Chapter 27

           ThenextdayitwasagreedthatAlanshouldfendforhimselftillsunset;butassoonasitbegantogrowdark,heshouldlieinthefieldsbytheroadsideneartoNewhalls,andstirfornaughtuntilheheardmewhistling.AtfirstIproposedIshouldgivehimforasignalthe“BonnieHouseofAirlie,”whichwasafavouriteofmine;butheobjectedthatasthepiecewasverycommonlyknown,anyploughmanmightwhistleitbyaccident;andtaughtmeinsteadalittlefragmentofaHighlandair,whichhasruninmyheadfromthatdaytothis,andwilllikelyruninmyheadwhenIliedying.Everytimeitcomestome,ittakesmeofftothatlastdayofmyuncertainty,withAlansittingupinthebottomoftheden,whistlingandbeatingthemeasurewithafinger,andthegreyofthedawncomingonhisface.

           IwasinthelongstreetofQueensferrybeforethesunwasup.Itwasafairlybuiltburgh,thehousesofgoodstone,manyslated;thetown-hallnotsofine,Ithought,asthatofPeebles,noryetthestreetsonoble;buttakeitaltogether,itputmetoshameformyfoultatters.

           Asthemorningwenton,andthefiresbegantobekindled,andthewindowstoopen,andthepeopletoappearoutofthehouses,myconcernanddespondencygrewevertheblacker.IsawnowthatIhadnogroundstostandupon;andnoclearproofofmyrights,norsomuchasofmyownidentity.Ifitwasallabubble,Iwasindeedsorelycheatedandleftinasorepass.