The Highlanders--Evan Dhu, Donald Bean Lean, his charming daughter, Callum Beg, and all the rest--are as natural as the Lowlanders.

In Fergus and Flora we feel, indeed, at first, that the author has left his experience behind, and is giving us creatures of fancy.

But they too become human and natural,--Fergus in his moods of anger, ambition, and final courageous resignation; Flora, in her grief.
As for Waverley, his creator was no doubt too hard on him.

Among the brave we hear that he was one of the bravest, though Scott always wrote his battlepieces in a manner to suggest no discomfort, and does not give us particular details of Waverley's prowess.

He has spirit enough, this "sneaking piece of imbecility," as he shows in his quarrel with Fergus, on the march to Derby.