290 THE LAST SUMMERS AND WINTERS. 



then a kind of ghastly gleam, that those who did not know 

 better might have taken for sunshine. 



" The new inn is a most extraordinary concern, more 

 like a penitentiary, or place of punishment for evil-doers, 

 than one of entertainment for either man or beast. It 

 consists chiefly of turrets, and you are ushered into a little 

 circular cell, with several windows pierced in different 

 directions, but each window like a slit in Bridewell, being 

 only a single narrow pane in breadth, and three panes in 

 height. "When you sit in the middle of your cell you 

 actually see nothing but your prison walls, and three or 

 four narrow streaks of light. However, when you rise, 

 and put your face quite into one of the windows, the 

 effect is rather striking, especially that from the western 

 slit. You have, as it were, set in a dark framework, a 

 view of a finely broken portion of the Trossachs, a small 

 gleaming portion of Loch Achray, and almost the whole of 

 Ben Venue, with its great rocks rugged pastures, and 

 gloomy hollows. 



" Soon after four the rain ceased altogether, and having 

 ordered dinner, we sallied out for an hour and a half, and 

 had a very grand though gloomy view of our old walk 

 through the Trossachs. The woods were in fine autumnal 

 order, and almost glowing, though unillundnated by any 

 western splendour. I think the sun must have gone over 



