Lady Victoria Campbell

"REST AND BE THANKFUL" 329
You might — forgive my saying so ! — be at any
number in Ainslie Place, so far as your calligraphy
" is concerned." God speed your coracle.
Rome. Dec. 21st, 1907.
My dearest Mary,
Such a longing comes over me to have father
and Dottie to tell over their memories here, as one
recalls scraps of news, old letters, when they in
one of our old carriages entered all the ways. No
wonder Papa travelled for two years with Docky.
We are established en Pension with a glorious
view over the old city. St. Peter's being the centre-
piece. The sunsets a joy, especially to me who, of
necessity, am somewhat of a stay-at-home.
Lesley and I have read together the Bible, learnt
dialogue, and it is beginning in my case to oust
the Gaelic.
The Embassy people have been most kind.
Now write to me what you are all doing. How I
long for Archie to get the Sun !
In 1908 Lady Victoria was at Bunessan, when Lady
Mary with " the trio " came to Iona. One of the many
letters she wrote, in order to effect a meeting, is given
here. It is extraordinarily typical of her thought for
detail ; she left nothing to chance, as far as minute
directions could ensure success. These notes were
sped by many a hand on shore, and by many a purser
on board the steamers. In Tiree Mr. Macdonald,
the postmaster, earned the name she gave him,