A laborious youth had given him great stores of scholarship, and Lewis's books were a curious if chaotic collection.

On the fly-leaf of a little duodecimo was an inscription from the author of Waverley, who had often made Etterick his hunting-ground.

A Dunbar had Hawthornden's autograph, and a set of tall classic folios bore the handwriting of George Buchanan.

Lord Kames, Hume, and a score of others had dedicated works to lairds of Etterick, and the Haystouns themselves had deigned at times to court the Muse.

Lewis's own special books-college prizes, a few modern authors, some well-thumbed poets, and a row in half a dozen languages on some matters of diplomatic interest-were crowded into a little oak bookcase which had once graced his college rooms.