Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 26, 1897 - Romances, Volume VII

THE GREAT NORTH ROAD
most exquisite taste : her face grown longer and
more refined; her tint etherealised ; and she heard
herself with delighted wonder talking like a book.
Meanwhile they had arrived at where the track
comes out above the river dell, and saw in front of
them the castle, faintly shadowed on the night,
covering with its broken battlements a bold projec-
tion of the bank, and showing at the extreme end,
where were the habitable tower and wing, some
crevices of candle-light. Hence she called loudly
upon her uncle, and he was seen to issue, lantern in
hand, from the tower door, and, where the ruins did
not intervene, to pick his way over the swarded
courtyard, avoiding treacherous cellars and winding
among blocks of fallen masonry. The arch of the
great gate was still entire, flanked by two tottering
bastions, and it was here that Jonathan met them,
standing at the edge of the bridge, bent somewhat
forward, and blinking at them through the glow of
his own lantern. Mr. Archer greeted him with
civility ; but the old man was in no humour of
compliance. He guided the new-comer across the
courtyard, looking sharply and quickly in his face,
and grumbling all the time about the cold, and the
discomfort and dilapidation of the castle. He was
sure he hoped that Mr. Archer would like it ; but in
truth he could not think what brought him there.
Doubtless he had a good reason — this with a look
of cunning scrutiny — but, indeed, the place was
quite unfit for any person of repute ; he himself was
eaten up with the rheumatics. It was the most