The father himself saw no objection to this overture; but upon mentioning it casually at the table of the minister, the great man looked grave.

The reason was explained in private.

The unhappy turn of Sir Everard's politics, the minister observed, was such as would render it highly improper that a young gentleman of such hopeful prospects should travel on the Continent with a tutor doubtless of his uncle's choosing, and directing his course by his instructions.

What might Mr.Edward Waverley's society be at Paris, what at Rome, where all manner of snares were spread by the Pretender and his sons--these were points for Mr.
Waverley to consider.

This he could himself say, that he knew his Majesty had such a just sense of Mr.Richard Waverley's merits, that, if his son adopted the army for a few years, a troop, he believed, might be reckoned upon in one of the dragoon regiments lately returned from Flanders.
A hint thus conveyed and enforced was not to be neglected with impunity; and Richard Waverley, though with great dread of shocking his brother's prejudices, deemed he could not avoid accepting the commission thus offered him for his son.