I have mentioned that my dear wife with her two children had arrived from New York, and the pleasures and endearments of my own little fireside, now transplanted into a foreign land, were stealing away their part of my time, which, with the necessary attention to the kind civilities being paid us, our sight-seeing, our dinings-out, our drives, and my attendance in my rooms and lectures at night, was curiously divided and engrossed. The advent of my dear Clara, with her two babes, was like the coming of the warm and gentle breezes of spring--she who, though delicate and tender, had been, during the three last years of my rambles in the Indian wilds, my indefatigable companion--She who had traced and retraced with me the winding mazes of the mighty Mississippi, the Missouri, the Ohio, and the Arkansas--and with the lightness of the bounding antelopes that dwell upon their shores, had darted over their grassy banks and their green carpeted and enamelled slopes, and plucked their loveliest flowers--she who had also traced with me the shores of the great lakes of the north, and inhaled the glowing sweetness of Florida's lovely coast--and had kept her journal of thirteen thousand miles of wild rambles with her husband, and since her return to the land of her birth had blessed him in the richness of gift with two children, was now by his side (as I have said, like the coming of spring), to cheer him with the familiar sweet smiles and sounds in which he never knew guile.[4] [4] The reader will pardon these expressions, and others of a similar nature that may occasionally occur, for they apply to one who now rests with the silent dead, as will be explained in future pages of this work. Thanks to the kind friends who took her fair hand and bade her welcome--for they were many, and ready to contribute to her happiness, which filled (at that moment at least) the cup of our mutual enjoyment. CHAPTER VII. The Author dines with the Royal Highland Society--The Duke of Richmond presides--His Grace's compliment to the Author and his country--Sir David Wilkie--His compliment to the Author--Charles Augustus Murray and the Author at the Caledonian Ball (Almack's) in Indian costumes--Their rehearsal--Dressing and painting--Entering the ball--Alarm of ladies--Mr. Murray's infinite amusement (_incognito_) amongst his friends--War-dance and war-whoops--Great applause--Bouquets of flowers--Scalp-dance--Brooches and bracelets presented to the chiefs-Trinkets returned--Perspiration carries off the paint, and Mr. Murray recognised--Amusement of his friends--The "Indians" return to Egyptian Hall at seven in the morning--Their amusing appearance.