The Ayrshire Legatees
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John Galt >> The Ayrshire Legatees
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The season was far advanced; but the sun shone at his setting with a
glorious composure, and the birds in the hedges and on the boughs
were again gladdened into song. The leaves had fallen thickly, and
the stubble-fields were bare, but Autumn, in a many-coloured tartan
plaid, was seen still walking with matronly composure in the
woodlands, along the brow of the neighbouring hills.
About half-past four o'clock, a movement was seen among the callans
at the braehead, and a shout announced that a carriage was in sight.
It was answered by a murmuring response of satisfaction from the
whole village. In the course of a few minutes the carriage reached
the turnpike--it was of the darkest green and the gravest fashion,--
a large trunk, covered with Russian matting, and fastened on with
cords, prevented from chafing it by knots of straw rope, occupied
the front,--behind, other two were fixed in the same manner, the
lesser of course uppermost; and deep beyond a pile of light bundles
and bandboxes, that occupied a large portion of the interior, the
blithe faces of the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle were discovered. The
boys huzzaed, the Doctor flung them penny-pieces, and the mistress
baubees.
As the carriage drove along, the old men on the dike stood up and
reverently took off their hats and bonnets. The weaver lads gazed
with a melancholy smile; the lassies on the carts clapped their
hands with joy; the women on both sides of the street acknowledged
the recognising nods; while all the village dogs, surprised by the
sound of chariot wheels, came baying and barking forth, and sent off
the cats that were so doucely sitting on the window soles,
clambering and scampering over the roofs in terror of their lives.
When the carriage reached the manse door, Mr. Snodgrass, the two
ladies, with Mr. Micklewham, and all the elders except Mr. Craig,
were there ready to receive the travellers. But over this joy of
welcoming we must draw a veil; for the first thing that the Doctor
did, on entering the parlour and before sitting down, was to return
thanks for his safe restoration to his home and people.
The carriage was then unloaded, and as package, bale, box, and
bundle were successively brought in, Miss Mally Glencairn expressed
her admiration at the great capacity of the chaise. "Ay," said Mrs.
Pringle, "but you know not what we have suffert for't in coming
through among the English taverns on the road; some of them would
not take us forward when there was a hill to pass, unless we would
take four horses, and every one after another reviled us for having
no mercy in loading the carriage like a waggon,--and then the
drivers were so gleg and impudent, that it was worse than martyrdom
to come with them. Had the Doctor taken my advice, he would have
brought our own civil London coachman, whom we hired with his own
horses by the job; but he said it behoved us to gi'e our ain fish
guts to our ain sea-maws, and that he designed to fee Thomas
Birlpenny's hostler for our coachman, being a lad of the parish.
This obliged us to post it from London; but, oh! Miss Mally, what an
outlay it has been!"
The Doctor, in the meantime, had entered into conversation with the
gentlemen, and was inquiring, in the most particular manner,
respecting all his parishioners, and expressing his surprise that
Mr. Craig had not been at the manse with the rest of the elders.
"It does not look well," said the Doctor. Mr. Daff, however,
offered the best apology for his absence that could be made. "He
has had a gentle dispensation, sir--Mrs. Craig has won awa' out of
this sinful world, poor woman, she had a large experience o't; but
the bairns to the fore, and Mrs. Glibbans, that has such a cast of
grace, has ta'en charge of the house since before the interment.
It's thought, considering what's by gane, Mr. Craig may do waur than
make her mistress, and I hope, sir, your exhortation will no be
wanting to egg the honest man to think o't seriously."
Mr. Snodgrass, before delivering the household keys, ordered two
bottles of wine, with glasses and biscuit, to be set upon the table,
while Mrs. Pringle produced from a paper package, that had helped to
stuff one of the pockets of the carriage, a piece of rich plum-cake,
brought all the way from a confectioner's in Cockspur Street,
London, not only for the purpose of being eaten, but, as she said,
to let Miss Nanny Eydent pree, in order to direct the Irvine bakers
how to bake others like it.
Tea was then brought in; and, as it was making, the Doctor talked
aside to the elders, while Mrs. Pringle recounted to Miss Mally and
Miss Isabella the different incidents of her adventures subsequent
to the marriage of Miss Rachel.
