Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn

My Dear Miss Mally--We have been at the counting-house, and gotten a
sort of a satisfaction; what the upshot may be, I canna take it upon
myself to prognosticate; but when the waur comes to the worst, I
think that baith Rachel and Andrew will have a nest egg, and the
Doctor and me may sleep sound on their account, if the nation doesna
break, as the argle-barglers in the House of Parliament have been
threatening: for all the cornal's fortune is sunk at present in the
pesents. Howsomever, it's our notion, when the legacies are paid
off, to lift the money out of the funds, and place it at good
interest on hairetable securitie. But ye will hear aften from us,
before things come to that, for the delays, and the goings, and the
comings in this town of London are past all expreshon.

As yet, we have been to see no fairlies, except going in a coach
from one part of the toun to another; but the Doctor and me was at
the he-kirk of Saint Paul's for a purpose that I need not tell you,
as it was adoing with the right hand what the left should not know.
I couldna say that I had there great pleasure, for the preacher was
very cauldrife, and read every word, and then there was such a
beggary of popish prelacy, that it was compassionate to a Christian
to see.

We are to dine at Mr. Argent's, the cornal's hadgint, on Sunday, and
me and Rachel have been getting something for the okasion. Our
landlady, Mrs. Sharkly, has recommended us to ane of the most
fashionable millinders in London, who keeps a grand shop in Cranburn
Alla, and she has brought us arteecles to look at; but I was