Похищенный

           ”

           “Ineversaidyouwere,”saidI,whichwasexactlytherude,sillyspeechofaboyoften.

           Alanmadenoansweratthetime,buthisconductansweredforhim.Henceforth,itistobethought,hequiteforgavehimselffortheaffairatCluny’s;cockedhishatagain,walkedjauntily,whistledairs,andlookedatmeupononesidewithaprovokingsmile.

           ThethirdnightweweretopassthroughthewesternendofthecountryofBalquhidder.Itcameclearandcold,withatouchintheairlikefrost,andanortherlywindthatblewthecloudsawayandmadethestarsbright.Thestreamswerefull,ofcourse,andstillmadeagreatnoiseamongthehills;butIobservedthatAlanthoughtnomoreupontheKelpie,andwasinhighgoodspirits.Asforme,thechangeofweathercametoolate;Ihadlaininthemiresolongthat(astheBiblehasit)myveryclothes“abhorredme.”Iwasdeadweary,deadlysickandfullofpainsandshiverings;thechillofthewindwentthroughme,andthesoundofitconfusedmyears.InthispoorstateIhadtobearfrommycompanionsomethinginthenatureofapersecution.Hespokeagooddeal,andneverwithoutataunt.“Whig”wasthebestnamehehadtogiveme.“Here,”hewouldsay,“here’sadubforyetojump,myWhiggie!Ikenyou’reafinejumper!”Andsoon;allthetimewithagibingvoiceandface.

           Iknewitwasmyowndoing,andnooneelse’s;butIwastoomiserabletorepent.