 Volume 2, Chapter 1 of Rob Roy. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Robert Fletcher. Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott. Volume 2, Chapter 1. And hurry, hurry off they road, as fast as fast might be. Hurrah, hurrah, the dead can ride. Dost fear to ride with me? There is one advantage in an accumulation of evils, differing in cause and character that the distraction which they afford by their contradictory operation prevents the patient from being overwhelmed under either. I was deeply grieved at my separation from Miss Vernon, yet not so much so as I should have been, had not my father's apprehended distresses forced themselves on my attention, and I was distressed by the news of Mr. Tresham, yet less so than if they had fully occupied my mind. I was neither a false lover nor an unfeeling son, but man can give but a certain portion of distressful emotions to the causes which demand them, and if two operate at once, our sympathy, like the funds of a compounding bankrupt, can only be divided between them. Such were my reflections when I gained my apartment, it seems, from the illustration, they already began to have a twang of commerce in them. I set myself seriously to consider your father's letter. It was not very distinct and referred for several particulars to Owen, whom I was intrigued to meet with as soon as possible at a Scotch town called Glasgow. Being informed, moreover, that my old friend was to be heard of at Messers, McVidi, McFinn and Company, merchants in the Gallo gate of said town, it likewise alluded to several letters which, as it appeared to me, must have miscarried or have been intercepted, and complained of my obdurate silence in terms which would have been highly unjust had my letters reached their purposed destination. I was amazed, as I read, that the spirit of rashly walked around me, and conjured up these doubts and difficulties by which I was surrounded, I could not doubt for one instant. Yet it was frightful to conceive the extent of combined villainy and power which he must have employed in the perpetration of his designs. Let me do myself justice in one respect. The evil of parting from Miss Vernon, however distressing it might in other respects and at another time have appeared to me, sunk into a subordinate consideration when I thought of the dangers impending over my father. I did not myself set a high estimation on wealth, and had the affectation of most young men of lively imagination, who suppose that they can better dispense with the possession of money than resign their time and faculties to the labour necessary to acquire it. But in my father's case, I knew that bankruptcy would be considered as an utter and irretrievable disgrace, to which life would afford no comfort and death the speediest and sole relief. My mind, therefore, was bent on averting this catastrophe, with an intensity which the interest could not have produced had it referred to my own fortunes, and the result of my deliberation was a firm resolution to depart from his Balderstone Hall the next day and wind my way without loss of time to meet Owen at Glasgow. I did not hold it expedient to intimate my departure to my uncle, otherwise then by leaving a letter of thanks for his hospitality, assuring him that sudden and important business prevented my offering them in person. I knew the blunt old knight would readily excuse ceremony, and I had such a belief in the extent and decided character of Rachele's machinations that I had some apprehension of his having provided means to intercept a journey which was undertaken with a view to disconcert them if my departure was publicly announced at his Balderstone Hall. I therefore determined to set off on my journey with daylight on the ensuing morning, and to gain the neighbouring Kingdom of Scotland before any idea of my departure was entertained at the Hall. But one impediment of consequence was likely to prevent that speed which was the sole of my expedition. I did not know the shortest nor indeed any road to Glasgow, and as in the circumstances in which I stood, dispatch was of the greatest consequence. I determined to consult Andrew Fairservice on the subject as the nearest and most authentic authority within my reach. Late as it was, I set off with the intention of ascertaining this important point, and after a few minutes walk reached the dwelling of the Gardner. Andrew's dwelling was situated at no great distance from the exterior wall of the garden, a snug, comfortable Northumbrian cottage, built of stones roughly dressed with the hammer, and having the windows indoors decorated with huge heavy architraves, or lentils as they are called, of hewn stone, and its roof covered with broad grey flags instead of slates, thatch, or tiles. A jargonel pear tree at one end of the cottage, a rivulet and flower plot ever rude and extent in front, and a kitchen garden behind, a paddock for a cow and a small field cultivated with several crops of grain, rather for the benefit of the cottager than for sale, announced the warm and cordial comforts which Old England, even at her most northern extremity, extends to her meanest inhabitants. As I approached the mansion of the sapient Andrew, I heard a noise, which, being of a nature peculiarly solemn, nasal and prolonged, led me to think that Andrew, according to the decent and meritorious custom of his countrymen, had assembled some of his neighbours to join in family exercise as he called evening devotion. Andrew had indeed neither wife, child, nor female inmate in his family. The first of his trade, he said, had had enough of the cattle, but notwithstanding he sometimes contrived to form an audience for himself out of the neighbouring papists and Church of Englandman brands, as he expressed it, snatched out of the burning, on whom he used to exercise his spiritual gifts, in defiance alike of Father Vaughn, Father Ducarty, Rashley, and all the world of Catholics around him, who deemed his interference on such occasions in act of heretical interloping. I conceived it likely, therefore, that the well-disposed neighbours might have assembled to hold some chapel of ease of this nature. The noise, however, when I listened to it more accurately, seemed to proceed entirely from the lungs of the said Andrew, and when I interrupted it by entering the house, I found fair service alone, combating as best he could with long words and hard names and reading aloud for the purpose of his own edification of volume of controversial divinity. I was just taking a spell, said he, laying aside the huge folio volume as I entered, of the worthy doctor Lightfoot. Lightfoot, I replied, looking at the ponderous volume with some surprise, surely your author was unhappily named. Lightfoot was his name, sir, a divine he was, and another kind of a divine than they are nowadays. Always I crave your pardon for keeping you standing at the door, but having been mistrusted and guide preservus, with I boggled the night already, I was dubious at opening me yet that I had gone to the evening worship, and I had just finished the fish chapter of Nehemiah, if that winner got to keep them their distance, I wouldn't have that will. Trusted with a bobble, said I, what do you mean by that, Andrew? I said mistrusted, replied Andrew. I is as muckled as to say, flayed there with the geist, guide preservus, I say again. Flayed by a ghost, Andrew, how am I to understand that? I did not say flayed, replied Andrew, but flayed. That is, I got a flag, and was ready to jump out on my skin, though nobody offered to whirl it off my body as a man with bark a tree. I beg a truce to your terrors in the present case, Andrew, and I wish to know whether you can direct me the nearest way to a town in your country of Scotland, called Glasgow. A town called Glasgow? echoed Andrew fair service. Glasgow is a city man, and is it the way to Glasgow you were spearing, if I can? What so they'll meet a kennet? It's not at dooms far, fray, mine, perish, of droop daily. It lies a bit further to the west, but what may your order be gone, the Glasgow fore? Particular business, replied I. As his muckled as to say, spear in the questions, and I'll tell you less, the Glasgow. He made a short pause. I am thinking you would be the better or some other way to show you the road. Certainly if I could meet with any person going that way. And your honour, thatless, would consider the time in trouble. Unquestionably, my business is pressing, and if you can find any guide to accompany me, I'll pay him handsomely. This is no a day to speak of carnal matters, said Andrew, casting his eyes upwards. But if it weren't a sabbath then, I would spare what you had to be content to guide, to aim that would bury a pleasant company on the road, and tell you the names that the gentlemen's and nobleman's seats and castles kept their kin to you. I tell you, all I want to know is the road I must travel. I will pay the fellow to his satisfaction, I will give him anything and reason. Anything, replied Andrew, is nothing. And this lie I am speaking of canes at the shortcuts and queer bypass through the hills, and I have no time to talk about it, Andrew, do you make the bargain for me your own way? Aha, that's speaking to the purpose, answered Andrew. I am thinking, say be the say, it is I'll be the lad that will guide you myself. You, Andrew, how will you get away from your employment? I told your honour a wild sign, that it was a line that I had been thinking of flitting, maybe as long as free the first year I came to his baldest donal. And then I mowed the mind to gain in good earnest, better soon as sign, better a finger off as ye eye wagging. You leave your service then, but will you not lose your wages? Now that there will be a certain loss, but then I assailor of the lords in my hands, that I took for the apples in the old