At first when we came here, and when the amount of our legacy was first
promulgated, we were in a terrible flutter. Andrew became a man of
fashion, with all the haste that tailors, and horses, and dinners, could
make him. My father, honest man, was equally inspired with lofty ideas,
and began a career that promised a liberal benefaction of good things to
the poor--and my mother was almost distracted with calculations about
laying out the money to the best advantage, and the sum she would allow
to be spent. I alone preserved my natural equanimity; and foreseeing the
necessity of new accomplishments to suit my altered circumstances,
applied myself to the instructions of my masters, with an assiduity that
won their applause. The advantages of this I now experience--my brother
is sobered from his champaign fumes--my father has found out that charity
begins at home--and my mother, though her establishment is enlarged,
finds her happiness, notwithstanding the legacy, still lies within the
little circle of her household cares. Thus, my dear Bell, have I proved
the sweets of a true philosophy; and, unseduced by the blandishments of
rank, rejected Sir Marmaduke Towler, and accepted the humbler but more
disinterested swain, Captain Sabre, who requests me to send you his
compliments, not altogether content that you should occupy so much of the
bosom of your affectionate RACHEL PRINGLE.
"Rachel had ay a gude roose of hersel'," said Becky Glibbans, as Miss
Isabella concluded. In the same moment, Mr. Snodgrass took his leave,
saying to Mr. Micklewham, that he had something particular to mention to
him. "What can it be about?" inquired Mrs. Glibbans at Mr. Craig, as
soon as the helper and schoolmaster had left the room: "Do you think it
can be concerning the Doctor's resignation of the parish in his favour?"
"I'm sure," interposed Mrs. Craig, before her husband could reply, "it
winna be wi' my gudewill that he shall come in upon us--a pridefu' wight,
whose saft words, and a' his politeness, are but lip-deep; na, na, Mrs.
Glibbans, we maun hae another on the leet forbye him."
"And wha would ye put on the leet noo, Mrs. Craig, you that's sic a
judge?" said Mrs. Glibbans, with the most ineffable consequentiality.
"I'll be for young Mr. Dirlton, who is baith a sappy preacher of the
word, and a substantial hand at every kind of civility."
"Young Dirlton!--young Deevilton!" cried the orthodox Deborah of Irvine;
"a fallow that knows no more of a gospel dispensation than I do of the
Arian heresy, which I hold in utter abomination. No, Mrs. Craig, you
have a godly man for your husband--a sound and true follower; tread ye in
his footsteps, and no try to set up yoursel' on points of doctrine. But
it's time, Miss Mally, that we were taking the road; Becky and Miss
Isabella, make yourselves ready. Noo, Mrs. Craig, ye'll no be a
stranger; you see I have no been lang of coming to give you my
countenance; but, my leddy, ca' canny, it's no easy to carry a fu' cup;
ye hae gotten a great gift in your gudeman. Mr. Craig, I wish you a
good-night; I would fain have stopped for your evening exercise, but Miss
Mally was beginning, I saw, to weary--so good-night; and, Mrs. Craig,
ye'll take tent of what I have said--it's for your gude." So exeunt Mrs.
Glibbans, Miss Mally, and the two young ladies. "Her bark's waur than
her bite," said Mrs. Craig, as she returned to her husband, who felt
already some of the ourie symptoms of a henpecked destiny.