hile he remained in
Edinburgh, and that at night they should meet together, along with such
of their companions as were disengaged.

George found it every day more and more necessary to adhere to this
system of seclusion; for it was not alone the hisses of the boys and
populace that pursued him--a fiend of more malignant aspect was ever at
his elbow, in the form of his brother. To whatever place of amusement
he betook himself, and however well he concealed his intentions of
going there from all flesh living, there was his brother Wringhim also,
and always within a few yards of him, generally about the same
distance, and ever and anon darting looks at him that chilled his very
soul. They were looks that cannot be described; but they were felt
piercing to the bosom's deepest core. They affected even the onlookers
in a very particular manner, for all whose eyes caught a glimpse of
these hideous glances followed them to the object towards which they
were darted: the gentlemanly and mild demeanour of that object
generally calmed their startled apprehensions; for no one ever yet
noted the glances of the young man's eye, in the black coat, at the
face of his brother, who did not at first manifest strong symptoms of
alarm.

George became utterly confounded; not only at the import of this
persecution, but how in the world it came to pass that this
unaccountable being knew all his motions, and every intention of his
heart, as it were intuitively. On consulting his own previous feelings
and resolutions, he found that the circumstances of his going to such
and such a place were often the most casual incidents in nature--the
caprice of a moment had carried him there, and yet he had never sat or
stood many minutes till there was the selfsame being, always in the
same position with regard to himself, as regularly as the shadow is
cast from the substance, or the ray of light from the opposing denser
medium.

For instance, he remembered one day of setting out with the intention
of going to attend divine worship in the High Church, and when, within
a short space of its door, he was overtaken by young Kilpatrick of
Closeburn, who was bound to the Grey-Friars to see his sweetheart, as
he said: "and if you will go with me, Colwan," said he, "I will let you
see her too, and then you will be just as far forward as I am."

George assented at once, and went; and, after taking his seat, he
leaned his head forwards on the pew to repeat over