366 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



such long specimens, still in the hope of inducing his 

 friend to begin systematic Botany. On parting that day, 

 they agreed to meet on Monday morning at nine o'clock, 

 at Prince Albert's statue, at the end of Union Bridge, John 

 spending the Sunday with other friends. 



Punctual to the moment, James found him at the 

 appointed spot ; but as the photographer's place was not 

 yet open, and James had some business engagements in the 

 forenoon, they agreed to meet opposite the saloon at two. 

 When he arrived at the hour, he found John already there. 

 He stood with his bundle stuck on a railing above him, his 

 staff between his knees, some silver coins between his teeth, 

 some half-crowns in one hand, while he held a florin in the 

 other close to his eyes, evidently to see if it was a half-crown 

 or not. When accosted, he at once turned round, with his 

 usual irresistible reticence, and pocketed the whole in all 

 haste. Then facing his friend and quietly saying, "Ay, 

 Jamie, ye hae come," he took down his bundle ; and they 

 moved in silence to the place of execution, as it evidently 

 seemed in John's eyes. 



Charles had enjoined his brother to have John taken in 

 his usual attire and style, with umbrella and bundle, as he 

 used to see him in the old days at Whitehouse, so as to 

 get as far as possible a realistic and speaking momento of 

 the dear old man. John had of course put on his best, 

 which, in default of better, was the old familiar suit But he 

 did not bring the big blue " tent ; " and, in the wish to 

 appear as genteel as possible on such an important occasion, 

 the bundle he had provided was not a quarter of its usual 

 dimensions, and without its generally super-abundant cord- 

 age. The parcel could not now be well increased in size. 



