Mrs. Falconer had consulted the Misses Napier, who had many
acquaintances in Aberdeen, as to a place proper for Robert, and
suitable to her means. Upon this point Miss Letty, not without a
certain touch of design, as may appear in the course of my story,
had been able to satisfy her. In a small house of two floors and a
garret, in the old town, Mr. Lammie took leave of Robert.
It was from a garret window still, but a storm-window now that
Robert looked--eastward across fields and sand-hills, to the blue
expanse of waters--not blue like southern seas, but slaty blue, like
the eyes of northmen. It was rather dreary; the sun was shining
from overhead now, casting short shadows and much heat; the dew was
gone up, and the lark had come down; he was alone; the end of his
journey was come, and was not anything very remarkable. His
landlady interrupted his gaze to know what he would have for dinner,
but he declined to use any discretion in the matter. When she left
the room he did not return to the window, but sat down upon his box.
His eye fell upon the other, a big wooden cube. Of its contents he
knew nothing. He would amuse himself by making inquisition. It was
nailed up. He borrowed a screwdriver and opened it. At the top lay
a linen bag full of oatmeal; underneath that was a thick layer of
oat-cake; underneath that two cheeses, a pound of butter, and six
pots of jam, which ought to have tasted of roses, for it came from
the old garden where the roses lived in such sweet companionship
with the currant bushes; underneath that, &c.
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