Mrs. Glibbans received this letter between the preachings, and it was
observed by all her acquaintance during the afternoon service, that she
was a laden woman. Instead of standing up at the prayers, as her wont
was, she kept her seat, sitting with downcast eyes, and ever and anon her
left hand, which was laid over her book on the reading-board of the pew,
was raised and allowed to drop with a particular moral emphasis,
bespeaking the mournful cogitations of her spirit. On leaving the
church, somebody whispered to the minister, that surely Mrs. Glibbans had
heard some sore news; upon which that meek, mild, and modest good soul
hastened towards her, and inquired, with more than his usual kindness,
How she was? Her answer was brief and mysterious; and she shook her head
in such a manner that showed him all was not right. "Have you heard
lately of your friends the Pringles?" said he, in his sedate
manner--"when do they think of leaving London?' "I wish they may ever get out o't," was the agitated reply of the
afflicted lady.
"I am very sorry to hear you say so," responded the minister. "I thought
all was in a fair way to an issue of the settlement. I'm very sorry to
hear this."
"Oh, sir," said the mourner, "don't think that I am grieved for them and
their legacy--filthy lucre--no, sir; but I have had a letter that has
made my hair stand on end. Be none surprised if you hear of the earth
opening, and London swallowed up, and a voice crying in the wilderness,
'Woe, woe.'"
The gentle priest was much surprised by this information; it was evident
that Mrs. Glibbans had received a terrible account of the wickedness of
London; and that the weight upon her pious spirit was owing to that
cause. He, therefore, accompanied her home, and administered all the
consolation he was able to give; assuring her, that it was in the power
of Omnipotence to convert the stony heart into one of flesh and
tenderness, and to raise the British metropolis out of the miry clay, and
place it on a hill, as a city that could not be hid; which Mrs. Glibbans
was so thankful to hear, that, as soon as he had left her, she took her
tea in a satisfactory frame of mind, and went the same night to Miss
Mally Glencairn to hear what Mrs. Pringle had said to her. No visit ever
happened more opportunely; for just as Mrs. Glibbans knocked at the door,
Miss Isabella Tod made her appearance. She had also received a letter
from Rachel, in which it will be seen that reference was made likewise to
Mrs. Pringle's epistle to Miss Mally.