COACH m THE SXOW 179 



On the Monday morning I again called, and after 

 permanently settling my l^rother, took leave of my 

 hospitable and very intelligent entertainer. 



The weather, which had been particularly bright, 

 though extremely cold, changed on Monday and became 

 very gloomy. 



Anticipating a heavy fall of snow, that might cause me 

 to be pent up in Edinburgh, I got into the Carlisle mail 

 that stood at the door of the hotel, as soon as I had 

 discharged my bill, and, taking an affectionate leave 

 of my brother, was quickly outside the Canongate. 



My companions, three in number, proved to be coach 

 proprietors, who lived at different stages, and dis- 

 appeared one after the other, till I was left quite alone. 



The snow, as I thought it would, had commenced, and 

 had already obliterated all appearance of a track or road. 

 While stopping, I asked the guard the cause of the un- 

 easy motion I had experienced. He told me that the 

 vehicle was obliged to deviate from the road, in con- 

 sequence of the obstructions the snow had created. 



Arriving, after some little delay, at Hawick, I was 

 shown into a parlour where blazed a beautiful fire, which 

 seemed to offer me a warm welcome I felt very much 

 dis^Dosed to accept. 



Presently I was told by a tall Scotch damsel that the 

 coach could not proceed any farther, and that the coach- 

 man and guard of the down mail had arrived with 

 the horses and bags, having left the coach in the road, it 

 being quite impassable for wheel carriages. 



This was bad news for me ; however, I sat myself 

 down by the fire, and had resolved to make myself 



