. »She lived to a great age, and at her death desired that she
might not be put under ground, but that her coffin should be placed upright on
one end of it, promising, that while she remained in that situation, the
Dalrymples should continue in prosperity. What was the old lady's motive for
such a request, or whether she really made such a promise, I cannot take upon me
to determine; but it is certain her coffin stands upright in the aisle of the
church of Kirkliston, the burial-place of the family.«3 The talents of this
accomplished race were sufficient to have accounted for the dignities which many
members of the family attained, without any supernatural assistance. But their
extraordinary prosperity was attended by some equally singular family
misfortunes, of which that which befell their eldest daughter was at once
unaccountable and melancholy.
    Miss Janet Dalrymple, daughter of the first Lord Stair and Dame Margaret
Ross, had engaged herself without the knowledge of her parents to the Lord
Rutherford, who was not acceptable to them either on account of his political
principles, or his want of fortune. The young couple broke a piece of gold
together, and pledged their troth in the most solemn manner; and it is said the
young lady imprecated dreadful evils on herself should she break her plighted
faith. Shortly after, a suitor who was favoured by Lord Stair, and still more so
by his lady, paid his addresses to Miss Dalrymple. The young lady refused the
proposal, and being pressed on the subject, confessed her secret engagement.
Lady Stair, a woman accustomed to universal submission (for even her husband did
not dare to contradict her), treated this objection as a trifle, and insisted
upon her daughter yielding her consent to marry the new suitor, David Dunbar,
son and heir to David Dunbar of Baldoon, in Wigtonshire. The first lover, a man
of very high spirit, then interfered by letter, and insisted on the right he had
acquired by his troth plighted with the young lady. Lady Stair sent him for
answer, that her daughter, sensible of her undutiful behaviour in entering into
a contract unsanctioned by her parents, had retracted her unlawful vow, and now
refused to fulfil her engagement with him.
    The lover, in return, declined positively to receive such an answer from any
one but his mistress in person; and as she had to deal with a man who was both
of a most determined character, and of too high condition to be trifled with,
Lady Stair was obliged to consent to an interview between Lord Rutherford and
her daughter. But
