So said Sergeant Kennedy, possessed with a virtuous curiosity to learn all that could be learned from "the Cornel's own man," who, with the instinct peculiar to his class, had speedily found out that good ale and company were to be had at the "Tillington Arms," where Mrs. Gilsland showed great respect and honour to the important Patchey. Patchey had already taken glasses enough to increase his dignity and solemn demeanour. He had grown slow and big of speech, and eloquent on the great importance of his own services to the Colonel. "He's a wise man for other folk," said Patchey deliberately, "but a child, and nothing but a child, where his own affairs is concerned. If it werena for me that ken the world, and keep a strict eye upon the house, he would be ruined, mum; ye may take my word for it--ten times in the year." "Acquaint with all the family?--I'm no a braggart," said Patchey, in answer to this question; "but it stands to natur that in the coorse of our colloquies upon affairs in general the Cornel says many a thing to me." "Not a doubt about it--especially," said the Sergeant, gravely, "as you're well known to be a discreet lad, and wan that's to be trusted--as was known of ye since ever ye entered the regiment, though I say it. Ye see, mistress, he was always a weel-respected man." "The Cornel, as I was saying," continued Patchey, passing loftily over this compliment, "says many a thing to me that it would ill become me to say over again; but this ye a' ken as well as me. The gentleman at Marchmain was married upon the Cornel's sister, and died of a stroke, and the visitation of God, the day afore yesterday; and a' the great fortune that's been lying gathering this mony a year has come to his son." "Eyeh, Mr. Patchey! but the fortin'--that's just the thing I cannot make owght of, head nor tail," cried Mrs. Gilsland; "there was never no signs, as ever I heard tell on, of fortin' at Marchmain, and for a screw and ould skinflint, that would give nowght but the lowest for whatever she wanted, I'll engage there's no the marrow of Peggy from Kenlisle to Cardale; and if you had asked me, I could have vowed with my last breath that the family had seen better days, and were as poor as ever a family pretending to be gentry could be." At this statement, which he took to be derogatory to his dignity, Patchey squared his spare shoulders, and erected his head. "Being near relations of my ain family," said Patchey, "where persons have oucht to say agin the family at Marchmain, I would rather, of the twa, that it was not said to me."