tleman who, several week« previous, entered a shop in
Edinburgh, where Miss Hariote and I were making purchases,
and accompanied us in our walk home, almost to the door,
much to my annoyance, as I was very tired, having, as part of
my duty, accompanied Georgy in her constitutional walk of
the morning, and then done quite a large amount of shopping.
I anticipated riding home in the omnibus, but my companion,
contrary to usage, decided otherwise, and I, as governess,
had no voice in the matter.
I did not recognise him at first as the same person, be
looked so different in dress to what he did in the shooting
coat and grey unmentionables he wore when I first saw him.
Perhaps I was in a bad humour from having to walk instead
of ride home, but that day he did not, in my eyes, look
much superior to Simpson's mason. He seemed very much
at home ; Robert and he called eaoh other by their Christian
names. I also heard him address Miss Scott and Georgy in
the same manner, but he seemed to have no place in the old
lady's good graces. He evidently wished to conciliate her
and made several advances, which, however, she repelled
with the affected pomposity which she chose occasionally to
assume, and considered dignity.
After Ellen Syme had finished her Scotch song, she was
besieged by the gentlemen to sing another, which she did at
once with taste and sweetness.
Several of the gentlemen seated themselves near the piano.
