tal to the unkno

ingle deg lan, though both the me

friend

sivastage of being de
eeded in handing the

Vu lauch was his first introd Margate Carpenter, Without ter bomaty, she was rich in per a form that was fashioned a api xich of the clearest and

Cseport, ami waling of
alba podobon of ilkes

ÆT. 26.]

WOOING AT GILSLAND.

89

and all accounts unite in describing her as even lovely in her youth and early matronage was daughter of M. John Charpentier of Lyons, who held a government office there (Ecuyer du Roi), and died at the beginning of the Revolution. She and her only brother had been educated in the Protestant faith of their mother, who succeeded in escaping with them to England, and found a friend in Arthur, second Marquis of Downshire, who had become an intimate acquaintance of M. Charpentier during his travels in France. M. Charpentier had, in his first alarm as to the coming Revolution, invested four thousand pounds in English securities, part in a mortgage upon Lord Downshire's estates. On the mother's death, which occurred soon after her arrival in London, this nobleman took on himself the character of sole guardian to her children; and Charles Charpentier received in due time, through his interest, an appointment in the service of the East-India Company, in which he had by this time risen to the lucrative situation of commercial resident at Salem, on the Madras establishment.*

Miss Carpenter (as the name was Anglicized), who was over twenty-one at this period, was chaperoned at Gilsland by the lady, daughter of the Dean of Exeter, who had superintended her education. The young folks soon understood each other. In his very satisfactory and even necessary book, "The Lands of Scott," Mr. James F. Hunnewell, who had personally visited, and closely describes, Gilsland, says, that near the Spa, "perhaps an eighth of a mile distant, along the winding stream (crossed twice by steppingstones), is a secluded spot, where may be found the most attractive popular antiquity of Gilsland, — a true

* Mr. Charles Charpentier remained in India until his death in 1818. He left all his property in life-rent to his sister, the capital to her children. It was this accession of wealth which induced Scott to accept a baronetcy. He allowed his sister five hundred pounds a year when Scott met her.