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 248 the wife of two dukes and the mother of four. Her sister had married the Earl of Coventry. "The two beautiful sisters," says Horace Walpole, "were going on the stage, when they are at once exalted almost as high as they could be, were countessed and double-duchessed." The duchess, by her first husband, the Duke of Hamilton, was the mother of the unsuccessful competitor for the Douglas estates, and was therefore "prejudiced against Boswell, who had shown all the bustling importance of his character in the Douglas cause." Johnson, on hearing the state of the case, "was clear that Boswell ought to pay his respects at the castle. I mentioned," continues Boswell, "that I was afraid my company might be disagreeable to the duchess. He treated the objection with a manly disdain, 'That, Sir, he must settle with his wife.' He insisted that I should not go to the castle this day before dinner, as it would look like seeking an invitation. 'But,' said I, 'if the duke invites us to dine with him to-morrow, shall we accept?' 'Yes, Sir,' I think he said, 'to be sure.' But he added, 'He won't ask us.'" By the duke, who was sitting over his wine, Boswell was most politely received; but when he was taken into the drawing-room and introduced, neither the duchess nor the ladies with her took the least notice of him. The following day he and Johnson were shown through the castle. "It is a stately place," said Johnson.