Westerleigh,
and inclosed was a letter to her from my sister. How eagerly I devoured
Cloe's letter for news of Aileen may be guessed.

MY DEAREST 'TOINETTE:--

Since last I saw you (so the letter ran) seems a century, and of
course I am dying to come to town. No doubt the country is very
healthy, but Lud! 'tis monstrous dull after a London season. I vow I
am already a lifetime behind the fashions. Is't true that prodigious
bustles are the rage? And while I think of it I wish you would call at
Madame Ronald's and get the lylack lute-string scirt she is making for
me.

Also at Duprez's for the butifull little hat I ordered. Please have
them sent by carrier. I know I am a vast nuisance; 'tis the penalty,
my dear, for having a country mawkin as your best friend.

Of course you know what that grate brother of mine has been at. Gaming
I hear, playing ducks and drakes with his money, and fighting duels
with your lover. For a time we were dreadfully anxious about him. What
do you think he has sent me down to take care of for him? But you
would never guess. My love, a Scotch girl, shy as one of her own
mountain deer. I suppose when he is recovert of his wounds he will be
down here to philander with her. Aileen Macleod is her name, and
really I do not blame him. I like her purely myself. In a way quite
new she is very taking; speaks the prettiest broken English, is very
simple, sweet, and grateful. At a word the pink and white comes and
goes in her cheeks as it never does in ours. I wish I could acquire
her manner, but Alack! 'tis not to be learnt though I took lessons
forever. The gracefull creature dances the Scottish flings divinely.
She is not exactly butifull, but--well, I can see why the men think so
and fall down in worship! By the way, she is very nearly in love--tho
she does not know it--with that blundering brother of mine; says that
"her heart iss always thanking him at all events." If he knew how to
play his cards--but there, the oaf will put his grate foot in it.

She came here with a shag-headed gillie of a servant, under the
protection of a Captain Macdonald who is a very fine figure of a man.
He was going to stay only an hour or two, but _Charles_ persuaded him
to stop three days. Charles teases me about him, swears the Captain is
already my slave, but you may depend on't there is nothing in it. Last
night we diverted ourselves with playin