GOOD-BYE
So far as I was concerned myself, I had come to port; but I had still
Alan, to whom I was so much beholden, on my hands; and I felt besides a
heavy charge in the matter of the murder and James of the Glens. On both
these heads I unbosomed to Rankeillor the next morning, walking to and
fro about six of the clock before the house of Shaws, and with nothing
in view but the fields and woods that had been my ancestors’ and were
now mine. Even as I spoke on these grave subjects, my eye would take a
glad bit of a run over the prospect, and my heart jump with pride.
About my clear duty to my friend, the lawyer had no doubt. I must help
him out of the county at whatever risk; but in the case of James, he was
of a different mind.
“Mr. Thomson,” says he, “is one thing, Mr. Thomson’s kinsman quite
another. I know little of the facts, but I gather that a great noble
(whom we will call, if you like, the D. of A.)[36] has some concern and
is even supposed to feel some animosity in the matter. The D. of A. is
doubtless an excellent nobleman; but, Mr. David, _timeo qui nocuere
deos_. If you interfere to balk his vengeance, you should remember
there is one way to shut your testimony out; and that is to put you in
the dock. There, you would be in the same pickle as Mr. Thomson’s
kinsman. You will object that you are innocent; well, but so is he. And
to be tried for your life before a Highland jury, on a Highland quarrel
and with a Highland judge upon the bench, would be a brief transition to
the gallows.”
Now I had made all these reasonings before and found no very good reply
to them; so I put on all the simplicity I could. “In that case, sir,”
said I, “I would just have to be hanged--would I not?”
“My dear boy,” cries he, “go in God’s name, and do what you think is
right. It is a poor thought that at my time of life I should be advising
you to choose the safe and shameful; and I take it back with an apology.
Go and do your duty; and be hanged, if you must, like a gentleman. There
are worse things in the world than to be hanged.”
“Not many, sir,” said I, smiling.
“Why, yes, sir,” he cried, “very many. And it would be ten times better
for your uncle (to go no farther afield) if he were dangling decently
upon a gibbet.”
Thereupon he turned into the house (still in a great fervour of mind, so
that I saw I had pleased him heartily) and there he wrote me two
letters, making his comments on them as he wrote.
“This,” says he, “is to my bankers, the British Linen Company, placing a
credit to your name. Consult Mr. Thomson, he will know of ways; and you,
with this credit,
[Illustration: THE PARTING
_For we both knew without a word said that we had come to where our ways
parted_]
can supply the means. I trust you will be a good husband of your money;
but in the affair of a friend like Mr. Thomson, I would be even
prodigal. Then for his kinsman, there is no better way than that you
should seek the Advocate, tell him your tale, and offer testimony;
whether he may take it or not, is quite another matter, and will turn on
the D. of A. Now, that you may reach the Lord Advocate well recommended,
I give you here a letter to a namesake of your own, the learned Mr.
Balfour of Pilrig, a man whom I esteem. It will look better that you
should be presented by one of your own name; and the laird of Pilrig is
much looked up to in the Faculty and stands well with Lord Advocate
Grant. I would not trouble him, if I were you, with any particulars; and
(do you know?) I think it would be needless to refer to Mr. Thomson.
Form yourself upon the laird, he is a good model; when you deal with the
Advocate, be discreet; and in all these matters, may the Lord guide you,
Mr. David!”
Thereupon he took his farewell, and set out with Torrance for the Ferry,
while Alan and I turned our faces for the city of Edinburgh. As we went
by the footpath and beside the gateposts and the unfinished lodge, we
kept looking back at the house of my fathers. It stood there, bare and
great and smokeless, like a place not lived in; only in one of the top
windows, there was the peak of a nightcap bobbing up and down and back
and forward, like the head of a rabbit from a burrow. I had little
welcome when I came, and less kindness while I stayed; but at least I
was watched as I went away.
Alan and I went slowly forward upon our way, having little heart either
to walk or speak. The same thought was uppermost in both, that we were
near the time of our parting; and remembrance of all the bygone days
sate upon us sorely. We talked indeed of what should be done; and it was
resolved that Alan should keep to the county, biding now here, now
there, but coming once in the day to a particular place where I might be
able to communicate with him, either in my own person or by messenger.