orchard, and sir bargain the folk, had that bought them a ween green trash, and yet surreal the brands as keen that I had the sillar, that is the stewardess as pressing about it, as if they had seen a golden pipins. And then there is the sillar for the seeds, I am thinking the wage will be in a manner decently made up, but that lest your honour will consider my risk of loss, when we went to Glasgow, and you'll be for setting out for it with. By daybreak in the morning, I answered. That's something of the suddenest, where am I to find an egg? Stay, I can just the beast that will answer me. At five in the morning then, Andrew, you will meet me at the head of the avenue. Dealer fear of me, that I shall say say, missing my trace, replied Andrew very briskly, and if I might advise, we would be after hours earlier, I can that way dark a light, as will blind Ralph Ronaldson, as travelled over every moor in the countryside, and isn't again the colour of heather or cow when it's a done. I highly approved of Andrew's amendment on my original proposal, and we agreed to meet at the place appointed at three in the morning. At once, however, a reflection came across the mind of my intended travelling companion. The bugle, the bugle, what if it should come down upon us? I downed the forgathered wit that he thinks twice in the forward, and twenty hours. Poopoo, I exclaimed. Breaking away from him, fear nothing from the next world, the earth contains living friends who can act for themselves without assistance, where the whole host fell with Lucifer to return to aid and abet them. With these words, the import of which was suggested by my own situation, I left Andrew's habitation and returned to the hall. I made the few preparations which were necessary for my proposed journey, examined and loaded my pistols, and then threw myself on my bed to remain, if possible, a brief sleep before the fatigue of a long and anxious journey. Nature, exhausted by the tumultuous agitations of the day, was kinder to me than I expected, and I sink into a deep and profound slumber. From which, however, I started as the old clock struck two from a turret adjoining to my bedchamber. I instantly arose, struck a light, wrote the letter I proposed to leave for my uncle, leaving behind me such articles of dress as were cumbersome carriage. I posited the rest of my wardrobe in my valise, plied it downstairs, and gained the stable without impediment. Without being quite such a groom as any of my cousins, I had learned at his baldy stone hall to dress and saddle my own horse, and a few minutes I was mounted and ready for my sally. As I paced up the old avenue, on which the waning moon threw its light with a pale and whitish tinge, I looked back with a deep and boating sigh towards the walls which contained Diana Vernon, under the despondent impression that we had probably parted to meet no more. It was impossible among the long and irregular lines of gothic casements which now looked ghastly white in the moonlight to distinguish that of the apartment which she inhabited. She is lost to me already, thought I, as my eye wandered over the dim and indistinguishable intricacies of architecture offered by the moonlight view of his baldy stone hall. She is lost to me already, ere I have left the place which she inhabits, what hope is there of my maintaining any correspondence with her when leagues shall lie between. While I paused in a reverie of no very pleasing nature, the iron tongue of time told three upon the drowsy ear of night, and reminded me of the necessity of keeping my appointment with a person of a less interesting description and appearance, Andrew Fair Service. At the gate of the avenue I found a horseman stationed in the shadow of the wall, but it was not until I had coughed twice, and then called Andrew, that the horticulturist replied, I swore and it's Andrew! Lead the way then, said I, and be silent if you can till we are past the hamlet in the valley. Andrew led the way accordingly, and at a much brisker pace than I would have recommended, and so well did he obey my injunctions of keeping silence, that he would return no answer to my repeated inquiries into the case of such unnecessary haste. Extricating ourselves by shortcuts known to Andrew from the numerous stony lanes and bypass which intersected each other in the vicinity of the hall, we reached the open heath and riding swiftly across it, took our course among the barren hills which divide England from Scotland on what are called the Middle Marches. The way, or rather the broken track which we occupied, was a happy interchange of bog and shingles, nevertheless Andrew related nothing of his speed, but trotted manfully forward at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour. I was both surprised and provoked at the fellow's obstinate persistence, for we made abrupt ascents and descents over ground of a very breakneck character, and traversed the edge of precipices where a slip of the horse's feet would have consigned the rider to certain death. The moon at best afforded a dubious and imperfect light, but in some places we were so much under the shade of the mountain as to be in total darkness, and then I could only trace Andrew by the clatter of his horse's feet and the fire which they struck from the flints. At first this rapid motion, and the attention which, for the sake of personal safety, I was compelled to give to the conduct of my horse was of service by forcibly diverting my thoughts from the various painful reflections which must otherwise have pressed on my mind. But at length, after hallowing repeatedly to Andrew to ride slower, I became seriously incensed at his impotent perseverance in refusing either to obey or to reply to me. My anger was, however, quite impotent. I attempted once or twice to get up alongside of my self-willed guide with the purpose of knocking him off his horse with the butt end of my whip, but Andrew was better mounted than I, and either the spirit of the animal which he bestowed or more probably some presentiment of my kind intentions toward him induced him to quicken his pace whenever I attempted to make up to him. On the other hand, I was compelled to exert my spurs to keep him in sight, for without his guidance I was too well aware that I should never find my way through the howling wilderness which we now traverse at such an unwanted pace. I was so angry at length that I threatened to have recourse with my pistols and a bullet after the hotspur Andrew, which should stop his fiery-footed career if he did not abate it of his own accord. Apparently, this threat made some impression on the tympanum of his ear, however deaf to all my milder entreaties, for he relaxed his pace upon hearing it, and, suffering me to close up to him, observed there was no moccal sense in riding a sick-daft-like gate. And what did you mean by doing so at all, you self-willed scoundrel? replied I, for I was in a towering passion, to which, by the way, nothing contributes more than the having recently undergone a spice of personal fear, which, like a few drops of water flung on a glowing fire, is sure to inflame the ardour which it is insufficient to quench. What's your honour's will? replied Andrew with impenetrable gravity. My will, you rascal, I have been roaring to you this hour to ride slower, and you have never so much as answered me. Are you drunk or mad to behave so? And at like your honour, I am something dull hearing, and I'll no deny, but I might have maybe tain a stirrup, cut it part in fray the old begging where I dwell say long. And having now by the pledge, and I doubt I was obliged to do my sole reason, or else leave the end of the brandy stop to the papists, and that would be a waste as your honour, kins. This might all be very true, and my circumstances required that I should be on good terms with my guide. I therefore satisfied myself with requiring of him to take his directions for me in future concerning the rate of travelling. Andrew, emboldened by the mildness of my tone, elevated his own into the pedantic, conceited octave, which was familiar to him on most occasions. Your honour, when they persuade me, and nay body shall persuade me, that it either heilsome or prudent to take the night air on the moors without a cordial o'claw gilliflowered water, or a tass of brandy, or a quavite, or sick-like creature comfort. I had tain the bent or the odd-scrape rake a hundred times day and night, and never could find the way unless I had tain my morning. Mere by token, I had lost my bits anchors or brandy on the ilk of side of me. In other words, Andrew, said I, you were a smuggler. How does a man of all strict principles reconcile yourselves to cheat the revenue? It's a mere spoiling of the Egyptians, replied Andrew. Poor old Scotland suffers enough by the black garloons that excise me in gougers, that it come down on her like locusts since the sad and sorrowful union, it's the part of a kind son to bring her a soup as something that would keep her old heart, that will they nilday, the ill-fair thieves. Upon more particular inquiry, I found Andrew had frequently travelled these mountain paths as a smuggler, both before and after his establishment at his Baldestone Hall. A circumstance which was so far of importance to me as it proved his capacity as a guide, notwithstanding the escapade of which he had been guilty at his outset. Even now, though travelling into more moderate pace, the stirrup cup or whatever else had such an effect in stimulating Andrew's motions seemed not totally to have lost its influence. He often cast a nervous and startled look behind him, and whenever the road seemed at all practicable, showed symptoms of a desire to accelerate his pace, as if he feared some pursuit from the rear. These appearances of alarm gradually diminished as we reached the top of a high-bleak