Chapter 2

           Intheforenoonofthesecondday,comingtothetopofahill,Isawallthecountryfallawaybeforemedowntothesea;andinthemidstofthisdescent,onalongridge,thecityofEdinburghsmokinglikeakiln.Therewasaflaguponthecastle,andshipsmovingorlyinganchoredinthefirth;bothofwhich,forasfarawayastheywere,Icoulddistinguishclearly;andbothbroughtmycountryheartintomymouth.

           Presentlyafter,Icamebyahousewhereashepherdlived,andgotaroughdirectionfortheneighbourhoodofCramond;andso,fromonetoanother,workedmywaytothewestwardofthecapitalbyColinton,tillIcameoutupontheGlasgowroad.Andthere,tomygreatpleasureandwonder,Ibeheldaregimentmarchingtothefifes,everyfootintime;anoldred-facedgeneralonagreyhorseattheoneend,andattheotherthecompanyofGrenadiers,withtheirPope’s-hats.Theprideoflifeseemedtomountintomybrainatthesightoftheredcoatsandthehearingofthatmerrymusic.

           Alittlefartheron,andIwastoldIwasinCramondparish,andbegantosubstituteinmyinquiriesthenameofthehouseofShaws.ItwasawordthatseemedtosurprisethoseofwhomIsoughtmyway.AtfirstIthoughttheplainnessofmyappearance,inmycountryhabit,andthatalldustyfromtheroad,consortedillwiththegreatnessoftheplacetowhichIwasbound.Butaftertwo,ormaybethree,hadgivenmethesamelookandthesameanswer,IbegantotakeitinmyheadtherewassomethingstrangeabouttheShawsitself.