About noon
Since that time their numbers have gradually diminished ; but a good many are still to be found in the western counties , and several , with a better temper than in 1707 , have now taken arms for Government , This person , whom they call Gifted Gilfillan , has been long a leader among them , and now heads a small party , which will pass here to-day , or to-morrow , on their march towards Stirling , under whose escort Major Melville proposes you shall travel . I would willingly speak to Gilfillan in your behalf ; but , having deeply imbibed all the prejudices of his sect , and being of the same fierce disposition , he would pay little regard to the remonstrances of an Erastian divine , as he would politely term me . -- And now , farewell , my young friend ; for the present , I must not weary out the Major 's indulgence , that I may obtain his permission to visit you again in the course of the day . ' About noon , Mr. Morton returned , and brought an invitation from Major Melville that Mr. Waverley would honour him with his company to dinner , notwithstanding the unpleasant affair which detained him at Cairnvreckan , from which he should heartily rejoice to see Mr. Waverley completely extricated . The truth was , that Mr. Morton 's favourable report and opinion had somewhat staggered the preconceptions of the old soldier concerning Edward 's supposed accession to the mutiny in the regiment ; and in the unfortunate state of the country , the mere suspicion of disaffection , or an inclination to join the insurgent Jacobites , might infer criminality indeed , but certainly not dishonour . Besides , a person whom the Major trusted had reported to him -LRB- though , as it proved , inaccurately -RRB- a contradiction of the agitating news of the preceding evening . According to this second edition of the intelligence , the Highlanders had withdrawn from the Lowland frontier with the purpose of following the army in their march to Inverness .