ridge, to ran nearly east and west for a mile, with a very steep descent on either side. The pale beams of the morning were now enlightening the horizon, and when Andrew cast a look behind him, and not seeing the appearance of a living being on the moors which he had travelled, his hard features gradually unbent, as he first whistled, then sung, with much glee and little melody, the end of one of his native songs. Jenny loss I think I eye her, or them we're among the heather, or their clan shall never get her. He patted at the same time the neck of the horse which had carried him so gallantly, and my attention being directed by that action to the animal, I instantly recognised a favourite mare of Thorncliffe as Balderstone. How is this, sir? said I sternly. That is Mr Thorncliffe's mare. I'll no say, but she may ireblins a this honour's Squire Thorncliffe's in her day. But she's mine now. You have stolen her, you rascal! No, no, sir. Nigh man can wight me with theft. The thing stands this gate, you see. Squire Thorncliffe borrowed ten pounds of me to gain to your graces. Dale a bottle what he pay me back again, and spake a rattling bains as he kighted when I asked him but for my own back again. Now I think it will real him, or he gets back his horse, or the border again unless he pays me plaque and balby, he shall never see a hair of Dale. I can canny-chilled at Loch Mubin, a bit righter lad that will put me in the way to sort him. Steal the mare. Nanna, far be the say no theft, fry Andrew fair service. I had just accepted her jurisdiction as van de Siqueuse. There are bonny writer words amiced the language of his gardeners and other learned men. It's a pity there, say dear. There are three words whether that Andrew got for a long law plea and four anchors, or as good brandy is, or copet, or craig is, sirs. Plaus a dear thing. You are likely to find it much dear than you suppose, Andrew, if you proceed in this mode of paying yourself without legal authority. Hout out. We're in Scotland now, be praise for it. And I can find both friends and lawyers and judges to you as well on any as ballastones of the may. My Mithyr's third cousin was cousin to the provost, the dumps, and he when I see a drap or her blood runned. Hout awa, the laws are indifferently administered here to a men and men alike. It's no like in the inside when a child of me whooped awa we and a no clerk's job since warrants. Before he can's where he is. But ay will a little enough law among them by and by. And that is his grander reason as I given him good day. I was highly provoked at the achievement of Andrew and considered it as a hard fate, which a second time threw me into collision with a person of such irregular practices. I determined, however, to buy the mare of him when should reach the end of our journey and send her back to my cousin at his ballastone hall. And with this purpose of reparation I resolved to make my uncle acquainted from the next post-town. It was needless, I thought, to quarrel with Andrew in the meantime who had, after all, acted not very unnaturally for a person in his circumstances. I therefore smothered my resentment and asked him what he meant by his last expressions, that there would be little law in Northumberland by and by. Law, said Andrew, how'd ay there will be club law enough, the priests and the Irish officers, and the paper's cattle. They've been soldering abroad because they darsen by the aim are a fleeing thick in Northumberland day and now. And the carbines dine together without the smell of carrion as sure as you live, his honor's to hail the brand that's gone as thick as horde in the book. There's nothing but gun and pistol, sword and dagger among them, and they'll be laying on. I swore for their fearless fools the youngest ballastone squires, I, craving their honors, pardon. This speech recalled to my memory some suspicions that I myself had entertained, that the Jacobites were on the eve of some desperate enterprise, but conscious it did not become me to be a spy on my uncle's words and acts. I had rather avoided than availed myself of any opportunity which occurred of rocking upon the signs of the times. Andrew's fair service felt no such restraint, and doubtless spoke very truly in stating his conviction that some desperate plots were in agitation, as a reason which determined his resolution to leave the hall. The servants, he stated, with the tenet tree and others, had all been regularly enrolled in Mustard, and they wanted me to take arms also, but I'll ride in their second troupe with the little kind Andrew that asked him. I'll fight when I like myself, but it shall neither be for the Hewer of Babylon, nor any Hewer in England. End of Volume 2, Chapter 1. At the first Scotch town which we reached, my guide sought out his friend and counselor to consult upon the proper and legal means of converting into his own lawful property, the Bonnie Creature, which was at present his own, only by one of those sleight-of-hand arrangements, which still seemed to be the case, but it was not. It was not. At the first Scotch town which we reached, was by one of those sleight-of-hand arrangements, which still sometimes took place in that once-lawless district. I was somewhat diverted with the dejection of his looks on his return. He had, it seems, been rather too communicative to his confidential friend, the attorney, and learned with great dismay in return for his unsuspecting frankness that Mr. Tutop had, during his absence, been appointed clerk to the piece of the county and was bound to communicate to justice all such achievements as that of his friend Mr. Andrew Fair Service. There was a necessity, this alert member of the police stated, for arresting the horse and placing him in Bailey Trumbull's stable, therein to remain at livery at the rate of 12 shillings, Scotch, per diem, until the question of property was duly tried and debated. He even talked as if in strict and rigorous execution of his duty he ought to detain honest Andrew himself. But on my guide's most piteously in treating his forbearance, he not only desisted from this proposal, but made a present to Andrew of a broken-winded and spavine pony in order to enable him to pursue his journey. It is true he qualified this act of generosity by exacting from poor Andrew an absolute session of his right and interest in the gallant palfre of Thorncliffe Osbaldestone, a transference which Mr. Tuto represented as a very little consequence since his unfortunate friend, as he facetiously observed, was likely to get nothing of the mayor accepting the halter. Andrew seemed woeful and disconcerted as I screwed out of him these particulars, for his northern pride was cruelly pinched by being compelled to admit that the attorneys were attorneys on both sides of the tweed and that Mr. Clerk Tuto was not a farthing more sterling coin than Mr. Clerk Jobson. It wouldn't have asked him half some muckl to have been cheated out of what might be said to be one with the peril of his craig had it happened among the Englishers, but it was an uncoh thing to see hawks pike out hawks in, but nade out things were strangely changed in his country since the sad and sorrowful union. An event which Andrew referred every symptom of depravity or degeneracy which he remarked upon his countrymen. More especially, the inflammation of reckonings, the diminished size of pint stoops and other grievances which he pointed out to me during our journey. For my own part I held myself as things had turned out acquitted of all charge of the mayor and wrote to my uncle the circumstances under which she was carried into Scotland concluding with informing him that she was in the hands of justice and her worthy representatives Bailey Trumbull and Mr. Clerk Tuto to whom I referred him for farther particulars. Whether the property returned to the Northumbrian fox hunter or continued to bear the person of the Scottish attorney, is unnecessary for me at present to say. We now pursued our journey to the northwestward at a rate much slower than that at which we had achieved our nocturnal retreat from England. One chain of barren and uninteresting hills succeeded another until the more fertile veil of Clyde opened upon us and with such dispatch as we might we gain the town or as my guide pertinaciously termed it the city of Glasgow. Of late years I understand it has fully deserved the name which by a sort of political second sight my guide assigned to it. An extensive and increasing trade with the West Indies and American colonies has, if I am rightly informed laid the foundation of wealth and prosperity which, if carefully strengthened and built upon may one day support an immense fabric of commercial prosperity. But in the earlier time of which I speak, the dawn of this splendor had not arisen. The union had indeed opened to Scotland the trade of the English colonies, but betwixt want of capital and the national jealousy of the English the merchants of Scotland were as yet excluded in a great measure from the exercise of the privileges which that memorable treaty conferred on them. Glasgow lay on the wrong side of the island for participating in the East Country or Continental trade by which the trifling commerce as yet possessed by Scotland chiefly supported itself. Yet though she then gave small promise of the commercial eminence to which I am informed she seems now likely one day to attain. Glasgow as the principal central town of the western district of Scotland was a place of considerable rank and importance. The broad and brimming Clyde which flows so near its walls gave the means of an inland navigation of some importance. Not only the fertile plains in its immediate neighborhood but the districts of Ayr and Dumfries regarded Glasgow as their capital to which they transmitted their produce and received in return such necessaries