Catriona

nd some of the chief of these merchants bowing me from their doors. Two days before, and even so late as yestermorning, I was like a beggar-man by the wayside, c

a bank porter by me carrying my gold, recommendations in my pocke

e moorland braes, the sea-sands and the still country-sides that I had frequented up to then. The throng of the citizens in particular abashed me. Rankeillor's son was short and small in the girth; his clothes scarce held on me; and it was plain I was ill qualified to strut in the front of a ban

o that servants should respect me. Thence to an armourer's, where I got a plain sword, to suit with my degree in life. I felt safer with the weapon, though (for

but an I had been you, I would has waired my siller better-gates than that." And he proposed I should buy wint

city, had grown to form a brotherhood of spies; and I knew from tales of Mr. Campbell's how they communicated one with another, what a rage of curiosity they conceived as to their employer's business, and how they were like eyes and fingers to the police. It would be a piece of little wisdom, the way I was now placed, to take such a ferret to my tails. I had three visits to make, all immediately needful: to my kinsman Mr. Balfour of Pilrig, to Stewart the Writer that was Appin's agent, and to William Grant Esquire of Prestongrange, Lord Advocate of Scotland. Mr. Balfour's was a non-committal visit; and besides (Pilrig being in the country) I made bold to find the way to it myself, with the help of my two legs and a Scots tongue. But the rest were in a different case. Not only was the visit to Appin's agent, in the mi

d bulged out, one storey beyond another, as they rose. At the top only a ribbon of sky showed in. By what I could spy in the windows, and by the re

. He walked with a stoop that was like a piece of courtesy, genteel and insinuating: he waved his hands plausibly as he went, and his face was sly and handsome. I thought his eye took me in, but could not meet

ies, such as I had seen the matches of by the dozen in my Highland journey. They all spoke together earnestly in Gaelic, the sound of which was pleasant in my ears for the sake of Alan; and, though the rain was by again, and my porter plucked at me to be going, I even drew nearer where they were, to listen. The lady scolded sharply, the oth

why; it just seems it was the thing he wanted. She had wonderful bright eyes like stars, and I daresay the eyes had a part in it; but what I remember the most clearly was the way her lips were a trifle open as she tur

ir, and at the sight of my colouring it is to be supposed she drew her own conclusions, for she moved h

o pursue my common practice, since I had met this young lady in the city street, seemingly following a prisoner, and accompanied with two very ragged indecent-like Highlandmen. But there was here a different ingredient; it was plain the girl thought

d took off my new hat to he

as listening, for I have friends of my own across the Highland line, and the sound of that tongue comes

m done," said she, with a pretty accent, most like the

before this day set foot inside the doors of Edinburgh. Take me for a count

causeway," she replied. "But if you are landward [2] bred it will be different. I am as l

the line," said I. "Less than a week

of it makes all there is of me rejoice. You will not have be

st, kind man called Dunca

he true name!" she said; "and if he is a

fine people, and the p

!" she cries; "I am loving the smell of t

ow it seems we have common acquaintance, I make it my petition you will not forget me. David Balfour is the name I am known by. This is my lucky day, when I have just come into a l

than a hundred years it has not gone upon men's tongues, save for a blink. I

ut the one name proscribed, and that was the name of the Macgregors. Yet

case with yourself," said I, "and I think he will

cries she.

e night with

l of the nig

here," I went on, "so you m

That was his brother there a moment since, with the

. "Are you a daught

daughter of a prisoner; that I should forget it

eaning by that himself) was to do about "ta sneeshin." I took some note of him for a s

in,' wanting siller! It will teach you another time to be more careful; a

. Here I am, and a bank-porter at my tail. And remember I

of my people gav

pon the pipes. Besides which, I have offered myself to be your friend, and

I will tell you what this is. James More lies shackled in prison; but this t

s!" I cried. "

e dawned for him. All this same time they will not let me be seeing him, nor yet him write; and we wait upon the King's street to catch him; and now we give him his snuff as he goes by, and now someth

and bade him go about his errand. Then to her, "T

"you are a frien

More and his doings, but since the while I have been standing in this close, I seem to know something

be without the o

even try

myself!" she cried, "to be holdi

g but that you are a

repaying it," she said;

t full three hours in the city; but if you will give me your dire

ust you for th

ve little fe

lage of Dean, on the north side of the water, with Mrs. Drummond-Ogil

permits," said I; and, the remembrance of Alan rollin

rt acquaintance, and that a really wise young lady would have shown herself more back

"Ye're no likely to gang far this gate. A fule and his siller's shune parted. Eh, bu

eak of the young l

dy? Ca' thon a leddy? The toun's fu' o' them. Leddie

f anger

where I told you, and k

me directly, he very impudent sang at me as he went in a m

oun the street, her

k ahint her to

east and wast, w

st and wast cour