Fiction > Book editions > Leipzig, 1888 - Kidnapped

lO KIDNAPPED.
And we began to walk forward in silence.
"Are ye sorry to leave Essendean?" said he, after
a while.
"Why, sir," said I, "if I knew where I was going,
or what was likely to become of me, I would tell you
candidly. Essendean is a good place indeed, and I have
been very happy there; but then I have never been
anywhere else. My father and mother, since they are
both dead, I shall be no nearer to in Essendean than
in the Kingdom of Hungary; and to speak truth, if I
thought I had a chance to better myself where I was
going, I would go with a good will."
"Ay?" said Mr. Campbell. "Very well, Davie.
Then it behoves me to tell your fortune; or so far as I
may. When your mother was gone, and your father
(the worthy, Christian man) began to sicken for his end,
he gave me in charge a certain letter, which he said
was your inheritance. 'So soon,' says he, *as I am gone,
and the house is redd up and the gear disposed of (all
which, Davie, hath been done) 'give my boy this letter
into his hand, and start him off to the house of Shaws,
not far from Cramond. That is the place I came from,'
he said, 'and it's where it befits that my boy should
return. He is a steady lad,' your father said, 'and a
canny goer; and I doubt not he will come safe, and be
well liked where he goes.' "
"The house of Shaws!" I cried. "What had my
poor father to do with the house of Shaws?"
"Nay," said Mr. Campbell, "who can tell that for
a surety? But the name of that family, Davie boy, is
the name you bear — Balfours of Shaws: an ancient,
honest, reputable house, peradventure in these latter