the lane were so close that the neighbours might have shaken hands
with each other from the different sides, and occasionally the
space between was traversed by wooden galleries, and thus entirely
closed up. The stair, the scale-stair, was not well cleaned; and
on entering the house Mannering was struck with the narrowness and
meanness of the wainscotted passage. But the library, into which
he was shown by an elderly, respectable-looking man-servant, was a
complete contrast to these unpromising appearances. It was a well-
proportioned room, hung with a portrait or two of Scottish
characters of eminence, by Jamieson, the Caledonian Vandyke, and
surrounded with books, the best editions of the best authors, and
in particular an admirable collection of classics.

'These,' said Pleydell, 'are my tools of trade. A lawyer without
history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he
possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself
an architect.'

But Mannering was chiefly delighted with the view from the
windows, which commanded that incomparable prospect of the ground
between Edinburgh and the sea--the Firth of Forth, with its
islands, the embayment which is terminated by the Law of North
Berwick, and the varied shores of Fife to the northward, indenting
with a hilly outline the clear blue horizon.

When Mr. Pleydell had sufficiently enjoyed the surprise of his
guest, he called his attention to Miss Bertram's affairs. 'I was
in hopes,' he said, 'though but faint, to have discovered some
means of ascertaining her indefeasible right to this property of
Singleside; but my researches have been in vain. The old lady was