John MacNaughton,
Duke of Dunmore.
PS I have heard our neighbor to the south, Lord Reeves, suffered some injuries recently. He has not named the perpetrator, but I suspect a farmer whom Reeves may have cleared from his lands in too forceful a manner. Lord Reeves has not been seen in public since his assault but has made it widely known he will not return to Scotland. From what I hear of Reeves from Captain Pike, I think our corner of the Highlands will be a better place for his absence. The man was lucky to escape with all his bits intact.
PPS Please send return correspondence to my club at the address below.
To the Duke of Dunmore, John MacNaughton.
My lord duke:
My life leaves me no time for reading. And in my keep where I lived until recently, any book would have been destroyed by damp. But even before that, I was not a great reader. My grandfather would read to me at times, and I liked that. As I told you before, I do not have much education.
I live in a new cottage now and it is very snug and no rain comes in which is a blessing. So, perhaps in the future, I will be able to have books and time for reading.
This is a long way of saying I have not read the poem “The Lady of the Lake.”
I agree with you that in a poem the two lovers should be together at the end. Otherwise, it would be too much like the world and not like a poem. And it’s good the father in the poem insists his daughter marry for love. Many noblemen’s daughters are not allowed that.
I have a young woman under my care named Margaret who is very much in love. My dearest wish is she will be able to marry her sweetheart, in time.
I hope your current devotion to reading does not mean you are not well and cannot be active. Are you well?
Yr. Friend,
Helen Boyd.
Dear Helen:
You signed your last letter Helen Boyd so I am hoping I may address you as Helen without giving offense.
And as to your question—I am well! I am well. Have no worries on that point. I am merely circumscribed temporarily. I am in London now and among my friends here, which is good.
I hope you enjoy the book of the poem “The Lady of the Lake” which I have sent with this letter.
Are you well? Are you eating well?
Yr. Friend,
John MacNaughton.
What is the meaning of circumscribed?
Thank you for the book which came with your letter. I did try to read last night, but I fell asleep after only a few lines. I will try again tonight after writing this letter.
I am eating well, thank you. Are you eating well? I am glad you have your friends around you. Are they all gentlemen friends?
Yr. Friend,
Helen Boyd.
Circumscribed means limited or restrained. My friend George Danforth, the Baron Danforth, who makes a study of the origin of words says it comes from Latin. Circum means around (like a circle) and scribere means to write—so it is literally to draw a circle around something. I have a little circle drawn around me and cannot move from it. But I am well, I assure you.
Do not press yourself to read if you are tired. You should rest. The book will not run away even if it is not read.
But is it possible you are working too hard, Lady Kinmarloch? Is there anything I, or the people of Dunmore, can do to help?
I am eating well. Maybe too well, considering my sloth.
