My way down the causeway of Leith Walk would have been more
pleasant to me but for this encounter. The old rampart ran among
fields, the like of them I had never seen for artfulness of
agriculture; I was pleased, besides, to be so far in the still
countryside; but the shackles of the gibbet clattered in my head;
and the mope and mows of the old witch, and the thought of the dead
men, hag-rode my spirits. To hang on a gallows, that seemed a hard
case; and whether a man came to hang there for two shillings Scots,
or (as Mr. Stewart had it) from the sense of duty, once he was
tarred and shackled and hung up, the difference seemed small.
There might David Balfour hang, and other lads pass on their
errands and think light of him; and old daft limmers sit at a leg-
foot and spae their fortunes; and the clean genty maids go by, and
look to the other aide, and hold a nose. I saw them plain, and
they had grey eyes, and their screens upon their heads were of the
Drummed colours.

I was thus in the poorest of spirits, though still pretty resolved,
when I came in view of Pilrig, a pleasant gabled house set by the
walkside among some brave young woods. The laird's horse was
standing saddled at the door as I came up, but himself was in the
study, where he received me in the midst of learned works and
musical instruments, for he was not only a deep philosopher but
much of a musician. He greeted me at first pretty well, and when
he had read Rankeillor's letter, placed himself obligingly at my
disposal.

"And what is it, cousin David!" said he--"since it appears that we
are cousins--what is this that I can do for you! A word to