Kidnapped [antikvár]

CHAPTER II SET OFF UPON MY JOURNEY TO THE HOUSE OF SHAWSI will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of graee 1751. when I took the key for the last time out of the door of my father's house. The sun began to shine upon the summit of the hills as I went down the road; and by the time I had come as far as the manse, the blackbirds were whistling in the garden lilacs.Mr. Campbell, the minister of Essendean, was waiting for me by the garden gate, good man !"Well, Davie, lad," said he, "I will go with you as far as the ford, to set you on the way."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 teil you candidly.""Ay ?" said Mr. Campbell. "Very well, Davie. Then it be-hoves me to teil your fortune ; or so far as I may. When your mother was gone, and your father 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, 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'."j3