"I rather like the little girl," he said to himself. "She's a dainty pet. Emilia is a fine woman, no doubt; and Fiordilisa is a girl out of Shakespeare, as poetic as she is beautiful; and, by Jove! I wish I was back with her in Isola Rossa. But this little Morfill is such a lump of sweetness; she'd melt in a fellow's mouth like a very ripe greengage; and then that villain Morfill stole her-stole her from me, too, the unprincipled reprobate. 'Twould be a fine thing to revenge myself upon him by carrying off his wife." So Claudia's remonstrance rather increased her brother's tendency to flirt with Mrs. Morfill. And, a few days later, he made a movement in advance. The scene was Claudia's drawingroom; the Panther was sing ing divinely for Sir Arthur's delectation; Raphael was talking in low tones to Anne. How delightfully your sister sings!" she had said. Not half so delightfully as you talk. I could listen to your pretty prattle for ever." 66 You speak as if I was a child,” she said. "So you are, and a very charming child, too. Why, you are not ashamed of being young, surely?" "If I am old enough to be married, I ought not to be treated like a child," she replied, with petty fretfulness. "I never said you were old enough to be married. But never mind: I'll treat you with the greatest respect in future-just as if you were fifty." "O, no! Don't do that." "I shall not see you to-morrow morning, I suppose. Claudia is going to be out all day. By the way, can one ever find Mr. Morfill at home?" "Very seldom; he generally goes to the Temple the moment breakfast is over." "And you are all alone? Well, I think I shall call to-morrow morning, and see if I can find him." 66 'I don't think it will be any use,' said Anne, "unless I tell him to wait at home for you." "Don't on any account interfere with his business for me." And she did not. By some curious caprice, Humphrey lounged longer over his breakfast than usual, that next morning. He found something in the newspaper to interest him. Anne thought he was never going. But he went at last, after giving orders about the dinner two or three times over. He liked a good dinner after his work-not what Raphael would have called a good dinner, but something full flavoured and substantial. None of your delicate entrées and curious wines for Mr. Morfill: leg of mutton, sirloin, steak, Reid's stout, Carbonell's fruitiest portthese were his favourite eatables and drinkables. He was not refined. He liked onions. In the course of the morning Raphael appeared, regretted that Mr. Morfill was not at home, and sat down for a chat with Mrs. Morfill. She was looking very nice. There was a rosy flush, and childish freshness, about her; a deal of pink in her print dress, of coral and cream in her complexion, of loving innocence in her soft glance. Raphael thought her the prettiest specimen of babyish beauty he had ever seen. "I should like to put you under a glass case, Mrs. Morfill," he said, and keep you in my own room to look at." "Make me a prisoner, as Humphrey does. I'm sure I wish he was anything but a lawyer; he slaves at it night and day, and I get no pleasure at all.” "What would you like? You ought to be playing Les Graces with a dozen other little girls upon a green lawn under shady trees." "That's the way with you all," she said, with a provoking pout. 'You talk to me as if I was a baby. Humphrey always does. And Claudia used to, at Kingsleat; but I'm better off than she is; I am married, at least, and I don't think she ever will be." "Don't you sometimes wish yourself unmarried?" said the Seraph, laughing. Indeed I do, every day of my life. What induced me to marry Humphrey I can't think. I should have been better off with Stephen." "You should have waited for me." "O, you're too old. And you think me a mere baby, I know." "I think you the most beautiful creature I ever saw in my life," he said seriously. And as I have said before, your youth is only too valu able a possession. We all get old fast enough. But you will always be young, I believe." "You are laughing at me, Mr. Branscombe. You think I am not fit to be anybody's wife-only fit for a hoop or a skipping-rope." "I wish you were my wife," he said. "I wish I had seen you in time." "You vain being! So you really have conceit enough to fancy that I should have liked you better than Humphrey." She sprung up from her seat, and danced round the room, laughing and clapping her hands. "I am sure you would," he said. "More than that, I am sure you like me better now." "Go away! go away! You are getting naughty. I shall ring the bell and order 'Mr. Branscombe's carriage."" "Don't you think you could be serious for a minute?" he said. "No, not half a minute-not a second." She had taken a long scarf, and was vainly trying to use it as a skipping-rope. "Now, do sit down, just for a moment. I want to talk to you." "But I don't in the least want to talk to you. I think I shall send out and buy a skipping-rope. I wonder what the dignified Mr. Morfill will say when he comes home to dinner if he finds me skipping in the Square." Raphael rose from his seat, and tried to catch her arm, she ran away. He followed her. In a moment the chase had become exciting. The