It was a matter which interested him, for democratic politician though he was, he looked always forward to the day when he should own a pleasant country property, and forget the troubles of life in the Nirvana of the respectable.
"Oh, they've had it for ages.

They are a very old family, you know, and look down upon us as parvenus.

They have been everything in their day--soldiers, statesmen, lawyers; and when we were decent merchants in Abbeykirk three centuries ago, they were busy making history.

When you go to Etterick you must see the pictures.

There is a fine one by Jameson of the Haystoun who fought with Montrose, and Raeburn painted most of the Haystouns of his time.