Lady Victoria Campbell

232 "THE FAIR HAVENS"
tested, and, I think, with some effect, as one of
the Bible-class arrived this evening a little before
six o'clock.
Dec. 3rd.
All day indoors. Wanted to send a telegram
in afternoon, answering a business question from
Edinburgh, a week old to-day. Archie tells me the
telegraph wire is broken, and even if it had not been
I could not have sent it, as it blew and rained too
hard to admit of him or the horse going. Of
course, the mail-boat has failed us.
Mr. Macdiarmid has sent me the Duke's statement
of facts about the pier question. Quite excellent.
It will meet the case, in showing the people he is
quite as willing as they are to have it. Indeed,
more so, inasmuch as they openly say they wont
assist with labour, though I believe they are
prepared with pier dues.
Dec. 4th.
Awoke with violent neuralgic headache. Kept
quiet till eleven, when I got downstairs ; and, as
the pain lifted after luncheon, I got to Island
House to begin, as I had promised, Mrs. Macdiar-
mid's sewing-class, she not being well this week.
The meeting was summoned at 3.30 p.m., but
they kept dropping in till 4.30, when I had to leave
for my own class. This feature of unpunctuality
is a great trial in island life. The evening was
comparatively calm, but looked as if it would blow