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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 341
amiable of men ; adored her and her girls : there was talk even of
marrying Minna to the Captain, but she, for her part, could not
endure the marriage of first cousins. There was a tradition against
such marriages in their family. Of three Bolderos and Strongitharms
who married their first cousins, one was drowned in
Gaberlunzie lake three weeks after the marriage ; one lost his wife
by a galloping consumption, and died a monk at Rome ; and the
third married a fortnight before the battle of Culloden, where he
was slain at the head of the Strongitharms. Mrs. Baynes had no
idea of the splendour of Gaberlunzie Castle : seventy bedrooms and
thirteen company-rooms, besides the picture-gallery ! In Edinburgh,
the Strongitharm had the right to wear his bonnet in the presence
of his sovereign." " A bonnet ! how very odd, my dear ! But
with ostrich plumes, I daresay it may look well, especially as the
Highlanders wear frocks, too." " Lord Strongitharm had no house
in London, having almost ruined himself in building his princely
castle in the North. Mrs. Baynes must come there and meet their
noble relatives and all the Scottish nobility." "Nor do I care
about these vanities, my dear ; but to bring my sweet Charlotte
into the world, is it not a mother's duty ?"
Not only to her sister, but likewise to Charlotte's friends of
Queen Square, did Mrs. Baynes impart these delightful news. But
this is in the first ardour of the friendship which arises between
Mrs. Baynes and Mrs. Boldero, and before those unpleasant money
disputes of which we have spoken.
Afterwards, when the two ladies have quarrelled regarding the
memorable "sang song frong," I think Mrs. Bunch came round
to Mrs. Boldero's side. " Eliza Baynes is too hard on her. It is
too cruel to insult her before those two unhappy daughters. The
woman is an odious woman, and a vulgar woman, and a schemer,
and I always said so. But to box her ears before her daughters—
her honourable friend of last week ! it's a shame of Eliza !"
" My dear, you'd better tell her so !" says Bunch drily.
" But if you do, tell her when I'm out of the way, please !" And
accordingly, one day when the two old officers return from their
stroll, Mrs. Bunch informs the Colonel that she has had it out with
Eliza ; and Mrs. Baynes, with a heated face, tells the General that
she and Mrs. Colonel Bunch have quarrelled ; and she is determined
it shall be for the last time. So that poor Madame de Smolensk
has to interpose between Mrs. Baynes and Mrs. Boldero; between
Mrs. Baynes and Mrs. Bunch; and to sit surrounded by glaring
eyes, and hissing innuendoes, and in the midst of feuds unhealable.
Of course, from the women the quarrelling will spread to the
gentlemen. That always happens. Poor Madame trembles.