The Ayrshire Legatees
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John Galt >> The Ayrshire Legatees
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But all the display of learning and eloquence, and intellectual
power and majesty of the House of Lords, shrinks into insignificance
when compared with the moral attitude which the people have taken on
this occasion. You know how much I have ever admired the attributes
of the English national character--that boundless generosity, which
can only be compared to the impartial benevolence of the sunshine--
that heroic magnanimity, which makes the hand ever ready to succour
a fallen foe; and that sublime courage, which rises with the energy
of a conflagration roused by a tempest, at every insult or menace of
an enemy. The compassionate interest taken by the populace in the
future condition of the queen is worthy of this extraordinary
people. There may be many among them actuated by what is called the
radical spirit; but malignity alone would dare to ascribe the
bravery of their compassion to a less noble feeling than that which
has placed the kingdom so proudly in the van of all modern nations.
There may be an amiable delusion, as my Lord Castlereagh has said,
in the popular sentiments with respect to the queen. Upon that, as
upon her case, I offer no opinion. It is enough for me to have
seen, with the admiration of a worshipper, the manner in which the
multitude have espoused her cause.
But my paper is filled, and I must conclude. I should, however,
mention that my sister's marriage is appointed to take place to-
morrow, and that I accompany the happy pair to France.--Yours truly,
ANDREW PRINGLE.
"This is a dry letter," said Mr. Snodgrass, and he handed it to Miss
Isabella, who, in exchange, presented the one which she had herself
at the same time received; but just as Mr. Snodgrass was on the
point of reading it, Miss Becky Glibbans was announced. "How lucky
this is," exclaimed Miss Becky, "to find you both thegither! Now
you maun tell me all the particulars; for Miss Mally Glencairn is no
in, and her letter lies unopened. I am just gasping to hear how
Rachel conducted herself at being married in the kirk before all the
folk--married to the hussar captain, too, after all! who would have
thought it?"
"How, have you heard of the marriage already?" said Miss Isabella.
"Oh, it's in the newspapers," replied the amiable inquisitant,--
"Like ony tailor or weaver's--a' weddings maun nowadays gang into
the papers. The whole toun, by this time, has got it; and I wouldna
wonder if Rachel Pringle's marriage ding the queen's divorce out of
folk's heads for the next nine days to come. But only to think of
her being married in a public kirk. Surely her father would never
submit to hae't done by a bishop? And then to put it in the London
paper, as if Rachel Pringle had been somebody of distinction.
Perhaps it might have been more to the purpose, considering what
dragoon officers are, if she had got the doited Doctor, her father,
to publish the intended marriage in the papers beforehand."
"Haud that condumacious tongue of yours," cried a voice, panting
with haste as the door opened, and Mrs. Glibbans entered. "Becky,
will you never devawl wi' your backbiting. I wonder frae whom the
misleart lassie takes a' this passion of clashing."
The authority of her parent's tongue silenced Miss Becky, and Mrs.
Glibbans having seated herself, continued,--"Is it your opinion, Mr.
Snodgrass, that this marriage can hold good, contracted, as I am
told it is mentioned in the papers to hae been, at the horns of the
altar of Episcopalian apostacy?"
"I can set you right as to that," said Miss Isabella. "Rachel
mentions, that, after returning from the church, the Doctor himself
performed the ceremony anew, according to the Presbyterian usage."
"I am glad to heart, very glad indeed," said Mrs. Glibbans. "It
would have been a judgment-like thing, had a bairn of Dr. Pringle's-
-than whom, although there may be abler, there is not a sounder man
in a' the West of Scotland--been sacrificed to Moloch, like the
victims of prelatic idolatry."
At this juncture, Miss Mally Glencairn was announced: she entered,
holding a letter from Mrs. Pringle in her hand, with the seal
unbroken. Having heard of the marriage from an acquaintance in the
street, she had hurried home, in the well-founded expectation of
hearing from her friend and well-wisher, and taking up the letter,
which she found on her table, came with all speed to Miss Isabella
Tod to commune with her on the tidings.
Never was any confluence of visitors more remarkable than on this
occasion. Before Miss Mally had well explained the cause of her
abrupt intrusion, Mr. Micklewham made his appearance. He had come
to Irvine to be measured for a new coat, and meeting by accident
with Saunders Dickie, got the Doctor's letter from him, which, after
reading, he thought he could do no less than call at Mrs. Tod's, to
let Miss Isabella know the change which had taken place in the
condition of her friend.
Thus were all the correspondents of the Pringles assembled, by the
merest chance, like the dramatis personae at the end of a play.
