ey preserved their independent spirit even
though they were not heiresses, and could not sue in FORMA PAUPERIS. It
was a subject of much conversation that the Misses Melville had
preferred to go with Peggy Walker, the laundress, to some poor place in
the old town of Edinburgh, to making any application for assistance to
people of their own sphere. What they could do under Peggy's auspices
was not likely to be of a very brilliant description.

It is not to be supposed that Peggy Walker was not as good a judge of
orthodoxy as the Misses Crichton and Miss Maxwell, but she had not so
great a horror of the family at Cross Hall as they had; she had been
for several years out of her own parish and country, and had learned
some toleration. As she said, the old laird was a just man and a kind
one, and until he made his will she had no fault to find with him; and
as for the young ladies, they were just the cleverest and the
tenderest-hearted to the poor of all the gentry in the country-side.
Many a tale of distress had Peggy told them, and had never failed to
find the girls open their purses, or go to see the poor people. They
had a liberal allowance, and had no extravagant tastes in dress; but
their charities had been so extensive that at the time of their uncle's
death, there was no great balance in either girl's hands. They knew
that Peggy was no niggardly woman, but a most liberal one according to
her means and her opportunities--that she gave personal services out of
a very busy life, and money, too, out of an income that had many claims
on it.

The house-servants and the labourers in Mr. Hogarth's immediate
employment were very sad at parting with the young ladies, who had
always been so kind and so considerate. If the neighbours had thought
the girls proud, none of the servants did. If Francis had not tried
hard to please them all, and to make them feel that he regarded them
for the sake of those who had been before him, it would not have been
likely that he would have gained their good opinion; but he succeeded
in doing so.

Peggy Walker thought she had got into a very snug and comfortable
dwelling in a flat in ---- Street, and when she gave what she
considered the most cheerful-looking apartment to the young ladies as
their sleeping-room, she certainly did all she could for their
accommodation. The old man, Thomas Lowrie, was particularly pleased
with the look-out to the street. He could sit in his own chair and see