That gentleman has of late shown one quality which usually recommends men to the favour of rich relations, namely, a close and cautious care of what is already his own.

Captain MacTurk's military ardour having revived when they came within smell of gunpowder, the old soldier contrived not only to get himself on full pay, but to induce his companion to serve for some time as a volunteer.

He afterwards obtained a commission, and nothing could be more strikingly different than was the conduct of the young Laird of St.Ronan's and of Lieutenant Mowbray.
The former, as we know, was gay, venturous, and prodigal; the latter lived on his pay, and even within it--denied himself comforts, and often decencies, when doing so could save a guinea; and turned pale with apprehension, if, on any extraordinary occasion, he ventured sixpence a corner at whist.

This meanness, or closeness of disposition, prevents his holding the high character to which his bravery and attention to his regimental duties might otherwise entitle him.

The same close and accurate calculation of pounds, shillings, and pence, marked his communications with his agent Meiklewham, who might otherwise have had better pickings out of the estate of St.Ronan's, which is now at nurse, and thriving full fast; especially since some debts, of rather an usurious character, have been paid up by Mr.Touchwood, who contented himself with more moderate usage.
On the subject of this property, Mr.Mowbray, generally speaking, gave such minute directions for acquiring and saving, that his old acquaintance, Mr.Winterblossom, tapping his morocco snuff-box with the sly look which intimated the coming of a good thing, was wont to say, that he had reversed the usual order of transformation, and was turned into a grub after having been a butterfly.