Old Mortality Volume 2 Chapter 16

In which the narrative swiftly advances beyond recent turmoil in Scotland to a serene summer evening near Bothwell Castle, where a well-mounted stranger inquires after Cuthbert Headrigg and local affairs, eliciting from the simple farmer a sketch of lingering political and religious unrest amidst quiet rural life. The meeting unfolds with the stranger seeking shelter as thundery clouds gather, setting a reflective scene of change, loyalty, and the enduring marks of past conflicts on both land and people.