'
'An addition, the want of which, I trust, will be amply supplied by some
other means.'
'How,' said Fergus, stopping short and turning upon Waverley--'how am I
to understand that, Mr. Waverley? Had I the pleasure to hear you aright?'
'Perfectly right, Fergus.'
'And am I to understand that you no longer desire my alliance and my
sister's hand?'
'Your sister has refused mine,' said Waverley, 'both directly and by all
the usual means by which ladies repress undesired attentions.'
'I have no idea,' answered the Chieftain, 'of a lady dismissing or a
gentleman withdrawing his suit, after it has been approved of by her
legal guardian, without giving him an opportunity of talking the matter
over with the lady. You did not, I suppose, expect my sister to drop into
your mouth like a ripe plum the first moment you chose to open it?'
'As to the lady's title to dismiss her lover, Colonel,' replied Edward,
'it is a point which you must argue with her, as I am ignorant of the
customs of the Highlands in that particular. But as to my title to
acquiesce in a rejection from her without an appeal to your interest, I
will tell you plainly, without meaning to undervalue Miss Mac-Ivor's
admitted beauty and accomplishments, that I would not take the hand of an
angel, with an empire for her dowry, if her consent were extorted by the
importunity of friends and guardians, and did not flow from her own free
inclination.
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