There were beasts that could be recognised at once, and these were sparingly named; but others were astounding, and above them were inscribed titles such as these: Shoe-lyon, Musket, Ostray; and one fearsome animal in the centre was designated the Ram of Arabia.

This display of heraldry and natural history was reinforced by the cardinal virtues in seventeenth century dress: Charitas as an elderly female of extremely forbidding aspect, receiving two very imperfectly clad children; and Temperantia as a furious-looking person--male on the whole rather than female--pouring some liquor--surely water--from a jug into a cup, with averted face, and leaving little to be desired.

The afternoon sun shining in through a western window and lingering among the black and white tracery, so that the marking of a shield came into relief or a beast suddenly glared down on one, had a weird, old-world effect.
"It's half an armoury and half a menagerie," said Kate, "and I think we 'll have tea in the library with the windows open to the Glen." And so they sat together in quietness, with books of heraldry and sport and ancient Scottish classics and such like round them, while Janet went out and in.
"So Donald has been obliged to leave his kirk;" for Kate had not yet forgiven Janet.

"He says it's very bad here; I hope you won't go to such a place." "What would Donald Macdonald be saying against it ?" inquired Janet, severely.
"Oh, I don't remember--lots of things.

He thought you were making too much of the minister." "The minister iss a good man, and hass some Highland blood in him, though he hass lost his Gaelic, and he will be very pleasant in the house.