, ca' canny, it's no easy to carry a fu' cup;
ye hae gotten a great gift in your gudeman. Mr. Craig, I wish you a
good-night; I would fain have stopped for your evening exercise, but Miss
Mally was beginning, I saw, to weary--so good-night; and, Mrs. Craig,
ye'll take tent of what I have said--it's for your gude." So exeunt Mrs.
Glibbans, Miss Mally, and the two young ladies. "Her bark's waur than
her bite," said Mrs. Craig, as she returned to her husband, who felt
already some of the ourie symptoms of a henpecked destiny.

CHAPTER IX--THE MARRIAGE

Mr. Snodgrass was obliged to walk into Irvine one evening, to get rid of
a raging tooth, which had tormented him for more than a week. The
operation was so delicately and cleverly performed by the surgeon to whom
he applied--one of those young medical gentlemen, who, after having been
educated for the army or navy, are obliged, in this weak piping time of
peace, to glean what practice they can amid their native shades--that the
amiable divine found himself in a condition to call on Miss Isabella Tod.

During this visit, Saunders Dickie, the postman, brought a London letter
to the door, for Miss Isabella; and Mr. Snodgrass having desired the
servant to inquire if there were any for him, had the good fortune to get
the following from Mr. Andrew Pringle:--

LETTER XXIX

_Andrew Pringle Esq._, _to the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass_

My Dear Friend--I never receive a letter from you without experiencing a
strong emotion of regret, that talents like yours should be wilfully
consigned to the sequestered vegetation of a country pastor's life. But
we have so often discussed this point, that I shall only offend your
delicacy if I now revert to it more particularly. I cannot, however, but
remark, that although a private station may be the happiest, a public is
the proper sphere of virtue and talent, so clear, superior, and decided
as yours. I say this with the more confidence, as I have really, from
your letter, obtained a better conception of the queen's case, than from
all that I have been able to read and hear upon the subject in London.
The rule you lay down is excellent. Public safety is certainly the only
principle which can justify mankind in agreeing to observe and enforce
penal statutes; and, therefore, I think with you, that unless it could be
proved in a very simple manner, that it was requisite for the public
safety to institute proce