almost
as bright as yours did two minutes since. "Had you," he earnestly asked,
"shown any sentiments favourable to his cause?"

"Not in the least, nor was there any hope you would do so." His
countenance fell. I requested your freedom. "Impossible," he
said;--"your importance, as a friend and confidant of such and such
personages, made my request altogether extravagant." I told him my own
story and yours and asked him to judge what my feelings must be by his
own. He has a heart, and a kind one, Colonel Talbot, you may say what
you please. He took a sheet of paper, and wrote the pass with his own
hand. "I will not-trust myself with my council," he said "they will
argue me out of what is right. I will not endure that a friend, valued
as I value you, should be loaded with the painful reflections which must
afflict you in ease of further misfortune