kirk's vacant, the town-council have the patronage; and, if ye marry
Miss Lizy, my interest and influence shall not be slack in helping
you into the poopit." In short, out of what passed that night, on
the Monday following Mr Pittle and Miss Lizy were married; and by my
dexterity, together with the able help I had in Bailie M'Lucre, he
was in due season placed and settled in the parish; and the next
year more than fifty acres of the town-moor were inclosed on a nine
hundred and ninety-nine years' tack at an easy rate between me and
the bailie, he paying the half of the expense of the ditching and
rooting out of the whins; and it was acknowledged by every one that
saw it, that there had not been a greater improvement for many years
in all the country side. But to the best actions there will be
adverse and discontented spirits; and, on this occasion, there were
not wanting persons naturally of a disloyal opposition temper, who
complained of the inclosure as a usurpation of the rights and
property of the poorer burghers. Such revilings, however, are what
all persons in authority must suffer; and they had only the effect
of making me button my coat, and look out the crooser to the blast.



CHAPTER IX--AN EXECUTION



The attainment of honours and dignities is not enjoyed without a
portion of trouble and care, which, like a shadow, follows all
temporalities. On the very evening of the same day that I was first
chosen to be a bailie, a sore affair came to light, in the discovery
that Jean Gaisling had murdered her bastard bairn. She was the