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Chapter 21
Ithoughtofitallthemore,too,whentheboumanbroughtoutagreenpursewithfourguineasingold,andthebestpartofanotherinsmallchange.True,itwasmorethanIhad.ButthenAlan,withlessthanfiveguineas,hadtogetasfarasFrance;I,withmylessthantwo,notbeyondQueensferry;sothattakingthingsintheirproportion,Alan’ssocietywasnotonlyaperiltomylife,butaburdenonmypurse.
Buttherewasnothoughtofthesortinthehonestheadofmycompanion.Hebelievedhewasserving,helping,andprotectingme.AndwhatcouldIdobutholdmypeace,andchafe,andtakemychanceofit?
“It’slittleenough,”saidAlan,puttingthepurseinhispocket,“butit’lldomybusiness.Andnow,JohnBreck,ifyewillhandmeovermybutton,thisgentlemanandmewillbefortakingtheroad.”
Butthebouman,afterfeelingaboutinahairypursethathunginfrontofhimintheHighlandmanner(thoughheworeotherwisetheLowlandhabit,withsea-trousers),begantorollhiseyesstrangely,andatlastsaid,“Hernainselwilllossit,”meaninghethoughthehadlostit.
“What!”criedAlan,“youwilllosemybutton,thatwasmyfather’sbeforeme?NowIwilltellyouwhatisinmymind,JohnBreck:itisinmymindthisistheworstday’sworkthateveryedidsinceyewasborn.”
AndasAlanspoke,hesethishandsonhiskneesandlookedattheboumanwithasmilingmouth,andthatdancinglightinhiseyesthatmeantmischieftohisenemies
