I am sure, if I was passionate, the mortification of losing the alliance of such a friend, after your arrangement had been the talk of both Highlands and Lowlands, and that without so much as knowing why or wherefore, might well provoke calmer blood than mine.

I shall write to Edinburgh, and put all to rights; that is, if you desire I should do so,--as indeed I cannot suppose that your good opinion of Flora, it being such as you have often expressed to me, can be at once laid aside.' 'Colonel Mac-Ivor,' said Edward, who had no mind to be hurried farther or faster than he chose, in a matter which he had already considered as broken off, 'I am fully sensible of the value of your good offices; and certainly, by your zeal on my behalf in such an affair, you do me no small honour.

But as Miss Mac-Ivor has made her election freely and voluntarily, and as all my attentions in Edinburgh were received with more than coldness, I cannot, in justice either to her or myself, consent that she should again be harassed upon this topic.

I would have mentioned this to you some time since;--but you saw the footing upon which we stood together, and must have understood it.

Had I thought otherwise, I would have earlier spoken; but I had a natural reluctance to enter upon a subject so painful to us both.' 'Oh, very well, Mr.Waverley,' said Fergus, haughtily, 'the thing is at an end.