Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/140

 the door. Robert, the eldest boy, begged leave to drive, to which, as the roads were good, and the horse steady, Mr Stewart made no objection. They were all seated in a moment; Mrs Mason and Mr Stewart on one side, and Mary and her two younger brothers on the other. Robert, vaulting into his proper station, seized the reins; and, after two gentle strokes with the whip, prevailed on old gray to move forward, which he did very sagaciously, with less speed than caution, until they reached the turnpike road, where he mended his pace into a sober trot, which, in less than two hours, brought them to the road that turns in to the Glen, or valley of Glenburnie.

They had not proceeded many paces, until they were struck with admiration at the uncommon wildness of the scene, which now opened to their view. The rocks which seemed to guard the entrance of the Glen, were abrupt and savage, and approached so near each other, that one