Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/355

 to acknowledge the relationship, and accordingly gave himself out for head of the family. You now know as much as I do, excepting with respect to a snare into which he was led by a gambler of the name of Spurton, whom he met at Edinburgh, and which might have led to fatal consequences. But from these he is now happily rescued. I must, however, in justice to poor Jack, say a few words more. He sincerely loves your daughter: and as he was in quest of a fortune far greater than hers, he would never have married her, but from motives of affection. He at first indeed was made to believe, that she was a great heiress, for so Mrs Flinders gave out; and before he was undeceived, his affections were engaged to her; so that they are, in this respect, exactly upon a footing."

"They are, in every respect, upon a footing," cried Mr Stewart. "If his father is an honest tradesman, what is her father but an honest farmer? Believe me,