put a paw on the table or chair.[32] I showed him
to Mathews, who dined one day in Castle Street before I came
here, where, except for Mrs. S., I am like unto

{p.098} "The spirit who bideth by himself,
In the land of mist and snow"--[33]

for it is snowing and hailing eternally, and will kill all
the lambs to a certainty, unless it changes in a few hours.
At any rate, it will cure us of the embarrassments arising
from plenty and low markets. Much good luck to your dramatic
exertions: when I can be of use, command me. Mrs. Scott
joins me in regards to Mrs. Terry, and considers the house
as the greatest possible bargain: the situation is all you
can wish. Adieu! yours truly,

Walter SCOTT.

[Footnote 32: [In the letter accompanying his gift,
Glengarry says: "His name is Maida, out of respect for
that action in which my brother had the honor to lead
the 78th Highlanders to victory." Writing to Joanna
Baillie, April 12, Scott describes his new friend as
"the finest dog of the kind in Scotland.... He is
between the deer greyhound and mastiff, with a shaggy
mane like a lion; he always sits beside me at dinner,
his head as high as the back of my chair; yet it will
gratify you to know that a favorite cat keeps him in the
greatest possible order, and insists upon all rights of
precedence, and scratches with impunity the nose of an
animal who would make no bones of a wolf, and pulls down
a red deer without fear or difficulty. I heard my friend
set up some most piteous howls, and I assure you the
noise was no joke, all occasioned by his fear of passing
puss, who had stationed himself on the
stairs."--_Familiar Letters_, vol. i. p. 358.]]

[Footnote 33: Coleridge--_Ancient Mariner_.]

P. S.--On consideration, and comparing difficulties, I think
I will settle with Campbell to take my name from the verses,
as they stand in his collection. The verses themselves I
cannot take away without imprudent explanations; and as they
go to other music, and stand without any name, they will
probably not be noticed, so you need give yours