are both here—­Walter having arrived from Ireland yesterday in time to assist at the munus inane; their presence will do her much good, but I cannot think of leaving her till Monday next, nor could I do my brethren much good by coming to town, having still that stunned and giddy feeling which great calamities necessarily produce.  It will soon give way to my usual state of mind, and my friends will not find me much different from what I have usually been.

“Mr. Ramsay, who I find is a friend of yours, appears an excellent young man.—­My kind love to Mrs. Skene, and am always, yours truly,

“WALTER SCOTT.  ABBOTSFORD, 23d May.”

[274] The Highland Widow, Waverley Novels, vol. xli.

[275] See February 10, 1826.

[276] This excellent philosophical song appears to have been famous in the sixteenth century.—­Percy’s Reliques, vol. i. 307.—­J.G.L.

[277] See June 2.

JUNE.

June 1.—­Yesterday I also finished a few trifling memoranda on a book called The Omen, at Blackwood’s request.  There is something in the work which pleases me, and the style is good, though the story is not artfully conducted.  I dined yesterday in family with Skene, and had a visit from Lord Chief-Commissioner; we met as mourners under a common calamity.  There is something extremely kind in his disposition.

Sir R. D[undas] offers me three days of the country next week, which tempts me strongly were it but the prospect of seeing Anne.  But I think I must resist and say with Tilburina,

    “Duty, I’m all thine own."[278]

If I do this I shall deserve a holiday about the 15th June, and I think it is best to wait till then.

June 2.—­A pleasant letter from Sophia, poor girl; all doing well there, for which God be praised.

I wrote a good task yesterday, five pages, which is nearly double the usual stint.

I am settled that I will not go to Abbotsford till to-morrow fortnight.

I might have spared myself the trouble of my self-denial, for go I cannot, Hamilton having a fit of gout.

Gibson seems in high spirits on the views I have given to him on the nature of Constable and Co.’s claim.  It amounts to this, that being no longer accountable as publishers, they cannot claim the character of such, or plead upon any claim arising out of the contracts entered into while they held that capacity.

June 3.—­I was much disturbed this morning by bile and its consequences, and lost so much sleep that I have been rather late in rising by way of indemnification.  I must go to the map and study the Italian campaigns instead of scribbling.