which could neither change her husband's heart nor affect the
inherent destiny of their relation. From the outset, it was
a marriage that had no root in nature; and we find him, ere
long, lyrically regretting Highland Mary, renewing
correspondence with Clarinda in the warmest language, on
doubtful terms with Mrs. Riddel, and on terms unfortunately
beyond any question with Anne Park.

Alas! this was not the only ill circumstance in his future.
He had been idle for some eighteen months, superintending his
new edition, hanging on to settle with the publisher,
travelling in the Highlands with Willie Nichol, or
philandering with Mrs. M'Lehose; and in this period the
radical part of the man had suffered irremediable hurt. He
had lost his habits of industry, and formed the habit of
pleasure. Apologetical biographers assure us of the
contrary; but from the first, he saw and recognised the
danger for himself; his mind, he writes, is "enervated to an
alarming degree" by idleness and dissipation; and again, "my
mind has been vitiated with idleness." It never fairly
recovered. To business he could bring the required diligence
and attention without difficulty; but he was thenceforward
incapable, except in rare instances, of that superior effort
of concentration which is required for serious literary work.
He may be said, indeed, to have worked no more, and only
amused himself with letters. The man who had written a
volume of masterpieces in six months, during the remainder of
his life rarely found courage for any more sustained effort
than a song. And the nature of the songs is itself
characteristic of these idle later years; for they are often