230 P'lELD Meetings. 



improvement were carried out, to adapt the building more to the 

 conveniences of modern life. Indeed, up till that time (about 

 1870) the Baliol Tower had been roofless for a long time. 

 Further additions have been made recently by Mr and Mrs 

 Gordon, and extensive improvements have been judiciously 

 carried out. The apartments have also been richly furnished 

 and with great taste, happily combining the antique character 

 appropriate to the building with modern luxury. One of the 

 additions, where the butler has his apartments, has been built 

 over the spot associated in tradition with one of the Castle ghosts. 

 This also is a lady, who is reported to make periodical appear- 

 ances and step down to the bowling green, where she separates 

 the shades of duellists fighting over again .some old-world en- 

 counter. It is feared that the invasion of her domain by the 

 operative mason may prove so disconcerting as to put an end to 

 her visitations ; but as no person now living is known to have 

 made the lady's acquaintance, it may be that earlier causes have 

 laid the perturbed but peace-making spirit. The Castle buildings 

 form two sides of what has been a hollow square. It is now open 

 to the north and east, where in olden times there was a high 

 enclosing wall. The entrance is in the centre of the building 

 forming the south side of the courtyard, and over it are carved the 

 three boar heads that form the Gordon crest, on a panel of 

 peculiar form. Newel stairs in the two towers form the access to 

 some of the upper parts of the building. The two were con- 

 nected by a passage as part of the 1870 alterations, and this 

 entailed a weakening of the west wall, which has been counter- 

 acted by three buttresses. On the front of the building is a line 

 of rope moulding, into which, at a point where it dips to about 

 the middle of the wall, have been worked three curious little 

 figures. They are reputed to represent devils ; and the story is 

 that the Castle stood too near the loch to be safe, either from 

 the waters or the enemy, and diabolical aid was invoked to lift it 

 on to the bluff of rock which it has occupied so far as living 

 memory extends. The rope by which they hauled broke, the 

 legend says, just as they had completed their task, and the 

 realistic artist in stone shews the strands breaking in their hands. 



Among the family heirlooms are two little print portraits of 

 the Chevalier de St. George and his wife, which were given to 

 Lord Ivenmure bv their son, Prince Charles Edward. There 



