[David Balfour, Second Part by Robert Louis Stevenson]@TWC D-Link book
David Balfour, Second Part

CHAPTER XXIII
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I suppose it was in the lane where the women jostled us; but there is only the one thing certain, that my purse was gone.
"You will have thought of something good," said she, observing me to pause.
At the pinch we were in, my mind became suddenly clear as a perspective glass, and I saw there was no choice of methods.

I had not one doit of coin, but in my pocket-book I had still my letter on the Leyden merchant; and there was now but the one way to get to Leyden, and that was to walk on our two feet.
"Catriona," said I, "I know you're brave and I believe you're strong, do you think you could walk thirty miles on a plain road ?" We found it, I believe, scarce the two-thirds of that, but such was my notion of the distance.
"David," she said, "if you will just keep near, I will go anywhere and do anything.

The courage of my heart, it is all broken.

Do not be leaving me in this horrible country by myself, and I will do all else." "Can you start now and march all night ?" said I.
"I will do all that you can ask of me," she said, "and never ask you why.

I have been a bad ungrateful girl to you; and do what you please with me now! And I think Miss Barbara Grant is the best lady in the world," she added, "and I do not see what she would deny you for at all events." This was Greek and Hebrew to me; but I had other matters to consider, and the first of these was to get clear of that city on the Leyden road.
It proved a cruel problem; and it may have been one or two at night ere we had solved it.


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