142 LIFE OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VI. 



up with the family at Willow Grove, which each later year 

 became more close and tender. Miss Abernethy was truly 

 a second mother to George, but the affection on both sides 

 was usually hidden under a guise of fun of the most 

 exuberant kind, he representing himself in sportive refer- 

 ence to the difference of years between him and his 

 matronly correspondent as her devoted swain. 



"SEAFIELD, July 16, 1842. 

 "MY DEARLY BELOVED, UN FORGOTTEN, AND UNFORGET- 



ABLE JANET, I have now been a fortnight in this region 

 of invalids, and think it due time to send you a bulletin of 

 my well-doing. I am happy to say I mend, though still 

 unable to cross the threshold, and hope soon to be able to 

 flourish my crutches with as much grace as such untoward 

 weapons admit of. I count some five cripples from my 

 window, and propose, as soon as I can join, to suggest our 

 having a race upon the sands. The prize to be a handsome 

 pair of crutches, and each candidate to be at liberty to 

 knock the stilts from his neighbour if he can. You may 

 expect a visit from an official, asking your subscription, and 

 for my sake I trust it will be liberal. 



" In the meanwhile, by way of preparation, I snuff the 

 sea-air at the open window, and am complimented by 

 visitors on the improvement of my looks. I cannot say 

 that, on consulting the looking-glass, I see therein a very 

 pretty countenance, but I incline to think that my modesty 

 and well-known humility stand in the way of my discern- 

 ment, and that but for these I should observe that my 

 former knobbed and twisted nose was now moulded by the 

 sea-breeze into a proboscis of Grecian form, and marble 

 polish and whiteness. If the sea-breeze alone has produced 

 so great a change, what may I expect when I am able to 



