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Can'lish？' 'Fine； that！' said Candlish。 'Aweel； Tweedie had a dog
… ' The story I have forgotten； I dare say it was dull； and I
suspect it was not true； but indeed； my travels with the drove
rendered me indulgent； and perhaps even credulous； in the matter of
dog stories。 Beautiful； indefatigable beings！ as I saw them at the
end of a long day's journey frisking； barking； bounding； striking
attitudes； slanting a bushy tail； manifestly playing to the
spectator's eye； manifestly rejoicing in their grace and beauty …
and turned to observe Sim and Candlish unornamentally plodding in
the rear with the plaids about their bowed shoulders and the drop
at their snuffy nose … I thought I would rather claim kinship with
the dogs than with the men！ My sympathy was unreturned； in their
eyes I was a creature light as air； and they would scarce spare me
the time for a perfunctory caress or perhaps a hasty lap of the wet
tongue； ere they were back again in sedulous attendance on those
dingy deities； their masters … and their masters； as like as not；
damning their stupidity。
Altogether the last hours of our tramp were infinitely the most
agreeable to me； and I believe to all of us； and by the time we
came to separate； there had grown up a certain familiarity and
mutual esteem that made the parting harder。 It took place about
four of the afternoon on a bare hillside from which I could see the
ribbon of the great north road； henceforth to be my conductor。 I
asked what was to pay。
'Naething；' replied Sim。
'What in the name of folly is this？' I exclaimed。 'You have led
me； you have fed me； you have filled me full of whisky； and now you
will take nothing！'
'Ye see we indentit for that；' replied Sim。
'Indented？' I repeated； 'what does the man mean？'
'Mr。 St。 Ivy；' said Sim； 'this is a maitter entirely between
Candlish and me and the auld wife； Gilchrist。 You had naething to
say to it； weel； ye can have naething to do with it； then。'
'My good man；' said I； 'I can allow myself to be placed in no such
ridiculous position。 Mrs。 Gilchrist is nothing to me； and I refuse
to be her debtor。'
'I dinna exac'ly see what way ye're gaun to help it；' observed my
drover。
'By paying you here and now；' said I。
'There's aye twa to a bargain； Mr。 St。 Ives；' said he。
'You mean that you will not take it？' said I。
'There or thereabout；' said he。 'Forbye； that it would set ye a
heap better to keep your siller for them you awe it to。 Ye're
young； Mr。 St。 Ivy； and thoughtless； but it's my belief that； wi'
care and circumspection； ye may yet do credit to yoursel'。 But
just you bear this in mind： that him that AWES siller should never
GIE siller。'
Well； what was there to say？ I accepted his rebuke； and bidding
the pair farewell； set off alone upon my southward way。
'Mr。 St。 Ivy；' was the last word of Sim； 'I was never muckle ta'en
up in Englishry； but I think that I really ought to say that ye
seem to me to have the makings of quite a decent lad。'
CHAPTER XI … THE GREAT NORTH ROAD
IT chanced that as I went down the hill these last words of my
friend the drover echoed not unfruitfully in my head。 I had never
told these men the least particulars as to my race or fortune； as
it was a part； and the best part； of their civility to ask no
questions： yet they had dubbed me without hesitation English。 Some
strangeness in the accent they had doubtless thus explained。 And
it occurred to me； that if I could pass in Scotland for an
Englishman； I might be able to reverse the process and pass in
England for a Scot。 I thought； if I was pushed to it； I could make
a struggle to imitate the brogue； after my experience with Candlish
and Sim； I had a rich provision of outlandish words at my command；
and I felt I could tell the tale of Tweedie's dog so as to deceive
a native。 At the same time； I was afraid my name of St。 Ives was
scarcely suitable； till I remembered there was a town so called in
the province of Cornwall； thought I might yet be glad to claim it
for my place of origin； and decided for a Cornish family and a
Scots education。 For a trade； as I was equally ignorant of all；
and as the most innocent might at any moment be the means of my
exposure； it was best to pretend to none。 And I dubbed myself a
young gentleman of a sufficient fortune and an idle； curious habit
