Now and then, it is too true, he had terrible bouts of drinking; but all the time between he was perfectly sober.

He had given his son more than a fair education; and George, for his part, had trotted through the curriculum of Elphinstone College not altogether without distinction.

But beyond this his father had entirely neglected his future, not even revealing to him the fact--of which, indeed, he was himself but dimly aware--that from wilful oversight on his part and design on that of others, his property had all but entirely slipped from his possession.
While his father was yet alive, George married the daughter of a small laird in a neighbouring county--a woman of some education, and great natural refinement.

He took her home to the ancient family house in the city--the same in which he now occupied a garret, and under whose outer stair he now cobbled shoes.

There, during his father's life, they lived in peace and tolerable comfort, though in a poor enough way.