The Ayrshire Legatees | Page 3

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The Ayrshire Legatees
CHAPTER I--THE
DEPARTURE

On New Year's day Dr. Pringle received a letter from India, informing
him that his cousin, Colonel Armour, had died at Hydrabad, and left
him his residuary legatee. The same post brought other letters on the

same subject from the agent of the deceased in London, by which it
was evident to the whole family that no time should be lost in looking
after their interests in the hands of such brief and abrupt correspondents.
"To say the least of it," as the Doctor himself sedately remarked,
"considering the greatness of the forth-coming property, Messieurs
Richard Argent and Company, of New Broad Street, might have given
a notion as to the particulars of the residue." It was therefore
determined that, as soon as the requisite arrangements could be made,
the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle should set out for the metropolis, to obtain
a speedy settlement with the agents, and, as Rachel had now, to use an
expression of her mother's, "a prospect before her," that she also should
accompany them: Andrew, who had just been called to the Bar, and
who had come to the manse to spend a few days after attaining that
distinction, modestly suggested, that, considering the various
professional points which might be involved in the objects of his
father's journey, and considering also the retired life which his father
had led in the rural village of Garnock, it might be of importance to
have the advantage of legal advice.
Mrs. Pringle interrupted this harangue, by saying, "We see what you
would be at, Andrew; ye're just wanting to come with us, and on this
occasion I'm no for making step-bairns, so we'll a' gang thegither."
The Doctor had been for many years the incumbent of Garnock, which
is pleasantly situated between Irvine and Kilwinning, and, on account
of the benevolence of his disposition, was much beloved by his
parishioners. Some of the pawkie among them used indeed to say, in
answer to the godly of Kilmarnock, and other admirers of the late great
John Russel, of that formerly orthodox town, by whom Dr. Pringle's
powers as a preacher were held in no particular estimation,--"He kens
our pu'pit's frail, and spar'st to save outlay to the heritors." As for Mrs.
Pringle, there is not such another minister's wife, both for economy and
management, within the jurisdiction of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr,
and to this fact the following letter to Miss Mally Glencairn, a maiden
lady residing in the Kirkgate of Irvine, a street that has been likened
unto the Kingdom of Heaven, where there is neither marriage nor
giving in marriage, will abundantly testify.

LETTER I
Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn--GARNOCK MANSE.
Dear Miss Mally--The Doctor has had extraordinar news from India
and London, where we are all going, as soon as me and Rachel can get
ourselves in order, so I beg you will go to Bailie Delap's shop, and get
swatches of his best black bombaseen, and crape, and muslin, and bring
them over to the manse the morn's morning. If you cannot come
yourself, and the day should be wat, send Nanny Eydent, the mantua-
maker, with them; you'll be sure to send Nanny, onyhow, and I
requeesht that, on this okasion, ye'll get the very best the Bailie has, and
I'll tell you all about it when you come. You will get, likewise,
swatches of mourning print, with the lowest prices. I'll no be so
particular about them, as they are for the servan lasses, and there's no
need, for all the greatness of God's gifts, that we should be wasterful.
Let Mrs. Glibbans know, that the Doctor's second cousin, the colonel,
that was in the East Indies, is no more;--I am sure she