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〃Chrystal； the ne'er…do…weel； Child destined to the deil； Sends this to Christie Steele。〃
And I was so much pleased with this new mode of viewing the subject； that I regretted the lateness of the hour prevented my finding a person to carry the letter express to its destination。
〃But with the morning cool reflection came。〃
I considered that the money； and probably more； was actually due by me on my mother's account to Christie； who had lent it in a moment of great necessity； and that the returning it in a light or ludicrous manner was not unlikely to prevent so touchy and punctilious a person from accepting a debt which was most justly her due； and which it became me particularly to see satisfied。 Sacrificing； then； my triad with little regret （for it looked better by candlelight； and through the medium of a pot of porter； than it did by daylight； and with bohea for a menstruum）； I determined to employ Mr。 Fairscribe's mediation in buying up the lease of the little inn； and conferring it upon Christie in the way which should make it most acceptable to her feelings。 It is only necessary to add that my plan succeeded； and that Widow Steele even yet keeps the Treddles Arms。 Do not say； therefore； that I have been disingenuous with you； reader； since； if I have not told all the ill of myself I might have done； I have indicated to you a person able and willing to supply the blank； by relating all my delinquencies as well as my misfortunes。
In the meantime I totally abandoned the idea of redeeming any part of my paternal property； and resolved to take Christie Steele's advice； as young Norval does Glenalvon's； 〃although it sounded harshly。〃
CHAPTER V。
MR。 CROFTANGRY SETTLES IN THE CANONGATE。
If you will know my house； 'Tis at the tuft of olives here hard by。 AS YOU LIKE IT。
By a revolution of humour which I am unable to account for； I changed my mind entirely on my plans of life； in consequence of the disappointment； the history of which fills the last chapter。 I began to discover that the country would not at all suit me； for I had relinquished field…sports； and felt no inclination whatever to farming； the ordinary vocation of country gentlemen。 Besides that； I had no talent for assisting either candidate in case of an expected election； and saw no amusement in the duties of a road trustee； a commissioner of supply； or even in the magisterial functions of the bench。 I had begun to take some taste for reading； and a domiciliation in the country must remove me from the use of books； excepting the small subscription library； in which the very book which you want is uniformly sure to be engaged。
I resolved； therefore； to make the Scottish metropolis my regular resting…place； reserving to myself to take occasionally those excursions which； spite of all I have said against mail…coaches； Mr。 Piper has rendered so easy。 Friend of our life and of our leisure； he secures by dispatch against loss of time； and by the best of coaches； cattle； and steadiest of drivers； against hazard of limb； and wafts us； as well as our letters； from Edinburgh to Cape Wrath in the penning of a paragraph。
When my mind was quite made up to make Auld Reekie my headquarters； reserving the privilege of EXPLORING in all directions； I began to explore in good earnest for the purpose of discovering a suitable habitation。 〃And whare trew ye I gaed？〃 as Sir Pertinax says。 Not to George's Squarenor to Charlotte Squarenor to the old New Townnor to the new New Townnor to the Calton Hill。 I went to the Canongate； and to the very portion of the Canongate in which I had formerly been immured； like the errant knight； prisoner in some enchanted castle； where spells have made the ambient air impervious to the unhappy captive； although the organs of sight encountered no obstacle to his free passage。
Why I should have thought of pitching my tent here I cannot tell。 Perhaps it was to enjoy the pleasures of freedom where I had so long endured the bitterness of restraint； on the principle of the officer who； after he had retired from the army； ordered his servant to continue to call him at the hour or parade； simply that he might have the pleasure of saying； 〃Dn the parade！〃 and turning to the other side to enjoy his slumbers。 Or perhaps I expected to find in the vicinity some little old…fashioned house； having somewhat of the RUS IN URBE which I was ambitious of enjoying。 Enough： I went； as aforesaid； to the Canongate。
I stood by the kennel； of which I have formerly spoken； and； my mind being at ease； my bodily organs were more delicate。 I was more sensible than heretofore； that； like the trade of Pompey in MEASURE FOR MEASURE；it did in some sortpah an ounce of civet； good apothecary！ Turning from thence； my steps naturally directed themselves to my own humble apartment； where my little Highland landlady； as dapper and as tight as ever； （for old women wear a hundred times better than the hard…wrought seniors of the masculine sex）； stood at the door； TEEDLING to herself a Highland song as she shook a table napkin over the fore…stair； and then proceeded to fold it up neatly for future service。
〃How do you； Janet？〃
〃Thank ye； good sir；〃 answered my old friend； without looking at me； 〃but ye might as weel say Mrs。 MacEvoy； for she is na a'body's Shanetumph。〃
〃You must be MY Janet； though； for all that。 Have you forgot me？ Do you not remember Chrystal Croftangry？〃
The light； kind…hearted creature threw her napkin into the open door； skipped down the stair like a fairy； three steps at once； seized me by the handsboth handsjumped up； and actually kissed me。 I was a little ashamed； but what swain； of somewhere inclining to sixty could resist the advances of a fair contemporary？ So we allowed the full degree of kindness to the meetingHONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSEand then Janet entered instantly upon business。 〃An ye'll gae in； man； and see your auld lodgings； nae doubt and Shanet will pay ye the fifteen shillings of change that ye ran away without； and without bidding Shanet good day。 But never mind〃 （nodding good…humouredly）； 〃Shanet saw you were carried for the time。〃
By this time we were in my old quarters； and Janet； with her bottle of cordial in one hand and the glass in the other； had forced on me a dram of usquebaugh； distilled with saffron and other herbs； after some old…fashioned Highland receipt。 Then was unfolded； out of many a little scrap of paper； the reserved sum of fifteen shillings； which Janet had treasured for twenty years and upwards。
〃Here they are；〃 she said； in honest triumph； 〃just the same I was holding out to ye when ye ran as if ye had been fey。 Shanet has had siller； and Shanet has wanted siller； mony a time since that。 And the gauger has come； and the factor has come； and the butcher and bakerCot bless us just like to tear poor auld Shanet to pieces； but she took good care of Mr。 Croftangry's fifteen shillings。〃
〃But what if I had never come back； Janet？〃
〃Och； if Shanet had heard you were dead； she would hae gien it to the poor of the chapel； to pray for Mr。 Croftangry；〃 said Janet； crossing herself； for she was a Catholic； 〃You maybe do not think it would do yo