224 



AUDUBON 





him to the room where the regaha are kept. VVc each 

 wrote our names, paid our shilling, and the large padlock 

 was opened by a red-faced, bulky personage dressed in a 

 fanciful scarlet cloth, hanging about him like mouldering 

 tapestry. A small oblong room, quite dark, lay before us ; 

 it was soon lighted, however, by our conductor. A high 

 railing of iron, also of an oblong form, surrounded a table 

 covered with scarlet cloth, on which lay an immense sword 

 and its scabbard, two sceptres, a large, square, scarlet 

 cushion ornamented with golden tassels, and above all 

 the crown of Scotland. All the due explanations were 

 cried out by our conductor, on whose face the reflection 

 of all the red articles was so powerfully displayed just now 

 that it looked like a large tomato, quite as glittering, but 

 of a very different flavor, I assure thee. We looked at all 

 till I was tired ; not long did this take, for it had not one 

 thousandth portion of the beauties I had seen from the 

 parapet. We left the Castle intending to proceed to the 

 stone quarries three miles distant, but the wind was now so 

 fierce, and the dust so troubled my eyes, that the jaunt was 

 put off till another day. I paid young Kidd three guineas 

 for his picture. Have just had some bread and butter and 

 will go to bed. 



March 23. Young Kidd breakfasted with me, and no 

 sooner had he gone than I set to and packed up. I felt very 

 low^-spirited ; the same wind keeps blowing, and I am now 

 anxious to be off to Mr. Selby's Newcastle, and my dear 

 Green Bank. My head was so full of all n;anncr of 

 thoughts that I thought it was Saturday, instead of P>iday, 

 and at five o'clock I dressed in a great hurry and went to 

 Mr. Henry Witham's with all possible activity. My Lucy, 

 I was not expected till to-morrow ! Mr. Witham was not 

 at home, and his lady tried to induce me to remain and 

 dine with her and her lovely daughter; but I declined, and 

 marched home as much ashamed of my blunder as a fox 

 who has lost his tail in a trap. Once before I made a 



