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

144
the little dressing-room, refusing to open. Annie had
gone through shortly before we got to Keith, and when
she wanted to go back, the door would not open, and
nothing could make it open. Brown tried with all his
might, and with knives, but in vain, and we had to
take in the two railway men with us, hammering and
knocking away as we went on, till at last they forced
it open. We were at Keith at 1.20, and at Elgin at
1.58. The station here was beautifully decorated;
there were several arches adorned with flowers and
heather, and a platform with raised seats for many
ladies. The Provost and the Duke of Richmond and
Lord March were there. The Provost presented an
address, and then I spoke to the Duke of Richmond,
who told me that dear Uncle Leopold had received
the freedom of the city when he was staying in the
neighbourhood in 1819. The ruins of the Cathedral
are said to be the finest in Scotland, and the town is
full of ancient recollections. No British sovereign has
ever been so far north. The Provost's daughter pre¬
sented me with a nosegay.
We stopped here about ten minutes. It was broil¬
ing hot. The corn and oats looked ripe, and were cul
in many places. After this we took our luncheon
(cold), and as we were sitting at the small table we
suddenly found ourselves passing slowly, without stop¬
ping, the station of Forres, near which is the wild
“muir” which Shakespeare chose as the scene of Mac¬
beth’s meeting with the witches. Nairn lies verj
prettily on the shore of the Moray Frith. We passed
Culloden, and the moor where that bloody battle, th<
recollection of which I cannot bear, was fought. Thi
heather beautiful everywhere, and now the scenery be