And now, Miss Barbara Balfour (to set the ladies first), and Mr. Alan Balfour younger of Shaws, here is the story brought fairly to an end. A great many of the folk that took a part in it, you will find (if you think well) that you have seen and spoken with. Alison Hastie in Limekilns was the lass that rocked your cradle when you were too small to know of it, and walked abroad with you in the policy when you were bigger. That very fine great lady that is Miss Barbara’s name-mamma is no other than the same Miss Grant that made so much a fool of David Balfour in the house of the Lord Advocate. And I wonder whether you remember a little, lean, lively gentleman in a scratch-wig and a wraprascal, that came to Shaws very late of a dark night, and whom you were awakened out of your beds and brought down to the dining-hall to be presented to, by the name of Mr. Jamieson? Or has Alan forgotten what he did at Mr. Jamieson’s request—a most disloyal act—for which, by the letter of the law, he might be hanged—no less than drinking the king’s health _across the water_? These were strange doings in a good Whig house! But Mr. Jamieson is a man privileged, and might set fire to my corn-barn; and the name they know him by now in France is the Chevalier Stewart. As for Davie and Catriona, I shall watch you pretty close in the next days, and see if you are so bold as to be laughing at papa and mamma. It is true we were not so wise as we might have been, and made a great deal of sorrow out of nothing; but you will find as you grow up that even the artful Miss Barbara, and even the valiant Mr. Alan, will be not so very much wiser than their parents. For the life of man upon this world of ours is a funny business. They talk of the angels weeping; but I think they must more often be holding their sides as they look on; and there was one thing I determined to do when I began this long story, and that was to tell out everything as it befell. Footnotes [1] Conspicuous. [2] Country. [3] The Fairies. [4] Flatteries. [5] Trust to. [6] This must have reference to Dr. Cameron on his first visit.—D. B. [7] Sweetheart. [8] Child. [9] Palm. [10] Gallows. [11] My Catechism. [12] Now Prince’s Street. [13] A learned folklorist of my acquaintance hereby identifies Alan’s air. It has been printed (it seems) in Campbell’s _Tales of the West Highlands_, Vol. II., p. 91. Upon examination it would really seem as if Miss Grant’s unrhymed doggrel (see Chapter V.) would fit with little humouring to the notes in question. [14] A ball placed upon a little mound for convenience of striking. [15] Patched shoes. [16] Shoemaker. [17] Tamson’s mere—to go afoot. [18] Beard. [19] Ragged. [20] Fine things. [21] Catch. [22] Victuals. [23] Trust. [24] Sea fog. [25] Bashful. [26] Rest.