After a little harmless bantering, it was agreed that Miss Mally
should read her communication first--as all the others were
previously acquainted with the contents of their respective letters,
and Miss Mally read as follows:-
LETTER XXX
Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn
Dear Miss Mally--I hav a cro to pik with you conserning yoor
comishon aboot the partickels for your friends. You can hav no
noshon what the Doctor and me suffert on the head of the flooring
shrubs. We took your Nota Beny as it was spilt, and went from shop
to shop enquirin in a most partiklar manner for "a Gardner's Bell,
or the least of all flowering plants"; but sorrow a gardner in the
whole tot here in London ever had heard of sic a thing; so we gave
the porshoot up in despare. Howsomever, one of Andrew's
acquaintance--a decent lad, who is only son to a saddler in a been
way, that keeps his own carriage, and his son a coryikel, happent to
call, and the Doctor told him what ill socsess we had in our serch
for the gardner's bell; upon which he sought a sight of your
yepissle, and read it as a thing that was just wonderful for its
whorsogroffie; and then he sayid, that looking at the prinsipol of
your spilling, he thought we should reed, "a gardner's bill, or a
list of all flooring plants"; whilk being no doot your intent, I
have proqurt the same, and it is included heerin. But, Miss Mally,
I would advize you to be more exac in your inditing, that no sic
torbolashon may hippen on a future okashon.
What I hav to say for the present is, that you will, by a smak, get
a bocks of kumoddities, whilk you will destraboot as derekit on
every on of them, and you will before have resievit by the post-
offis, an account of what has been don. I need say no forther at
this time, knowin your discreshon and prooduns, septs that our
Rachel and Captain Sabor will, if it pleese the Lord, be off to
Parish, by way of Bryton, as man and wife, the morn's morning. What
her father the Doctor gives for tocher, what is settlt on her for
jontor, I will tell you all aboot when we meet; for it's our dishire
noo to lose no tim in retorning to the manse, this being the last of
our diplomaticals in London, where we have found the Argents a most
discrit family, payin to the last farding the Cornal's legacy, and
most seevil, and well bred to us.
As I am naterally gretly okypt with this matteromoneal afair, you
cannot expect ony news; but the queen is going on with a dreadful
rat, by which the pesents hav falen more than a whole entirr pesent.
I wish our fonds were well oot of them, and in yird and stane, which
is a constansie. But what is to become of the poor donsie woman, no
one can expound. Some think she will be pot in the Toor of London,
and her head chappit off; others think she will raise sic a
stramash, that she will send the whole government into the air, like
peelings of ingons, by a gunpoother plot. But it's my opinion, and
I have weighed the matter well in my understanding, that she will
hav to fight with sword in hand, be she ill, or be she good. How
els can she hop to get the better of more than two hundred lords, as
the Doctor, who has seen them, tells me, with princes of the blood-
royal, and the prelatic bishops, whom, I need not tell you, are the
worst of all.
But the thing I grudge most, is to be so long in Lundon, and no to
see the king. Is it not a hard thing to come to London, and no to
see the king? I am not pleesed with him, I assure you, becose he
does not set himself out to public view, like ony other curiosity,
but stays in his palis, they say, like one of the anshent wooden
images of idolatry, the which is a great peety, he beeing, as I am
told, a beautiful man, and more the gentleman than all the coortiers
of his court.
The Doctor has been minting to me that there is an address from
Irvine to the queen; and he, being so near a neighbour to your toun,
has been thinking to pay his respecs with it, to see her near at
hand. But I will say nothing; he may take his own way in matters of
gospel and spiritualety; yet I have my scroopols of conshence, how
this may not turn out a rebellyon against the king; and I would hav
him to sift and see who are at the address, before he pits his han
to it. For, if it's a radikol job, as I jealoos it is, what will
the Doctor then say? who is an orthodox man, as the world nose.
In the maitre of our dumesticks, no new axsident has cast up; but I
have seen such a wonder as could not have been forethocht. Having a
washin, I went down to see how the lassies were doing; but judge of
my feelings, when I saw them triomphing on the top of pattons,
standing upright before the boyns on chairs, rubbin the clothes to
juggins between their hands, above the sapples, with their gouns and
stays on, and round-cared mutches. What would you think of such a
miracle at the washing-house in the Goffields, or the Gallows-knows
of Irvine? The cook, howsomever, has shown me a way to make rice-
puddings without eggs, by putting in a bit of shoohet, which is as
good--and this you will tell Miss Nanny Eydent; likewise, that the
most fashionable way of boiling green pis, is to pit a blade of
spearmint in the pot, which gives a fine flavour. But this is a
long letter, and my pepper is done; so no more, but remains your
friend and well-wisher, JANET PRINGLE.