and luxuries as their consumption required. The dusky mountains of the western Highlands often sent forth wilder tribes to frequent the marts of St. Mungo's favorite city. Hordes of wild shaggy dwarfish cattle and ponies conducted by Highlanders as wild as shaggy and sometimes as dwarfish as the animals they had in charge often traversed the streets of Glasgow. Strangers gazed with surprise on antique and fantastic dress and listened to the unknown and dissonant sounds of their language and their mountaineers armed even while engaged in this peaceful occupation with musket and pistol, sword, dagger and target stared with astonishment on the articles of luxury of which they knew not the use and with an avidity which seemed somewhat alarming on the articles which they knew and valued. It is always with unwillingness that the Highlander quits his deserts and from its rock to plant him elsewhere yet even then the mountain glands were overpeopled although thinned occasionally by famine or by the sword and many of their inhabitants strayed down to Glasgow their formed settlements their sought and found employment although different indeed from that of their native hills. This supply of a hearty and useful population furnished the means of carrying on the few manufactures which the town already boasted and laid the foundation of its future prosperity. The exterior of the city corresponded with these promising circumstances. The principal street was broad and important decorated with public buildings of an architecture rather striking than correct in point of taste and running between rows of tall houses both of stone the fronts of which were occasionally richly ornamented with mason work a circumstance which gave the street an imposing air of dignity and grandeur of which most English towns are in some measure deprived by the slight insubstantial and perishable quality and appearance of the bricks with which they are constructed. In the western metropolis of Scotland my guide and I arrived on a Saturday evening too late to entertain the thoughts of business of any kind. We alighted at the door of a jolly hostler wife as Andrew called her the ostilaire of old father Chouser by whom we were civilly received. On the following morning the bells peeled from every steeple announcing the sanctity of the day. Notwithstanding however what I had heard of the severity with which the Sabbath is observed in Scotland my first impulse, not unnaturally was to seek out Owen but on inquiry I found that my attempt would be in vain until Kirk time was over. Not only did my landlady and guide jointly assure me that there would not be a living soul either in the counting house or dwelling house of messiers, McVity, McFinn and company to which Owen's letter referred me but moreover far less would I find any of the partners there. I would be a righteous man and would be where a good Christians ought to be at sick a time and that was in the barony Lye Kirk. Footnote, the Lye Kirk or Crypt of the Cathedral of Glasgow served for more than two centuries as the church of the barony parish and for a time was converted into a burial place. In the restorations of this grand building the crypt was cleared out which is specimens of early English architecture existing in Scotland. In footnote Andrew Fair service who's discussed at the law of his country had fortunately not extended itself to the other learned professions of his native land. Now sung forth the praises of the preacher who was to perform the duty to which my hostess replied with many loud ah-mins. The result was that I determined my place of worship as much with the purpose of learning if possible whether Owen had arrived in Glasgow as with any great expectation of edification. My hopes were exalted by the assurance that if Mr. F. Ray McVity were the man were in the land of life he would surely honor the barony Kirk that day with his presence and if he chance to have a stranger within his gates within. This probability determined my motions and under the escort of my faithful Andrew I set forth for the barony Kirk. On this occasion however I had little need of his guidance for the crowd which forced its way up a steep and rough paved street to hear the most popular preacher in the west of Scotland would of itself have swept me along with it. On attaining the summit of the hill we turned to the left a large pair of folding doors admitted us amongst others into the open and extensive burying place which surrounds the Minster or Cathedral Church of Glasgow. The pile is of a gloomy and massive rather than of an elegant style of Gothic architecture but its peculiar character is so strongly preserved and so well suited with the accompaniments that surround it that the impression of the first view was awful and solemn in the extreme. I was indeed so much struck that I resisted for a few minutes all Andrew's efforts to drag me into the interior of the building so deeply was I engaged in surveying its outward character. Situated in a populace and considerable town this ancient and massive pile has the appearance of the most sequestered solitude. High walls divided from the buildings of the city on one side and on the other it is bounded by a ravine at the bottom of which an invisible to the eye murmurs a wandering rivulet adding by its gentle noise to the imposing solemnity of the scene. On the opposite side of the ravine rises a steep bank covered with fir trees closely planted whose dusky shade extends itself over the cemetery with an appropriate and gloomy effect. The churchyard itself had a peculiar character for though in reality extensive it is small in proportion to the number of respectable inhabitants who are interred within it and whose graves are almost all covered with tombstones. There is therefore no room for the long-ranked grass which in most cases partially clothes the surface of those retreats where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. The broad flat monumental stones are placed so close to each other that the precincts appear to be flagged with them and though roofed only by the heavens resemble the floor of one of our old English churches where the pavement is covered with sepulchral inscriptions. The contents of these sad records of mortality, the vain sorrows which they preserve, the stern lesson which they teach of the nothingness of humanity, the extent of ground which they so closely cover and their uniform and melancholy tenor reminded me of the role of the prophet which was written within and without and there was written therein lamentations and mourning and woe. The cathedral itself corresponds in impressive majesty with these accompaniments. We feel that its appearance is heavy yet that the effect produced would be destroyed were it lighter or more ornamental. It is the only metropolitan church in Scotland excepting as I am informed the cathedral of Kirkwall in the Orkneys which remained uninjured at the Reformation and Andrew Fair service who saw with great pride the effect which it produced upon my mind thus accounted for its preservation. Ah, it's a brave Kirk. Nino your wig maleres and curly wordies and open stick hems about it. A solid wheel jointed mason that will stand as lying as the wild. Keep hands and gunpowder off it. It had amazed a duncom lang sign at the Reformation when they'd put down the kerks of Saint Andrew and Perth and their awa to cleanse them o' papery and idolatry and image worship and surplices and sick like rags o' the muckle whore that siteth on seven hills as if Aen was nebrade enough for her old hinder end. So the camons o' renfrow and o' the barony and the gordbills and a' about they behoved to come into Glasgow no fair mourning to try their hand on purging the high Kirk o' popish knick-knackets. But the townsmen o' Glasgow they were feared their old edifice might slip the girths in going through sick and rough physique. Say they rang the common bell and assembled the train bands with toco drum. By good luck the worthy James Rabat was Dino Gill that year and a good Mason he was himself made him the keener to keep up the old bigging and the trades assembled and offered downright battle to the commons rather than their Kirk should coop the crowns as others had done elsewhere. It was not for Louisville papery, na-na Nain could ever say that o' the trades o' Glasgow. Say they soon came to an agreement to take a the adulterous statues of the sands, sorrow beyond them, out o' their nukes and say the bits o' steen idols were broken in pieces by scripture warn and flung into the molyndenard burn. And the old Kirk stood as crows as a cat when the flays are camed after and a body was alike pleased. And I heard wise folks say that if the same had been done in Ilke Kirk in Scotland their form would just have been as pure as it is Ian now and we would have made Christian like Kirk's. For I have been say long in England that nothing will drive out of my head that the dog kennel at Osboldestone Hall is better than Mooney, a house o' God in Scotland. Thus saying, Andrew led the way into the place of worship. End of Volume 2 Chapter 2 Volume 2, Chapter 3 of Rob Roy This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott Volume 2 Chapter 3 It strikes an awe and terror on my aching sight. The tombs and monumental caves of death look cold and shoot a chillness to the trembling heart. Morning Bride Notwithstanding the impatience of my conductor, I could not forbear to pause and gaze for some minutes on the exterior of the building rendered more impressively dignified by the solitude which ensued when its hitherto open gates were closed. After having, as it were, devoured the multitude which had lately crowded the churchyard, but now enclosed within the building were engaged as the choral swell of voices from within announced to us in the solemn exercises of devotion. The