Truth to tell, Lady Julia had no remembrance of her face, but was too good-natured to be honest.
"And how is your dear mother?
I was so sorry to hear from a mutual friend that she had been unwell." How thankful she was that she read each week various papers which reported people's doings! A sense of bewilderment lurked in her heart.

Who was this Lewis Haystoun who owned such a house and such a kindred?
The hypothesis of money made in coal seemed insufficient, and with much curiosity she set herself to solve the problem.
"Is Mr.Haystoun coming back to tea ?" she asked by way of a preface.
"No, he has had to go to Gledsmuir.

We are all idle this afternoon, but he has a landowner's responsibilities." "Have his family been here long?
I seem never to have heard the name." Lady Clanroyden looked a little surprised.

"Yes, they have been rather a while.

I forget how many centuries, but a good many.