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:--

LETTER XXX

_Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_

DEAR MISS MALLY--I hav a cro to pik with you conserning yoor comishon
aboot the partickels for your friends. You can hav no noshon what the
Doctor and me suffert on the head of the flooring shrubs. We took your
Nota Beny as it was spilt, and went from shop to shop enquirin in a most
partiklar manner for "a Gardner's Bell, or the least of all flowering
plants"; but sorrow a gardner in the whole tot here