The Major concluded, that no one of Captain Waverley's brother officers could believe this scandalous story, but it was necessarily their joint opinion that his own honour, equally with that of the regiment, depended upon its being instantly contradicted by his authority, &c.

&c.

&c.
'What do you think of all this ?' said Colonel Talbot, to whom Waverley handed the letters after he had perused them.
'Think! it renders thought impossible.

It is enough to drive me mad.' 'Be calm, my young friend; let us see what are these dirty scrawls that follow.' The first was addressed, 'For Master W.Ruffin These,'-- 'Dear sur, sum of our yong gulpins will not bite, thof I tuold them you shoed me the squoire's own seel.

But Timms will deliver you the lettrs as desired, and tell ould Addem he gave them to squoir's hond, as to be sure yours is the same, and shall be ready for signal, and hoy for Hoy Church and Sachefrel, as fadur sings at harvest-whome.