Викрадений

           Thedaycametoanendwiththesamebrightness;thenightfellquietandclear;lightscameoutinhousesandhamletsandthen,oneafteranother,begantobeputout;butitwaspasteleven,andwewerelongsincestrangelytorturedwithanxieties,beforeweheardthegrindingofoarsupontherowing-pins.Atthat,welookedoutandsawthelassherselfcomingrowingtousinaboat.Shehadtrustednoonewithouraffairs,notevenhersweetheart,ifshehadone;butassoonasherfatherwasasleep,hadleftthehousebyawindow,stolenaneighbour’sboat,andcometoourassistancesingle-handed.

           Iwasabashedhowtofindexpressionformythanks;butshewasnolessabashedatthethoughtofhearingthem;beggedustolosenotimeandtoholdourpeace,saying(veryproperly)thattheheartofourmatterwasinhasteandsilence;andso,whatwithonethingandanother,shehadsetusontheLothianshorenotfarfromCarriden,hadshakenhandswithus,andwasoutagainatseaandrowingforLimekilns,beforetherewasonewordsaideitherofherserviceorourgratitude.

           Evenaftershewasgone,wehadnothingtosay,asindeednothingwasenoughforsuchakindness.OnlyAlanstoodagreatwhileupontheshoreshakinghishead.

           “Itisaveryfinelass,”hesaidatlast.“David,itisaveryfinelass.”Andamatterofanhourlater,aswewerelyinginadenonthesea-shoreandIhadbeenalreadydozing,hebrokeoutagainincommendationsofhercharacter