REMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 197 



delighted to have such a scene to ponder on. 

 Not a bit of it. The tempter of all has even 

 there his infernal machinations at work, and 

 from the bottomless pit sends forth his demons 

 in the shape of myriads of midges, to scare 

 all good thoughts away and drive you frantic. 

 Or you stroll out on a fine evening with your 

 lady-love, to show her some of the beautiful 

 points of view, or your pet casts in the stream, 

 and you watch for the expression of those speak- 

 ing eyes. Don't you wish you may catch it ? 



You have been obliged to wrap her well up 

 in a midge- veil, or the said eyes will be closed 

 in the morning — bunged up, as we used to say 

 at school — with midge-bites ; and a blacka- 

 moor's lips are a joke to what that sweet little 

 mouth would become. A muggy, calm, hazy, 

 drizzly day arrives, unfit for any outdoor amuse- 

 ment ; you settle yourself down in your bothy 

 to improve your mind or write your memoirs. 

 Vain effort ! The windows have been opened 

 to let in the air, and the midges have taken 

 advantage and come in too. Your den swarms 

 with them, and your only chance is to light a 

 peat fire outside the windows, perhaps on the 

 fioor too, and fill the house with peat smoke, 

 or be midged. Pleasant alternative ! For the 

 after-reek of peat smoke is not nice, and that 