sound of so many voices united by the distance into one harmony and freed from those harsh discordances which jar the ear when heard more near combining with the murmuring brick and the wind which sung among the old furs affected me with a sense of sublimity. All nature, as invoked by the Psalmists whose verses they chanted, seemed united in offering that solemn praise in which trembling is mixed with joy as she addressed her maker. I had heard the service of high mass in France celebrated with all the eclat which the choicest music, the richest dresses, the most imposing ceremonies could confer on it. Yet it fell short in effect the simplicity of the Presbyterian worship. The devotion in which everyone took a share seemed so superior to that which was recited by musicians as a lesson which they had learned by rote that it gave the Scottish worship all the advantage of reality over acting. As I lingered to catch more of the solemn sound Andrew, whose impatience became ungovernable, pulled me by the sleeve, come away, sir, come away, we mono be late or gone into disturb the worship. If we buy it here the searchers will be on us and carry us to the guardhouse for being idlers in Kirk time. Thus admonished I followed my guide, but not as I had supposed, into the body of the cathedral. This gate, this gate, sir, he exclaimed, dragging me off as I made towards the main entrance of the building. There is but a calderyfe law work gone on yonder, carnal morality as doubt and as visionless as rue leaves at eul. Here's the real saver of doctrine. So saying we entered a small, low arched door, secured by a wicket which a grave-looking person seemed on the point of closing and descended several steps as if into the funeral vaults beneath the church. It was even so for in these subterranean precincts why chosen for such a purpose I knew not, was established a very singular place of worship. Conceived, tresham, an extensive range of low-browed, dark and twilight vaults such as are used for sepulchres in other countries and had long been dedicated to the same purpose in this a portion of which was seated with pews and used as a church. The part of the vaults thus occupied, though capable of containing a congregation of many hundreds, bore a small proportion to the darker and more extensive caverns which yawned around what may be termed the inhabited space. In those waste regions of oblivion dusky banners and tattered escutcheons indicated the graves of those who were once doubtless princes in Israel. Inscriptions which could only be read by the painful antiquary in language as obsolete as the act of devotional charity which they deployed, invited the passengers to pray for the souls of those whose bodies rested beneath. Surrounded by these receptacles of the last remains of mortality I found a numerous congregation engaged in the act of prayer. The scotch performed this duty in a standing instead of a kneeling posture, more perhaps to take as broad a distinction as possible from the ritual of Rome than for any better reason. Since I have observed that in their family worship as doubtless in their private devotions they adopt in their immediate address to the deity that posture which other Christians use as the humblest and most reverential. Standing therefore the men being uncovered, a crowd of several hundreds of both sexes and all ages listened with great reverence and attention to the extempore, at least the unwritten prayer of an aged clergyman who was very popular in the city. Footnote. I have in vain labored to discover this gentleman's name and the period of his incumbency. I do not however despair to see these points with some others which may elude my sagacity. Satisfactorily elucidated by one or other of the periodical publications which have devoted their pages to explanatory commentaries on my former volumes and whose research and ingenuity claim my peculiar gratitude. For having discovered many persons and circumstances connected with my narratives of which I myself never so much as dreamed. End Footnote. Educated in the same religious persuasion I seriously bent my mind to join in the devotion of the day and it was not till the congregation resumed their seats that my attention was diverted to the consideration of the appearance of all around me. At the conclusion of the prayer most of the men put on their hats or bonnets and all who had the happiness to have seats sat down. Andrew and I were not of this number having been too late of entering the church to secure such accommodation. We stood among a number of other persons in the same situation forming a sort of ring around the seated part of the congregation. Behind and around us were the vaults I have already described before us the devout audience dimly shown by the light which streamed on their faces through one or two low gothic windows such as give air and light to charnel houses. By this we're seeing the usual variety of countenances which are generally turned towards a scotch pastor on such occasions almost all composed to attention unless where a father or mother here and there recalls the wandering eyes of a lively child or disturbs the slumbers of a dull one. The high boned and harsh countenance of the nation with the expression of intelligence and shrewdness which it frequently exhibits is seen to more advantage in the act of devotion or in the ranks of war than on lighter and more cheerful occasions of assemblage. The discourse of the preacher was well qualified to call forth the various feelings and faculties of his audience. Age and infirmities had impaired the powers of a voice originally in his text. He read his text with the pronunciation somewhat inarticulate but when he closed the Bible and commenced his sermon his tones gradually strengthened as he entered with vehemence into the arguments which he maintained. They related chiefly to the abstract points of the Christian faith subjects grave, deep and fathomless by mere human reason but for which with equal ingenuity and propriety was a key in liberal quotations from the inspired writings. My mind was unprepared to coincide in all his reasoning nor was I sure that in some instances I rightly comprehended his positions but nothing could be more impressive than the eager enthusiastic manner of the good old man and nothing more ingenious than his mode of reasoning. The scotch it is well known are more remarkable for the exercise of their intellectual powers than for the keenness of their feelings. They are therefore more mowed by logic than by rhetoric and more attracted by acute and argumentative reasoning on doctrinal points than influenced by the enthusiastic appeals to the heart and to the passions by which popular preachers in other countries win the favor of their hearers. Among the attentive group which I now saw might be distinguished expressions similar to those of the audience in the famous cartoon of Paul preaching at Athens. Here sat as Ellis an intelligent Calvinist with brows bent just as much as to indicate profound attention, lips slightly compressed, eyes fixed on the minister with an expression of decent pride as if sharing the triumph of his argument. The forefinger of the right hand touching successively those of the left as the preacher from argument to argument ascended towards his conclusion. Another with fiercer and sterner look intimated at once his contempt of all who doubted the creed of his pastor and his joy at the appropriate punishment denounced against them. A third perhaps belonging to a different congregation and present only by accident or curiosity had the appearance of internally impeaching some link of the reasoning and you might plainly read in the slight motion of his head his doubts as to the soundness of the preacher's argument. The greater part listened with a calm satisfied countenance expressive of a conscious merit in being present and in listening to such an ingenious discourse although perhaps unable entirely to comprehend it. The women in general belong to this last division of the audience. The old however seeming more intent upon the abstract doctrines laid before them while the younger females permitted their eyes occasionally to make a modest circuit around the congregation and some of them, Tresham, if my vanity did not greatly deceive me contrived to distinguish your friend and servant as a handsome young stranger and an Englishman. As to the rest of the congregation the stupid gaped yawned or slept till awakened by the application of her zealous neighbors heels to their shins and the idol indicated their inattention by the wandering of their eyes but dared give no more decided token of weariness. Amid the lowland costume of coat and cloak I could hear in there discern a highland plaid the wearer of which resting on his basket hill sent his eyes among the audience with the unrestrained curiosity of savage wonder and who in all probability for a very pardonable reason because he did not understand the language in which it was delivered. The martial and wild look, however of these stragglers, added a kind of character which the congregation could not have exhibited without them. They were more numerous Andrew afterwards observed owing to some cattle fare in the neighborhood. Such was the group of countenances rising tier on tier discovered to my critical inspection such sunbeams as forced their way through the narrow gothic lattices of the lay Kirk of Glasgow and having illuminated the attentive congregation lost themselves in the vacuity of the vaults behind giving to the nearer part of their labyrinth a sort of imperfect twilight and leaving their recesses in an utter darkness which gave them the appearance of being interminable. I have already said that I stood with others in a exterior circle with my face to the preacher and my back to those vaults which I have so often