But my paper is filled, and I must conclude.I should, however, mention that my sister's marriage is appointed to take place to- morrow, and that I accompany the happy pair to France.--Yours truly, ANDREW PRINGLE.
"This is a dry letter," said Mr.Snodgrass, and he handed it to Miss Isabella, who, in exchange, presented the one which she had herself at the same time received; but just as Mr.Snodgrass was on the point of reading it, Miss Becky Glibbans was announced."How lucky this is," exclaimed Miss Becky, "to find you both thegither! Now you maun tell me all the particulars; for Miss Mally Glencairn is no in, and her letter lies unopened.I am just gasping to hear how Rachel conducted herself at being married in the kirk before all the folk--married to the hussar captain, too, after all! who would have thought it?""How, have you heard of the marriage already?" said Miss Isabella."Oh, it's in the newspapers," replied the amiable inquisitant,-- "Like ony tailor or weaver's--a' weddings maun nowadays gang into the papers.The whole toun, by this time, has got it; and I wouldna wonder if Rachel Pringle's marriage ding the queen's divorce out of folk's heads for the next nine days to come.But only to think of her being married in a public kirk.Surely her father would never submit to hae't done by a bishop? And then to put it in the London paper, as if Rachel Pringle had been somebody of distinction.Perhaps it might have been more to the purpose, considering what dragoon officers are, if she had got the doited Doctor, her father, to publish the intended marriage in the papers beforehand.""Haud that condumacious tongue of yours," cried a voice, panting with haste as the door opened, and Mrs.Glibbans entered."Becky, will younever devawl wi' your backbiting.I wonder frae whom the misleart lassie takes a' this passion of clashing."The authority of her parent's tongue silenced Miss Becky, and Mrs.Glibbans having seated herself, continued,--"Is it your opinion, Mr.Snodgrass, that this marriage can hold good, contracted, as I am told it is mentioned in the papers to hae been, at the horns of the altar of Episcopalian apostacy?""I can set you right as to that," said Miss Isabella."Rachel mentions, that, after returning from the church, the Doctor himself performed the ceremony anew, according to the Presbyterian usage." "I am glad to heart, very glad indeed," said Mrs.Glibbans."It would have been a judgment- like thing, had a bairn of Dr.Pringle's- -than whom, although there may be abler, there is not a sounder man in a' the West of Scotland--been sacrificed to Moloch, like the victims of prelatic idolatry."At this juncture, Miss Mally Glencairn was announced: she entered, holding a letter from Mrs.Pringle in her hand, with the seal unbroken.Having heard of the marriage from an acquaintance in the street, she had hurried home, in the well-founded expectation of hearing from her friend and well-wisher, and taking up the letter, which she found on her table, came with all speed to Miss Isabella Tod to commune with her on the tidings.
Never was any confluence of visitors more remarkable than on this occasion.Before Miss Mally had well explained the cause of her abrupt intrusion, Mr.Micklewham made his appearance.He had come to Irvine to be measured for a new coat, and meeting by accident with Saunders Dickie, got the Doctor's letter from him, which, after reading, he thought he could do no less than call at Mrs.Tod's, to let Miss Isabella know the change which had taken place in the condition of her friend.
Thus were all the correspondents of the Pringles assembled, by the merest chance, like the dramatis personae at the end of a play.After a little harmless bantering, it was agreed that Miss Mally should read her communication first--as all the others were previously acquainted with the contents of their respective letters, and Miss Mally read as follows:-
