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Updated: June 8, 2025
If this is the way I am to fall, and me scarce a man if this is the story to be told of me in all Scotland if you are to believe it too, and my name is to be nothing but a byword Catriona, how can I go through with it? The thing's not possible; it's more than a man has in his heart."
So, in a moment, I could lay all these troubles by, which were after all and truly none of mine; swim clear of the Appin Murder; get forth out of hand-stroke of all the Stewarts and Campbells, all the Whigs and Tories, in the land; and live henceforth to my own mind, and be able to enjoy and to improve my fortunes, and devote some hours of my youth to courting Catriona, which would be surely a more suitable occupation than to hide and run and be followed like a hunted thief, and begin over again the dreadful miseries of my escape with Alan.
"Come, come," said he, "you are more affected than you let on, or you would never make yourself out so lonely. Here are three letters; that means three that wish you well; and I could name two more, here in this very chamber. I have known you not so very long, but Catriona, when we are alone, is never done with the singing of your praises."
I heard a whistle sound loud and brief like a signal, and looking all about, spied for one moment the red head of Neil of the Tom, the son of Duncan. The next moment he was gone again, nor could I see so much as the skirt-tail of Catriona, upon whom I naturally supposed him to be then attending.
I wish you would keep my name in mind for the sake of Balwhidder," said I, "and I will yours for the sake of my lucky day." "My name is not spoken," she replied, with a great deal of haughtiness. "More than a hundred years it has not gone upon men's tongues, save for a blink. I am nameless, like the Folk of Peace. Catriona Drummond is the one I use." Now indeed I knew where I was standing.
This I found easy enough, where it grew on a steep brae, with the mill-lade flowing swift and deep along the foot of it: and here I began to walk slower and to reflect more reasonably on my employment. I saw I had made but a fool's bargain with Catriona.
Of a sudden I sat up. Who could blame me? Not Stewart the Writer; I had but to say that I was followed, despaired of getting clear, and so gave in. Not Catriona: here, too, I had my answer ready; that I could not bear she should expose her father.
I bethought me, if I had a sister indeed, whether I would so expose her; then, judging the case too problematical, I varied my question into this, whether I would so trust Catriona in the hands of any other Christian being; the answer to which made my face to burn.
For however this extraordinary interview might end, it must pass if possible without waking Catriona; and the one thing needful was that we should sit close and talk low. "Well?" says he. And "Well" I began, but found myself unable to go further. "You tell me she is here?" said he again, but now with a spice of impatiency that seemed to brace me up.
The walking was besides made most extraordinary difficult by a plain black frost that fell suddenly in the small hours and turned that highway into one long slide. "Well, Catriona," said I, "here we are like the king's sons and the old wives' daughters in your daft-like Highland tales.
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