mentioned. My position rendered me particularly obnoxious to any interruption which arose from any slight noise occurring amongst these retiring arches where the least sound was multiplied by a thousand echoes. The occasional sound of raindrops which admitted through some cranny in the ruined roof felt successively in the pavement beneath caused me to turn my head more than once to the place from whence it seemed to proceed and when my eyes took that direction I found it difficult to withdraw them. Such is the pleasure our imagination receives from the attempt to penetrate as far as possible into an intricate labyrinth imperfectly lighted and exhibiting objects which irritate our curiosity only because they acquire a mysterious interest undefined and dubious. My eyes became habituated to the gloomy atmosphere to which I directed them and insensibly my mind became more interested in their discoveries than in the metaphysical subtleties which the preacher was enforcing. My father had often checked me for this wandering mood of mind arising perhaps from an excitability of imagination to which he was a stranger and the finding myself at present solicited by these temptations to inattention recalled the time when I used to walk, led by his hand to Mr. Shower's chapel and the earnest injunctions which he then laid on me to redeem the time because the days were evil. At present the picture which my thoughts suggested far from fixing my attention destroyed the portion I had yet left by conjuring up to my recollection the peril in which his affairs now stood. I endeavored in the lowest whisper I could frame to request Andrew to obtain information whether any of the gentlemen of the firm of McVity and company were at present in the congregation but Andrew wrapped in profound attention to the sermon only replied to my suggestion by hard punches with his elbow as signals to me to remain silent. I next strained my eyes with equally bad success to see if among the sea of upturned faces which bent their eyes on the pulpit as a common center I could discover the sober and business-like physiognomy of Owen but not among the broad beavers of the Glasgow citizens or the yet broader brim lowland bonnets of the peasants of Lenarchshire could I see anything resembling the decent parawig starched ruffles or the uniformed suit of light brown garments pertaining to the head-clerk of the establishment of Osbaldo Stone and Tresham. My anxiety now returned on me with such violence as to overpower not only the novelty of the scene around me by which it had hitherto been diverted but moreover my sense of decorum. I pulled Andrew hard by the sleeve and intimated my wish to leave the church and pursue my investigation as I could. Andrew abdued it in the lay-kirk of Glasgow as on the mountains of Cheviot for some time dain me no answer and it was only when he found I could not otherwise be kept quiet that he condescended to inform me that being once in the church we could not leave it till service was over because the doors were locked so soon as the prayers began. Having thus spoken in a brief and peevish whisper Andrew again assumed the air of intelligent and critical importance and attention to the preacher's discourse. While I endeavored to make a virtue of necessity and recall my attention to the sermon I was again disturbed by a singular interruption. A voice from behind whispered distinctly in my ear you are in danger in this city. I turned round as if mechanically. One or two starched in ordinary looking mechanics stood beside and behind me stragglers who like ourselves had been too late in obtaining entrance but a glance at their faces satisfied me though I could hardly say why that none of these was the person who had spoken to me. Their countenances seemed all composed to attention to the sermon and not one of them returned any glance of intelligence to the inquisitive and startled look with which I surveyed them. A massive round pillar which was close behind us might have concealed the speaker the instant he uttered his mysterious caution but wherefore it was given in such a place or to what species of danger it directed my attention or by whom the warning was uttered were points on which my imagination lost itself in conjecture. It would, however, I concluded be repeated and I resolved to keep my countenance turned towards the clergyman that the whisperer might be tempted to renew his communication under the idea that the first had passed unobserved. My plan succeeded. I had not resumed the appearance of attention to the preacher for five minutes when the same voice whispered listen but do not look back I kept my face in the same direction you are in danger in this place the voice proceeded so am I meet me tonight on the break at 12 precisely at home till the gloaming and avoid observation hear the voice ceased and I instantly turned my head but the speaker had with still greater promptitude glided behind the pillar and escaped my observation I was determined to catch a sight of him if possible and extricating myself from the outer circle of hearers I also stepped behind the column all there was empty and I could only see a figure wrapped whether a lowland cloak or highland plaid I could not distinguish which traversed like a phantom the dreary vacuity of vaults which I have described I made a mechanical attempt to pursue the mysterious form which glided away and vanished in the vaulted cemetery like the specter of one of the numerous dead who rested within its precincts I had little chance of arresting the course of one obviously determined not to be spoken with but that little chance was lost by my stumbling and falling before I had made three steps from the column the obscurity which occasioned my misfortune covered my disgrace which I accounted rather lucky for the preacher with that stern authority which the Scottish ministers assume for the purpose of keeping order in their congregations interrupted his discourse to desire the proper officer to take into custody of worship as the noise however was not repeated the beetle or whatever else he was called did not think it necessary to be rigorous in searching out the offender so that I was enabled without attracting further observation to place myself by Andrew's side in my original position the service proceeded and closed without the occurrence of anything else worthy of notice as the congregation departed and dispersed my friend Andrew exclaimed see yonder is worthy Mr. McVidi and Mrs. McVidi and Mrs. Allison McVidi and Mr. Thomas McFinn that they say is to marry Ms. Allison if a bulls row right she'll hay a hentel-siller if she's know that bunny my eyes took the direction he pointed out Mr. McVidi was a tall thin elderly man with hard features light eyebrows light eyes and as I imagine a sinister expression of countenance from which my heart recoiled I remembered the warning I had received in the church and hesitated to address this person though I could not allege to myself any rational ground of dislike or suspicion I was yet in suspense when Andrew who mistook my hesitation for bashfulness proceeded to exhort me to lay it aside speak tell him speak to him Mr. Francis he's no provost yet though they say he'll be my lord next year speak to him then he'll give you a decent answer for as rich as he is unless you were want and still afraid him they say he's dour to draw his purse it immediately occurred to me that if this merchant were really of the churlish and avaricious disposition which Andrew intimated there might be some caution necessary in making myself known as I could not tell how accounts might stand between my father and him this consideration came in aid of the mysterious hint which I had received and the dislike which I had conceived at the man's countenance instead of addressing myself directly to him as I had designed to have done I contented myself with desiring Andrew to inquire at Mr. McVitie's house the address of Mr. Owen an English gentleman charged him not to mention the person from whom he received the commission but to bring me the result to the small inn where we lodged this Andrew promised to do he said something of the duty of my attending the evening service but added with a causticity natural to him that in truth if folk could not keep their legs still but what needs to be cooping the creals over through stains as if they would raise the very dead folk in the clatter a kirt with a chimney in it was fittest for them in the volume 2, chapter 3 volume 2, chapter 4 of Rob Roy this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott chapter 4 on the realto every night at 12 I take my evening's walk of meditation there we too will meet Venice preserved full of sinister augury for which however I could assign no satisfactory cause I shut myself up in my apartment at the inn and having dismissed Andrew after resisting his importunity to accompany him to St. Enix Kirk where he said divine was to hod forth, I set myself seriously to consider what were best to be done. St. Enix Kirk. This I believe to be an anachronism, as St. Enix Church was not built at the date of the story. It was founded in 1780 and has since been rebuilt. I never was what is properly called superstitious, but I suppose that all men, in situations of peculiar doubt and difficulty, when they have exercised their reason to little purpose, are apt, in a sort of despair, to abandon the reins to their imagination, and be guided altogether by chance, or by their whimsical impressions which take possession of the mind, and to which we give way as if to involuntary impulses. There was something so singularly repulsive in the hard features of the Scotch traitor, that I could not resolve to put myself into his hands, without transgressing every caution which could be derived from the rules of physiognomy, while at the same time