room was large, with much heavy furniture in it, in the regular Mesopotamian style; so there were plenty of opportunities for dodging. But the young lady's foot caught in a rug; she almost fell; and before she could recover herself, Raphael had overtaken her. She was an infant in his grasp. He coolly took her hands in one of his, and returned to his chair, and made her sit upon his knee. 46 Now, young lady," he said, "you are my prisoner, and I can punish you for all the trouble you have given me.' "O let me go, let me go, please. If Humphrey were to come! I'll scream, Mr. Branscombe, I will, positively." "No, you won't. Come, I want a quiet talk, so sit still and let us have it." "Let me go to my own seat, then." "And run away again? Not exactly. No, you'll stay where you are. Come, let me put your hair back out of your eyes." Her abundant hair had fallen over her brow amid their romp. He smoothed it gently back. Then he kissed her forehead, bringing up a blush to brighten all her beautiful young face. "O, Mr. Branscombe, you are very very wicked! Let me go, do please let me go!" No, child. I want to ask you a question. Look at me now, and answer truly, just as if you were saying your catechism." "Well, what is it? I will answer if you'll promise to let me go." Very well, I promise. Do you think," he asked, slowly and deliberately, "that if you had met me in time, you could have loved me ?" Anne's bright young beauty was reddened this time by a more vivid blush. Her long eyelashes drooped to veil her eyes. She did not speak. 'Answer!" he said in a passionate whisper. 66 She said not a word. "Answer!" again he said, pressing her closely to his breast-so closely that it was almost pain. For sole reply she hid her face on his shoulder, and burst into a passion of tears. "O, my darling," he exclaimed. "My poor little pet! My sweet love!" And all the while he rained kisses on her brow, her eyelids, her lips. And all the while she clung to him, quivering with ecstacy. She did not want to escape, now. She lay in his arms like a bird in its nest. Kiss me!" he exclaimed, in the imperious tones of passion. "Kiss me! Speak to me! Call me by my name!" She kissed him with clinging kisses, honey-sweet, fragrant as the jasmine's breath. And she looked at him with bright, loving, fearless eyes, from which all tears had passed. And she said, in a low voice like the coo of the doves that haunted her father's Idlechester garden- "I love you, Raphael." SOCIAL LIFE IN MORAY, A CENTURY AND A HALF AGO. BLESSED be the hands that preserve to aftertimes all sorts of interesting memoranda, letters, trifles, documents of the passing day, whether they illustrate the course of history, or social usages, or the business or the sports of country or district! In fifty years' time such notes and papers become very interesting, a hundred years later, most valuable to the historian or archæologist, and after the lapse of some centuries they become part and parcel of national treasures not to be parted with for any consideration. In the archives of our old families lie neglected many curious pieces of information, which, if carefully copied and sent to magazines, or local newspapers, would greatly interest their readers, and contribute to the preservation of valuable material for history. Such good office has been done by E. Dunbar Dunbar, Esq., late Captain in 21st Fusiliers, for a north-eastern district of Scotland, under the circumstances thus described in the short preface to his valuable work:-* "When arranging the family papers at Duffus House, Gordonstown, and Lesmurdie Cottage, the residences respectively of my brother, Sir Archibald Dunbar, my cousin, Sir Alexander Gordon Cumming, and my kinsman, Captain James Stewart, I occasionally found documents which appeared to me to throw considerable light on old social life, or to be otherwise interesting, and which I therefore sent to the local press." THE WHEREABOUTS OF MORAY, The province of Moray, to which the extracts chiefly refer, anciently included the counties of Murray or Elgin, and Nairn, and parts of Banff and Inverness. Looking on the map of Scotland the district is seen, traversed in a Northern direction by the Findhorn, West, and the Spey, East, these rivers towards the South being separated by the Monagh Lea (Gray Wood or Gray Bog) mountains. The soil generally is open and gravelly, with some deep loams and clays. The coast running east and west, and the district thus facing the open Northern Sea, a casual map-inspector would be inclined to compassionate the inhabitants during the cold season; but they are not at all to be pitied. "The climate is mild and dry, and the county has been called the Devonshire of Scotland, the mountains of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire protecting it from the cold moist winds of the German Ocean." West of the mouth of the Findhorn lie the sand dunes of Culbin (Fair Wood), occupying three square miles of extent, and some of them rising to the height of 118 feet. The chief products of this region are oats, wheat, and turnips; it exports grain, cattle, salmon, and timber. The inhabitants do not trouble themselves with manufactures of any extent