In my twenty-third year--being at home at that time--I was asked to a hunting match at Braemar, and went.

No great while afterwards I was bidden to supper at an Edinburgh tavern, and again I accepted the invitation.

There was a small entertainment to follow the supper,--just the taking of Edinburgh Castle.

But the wine was good, and we waited to powder our hair, and the entertainment could hardly be called a success.
Hard upon that convivial evening, I, with many others, was asked across the Border to join a number of gentlemen who drank to the King after our fashion, and had a like fancy for oak boughs and white roses.

The weather was pleasant, the company of the best, the roads very noble after our Highland sheep tracks.