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           Now,thatyoumayreachtheLordAdvocatewellrecommended,Igiveyouherealettertoanamesakeofyourown,thelearnedMr.BalfourofPilrig,amanwhomIesteem.Itwilllookbetterthatyoushouldbepresentedbyoneofyourownname;andthelairdofPilrigismuchlookeduptointheFacultyandstandswellwithLordAdvocateGrant.Iwouldnottroublehim,ifIwereyou,withanyparticulars;and(doyouknow?)IthinkitwouldbeneedlesstorefertoMr.Thomson.Formyourselfuponthelaird,heisagoodmodel;whenyoudealwiththeAdvocate,bediscreet;andinallthesematters,maytheLordguideyou,Mr.David!”

           Thereuponhetookhisfarewell,andsetoutwithTorrancefortheFerry,whileAlanandIturnedourfacesforthecityofEdinburgh.Aswewentbythefootpathandbesidethegatepostsandtheunfinishedlodge,wekeptlookingbackatthehouseofmyfathers.Itstoodthere,bareandgreatandsmokeless,likeaplacenotlivedin;onlyinoneofthetopwindows,therewasthepeakofanightcapbobbingupanddownandbackandforward,liketheheadofarabbitfromaburrow.IhadlittlewelcomewhenIcame,andlesskindnesswhileIstayed;butatleastIwaswatchedasIwentaway.

           AlanandIwentslowlyforwarduponourway,havinglittlehearteithertowalkorspeak.Thesamethoughtwasuppermostinboth,thatwewerenearthetimeofourparting;andremembranceofallthebygonedayssateuponussorely.