Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod
My Dear Bell--Since my last, we have undergone great changes and vicissitudes.Last week we removed to our present house, which is exceedingly handsome and elegantly furnished; and on Saturday there was an insurrection of the servants, on account of my mother not allowing them to have their dinners served up at the usual hour for servants at other genteel houses.We have also had the legacy in the funds transferred to my father, and only now wait the settling of the final accounts, which will yet take some time.On the day that the transfer took place, my mother made me a present of a twenty pound note, to lay out in any way I thought fit, and in so doing, I could not but think of you; I have, therefore, in a box which she is sending to Miss Mally Glencairn, sent you an evening dress from Mrs.Bean's, one of the most fashionable and tasteful dressmakers in town, which I hope you will wear with pleasure for my sake.I have got one exactly like it, so that when you see yourself in the glass, you will behold in what state I appeared at Lady -'s route.
Ah! my dear Bell, how much are our expectations disappointed! How often have we, with admiration and longing wonder, read the descriptions in the newspapers of the fashionable parties in this great metropolis, and thought of the Grecian lamps, the ottomans, the promenades, the ornamented floors, the cut glass, the coup d'oeil, and the tout ensemble."Alas!" as Young the poet says, "the things unseen do not deceive us." I have seen more beauty at an Irvine ball, than all the fashionable world could bring to market at my Lady -'s emporium for the disposal of young ladies, for indeed I can consider it as nothing else.
I went with the Argents.The hall door was open, and filled with the servants in their state liveries; but although the door was open, the porter, as each carriage came up, rung a peal upon the knocker, to announce to all the square the successive arrival of the guests.We were shown upstairs to the drawing-rooms.They were very well, but neither so grand nor so great as I expected.As for the company, it was a suffocating crowd of fat elderly gentlewomen, and misses that stood in need of all the charms oftheir fortunes.One thing I could notice--for the press was so great, little could be seen--it was, that the old ladies wore rouge.The white satin sleeve of my dress was entirely ruined by coming in contact with a little round, dumpling duchess's cheek--as vulgar a body as could well be.She seemed to me to have spent all her days behind a counter, smirking thankfulness to bawbee customers.
When we had been shown in the drawing-rooms to the men for some time, we then adjourned to the lower apartments, where the refreshments were set out.This, I suppose, is arranged to afford an opportunity to the beaux to be civil to the belles, and thereby to scrape acquaintance with those whom they approve, by assisting them to the delicacies.Altogether, it was a very dull well-dressed affair, and yet I ought to have been in good spirits, for Sir Marmaduke Towler, a great Yorkshire baronet, was most particular in his attentions to me; indeed so much so, that I saw it made poor Sabre very uneasy.I do not know why it should, for I have given him no positive encouragement to hope for anything; not that I have the least idea that the baronet's attentions were more than commonplace politeness, but he has since called.I cannot, however, say that my vanity is at all flattered by this circumstance.At the same time, there surely could be no harm in Sir Marmaduke making me an offer, for you know I am not bound to accept it.Besides, my father does not like him, and my mother thinks he's a fortune- hunter; but I cannot conceive how that may be, for, on the contrary, he is said to be rather extravagant.
Before we return to Scotland, it is intended that we shall visit some of the watering-places; and, perhaps, if Andrew can manage it with my father, we may even take a trip to Paris.The Doctor himself is not averse to it, but my mother is afraid that a new war may break out, and that we may be detained prisoners.This fantastical fear we shall, however, try to overcome.But I am interrupted.Sir Marmaduke is in the drawing- room, and I am summoned.--Yours truly,RACHEL PRINGLE.
When Mr.Snodgrass had read this letter, he paused for a moment, and then said dryly, in handing it to Miss Isabella, "Miss Pringle is improving in the ways of the world."The evening by this time was far advanced, and the young clergyman was not desirous to renew the conversation; he therefore almost immediately took his leave, and walked sedately towards Garnock, debating with himself as he went along, whether Dr.Pringle's family were likely to be benefited by their legacy.But he had scarcely passed the minister's carse, when he met with Mrs.Glibbans returning."Mr.Snodgrass! Mr.Snodgrass!" cried that ardent matron from her side of the road to the other where he was walking, and he obeyed her call; "yon's no sic a black story as I thought.Mrs.Craig is to be sure far gane! but they were married in December; and it was only because she was his servan' lass that the worthy man didna like to own her at first for his wife.It would have been dreadful had the matter been jealoused at the first.She gaed to Glasgow to see an auntie that she has there, and he gaed in to fetch her out, and it was then the marriage was made up, which I was glad to hear; for, oh, Mr.Snodgrass, it would have been an awfu' judgment had a man like Mr.Craig turn't out no better than a Tam Pain or a Major Weir.But a's for the best; and Him that has the power of salvation can blot out all our iniquities.So good- night--ye'll have a lang walk."
