The Ayrshire Legatees

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.