“It gave me the highest satisfaction to find, by the
receipt of your letter of the 14th current, that you have formed precisely the
same opinion with me, both with regard to the interpretation of —— ——’s letter as highly flattering and
favourable, and to the mode of conduct I ought to pursue for, after all, what
she has pointed out is the most prudent line of conduct for us both, at least
till better days, which, I think myself now entitled to suppose, she, as well
as I myself, will look forward to with pleasure. If you were surprised at
reading the important billet, you may guess how agreeably I was so at receiving
it; for I had, to anticipate disappointment,—struggled to suppress every rising
gleam of hope, and it would be very difficult to describe the mixed feelings
her letter occasioned, which, entre
nous, terminated in a very hearty fit of crying. I read over
her epistle about ten times a-day, and always with new admiration of her
generosity and candour—and as often take shame to myself for the mean
suspicions, which, after knowing her so long, I could listen to, while
endeavouring to guess how she would conduct herself. To tell you the truth, I
cannot but confess, that my amour
propre, which one would expect should have been exalted, has
suffered not a little upon this occasion, through a sense of my own
unworthiness, pretty similar to that which afflicted Linton upon sitting down at Keir’s table. I ought perhaps to tell
you, what, indeed, you will perceive from her letter, that I was always
attentive, while con-
| LETTER FROM ROSEBANK. | 233 |
* Crab was the nickname of a friend who had accompanied Fergusson this summer on an Irish tour. Dr Black, celebrated for his discoveries in chemistry, was Adam Fergusson’s uncle; and had, it seems, given the young travellers a strong admonition touching the dangers of Irish hospitality. |
| 234 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
‘Who is that upon the pony, So long, so lean, so raw, so bony?’* |
“We have a great marriage towards here Scott of Harden, and a daughter of Count Bruhl, the famous chess-player, a lady of sixteen quarters, half-sister to the Wyndhams. I wish they may come down soon, as we shall have fine racketting, of which I will, probably, get my share. I think of being in town sometime next month, but whether for good and all, or only for a visit, I am not certain. O, for November! Our meeting will be a little embarrassing one. How will she look, &c. &c. &c., are the important subjects of my present conjectures—how different from what they were three weeks ago! I give you leave to laugh, when I tell you seriously, I had begun to ‘dwindle, peak, and pine,’ upon the subject—but now, after the charge I have received, it were a shame to resemble Pharoah’s lean kine. If good living and plenty of exercise can avert that calamity, I am in little danger of disobedience, and so, to conclude classically,
