John Leech and other papers

Mystifications. 139
Mr. Sandford read over the claims, but there was
no notice given of the Speldins'.
' We maun just hae patience,' said Mrs. Ramsay,
'and nae doubt it will appear in the next newspaper.'
Some one inquired who was the present repre-
sentative ?
' It 's me,' replied Mrs. Ramsay Speldin ; ' and I
mean to perform the office mysel'. The estate wad
hae been mine too, had it existed ; but Neptune, ye
ken, is an ill neighbour, and the sea has washed it a'
awa' but a sand bunker or twa, and the house I bide
in at Ferryden.'
At supper every one was eager to have a seat near
Mrs. Ramsay Speldin. She had a universal acquaint-
ance, and she even knew Mr. Sandford's mother,
when he told her that her name was Catherine
Douglas. Mr. Sandford had in his own mind com-
posed a letter to Sir Walter Scott, which was to have
been written and despatched on the morrow, giving
an account of this fine specimen of the true Scottish
character, whom he had met in the county of Angus.
We meant to carry on the deception next morning,
but the laird was too happy for concealment. Before
the door closed on the goodnight of the ladies, he
had disclosed the secret, and before we reached the
top of the stairs, the gentlemen were scampering at
our heels like a pack of hounds in full cry.