Mr. Micklewham had not an opportunity of telling any of the
parishioners in the churchyard of the Doctor's safe arrival, so that
when he read out the request to return thanks (for he was not only
school-master and session-clerk, but also precentor), there was a
murmur of pleasure diffused throughout the congregation, and the
greatest curiosity was excited to know what the dangers were, from
which their worthy pastor and his whole family had so thankfully
escaped in their voyage to London; so that, when the service was
over, the elders adjourned to the session-house to hear the letter
read; and many of the heads of families, and other respectable
parishioners, were admitted to the honours of the sitting, who all
sympathised, with the greatest sincerity, in the sufferings which
their minister and his family had endured. Mr. Daff, however, was
justly chided by Mr. Craig, for rubbing his hands, and giving a sort
of sniggering laugh, at the Doctor's sitting on high with a light
woman. But even Mr. Snodgrass was seen to smile at the incident of
taking the number off the coach, the meaning of which none but
himself seemed to understand.

When the epistle had been thus duly read, Mr. Micklewham promised,
for the satisfaction of some of the congregation, that he would get
two or three copies made by the best writers in his school, to be
handed about the parish, and Mr. Icenor remarked, that truly it was
a thing to be held in remembrance, for he had not heard of greater
tribulation by the waters since the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul.



CHAPTER III--THE LEGACY