“My dear Miss
Edgeworth,—Peccavi—but not from anything so bad as
undervaluing your great and constant kindness to me and mine. It had been
settled that Lady Davy, my girl, and I were to go about this day to
Spain for a three or four months’ tour; but after we had begun to rub up
our Castilian vocables, and even to think of trunks, and cases, and mule-saddles—behold a little romance that had been
going on unsuspected by me, and perhaps hardly suspected by the hero, or at
least by the heroine, was suddenly ripened by this Spanish announcement, and in
a few days’ time I found it all settled that our château en Espagne must make way for
a house in Charles Street, Berkeley Square, and another in Fife! But perhaps
you will understand me. I had been so awfully vexed
and mortified about certain premature and luckily falsified announcements of
autumn 1846, that I was determined not to make any announcements at all on this
occasion, and in fact I never quite convinced myself that the thing was certain
until I signed the contract. It was all done in railway time—but no
matter; the acquaintance had been gradual, and the feeling was sincere and
deep, and on both sides, I am satisfied, well bestowed. So let us hear no more
about my foolish silence!
| 302 | LIFE OF J. G. LOCKHART. |
“They are now at the Duke of
Buccleuch’s pretty villa at Richmond, and move thence in a
few days towards Scotland. Mr.
Hope’s elder brother having two places, he rents one of
them (Rankeillour, near Cupar Fife), and is much attached to it. His business
being chiefly that of a Parliamentary Counsel, he can be there near six months
in the year—and there I hope to inspect them presently. I have already
dined twice with them in their retreat, and if they be not most happy they are
the cleverest of actors. In a word, I have every reason to be satisfied and
gratified; and I believe there really is not a father in London, of almost any
rank, who would not have been glad indeed to bestow his daughter on
James Hope. My boy is now Walter Lockhart Scott, Lieutenant in
the 16th Lancers
| LETTER TO MRS. HOPE | 303 |
“As soon as I am well enough to work as usual, I must now begin the abridgment of the Life of Sir Walter Scott; your suggestions on that head are laid by as valuable guidance when I do come to the job, and if you can add to the number with the kind frankness that belongs to you, most thankfully shall I endeavour to profit by such advice as yours is ever sure to be.
“Now let me hear that you have forgiven me, and write to Mrs. James Hope your congratulations on her most fortunate wedding—Ever affectionately yours,
