immediate sequel。 It seemed he was an enthusiastic antiquary； and
in particular a fanatic of heraldry。 I heard it with delight； for
I was myself； thanks to M。 de Culemberg； fairly grounded in that
science； and acquainted with the blazons of most families of note
in Europe。 And I had made up my mind … even as she spoke； it was
my fixed determination； though I was a hundred miles from saying it
… to meet Flora on Monday night as a fellow…guest in Mr。 Robbie's
house。
I gave her my money … it was； of course； only paper I had brought。
I gave it her； to be her marriage…portion； I declared。
'Not so bad a marriage…portion for a private soldier；' I told her；
laughing； as I passed it through the bars。
'O； Anne； and where am I to keep it？' she cried。 'If my aunt
should find it！ What would I say！'
'Next your heart；' I suggested。
'Then you will always be near your treasure；' she cried； 'for you
are always there！'
We were interrupted by a sudden clearness that fell upon the night。
The clouds dispersed； the stars shone in every part of the heavens；
and； consulting my watch； I was startled to find it already hard on
five in the morning。
CHAPTER XXVII … THE SABBATH DAY
IT was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston； but what I
was to do in the meanwhile was another question。 Rowley had
received his orders last night： he was to say that I had met a
friend； and Mrs。 McRankine was not to expect me before morning。 A
good enough tale in itself； but the dreadful pickle I was in made
it out of the question。 I could not go home till I had found
harbourage； a fire to dry my clothes at； and a bed where I might
lie till they were ready。
Fortune favoured me again。 I had scarce got to the top of the
first hill when I spied a light on my left； about a furlong away。
It might be a case of sickness； what else it was likely to be … in
so rustic a neighbourhood； and at such an ungodly time of the
morning … was beyond my fancy。 A faint sound of singing became
audible； and gradually swelled as I drew near； until at last I
could make out the words； which were singularly appropriate both to
the hour and to the condition of the singers。 'The cock may craw；
the day may daw；' they sang； and sang it with such laxity both in
time and tune； and such sentimental complaisance in the expression；
as assured me they had got far into the third bottle at least。
I found a plain rustic cottage by the wayside； of the sort called
double； with a signboard over the door； and； the lights within
streaming forth and somewhat mitigating the darkness of the
morning； I was enabled to decipher the inscription： 'The Hunters'
Tryst； by Alexander Hendry。 Porter Ales； and British Spirits。
Beds。'
My first knock put a period to the music； and a voice challenged
tipsily from within。
'Who goes there？' it said； and I replied； 'A lawful traveller。'
Immediately after； the door was unbarred by a company of the
tallest lads my eyes had ever rested on； all astonishingly drunk
and very decently dressed； and one （who was perhaps the drunkest of
the lot） carrying a tallow candle； from which he impartially
bedewed the clothes of the whole company。 As soon as I saw them I
could not help smiling to myself to remember the anxiety with which
I had approached。 They received me and my hastily…concocted story；
that I had been walking from Peebles and had lost my way； with
incoherent benignity； jostled me among them into the room where
they had been sitting； a plain hedgerow alehouse parlour； with a
roaring fire in the chimney and a prodigious number of empty
bottles on the floor； and informed me that I was made； by this
reception； a temporary member of the SIX…FEET…HIGH CLUB； an
athletic society of young men in a good station； who made of the
Hunters' Tryst a frequent resort。 They told me I had intruded on
an 'all…night sitting；' following upon an 'all…day Saturday tramp'
of forty miles； and that the members would all be up and 'as right
as ninepence' for the noonday service at some neighbouring church …
Collingwood； if memory serves me right。 At this I could have
laughed； but the moment seemed ill…chosen。 For； though six feet
was their standard； they all exceeded that measurement
considerably； and I tasted again some of the sensations of
childhood； as I looked up to all these lads from a lower plane； and
wondered what they would do next。 But the Six…Footers； if they
were very drunk； proved no less kind。 The landlord and servants of
the Hunters' Tryst were in bed and asleep long ago。 Whether by
natural gift or acquired habit they could suffer pandemonium to
reign all over the house； and yet lie ranked in the kitchen like
Egyptian mummies； only that the sound of their snoring rose and
fell ceaselessly like the drone of a bagpipe。 Here the Six…Footers
