96 MELROSE. 



It was the above incident that regulated my residence, 

 in a great measure, for above twenty years of my life. 



A year had rolled on since this my first excursion to 

 the North, and I, Harry Otter, was again seated in an 

 open vehicle, enriched with fishing rods, both of small 

 and of ample dimensions ; I must say exceedingly 

 ample. The stanch Arno lay at my feet ; nor was I 

 deficient in a gun, such as Manton used to turn out in 

 that age of flint. My attendant, or groom, was of the 

 freshest fashion, — a youth newly hired. John, who was 

 whilom in my service, understood the arts of travelling 

 better than this man. But, alas ! John was a backslider ; 

 for when I asked him if he had any objection to go to 

 Scotland, " Pray, sir," said he, " is that the country as 

 is infested with eagles ? " I candidly confessed that there 

 certainly were birds of that description there. " Then, 

 I am sorry, sir, but I must beg leave to decline going," 

 was his valorous reply. 



Tedious it were to recount the dawdling of a long 

 journey performed by the same man and the same horses. 

 I will not therefore utter such an infliction. It is quite 

 enough to say, that in the end I ensconced myself in an 

 hostel in the little town of Melrose : inn, properly so 

 called, there was none, for Melrose was then unsung. 

 It was late, and I looked forth on the tranquil scene 

 from my window. The moonbeams played upon the 

 distant hill-tops, but the lower masses slept as yet in 

 shadow ; again the pale light catched the waters of the 

 Tweed, the lapse of whose streams fell faintly on the ear, 

 like the murmuring of a sea-shell. In front rose up the 

 mouldering abbey, deep in shadow ; its pinnacles, and 



