Kidnapped
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‘Why, very well said,’ replied Mr. Campbell, heartily. ‘And
now to come to the material, or (to make a quibble) to the immaterial. I have
here a little packet which contains four things.’ He tugged it, as he spoke,
and with some great difficulty, from the skirt pocket of his coat. ‘Of these
four things, the first is your legal due: the little pickle money for your
father’s books and plenishing, which I have bought (as I have explained from
the first) in the design of re-selling at a profit to the incoming dominie. The
other three are gifties that Mrs. Campbell and myself would be blithe of your
acceptance. The first, which is round, will likely please ye best at the first
off-go; but, O Davie, laddie, it’s but a drop of water in the sea; it’ll help
you but a step, and vanish like the morning. The second, which is flat and
square and written upon, will stand by you through life, like a good staff for
the road, and a good pillow to your head in sickness. And as for the last,
which is cubical, that’ll see you, it’s my prayerful wish, into a better land.’
With that he got upon his feet, took off his hat, and prayed
a little while aloud, and in affecting terms, for a young man setting out into
the world; then suddenly took me in his arms and embraced me very hard; then
held me at arm’s length, looking at me with his face all working with sorrow;
and then whipped about, and crying good-bye to me, set off backward by the way
that we had come at a sort of jogging run. It might have been laughable to
another; but I was in no mind to laugh. I watched him as long as he was in
sight; and he never stopped hurrying, nor once looked back. Then it came in
upon my mind that this was all his sorrow at my departure; and my conscience
smote me hard and fast, because I, for my part, was overjoyed to get away out
of that quiet country-side, and go to a great, busy house, among rich and
respected gentlefolk of my own name and blood.
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