the warning voice, the form which flitted away like a vanishing shadow through those vaults, which might be termed the valley of the shadow of death, had something captivating for the imagination of a young man, who, you will farther please to remember, was also a young poet. If danger was around me, as the mysterious communication intimated, how could I learn its nature, or the means of averting it, but by meeting my unknown counselor, to whom I could see no reason for imputing any other than kind intentions? Rashley and his machinations occurred more than once to my remembrance, but so rapid had my journey been, that I could not suppose him apprised of my arrival in Glasgow, much less prepared to play off any stratagem against my person. In my temper also I was bold and confident, strong and active in person, and in some measure accustomed to the use of arms, in which the French youth of all kinds were then initiated. I did not fear any single opponent. Assassination was neither the vice of the age nor of the country. The place selected for our meeting was too public to admit any suspicion of meditated violence. In a word I resolved to meet my mysterious counselor on the bridge, as he had requested, and to be afterwards guided by circumstances. Let me not conceal from you, Tresham, what at the time I endeavored to conceal from myself, the subdued yet secretly cherished hope, that Diana Vernon might, by what chance I knew not, through what means I could not guess, have some connection with this strange and dubious intimation conveyed at a time and place, and in a manner so surprising. She alone, whispered this insidious thought, she alone knew of my journey. From her own account she possessed friends and influence in Scotland. She had furnished me with a talisman, whose power I was to invoke when all other age failed me. Who then but Diana Vernon possessed either means, knowledge or inclination, for averting the dangers, by which, as it seemed, my steps were surrounded. This flattering view of my very doubtful case pressed itself upon me again and again. It insinuated itself into my thoughts, though very bashfully, before the hour of dinner, it displayed its attractions more boldly during the course of my frugal meal, and became so courageously intrusive during the succeeding half-hour, aided perhaps by the flavor of a few glasses of most excellent clearance. That with a sort of desperate attempt to escape from a delusive seduction, to which I felt the danger of yielding, I pushed my glass from me, threw aside my dinner, seized my hat, and rushed into the open air with a feeling of one who would fly from his own thoughts. Like perhaps I yielded to the very feelings from which I seemed to fly, since my steps insensibly led me to the bridge over the Clyde, the place assigned for the rendezvous by my mysterious monitor. Although I had not partaken of my repast, until the hours of evening church service were over, in which, by the way, I complied with the religious crouples of my landlady, who hesitated to dress a hot dinner between sermons, and also with the admonition of my unknown friends, to keep my apartment till twilight. Several hours had still to pass away betwixt the time of my appointment, and that at which I reached the assigned place of meeting. The interval, as you will readily credit, was weary some enough, and I can hardly explain to you how it passed away. Most groups of persons, all of whom, young and old, seemed impressed with a reverential feeling of the sanctity of the day, passed along the large open meadow, which lies on the northern bank of the Clyde, and served at once as a bleaching field and pleasure walk for the inhabitants, or paced with slow steps the long bridge which communicates with the southern district of the county. All that I remember of them was the general, yet not unpleasing intimation of a devotional character impressed on each little party, formally assumed perhaps by some, but sincerely characterizing the greater number, which hushed the petulant gaiety of the young into a tone of more quiet, yet more interesting interchange of sentiments, and suppressed the vehement argument and protracted disputes of those of more advanced age. Notwithstanding the numbers who passed me, no general sound of the human voice was heard. Few turned again to take some minute's voluntary exercise, to which the leisure of the evening and the beauty of the surrounding scenery seemed to invite them, all hurried to their homes in resting places. To one accustomed to the motive of spending Sunday evenings abroad, even among the French Calvinists, there seemed something judaicol, yet at the same time striking and affecting, in this mode of keeping the Sabbath holy. Insensibly I felt my mode of sauntering by the side of the river, and crossing successively the various persons who were passing homeward, and without tarrying or delay, must expose me to the observation at least, if not to censure. Then I slunk out of the frequented path, and found a trivial occupation for my mind, in marshalling my revolting walk in such a manner I should least render me obnoxious to observation. The different alleys, lined out through this extensive meadow, and which are planted with trees, like the park of St. James's in London, gave me facilities for carrying into effect these childish maneuvers. As I walked down one of these avenues, I heard to my surprise the sharp and conceited voice of intrafair service, raised by a sense of self-consequence, to a pitch somewhat higher than others seemed to think consistent with the solemnity of the day. To slip behind the row of trees under which I walked was perhaps no very dignified proceeding, but it was the easiest mode of escaping his observation, and perhaps his impertinent assiduity, and still more intrusive curiosity. As he passed, I heard him communicate to a grave-looking man in a black coat, a slouch tat, and Geneva cloak, the following sketch of a character, which my self-love, while revolting against it as a caricature, could not, nevertheless, refuse to recognize as a likeness. Aye, aye, Mr. Hemmergau, it's Ena's I tell ye. He's no other savoy distance, neither. He has a glum and sight of what's reasonable. That is Ainz and Away, a glisc and a mare, but he's crack-brained and cockle-headed about his nippity-tipperty pottery nonsense. He'll glare at an odd-world barket, ax-nag as if it were a quies-madam in full bearing, and a naked crag, with a bum-jarring oret, is unto him as a garden-garnished with flowering knots and choiced pot-herbs. Then he would rather clap her with a daft queen. They call Diana Vernon, real-eye what they might call her Diana of the Ephesians, for she's little better than a heathen. Better? She's war-a-roman, a mere-roman. He'll clap her with her, or any other idle slut, rather than hear what might do him good all the days of his life. For you are me, Mr. Hammergau, or any other sober and responsible person. Reason, sir, is what he cannot endure. He's off for your vanities and volubilities, and he ends-tells me, per blinded creature, that the Psalms of David were excellent poetry, as if the Holy Psalmist thought of ratlin' rhymes in a blather, like his ancilly clink-and-clank'em things that he caused verse. Could help him, twilight's a Davy Lindsay, would ding ah he ever clerk it. While listening to this perverted account of my temper and studies, he will not be surprised if I amediated for Mr. Fair service the unpleasant surprise of a broken pate on the first decent opportunity. His friend only intimated his attention by, I, I, and, is't even say, and such like expressions of interest, at the proper breaks in Mr. Fair service's harangue, until at length, in answer to some observation of greater length, the import of which I only collected from my trusty guide's reply, honest Andrew answered, Tell him a bit of my mind, quoth ye. What would be fuel then but Andrew? He's a red-wad-devil, man, he's like Giles' heather-traps all'd bore. You need but shake a clout in him to make him turn and gore. Bid with him, ye say, troth, I cannot whatfore I bide with him myself. But the lads know a bad lad after all, and he needs some careful body to look after him. He has another right grip on his hand. The gout slips throats like water-man, and it's not that ill a thing to be near him when his purse is in his hand, and it's seldom out-out. And then he's come a good kith and kin, my heart warms to the poor thoughtless callant, Mr. Hammergall, and then the penny-fee. In the latter part of this instructive communication, Mr. Fair service lowered his voice to atone better be seeming the conversation in a place of public resort on a Sabbath evening, and his companion and he were soon beyond my hearing. My feelings of hasty resentment soon subsided, under the conviction that, as Andrew himself might have said, a harkener always hears a bad tale of himself, and that whoever should happen to overhear their character discussed in their own servants all must prepare to undergo the scalpel of some such anatomist as Mr. Fair service. The incident was so far useful, as, including the feelings to which it gave rise, it sped away a part of the time which hung so heavily on my hand. Everything had now closed, and the growing darkness gave to the broad, still, and deep expanse of the brimful river, first a hue somber and uniform, and then a dismal and turbid appearance, partially lighted by a waning and pallid moon. The mass of an ancient bridge which stretches across the Clyde was now but dimly visible, and resembles that which Merza, in his unequaled vision, has described as traversing the valley of Baghdad. The low-browed arches, seen as imperfectly as the dusky current which they bestowed, seemed rather caverns which swallowed up the gloomy waters of the river, than apertures contrived for their