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At Torosay, on the Sound of Mull and looking over to the mainland of Morven, there was an inn with an innkeeper, who was a Maclean, it appeared, of a very high family; for to keep an inn is thought even more genteel in the Highlands than it is with us, perhaps as partaking of hospitality, or perhaps because the trade is idle and drunken.
"Why, yes!" said I, in some wonder. "Well, then," said the old gentleman, "I have a word for you, that you are to follow your friend to his country, by Torosay." He then asked me how I had fared, and I told him my tale.
At the mention of the five shillings he cried out so loud that I made up my mind I should say nothing of the other two, and was glad he could not see my blushes. "Was it too much?" I asked, a little faltering. "Too much!" cries he. "Why, I will guide you to Torosay myself for a dram of brandy.
Thereupon, the man of the house, who had hitherto pretended to have no English, and driven me from his door by signals, suddenly began to speak as clearly as was needful, and agreed for five shillings to give me a night's lodging and guide me the next day to Torosay.
"Why, yes!" said I, in some wonder. "Well, then," said the old gentleman, "I have a word for you, that you are to follow your friend to his country, by Torosay." He then asked me how I had fared, and I told him my tale.
At Torosay, on the Sound of Mull, and looking over to the mainland of Morven, there was an inn with an innkeeper, who was a Maclean, it appeared, of a very high family; for to keep an inn is thought even more genteel in the Highlands than it is with us, perhaps as partaking of hospitality, or perhaps because the trade is idle and drunken.
But perhaps it was a peety," says my host, "for he is always on the road, going from one place to another to hear the young folk say their religion; and, doubtless, that is a great temptation to the poor man." Indeed I was by far in better heart and health of body at the end of that long tramp than I had been at the beginning. There is a regular ferry from Torosay to Kinlochaline on the mainland.
I knew Torosay to be my destination, and repeated the name to them and pointed; but instead of simply pointing in reply, they would give me a screed of the Gaelic that set me foolish; so it was small wonder if I went out of my road as often as I stayed in it.
At the mention of the five shillings he cried out so loud that I made up my mind I should say nothing of the other two, and was glad he could not see my blushes. "Was it too much?" I asked, a little faltering. "Too much!" cries he. "Why, I will guide you to Torosay myself for a dram of brandy.
Thereupon, the man of the house, who had hitherto pretended to have no English, and driven me from his door by signals, suddenly began to speak as clearly as was needful, and agreed for five shillings to give me a night's lodging and guide me the next day to Torosay.
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