rive; and if I had been able to
spend the night at the Trosachs, I could have done it perfectly well,
for there is an immense big inn there for the reception of tourists; and
though the house was shut up for the season, the servants were in it,
and we could have procured bed and board there, and I have no doubt a
roast fowl and sherry, or oatmeal and whiskey, if we had preferred them.
I had, however, to be back in Stirling the same afternoon, and the
weather was wild and gloomy, though not cold, nor positively wet till we
got into a little one-horse "machine" to drive through the Trosachs,
when the mist shrouded the mountains almost from base to summit, and
even Ben Aven, close under him as we were, was barely discernible. Ben
An was the feature of the scene that struck me most; the form of its
crest is so singularly jagged and fine.

We just drove through the pass to the first ripple of the lake, and then
turned right-about to Stirling, which we reached before four o'clock in
the afternoon, and yesterday morning I was back again in Glasgow, the
lakes and mountains remaining in my memory absolutely like a dream. The
country from Doune to Callander is beautiful, and in summer it must be
an enchanting expedition, though such scenery has its own peculiar
winter beauty, grander and more impressive perhaps than even its summer
loveliness. I wish I was there again.

I cannot tell you anything more of my receipts at Glasgow, except that
those of the second night were much better than the first; but as those
were small, this is not saying much. I have not yet received the
"returns."

I am glad the news you got from Ardgillan is satisfactory. Love to dear
Dorothy.

Ever as ever yours,
FANNY.

29, ABERCROMBIE PLACE, EDINBURGH, Wednesday, 13th.

I did not see the eclipse, my dear. I did not know there was to be one,
and did not therefore look for it; and if I had, I doubt my having been
any the wiser, inasmuch as our mornings of late have been very misty.

I am off to-day with Mrs. Mitchell to Ardoch, where I stay only
to-morrow, and return Friday to act here on Saturday. Having promised to
go, I do not like to break my word, otherwise it seems to me rather a
fuss, and a long way to go for one day's rest. Originally our plan was
to spend two or three days there, that being all I could then give; but
Mrs. Mi