ally consigned at sun-down, or shortly after, he keeping the hours of the birds under his charge. During her absence, Edith took her writing materials, and prepared against her return the following letter, superscribed, For the hands of Major Bellenden of Charnwood, my much-honoured uncle, These:
"My dear uncle—this will serve to inform you, I am desirous to know how your gout is, as we did not see you at the wappin-schaw, which made both my mother and myself very uneasy. And if it will permit you to travel, we will be happy to see you at our poor house to-morrow at the hour of breakfast, as Colonel Grahame of Claverhouse is to pass this way on his march, and we would willingly have your assistance to receive and entertain a military man of such distinction, who, probably, will not be much delighted with the company of women. Also, my dear uncle, I pray you to let Mrs Carfort, your house-keeper, send me my double-trimmed pa-
