62 Mary Somerville. 



one spent less thought or money on it than she, my 

 mother was at all times both neatly and becomingly 

 dressed. She never was careless ; and her room, her 

 papers, and all that belonged to her were invariably in 

 the most beautiful order. My mother's recollections of 

 this period of her life are as follows : 



AT that time Edinburgh was really the capital of 

 Scotland ; most of the Scotch families of distinction 

 spent the winter there, and we had numerous 

 acquaintances who invited me to whatever gaiety 

 was going on. As my mother refused to go into 

 society when my father was at sea, I had to find a 

 chaperon ; but I never was at a loss, for we were 

 somehow related to the Erskine family, and the 

 Countess of Buchan, an amiable old lady, was always 

 ready to take charge of me. 



It was under Lady Buchan's care that I made 

 my first appearance at a ball, and my first dancing 

 partner was the late Earl of Minto, then Mr. Gilbert 

 Elliot, with whom I was always on very friendly 

 terms, as well as with his family. Many other 

 ladies were willing to take charge of me, but a 

 chaperon was only required for the theatre, and con- 

 certs, and for balls in the public assembly rooms ; at 

 private balls the lady of the house was thought suffi- 

 cient. Still, although I was sure to know everybody 

 in the room, or nearly so, I liked to have some one 



