Eachmusedovertheparticularsoftheexamination，andeachvieweditthroughthemediumofhisownfeelings。Bothweremenofreadyandacutetalent，andbothwereequallycompetenttocombinevariouspartsofevidence，andtodeducefromthemthenecessaryconclusions。Butthewidedifferenceoftheirhabitsandeducationoftenoccasionedagreatdiscrepancyintheirrespectivedeductionsfromadmittedpremises。
MajorMelvillehadbeenversedincampsandcities；hewasvigilantbyprofession，andcautiousfromexperience；hadmetwithmuchevilintheworld，andtherefore，thoughhimselfanuprightmagistrateandanhonourableman，hisopinionsofotherswerealwaysstrict，andsometimesunjustlysevere。Mr。
Morton，onthecontrary，hadpassedfromtheliterarypursuitsofacollege，wherehewasbelovedbyhiscompanions，andrespectedbyhisteachers，tothecaseandsimplicityofhispresentcharge，wherehisopportunitiesofwitnessingevilwerefew，andneverdweltuponbutinordertoencouragerepentanceandamendment；andwheretheloveandrespectofhisparishionersrepaidhisaffectionatezealintheirbehalf，byendeavouringtodisguisefromhimwhattheyknewwouldgivehimthemostacutepain，namely，theirownoccasionaltransgressionsofthedutieswhichitwasthebusinessofhislifetorecommend。Thusitwasacommonsayingintheneighbourhoodthoughbothwerepopularcharacters，thatthelairdknewonlytheillintheparish，andtheministeronlythegood。
Aloveofletters，thoughkeptinsubordinationtohisclericalstudiesandduties，alsodistinguishedthepastorofCairnvreckan，andhadtingedhismindinearlierdayswithaslightfeelingofromance，whichnoafterincidentsofreallifehadentirelydissipated。Theearlylossofanamiableyoungwoman，whomhehadmarriedforlove，andwhowasquicklyfollowedtothegravebyanonlychild，hadalsoserved，evenafterthelapseofmanyyears，tosoftenadispositionnaturallymildandcontemplative。
Hisfeelingsonthepresentoccasionwerethereforelikelytodifferfromthoseoftheseveredisciplinarian，strictmagistrate，anddistrustfulmanoftheworld。