It had been widened, as an inscription in the middle told the world at large.

He leant on it and looked up the river.

Peel Tower was the same, anyway.

No one had dared to add one cubit to its grey stature.

It was a satisfaction to look at something so unchanging.
The sun had still something of its summer heat, and it was pleasant to stand there and listen to the sound of the river over the pebbles and see the flaming trees reflected in the blue water all the way up Tweedside till the river took a wide curve before the green slope on which the castle stood.