 rank in Scotland at that period, whose
strange orthography and singular diction form the strongest contrast to the good
sense which their correspondence usually intimates.
    For the rest, in the tenor of these epistles, Jeanie expressed, perhaps,
more hopes, a firmer courage, and better spirits, than she actually felt. But
this was with the amiable idea of relieving her father and lover from
apprehensions on her account, which she was sensible must greatly add to their
other troubles. »If they think me weel, and like to do weel,« said the poor
pilgrim to herself, »my father will be kinder to Effie, and Butler will be
kinder to himself. For I ken weel that they will think mair o' me than I do o'
mysell.«
    Accordingly, she sealed her letters carefully, and put them into the
post-office with her own hand, after many inquiries concerning the time in which
they were likely to reach Edinburgh. When this duty was performed, she readily
accepted her landlady's pressing invitation to dine with her, and remain till
the next morning. The hostess, as we have said, was her countrywoman, and the
eagerness with which Scottish people meet, communicate, and, to the extent of
their power, assist each other, although it is often objected to us as a
prejudice and narrowness of sentiment, seems, on the contrary, to arise from a
most justifiable and honourable feeling of patriotism, combined with a
conviction, which, if undeserved, would long since have been confuted by
experience, that the habits and principles of the nation are a sort of guarantee
for the character of the individual. At any rate, if the extensive influence of
this national partiality be considered as an additional tie, binding man to man,
and calling forth the good offices of such as can render them to the countryman
who happens to need them, we think it must be found to exceed, as an active and
efficient motive to generosity, that more impartial and wider principle of
general benevolence, which we have sometimes seen pleaded as an excuse for
assisting no individual whatever.
    Mrs. Bickerton, lady of the ascendant of the Seven Stars, in the
Castle-gate, York, was deeply infected with the unfortunate prejudices of her
country. Indeed, she displayed so much kindness to Jeanie Deans (because she
herself, being a Merse woman, marched with Mid-Lothian, in which Jeanie was
born), showed such motherly regard to her, and such anxiety for her farther
progress, that Jeanie thought herself safe, though by temper sufficiently
cautious, in
