Fiction > Book editions > London, 1886 - Kidnapped

I RUN A GREAT DANGER IN THE HOUSE OF SHAWS.  31
far off among the hills. I said to myself there was
something thundery and changeful in the weather, and
little knew of what a vast importance that should prove
to me before the evening passed.
When I was called in again, my uncle counted out
into my hand seven and thirty golden guinea pieces;
the rest was in his hand, in small gold and silver ; but
his heart failed him there, and he crammed the change
into his pocket.
"There," said he, "that'll show you! I'm a queer
man, and strange wi' strangers; but my word is my
bond, and there's the proof of it."
Now, my uncle seemed so miserly that I was struck
dumb by this sudden generosity, and could find no words
in which to thank him.
"No a word!" said he. "Nae thanks; I want nae
thanks. I do my duty; I'm no saying that everybody
would have done it; but for my part (though I'm a care-
ful body, too) it's a pleasure to me to do the right by my
brother's son; and it's a pleasure to me to think that
now we'll agree as such near friends should."
I spoke him in return as handsomely as I was able;
but all the while I was wondering what would come
next, and why he had parted with his precious guineas;
for as to the reason he had given, a baby would have
refused it.
Presently, he looked towards me sideways.
"And see here," says he, "tit for tat."
I told him I was ready to prove my gratitude in any