188 THE LIFE OF J AMI'S I). FORBES. [CHAP. 



by Glen Affaric unless the weather was really stormy, 

 in which case I should have gone by Ding wall. I had, 

 however, better luck, and Monday was most agreeable, 

 and improved every step of the way, so that when I 

 reached Loch Affaric it was really a lovely afternoon, 

 still quite early, the hill-tops all clear. I spent the 

 evening rambling about, and was as much delighted with 

 the scenery as I had been with the drive from Kasnakyle. 

 I had arranged to go up Mam Suil in the morning, but 

 unfortunately in the early morning the mist fell down 

 on the hills, and I was afterwards glad 1 did not attempt 

 it, both because the afternoon became extremely wet, 

 and because I was a little unwell. I arrived at Kin- 

 tail much fatigued, although the walk is not particu- 

 larly long or difficult, at least if we except the descent 

 from the Balloch. That part of the road and the view 

 from the pass is certainly very striking. I arrived \ 

 wet and rather chilled at the manse at an early hour, 

 and was very kindly received by Mr. .Morrison, who 

 with true hospitality, finding that 1 was very anxious to 

 get on by next morning's steamer to Skye, after 

 me dinner, kindly sent me in his gig to 

 where I arrived nmst wet and weary at 10 P.M., at a 

 small but comfortable inn, and next morning I had just 

 sat down to a capital breakfast when the alarm of the 

 steamer was given and I had to run and gallop on a 

 pony for a mile and a half, and after many adventures 

 and much energy I and my luggage just reached the 

 steamer in time. . . . 



*I should have written to you sooner, but I have 

 hardly had a moment, having been almost constantly 

 with my friend Necker, who was very glad indeed 

 to see me, and who talks incessantly to me till past 

 eleven every night. As he never speaks to any person 

 here, you would think he had kept all his conver- 

 sation of the last three years to devote to me. But it 

 is a pleasure to see him so well and to be permi: 

 to cheer his solitude. I return home, that is, to Bridge 

 of Allan, on Tuesday, and to our real home soon ai 



