384 A Walk from 



to feel quite at home by its side. My boots had leaked 

 on the way and my feet were very wet and cold ; and 

 it was with a pleasant sense of comfort that I changed 

 stockings, and warmed myself at the ruddy grate, while 

 the storm seemed to increase without. After waiting 

 about an hour for tea, I heard the lassie's heavy footstep 

 on the stairs ; a knock the door opens now for the 

 tray and the steaming tea-pot, and happy vision of 

 bread, oatcake and Scotch scons ! Alas ! what a 

 falling-off was there from this delicious expectation ! ( 

 The lassie had brought a severe and peremptory 

 message from the master, who had just returned home. 

 And she delivered it commiseratingly but decidedly. 

 She was to tell me from him that there was nothing 

 in the house to set before me ; that the fair the day 

 before had eaten out the whole stock of his provisions ; 

 in short, that I was to take my staff and walk on to 

 Inverness. It was in vain that I remonstrated, pleaded 

 and urged wet feet, the darkness, the wind and rain. 

 "It is so," said the lassie, "and can't be otherwise." 

 She tried to encourage me to the journey by shortening 

 the distance by half its actual miles, saying it was only 

 two, when it was full four, and they of the longest kind. 

 So I went out into the night in my wet clothes, and 

 put the best face and foot to the head-wind and rain 

 that I could bring to bear against them. Both were 



