covered—my hair has always come easily out of curl—I never played the harp—and have always been more inclined to laugh than to cry. My father, Lord Elmore, lived in a large old-fashioned house, and in a large old-fashioned manner. By large, I mean liberal: he was only less indulgent to his seven children than my mother, who I believe never said "no" in all her life. It was not the system of indulgence practised by Dandie Dinmont's 'gude wife,' who gave 'the bairns their ain way, because, puir things, she had naithing else to gi'e them.' But my mother, I suppose, thought, as she gave every thing else, she might as well give that too.
"I pass over the dynasty of white frocks and blue sashes. Sometimes I learnt my lessons, sometimes I did not; but really that which was no matter of necessity often became matter of inclination; and I arrived at the dignity of fourteen, and my sister's confidante. Ah, the interest I took in her anxieties! the sympathy I gave to her sorrows! it was almost equal to having a lover of my own.
"It was a provokingly happy union—both families equally anxious it should take place: only, my father insisted that Isabel should be