of mind； rambling the country at my own charges； in quest of
health； information； and merry adventures。
At Newcastle； which was the first town I reached； I completed my
preparations for the part； before going to the inn； by the purchase
of a knapsack and a pair of leathern gaiters。 My plaid I continued
to wear from sentiment。 It was warm； useful to sleep in if I were
again benighted； and I had discovered it to be not unbecoming for a
man of gallant carriage。 Thus equipped； I supported my character
of the light…hearted pedestrian not amiss。 Surprise was indeed
expressed that I should have selected such a season of the year；
but I pleaded some delays of business； and smilingly claimed to be
an eccentric。 The devil was in it； I would say； if any season of
the year was not good enough for me； I was not made of sugar； I was
no mollycoddle to be afraid of an ill…aired bed or a sprinkle of
snow； and I would knock upon the table with my fist and call for
t'other bottle； like the noisy and free…hearted young gentleman I
was。 It was my policy （if I may so express myself） to talk much
and say little。 At the inn tables； the country； the state of the
roads； the business interest of those who sat down with me； and the
course of public events； afforded me a considerable field in which
I might discourse at large and still communicate no information
about myself。 There was no one with less air of reticence； I
plunged into my company up to the neck； and I had a long cock…and…
bull story of an aunt of mine which must have convinced the most
suspicious of my innocence。 'What！' they would have said； 'that
young ass to be concealing anything！ Why； he has deafened me with
an aunt of his until my head aches。 He only wants you should give
him a line； and he would tell you his whole descent from Adam
downward； and his whole private fortune to the last shilling。' A
responsible solid fellow was even so much moved by pity for my
inexperience as to give me a word or two of good advice： that I was
but a young man after all … I had at this time a deceptive air of
youth that made me easily pass for one…and…twenty； and was； in the
circumstances； worth a fortune … that the company at inns was very
mingled； that I should do well to be more careful； and the like； to
all which I made answer that I meant no harm myself and expected
none from others； or the devil was in it。 'You are one of those d…
d prudent fellows that I could never abide with；' said I。 'You are
the kind of man that has a long head。 That's all the world； my
dear sir： the long…heads and the short…horns！ Now； I am a short…
horn。' 'I doubt；' says he； 'that you will not go very far without
getting sheared。' I offered to bet with him on that； and he made
off； shaking his head。
But my particular delight was to enlarge on politics and the war。
None damned the French like me； none was more bitter against the
Americans。 And when the north…bound mail arrived； crowned with
holly； and the coachman and guard hoarse with shouting victory； I
went even so far as to entertain the company to a bowl of punch；
which I compounded myself with no illiberal hand； and doled out to
such sentiments as the following：…
'Our glorious victory on the Nivelle'！ 'Lord Wellington； God bless
him！ and may victory ever attend upon his arms！' and； 'Soult； poor
devil！ and may he catch it again to the same tune！'
Never was oratory more applauded to the echo … never any one was
more of the popular man than I。 I promise you； we made a night of
it。 Some of the company supported each other； with the assistance
of boots； to their respective bedchambers； while the rest slept on
the field of glory where we had left them； and at the breakfast
table the next morning there was an extraordinary assemblage of red
eyes and shaking fists。 I observed patriotism to burn much lower
by daylight。 Let no one blame me for insensibility to the reverses
of France！ God knows how my heart raged。 How I longed to fall on
that herd of swine and knock their heads together in the moment of
their revelry！ But you are to consider my own situation and its
necessities； also a certain lightheartedness； eminently Gallic；
which forms a leading trait in my character； and leads me to throw
myself into new circumstances with the spirit of a schoolboy。 It
is possible that I sometimes allowed this impish humour to carry