Kings & rulers > More leaves from the journal of a life in the Highlands from 1862 to 1882

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enthusiastic crowds. The little town of Kelso is very
;Picturesque, and there were triumphal arches, and no
end of pretty mottoes, and every house was decorated
with flowers and flags. Fifty ladies dressed in white
strewed flowers as we passed. Volunteers were out
and bands playing. At the Market Place the carriage
stopped; an address was presented, not read; and a
little girl was held up to give me an enormous bouquet.
Immense and most enthusiastic cheering. We then
drove on, amidst continued crowds and hearty cheers,
up to the very park gates, where the old Sheriff, eighty-
five years old, was presented. The park is remarkably
fine, with the approach under splendid beech, syca¬
more, and oak trees. The house very handsome, built
originally by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1718, but much
improved by the present Duke. You drive under a
large porch, and then go up a flight of steps to the
hall. The Duke’s band was stationed outside. Mr.
and Lady Charlotte Russell, Mr. Suttie, and Lady
Charles Ker were in the hall. The Duchess took us
into the library, where the Duke of Buccleuch joined
us, and, after waiting a little while, we had breakfast
(ourselves alone) in the really splendid dining-room
adjoining, at ten minutes past twelve. This over, the
Duchess showed us to our rooms upstairs. I had three
that were very comfortable, opening one into the other:
a sitting-room, dressing-room, and the largest of the
three, the bed-room, simple, with pretty chintz, but
very elegant, nice and comfortable. The children were
close at hand. But the feeling of loneliness when I
saw no room for my darling, and felt I was indeed
alone and a widow, overcame me very sadly! It was
the first time I had gone in this way on a visit (like