FromtheminutenesswithwhichIhavetracedWaverley’spursuits，andthebiaswhichtheseunavoidablycommunicatedtohisimagination，thereadermayperhapsanticipate，inthefollowingtale，animitationoftheromanceofCervantes。Buthewilldomyprudenceinjusticeinthesupposition。Myintentionisnottofollowthestepsofthatinimitableauthor，indescribingsuchtotalperversionofintellectasmisconstruestheobjectsactuallypresentedtothesenses，butthatmorecommonaberrationfromsoundjudgment，whichapprehendsoccurrencesindeedintheirreality，butcommunicatestothematinctureofitsownromantictoneandcolouring。SofarwasEdwardWaverleyfromexpectinggeneralsympathywithhisownfeelings，orconcludingthatthepresentstateofthingswascalculatedtoexhibittherealityofthosevisionsinwhichhelovedtoindulge，thathedreadednothingmorethanthedetectionofsuchsentimentsasweredictatedbyhismusings。
Heneitherhadnorwishedtohaveaconfidant，withwhomtocommunicatehisreveries；andsosensiblewasheoftheridiculeattachedtothem，that，hadhebeentochoosebetweenanypunishmentshortofignominy，andthenecessityofgivingacoldandcomposedaccountoftheidealworldinwhichhelivedthebetterpartofhisdays，Ithinkhewouldnothavehesitatedtoprefertheformerinfliction。Thissecrecybecamedoublyprecious，ashefeltinadvancinglifetheinfluenceoftheawakeningpassions。Femaleformsofexquisitegraceandbeautybegantomingleinhismentaladventures；norwashelongwithoutlookingabroadtocomparethecreaturesofhisownimaginationwiththefemalesofactuallife。
ThelistofthebeautieswhodisplayedtheirhebdomadalfineryattheparishchurchofWaverleywasneithernumerousnorselect。ByfarthemostpassablewasMissSissly，or，assheratherchosetobecalled，MissCeciliaStubbs，daughterofSquireStubbsattheGrange。Iknownotwhetheritwasbythemerestaccidentintheworld，’’aphrasewhich，fromfemalelips，doesnotalwaysexclude_maliceprepense，_orwhetheritwasfromaconformityoftaste，thatMissCeciliamorethanoncecrossedEdwardinhisfavouritewalksthroughWaverley-Chase。
Hehadnotasyetassumedcouragetoaccostherontheseoccasions；
butthemeetingwasnotwithoutitseffect。Aromanticloverisastrangeidolater，whosometimescaresnotoutofwhatlogheframestheobjectofhisadoration；atleast，ifnaturehasgiventhatobjectanypassableproportionofpersonalcharms，hecaneasilyplaytheJewellerandDerviseintheOrientaltale，andsupplyherrichly，outofthestoresofhisownimagination，SeeHoppner’sTaleof_TheSevenLovers。_