# In the Advocate's House explained — Catriona

> Chapter companion for Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson.

## What happens

David Balfour visits the Lord Advocate's house on a Monday after an uneasy Sabbath. He encounters James More Macgregor in the antechamber, who attempts to beg for money and sympathy by invoking their supposed kinship. David resists his appeals. Prestongrange then introduces David to his three daughters and his sister, Miss Grant. The eldest daughter plays music and subtly warns David about his dangerous association with Alan Breck Stewart. The chapter ends with the sisters spotting Catriona Drummond outside in the close.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Identity

David feels awkward and inferior among the Advocate's refined daughters despite his own worth and estate.

### Deception and Manipulation

James More manipulates David with false kinship and sentimental appeals to extract money.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Miss Grant's cryptic warning about Alan's air hints at the danger of David's loyalty to Alan Breck.

## Character check-ins

### David Balfour

Visits the Advocate's house, endures James More's begging, and is introduced to Prestongrange's family.

### James More Macgregor

Found in the antechamber, anxious and pleading for money from David, invoking a false kinship.

### Lord Advocate Prestongrange

Brings David into his home and introduces him to his daughters and sister.

### Barbara Grant

Prestongrange's sister, present at the embroidery frame, observing the scene.

### Catriona Drummond

Spotted by the sisters outside the close, described as a beautiful lady with gillies.

## Key lines

> I was indeed much less impressed by the reasoning of the divines than by the spectacle of the thronged congregation in the churches, like what I imagined of a theatre or (in my then disposition) of an assize of trial; above all at the West Kirk, with its three tiers of galleries, where I went in the vain hope that I might see Miss Drummond.

David found the crowded churches more theatrical than spiritual, and went to the West Kirk hoping to glimpse Catriona.

_David's distraction and longing for Catriona overshadow his religious observance._

> I could never deny, in looking back upon what followed, that I was eminently stockish; and I must say the ladies were well drilled to have so long a patience with me.

David admits he was awkward and dull in conversation, and the ladies were remarkably patient.

_David's social discomfort among the Advocate's polished daughters._

> If ever you should come to get hanged, I will set your last dying speech and confession to that tune and sing it.

Miss Grant jokingly threatens to set David's execution speech to the tune he whistled.

_A darkly humorous warning that David is under criminal suspicion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/catriona_se/chapters/v-in-the-advocate-s-house
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/catriona_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/catriona_se/chapters