except those of wool and malt liquors. EDUCATION. The contents are subjected to a certain classification, the first subject being by right-EDUCATION. We are informed that King's College, Aberdeen, was the favoured Alma Mater of the youth of the province of Moray, the students being designated by the barbarous names of Bajans, Semies, Tertians, and Magistrands in succession, during their four years' stay in college. Dr. Reid, whose metaphysical works are still in favour, was elected in 1752 professor of moral philosophy in King's College, Aberdeen. He introduced some useful reforms, which, as we learn from the text, were afterwards neglected. The following extract is taken from a letter of his to Archibald Dunbar, Esq., of Newton, at Duffus: "Your concern that the behaviour of your sons be narrowly looked after is most natural. I can assure you that for some years past we have been using our best skill and application for that purpose. While the students were scattered over the town in private quarters, and might dis Social Life in Former Days, Chiefly in the Province of Moray. Illustrated by Letters and Family Papers. By E. Dunbar Dunbar, (late) Captain 21st Fusiliers. First and Second Series. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas. + Chambers's Cyclopædia-Elginshire. pose of themselves as they pleased but at school hours, we found it impossible to keep them from low or bad company if they were so disposed. But they are on a very different footing since they lived within the college. We need but look out at our windows to see when they rise and go to bed. They are seen nine or ten times throughout the day statedly by one or other of the masters. They are shut We up within walls by nine at night. charge those that are trusty and diligent with the oversight of such as we suspect to be otherwise, and I verily believe there are few boys so narrowly lookt after, or so little exposed to temptations to vice at home as with us at present." The expenses of college life were 50 merks* per quarter at the first table, 40 shillings at second. A student paid 27 shillings for the season, his furniture being bedstead, tables, chimney grate, and fender, all other luxuries to be provided for by himself. The master's fee, was two guineas; that of the professors of Greek and philosophy, five shillings. Not very oppressive all this. A letter from Dr. Falconar, Bishop of Moray, to Archibald Dunbar of Duffus, and dated Ediur, April 23rd, 1754, is characteristic. He scruples to recommend a Presbyterian tutor, and is no more loyal to George II. than is absolutely necessary. "There is a young man, Mr. Alexr. Diack, just now governor to the master of Elphinstone's sons, who is well and fully recommended to me. And as Mr. Elphinstone's sons have finished their home education, Mr. Diack leaves the family at Whitsunday next. He is a good scholar, of modest behaviour, and of virtuous character. He understands the learned languages, the French, mathematics, and writes a fine hand; so that so far I think he will fit your purpose. I believe he has not, nor, as I am informed, will he take the oaths, but I think you need not mind that qualification, as Mr. Elphinstone, who is an officer in the army, made no scruple as to that point, nor indeed does any gentleman in this country mind it at all, as they make those gentlemen who perform the part of pedagogues, pass under the name of clerk, or factor, or what they please. He has twelve guineas a year where he now serves, and if he answers the good character I have heard of him, it will be money well laid out. I cannot in conscience recommend any of our new-fashioned blades. So I hope you will not take it amiss if I decline providing you in a Presbyterian Dominie or a Libertin Whig. I wish you and your family too well to do you such an ill offer." The same gentleman, Archibald Dunbar, was evidently a considerate man. After entertaining a French master at his house, and allowing him a guinea & quarter for each of his five pupils, he declares that "any person of tolerable taste or skill in the French language will feel that there never will be such another man in his way in our country." The good opinion which dancing masters, in later times appear to have entertained of themselves is either instinctive, or else was handed down to them from Mr. William Badhame, whose receipt to one of Lord Duffus's sons runs thus : "I William Badhame, danceing master in Edinburgh, be the tenor hereof, grant me to have received from Master James Sutherland, Advocat, the sum of fliftie punds, Scots money, in full contentation and satisfaction for all due me for danceing on accompt of Mistris Elizabeth Sutherland, his sister, preceeding the date of thir presents. And by thir presents it is provided that in case the said Mistris Elizabeth shall at any time happen to come where I, the said William Badhame shall at any time be teaching danceing, I oblidge myselfe upon the payment of sixteen punds Scots, to perfect her, oblidgeing myself and my heirs to warrand thir presents good, valid, and effectuall of all that I can clame of the said Mrs. Elizabeth Sutherland, any manner of way, at all hands and against all deadly as law will. Consentin thir presents be insert and restrat in the books of council or session, or in any other Judge's Court books compitent within this realme, therein to remain ad ffuturam rei memoriam and constituts . . my prors, &c. "In witness whereof (wryten by George Keith writer in Edinburgh), I have subscribed thir presents in Edinburgh, the eighteen tday of Septer, Javij (1700) and ffour years, before witnesss, James Donaldson, merchant in Edinburgh and the said George Keith wryter hereof. "WM. BADHAM." "J. Donaldson, witnes. If the great Mons. Mocquard or the greater Herr Bismark, wished to *The English mark was 13s. 4d., and as the Scotch shilling was only worth an Engfish penny, the Aberdeen merk was consequently only 18. 