On the Borders, 239 



besides, she had not all of us under her eye. Her seat 

 was exchanged for the middle of the back form, where 

 she was supported by one on each side, while four others 

 had their faces turned to hers, giving an audience of no 

 less than six for her stories and old ballads. Her 

 tongue went from morning till night, if I do say it, and 

 her end of the coach was always in for its share of any 

 frolic stirring. She was *' in a gale " all day to-day, and 

 kept us all roaring. 



Our next stage would take us to Carlisle, the border- 

 town behind which lay the sacred soil, " Scotia dear." 

 Mr. B. and his son joined us here and went on with us 

 the last day upon English soil, waving adieu, as it were, 

 as we plunged into Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. K. left us 

 for Paisley to see the children, and what a loss I here 

 record no one but the members can possibly under- 

 stand. Aaleck and Aggie gone ! If anything could 

 long dampen the joyous spirits of the party, this separa- 

 tion surely would have done it ; but we were to meet 

 again in Edinburgh, where the reconstruction of the 

 Charioteers was to take place. At Carlisle, too, the 

 Parisians were to be welcomed back again — plenty to 

 look forward to, you see. We started for Carlisle July 

 15th, the day superb as usual. 



We had left the Lake District, with its hills and 

 flowing streams, to pass through a tamer land ; but our 

 luncheon to-day, in a field near " Hesketh in the 

 Forest," was not unromantic. The members from 



