Memoir of Marshal Keith

34 LAST VISIT TO INVERUGIE.
Near this place, he met one who had been a com-
panion in many a day's ramble — Mr Fraser of Mains of
Inverugie. He did not recognize him until he had heard
his name, on which he grasped him warmly by the hand,
and chatted about old times and the various places they
passed. It took hours to reach Steadyvage, from which
the first proper view of the Castle is obtained. As it came
into sight, he gazed upon it as one does on the changed
face of a friend in order that he may make out some feature
by which he can recognise him. There it stood, roofless,
tenantless ; its single black rafter lifting up its appealing
form to the sky. For a few moments, he stood up in the
carriage, with his eyes fixed on the old pile ; and then,
summoning all his strength, he cried out, " Stop the
stage ! stop the stage !" When this was done, he con-
tinued looking a little longer ; and then, throwing himself
back, gave way to an agony of grief. All looked on in
sympathy as the glory of his past was thus completely
swept away, and his future rose up " all dark and barren
as a rainy sea." Lifting his head, he took one longing,
lingering look, — literally,
Gazed and wept, gazed and wept, gazed and wept
And gazed again, —
and then turned away for ever.
By a motion of the hand, for he could not trust himself
to speak, he made known to the coachman that it was his
wish to return. Slowly the cortege made its way back to
Peterhead, and the turrets of Inverugie saw him no more.