The Ayrshire Legatees

But, before entering on the subject, let me first satisfy the anxiety of

your faithful bosom with respect to my father's legacy. All the

accounts, I am happy to tell you, are likely to be amicably settled; but

the exact amount is not known as yet, only I can see, by my brother's

manner, that it is not less than we expected, and my mother speaks about

sending me to a boarding-school to learn accomplishments. Nothing,

however, is to be done until something is actually in hand. But what

does it all avail to me? Here am I, a solitary being in the midst of

this wilderness of mankind, far from your sympathising affection, with

the dismal prospect before me of going a second time to school, and

without the prospect of enjoying, with my own sweet companions, that

light and bounding gaiety we were wont to share, in skipping from tomb to

tomb in the breezy churchyard of Irvine, like butterflies in spring

flying from flower to flower, as a Wordsworth or a Wilson would express

it.

We have got elegant lodgings at present in Norfolk Street, but my brother

is trying, with all his address, to get us removed to a more fashionable

part of the town, which, if the accounts were once settled, I think will

take place; and he proposes to hire a carriage for a whole month.

Indeed, he has given hints about the saving that might be made by buying

one of our own; but my mother shakes her head, and says, "Andrew, dinna

be carri't." From all which it is very plain, though they don't allow me

to know their secrets, that the legacy is worth the coming for. But to

return to the lodgings;--we have what is called a first and second floor,

a drawing-room, and three handsome bedchambers. The drawing-room is very

elegant; and the carpet is the exact same pattern of the one in the

dress-drawing-room of Eglintoun Castle. Our landlady is indeed a lady,

and I am surprised how she should think of letting lodgings, for she

dresses better, and wears finer lace, than ever I saw in Irvine. But I

am interrupted.-I now resume my pen. We have just had a call from Mrs. and Miss Argent,

the wife and daughter of the colonel's man of business. They seem great

people, and came in their own chariot, with two grand footmen behind; but

they are pleasant and easy, and the object of their visit was to invite

us to a family dinner to-morrow, Sunday. I hope we may become better

acquainted; but the two livery servants make such a difference in our

degrees, that I fear this is a vain expectation. Miss Argent was,

however, very frank, and told me that she was herself only just come to

London for the first time since she was a child, having been for the last

seven years at a school in the country. I shall, however, be better able

to say more about her in my next letter. Do not, however, be afraid that

she shall ever supplant you in my heart. No, my dear friend, companion

of my days of innocence,--that can never be. But this call from such

persons of fashion looks as if the legacy had given us some

consideration; so that I think my father and mother may as well let me

know at once what my prospects are, that I might show you how

disinterestedly and truly I am, my dear Bell, yours, RACHEL PRINGLE.