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'Betty； Bodyfauld 's i' the perris o' Kettledrum。 Min' ye that。'
Betty glowered and said nothing。
But the delight of the walk of three miles over hill and dale and
moor and farm to Mr。 Lammie's！ The boys； if not as wild as
coltsthat is； as wild as most boys would have beenwere only the
more deeply excited。 That first summer walk； with a goal before
them； in all the freshness of the perfecting year； was something
which to remember in after days was to Falconer nothing short of
ecstasy。 The westering sun threw long shadows before them as they
trudged away eastward； lightly laden with the books needful for the
morrow's lessons。 Once beyond the immediate purlieus of the town
and the various plots of land occupied by its inhabitants； they
crossed a small river； and entered upon a region of little hills；
some covered to the top with trees； chiefly larch； others
cultivated； and some bearing only heather； now nursing in secret its
purple flame for the outburst of the autumn。 The road wound
between； now swampy and worn into deep ruts； now sandy and broken
with large stones。 Down to its edge would come the dwarfed oak； or
the mountain ash； or the silver birch； single and small； but lovely
and fresh； and now green fields； fenced with walls of earth as green
as themselves； or of stones overgrown with moss； would stretch away
on both sides； sprinkled with busily…feeding cattle。 Now they would
pass through a farm…steading； perfumed with the breath of cows； and
the odour of burning peatso fragrant！ though not yet so grateful
to the inner sense as it would be when encountered in after years
and in foreign lands。 For the smell of burning and the smell of
earth are the deepest underlying sensuous bonds of the earth's
unity； and the common brotherhood of them that dwell thereon。 Now
the scent of the larches would steal from the hill； or the wind
would waft the odour of the white clover； beloved of his
grandmother； to Robert's nostrils； and he would turn aside to pull
her a handful。 Then they clomb a high ridge； on the top of which
spread a moorland； dreary and desolate； brightened by nothing save
'the canna's hoary beard' waving in the wind； and making it look
even more desolate from the sympathy they felt with the forsaken
grass。 This crossed； they descended between young plantations of
firs and rowan…trees and birches； till they reached a warm house on
the side of the slope； with farm…offices and ricks of corn and hay
all about it； the front overgrown with roses and honeysuckle； and a
white…flowering plant unseen of their eyes hitherto； and therefore
full of mystery。 From the open kitchen door came the smell of
something good。 But beyond all to Robert was the welcome of Miss
Lammie； whose small fat hand closed upon his like a very
love…pudding； after partaking of which even his grandmother's
stately reception； followed immediately by the words 'Noo be dooce；'
could not chill the warmth in his bosom。
I know but one writer whose pen would have been able worthily to set
forth the delights of the first few days at BodyfauldJean Paul。
Nor would he have disdained to make the gladness of a country
school…boy the theme of that pen。 Indeed； often has he done so。 If
the writer has any higher purpose than the amusement of other boys；
he will find the life of a country boy richer for his ends than that
of a town boy。 For example； he has a deeper sense of the marvel of
Nature； a tenderer feeling of her feminality。 I do not mean that
the other cannot develop this sense； but it is generally feeble； and
there is consequently less chance of its surviving。 As far as my
experience goes； town girls and country boys love Nature most。 I
have known town girls love her as passionately as country boys。
Town boys have too many books and pictures。 They see Nature in
mirrorsinvaluable privilege after they know herself； not before。
They have greater opportunity of observing human nature； but here
also the books are too many and various。 They are cleverer than
country boys； but they are less profound； their observation may be
quicker； their perception is shallower。 They know better what to do
on an emergency； they know worse how to order their ways。 Of
course； in this； as in a thousand other matters； Nature will burst
out laughing in the face of the would…be philosopher； and bringing
forward her town boy； will say； 'Look here！' For the town boys are
Nature's boys after all； at least so long as doctrines of
self…preservation and ambition have not turned them from children of
the kingdom into dirt…worms。 But I must stop； for I am getting up
to the neck in a bog of discrimination。 As if I did not know the
nobility of some townspeople； compared with the worldliness of some
country folk。 I give it up。 We are all good and all bad。 God mend
all。 Nothing will do for Jew or Gentile； Frenchman or Englishman；
Negro or Circassian； town boy or country boy； but the kingdom of
heaven which is within him； and must come thence to the outside of
him。
To a boy like Robert the changes of every day； from country to town
with the gay morning； from town to country with the sober
eveningfor country as Rothieden might be to Edinburgh； much more
was Bodyfauld country to Rothiedenwere a source of boundless
delight。 Instead of houses； he saw the horizon； instead of streets
or walled gardens； he roamed over fields bathed in sunlight and
wind。 Here it was good to get up before the sun； for then he could
see the sun get up。 And of all things those evening shadows
lengthening out over the grassy wildernessesfor fields of a very
moderate size appeared such to an imagination ever ready at the
smallest hint to ascend its solemn thronewere a deepening marvel。
Town to country is what a ceiling is to a c？lum。
CHAPTER XVII。
ADVENTURES。
Grannie's first action every evening； the moment the boys entered
the room； was to glance up at the clock； that she might see whether
they had arrived in reasonable time。 This was not pleasant； because
it admonished Robert how impossible it was for him to have a lesson
on his own violin so long as the visit to Bodyfauld lasted。 If they
had only been allowed to sleep at Rothieden； what a universe of
freedom would have been theirs！ As it was； he had but two hours to
himself； pared at both ends； in the middle of the day。 Dooble Sanny
might have given him a lesson at that time； but he did not dare to
carry his instrument through the streets of Rothieden； for the
proceeding would be certain to come to his grandmother's ears。
Several days passed indeed before he made up his mind as to how he
was to reap any immediate benefit from the recovery of the violin。
For after he had made up his mind to run the risk of successive
mid…day solos in the old factoryhe was not prepared to carry the
instrument through the streets； or be seen entering the place with
it。
But the factory lay at the opposite corner of a quadrangle of
gardens； the largest of which belonged to itself； and the corner of
this garden touched the corner of Captain Forsyth's； which had
formerly belonged to Andrew Falconer： he had had a door made in the
walls at the point of junction； so that he could go from his house
to his business across his own property： if this door were not
locked； and Robert could pass without offence； what a north…west
passage it would be for him！ The little garden belonging to his
grandmother's house had only a slight wooden fence to divide it from
the other； and even in this fence there was a little gate： he would
only have to run along Captain Forsyth's top walk to reach the door。
The blessed thought came to him as he lay in bed at Bodyfauld： he
would attempt the passage the very next day。
With his violin in its paper under his arm； he sped like a hare from
gate to door； found it not even latched； only pushed to and rusted
into such rest as it was dangerous to the hinges to disturb。 He
opened it； however； without any accident； and passed through； then
closing it behind him； took his way more leisurely through the
tangled grass of his grandmother's property。 When he reached the
factory； he judged it prudent to search out a more secret nook； one
more full of silence； that is； whence the sounds would be less
certain to reach the ears of the passers by； and came upon a small
room； near the top； which had been the manager's bedroom； and which；
as he judged from what seemed the signs of ancient occupation； a
cloak hanging on the wall； and the ashes of a fire lying in the
grate； nobody had entered for years： it was the safest place in the
world。 He undid his instrument carefully； tuned its strings
tenderly； and soon found that his former facility； such as it was；
had not ebbed away beyond recovery。 Hastening back as he came； he
was just in time for his dinner； and narrowly escaped encountering
Betty in the