"A great legacy, and her dochtir married, in ae journey to London,
is doing business," said Mrs. Glibbans, with a sigh, as she looked
to her only get, Miss Becky; "but the Lord's will is to be done in
a' thing;--sooner or later something of the same kind will come, I
trust, to all our families." "Ay," replied Miss Mally Glencairn,
"marriage is like death--it's what we are a' to come to."
"I have my doubts of that," said Miss Becky with a sneer. "Ye have
been lang spair't from it, Miss Mally."
"Ye're a spiteful puddock; and if the men hae the e'en and lugs they
used to hae, gude pity him whose lot is cast with thine, Becky
Glibbans," replied the elderly maiden ornament of the Kirkgate,
somewhat tartly.
Here Mr. Snodgrass interposed, and said, he would read to them the
letter which Miss Isabella had received from the bride; and without
waiting for their concurrence, opened and read as follows:-
LETTER XXXI
Mrs. Sabre to Miss Isabella Tod
My Dearest Bell--Rachel Pringle is no more! My heart flutters as I
write the fatal words. This morning, at nine o'clock precisely, she
was conducted in bridal array to the new church of Mary-le-bone; and
there, with ring and book, sacrificed to the Minotaur, Matrimony,
who devours so many of our bravest youths and fairest maidens.
My mind is too agitated to allow me to describe the scene. The
office of handmaid to the victim, which, in our young simplicity, we
had fondly thought one of us would perform for the other, was
gracefully sustained by Miss Argent.
On returning from church to my father's residence in Baker Street,
where we breakfasted, he declared himself not satisfied with the
formalities of the English ritual, and obliged us to undergo a
second ceremony from himself, according to the wonted forms of the
Scottish Church. All the advantages and pleasures of which, my dear
Bell, I hope you will soon enjoy.
But I have no time to enter into particulars. The captain and his
lady, by themselves, in their own carriage, set off for Brighton in
the course of less than an hour. On Friday they are to be followed
by a large party of their friends and relations; and, after spending
a few days in that emporium of salt-water pleasures, they embark,
accompanied with their beloved brother, Mr. Andrew Pringle, for
Paris; where they are afterwards to be joined by the Argents. It is
our intention to remain about a month in the French capital; whether
we shall extend our tour, will depend on subsequent circumstances:
in the meantime, however, you will hear frequently from me.
My mother, who has a thousand times during these important
transactions wished for the assistance of Nanny Eydent, transmits to
Miss Mally Glencairn a box containing all the requisite bridal
recognisances for our Irvine friends. I need not say that the best
is for the faithful companion of my happiest years. As I had made a
vow in my heart that Becky Glibbans should never wear gloves for my
marriage, I was averse to sending her any at all, but my mother
insisted that no exceptions should be made. I secretly took care,
however, to mark a pair for her, so much too large, that I am sure
she will never put them on. The asp will be not a little vexed at
the disappointment. Adieu for a time, and believe that, although
your affectionate Rachel Pringle be gone that way in which she hopes
you will soon follow, one not less sincerely attached to you, though
it be the first time she has so subscribed herself, remains in
RACHEL SABRE.
Before the ladies had time to say a word on the subject, the prudent
young clergyman called immediately on Mr. Micklewham to read the
letter which he had received from the Doctor; and which the worthy
dominie did without delay, in that rich and full voice with which he
is accustomed to teach his scholars elocution by example.
LETTER XXXII
The Rev. Z. Pringle, D.D., to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and
Session-Clerk, Garnock--LONDON.
