Fergus, whose eyes flashed when he was told by Cathleen that her mistress designed to keep her apartment that evening, went himself in quest of her; but apparently his remonstrances were in vain, for he returned with a heightened complexion and manifest symptoms of displeasure.

The rest of the evening passed on without any allusion, on the part either of Fergus or Waverley, to the subject which engrossed the reflections of the latter, and perhaps of both.
When retired to his own apartment, Edward endeavoured to sum up the business of the day.

That the repulse he had received from Flora would be persisted in for the present, there was no doubt.

But could he hope for ultimate success in case circumstances permitted the renewal of his suit?
Would the enthusiastic loyalty, which at this animating moment left no room for a softer passion, survive, at least in its engrossing force, the success or the failure of the present political machinations?
And if so, could he hope that the interest which she had acknowledged him to possess in her favour might be improved into a warmer attachment?
He taxed his memory to recall every word she had used, with the appropriate looks and gestures which had enforced them, and ended by finding himself in the same state of uncertainty.

It was very late before sleep brought relief to the tumult of his mind, after the most painful and agitating day which he had ever passed..