In the meanwhile, I was to seek out a lawyer, who was an Appin Stewart,
and a man therefore to be wholly trusted; and it should be his part to
find a ship and to arrange for Alan’s safe embarkation. No sooner was
this business done, than the words seemed to leave us; and though I
would seek to jest with Alan under the name of Mr. Thomson, and he with
me on my new clothes and my estate, you could feel very well that we
were nearer tears than laughter.
We came the by-way over the hill of Corstorphine; and when we got near
to the place called Rest-and-be-Thankful, and looked down on
Corstorphine bogs and over to the city and the castle on the hill, we
both stopped, for we both knew without a word said that we had come to
where our ways parted. Here he repeated to me once again what had been
agreed upon between us: the address of the lawyer, the daily hour at
which Alan might be found, and the signals that were to be made by any
that came seeking him. Then I gave what money I had (a guinea or two of
Rankeillor’s) so that he should not starve in the meanwhile; and then we
stood a space, and looked over at Edinburgh in silence.
“Well, good-bye,” said Alan, and held out his left hand.
“Good-bye,” said I, and gave the hand a little grasp, and went off down
hill.
Neither one of us looked the other in the face, nor so long as he was in
my view did I take one back glance at the friend I was leaving. But as I
went on my way to the city, I felt so lost and lonesome, that I could
have found it in my heart to sit down by the dyke, and cry and weep like
any baby.
It was coming near noon when I passed in by the West Kirk and the
Grassmarket into the streets of the capital. The huge height of the
buildings, running up to ten and fifteen storeys, the narrow arched
entries that continually vomited passengers, the wares of the merchants
in their windows, the hubbub and endless stir, the foul smells and the
fine clothes, and a hundred other particulars too small to mention,
struck me into a kind of stupor of surprise, so that I let the crowd
carry me to and fro; and yet all the time what I was thinking of was
Alan at Rest-and-be-Thankful; and all the time (although you would think
I would not choose but be delighted with these braws and novelties)
there was a cold gnawing in my inside like a remorse for something
wrong.
The hand of Providence brought me in my drifting to the very doors of
the British Linen Company’s bank.
* * * * *
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DAVID BALFOUR
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KIDNAPPED
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_By Eugene Field_
POEMS OF CHILDHOOD
_By Jules Verne_
MICHAEL STROGOFF
THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
_By Frances Hodgson Burnett_
LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY
A LITTLE PRINCESS
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PETER PAN AND WENDY
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THE DEERSLAYER
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QUENTIN DURWARD
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SMOKY
_By_ WILL JAMES
LONE COWBOY
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DRUMS
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THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED
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THE CHILDREN’S BIBLE
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CHARLES FOSTER KENT
JINGLEBOB
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THE STORY OF ROLAND
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THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME
_By_ JOHN FOX, JR.
THE SCOTTISH CHIEFS
_By_ JANE PORTER
WESTWARD HO!
_By_ CHARLES KINGSLEY
GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES
THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS
_By_ J. FENIMORE COOPER
THE BOY’S KING ARTHUR
_By_ SIDNEY LANIER
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
THE CHILDREN OF DICKENS
_By_ SAMUEL MCCHORD CROTHERS
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
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THE QUEEN’S MUSEUM AND OTHER FANCIFUL TALES
_By_ FRANK R. STOCKTON
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Moistens.
[2] Dark as the pit.
[3] Sold up.
[4] Agent.
[5] Unwilling.
[6] Look.
[7] Rope.
[8] Report.
[9] Fox.
[10] Stroke.
[11] Blow.
[12] Befool.
[13] Whig or Whigamore was the cant name for those who were loyal to
King George.
[14] Reaching.
[15] Bungled.
[16] Coble: a small boat used in fishing.
[17] Careful
[18] Duck.
[19] Part.
[20] Bag.
[21] Blame.
[22] Mad.
[23] Blame.
[24] The rallying-word of the Campbells.
[25] Brisk.
[26] A bouman is a tenant who takes stock from the landlord and shares
with him the increase.
[27] Village fair.
[28] Condiment.
[29] A second sermon.
[30] Commercial traveller.
[31] Rumour.
[32] Hollow.
[33] Newly rough-cast.
[34] Dealings.
[35] Troublesome.
[36] The Duke of Argyle.