"The young folk," said she, "having gone to Brighton, we followed
them in a few days, for we were told it was a curiosity, and that
the king has a palace there, just a warld's wonder! and, truly, Miss
Mally, it is certainly not like a house for a creature of this
world, but for some Grand Turk or Chinaman. The Doctor said, it put
him in mind of Miss Jenny Macbride's sideboard in the Stockwell of
Glasgow; where all the pepper-boxes, poories, and teapots, punch-
bowls, and china-candlesticks of her progenitors are set out for a
show, that tells her visitors, they are but seldom put to use. As
for the town of Brighton, it's what I would call a gawky piece of
London. I could see nothing in it but a wheen idlers, hearing twa
lads, at night, crying, "Five, six, seven for a shilling," in the
booksellers' shops, with a play-actor lady singing in a corner,
because her voice would not do for the players' stage. Therefore,
having seen the Captain and Mrs. Sabre off to France, we came home
to London; but it's not to be told what we had to pay at the hotel
where we staid in Brighton. Howsomever, having come back to London,
we settled our counts,--and, buying a few necessars, we prepared for
Scotland,--and here we are. But travelling has surely a fine effect
in enlarging the understanding; for both the Doctor and me thought,
as we came along, that everything had a smaller and poorer look than
when we went away; and I dinna think this room is just what it used
to be. What think ye o't, Miss Isabella? How would ye like to
spend your days in't?"
Miss Isabella reddened at this question; but Mrs. Pringle, who was
as prudent as she was observant, affecting not to notice this,
turned round to Miss Mally Glencairn, and said softly in her ear,--
"Rachel was Bell's confidante, and has told us all about what's
going on between her and Mr. Snodgrass. We have agreed no to stand
in their way, as soon as the Doctor can get a mailing or two to
secure his money upon."
Meantime, the Doctor received from the elders a very satisfactory
account of all that had happened among his people, both in and out
of the Session, during his absence; and he was vastly pleased to
find there had been no inordinate increase of wickedness; at the
same time, he was grieved for the condition in which the poor
weavers still continued, saying, that among other things of which he
had been of late meditating, was the setting up of a lending bank in
the parish for the labouring classes, where, when they were out of
work, "bits of loans for a house-rent, or a brat of claes, or sic
like, might be granted, to be repaid when trade grew better, and
thereby take away the objection that an honest pride had to
receiving help from the Session."
Then some lighter general conversation ensued, in which the Doctor
gave his worthy counsellors a very jocose description of many of the
lesser sort of adventures which he had met with; and the ladies
having retired to inspect the great bargains that Mrs. Pringle had
got, and the splendid additions she had made to her wardrobe, out of
what she denominated the dividends of the present portion of the
legacy, the Doctor ordered in the second biggest toddy-bowl, the
guardevine with the old rum, and told the lassie to see if the tea-
kettle was still boiling. "Ye maun drink our welcome hame," said he
to the elders; "it would nae otherwise be canny. But I'm sorry Mr.
Craig has nae come." At these words the door opened, and the absent
elder entered, with a long face and a deep sigh. "Ha!" cried Mr.
Daff, "this is very droll. Speak of the Evil One, and he'll
appear";--which words dinted on the heart of Mr. Craig, who thought
his marriage in December had been the subject of their discourse.
The Doctor, however, went up and shook him cordially by the hand,
and said, "Now I take this very kind, Mr. Craig; for I could not
have expected you, considering ye have got, as I am told, your jo in
the house"; at which words the Doctor winked paukily to Mr. Daff,
who rubbed his hands with fainness, and gave a good-humoured sort of
keckling laugh. This facetious stroke of policy was a great relief
to the afflicted elder, for he saw by it that the Doctor did not
mean to trouble him with any inquiries respecting his deceased wife;
and, in consequence, he put on a blither face, and really affected
to have forgotten her already more than he had done in sincerity.
Thus the night passed in decent temperance and a happy decorum;
insomuch, that the elders when they went away, either by the
influence of the toddy-bowl, or the Doctor's funny stories about the
Englishers, declared that he was an excellent man, and, being none
lifted up, was worthy of his rich legacy.
