If she was to be also Viscountess Bradwardine
in her own right, after her father's demise, so much the better; I could
have no objection.'
'But, Fergus,' said Waverley, 'I had no idea that you had any affection
for Miss Bradwardine, and you are always sneering at her father.'
'I have as much affection for Miss Bradwardine, my good friend, as I
think it necessary to have for the future mistress of my family, and the
mother of my children. She is a very pretty, intelligent girl, and is
certainly of one of the very first Lowland families; and, with a little
of Flora's instructions and forming, will make a very good figure. As to
her father, he is an original, it is true, and an absurd one enough; but
he has given such severe lessons to Sir Hew Halbert, that dear defunct
the Laird of Balmawhapple, and others, that nobody dare laugh at him,
so his absurdity goes for nothing. I tell you there could have been
no earthly objection--none. I had settled the thing entirely in my own
mind.'
'But had you asked the Baron's consent,' said Waverley, 'Or Rose's?'
'To what purpose? To have spoke to the Baron before I had assumed my
title would have only provoked a premature and irritating discussion on
the subject of the change of name, when, as Earl of Glennaquoich, I
had only to propose to him to carry his d-d bear and bootjack PARTY
PER PALE, or in a scutcheon of pretence, or in a separate shield
perhaps--any way that would not blemish my own coat of arms.
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