es will be highly agreeable to Sir Everard and Mrs. Rachel, who will
never believe your view and prospects settled, and the three ermines
passant in actual safety, until you present them with a Mrs. Edward
Waverley. Now, certain love-affairs of my own--a good many years
since--interrupted some measures which were then proposed in favour of
the three ermines passant; so I am bound in honour to make them amends.
Therefore make good use of your time, for when your week is expired, it
will be necessary that you go to London to plead your pardon in the law
courts.

'Ever, dear Waverley, yours most truly,

'PHILIP TALBOT.'

CHAPTER LXVII

Happy 's the wooing
That's not long a-doing.

When the first rapturous sensation occasioned by these excellent tidings
had somewhat subsided, Edward proposed instantly to go down to the glen
to acquaint the Baron with their import. But the cautious Bailie justly
observed, that if the Baron were to appear instantly in public, the
tenantry and villagers might become riotous in expressing their joy,
and give offence to 'the powers that be,' a sort of persons for whom
the Bailie always had unlimited respect. He therefore proposed that Mr.
Waverley should go to Janet Gellatley's, and bring the Baron up under
cloud of night to Little Veolan, where he might once more enjoy the
luxury of a good bed. In the meanwhile, he said, he himself would go
to Captain Foster, and show him the Baron's protection, and obtain his
countenance for harbouring him that night,--and he would have horses
ready on the morrow to set him on his way to the Duchran along with
Mr. Stanley, 'whilk denomination, I apprehend, your honour will for the
present retain,' said the Bailie.

'Certainly, Mr. Macwheeble; but will you not go down to the glen
yourself in the evening to meet your patron?'

'That I wad wi' a' my heart; and mickle obliged to your honour for
putting me in mind o' my bounden duty. But it will be past sunset afore
I get back frae the Captain's, and at these unsonsy hours the glen has
a bad name--there's something no that canny about auld Janet Gellatley.
The Laird he'll no believe thae things, but he was aye ower rash and
venturesome--and feared neither man nor deevil--and sae's seen o't.
But right sure am I Sir George Mackenyie says, that no divine can doubt
there are witches, since the Bible says thou shalt not suffer them
to live; and that no lawyer in Scotland can doubt it, since it is