Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/303

 all who, from confidence in his honesty, give him trust or credit. Grant that neither friend nor neighbour had suftered—and I hope to God that in the end none will suffer a farthing's loss by me—yet how can I answer to my conscience, for the ruin I have brought upon my wife and children? Nay, Peggy, you must not hinder me to speak. You ken that had your honest father seen what has happened, it wou'd ha' brought his grey hairs wi' sorrow to the grave. He told me, that he gi'ed ye to me wi' better will than to a richer man, because he kent that I loved ye weel, and wou'd ay be kind to ye, and that the siller he had gathered wi' meikle care and toil, I wou'dna lightly spend upon my pleasure—O I canna bear to think on't! When I look round these bare wa's, and see what I have reduced you to, I think mysel little better than a villain!"

Peggy, hastily brushing away a falling tear, held out her hand to her husband, saying, with a smile—"Ye maun be an