Master of Ballantrae

Although an old, consistent exile, the editor of the following pages revisits now and again the city of which he exults to be a native; and there are few things more strange, more painful, or more salutary, than such revisitations.

Outside, in foreign spots, he comes by surprise and awakens more attention than he had expected; in his own city, the relation is reversed, and he stands amazed to be so little recollected.

Elsewhere he is refreshed to see attractive faces, to remark possible friends; there he scouts the long streets, with a pang at heart, for the faces and friends that are no more.

Elsewhere he is delighted with the presence of what is new, there tormented by the absence of what is old.

Elsewhere he is content to be his present self; there he is smitten with an equal regret for what he once was and for what he once hoped to be.