Lady Victoria Campbell

" ETHICA " 273
Then there were the progresses up and down the
gloomy stone stairs. The minister, or elder, selected
because he understood " how to give his arm " ;
the less favoured, bearing cloaks and foot-warmers.
The cab attained, there was always a pause before
the driver could get off. The head with the
fair hair framing the radiant face at the window,
as her eye caught sight of this one, and then
the other, bidding all and sundry to come and
have a crack, or a "ceilidh," and meals were
promised, and " trysts " were made. Or she would
have been to hear " Eainy " in the Free Assembly,
or her feet had strayed into some " conventicle,"
and the stricter sect of the fathers and brethren
would come reproving her for backslidings and de-
fections, and she enjoyed the innocent mischief she
had been in, and bade them give her absolution.
She loved the element of ecclesiastical life, and the
social gathering together, and the Assembly ten days
were always bright to her ; though she would pay
for her " Gospel greed " by many a neuralgic attack.
" It was worth it," was her summing up, " and that
it was good to see her," was the heartfelt feeling of the
friends, who miss her coming, and can no longer
stand by to aid her progress to the Throne gallery
of the Tolbooth Church.