the deed. And she had full power at that time to make such a
settlement, for she was in fee of the estate of Singleside even
then, although it was life rented by an elder sister. It was a
whimsical settlement of old Singleside's, sir; he pitted the two
cats his daughters against each other, ha, ha, ha!'

'Well, sir,' said Mannering, without the slightest smile of
sympathy, 'but to the purpose. You say that this lady had power to
settle her estate on Miss Bertram, and that she did so?'

'Even so, Colonel,' replied Glossin. 'I think I should understand
the law, I have followed it for many years; and, though I have
given it up to retire upon a handsome competence, I did not throw
away that knowledge which is pronounced better than house and
land, and which I take to be the knowledge of the law, since, as
our common rhyme has it,

'Tis most excellent,
To win the land that's gone and spent.

No, no, I love the smack of the whip: I have a little, a very
little law yet, at the service of my friends.'

Glossin ran on in this manner, thinking he had made a favourable
impression on Mannering. The Colonel, indeed, reflected that this
might be a most important crisis for Miss Bertram's interest, and
resolved that his strong inclination to throw Glossin out at
window or at door should not interfere with it. He put a strong
curb on his temper, and resolved to listen with patience at least,
if without complacency. He therefore let Mr. Glossin get to the