though she would not consort with her husband herself, she could
not endure that any other should do so.

But, to countervail this grievous offence, our saintly and afflicted
dame, in due time, was safely delivered of a fine boy whom the
laird acknowledged as his son and heir, and had him christened
by his own name, and nursed in his own premises. He gave the
nurse permission to take the boy to his mother's presence if ever
she should desire to see him; but, strange as it may appear, she
never once desired to see him from the day that he was born. The
boy grew up, and was a healthful and happy child; and, in the
course of another year, the lady presented him with a brother. A
brother he certainly was, in the eye of the law, and it is more than
probable that he was his brother in reality. But the laird thought
otherwise; and, though he knew and acknowledged that he was
obliged to support and provide for him, he refused to
acknowledge him in other respects. He neither would
countenance the banquet nor take the baptismal vows on him in
the child's name; of course, the poor boy had to live and remain
an alien from the visible church for a year and a day; at which
time, Mr. Wringhim out of pity and kindness, took the lady
herself as sponsor for the boy, and baptized him by the name of
Robert Wringhim--that being the noted divine's own name.

George was brought up with his father, and educated partly at the
parish school, and partly at home, by a tutor hired for the
purpose. He was a generous and kind-hearted youth; always
ready to oblige, and hardly ever dissatisfied with anybody. Robert
was brought up with Mr. Wringhim, the laird paying a certain
allowance for him yearly; and there the boy was early inured to