Sir Walter Scott Appreciation discussion

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The pace quickens and we have lots more action. Our hero meets the exciting and forceful Fergus and his patriotic sister Flora(patriotic to Scotland, not King George). His divided loyalties are sundered after receiving a very unpleasant letter from his commanding officer. Poor Waverley. He did nothing intentionally wrong, but his youth, inexperience, and the attraction to Flora have put him in a ticklish situation.

I have paused at the end of Volume 1 which is chapter 23.
Thoughts...
Many references to the politics of the time. After the uprising of 1715, many Scot loyal to King James were exiled, but there were still some families living in Scotland; Fergus Mac Ivor and his sister being such.
I thought the poem she translated to English was beautiful and noble and the families named refer to those who either stood with King James or should have done and were being urged to return to resume the pure faith. These clans were referred to by the emblems on their banners and as such one would need to know the reference to understand the name. The story is on the eve of the last civil war fought on British Soil; the landing of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (aka Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender) in Scotland in the summer of 1745 and the unfurling of his standard at Glenfinnian:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenfinnan

The song about the loss of a cow was in fact in reference to the cause that Jacobites would have understood.

So far my thoughts are that Scott truly was a master of taking historical facts and weaving a beautiful, interesting story out of them. He mentions references to Shakespearean works and one senses that the readership of the time were far more literate than now.

Loving the story the history lesson it is giving me.
1. The hunting party happened prior to the 1715 uprising and was used as a sort of rendezvous for those in the Jacobite cause and to get together arms and men.
2. The herbal 'spell' chanted is very similar to others I have seen and still used today by some.
3. The letters Edward received showed the very different characters of his father and uncle; the former only interested in himself, the latter obviously full of affection and concern for his nephew.
4. At last Edward's leave of absence is noted...it would be called AWOL in today's world and a court marshal would be arranged.
5. Flora's rejection of Edward...was this anticipated? Do you agree or disagree with her?

It has been a while since I finished the book, but I remember Flora. She does not take Edward seriously, I think, and still considers him a boy-and an outsider.

Flora has given her heart and soul to the Stuart family and their restoration to the throne. In doing so she seems to have dismissed any idea of love for herself and I feel that Edward comes as quite a surprise to her and she knows not what to do. She also has seen more of political/religious exclusion and isolation and fears that Edward would not be able to stand such things if he is doing them only for her and not from his own principles

I don't take the portrayal of Flora as altogether positive. She is pre-wedded to her fanaticism.

Patrick wrote: "I don't take the portrayal of Flora as altogether positive. She is pre-wedded to her fanaticism."

Yes, it is as if she has taken a vow and is as much as a nun as if she were in a convent