In a few weeks Mr. O’Rourke, having now brought himself into very high favour with the father, mother, and grandmother, ventured to disclose his passion for Miss; and, addressing himself to their worldly as well as their heavenly feelings, assured them he was a gentleman born, and next heir to a great estate, which he should possess as soon as his two cousins and their respective sons and daughters should be in the dust. Although this reversionary prospect was somewhat distant, yet it was a great comfort to the laird, that Mr. Roger O’Rourke was a gentleman. Mrs. Sourkrout and her daughter had also the satisfaction to learn that Mr. O’Rourke’s great grandfather by the mother’s side had been a bishop; and though it is true he had been popish, still he had a title to wear a mitre on his carriage. These considerations having all the evidence in their favour which the testimony of the narrator could bestow, made a deep impression on the worthy saints, and combined with their evangelical sympathy in inclining them to admit the suit of this holy gentleman. Ere long they agreed to his proposals, and the marriage was duly solemnized. The bridegroom having a dash of vanity, determined to publish this alliance in the newspapers, which he did in the following terms, involving in them an allusion to some of his former avocations.--“Yesterday was married in the holy bands of matrimoney, the Rev. Roger O’Rourke, _alias_ Roger O’Rourke, esq. to Miss Susan Hamilton, the only daughter of Duncan Hamilton, esq. by Grizzle his wife, to the great joy of the ancient and honourable families and parties consarned.”--This notification the printer took from the copy _literatim_ and _verbatim_. The nuptials being concluded, the family, comprehending this new member, returned to Etterick, excepting Betty, who procured leave of absence, being, she said, going to visit her parents in the north. CHAPTER VII. BEFORE all these affairs were brought to the close which we have recorded, our hero was returned to Cambridge, to prepare for his ensuing graduation. He renewed his mathematical studies, but sometimes could not help reflecting on poor Jenny Collings more than either Sir Isaac Newton or Maclaurin. The exertion of his faculties, however, and not desponding regret, were the means by which he could make any atonement.--The intenseness of his former application had now rendered only revision necessary. The important period arrived, he stood the various contests, and attained the honour of senior wrangler, the highest that a bachelor of arts can reach, and was generally esteemed one of the ablest and most promising young men that Cambridge had raised for many years.