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on her merits and virtues； for she had an eminent share of both。 Her
greatest faultthe best have their faultswas an over…earnestness to gather
gear； in the doing of which I thought she sometimes sacrificed the
comforts of a pleasant fireside； for she was never in her element but when
she was keeping the servants eident at their work。 But； if by this she
subtracted something from the quietude that was most consonant to my
nature； she has left cause； both in bank and bond； for me and her bairns to
bless her great household activity。
She was not long deposited in her place of rest till I had occasion to
find her loss。 All my things were kept by her in a most perjink and
excellent order； but they soon fell into an amazing confusion； for； as she
often said to me； I had a turn for heedlessness； insomuch； that although my
daughter Janet was grown up； and able to keep the house； I saw that it
would be necessary； as soon as decency would allow； for me to take
another wife。 I was moved to this chiefly by foreseeing that my daughter
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would in time be married； and taken away from me； but more on account
of the servant lasses； who grew out of all bounds； verifying the proverb；
〃Well kens the mouse when the cat's out of the house。〃 Besides this； I
was now far down in the vale of years； and could not expect to be long
without feeling some of the penalties of old age； although I was still a hail
and sound man。 It therefore behoved me to look in time for a helpmate；
to tend me in my approaching infirmities。
Upon this important concern I reflected； as I may say； in the watches
of the night； and； considering the circumstances of my situation； I saw it
would not do for me to look out for an overly young woman； nor yet
would it do for one of my ways to take an elderly maiden； ladies of that
sort being liable to possess strong… set particularities。 I therefore resolved
that my choice should lie among widows of a discreet age； and I had a
glimmer in my mind of speaking to Mrs Malcolm； but when I reflected on
the saintly steadiness of her character； I was satisfied it would be of no use
to think of her。 Accordingly； I bent my brows； and looked towards Irville；
which is an abundant trone for widows and other single women； and I
fixed my purpose on Mrs Nugent； the relic of a professor in the university
of Glasgow； both because she was a well… bred woman； without any
children to plea about the interest of my own two； and likewise because
she was held in great estimation by all who knew her； as a lady of a
Christian principle。
It was some time in the summer； however； before I made up my mind
to speak to her on the subject； but one afternoon； in the month of August； I
resolved to do so； and with that intent walked leisurely over to Irville； and
after calling on the Rev。 Dr。 Dinwiddie； the minister； I stepped in； as if by
chance； to Mrs Nugent's。 I could see that she was a little surprised at my
visit； however； she treated me with every possible civility； and her servant
lass bringing in the tea…things in a most orderly manner； as punctually as
the clock was striking； she invited me to sit still； and drink my tea with her；
which I did； being none displeased to get such encouragement。 However；
I said nothing that time； but returned to the manse； very well content with
what I had observed； which made me fain to repeat my visit。 So； in the
course of the week； taking Janet my daughter with me； we walked over in
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the forenoon； and called at Mrs Nugent's first； before going to any other
house； and Janet saying； as we came out to go to the minister's； that she
thought Mrs Nugent an agreeable woman； I determined to knock the nail
on the head without further delay。
Accordingly； I invited the minister and his wife to dine with us on the
Thursday following； and before leaving the town； I made Janet； while the
minister and me were handling a subject； as a sort of thing in common
civility； go to Mrs Nugent； and invite her also。 Dr。 Dinwiddie was a gleg
man； of a jocose nature； and he； guessing something of what I was ettling
at； was very mirthful with me； but I kept my own counsel till a meet
season。
On the Thursday； the company as invited came； and nothing
extraordinary was seen； but in cutting up and helping a hen； Dr。 Dinwiddie
put one wing on Mrs Nugent's plate； and the other wing on my plate； and
said； there have been greater miracles than these two wings flying together；
which was a sharp joke； that caused no little merriment at the expense of
Mrs Nugent and me。 I； however； to show that I was none daunted； laid a
leg also on her plate； and took another on my own； saying； in the words of
the reverend doctor； there have been greater miracles than that these two
legs should lie in the same nest； which was thought a very clever come off；
and； at the same time； I gave Mrs Nugent a kindly nip on her sonsy arm；
which was breaking the ice in as pleasant a way as could be。 In short；
before anything passed between ourselves on the subject； we were set
down for a trysted pair； and this being the case； we were married as soon
as a twelvemonth and a day had passed from the death of the second Mrs
Balwhidder； and neither of us have had occasion to rue the bargain。 It is；
however； but a piece of justice due to my second wife to say； that this was
not a little owing to her good management； for she had left such a well…
plenished house； that her successor said； we had nothing to do but to
contribute to one another's happiness。
In this year nothing more memorable happened in the parish； saving
that the cotton…mill dam burst about the time of the Lammas flood； and the
waters went forth like a deluge of destruction； carrying off much victual；
and causing a vast of damage to the mills that are lower down the stream。
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It was just a prodigy to see how calmly Mr Cayenne acted on that occasion；
for； being at other times as crabbed as a wud terrier； folk were afraid to tell
him； till he came out himself in the morning and saw the devastation； at
the sight of which he gave only a shrill whistle； and began to laugh at the
idea of the men fearing to take him the news； as if he had not fortune and
philosophy enough； as he called it； to withstand much greater misfortunes。
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CHAPTER XXXVIII YEAR 1797
When I have seen in my walks the irrational creatures of God； the
birds and the beasts； governed by a kindly instinct in attendance on their
young； often has it come into my head that love and charity； far more than
reason or justice； formed the tie that holds the world； with all its jarring
wants and woes； in social dependence and obligation together； and； in this
year； a strong verification of the soundness of this notion was exemplified
in the conduct of the poor haverel lassie Meg Gaffaw； whose naturality on
the occasion of her mother's death I have related at length in this
chronicle。
In the course of the summer； Mr Henry Melcomb； who was a nephew
to Mr Cayenne； came down from England to see his uncle。 He had just
completed his education at the college of Christ Church； in Oxford； and
was the most perfect young gentleman that had ever been seen in this part
of the country。
In his appearance he was a very paragon； with a fine manly
countenance； frank…hearted； blithe； and； in many points of character； very
like my old friend the Lord Eaglesham； who was shot。 Indeed； in some
respects； he was even above his lordship； for he had a great turn at ready
wit； and could joke and banter in a most agreeable manner。 He came
very often to the manse to see me； and to