ItwasaboutnoonwhenCaptainWaverleyenteredthestragglingvillage，orratherhamlet，ofTully-Veolan，closetowhichwassituatedthemansionoftheproprietor。Thehousesseemedmiserableintheextreme，especiallytoaneyeaccustomedtothesmilingneatnessofEnglishcottages。Theystood，withoutanyrespectforregularity，oneachsideofastragglingkindofunpavedstreet，wherechildren，almostinaprimitivestateofnakedness，laysprawling，asiftobecrushedbythehoofsofthefirstpassinghorse。Occasionally，indeed，whensuchaconsummationseemedinevitable，awatchfuloldgrandam，withherclosecap，distaff，andspindle，rushedlikeasibylinfrenzyoutofoneofthesemiserablecells，dashedintothemiddleofthepath，andsnatchingupherownchargefromamongthesun-burntloiterers，salutedhimwithasoundcuff，andtransportedhimbacktohisdungeon，thelittlewhite-headedvarletscreamingallthewhile，fromtheverytopofhislungs，ashrillytrebletothegrowlingremonstrancesoftheenragedmatron。
　　Anotherpartinthisconcertwassustainedbytheincessantyelpingofascoreofidleuselesscurs，whichfollowed，snarling，barking，howling，andsnappingatthehorses’heels；anuisanceatthattimesocommoninScotland，thataFrenchtourist，who，likeothertravellers，longedtofindagoodandrationalreasonforeverythinghesaw，hasrecorded，asoneofthememorabiliaofCaledonia，thatthestatemaintainedineachvillagearelayofcurs，called_collies，_whosedutyitwastochasethe_chevauxdeposte_toostarvedandexhaustedtomovewithoutsuchastimulus
　　fromonehamlettoanother，tilltheirannoyingconvoydrovethemtotheendoftheirstage。Theevilandremedysuchasitisstillexist；butthisisremotefromourpresentpurpose，andisonlythrownoutforconsiderationofthecollectorsunderMr。Dent’sdog-bill。
　　AsWaverleymovedon，hereandthereanoldman，bentasmuchbytoilasyears，hiseyesblearedwithageandsmoke，totteredtothedoorofhishut，togazeonthedressofthestranger，andtheformandmotionsofthehorses，andthenassembledwithhisneighbours，inalittlegroupatthesmithy，todiscusstheprobabilitiesofwhencethestrangercame，andwherehemightbegoing。Threeorfourvillagegirls，returningfromthewellorbrookwithpitchersandpailsupontheirheads，formedmorepleasingobjects；and，withtheirthin，shortgownsandsinglepetticoats，barearms，legs，andfeet，uncoveredheads，andbraidedhair，somewhatresembledItalianformsoflandscape。
　　Norcouldaloverofthepicturesquehavechallengedeithertheeleganceoftheircostume，orthesymmetryoftheirshape；
　　although，tosaythetruth，amereEnglishman，insearchofthe_comfortable，_awordpeculiartohisnativetongue，mighthavewishedtheclotheslessscanty，thefeetandlegssomewhatprotectedfromtheweather，theheadandcomplexionshroudedfromthesun，orperhapsmightevenhavethoughtthewholepersonanddressconsiderablyimproved，byaplentifulapplicationofspringwater，witha_quantumsufficit_ofsoap。Thewholescenewasdepressing；foritargued，atthefirstglance，atleastastagnationofindustry，andperhapsofintellect。Evencuriosity，thebusiestpassionoftheidle，seemedofalistlesscastinthevillageofTully-Veolan：thecursaforesaidaloneshowedanypartofitsactivity；withthevillagersitwaspassive。Theystoodandgazedatthehandsomeyoungofficerandhisattendant，butwithoutanyofthosequickmotions，andeagerlooks，thatindicatetheearnestnesswithwhichthosewholiveinmonotonouseaseathome，lookoutforamusementabroad。Yetthephysiognomyofthepeople，whenmorecloselyexamined，wasfarfromexhibitingtheindifferenceofstupidity：theirfeatureswererough，butremarkablyintelligent；grave，buttheveryreverseofstupid；andfromamongtheyoungwomen，anartistmighthavechosenmorethanonemodel，whosefeaturesandformresembledthoseofMinerva。Thechildren，also，whoseskinswereburntblack，andwhosehairwasbleachedwhite，bytheinfluenceofthesun，hadalookandmanneroflifeandinterest。
