ey will be out talk-talking,
yatter-yattering when the kye are being milked in the morning. Irma
makes her carry the water, that's one comfort. But I wonder at that
silly auld clocking hen, Seraphina Huntingdon. It's a deal of work
she will be getting, but I suppose the premium pays for all, and she
will not care a farthing now that Charlotte's market is made. Not
that I would trust you (or any student lad) the length of my
stirabout potstick--or indeed (not to shame my own father) anything
that wears hose and knee-breeches. And maybe that's the reason every
silly birkie thinks he has the right to cast up to me that I am an
auld maid. Faith, there's few that wear the wedding ring with whom I
would change places. But what of that?

"The folk are all well here, both bairns and grown folk, and we will
be blithe to hear from you, and if you have the time to send a
scraps of your pen to your auld maiden aunt, that mony a time
(though Lord knows not half often enough) has garred your lugs ring
for your misdeeds--she will be pleased to hear if the butter and
cheese were some kitchen to your tasteless town's bread.

"Your obdt. servt. and affectionate aunt,
"Janet Lyon."

From this information I hoped great things--at least a letter demanding
pardon from Irma, or an account of how she had confessed all from that
graceless and thankless forgetful besom Charlotte. But I heard nothing
further till, one day going past after another, about a twelvemonth
after amazing word came. It was when I was busy with some literary work
I had gotten from one of the printers in the town--correcting proofs and
looking out for misspellings in the compositions of an eminent hand. I
will be plain--it was poor work, and as poorly paid. But I could live on
it, and in any case it was better than slaving at tutoring. That is, as
tutoring was at that time in Edinburgh--a dull boy whom none could make
anything of, insolent servants, sneering elder sisters and a guinea a
month to pay for all. However, I tried it and made some of them stop
sneering--at least the sisters.

I was, I say, in the Rankeillor Street lodgings and Amelia was going out
at the door with my tea-things--as usual calling me names for "idling
within doors" when Fred was out at his classes. Freddie had private
permission from one of the professors