invaded them … in their citadel； so to speak； counted the bunks and
the sleepers； proposed to put me in bed to one of the lasses；
proposed to have one of the lasses out to make room for me； fell
over chairs； and made noise enough to waken the dead： the whole
illuminated by the same young torch…bearer； but now with two
candles； and rapidly beginning to look like a man in a snowstorm。
At last a bed was found for me； my clothes were hung out to dry
before the parlour fire； and I was mercifully left to my repose。
I awoke about nine with the sun shining in my eyes。 The landlord
came at my summons； brought me my clothes dried and decently
brushed； and gave me the good news that the Six…Feet…High Club were
all abed and sleeping off their excesses。 Where they were bestowed
was a puzzle to me until （as I was strolling about the garden patch
waiting for breakfast） I came on a barn door； and； looking in； saw
all the red face mixed in the straw like plums in a cake。 Quoth
the stalwart maid who brought me my porridge and bade me 'eat them
while they were hot；' 'Ay； they were a' on the ran…dan last nicht！
Hout！ they're fine lads； and they'll be nane the waur of it。 Forby
Farbes's coat。 I dinna see wha's to get the creish off that！' she
added； with a sigh； in which； identifying Forbes as the torch…
bearer； I mentally joined。
It was a brave morning when I took the road； the sun shone； spring
seemed in the air； it smelt like April or May； and some over…
venturous birds sang in the coppices as I went by。 I had plenty to
think of； plenty to be grateful for； that gallant morning； and yet
I had a twitter at my heart。 To enter the city by daylight might
be compared to marching on a battery； every face that I confronted
would threaten me like the muzzle of a gun； and it came into my
head suddenly with how much better a countenance I should be able
to do it if I could but improvise a companion。 Hard by Merchiston
I was so fortunate as to observe a bulky gentleman in broadcloth
and gaiters； stooping with his head almost between his knees；
before a stone wall。 Seizing occasion by the forelock； I drew up
as I came alongside and inquired what he had found to interest him。
He turned upon me a countenance not much less broad than his back。
'Why； sir；' he replied； 'I was even marvelling at my own
indefeasible stupeedity： that I should walk this way every week of
my life； weather permitting； and should never before have NOTTICED
that stone；' touching it at the same time with a goodly oak staff。
I followed the indication。 The stone； which had been built
sideways into the wall； offered traces of heraldic sculpture。 At
once there came a wild idea into my mind： his appearance tallied
with Flora's description of Mr。 Robbie； a knowledge of heraldry
would go far to clinch the proof； and what could be more desirable
than to scrape an informal acquaintance with the man whom I must
approach next day with my tale of the drovers； and whom I yet
wished to please？ I stooped in turn。
'A chevron；' I said； 'on a chief three mullets？ Looks like
Douglas； does it not？'
'Yes； sir； it does； you are right；' said he： 'it DOES look like
Douglas； though； without the tinctures； and the whole thing being
so battered and broken up； who shall venture an opinion？ But allow
me to be more personal； sir。 In these degenerate days I am
astonished you should display so much proficiency。'
'O； I was well grounded in my youth by an old gentleman； a friend
of my family； and I may say my guardian；' said I； 'but I have
forgotten it since。 God forbid I should delude you into thinking
me a herald； sir！ I am only an ungrammatical amateur。'
'And a little modesty does no harm even in a herald；' says my new
acquaintance graciously。
In short； we fell together on our onward way； and maintained very
amicable discourse along what remained of the country road； past
the suburbs； and on into the streets of the New Town； which was as
deserted and silent as a city of the dead。 The shops were closed；
no vehicle ran； cats sported in the midst of the sunny causeway；
and our steps and voices re…echoed from the quiet houses。 It was
the high…water； full and strange； of that weekly trance to which
the city of Edinburgh is subjected： the apotheosis of the SAWBATH；
and I confess the spectacle wanted not grandeur； however much it
may have lacked cheerfulness。 There are few religious ceremonies
more imposing。 As we thus walked and talked in a public seclusion
the bells broke out ringing through all the bounds of the city； and
the streets began immediately to be thronged with decent church…
goers。
'Ah！' said my companion； 'there are the bells！ Now； sir； as you
are a stranger I must offer you the hospitality of my pew。 I do
not know whether you are at all used with our Scottish form； but in
case you are not I will find your places