　　Itseemed，uponthewhole，asifpoverty，andindolence，itstoofrequentcompanion，werecombiningtodepressthenaturalgeniusandacquiredinformationofahardy，intelligent，andreflectingpeasantry。
　　SomesuchthoughtscrossedWaverley’smindashepacedhishorseslowlythroughtheruggedandflintystreetofTully-Veolan，interruptedonlyinhismeditationsbytheoccasionalcaprioleswhichhischargerexhibitedatthereiteratedassaultsofthosecanineCossacks，the_collies_beforementioned。Thevillagewasmorethanhalfamilelong，thecottagesbeingirregularlydividedfromeachotherbygardens，oryards，astheinhabitantscalledthem，ofdifferentsizes，whereforitisSixtyYearssincethenowuniversalpotatowasunknown，butwhichwerestoredwithgiganticplantsof_kale_orcolewort，encircledwithgrovesofnettles，andexhibitedhereandthereahugehemlock，orthenationalthistle，overshadowingaquarterofthepettyenclosure。
　　Thebrokengroundonwhichthevillagewasbuilthadneverbeenlevelled；sothattheseenclosurespresenteddeclivitiesofeverydegree，hererisingliketerraces，theresinkingliketanpits。
　　Thedry-stonewallswhichfenced，orseemedtofencefortheyweresorelybreached，thesehanginggardensofTully-Veolan，wereintersectedbyanarrowlaneleadingtothecommonfield，wherethejointlabourofthevillagerscultivatedalternateridgesandpatchesofrye，oats，barley，andpeas，eachofsuchminuteextent，thatatalittledistancetheunprofitablevarietyofthesurfaceresembledatailor’sbookofpatterns。Inafewfavouredinstances，thereappearedbehindthecottagesamiserablewigwam，compiledofearth，loosestones，andturf，wherethewealthymightperhapsshelterastarvedcoworsorelygalledhorse。Butalmosteveryhutwasfencedinfrontbyahugeblackstackofturfononesideofthedoor，whileontheotherthefamilydung-hillascendedinnobleemulation。
　　Aboutabow-shotfromtheendofthevillageappearedtheenclosures，proudlydenominatedtheParksofTully-Veolan，beingcertainsquarefields，surroundedanddividedbystonewallsfivefeetinheight。Inthecentreoftheexteriorbarrierwastheuppergateoftheavenue，openingunderanarchway，battlementedonthetop，andadornedwithtwolargeweather-beatenmutilatedmassesofuprightstone，which，ifthetraditionofthehamletcouldbetrusted，hadoncerepresented，atleasthadbeenoncedesignedtorepresent，tworampantBears，thesupportersofthefamilyofBradwardine。Thisavenuewasstraight，andofmoderatelength，runningbetweenadoublerowofveryancienthorse-chestnuts，plantedalternatelywithsycamores，whichrosetosuchhugeheight，andflourishedsoluxuriantly，thattheirboughscompletelyover-archedthebroadroadbeneath。Beyondthesevenerableranks，andrunningparalleltothem，weretwohighwalls，ofapparentlythelikeantiquity，overgrownwithivy，honeysuckle，andotherclimbingplants。Theavenueseemedverylittletrodden，andchieflybyfoot-passengers；sothatbeingverybroad，andenjoyingaconstantshade，itwasclothedwithgrassofadeepandrichverdure，exceptingwhereafoot-path，wornbyoccasionalpassengers，trackedwithanaturalsweepthewayfromtheuppertothelowergate。Thisnetherportal，liketheformer，openedinfrontofawallornamentedwithsomerudesculpture，withbattlementsonthetop，overwhichwereseen，half-hiddenbythetreesoftheavenue，thehighsteeproofsandnarrowgablesofthemansion，withlinesindentedintosteps，andcornersdecoratedwithsmallturrets。Oneofthefoldingleavesofthelowergatewasopen，andasthesunshonefullintothecourtbehind，alonglineofbrilliancywasflungupontheapertureupthedarkandgloomyavenue。Itwasoneofthoseeffectswhichapainterlovestorepresent，andmingledwellwiththestrugglinglightwhichfounditswaybetweentheboughsoftheshadyarchthatvaultedthebroadgreenalley。
