She and her husband had struggled and striven, but to no seeming purpose; poverty had drawn its meshes closer and closer around them.

They had but one son, the present laird, and he had succeeded to an estate yet smaller and more heavily encumbered.
To all appearance he must leave it to Cosmo, if indeed he left it, in no better condition.

From the growing fear of its final loss, he loved the place more than any of his ancestors had loved it, and his attachment to it had descended yet stronger to his son.
But although Cosmo the elder wrestled and fought against encroaching poverty, and with little success, he had never forgot small rights in anxiety to be rid of large claims.

What man could he did to keep his poverty from bearing hard on his dependents, and never master or landlord was more beloved.

Such being his character and the condition of his affairs, it is not very surprising that he should have passed middle age before thinking seriously of marriage.