80 A HUNDRED YEARS 



as the best worker would be appointed to supply her 

 place. The cleverest hands could earn two or three 

 shillings a week or more did they apply themselves en- 

 tirely to the occupation. They were working for a shop 

 at Glasgow, and also for the Countess, who had sent 

 them nice patterns from Paris. There were not more 

 than about fifteen girls present when we were there. 

 They are allowed to come any time they like from 

 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 



" On returning to our people I proposed to go to see 

 Rodal, to which there was a good road. After some 

 trouble I hired a pony for Osgood and myself to ride 

 by turns. It was only a three-year-old, and had never 

 had anything on but a rope round its head, and perhaps 

 creels on its back. It did not look remarkably fresh, 

 yet it managed to throw William Grant over its head 

 when he mounted it to bring it to us. Notwithstanding 

 this freak, we determined to venture, and after borrowing 

 a bridle and a man's saddle from a person who kept a 

 little inn and shop together by the roadside, Osgood 

 mounted with William Grant as his attendant. He is 

 so strong and active and so devoted to Osgood that in 

 his charge I always think my little man in safety. 



" As we approached Rodal the scenery became very 

 picturesque. We passed through a gate on the right 

 hand, and on rising ground was a long extent of planta- 

 tion containing a great variety of trees, apparently about 

 fifteen or twenty years of age. There were larch, birch, 

 beech, oak, elm, alder, and ash. The whole appearance 

 of the grounds was that of the approach to a gentleman's 

 seat, but in reality there is no family mansion anywhere 