　　Thesolitudeandreposeofthewholesceneseemedalmostromantic；andWaverley，whohadgivenhishorsetohisservantonenteringthefirstgate，walkedslowlydowntheavenue，enjoyingthegratefulandcoolingshade，andsomuchpleasedwiththeplacidideasofrestandseclusionexcitedbythisconfinedandquietscene，thatheforgotthemiseryanddirtofthehamlethehadleftbehindhim。Theopeningintothepavedcourtyardcorrespondedwiththerestofthescene。Thehouse，whichseemedtoconsistoftwoorthreehigh，narrow，andsteep-roofedbuildings，projectingfromeachotheratrightangles，formedonesideoftheenclosure。Ithadbeenbuiltataperiodwhencastleswerenolongernecessary，andwhentheScottisharchitectshadnotyetacquiredtheartofdesigningadomesticresidence。Thewindowswerenumberless，butverysmall；theroofhadsomenondescriptkindofprojections，calledbartizans，anddisplayedateachfrequentangleasmallturret，ratherresemblingapepper-boxthanaGothicwatch-tower。Neitherdidthefrontindicateabsolutesecurityfromdanger。Therewereloop-holesformusketry，andironstancheonsonthelowerwindows，probablytorepelanyrovingbandofgipsies，orresistapredatoryvisitfromtheCateransoftheneighbouringHighlands。
　　Stablesandotherofficesoccupiedanothersideofthesquare。Theformerwerelowvaults，withnarrowslitsinsteadofwindows，resembling，asEdward’sgroomobserved，ratheraprisonformurderersandlarceners，andsuchlikeasaretriedat’sizes，thanaplaceforanyChristiancattle。’’Abovethesedungeon-lookingstablesweregranaries，calledgirnels，andotheroffices，towhichtherewasaccessbyoutsidestairsofheavymasonry。Twobattlementedwalls，oneofwhichfacedtheavenue，andtheotherdividedthecourtfromthegarden，completedtheenclosure。
　　Norwasthecourtwithoutitsornaments。Inonecornerwasatun-belliedpigeon-houseofgreatsizeandrotundity，resemblinginfigureandproportionthecuriousedificecalledArthur’sOven，whichwouldhaveturnedthebrainsofalltheantiquariesinEnglandhadnottheworthyproprietorpulleditdownforthesakeofmendinganeighbouringdam-dyke。Thisdovecot，orcolumbarium，astheownercalledit，wasnosmallresourcetoaScottishlairdofthatperiod，whosescantyrentswereekedoutbythecontributionslevieduponthefarmsbytheselightforagers，andtheconscriptionsexactedfromthelatterforthebenefitofthetable。
　　Anothercornerofthecourtdisplayedafountain，whereahugebear，carvedinstone，predominatedoveralargestonebasin，intowhichhedisgorgedthewater。Thisworkofartwasthewonderofthecountrytenmilesround。Itmustnotbeforgottenthatallsortsofbears，smallandlarge，demiorinfullproportion，werecarvedoverthewindows，upontheendsofthegables，terminatedthespouts，andsupportedtheturrets，withtheancientfamilymotto，[=BewartheBar，=]’’cutundereachhyperboreanform。Thecourtwasspacious，wellpaved，andperfectlyclean，therebeingprobablyanotherentrancebehindthestablesforremovingthelitter。Everythingaroundappearedsolitary，andwouldhavebeensilent，butforthecontinuedplashingofthefountain；andthewholescenestillmaintainedthemonasticillusionwhichthefancyofWaverleyhadconjuredup-Andherewebegpermissiontocloseachapterofstilllife。
　　ThereisnoparticularmansiondescribedunderthenameofTully-Veolan；
　　butthepeculiaritiesofthedescriptionoccurinvariousoldScottishseats。ThehouseofWarrenderuponBruntsfieldLinks，andthatofOldRavelston，belonging，theformertoSirGeorgeWarrender，thelattertoSirAlexanderKeith，havebothcontributedseveralhintstothedescriptioninthetext。TheHouseofDean，nearEdinburgh，hasalsosomepointsofresemblancewithTully-Veolan。Theauthorhas，however，beeninformed，thattheHouseofGrandtullyresemblesthatoftheBaronofBradwardinestillmorethananyoftheabove。
　　TherampantbearsonthegatewayaresupposedtohavebeensuggestedtotheauthorbysimilareffigiesstillstandingonthegatetoTraquairHouseontheTweed，withwhichhewaswellacquainted。Mr。LockhartmentionsCraighallinPerthshireasanothermansionbearingalikenesstoTully-Veolan。