like that house, Edward?'

'It is one half larger.'

'Is your uncle's park as fine a one as that?'

'It is three times; as extensive, and rather resembles a forest than a
mere park.'

'Flora, will be a happy woman.'

'I hope Miss Mac-Ivor will have much reason for happiness, unconnected
with Waverley-Honour.'

'I hope so too; but, to be mistress of such a place, will be a pretty
addition to the sum total.'

'An addition, the want of which, I trust, will be amply supplied by some
other means.'

'How,' said Fergus, stopping short, and turning upon Waverley--'How am
I to understand that, Mr. Waverley?--Had I the pleasure to hear you
aright?'

'Perfectly right, Fergus.'

'And I am to understand that you no longer desire my alliance, and my
sister's hand?'

'Your sister has refused mine,' said Waverley, 'both directly, and by
all the usual means by which ladies repress undesired attentions.'

'I have no idea,' answered the Chieftain, 'of a lady dismissing or a
gentleman withdrawing his suit, after it has been approved of by her
legal guardian, without giving him an opportunity of talking the matter
over with the lady. You did not, I suppose, expect my sister to drop
into your mouth like a ripe plum, the first moment you chose to open
it?'

'As to the lady's title to dismiss her lover, Colonel replied Edward,
'it is a point which you must argue with her, as I am ignorant of the
customs of the Highlands in that particular. But as to my title to
acquiesce in a rejection from her without an appeal to your interest,
I will tell you plainly, without meaning to undervalue Miss Mac-Ivor's
admitted beauty and accomplishments, that I would not take the hand of
an angel, with an empire for her dowry, if her consent were extorted by
the importunity of friends and guardians, and did not flow from her own
free inclination.'

'An angel, with the dowry of an empire,' repeated Fergus, in a tone
of bitter irony, 'is not very likely to be pressed upon a--shire
squire.--But sir,' changing his tone, 'if Flora Mac-Ivor have not the
dowry of an empire, she is my sister; and that is sufficient at least to
secure her against being treated with anything approaching to levity.'

She is Flora Mac-Ivor, sir,' said Waverley, with firmness, 'which to
me, were I capable of treating any woman with levity, would be a more
effectual protection.'

The brow of the Chieftain was now fully clouded, but Edward felt too
indignant at the unre