Dymock, therefore,
was not disturbed in his attempts at authorship, and there he used to
sit in his study with slip-shod feet, an embroidered dressing gown,
which Mrs. Margaret had quilted from an old curtain, and a sort of
turban twisted about his head, paying no manner of attention to hours or
seasons. As Mrs. Margaret only allowed him certain inches of candle, he
could not sit up all night as geniuses ought to be permitted to do; but
then he would arise with the lark and set to work, before any of the
labourers on the moor were in motion. In vain did Mrs. Margaret complain
and expostulate; she even in her trouble sent Tamar again to Shanty to
request him to plead with the Laird, and beg him to allow himself to
enjoy his regular rest; but in this case when she required Shanty's aid,
she had reckoned without her host.

"Go back to Mrs. Margaret, damsel," he said, "go and tell the lady that
as long as she can keep the Laird from work by candle light, so long no
harm is done, and if instead of murmuring at this early rising, fair
child, you will take example by him, and leave your bed at the same time
that your hear him go down, you will do well. He that lies in bed gives
a daily opportunity to his servants, if he has any to serve him, to do
mischief before he is up, and she that rises with the sun and goes
straight forward, like an arrow in its course, in the path of her
duties, shall find fewer thorns and more roses in that path, than those
who indulge in ease. Through divine mercy," continued the old man, "our
own exertions are not needed for the assurance of our salvation, but
sloth and carelessness tend to penury and misery, in this present life;
and there is no sloth more ruinous to health and property than that of
wasting the precious morning hours in bed."

Tamar was not deaf to the pleadings of Shanty; she began immediately to
rise with the first crowing of the cock, and thus obtained so much time
for her business, that she could then afford herself some for reading.
Mrs. Margaret took also to rise early, so that instead of breakfasting
as formerly at eight o'clock, the family took that meal at seven; but
the Laird often managed to have such bright and valuable thoughts just
at breakfast time, that for the sake of posterity, as he was wont to
say, he could by no means endanger the loss of them by suffering such a
common place interruption as that of breakfast, such an every day and
vulgar concern. On these occa