It was severe enough, even in its irremediable part; for Colonel Talbot and Lady Emily, long without a family, had fondly exulted in the hopes which were now blasted.

But this disappointment was nothing to the extent of the threatened evil; and Edward, with horror, regarded himself as the original cause of both.
Ere he could collect himself sufficiently to speak, Colonel Talbot had recovered his usual composure of manner, though his troubled eye denoted his mental agony.
'She is a woman, my young friend, who may justify even a soldier's tears.' He reached him the miniature, exhibiting features which fully justified the eulogium; 'and yet, God knows, what you see of her there is the least of the charms she possesses--possessed, I should perhaps say--but God's will be done!' 'You must fly--you must fly instantly to her relief.

It is not--it shall not be too late.' 'Fly!--how is it possible?
I am a prisoner--upon parole.' 'I am your keeper--I restore your parole-I am to answer for you.' 'You cannot do so consistently with your duty; nor can I accept a discharge from you with due regard to my own honour--you would be made responsible.' 'I will answer it with my head, if necessary,' said Waverley, impetuously.

'I have been the unhappy cause of the loss of your child--make me not the murderer of your wife.' 'No, my dear Edward,' said Talbot, taking him kindly by the hand, 'you are in no respect to blame; and if I concealed this domestic distress for two days, it was lest your sensibility should view it in that light.
You could not think of me, hardly knew of my existence, when I left England in quest of you.

It is a responsibility, Heaven knows, sufficiently heavy for mortality, that we must answer for the foreseen and direct result of our actions,--for their indirect and consequential operation, the great and good Being, who alone can foresee the dependence of human events on each other, hath not pronounced his frail creatures liable.' But that you should have left Lady Emily,' said Waverley, with much emotion, 'in the situation of all others the most interesting to a husband, to seek a--' 'I only did my duty,' answered Colonel Talbot, calmly, 'and I do not, ought not to regret it.