The Frenchman offended the old Scottish peeress by some disparaging remarks on Scottish dishes, and by highly preferring those of France.

All she would answer was, "Weel, weel, some fowk like parritch and some like paddocks[57]." Of this older race--the ladies who were, aged, fifty years ago--no description could be given in bolder or stronger outline than that which I have quoted from Lord Cockburn.

I would pretend to nothing more than giving a few further illustrative details from my own experience, which may assist the representation by adding some practical realities to the picture.
Several of them whom I knew in my early days certainly answered to many of the terms made use of by his lordship.

Their language and expressions had a zest and peculiarity which are gone, and which would not, I fear, do for modern life and times.
I have spoken of Miss Erskine of Dun, which is near Montrose.

She, however, resided in Edinburgh.