_Friday, 18th May, 1827_.
--_Skene's Reminiscences_.
[D]
Sair back and sair banes
Carrying the Lord of Morphey's stanes.
_Border Minstrelsy_, vol. iii. pp. 360, 365.
[519] Afterwards (in 1840) eighth Karl of Stair.
[520] 126 Princes Street.
[521] George Dempster of Skibo had just married a daughter of the House
of Arniston. This lady has had the singular gratification of listening
to these pleasant impressions of a dinner party given in her honour
sixty-two years ago, and which she never forgot, nor Sir Walter's talk
as he sat next her at table, and with unfeigned kindness devoted himself
to her entertainment.
[522] See _Life_, vol. ix. p. 114.
[523] _Coriolanus_, Act III. Sc. 3.
[524] Sir Walter _varies_ a verse of _The tight little Island_.--J.G.L.
[525] The engraving from Raeburn's picture.--See _ante_, p. 212.
[526] Mr. Robert Hogg relates that during these few days Sir W. and he
laboured from six in the morning till the same hour in the evening, with
the exception of the intervals allowed for breakfast and lunch, which
were served in the room to save time. He noted a striking peculiarity in
Scott's dictation, that with the greatest ease he was able to carry on
two trains of thought at one time, "one of which was already arranged,
and in the act of being spoken, while at the same time he was in advance
considering what was afterwards to be said."--See his interesting letter
to Mr. Lockhart, _Life_, vol. ix. pp. 115-117.