Almost stupefied with his feelings, Edward found that the rush of the crowd had conveyed him out into the street, ere he knew what he was doing.---His immediate wish was to see and speak with Fergus once more.He applied at the Castle, where his unfortunate friend was confined, but was refused admittance.``The High Sheriff,'' a non-commissioned officer said, ``had requested of the governor that none should be admitted to see the prisoner excepting his confessor and his sister.''
``And where was Miss Mac-Ivor?'' They gave him the direction.
It was the house of a respectable Catholic family near Carlisle.
Repulsed from the gate of the Castle, and not venturing to make application to the High Sheriff or Judges in his own unpopular name, he had recourse to the solicitor who came down in Fergus's behalf.This gentleman told him, that it was thought the public mind was in danger of being debauched by the account of the last moments of these persons, as given by the friends of the Pretender; that there had been a resolution, therefore, to exclude all such persons as had not the plea of near kindred for attending upon them.Yet he promised (to oblige the heir of Waverley-Honour) to get him an order for admittance to the prisoner the next morning, before his irons were knocked off for execution.
``Is it of Fergus Mac-Ivor they speak thus,'' thought Waverley, ``or do I dream? of Fergus, the bold, the chivalrous, the free-minded---the lofty chieftain of a tribe devoted to him? Is it he, that I have seen lead the chase and head the attack,---the brave, the active, the young, the noble, the love of ladies, and the theme of song---is it he who is ironed like a malefactor ---who is to be dragged on a hurdle to the common gallows---to die a lingering and cruel death, and to be mangled by the hand of the most outcast of wretches? Evil indeed was the spectre that boded such a fate as this to the brave Chief of Glennaquoich!''
With a faltering voice he requested the solicitor to find means to warn Fergus of his intended visit, should he obtain permission to make it.He then turned away from him, and, returning to the inn, wrote a scarcely intelligible note to Flora Mac-Ivor, intimating his purpose to wait upon her that evening.
The messenger brought back a letter in Flora's beautiful Italian hand, which seemed scarce to tremble even under this load of misery.``Miss Flora Mac-Ivor,'' the letter bore, ``could not refuse to see the dearest friend of her dear brother, even in her present circumstances of unparalleled distress.''
When Edward reached Miss Mac-Ivor's present place of abode, he was instantly admitted.In a large and gloomy tapestried apartment, Flora was seated by a latticed window, sewing what seemed to be a garment of white flannel.At a little distance sat an elderley woman, apparently a foreigner, and of a religious order.She was reading in a book of Catholic devotion; but when Waverley entered, laid it on the table and left the room.
Flora rose to receive him, and stretched out her hand, but neither ventured to attempt speech.Her fine complexion was totally gone; her person considerably emaciated; and her face and hands as white as the purest statuary marble, forming a strong contrast with her sable dress and jet-black hair.Yet, amid these marks of distress, there was nothing negligent or ill-arranged about her attire; even her hair, though totally without ornament, was disposed with her usual attention to neatness.The first words she uttered were, ``Have you seen him?''
``Alas, no,'' answered Waverley; ``I have been refused admittance.''
``It accords with the rest,'' she said; ``but we must submit.
Shall you obtain leave, do you suppose?''
``For---for---to-morrow,'' said Waverley; but muttering the last word so faintly that it was almost unintelligible.
``Ay, then or never,'' said Flora, ``until''---she added, looking upward, ``the time when, I trust, we shall all meet.But I hope you will see him while earth yet bears him.He always loved you at his heart, though---but it is vain to talk of the past.''
``Vain indeed!'' echoed Waverley.
