And most useful to him this sentiment undoubtedly was in helping him to restore the mould and fashion of the past.

Beardie's second son was Sir Walter's grandfather, and to him he owed not only his first childish experience of the delights of country life, but also,--in his own estimation at least,--that risky, speculative, and sanguine spirit which had so much influence over his fortunes.

The good man of Sandy-Knowe, wishing to breed sheep, and being destitute of capital, borrowed 30_l._ from a shepherd who was willing to invest that sum for him in sheep; and the two set off to purchase a flock near Wooler, in Northumberland; but when the shepherd had found what he thought would suit their purpose, he returned to find his master galloping about a fine hunter, on which he had spent the whole capital in hand.

_This_ speculation, however, prospered.

A few days later Robert Scott displayed the qualities of the hunter to such admirable effect with John Scott of Harden's hounds, that he sold the horse for double the money he had given, and, unlike his grandson, abandoned speculative purchases there and then.