e with a slight accent, and with much vivacity. Madame
Charpentier had made her escape to England during the Revolution,--her
husband having been a devoted Royalist and Government officer,--and she
had brought up her children as Protestants. No lovelier vision than that
of Margaret had ever dazzled the eyes of our young hero, and he became
her devoted cavalier at once.

He thus describes her to his mother when announcing his engagement:--

"Without flying into raptures,--for I must assure you that my
judgment as well as my affections are consulted upon this
occasion,--without flying into raptures, then, I may safely assure
you that her temper is sweet and cheerful, her understanding good,
and, what I know will give you pleasure, her principles of religion
very serious. Her fortune is five hundred pounds a year."

These are a few extracts from Miss Carpenter's letters:--

"Before I conclude this famous epistle I will give you a little
hint,--that is, not to put so many 'musts' in your letters, it is
beginning rather too soon; and another thing is that I take the
liberty not to mind them much, but I expect you to mind me. You
must take care of yourself; you must think of me and believe me
yours sincerely. . . . I am very glad that you don't give up the
cavalry, as I love anything that is stylish. Don't forget to find a
stand for the old carriage, as I shall like to keep it in case we
have to go a journey; it will do very well until we can keep our
carriage. What an idea of yours was that to mention where you wish
to have your bones laid! If you were married I should think you had
tired of me. A pretty compliment before marriage! If you always
have those cheerful thoughts, how very pleasant and gay you must
be. Adieu, my dearest friend. Take care of yourself if you love me,
as I have no wish that you should visit that beautiful and romantic
scene, the burial place! . . . Arrange it so that we shall see none
of your family the night of our arrival. I shall be so tired, and
such a fright, I should not be seen to advantage."

All of which reads as though the young ladies of 1797 were not very
different from those of our own day. After the marriage they went to
reside in Edinburgh, and enjoyed some of the gayeties of that time. They
were most particularly attracted by the theatres. Mrs. Scott had a great