At supper, the party, besides the minister and Mrs. Pringle,
consisted of the two Irvine ladies, and Mr. Snodgrass. Miss Becky
Glibbans came in when it was about half over, to express her
mother's sorrow at not being able to call that night, "Mr. Craig's
bairn having taken an ill turn." The truth, however, was, that the
worthy elder had been rendered somewhat tozy by the minister's
toddy, and wanted an opportunity to inform the old lady of the joke
that had been played upon him by the Doctor calling her his jo, and
to see how she would relish it. So by a little address Miss Becky
was sent out of the way, with the excuse we have noticed; at the
same time, as the night was rather sharp, it is not to be supposed
that she would have been the bearer of any such message, had her own
curiosity not enticed her.
During supper the conversation was very lively. Many "pickant
jokes," as Miss Becky described them, were cracked by the Doctor;
but, soon after the table was cleared, he touched Mr. Snodgrass on
the arm, and, taking up one of the candles, went with him to his
study, where he then told him, that Rachel Pringle, now Mrs. Sabre,
had informed him of a way in which he could do him a service. "I
understand, sir," said the Doctor, "that you have a notion of Miss
Bell Tod, but that until ye get a kirk there can be no marriage.
But the auld horse may die waiting for the new grass; and,
therefore, as the Lord has put it in my power to do a good action
both to you and my people,--whom I am glad to hear you have pleased
so well,--if it can be brought about that you could be made helper
and successor, I'll no object to give up to you the whole stipend,
and, by and by, maybe the manse to the bargain. But that is if you
marry Miss Bell; for it was a promise that Rachel gar't me make to
her on her wedding morning. Ye know she was a forcasting lassie,
and, I have reason to believe, has said nothing anent this to Miss
Bell herself; so that if you have no partiality for Miss Bell,
things will just rest on their own footing; but if you have a
notion, it must be a satisfaction to you to know this, as it will be
a pleasure to me to carry it as soon as possible into effect."
Mr. Snodgrass was a good deal agitated; he was taken by surprise,
and without words the Doctor might have guessed his sentiments; he,
however, frankly confessed that he did entertain a very high opinion
of Miss Bell, but that he was not sure if a country parish would
exactly suit him. "Never mind that," said the Doctor; "if it does
not fit at first, you will get used to it; and if a better casts up,
it will be no obstacle."
The two gentlemen then rejoined the ladies, and, after a short
conversation, Miss Becky Glibbans was admonished to depart, by the
servants bringing in the Bibles for the worship of the evening.
This was usually performed before supper, but, owing to the bowl
being on the table, and the company jocose, it had been postponed
till all the guests who were not to sleep in the house had departed.
The Sunday morning was fine and bright for the season; the
hoarfrost, till about an hour after sunrise, lay white on the grass
and tombstones in the churchyard; but before the bell rung for the
congregation to assemble, it was exhaled away, and a freshness, that
was only known to be autumnal by the fallen and yellow leaves that
strewed the church-way path from the ash and plane trees in the
avenue, encouraged the spirits to sympathise with the universal
cheerfulness of all nature.
The return of the Doctor had been bruited through the parish with so
much expedition, that, when the bell rung for public worship, none
of those who were in the practice of stopping in the churchyard to
talk about the weather were so ignorant as not to have heard of this
important fact. In consequence, before the time at which the Doctor
was wont to come from the back-gate which opened from the manse-
garden into the churchyard, a great majority of his people were
assembled to receive him.
At the last jingle of the bell, the back-gate was usually opened,
and the Doctor was wont to come forth as punctually as a cuckoo of a
clock at the striking of the hour; but a deviation was observed on
this occasion. Formerly, Mrs. Pringle and the rest of the family
came first, and a few minutes were allowed to elapse before the
Doctor, laden with grace, made his appearance. But at this time,
either because it had been settled that Mr. Snodgrass was to
officiate, or for some other reason, there was a breach in the
observance of this time-honoured custom.
As the ringing of the bell ceased, the gate unclosed, and the Doctor
came forth. He was of that easy sort of feather-bed corpulency of
form that betokens good-nature, and had none of that smooth, red,
well-filled protuberancy, which indicates a choleric humour and a
testy temper. He was in fact what Mrs. Glibbans denominated "a man
of a gausy external." And some little change had taken place during
his absence in his visible equipage. His stockings, which were wont
to be of worsted, had undergone a translation into silk; his waist-
coat, instead--of the venerable Presbyterian flap-covers to the
pockets, which were of Johnsonian magnitude, was become plain--his
coat in all times single-breasted, with no collar, still, however,
maintained its ancient characteristics; instead, however, of the
former bright black cast horn, the buttons were covered with cloth.
