Chapter XIV: Letter I: “my Dearest,

I cannot omitt writting every post tho’ I have but
little to say, except tell you thatt I begin now to be mighty
impatient to have you home. All the members of Parlyment that I know
I think is come already, and yett there is no word of your leaveing
London. Doe nott think I blame you in saying so for I make no doubt
of your coming as soon as ye can. Ye had need of a good coachman if
ye travell with four horse wanting a postilion. Your folks are busy
att the walks, butt since I came home, I find itt convenient to have
seven carts going and eighteen men, and will continue that number if
possible till itt’s ended. There is such a deepness of earth thatt
itt is no easy work.

I told you in my last I was going to Stirling. Your uncle looks
very well. He is surprised at your stay and longs to see you. I
presst Lady Jean and Lordy Areskine to come to Alva some days, and
the Colonel, butt they seemed to be so uncertain of their setting
out for London, they could not leave Stirling. You desire to know
what the Col. says about Meg’s marriage. He told me he wisht her
all happyness, and he thought Sir Wm. had been very lucky, and he
wondered my lord did not ask better terms. Sir Wm. said to me he
was sure you wold not goe close by his door, and not come in, and
they design to intercept you at Gosford if they can. Butt if I am to
meet you at Edinr. if ye please so to order itt, I will do itt att
Gosford, but if ye can come straight to Alva, I do not incline to
stir from itt. Your sons are perfectly well and are my only comrads
now. Dearest life, adieu.”

ALVA, _June 13_.

In the next letter, as you will see, there is a veiled allusion to the project on which all our thoughts were fixed, and the uncertainty of which had already caused its partisans much uneasiness. It is impossible now to imagine what little breath of dissension had blown between my lady and her kind brother, Mr. Charles Erskine, but sure I am that the words set down in some mood of passing vexation were never meant to be preserved or remembered. How often and how eagerly my lady turned to Mr. Erskine for help and advice in the sad days when she was “so unhappy as to want” her husband, and how willingly and kindly he spent himself in service for her and hers, you will see presently in her later letters.