94 Echoes of the 18th Century. 



such a thing had ever been suggested before, and I had talked to 

 you of it, I would have told her what had passed ; but as I had 

 never had any conversation with you on that head, I could not 

 tell wliat you would answer, but that I would write, to be sure. 

 At last Mrs Baillie went away, and then she made a clean breast 

 of it. She told me her brother had just come from a meeting of 

 the lawyers, that they had given him their opinion in writing of 

 what settlements Gordon's atFairs would permit of, but that he 

 was not satisfied that it was sufficient for her ; but that her and 

 him would go to-day to Prestonhall and talk to the old Duchess 

 and Lady Aberdeen about it. That he had somehow let Mr 

 Millar the solicitor know of her regard to Mr Veitch, that Mr 

 Millar had said if that could be brought about it would make 

 him vastly happy. He was so pleased at the thought he would 

 write to Mr Veitch himself, for that no one was more fit to 

 recommend Lady Harriott than himself. To this her brother 

 said she had one to write for her which would do better, meaning 

 me. Well, I promise to write, and she goes away. This morn- 

 ing again she comes and tells me her brother advises I should 

 write two copies of the letter to you, for fear of miscarriage, and 

 desired you should be punctual to write with the return of the 

 post, and then, as she told me, says he, " Harriott, if that does 

 not take place, 1 shall immediately make out the other for you." 

 So away she goes, and then she saw the man Gordon and wrote 

 me a note, telling me to put off writing to you till Tuesday's 

 post. I thought I never got such a relief, because I am deter- 

 mined to be off with them, will keep myself out of their sight, 

 and if there is to be any writing to you, let them do it them- 

 selves. As it is, I had no occasion to mention the affair at all, 

 but I liave no certainty for their conduct, nor do I understand 

 such base ways of doing. They are either mad, or think other 

 people very foolish. This genuine account will perhaps be of 

 use, and prepare you for a defence in case you are attacked from 

 another quarter, and I'll write on Tuesday, when I hope to be 

 more composed. In the meantime, I am, your affectionate sister, 



Mary Veitch. 



Two days later, that is on Monday, February 18, Miss Veitch 

 received the following remarkable effusion from Lady Harriott 

 Gordon herself. It can hardly be said to bear out the contention 



