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that it would be necessary； as soon as decency would allow； for me to take another wife。 I was moved to this chiefly by foreseeing that my daughter would in time be married； and taken away from me； but more on account of the servant lasses； who grew out of all bounds； verifying the proverb； 〃Well kens the mouse when the cat's out of the house。〃 Besides this； I was now far down in the vale of years； and could not expect to be long without feeling some of the penalties of old age； although I was still a hail and sound man。 It therefore behoved me to look in time for a helpmate； to tend me in my approaching infirmities。
Upon this important concern I reflected； as I may say； in the watches of the night； and； considering the circumstances of my situation； I saw it would not do for me to look out for an overly young woman； nor yet would it do for one of my ways to take an elderly maiden； ladies of that sort being liable to possess strong… set particularities。 I therefore resolved that my choice should lie among widows of a discreet age； and I had a glimmer in my mind of speaking to Mrs Malcolm； but when I reflected on the saintly steadiness of her character； I was satisfied it would be of no use to think of her。 Accordingly； I bent my brows； and looked towards Irville； which is an abundant trone for widows and other single women； and I fixed my purpose on Mrs Nugent； the relic of a professor in the university of Glasgow； both because she was a well… bred woman； without any children to plea about the interest of my own two； and likewise because she was held in great estimation by all who knew her； as a lady of a Christian principle。
It was some time in the summer； however； before I made up my mind to speak to her on the subject； but one afternoon； in the month of August； I resolved to do so； and with that intent walked leisurely over to Irville； and after calling on the Rev。 Dr。 Dinwiddie； the minister； I stepped in； as if by chance； to Mrs Nugent's。 I could see that she was a little surprised at my visit； however； she treated me with every possible civility； and her servant lass bringing in the tea…things in a most orderly manner； as punctually as the clock was striking； she invited me to sit still； and drink my tea with her； which I did； being none displeased to get such encouragement。 However； I said nothing that time； but returned to the manse； very well content with what I had observed； which made me fain to repeat my visit。 So； in the course of the week； taking Janet my daughter with me； we walked over in the forenoon； and called at Mrs Nugent's first； before going to any other house； and Janet saying； as we came out to go to the minister's； that she thought Mrs Nugent an agreeable woman； I determined to knock the nail on the head without further delay。
Accordingly； I invited the minister and his wife to dine with us on the Thursday following； and before leaving the town； I made Janet； while the minister and me were handling a subject； as a sort of thing in common civility； go to Mrs Nugent； and invite her also。 Dr。 Dinwiddie was a gleg man； of a jocose nature； and he； guessing something of what I was ettling at； was very mirthful with me； but I kept my own counsel till a meet season。
On the Thursday； the company as invited came； and nothing extraordinary was seen； but in cutting up and helping a hen； Dr。 Dinwiddie put one wing on Mrs Nugent's plate； and the other wing on my plate； and said； there have been greater miracles than these two wings flying together； which was a sharp joke； that caused no little merriment at the expense of Mrs Nugent and me。 I； however； to show that I was none daunted； laid a leg also on her plate； and took another on my own； saying； in the words of the reverend doctor； there have been greater miracles than that these two legs should lie in the same nest； which was thought a very clever come off； and； at the same time； I gave Mrs Nugent a kindly nip on her sonsy arm； which was breaking the ice in as pleasant a way as could be。 In short； before anything passed between ourselves on the subject； we were set down for a trysted pair； and this being the case； we were married as soon as a twelvemonth and a day had passed from the death of the second Mrs Balwhidder； and neither of us have had occasion to rue the bargain。 It is； however； but a piece of justice due to my second wife to say； that this was not a little owing to her good management； for she had left such a well…plenished house； that her successor said； we had nothing to do but to contribute to one another's happiness。
In this year nothing more memorable happened in the parish； saving that the cotton…mill dam burst about the time of the Lammas flood； and the waters went forth like a deluge of destruction； carrying off much victual； and causing a vast of damage to the mills that are lower down the stream。 It was just a prodigy to see how calmly Mr Cayenne acted on that occasion； for； being at other times as crabbed as a wud terrier； folk were afraid to tell him； till he came out himself in the morning and saw the devastation； at the sight of which he gave only a shrill whistle； and began to laugh at the idea of the men fearing to take him the news； as if he had not fortune and philosophy enough； as he called it； to withstand much greater misfortunes。
CHAPTER XXXVIII YEAR 1797
When I have seen in my walks the irrational creatures of God； the birds and the beasts； governed by a kindly instinct in attendance on their young； often has it come into my head that love and charity； far more than reason or justice； formed the tie that holds the world； with all its jarring wants and woes； in social dependence and obligation together； and； in this year； a strong verification of the soundness of this notion was exemplified in the conduct of the poor haverel lassie Meg Gaffaw； whose naturality on the occasion of her mother's death I have related at length in this chronicle。
In the course of the summer； Mr Henry Melcomb； who was a nephew to Mr Cayenne； came down from England to see his uncle。 He had just completed his education at the college of Christ Church； in Oxford； and was the most perfect young gentleman that had ever been seen in this part of the country。
In his appearance he was a very paragon； with a fine manly countenance； frank…hearted； blithe； and； in many points of character； very like my old friend the Lord Eaglesham； who was shot。 Indeed； in some respects； he was even above his lordship； for he had a great turn at ready wit； and could joke and banter in a most agreeable manner。 He came very often to the manse to see me； and took great pleasure in my company； and really used a freedom that was so droll； I could scarcely keep my composity and decorum with him。 Among others that shared in his attention； was daft Meg Gaffaw； whom he had forgathered with one day in coming to see me； and after conversing with her for some time； he handed her； as she told me herself； over the kirk…stile like a lady of high degree； and came with her to the manse door linking by the arm。
From the ill…timed daffin of that hour； poor Meg fell deep in love with Mr Melcomb； and it was just a playacting to see the arts and ant