I have observed that nobody in London inquires about who another is; and
that in company everyone is treated on an equality, unless when there is
some remarkable personal peculiarity, so that one really knows nothing of
those whom one meets. But my paper is full, and I must not take another
sheet, as my mother has a letter to send in the same frank to Miss Mally
Glencairn. Believe me, ever affectionately yours, RACHEL PRINGLE.
The three ladies knew not very well what to make of this letter. They
thought there was a change in Rachel's ideas, and that it was not for the
better; and Miss Isabella expressed, with a sentiment of sincere sorrow,
that the acquisition of fortune seemed to have brought out some unamiable
traits in her character, which, perhaps, had she not been exposed to the
companions and temptations of the great world, would have slumbered,
unfelt by herself, and unknown to her friends.
Mrs. Glibbans declared, that it was a waking of original sin, which the
iniquity of London was bringing forth, as the heat of summer causes the
rosin and sap to issue from the bark of the tree. In the meantime, Miss
Mally had opened her letter, of which we subjoin a copy.
LETTER XX
Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn
LONDON.
DEAR MISS MALLY--I greatly stand in need of your advise and counsel at
this time. The Doctor's affair comes on at a fearful slow rate, and the
money goes like snow off a dyke. It is not to be told what has been paid
for legacy-duty, and no legacy yet in hand; and we have been obligated to
lift a whole hundred pounds out of the residue, and what that is to be
the Lord only knows. But Miss Jenny Macbride, she has got her thousand
pound, all in one bank bill, sent to her; Thomas Bowie, the doctor in
Ayr, he has got his five hundred pounds; and auld Nanse Sorrel, that was
nurse to the cornal, she has got the first year of her twenty pounds a
year; but we have gotten nothing, and I jealouse, that if things go on at
this rate, there will be nothing to get; and what will become of us then,
after all the trubble and outlay that we have been pot too by this coming
to London?
Howsomever, this is the black side of the story; for Mr. Charles Argent,
in a jocose way, proposed to get Andrew made a Parliament member for
three thousand pounds, which he said was cheap; and surely he would not
have thought of such a thing, had he not known that Andrew would have the
money to pay for't; and, over and above this, Mrs. Argent has been
recommending Captain Sabre to me for Rachel, and she says he is a stated
gentleman, with two thousand pounds rental, and her nephew; and surely
she would not think Rachel a match for him, unless she had an inkling
from her gudeman of what Rachel's to get. But I have told her that we
would think of nothing of the sort till the counts war settled, which she
may tell to her gudeman, and if he approves the match, it will make him
hasten on the settlement, for really I am growing tired of this London,
whar I am just like a fish out of the water. The Englishers are sae
obstinate in their own way, that I can get them to do nothing like
Christians; and, what is most provoking of all, their ways are very good
when you know them; but they have no instink to teach a body how to learn
them. Just this very morning, I told the lass to get a jiggot of mutton
for the morn's dinner, and she said there was not such a thing to be had
in London, and threeppit it till I couldna stand her; and, had it not
been that Mr. Argent's French servan' man happened to come with a cart,
inviting us to a ball, and who understood what a jiggot was, I might have
reasoned till the day of doom without redress. As for the Doctor, I
declare he's like an enchantit person, for he has falling in with a party
of the elect here, as he says, and they have a kilfud yoking every
Thursday at the house of Mr. W---, where the Doctor has been, and was
asked to pray, and did it with great effec, which has made him so up in
the buckle, that he does nothing but go to Bible soceeyetis, and
mishonary meetings, and cherity sarmons, which cost a poor of money.