little; books are her world, and she talks of book-people as if they
were everyday acquaintances. She adores Dr. Johnson and quotes him
continually.

"She has no slightest trace of accent, but she has that lilt in her
voice--I have noticed it once or twice before in Scots people--that
makes one think of winds over heathery moorlands, and running water. In
appearance she is like a wood elf, rather small and brown, very light
and graceful. She is so beautifully made that there is great
satisfaction in looking at her. (If she had all the virtues in the world
I could never take any interest in a girl who had a large head, or short
legs, or thick ankles!) She knows how to dress, too. The little brown
frock was just right, and the ribbon that was tied round her hair. I'll
tell you what she reminded me of a good deal--Romney's 'Parson's
Daughter.'

"What a find for my first day at Priorsford!

"I went to tea with the Jardines and I never was at a nicer tea-party.
We said poems to each other most of the time. Mhor's rendering of
Chesterton's 'The Pleasant Town of Roundabout' was very fine, but Jock
loves best 'Don John of Austria.' You would like Jock. He has a very
gruff voice and such surprised blue eyes, and is fond of weird
interjections like 'Gosh, Maggie!' and 'Earls in the streets of Cork!'
He is a determined foe to sentiment. He won't read a book that contains
love-making or death-beds. 'Does anybody marry?' 'Does anybody die?' are
his first questions about a book, so naturally his reading is much
restricted.

"The Jardines have the lovable habit of becoming suddenly overpowered