"I wonder to hear you, bailie," said I; "I trust and hope no one
will ever find me out of the way of justice; and to convince you
that I can do a friendly turn, I'll no objec to gie you a' my
influence free gratis, if ye'll gie Mr Pittle a lift into the kirk;
for, to be plain with you, the worthy young man, who, as ye heard
to-day, is no without an ability, has long been fond of Mrs Pawkie's
cousin, Miss Lizy Pinky; and I would fain do all that lies in my
power to help on the match.

The bailie was well pleased with my frankness, and before returning
home we came to a satisfactory understanding; so that the next thing
I had to do, was to see Mr Pittle himself on the subject.
Accordingly, in the gloaming, I went over to where he stayed: it
was with Miss Jenny Killfuddy, an elderly maiden lady, whose father
was the minister of Braehill, and the same that is spoken of in the
chronicle of Dalmailing, as having had his eye almost put out by a
clash of glaur, at the stormy placing of Mr Balwhidder.

"Mr Pittle," said I, as soon as I was in and the door closed. "I'm
come to you as a friend; both Mrs Pawkie and me have long discerned
that ye have had a look more than common towards our friend, Miss
Lizy, and we think it our duty to enquire your intents, before
matters gang to greater length."

He looked a little dumfoundered at this salutation, and was at a
loss for an answer, so I continued -

"If your designs be honourable, and no doubt they are, now's your
time; strike while the iron's hot. By the death of the doctor, the