The affectionate simplicity of Rose, and her anxiety for his
safety,--his sense, too, of her unprotected state, and of the terror and
actual dangers to which she might be exposed, made an impression upon
his mind, and he instantly wrote to thank her in the kindest terms for
her solicitude on his account, to express his earnest good wishes for
her welfare and that of her father, and to assure her of his own safety.
The feelings which this task excited were speedily lost in the necessity
which he now saw of bidding farewell to Flora Mac-Ivor, perhaps for
ever. The pang attending this reflection were inexpressible; for her
high-minded elevation of character, her self-devotion to the cause which
she had embraced, united to her scrupulous rectitude as to the means of
serving it, had vindicated to his judgement the choice adopted by his
passions. But time pressed, calumny was busy with his fame, and every
hour's delay increased the power to injure it. His departure must be
instant.
With this determination he sought out Fergus, and communicated to him
the contents of Rose's letter, with his own resolution instantly to
go to Edinburgh, and put into the hands of some one or other of those
persons of influence to whom he had letters from his father, his
exculpation from any charge which might be preferred against him.
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