Ettrick.

"Mr. Campbell," I stammered, "and if you were in my shoes, would you

go?"

"Of a surety," said the minister, "that would I, and without pause.

A pretty lad like you should get to Cramond (which is near in by

Edinburgh) in two days of walk. If the worst came to the worst, and

your high relations (as I cannot but suppose them to be somewhat of your

blood) should put you to the door, ye can but walk the two days back

again and risp at the manse door. But I would rather hope that ye shall

be well received, as your poor father forecast for you, and for anything

that I ken come to be a great man in time. And here, Davie, laddie," he

resumed, "it lies near upon my conscience to improve this parting, and

set you on the right guard against the dangers of the world."

Here he cast about for a comfortable seat, lighted on a big boulder

under a birch by the trackside, sate down upon it with a very long,

serious upper lip, and the sun now shining in upon us between two peaks,

put his pocket-handkerchief over his cocked hat to shelter him. There,

then, with uplifted forefinger, he first put me on my guard against a

considerable number of heresies, to which I had no temptation, and urged

upon me to be instant in my prayers and reading of the Bible. That done,

he drew a picture of the great house that I was bound to, and how I

should conduct myself with its inhabitants.

"Be soople, Davie, in things immaterial," said he. "Bear ye this in

mind, that, though gentle born, ye have had a country rearing. Dinnae

shame us, Davie, dinnae shame us! In yon great, muckle house, with all

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