But the chief alteration was discernible in the furniture of the
head. He had exchanged the simplicity of his own respectable grey
hairs for the cauliflower hoariness of a PARRISH {3} wig, on which
he wore a broad-brimmed hat, turned up a little at each side behind,
in a portentous manner, indicatory of Episcopalian predilections.
This, however, was not justified by any alteration in his
principles, being merely an innocent variation of fashion, the
natural result of a Doctor of Divinity buying a hat and wig in
London.
The moment that the Doctor made his appearance, his greeting and
salutation was quite delightful; it was that of a father returned to
his children, and a king to his people.
Almost immediately after the Doctor, Mrs. Pringle, followed by Miss
Mally Glencairn and Miss Isabella Tod, also debouched from the gate,
and the assembled females remarked, with no less instinct, the
transmutation which she had undergone. She was dressed in a dark
blue cloth pelisse, trimmed with a dyed fur, which, as she told Miss
Mally, "looked quite as well as sable, without costing a third of
the money." A most matronly muff, that, without being of sable, was
of an excellent quality, contained her hands; and a very large
Leghorn straw bonnet, decorated richly, but far from excess, with a
most substantial band and bow of a broad crimson satin ribbon around
her head.
If the Doctor was gratified to see his people so gladly thronging
around him, Mrs. Pringle had no less pleasure also in her thrice-
welcome reception. It was an understood thing, that she had been
mainly instrumental in enabling the minister to get his great Indian
legacy; and in whatever estimation she may have been previously held
for her economy and management, she was now looked up to as a
personage skilled in the law, and particularly versed in
testamentary erudition. Accordingly, in the customary testimonials
of homage with which she was saluted in her passage to the church
door, there was evidently a sentiment of veneration mingled, such as
had never been evinced before, and which was neither unobserved nor
unappreciated by that acute and perspicacious lady.
The Doctor himself did not preach, but sat in the minister's pew
till Mr. Snodgrass had concluded an eloquent and truly an affecting
sermon; at the end of which, the Doctor rose and went up into the
pulpit, where he publicly returned thanks for the favours and
blessings he had obtained during his absence, and for the safety in
which he had been restored, after many dangers and tribulations, to
the affections of his parishioners.
Such were the principal circumstances that marked the return of the
family. In the course of the week after, the estate of Moneypennies
being for sale, it was bought for the Doctor as a great bargain. It
was not, however, on account of the advantageous nature of the
purchase that our friend valued this acquisition, but entirely
because it was situated in his own parish, and part of the lands
marching with the Glebe.
The previous owner of Moneypennies had built an elegant house on the
estate, to which Mrs. Pringle is at present actively preparing to
remove from the manse; and it is understood, that, as Mr. Snodgrass
was last week declared helper, and successor to the Doctor, his
marriage with Miss Isabella Tod will take place with all convenient
expedition. There is also reason to believe, that, as soon as
decorum will permit, any scruple which Mrs. Glibbans had to a second
marriage is now removed, and that she will soon again grace the
happy circle of wives by the name of Mrs. Craig. Indeed, we are
assured that Miss Nanny Eydent is actually at this time employed in
making up her wedding garments; for, last week, that worthy and
respectable young person was known to have visited Bailie Delap's
shop, at a very early hour in the morning, and to have priced many
things of a bridal character, besides getting swatches; after which
she was seen to go to Mrs. Glibbans's house, where she remained a
very considerable time, and to return straight therefrom to the
shop, and purchase divers of the articles which she had priced and
inspected; all of which constitute sufficient grounds for the
general opinion in Irvine, that the union of Mr. Craig with Mrs.
Glibbans is a happy event drawing near to consummation.
Footnotes:
{1} The administration of the Sacrament.
{2} The honest Doctor's version of this bon mot of her majesty is
not quite correct; her expression was, "I mean to take a chop at the
King's Head when I get to London."
{3} See the Edinburgh Review, for an account of our old friend, Dr.
Parr's wig, and Spital Sermon.
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