Life of Flora Macdonald and her adventures with Prince Charles

Island. This merciless officer was, however, a week too
late.
The oversight of allowing the boat to return so soon to
Uist, was the only point in which the prudence and judg-
ment of the gallant Flora had ever failed. It is true that
she did not suggest or sanction its return, but, unfortunately,
she did not give instruction to the contrary ; and the crew
were no doubt desirous to return to their homes.
Meantime, Mrs. Macdonald of Kingsburgh, assisted by
Flora, and Mrs. Macdonald, Kirkibost, prepared supper, at
which the Prince sat on the right of the hostess, with Flora on
her left. After supper, to which the Prince did ample justice,
the ladies retired, leaving Kingsburgh and his august guest
alone. His Royal Highness, apologising for the liberty,
produced a small, black, tobacco pipe, which he called " the
cutty," and was enjoying a puff from it, while his host pre-
pared hot water, sugar, and mountain dew to make a bowl of
toddy.* He was extremely cheerful, and while enjoying
the exhilarating contents of the magic bowl, he assured
Kingsburgh that he had never tasted such excellent toddy
in his life. He thought that it excelled by far what he had
at Borrodale and in the Long Island. He indeed greatly
enjoyed himself, after his many fatigues and hardships, and
had no desire as yet to retire to bed. Kingsburgh, however,
seeing the wisdom and necessity of going to rest, had to
perform the disagreeable duty of suggesting the propriety of
breaking up the company, but the Prince objected. " After
they had emptied the bowl several times," as Chambers so
correctly and graphically describes, " Kingsburgh thought it
* In these times, and until a late period, toddy was never made in glass
tumblers, but in large punch-bowls, often of Chinese manufacture, and when
it was duly mixed the glasses of the guests were filled out of the punch-bowls
by silver or wooden ladles. Punch-bowls are still kept in many households,
as ornaments or heirlooms from ancestral times.