Dear Sir--I have been much longer of replying to your letter of the
3rd of last month, than I ought in civility to have been, but really
time, in this town of London, runs at a fast rate, and the day
passes before the dark's done. What with Mrs. Pringle and her
daughter's concernments, anent the marriage to Captain Sabre, and
the trouble I felt myself obliged to take in the queen's affair, I
assure you, Mr. Micklewham, that it's no to be expressed how I have
been occupied for the last four weeks. But all things must come to
a conclusion in this world. Rachel Pringle is married, and the
queen's weary trial is brought to an end--upon the subject and
motion of the same, I offer no opinion, for I made it a point never
to read the evidence, being resolved to stand by THE WORD from the
first, which is clearly and plainly written in the queen's favour,
and it does not do in a case of conscience to stand on trifles;
putting, therefore, out of consideration the fact libelled, and
looking both at the head and the tail of the proceeding, I was of a
firm persuasion, that all the sculduddery of the business might have
been well spared from the eye of the public, which is of itself
sufficiently prone to keek and kook, in every possible way, for a
glimpse of a black story; and, therefore, I thought it my duty to
stand up in all places against the trafficking that was attempted
with a divine institution. And I think, when my people read how
their prelatic enemies, the bishops (the heavens defend the poor
Church of Scotland from being subjected to the weight of their
paws), have been visited with a constipation of the understanding on
that point, it must to them be a great satisfaction to know how
clear and collected their minister was on this fundamental of
society. For it has turned out, as I said to Mrs. Pringle, as well
as others, it would do, that a sense of grace and religion would be
manifested in some quarter before all was done, by which the devices
for an unsanctified repudiation or divorce would be set at nought.
As often as I could, deeming it my duty as a minister of the word
and gospel, I got into the House of Lords, and heard the trial; and
I cannot think how ever it was expected that justice could be done
yonder; for although no man could be more attentive than I was,
every time I came away I was more confounded than when I went; and
when the trial was done, it seemed to me just to be clearing up for
a proper beginning--all which is a proof that there was a foul
conspiracy. Indeed, when I saw Duke Hamilton's daughter coming out
of the coach with the queen, I never could think after, that a lady
of her degree would have countenanced the queen had the matter laid
to her charge been as it was said. Not but in any circumstance it
behoved a lady of that ancient and royal blood, to be seen beside
the queen in such a great historical case as a trial.
I hope, in the part I have taken, my people will be satisfied; but
whether they are satisfied or not, my own conscience is content with
me. I was in the House of Lords when her majesty came down for the
last time, and saw her handed up the stairs by the usher of the
black-rod, a little stumpy man, wonderful particular about the rules
of the House, insomuch that he was almost angry with me for stopping
at the stair-head. The afflicted woman was then in great spirits,
and I saw no symptoms of the swelled legs that Lord Lauderdale, that
jooking man, spoke about, for she skippit up the steps like a
lassie. But my heart was wae for her when all was over, for she
came out like an astonished creature, with a wild steadfast look,
and a sort of something in the face that was as if the rational
spirit had fled away; and she went down to her coach as if she had
submitted to be led to a doleful destiny. Then the shouting of the
people began, and I saw and shouted too in spite of my decorum,
which I marvel at sometimes, thinking it could be nothing less than
an involuntary testification of the spirit within me.
Anent the marriage of Rachel Pringle, it may be needful in me to
state, for the satisfaction of my people, that although by stress of
law we were obligated to conform to the practice of the
Episcopalians, by taking out a bishop's license, and going to their
church, and vowing, in a pagan fashion, before their altars, which
are an abomination to the Lord; yet, when the young folk came home,
I made them stand up, and be married again before me, according to
all regular marriages in our national Church. For this I had two
reasons: first, to satisfy myself that there had been a true and
real marriage; and, secondly, to remove the doubt of the former
ceremony being sufficient; for marriage being of divine appointment,
and the English form and ritual being a thing established by Act of
Parliament, which is of human ordination, I was not sure that
marriage performed according to a human enactment could be a
fulfilment of a divine ordinance. I therefore hope that my people
will approve what I have done; and in order that there may be a
sympathising with me, you will go over to Banker M-y, and get what
he will give you, as ordered by me, and distribute it among the
poorest of the parish, according to the best of your discretion, my
long absence having taken from me the power of judgment in a matter
of this sort. I wish indeed for the glad sympathy of my people, for
I think that our Saviour turning water into wine at the wedding, was
an example set that we should rejoice and be merry at the fulfilment
of one of the great obligations imposed on us as social creatures;
and I have ever regarded the unhonoured treatment of a marriage
occasion as a thing of evil bodement, betokening heavy hearts and
light purses to the lot of the bride and bridegroom. You will hear
more from me by and by; in the meantime, all I can say is, that when
we have taken our leave of the young folks, who are going to France,
it is Mrs. Pringle's intent, as well as mine, to turn our horses'
heads northward, and make our way with what speed we can, for our
own quiet home, among you. So no more at present from your friend
and pastor,
Z. PRINGLE.
Mrs. Tod, the mother of Miss Isabella, a respectable widow lady, who
had quiescently joined the company, proposed that they should now
drink health, happiness, and all manner of prosperity, to the young
couple; and that nothing might be wanting to secure the favourable
auspices of good omens to the toast, she desired Miss Isabella to
draw fresh bottles of white and red. When all manner of felicity
was duly wished in wine to the captain and his lady, the party rose
to seek their respective homes. But a bustle at the street-door
occasioned a pause. Mrs. Tod inquired the matter; and three or four
voices at once replied, that an express had come from Garnock for
Nanse Swaddle the midwife, Mrs. Craig being taken with her pains.
