372 DICK MISUNDERSTOOD. CHAP. xxn. 



He had been out since one o'clock in the morning ; but 

 his long walk did not seem to have tired him, as he went 

 on his way down the street in his long swinging walk. 



He still dressed himself in his antediluvian garments 

 He still wore his swallow-tailed coat and his chimney- 

 pot hat. He could not afford much money for clothing 

 The only things he renewed from time to time were his 

 trousers and his hob-nailed boots. Dress was very little 

 to him. And yet he was a handsome man too, though 

 he never thought of that. Dr. Shearer says his appear- 

 ance reminded him of another of nature's enthusiasts 

 Mungo Park. He had the same compact round head 

 and face, with "ambrosial clusters" curled; and the 

 same genial, unaffected, and, to the last, remarkably 

 juvenile expression. 



If the Thurso people did not understand Dick's outer 

 man, they still less understood his inner man. What 

 was he ? What occupied his thoughts ? What was his 

 belief? What was his religion? That was a great 

 point in a Scotch town, where everybody knows every- 

 body ; and where men are judged very much according 

 to the kirk that they attend. The opinions entertained 

 about Dick on the latter subject were very unfavourable. 

 Perhaps they had a great deal to do with the falling- 

 off in his business. 



Many a petty inquisition was held about Dick in 

 Thurso. What did he think about the first chapter of 

 Genesis ? What did he think about the Flood ? Was 

 he " soond " in his scriptural views ? Like wiser men, 

 he held his tongue. And, after all, why should thej 



