第25章

’“ThenIamyourfaithfulguardian，AlanBrandirofLochAwe；calledLordAlanBrandir，sonofaworthypeerofScotland。Nowwillyouconfideinme？“

’“Iconfideinyou!“Icried，lookingathimwithamazement；“why，youarenotolderthanIam!“

’“YesIam，threeyearsatleast。You，myward，arenotsixteen。I，yourworshipfulguardian，amalmostnineteenyearsofage。“

’UponhearingthisIlookedathim，forthatseemedthenavenerableage；butthemoreIlookedthemoreI

doubted，althoughhewasdressedquitelikeaman。Heledmeinacourtlymanner，steppingathistallesttoanopenplacebesidethewater；wherethelightcameasinchannel，andwasmadethemostofbyglancingwavesandfairwhitestones。

’“NowamItoyourliking，cousin？“heasked，whenI

hadgazedathim，untilIwasalmostashamed，exceptatsuchastripling。“DoesmyCousinLornajudgekindlyofherguardian，andhernearestkinsman？Inaword，isouradmirationmutual？“

’“TrulyIknownot，“Isaid；“butyouseemgood-natured，andtohavenoharminyou。Dotheytrustyouwithasword？“

’Forinmyusageamongmenofstatureandstrongpresence，thisprettyyouth，sotrickedandslender，seemednothingbutadolltome。Althoughhescaredmeinthewood，nowthatIsawhimingoodtwilight，lo!

hewasbutlittlegreaterthanmylittleself；andsotasselledandsoruffledwithamintofbravery，andagreencoatbarredwithred，andaslimswordhangingunderhim，itwastheutmostIcoulddotolookathimhalf-gravely。

’“Ifearthatmypresencehathscarceenoughofferocityaboutit“(hegaveajerktohisswordashespoke，andclankeditonthebrook-stones)；“yetdoI

assureyou，cousin，thatIamnotwithoutsomeprowess；

andmanyamasterofdefencehaththisgoodswordofminedisarmed。Nowiftheboldestandbiggestrobberinallthischarmingvalleydurstsomuchasbreathethescentofthatflowercoronal，whichdothnotadornbutisadorned“——herehetalkedsomenonsense——“Iwouldcleavehimfromheadtofoot，ereeverhecouldflyorcry。“

’“Hush!“Isaid；“talknotsoloudly，orthoumaysthavetodoboththyself，anddothembothinvain。“

’Forhewasquiteforgettingnow，inhisbraverybeforeme，wherehestood，andwithwhomhespoke，andhowthesummerlightningshoneabovethehillsanddownthehollow。AndasIgazedonthisslightfairyouth，clearlyoneofhighbirthandbreeding(albeitover-boastful)，achilloffearcreptoverme；becausehehadnostrengthorsubstance，andwouldbenomorethanapin-cushionbeforethegreatswordsoftheDoones。

’“Iprayyoubenotvexedwithme，“heanswered，inasoftervoice；“forIhavetravelledfarandsorely，forthesakeofseeingyou。IknowrightwellamongwhomI

am，andthattheirhospitalityismoreoftheknifethanthesalt-stand。NeverthelessIamsafeenough，formyfootisthefleetestinScotland，andwhatarethesehillstome？Tush!Ihaveseensomeborderforaysamongwilderspiritsandcraftiermenthanthesebe。OnceImindsomeyearsagone，whenIwasquiteastriplinglad——“

’“Worshipfulguardian，“Isaid，“thereisnotimenowforhistory。Ifthouartinnohaste，Iam，andcannotstayhereidling。OnlytellmehowIamakinandunderwardshiptothee，andwhatpurposebringstheehere。“

’“Inorder，cousin——allthingsinorder，evenwithfairladies。First，Iamthyuncle’sson，myfatheristhymother’sbrother，oratleastthygrandmother’s——unlessIamdeceivedinthatwhichIhaveguessed，andnootherman。Formyfather，beingaleadinglordinthecouncilsofKingCharlestheSecond，appointedmetolearnthelaw，notformylivelihood，thankGod，butbecausehefeltthelackofitinaffairsofstate。

Butfirstyourleave，youngMistressLorna；Icannotlaydownlegalmaxims，withoutaidofsmoke。“

’Heleanedagainstawillow-tree，anddrawingfromagildedboxalittledarkthinglikeastick，placeditbetweenhislips，andthenstrikingaflintonsteelmadefireandcaughtitupontouchwood。Withthishekindledthetipofthestick，untilitglowedwitharingofred，andthenhebreathedforthcurlsofsmoke，blueandsmellingontheairlikespice。Ihadneverseenthisdonebefore，thoughacquaintedwithtobacco-p