The Antiquary Volume II - Chapter Sixth

In which the venerable Edie Ochiltree undertakes a curious commission from a wizened matron, bearing a precious token to the secluded Earl of Glenallan, while navigating both the complex rituals of charity and the guarded precincts of an ancient and somber mansion. Along his route, Edie encounters old comrades, observes the vestiges of an austere family legacy, and prepares to deliver his mysterious message within the shadowed walls of a great house where solemn portraits and ecclesiastical intercourse mark the weight of tradition.