passage. With the advancing night the stillness of the scene increased. There was yet a twinkling light occasionally seen to glide along by the stream, which conducted home one or two of the small parties, who, after the abstinence and religious duties of the day, had partaken of a social supper, the only meal at which the rigid Presbyterians made some advance to sociality on the Sabbath. Occasionally also the hooves of a horse were heard, whose rider, after spending the Sunday in Glasgow, was directing his steps towards his residence in the country. These sounds and sights became gradually of more rare occurrence, at length they altogether ceased, and I was left to enjoy my solitary walk on the shores of the Clyde in solemn silence, broken only by the tolling of the successive hours from the steeples of the churches. But as the night advanced my impatience at the uncertainty of the situation in which I was placed increased every moment, and became nearly ungovernable. I began to question whether I had been imposed upon by the trick of a foal, the raving of a madman, or the studied machinations of a villain, and paced the little quay or pier joining the entrance to the bridge in a state of incredible anxiety and vexation. At length the hour of twelve o'clock swung its summons over the city from the belfry of the Metropolitan Church of St. Mungo, and was answered and vouched by all the others like dutiful diocesans. The echoes had scarcely seized to repeat the last sound, when a human form, the first I had seen for two hours, appeared passing along the bridge from the southern shore of the river. I advanced to meet him with a feeling as if my fate depended on the result of the interview, so much had my anxiety been wound up by protracted expectation. All that I could remark of the passenger as we advanced towards each other was that his frame was rather beneath than above the middle size, but apparently strong, thick-set, and muscular, his dress a horseman's wrapping-coat. I slackened my pace, and almost paused as I advanced in expectation that he would address me. But to my inexpressible disappointment he passed without speaking, and I had no pretense for being the first to address one who, notwithstanding his appearance at the very hour of appointments, might nevertheless be an absolute stranger. I stopped when he had passed me, and looked after him, uncertain whether I ought not to follow him. The stranger walked on till near the northern end of the bridge, then paused, looked back, and turning round, again advanced towards me. I resolved that this time he should not have the apology for silence proper to apparitions, who it is vulgarly supposed, cannot speak until they are spoken to. You walk late, sir, to die, as we met a second time. I bide trist, was the reply, and so I think to you, Mr. Usbaldiston, you are then the person who requested to meet me here at this unusual hour. I am, he replied, follow me, and you shall know my reasons. Before following you I must know your name and purpose, I answered. I am a man, was the reply, and my purpose is friendly to you. A man, I repeated, and that is a very brief description. It will serve for one who has no other to give, said the stranger. He that is without name, without friends, without coin, without country, is still at least a man, and he that has all three is no more. Yet this is still too general an account of yourself, to say the least of it, to establish your credit with a stranger. It is all I mean to give, how so where? You may choose to follow me, or to remain without the information I desire to afford you. Can you not give me that information here? I demanded. You must receive it from your eyes, not from my tongue. You must follow me, or remain in ignorance of the information which I have to give you. There was something short, determined, and even stern, in the man's manner, not certainly well calculated to conciliate undoubting confidence. What is it you fear? He said impatiently. To whom think ye is your life of such consequence? That they should think to bereave ye of it. I fear nothing, I replied firmly, though somewhat hastily. Walk on, I attend you. We proceeded contrary to my expectation to re-enter the town, and glided like mute specters, side by side, up its empty and silent streets. The high and gloomy stone fronts, with the variegated ornaments and pediments of the windows, looked yet taller and more sable by the imperfect moonshine. Our walk was for some minutes in perfect silence. At length my conductor spoke. Are you afraid? I retort your own words, I replied. Wherefore should I fear? Because you are with a stranger, perhaps an enemy, in a place where you have no friends and many enemies. I neither fear you nor them. I am young, active, and armed. I am not armed, replied my conductor. But no matter, a willing hand never lacked weapon. You say you fear nothing, but if you knew who was by your side, perhaps you might underlie a tremor. And why should I, replied I. I again repeat, I fear not that you can do. Not that I can do, be it so. And do you not fear the consequences of being found with one whose very name whispered in this lonely street would make the stones themselves rise up to apprehend him, on whose head half the men in Glasgow would build their fortune as on a found treasure, had they the luck to grip him by the collar, the sound of whose apprehension were as welcome at the cross of Edinburgh as ever the news of a field stricken and wan in Flanders? And who then are you, whose name should create so deep a feeling of terror? I replied. No enemy of yours, since I am conveying you to a place, where, where I myself recognized and identified, iron to the heels and hemp to the crake would be my brief dooming. I paused and stood still on the pavements, drawing back so as to have the most perfect view of my companion, which the light afforded me, and which was sufficient to guard against any sudden motion of assaults. You have said, I answered, either too much or too little, too much to induce me to confide in you as a mere stranger, since you avail yourself a person amenable to the laws of the country in which we are, and too little, unless you could show that you are unjustly subjected to their rigor. As I ceased to speak, he made a step towards me. I drew back instinctively, and laid my hand on the hilt of my sword. What? said he, on an unarmed man and your friend. I am yet ignorant if you are either the one or the other, I replied, and to say the truth your language and manner might well entitle me to doubt both. It is manfully spoken, replied my conductor, and I respect him whose hand can keep his head. I will be frank and free with you. I am conveying you to prison. To prison, I exclaimed, by what warrant or for what offense? You shall have my life sooner than my liberty. I defy you, and I will not follow you a step farther. I do not, he said, carry you there as a prisoner. I am, he added, drawing himself hastily up, neither a messenger nor sheriff's officer. I carry you to see a prisoner, from whose lips you will learn the risk in which you presently stand. Your liberty is little risked by the visit. Mine is in some peril. But that I readily encounter on your account, for I care not for the risk, and I love a free young blood, that can's no protector but the cross of the sword. While he spoke thus we had reached the principal street, and were pausing before a large building of hewn stone, garnished, as I thought I could perceive, with gratings of iron before the windows. Muckel, said the stranger, whose language became more broadly national, as he assumed a tone of click-for-freedom. Muckel wad the prowess, and ballet's a glasco, get to ha' him, sitting with iron garters to his hose, within their tall booth, that now stands with his legs as free as the red deers on the outside owns. And little wad did avail him. For and if they had me there, with a stain's way to iron it every ankle, I would show them a tomb-room and a lost lodger before tomorrow. But come on, what's didn't ye for? As he spoke thus he tapped at a low wicket, and was answered by a sharp voice, as of one awakened from a dream or reverie. Faustat, was that, I wad say, and fat a deal ye wanted this hour, Adine? Clean again rules, clean again rules, as they call them. The protracted tone in which the last words were uttered betokened that the speaker was again composing himself to slumber. But my guide spoke in a loud whisper, Duggle, man, how ye forgotten Hanan Gregorik? Deal a bit, deal a bit, was the ready and lively response, and I heard the internal guardian of the prison gate bustle up with great alacrity. A few words were exchanged between my conductor and the turnkey in a language to which I was an absolute stranger. The bounts revolved, but with a caution which marked the apprehension, that the noise might be overheard, and we stood within the vestibule of the prison of Glasgow. A small, but strong guardroom, from which a narrow staircase led upwards, and one or two low entrances conducted to apartments on the same level with the outward gate, also cured with a jealous strength of wickets, bolts, and bars. The walls, otherwise naked, were not unsuitably garnished with iron fetters, and other uncouth implements, which might be designed for purposes still more inhuman, interspersed with partisans, the guns, pistols of antique manufacture, and other weapons of defence and offence. As finding myself so unexpectedly fortitiously, and as it were, by stealth, introduced within one of the legal fortresses of Scotland, I could not help recollecting my adventure in Northumberland, and fretting at the strange incidents, which again, without any demerits of my own, threatened to place me in a dangerous and disagreeable collision with the lulls of a country which I visited only in the capacity of a stranger.