afternoons were just a perfect hushabaa, that no mortal could
hearken to without sleeping. Moreover, he had a sorning way with
him, that the genteeler sort could na abide, for he was for ever
going from house to house about tea-time, to save his ain canister.
As for the young ladies, they could na endure him at all, for he had
aye the sough and sound of love in his mouth, and a round-about
ceremonial of joking concerning the same, that was just a fasherie
to them to hear. The commonality, however, were his greatest
adversaries; for he was, notwithstanding the spareness of his
abilities, a prideful creature, taking no interest in their hamely
affairs, and seldom visiting the aged or the sick among them.
Shortly, however, before the death of the doctor, Mr Pittle had been
very attentive to my wife's full cousin, Miss Lizy Pinkie, I'll no
say on account of the legacy of seven hundred pounds left her by an
uncle that made his money in foreign parts, and died at Portsmouth
of the liver complaint, when he was coming home to enjoy himself;
and Mrs Pawkie told me, that as soon as Mr Pittle could get a kirk,
I needna be surprised if I heard o' a marriage between him and Miss
Lizy.

Had I been a sordid and interested man, this news could never have
given me the satisfaction it did, for Miss Lizy was very fond of my
bairns, and it was thought that Peter would have been her heir; but
so far from being concerned at what I heard, I rejoiced thereat, and
resolved in secret thought, whenever a vacancy happened, Dr Swapkirk
being then fast wearing away, to exert the best of my ability to get
the kirk for Mr Pittle, not, however, unless he was previously
married to Miss Lizy; for, to speak out, she was beginning to stand
in need of a protector, and both me and Mrs Pawkie had our fears
that she might outlive her income, and in her old age become a cess