COESTORPHINE HILL. 91 



drunk and asleep, and found that Williams was actually 

 the robber, and that he had consigned my property as his 

 own proper j^rize-money to the care of the landlord, who 

 immediately delivered the same to me. On the part of 

 the thief, I think I never knew a robbery more daring in 

 its commencement, or more idiotically managed in its 

 conclusion ; but, to use the words of the suspected steward, 

 ' Providence made Williams get drunk, that the character 

 of the innocent might be cleared.' The pocket-book 

 itself, with several letters and other documents, had very 

 prudently been thrown overboard." 



In 1821, Mr Wilson returned from Italy; but his 

 health was still feeble, and for the next two years he was 

 to all intents an invalid. Even his favourite pursuit 

 ceased to rouse him, and the journeys which he took 

 from time to time were so far a penance as they were 

 part of the doctor's prescription. However, the summer 

 of 1322 transferred him for change of air to Corstorphine, 

 and in the pretty neighbouring villa of Corstorphine Hiil 

 he found a family whose society did more for his resus- 

 citation than could have been done by the skill of all the 

 faculty. Of that attractive circle the charm soon began 

 to concentrate, and in Miss Isabella Keith the wanderer 

 discovered such a union of engaging attributes as supplied 

 a new mainspring to his own existence, and thenceforward 



