70

Youngster, that his Son was really about five yearsback, and that he has affected to appear fever1since my remembrance. While our father is flut--tering about the Streets of London, gay, diſsipated,and Thoughtleſs at the age of 57, Matilda and Icontinue secluded from Mankind in our old and Mouldering Castle, which gis2 situated atwo3 milesfrom Perth on a bold projecting Rock, and commandsan extensive veiw of the Town and its delightful Environs. But tho'though retired from almost all the World, (for we visit no one but the M'[.]Leods, TheM'Kenzies, the M'Phersons, the M'Cartneys, the M'donalds, The M'kinnons, the M'lellans, the M'kays, theMacdufbeths4 and the Macduffs) we are neither dullnor unhappy; on the contrary there never were twomore lively, more agreable or more witty Girls, thanwe are; not an hour in the Day hangs heavy

Footnotes

1.
'f' and possibly further characters erased before 'ever'. Back to context...
2.
Letter ('g'?) just preceding this word erased. Back to context...
3.
't' written over 'a'. Back to context...
4.
'beths' written over erased 'duf'. Back to context...
Image for page: 70 of manuscript: blvolsecond