9O The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



holds the web into which the very hairs of their head 

 seem to be interwoven, are all phantoms, imaginary 

 fetters that would disappear from a man that would 

 open his eyes. 



Be the matter of principle what it may, Robertson 

 never found cause to regret either his bold resolve 

 to become a physician, or his almost bolder resolve, 

 by a fresh change of plan, not to become one. 



Though his capital was very small, in those days 

 there was much more of the coarser kinds of earthen- 

 ware sold than there is now, and a few pounds' worth, 

 in common saleable things, made a considerable show. 

 He painted and lettered the outside of his shop in his 

 own spare time. Miss Douglas's family supplied the 

 little household furniture that they at first required. 

 The fittings of the shop and counter belonged to the 

 landlord, and with a few alterations suited their pur- 

 pose. The marriage took place in a very quiet 

 manner. There were no grand relations to offer the 

 use of a country seat for the honeymoon ; there was 

 no spare cash to enable them to spend it in a series 

 of strange hotels either in Great Britain or abroad. 

 But they spent it very agreeably, nevertheless, doing 

 the most they could for the welfare of their new 

 undertaking, and putting things in the best possible 

 order for the opening day. 



