

1840-41. A PROLONGED WALK. 113 



way ; and after reproaching James, we agreed to take what 

 turned out to be by far the longest road, by at least three 

 miles. There was no -house or person near to ask at, and 

 we had the mortification this morning to find that, had we 

 asked at the first farm-house we came to after our dilemma, 

 we might have got across a field into the right road, and 

 saved our legs a weary stretch ; as it was, we wandered 

 through fields and over farms, and at last reached our 

 destination, having been on the road from eleven till six 

 o'clock. We were most warmly welcomed at a beautiful 

 farm-house ; got a most hearty dinner-tea, and, as the folks 

 had not seen candles for several months, after a dose of the 

 everlasting toddy, we got off to bed at nine o'clock. Here, 

 however, our troubles did not end, for though they swore 

 that the bed had once held two Stirling bailies, we found it 

 too small for us. The whole night was spent in a battle 

 between us and the bed-clothes ; the clothes determined to 

 be down on the floor, and we as determined to have them 

 lying on us. I am sure I awoke a dozen times, it being my 

 office as occupant of the front of the bed to pull the sheets 

 and blankets up, and James instinctively gave a grunt, and 

 pulled them over to his side. I slept little, but as we lay 

 nearly twelve hours in bed, we were quite refreshed and 

 nimble next morning, though we did not know what lee 

 to tell, when we were asked whether we had slept soundly 

 or not. Last night was a repetition of the same manoeuvre, 

 but as we employed ourselves speculating on the way in 

 which two famously fat bailies had lain there, the time 

 passed away pleasantly enough. My pen wearies to be 

 done, ashamed of its performance, else would I tell you 

 how we went to Muthil, and visited R. T., and how we saw 

 old Jean Scott, and I smoked a pipe with the ancient, witch- 

 like, doited body, and how in the evening we took tea with 



GW 



