It was on the 20th day of September (1806) that Mary Mitford, together with her father and her father’s cousin, Mr. Nathaniel Ogle, who possessed an estate in Northumberland, started upon their northern tour. They travelled to London by stage-coach, but performed the rest of their journey in Mr. Ogle’s private carriage. Having changed horses at Waltham Cross and again at Wade’s Mill, they halted at Royston for the first night, and then, continuing their journey with various other haltings, reached Little Harle Tower in Northumberland a few days later. Little Harle Tower, which stands in a romantic glen through which the Wansbeck flows, was to be the headquarters of the Mitfords during their tour. It was the property of Lord and Lady Charles Murray Aynsley, Lord Charles having taken the name of Aynsley on account of a large property left to his wife by a relative of that name. He was a son of the Duchess of Athol. Perhaps the reader may remember his appearance in an early chapter of this work as a very bashful young man. Lady Charles was a first cousin of Dr. Mitford’s. Mary writes to her mother from Little Harle Tower on September 28th: “I imagine Papa has told you all our plans, which are extremely pleasant. Lord and Lady Charles stay longer in the country on purpose to receive us, and have put off their visit to Alnwick Castle that they may take us there, as well as to Lord Grey’s, Colonel Beaumont’s and half a dozen other places.... The post, which _never_ goes oftener than three times a week from hence, will not allow our writing again till Wednesday, when we go to Sir William Lorraine’s, and hope to get a frank from Colonel Beaumont whom we are to meet there.” This was Mary Mitford’s first introduction into what is called high society, and the simplicity of her ordinary life made her specially enjoy her new experiences. The Beaumonts were people of large property, and Mary describes the wonderful attire of Mrs. Beaumont, who appeared at the Lorraines’ dinner-party (although it was supposed to be a small informal gathering) in a lavender satin dress covered with Mechlin lace, and whose jewels consisted of amethysts of priceless value forming a waist-belt, a bandeau, a tiara, armlets, bracelets, etc. etc. to match. Lady Lorraine’s dress was quite different. “Her ladyship is a small, delicate woman,” writes Mary, “and she wore a plain cambric gown and a small chip hat, without any sort of ornament either on her head or neck.” Mary made mental notes concerning many of her new acquaintance. She describes a certain Mr. M. as “an oddity from affectation.” “And I often think,” she adds, “that no young man affects singularity when he can distinguish himself by something better.” Writing from Kirkley, Mr. Ogle’s property, on October 8th, Mary says: “We go to-morrow to Alnwick and return the same night. I will write you a long account of our stately visit when I return to Morpeth.”