History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

LADY OGILVIE 183
her laundress's clothes, and at Abbey Hill found horses and baggage waiting
for her. Thence she proceeded by easy stages to Dover, seeing everywhere a
caricature supposed to be herself, with the reward offered for her capture. She
joined her husband, who had entered the French service, but died in France
when only thirty-three. She left two children—David, Earl of Airlie, and
Margaret, who became the wife of Sir John Wedderburn, Bart.
Two little sisters, Elizabeth and Henrietta, died young, but another Elizabeth
lived to old age, a favourite with her younger relatives, to whom she was
known as Aunt Betty, and with a large circle of friends. At that time the
ladies of a family were still allowed to use the Scottish accent, though with
boys it had to be checked if they were to enter public life. Dean Ramsay
relates that Miss Johnstone was extremely indignant when, on the death of her
brother, his widow proposed to sell the old furniture at Westerhall. As she
described it, " the furniture was a' to be roupit, and we couldna persuade her. But
before the sale came on, in God's gude Providence she just clinkit off herself."
She came into possession of Hawkhill, near Edinburgh, and died there. When
dying, a tremendous storm of rain and thunder shook the house. In her own
quaint, eccentric spirit, and with no thought of profane or light allusions, she
looked up, and, listening to the storm, quietly remarked, " Sirs, what a night
for me to be fleeing through the air."