"Mr. Snodgrass," said Mrs. Glibbans, instantly and emphatically, "ye
maun let me go with you, and we can spiritualise on the road; for I
hae promis't Mrs. Craig to be wi' her at the crying, to see the
upshot--so I hope you will come awa."
It would be impossible in us to suppose, that Mr. Snodgrass had any
objections to spiritualise with Mrs. Glibbans on the road between
Irvine and Garnock; but, notwithstanding her urgency, he excused
himself from going with her; however, he recommended her to the
special care and protection of Mr. Micklewham, who was at that time
on his legs to return home. "Oh! Mr. Snodgrass," said the lady,
looking slyly, as she adjusted her cloak, at him and Miss Isabella,
"there will be marrying and giving in marriage till the day of
judgment." And with these oracular words she took her departure.
CHAPTER X--THE RETURN
On Friday, Miss Mally Glencairn received a brief note from Mrs.
Pringle, informing her, that she and the Doctor would reach the
manse, "God willing," in time for tea on Saturday; and begging her,
therefore, to go over from Irvine, and see that the house was in
order for their reception. This note was written from Glasgow,
where they had arrived, in their own carriage, from Carlisle on the
preceding day, after encountering, as Mrs. Pringle said, "more
hardships and extorshoning than all the dangers of the sea which
they met with in the smack of Leith that took them to London."
As soon as Miss Mally received this intelligence, she went to Miss
Isabella Tod, and requested her company for the next day to Garnock,
where they arrived betimes to dine with Mr. Snodgrass. Mrs.
Glibbans and her daughter Becky were then on a consolatory visit to
Mr. Craig. We mentioned in the last chapter, that the crying of
Mrs. Craig had come on; and that Mrs. Glibbans, according to
promise, and with the most anxious solicitude, had gone to wait the
upshot. The upshot was most melancholy,--Mrs. Craig was soon no
more;--she was taken, as Mrs. Glibbans observed on the occasion,
from the earthly arms of her husband, to the spiritual bosom of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which was far better. But the baby
survived; so that, what with getting a nurse, and the burial, and
all the work and handling that a birth and death in one house at the
same time causes, Mr. Craig declared, that he could not do without
Mrs. Glibbans; and she, with all that Christianity by which she was
so zealously distinguished, sent for Miss Becky, and took up her
abode with him till it would please Him, without whom there is no
comfort, to wipe the eyes of the pious elder. In a word, she staid
so long, that a rumour began to spread that Mr. Craig would need a
wife to look after his bairn; and that Mrs. Glibbans was destined to
supply the desideratum.
Mr. Snodgrass, after enjoying his dinner society with Miss Mally and
Miss Isabella, thought it necessary to dispatch a courier, in the
shape of a barefooted servant lass, to Mr. Micklewham, to inform the
elders that the Doctor was expected home in time for tea, leaving it
to their discretion either to greet his safe return at the manse, or
in any other form or manner that would be most agreeable to
themselves. These important news were soon diffused through the
clachan. Mr. Micklewham dismissed his school an hour before the
wonted time, and there was a universal interest and curiosity
excited, to see the Doctor coming home in his own coach. All the
boys of Garnock assembled at the braehead which commands an
extensive view of the Kilmarnock road, the only one from Glasgow
that runs through the parish; the wives with their sucklings were
seated on the large stones at their respective door-cheeks; while
their cats were calmly reclining on the window soles. The lassie
weans, like clustering bees, were mounted on the carts that stood
before Thomas Birlpenny the vintner's door, churming with
anticipated delight; the old men took their stations on the dike
that incloses the side of the vintner's kail-yard, and "a batch of
wabster lads," with green aprons and thin yellow faces, planted
themselves at the gable of the malt kiln, where they were wont, when
trade was better, to play at the hand-ball; but, poor fellows, since
the trade fell off, they have had no heart for the game, and the
vintner's half-mutchkin stoups glitter in empty splendour unrequired
on the shelf below the brazen sconce above the bracepiece, amidst
the idle pewter pepper-boxes, the bright copper tea-kettle, the
coffee-pot that has never been in use, and lids of saucepans that
have survived their principals,--the wonted ornaments of every trig
change-house kitchen.
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