The Laird himself was one of those second-rate sort of persons
that are to be found frequently in rural situations. Fielding has
described one class as feras consumere nati; but the love of
field-sports indicates a certain activity of mind, which had
forsaken Mr. Bertram, if ever he possessed it. A good-humoured
listlessness of countenance formed the only remarkable expression
of his features, although they were rather handsome than
otherwise. In fact, his physiognomy indicated the inanity of
character which pervaded his life. I will give the reader some
insight into his state and conversation before he has finished a
long lecture to Mannering upon the propriety and comfort of
wrapping his stirrup-irons round with a wisp of straw when he had
occasion to ride in a chill evening.

Godfrey Bertram of Ellangowan succeeded to a long pedigree and a
short rent-roll, like many lairds of that period. His list of
forefathers ascended so high that they were lost in the barbarous
ages of Galwegian independence, so that his genealogical tree,
besides the Christian and crusading names of Godfreys, and
Gilberts, and Dennises, and Rolands without end, bore heathen
fruit of yet darker ages--Arths, and Knarths, and Donagilds, and
Hanlons. In truth, they had been formerly the stormy chiefs of a
desert but extensive domain, and the heads of a numerous tribe
called Mac-Dingawaie, though they afterwards adopted the Norman
surname of Bertram. They had made war, raised rebellions, been
defeated, beheaded, and hanged, as became a family of importance,
for many centuries. But they had gradually lost ground in the
world, and, from being themselves the heads of treason and
traitorous conspiracies, the Bertrams, or Mac-Dingawaies, of