he crossed the country in the morning, and arrived at Etterick. CHAPTER IX. THE old gentleman received his nephew with very great delight, and having ordered for him every refreshment that the house afforded, or at least that he could command, proceeded without delay to unfold his various reasons for requesting the presence of William. “I had,” he said, “many trials while my wife was alive, but it pleased the Lord to take her to himself. I was resigned, and since that time have lived with Susan very comfortably. She, to be sure, was down in the mouth, from the behaviour of (whispering) that damned scoundrel her husband; and sometimes I have thought that, bad as he was, she regretted his absence as much as any thing, however, that’s between ourselves. In fact, he returned about a month ago, and behaved very civilly for a week, and his wife appeared as fond of him as ever. I hoped he had taken himself up, and to encourage him, allowed him as much money as I could spare for the present, and promised to do more if he continued to behave himself: but I soon found the money did him more harm than good: he returned to his old practices, and at length became so extremely insolent that I dare hardly call my house my own. He daily abuses me for having (he says) _defrauded him_, by securing my property as I have done; and as to my daughter, he takes up with the vilest trollops under her very nose; and told her, no longer ago than last night, in his cups, that he knew no other use that she and the old fool her father could be of, but by their fortune giving him the means of pleasure. He has no idea that I wrote to you to come down, and talks very highly, boastingly, and falsely, about your encounter and his in Yorkshire.”--After farther conversation Hamilton retired into an adjoining dressing-room, to make some change in his habiliments, when Mr. O’Rourke, who, having been abroad, had heard nothing of the guest that was arrived, entered the apartment, and accosting the laird in a loud and imperious tone, told him that he required more money immediately. “I have a demand that cannot be put off; so I must have none of your excuses or delays.” “I have really no money for you; you know very well how I am circumstanced.” “Yes, yes, I know how those villains choused you.” “What villains, sir?” “Your brother and his son, to be sure; but I fancy the son will keep out of my way again.” “Here he comes,” said the old gentleman, “to answer for himself”; and immediately our hero presented himself before O’Rourke. Astonishment at first suspended the faculties of the preacher, but was soon succeeded by consternation and fear, and as Hamilton sternly regarded him, the impudence of the bully was totally overwhelmed by the dread of merited chastisement. Hamilton, however, abstaining from actual violence, coolly asked his uncle if he would leave the management of the man entirely to him? “That I will my dear nephew: you know I sent for you