178 THE BALLANTYNES 



The latter name was sufficient to call forth all his 

 attention, and to insure us more agreeable treatment. 



After performing our toilets in a far different apart- 

 ment, and partaking of an excellent breakfast, we went 

 out ; and, it being Sunday, we entered the first place 

 of worship we came to, which hajDpened to be a newly- 

 constructed edifice, a church of considerable dimensions, 

 but by no means too large for the congregation. 



The service — which did not impress me with that 

 humble though awful adoration of the Deity which our 

 own sublime liturgy never fails to do — being over, I 

 went at once to deliver my credentials at the house of 

 the firm. 



I cannot say distinctly which of the gentlemen I saw, 

 but I felt from the length of our conversation — which 

 terminated in an invitation to dinner — that I had not 

 made a very bad impression, while our new acquaint- 

 ances' very urbane manner was equally satisfactory 

 to me. 



We returned after visitino- Arthur's Seat and Holv- 

 rood, and 1 spent, J. think, one of the most jDleasant 

 evenino-s I ever remember — the conversation turninof 

 principally upon the literary productions of the day. 



The author of " Waverley " was not then known, but 

 speaking of the poetic works of Walter Scott, Ballantyne 

 seemed very attentive when I expressed my admiration 

 of the " Lady of the Lake," the simplicity of the tale, 

 and the beauty of the imagery, and attempted to ^Doint 

 out good specimens of his powers of description, as well 

 as of his genius, displayed in grouping and classifying 

 the characteristics of his native country. 



