Waverley

Edward and his companions arrive at a cave where a meeting is being held by Donald Bean Lean, the leader of the thieves. Edward is surprised by the warm welcome he receives, how gentlemanly the leader of the thieves is, and how much Donald knows about politics and the military. Edward peacefully spends the night in the cavern.

Donald’s company is gone when Edward wakes up, but his daughter Alice prepares breakfast for him and Evan. Edward notices that his Waverley family seal is missing. As they continue their journey, Evan tells Edward about how thieves like Donald think stealing from Lowlanders and English people is permissible. He also tells Edward about the complex politics of upholding the law in the Highlands. Fergus allows Donald to commit his crimes but would not protect him from a Lowland invasion. Evan is surprised when Fergus comes to meet Edward without his usual train of followers, and Edward interprets this as a great honor. Edward is impressed by how handsome and dignified the chief is, but on later reflection sees how powerful and vindictive he can be.

The narrator describes Fergus and his history, saying that he is a knowledgeable political leader who was educated in France. Fergus was a double agent: he had worked with a group charged by the Hanoverian king to establish law in the Highlands but simultaneously protected the Jacobite Lowland gentry with his large and well-organized clan. A staunch Jacobite himself, Fergus has attempted to rally all the nearby clans to his cause, believing the rightful king will soon be restored. Fergus takes Edward to his home, where he sees many of Fergus’s soldiers practicing for battle before a feast.

The narrator describes the great hospitality Edward receives at a feast for hundreds, which Edward observes is essentially divided by class. Edward sees how much Fergus is admired and venerated by his clan, and Fergus invites him to tea with his sister Flora.

Edward sees the similarities between Fergus and Flora in their looks as well as their political beliefs, yet the narrator describes Flora’s principles as more pure than political, contrary to those of her brother. Flora had been the one to urge the reconciliation between Fergus and Bradwardine.

Fergus leaves Edward and Flora to discuss Celtic poetry and a poem Edward had heard at the feast. Edward is completely charmed by Flora’s beauty and the way she expresses her passions. She sings him an old battle song and once again Edward is enraptured by the romance of the people and culture of the Scottish Highlands.

Fergus meets with Edward and Flora again and invites the Englishman to stay a week at Glennaquoich. They write to the Baron to let him know. The siblings discuss Donald Bean Lean, whom Flora detests, though Fergus sees the political advantages of keeping him close. 

Edward ends up spending multiple weeks at Glennaquoich and grows closer to Fergus and Flora. He goes on a hunt with Fergus and other local chiefs during which he sprains his ankle and is healed by an herbalist. He is carried back past Glennaquoich to the house of a gentleman related to Fergus who takes care of Edward for a few days as he heals. Edward asks his host where Fergus has gone, but he does not tell him. Six days later, Fergus returns and he and Edward go back to Glennaquoich, where Edward is overjoyed to see Flora.

Flora gives Edward some letters that have been forwarded from Tully-Veolan, from which he learns that his father has been fired from his seat in the government due to political sectarianism. Due to this, Richard urges Edward to give up his commission—something Everard agrees with in his own letter to Edward. However, Edward also receives a letter from his commanding officer saying he must return to the regiment or be considered a deserter. Edward feels that this is a slight to the Waverley name and considers it a politically motivated move. He meets with Fergus, who has read about Richard Waverley’s disgrace in a local paper which also addresses Edward’s desertion. Edward is full of indignation and shame and cries in Fergus’s arms as both men begin to think of revenge. Fergus says Edward should not direct his anger toward people like the colonel but instead to the king.

Fergus sees that a match between Flora and Edward would be good for their cause, especially as he recognizes Edward’s feelings for his sister. Flora rejoices in the news that Edward has been relieved from his commission, but she hesitates to wish he would join their cause as Edward is not ready to give his life for it like her and Fergus. Edward attempts to confess his feelings to Flora, but she stops him, asking him to give her half an hour to think about what she wants to say to him. Edward is stunned as Fergus takes him away to see his military preparations.

Fergus continues to be secretive about his battle plans around Edward, as he has not agreed to join the Jacobite cause. When Edward brings up the subject, Fergus urges him to go and seek out Flora before she can decide against him. When Edward finds her, Flora admits that she cannot feel anything but friendship toward him. She tells him that her dedication to the Jacobite cause is the only thing she thinks of, and she cannot give him the attention he wants until the rightful king is restored to the throne. She tells him he deserves a wife who can give him love and affection, knowing she cannot. Flora also warns Edward not to follow Fergus into battle, knowing he can add nothing to the cause and will lose his reputation or his life if he joins the uprising.

The next morning, Edward awakes to the voice of Davie Gellatley singing a Highland song below his window. Davie gives Edward a letter from Rose telling him that a warrant has been issued for her father’s arrest, but he has escaped. Officers came to Tully-Veolan the next day, also asking about Edward, and Rose warns him about staying in Scotland. Edward debates the worth of entering into a civil war and writes back to Rose to let her know he is safe. He knows he must leave as soon as possible and tells Fergus he intends to flee to the Lowland capital of Edinburgh. Fergus warns that the English will turn against him for his Jacobite ties, whereas the Jacobites would welcome him gladly. However, Edward is determined, and Fergus sees him off after summoning Flora, who declines to say goodbye to Edward.

Edward thinks of Flora’s rejection as he heads into the Lowlands. He and one of Fergus’s Clansmen, Callum Beg, stay at a pub in a small market town for the night, where Edward gets a horse and guide to take him to Edinburgh. Callum gives Edward a letter from Fergus in which he has enclosed a poem Flora wrote about a historic English soldier who abandoned his countrymen to fight for the Scots. The landlord of the pub, a puritanical man named Ebeneezer Cruickshanks, who Callum suspects might report them if he learns they come from the Highlands, tells Edward he will be accompanying him as far as Perth.