to orders!  And of this he gave a still more extraordinary proof during his sojourn in Edinburgh, by a very ludicrous exploit.  When the family moved into a house there, Mrs. Campbell gave him very particular instructions regarding visitors, explaining that they were to be shown into the drawing-room, and no doubt used the Scotticism, “Carry any ladies that call up stairs.”  On the arrival of the first visitors, Donald was eager to show his strict attention to the mistress’s orders.  Two ladies came together, and Donald, seizing one in his arms, said to the other, “Bide ye there till I come for ye,” and, in spite of her struggles and remonstrances, ushered the terrified visitor into Mrs. Campbell’s presence in this unwonted fashion.

Another case of literal obedience to orders produced a somewhat startling form of message.  A servant of an old maiden lady, a patient of Dr. Poole, formerly of Edinburgh, was under orders to go to the doctor every morning to report the state of her health, how she had slept, etc., with strict injunctions always to add, “with her compliments.”  At length, one morning the girl brought this extraordinary message:—­“Miss S——­’s compliments, and she dee’d last night at aicht o’clock!”

I recollect, in Montrose (that fruitful field for old Scottish stories!), a most naive reply from an honest lass, servant to old Mrs. Captain Fullerton.  A party of gentlemen had dined with Mrs. Fullerton, and they had a turkey for dinner.  Mrs. F. proposed that one of the legs should be deviled, and the gentlemen have it served up as a relish for their wine.  Accordingly one of the company skilled in the mystery prepared it with pepper, cayenne, mustard, ketchup, etc.  He gave it to Lizzy, and told her to take it down to the kitchen, supposing, as a matter of course, she would know that it was to be broiled, and brought back in due time.  But in a little while, when it was rung for, Lizzy very innocently replied that she had eaten it up.  As it was sent back to the kitchen, her only idea was that it must be for herself.  But on surprise being expressed that she had eaten what was so highly peppered and seasoned, she very quaintly answered, “Ou, I liket it a’ the better.”

A well-known servant of the old school was John, the servant of Pitfour, Mr. Ferguson, M.P., himself a most eccentric character, long father of the House of Commons, and a great friend of Pitt.  John used to entertain the tenants, on Pitfour’s brief visits to his estate, with numerous anecdotes of his master and Mr. Pitt; but he always prefaced them with something in the style of Cardinal Wolsey’s Ego et rex meus—­with “Me, and Pitt, and Pitfour,” went somewhere, or performed some exploit.  The famous Duchess of Gordon once wrote a note to John (the name of this eccentric valet), and said, “John, put Pitfour into the carriage on Tuesday, and bring him up to Gordon Castle to dinner.”  After sufficiently scratching his head, and considering what he should do, he showed the letter to Pitfour, who smiled, and said drily, “Well, John, I suppose we must go.”