e 5th of December, the Highlanders relinquished their
desperate attempt to penetrate farther into England, and, greatly to the
dissatisfaction of their young and daring leader, positively determined
to return northward. They commenced their retreat accordingly, and by
the extreme celerity of their movements, outstripped the motions of
the Duke of Cumberland, who now pursued them with a very large body of
cavalry.

This retreat was a virtual resignation of their towering hopes. None had
been so sanguine as Fergus Mac-Ivor; none, consequently, was so cruelly
mortified at the change of measures. He argued, or rather remonstrated,
with the utmost vehemence at the council of war; and, when his opinion
was rejected, shed tears of grief and indignation. From that moment
his whole manner was so much altered, that he could scarcely have been
recognized for the same soaring and ardent spirit, for whom the whole
earth seemed too narrow but a week before. The retreat had continued
for several days, when Edward, to his surprise, early on the 12th of
December, received a visit from the Chieftain in his quarters, in a
hamlet about half way between Shap and Penrith.

Having had no intercourse with the Chieftain since their rupture, Edward
waited with some anxiety an explanation of this unexpected visit; nor
could he help being surprised, and somewhat shocked, with the change in
his appearance. His eye had lost much of its fire; his cheek was hollow,
his voice was languid; even his gait seemed less firm and elastic
than it was wont; and his dress, to which he used to be particularly
attentive, was now carelessly flung about him. He invited Edward to
walk out with him by the little river in the vicinity; and smiled in
a melancholy manner when he observed him take down and buckle on his
sword.

As soon as they were in a wild sequestered path by the side of the
stream, the Chief broke out,--'Our fine adventure is now totally ruined,
Waverley, and I wish to know what you intend to do:--nay, never stare at
me, man. I tell you I received a packet from my sister yesterday, and,
had I got the information it contains sooner, it would have prevented
a quarrel, which I am always vexed when I think of. In a letter written
after our dispute, I acquainted her with the cause of it; and she now
replies to me, that she never had, nor could have, any purpose of giving
you encouragement; so that it seems I have acted like a madman. Poor
Flora! she writ