Abbotsford proper is enclosed by an embattled wall and a fine castellated gateway, surmounted by a sculptured portcullis with Scott's motto, 'CLAUSUS TUTUS ERO,' an anagram of his name in Latin. The 'jougs' (stocks for the neck) of Threave Castle dangle to the left of the handsome iron-clenched door. Entering, we are in the courtyard, half an acre or so in extent, nicely turfed and parterred. It is walled on two sides, and on the third, facing the entrance, an elegant stone screen of sixteen elliptic arches, set with iron lattice-work, separates from the gardens. The fourth side is the house-front, 150 feet in length. All the grounds are kept in the pink of perfection. The antiquarian character of the place is at once apparent. Medallions, tablets, altars, etc., from the Roman station at Petreia (Penrith) and elsewhere, fill numerous niches in the courtyard wall, against which runs a trellised arbour covered with creepers. The centre of the courtyard is occupied by a fountain, which is said to have stood in former days at the foot of the Cross of Edinburgh (see Lockhart, vol. v., p. 261). The dial-stone in the flower-garden, inscribed (like Johnson's watch) with the motto 'ΓΑΡ ΝΥΞ ΕΡΧΕΤΑΙ' ('For the night cometh'), is an object of suggestive interest. 'Turn-Again' is in the corner, recalling Scott's first introduction to Abbotsford. Across the archway leading into the fruit-garden there is the appropriate text: '_Et audiverunt Vocem Domini deambulantis in horto._' Within, and guarded with jealous care, is the last survivor of the fruit-trees planted by Sir Walter himself. The exterior of Abbotsford abounds in relics and inscriptions, woven here and there throughout the masonry. At the western side of the main entrance, and high up in the wall, is the door of the old 'Heart of Midlothian' (see p. 37), with the words: 'THE LORD OF ARMIS IS MY PROTECTOR: BLISSIT AR THAY THAT TRUST IN THE LORD, 1575.' The arched entrance-porch was copied from Linlithgow Palace. The arms of the family with the legends-- 'REPARABIT CORNUA PHŒBE; WATCH WEEL' are conspicuous above it. Near by are the grave and stone effigy (cut by Smith of Darnick) of Maida, Scott's favourite deerhound, with Lockhart's famous 'false-quantity' lines: 'Maidæ Marmoreâ dormis sub imagine Maida ad januam domini sit tibi terra levis,' thus Englished by Sir Walter: 'Beneath the sculptured form which late you wore, Sleep soundly, Maida, at your master's door." (See Lockhart, vol. vii., pp. 275-281.) There is apparently only one date, 1822, on the south front, on a stone below the staircase window. Eastward is the Study, with Scott's bedroom above, and the tower from which he looked out on the Eildons. A long stone near the visitors' entrance carries the inscription: 'By Night by Day Remember ay the goodness of ye Lord: And thank His name whos glorious fam is spred Throughout ye world';