!J4 A Scottish Idyl. 



yet, and we have an exceleur bed liere fur Alicie to loll upon and 

 tell a story, 'twas just got a purpose for you, so I hope you won't 

 disapoiut me. I saw my dr Lady Erskine yesterday, and sur- 

 priz'd her a little by taking her about the neck and kissing her 

 before she saw who it was, but she returu'd it in as great a hurry 

 when she did see me, and laught at me about ten minets. I have 

 besu interupted about twenty times since I began this letter, but 

 I will have it made out if the whole world should combine against 

 me. I can't imagine what folks expect to see about me, in shoi't 

 they run about me, and stare so just as if I had got as.sei ears 

 like Midas. I very often run to the glass to see if I have got 

 horns, or someting that's monstrous about me, but I am happy 

 enough never to discover anything there that displeases me. I 

 was at the play last night, my first appearance, so you may guess 

 I would sufer a good deal. I cou'd hardly get a man to lead me 

 out. Mortifying : I was married they said, so 'twas no matter how 

 I got out, who do you think led me out. Why, my old friend 

 Doct. Bembridge, who is just now falen into an Estate, and seem'd 

 to be in a vast surprize when he heard I was dispos'd of. My old 

 way of speaking Alicie you know. Well my dr Johnston I 

 expect a long letter from you soon in spite of our little toust, and 

 I hope we shall still be the same that ever we was. Maguire has 

 made that promise to me and I shan't be (luite happy till I have 

 the same from you. And dear Alicie call me Jean if you love 

 me farwell my dear Girl and believe me to be most sincerely 



yours. 



JEAN KIRKPATRICK. 



Edr Jan 17 174G-7. 



That the last letter produced the desired effect, and that no 

 broach of friendship had occurred between the two maidens of 

 modern Athens, who, like their classic prototypes Helea and Her- 

 uiia, were two cheiTies on one stem, we may gather from the 

 last billet of the series addressed to the " sweetest of Alicies," 

 when her change of name had been notified to Mistress Jean Kirk- 

 patrick, some six months after the former communication. Once 

 more the pen indulges in the familiar terms of endearment, which, 

 like the fiowers of the spring time, are sure to grow rarer and less 

 spontaneous towards the autumn of life. 



