Before Departing From My Beloved Glenquoich, I Must Pay A Passing Tribute To The Remarkable Qualities Of Mrs. Edward Ellice And Of Her Youngest Sister Mrs. Robert Ellice, The Mother Of The Present Member For St. Andrews.

It was, in a great measure, the bright intelligence, the rare tact, and social gifts of these two ladies that made this beautiful Highland resort so attractive to all comers.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

THE winter of 1854-55 I spent in Rome. Here I made the acquaintance of Leighton, then six-and-twenty. I saw a good deal of him, as I lived almost entirely amongst the artists, taking lessons myself in water colours of Leitch. Music also brought us into contact. He had a beautiful voice, and used to sing a good deal with Mrs. Sartoris - Adelaide Kemble - whom he greatly admired, and whose portrait is painted under a monk's cowl, in the Cimabue procession.

Calling on him one morning, I found him on his knees buttering and rolling up this great picture, preparatory to sending it to the Academy. I made some remark about its unusual size, saying with a sceptical smile, 'It will take up a lot of room.'

'If they ever hang it,' he replied; 'but there's not much chance of that.'

Seeing that his reputation was yet to win, it certainly seemed a bold venture to make so large a demand for space to begin with. He did not appear the least sanguine. But it was accepted; and Prince Albert bought it before the Exhibition opened.

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