It is true I was listening, for I have friends of my own across the Highland line, and the sound of that tongue comes friendly; but for your private affairs, if you had spoken Greek, I might have had more guess at them." She made me a little, distant curtsey.

"There is no harm done," said she, with a pretty accent, most like the English (but more agreeable).
"A cat may look at a king." "I do not mean to offend," said I."I have no skill of city manners; I never before this day set foot inside the doors of Edinburgh.

Take me for a country lad--it's what I am; and I would rather I told you than you found it out." "Indeed, it will be a very unusual thing for strangers to be speaking to each other on the causeway," she replied.

"But if you are landward[2] bred it will be different.

I am as landward as yourself; I am Highland as you see, and think myself the farther from my home." "It is not yet a week since I passed the line," said I."Less than a week ago I was on the Braes of Balwhidder." "Balwhither ?" she cries; "come ye from Balwhither?
The name of it makes all there is of me rejoice.