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us. " The floor is laid with black and white marble, the, 

 walls lined with old oak panels from Dunfermline 

 Abbey, and the groined roof painted to correspond. 

 Round the cornice there is a line of armorial shields of 

 the families who kept the borders, such as the Douglases, 

 Kerrs, Scotts, Turnbulls, Maxwells, Chisholms, Elliots 

 and Armstrongs ; and all round the walls are hung coats 

 of mail, pieces of armour, and curiosities, or as Burns 

 would have put it, 



" A fouth o'auld nick nackets, 

 Kusty iron caps and jingling tackets 

 Would keep the Lothian s three in jackets 

 A towmon guid." 



Among special things pointed out, are the keys of the 

 old Tolbooth of Edinburgh, known as the " Heart of 

 Midlothian ; " a clock which belonged to Marie Antoi- 

 nette ; and a suit of clothes at one time worn by Sir 

 Walter, consisting of a broad skirted green coat, plaid- 

 trousers, heavy shoes, and broad-brimmed hat. From 

 this we passed into the armoury, which runs across the 

 house, and forms a sort of ante-room between the dining 

 and drawing-room. It contains some curious coffers 

 and interesting pieces of armour, such as the breast- 

 plate of James IV, Eob Eoy's gun. Montrose's sword, 

 Claverhouse's pistols, James VI's hunting bottle, .Robert 

 Bruce's candlestick, Queen Mary's offering box, &c, as 

 well as some specimens of Indian weapons. The Draw- 

 ing-room is a moderate-sized room, with two windows 

 looking toward the Tweed, covered with a quaint Chinese 

 paper. In one corner stands a beautiful tortoiseshell 

 cabinet, which is said to have belonged to Queen Mary ; 

 and on the walls are hung Raeburn's full-lenght portrait 

 of Sir Walter, and portraits of Lady Scott and daughter. 

 There are also a frame of fine water-colour drawing 

 by Turner, and a curious painting of the head of Queen 

 Mary after execution. Next comes the library, the 

 largest room of the suite about 50 by 30 feet, and con- 



