LITERARY AND DOMESTIC LD7E. 331 



" Elleray, Monday Afternoon, 

 October, 1830. 

 " My dearest Jane : — The ball at Ambleside went off* with great 

 eclat, Maggy being the chief belle. The Major is gone, and proved 

 empty in the long-run. We all dined at Calgarth on Saturday — a 

 pleasant party. On Sunday, a Captain Alexander (who was in 

 Persia) called on us, and we took him to the Hardens' to dinner. 

 We were all there. To-day, Maggy and Johnny made calls on 

 horseback, and we in the ' Gazelle.' We took farewell of the Wat- 

 sons. Mr. Garnet dines with us at Elleray, and the boys at Lowood 

 with the Cantabs. To-morrow they go to Penny Bridge, and J. 

 Ferrier to Oxford, and I to Kendal. So expect me by the mail on 

 Wednesday, to dinner, at five, if I get a place at Carlisle. I found 

 the Penny Bridge people were anxious, so I let the bairns go to 

 them till after the Hunt ball ; and no doubt they will be happy. 

 Have all my newspapers from the ' Opossum' on Tuesday before I 

 arrive. Tell Molly to get them in a heap. Have a fire in the front 

 drawing-room and dining-room, and be a good girl on my arrival. 

 Have a shirt, etc., aired for me, for I am a rheumatician ; a fowl 

 boiled. I got your kind letter yesterday. Love to Moll and Umbs. 

 God bless you ! I am, your affectionate husband, 



" Johnny Wilson." 



"Elleray, Monday, 1830. 



" My dearest Jane : — I had a letter this morning from Maggy, 

 dated Saturday, Bangor Ferry, all well / and I suppose that she 

 would write to you some day. She told me not of her plans, but I 

 understand from Belfield, that the party are expected there on 

 Thursday. I think I shall stay till she arrives. We dined at 

 Penny Bridge on Thursday, having called at Hollow Oak, and 

 found all the family at both places well. 



" Miss Penny is looking very well. We returned that night to 

 Elleray. On Friday, for the first time — no, for the second — we 

 took a sail in the ' Gazelle,' the Thomsons' boat, for an hour or two, 

 and then dined in a body at Lowood. On Saturday we rode (all 

 five) to Grasmere, walked up Easdale — fell in with a man and his 

 wife, or love-lady — Englishers apparently, named Brodie, who were 

 anxious to see Langdale. We told them to join us, and all seven 

 rode to the head of it, across by Blea-Tarn, and down little Lang- 

 dale to Ambleside. 



