The dignity of being consulted delighted Janet ; and Wilkie, or
Allan, would have made a capital sketch of her, as she sat upright
in her chair, instead of her ordinary lounging posture, knitting her
stocking systematically, as if she meant every twist of her thread,
and inclination of the wires, to bear burden to the cadence of my
voice. I am afraid, too, that I myself felt more delight than I
ought to have done in my own composition, and read a little more
oratorically than I should have ventured to do before an auditor,
of whose applause I was not so secure. And the result did not
entirely encourage my plan of censorship. Janet did indeed
seriously incline to the account of my previous life, and bestowed
some Highland maledictions more emphatic than courteous on
Christie Steele's reception of a " shentlemans in distress," and of
her own mistress's house too. I omitted for certain reasons, or
greatly abridged, what related to herself. But when I came to
treat of my general views in publication, I saw poor Janet was
entirely thrown out, though, like a jaded hunter, panting, puffing,
and short of wind, she endeavoured at least to keep up with the
chase. Or rather her perplexity made her look all the while like a
deaf person ashamed of his infirmity, who does not understand a
word you are saying, yet desires you to believe that he does under-
stand you, and who is extremely jealous that you suspect his
incapacity. When she saw that some remark was necessary, she
resembled exactly in her criticism the devotee who pitched on the



INTRODUCTORY. 367

" sweet word Mesopotamia," as the most edifying note which she
could bring away from a sermon. She indeed hastened to bestow
general praise on what she said was all " very fine ;" but chiefly
dwelt on what I said about Mr. Timmerman, as she was pleased to
call the German philosopher, and supposed he must be of the
same descent with the Highland clan of M'lntyre, which signifies
Son of the Carpenter. 