1d. incapacitate the other by a written document from doing his master any injury, could he have used more comprehensive or binding language? It is to be feared that the fee mentioned in next document (a governess's proposal) is to be measured by Scots', not by sterling money. which I am told is ane most excellent marrowish piece of phisik, and is bought for about seven shillings English. "ROB. INNES." centuries since, in a Scotch romance If mention had occurred three half of a Baillie-apothecary commissioning a member of one of the first families "TO THE MUCH HONOURED, THE LADY of his county, to get payment of his THUNDERTON―These: "Ranes, Huntley, Jan. 30, 1710. "MADAM: Robert Gordon has writ now twice to my father as (by your Ladyship's desire as I suppose) concerning me, if I be willing and fit for your service. In his last he desires I should writ to your Ladyship to show that I can sow white and coloured seam, dress head-suits, play on the Treble and Gambo, Viol, Verginelles, and Manicords, which I can do, but on no other. He (her father) desires to know what fie (fee) I would have, which is threttie pound, and Gown, and Coat, or then fourtie, and Shoes, and Linnens, which is for a year. If those terms please your Ladyship, I am content to serve for half-a-year conform to try if I please your Ladyship. I expect an answer with the first occasion, and I am, Madam, your most humble servant, "JEAN CHEIN." THINGS MEDICAL. We should very much like to see a letter or bill from any surgeon-apothecary (if such title exist) now in good practice at Elgin, to compare with the following mandates of Baillie Innes, who flourished there early in eighteenth century. How the student accustomed to the freaks and exploits of "Balbus et Ego," will turn up his nose at the books popular in 1711! The note is written to Mr. Archbald Dunbar of Thundertoun, then on a visit in Edinburgh, and already burdened with commissions. It is dated 1705. "DEAR SIR:-After my humble duty to your lady and sweet self I presume to give you the trouble to bestowe the inclosed thre shillings on ane book for my Jamie's use which can not be got nearer than Edinburgh. Its neam is John Leusden's Collections of the New Testament in Greek, done into thirty six lessons with the Analysis. I am told its prys is betwixt half ane croune and fourty pence, but if it be more pray send it. Withall if you have recovered payment of the Countess of Seafield of the twentie shilling she owed me, be pleased likeways to buye for me and send me by the bearer, Etmullerus his works compendised and Englished,' the last editione little bill from a countess, and therewith buy a copy of that unremembered work Etmullerus, the author would probably undergo a merciless mobbing from the critics. It is probable that the practice of phisik has undergone some modifications since 1711 when Rob. Innes thus comforts and advises the "Laird of Thundertoun att Dufius" on the subject of his lady then in an interesting state "SIR:- . . . If your lady's true and full tyme be come, I have sent ane hysteric cordial julep, which is provoking, and whereof she may take a third part when it comes, and the other third pairt (if she is not delivered in the tym), two hours thereafter, and what remains two hours after that. In the meintym let her walk, and take snuff, or what may provoke snezing. I wish her ane happie hour and safe deliverie, and continues still, sir, yours affectionately, "ROB. INNES." The good apothecary's wishes seem to have been fulfilled either by the agency of the hysteric julep, or the snezing article, for we find him soon after dispatching plumbcake, and sugar-bisket. He warrants them thrie in the afternoon. well done, and promises a visit at when administering relief to "your Mr. Innes is as quaint and amusing daughter Bettie" as when his cares are directed to her mother. "SIR-Please receive seven small gilded pills in ane little box, whereof your daughter Bettie is to swallow five in the morning by themselves, tumbling them doune her throat with ane mouthful of cold ale, either one by one, or two together as she best can. And if this begin not to work two hours after taking them, lett her swallow doune the other two-observing ane phisical dyet all day. I mein keeping warm and dyning on fresh broath, and when disposed to drink, let it be table ale well warmed, and I am, sir, yours affectionately, "ROB. INNES." Kenneth MacKenzie, Chyr. Aporie (surgeon-apothecary), though resident |