“To be sure,” returned Grizzy, “it is a thousand pities that Mary has been allowed to go on so long; not, I’m sure, that any of us mean to reflect upon you, my dear Mrs. Douglas; for of course it was all owing to your ignorance and inexperience; and that, you know, you could not help; for it as not your fault; nobody can blame you.  I’m certain you would have done what is right if you had only known better; but of course we must all know much better than you; because, you know, we are all a great deal older, and especially Lady Maclaughlan, who has the greatest experience in the diseases of old men especially, and infants.  Indeed it has been he study of her life almost; for, you know, poor Sir Sampson is never well; and I dare say, if Mary had taken some of her nice worm-lozenges, which certainly cured Duncan M’Nab’s wife’s daughter’s little girl of the jaundice, and used that valuable growing embrocation, which we are all sensible made Baby great deal fatter, I dare say there would have been thing the matter with her to-day.”

“Mary has been too much accustomed to spend both her time and money amongst idle vagrants,” said Nicky.

“Economy of both,” subjoined Jacky, with an air of humility, “I confess I have ever been accustomed to consider as virtues.  These handsome respectable new bonnets”—­looking from Mrs. Douglas—­“that our girls got just before their poor father’s death, were entirely the fruits of their own savings.”

“And I declare,” said Grizzy, who did not excel in innuendos, “I declare, for my part—­although at the same time, my dear niece, I’m certain you are far from intending it—­I really think it’s very disrespectful to Sir Sampson and Lady Maclaughlan, in anybody, and especially such near neighbours, to give more in charity than they do; for you may be sure they give as much as they think proper, and they must be the best judges, and can afford to give what they please; for Sir Sampson could buy and sell all of us a hundred times over if he liked.  It’s long since the Lochmarlie estate was called seven thousand a year; and besides that there’s the Birkendale property and the Glenmavis estate, and I’m sure I can’t tell you all what; but there’s no doubt he’s a man of immense fortune.”

Well it was known and frequently was it discussed, the iniquity of Mary being allowed to waste her time and squander her money amongst the poor, instead of being taught the practical virtues of making her own gowns, and of hoarding up her pocket-money for some selfish gratification.

In colloquies such as these day after day passed on without any visible improvement taking place in her health.  Only one remedy suggested itself to Mrs. Douglas, and that was to remove her to the south of England for the winter.  Milder air and change of scene she had no doubt would prove efficacious; and her opinion was confirmed by that of the celebrated Dr.-----, who, having been summoned to the Laird of