came, and I went among soldier-men to their big dinners; and still

I had the same thought. And it was the same before, when I had her

there beside me. Catriona, do you see this napkin at my throat!

You cut a corner from it once and then cast it from you. They're

YOUR colours now; I wear them in my heart. My dear, I cannot be

wanting you. O, try to put up with me!"

I stepped before her so as to intercept her walking on.

"Try to put up with me," I was saying, "try and bear me with a

little."

Still she had never the word, and a fear began to rise in me like a

fear of death.

"Catriona," I cried, gazing on her hard, "is it a mistake again?

Am I quite lost?"

She raised her face to me, breathless.

"Do you want me, Davie, truly?" said she, and I scarce could hear

her say it.

"I do that," said I. "O, sure you know it--I do that."

"I have nothing left to give or to keep back," said she. "I was

all yours from the first day, if you would have had a gift of me!"

she said,

This was on the summit of a brae; the place was windy and

conspicuous, we were to be seen there even from the English ship;

but I kneeled down before her in the sand, and embraced her knees,

and burst into that storm of weeping that I thought it must have

broken me. All thought was wholly beaten from my mind by the

vehemency of my discomposure. I knew not where I was. I had

forgot why I was happy; only I knew she stooped, and I felt her

cherish me to her face and bosom, and heard her words out of a

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