ll and
myself, which I also discovered accidentally. Emily de Viry was laughing
at her for a peculiar mode of dress she has adopted, always wearing a
cap upon her pretty head, and never uncovering her arms and neck, though
both are beautiful, in evening dress. I was appealed to for my opinion
about the costume of middle-aged gentlewomen, and could, of course, only
state that it had been my own determination for some years past never to
uncover either my arms or neck, or wear any but sober colors as soon as
I was forty years old. This is one of those trivial points of agreement
which sometimes indicate more resemblance between people's natures than
a similarity of opinions on important matters, which may co exist with
considerable difference in matters of taste and feeling. Mrs. Mitchell,
like myself, does not think that stark nakedness would be indecent among
decent savage people, but does object to full-dress semi-nudity among
indecent civilized ones.

Lady M---- did not come with me to Dundee. I would not let her, though
her proposal to do so was certainly dictated partly by her affection for
me.... But I would not let her come with me _strolling_, though I should
only have been too glad of her company. She paints beautifully.... Alas!
an empty heart is a spur and goad to drive one to the world's end,
unless the soul be full of God, and the mind and time of wholesome
occupation.

The Mairs are excellently kind to me, and I look forward to my stay with
them with great pleasure. Cecilia and Mr. Combe are expected daily in
Edinburgh, so I shall lose little or nothing of them.

I am just disappointed of a charming opportunity of seeing the lovely
country round Perth. Lady Ruthven has sent me a very pressing invitation
to spend some days at Freeland, seven miles from here; but I am obliged
to return to Edinburgh to-morrow, for which I am very sorry, as I
should have liked to go to Freeland, the whole neighborhood of which is
beautiful. Good-bye. God bless you.

Ever yours,
FANNY.

29, ABERCROMBIE PLACE, EDINBURGH, Saturday, October 2d.
DEAR HAL,

I received a note from Mrs. Mulliner yesterday morning, expressing her
readiness to receive you, and her full intention to devote herself to
you to the very utmost of her ability. I am sorry Jeffreys will not be
there to help you in getting cabs, etc.; but he h