is it was that gave me a thought. No apology could blot out what I
had said; it was needless to think of one, none could cover the offence;
but where an apology was vain, a mere cry for help might bring Alan back
to my side. I put my pride away from me. "Alan!" I said; "if you canna
help me, I must just die here."

He started up sitting, and looked at me.

"It's true," said I. "I'm by with it. O let me get into the bield of a
house--I can die there easier." I had no need to pretend; whether I
chose or not, I spoke in a weeping voice that would have melted a heart
of stone.

"Can ye walk?" asked Alan.

"No," said I, "not without help. This last hour my legs have been
fainting under me; I've a stitch in my side like a red-hot iron; I canna
breathe right. If I die, ye'll can forgive me, Alan? In my heart I liked
ye fine--even when I was the angriest."

"Wheesht, wheesht!" cried Alan. "Dinna say that! David man, ye ken----"
He shut his mouth upon a sob. "Let me get my arm about ye," he
continued; "that's the way! Now lean upon me hard. Gude kens where
there's a house! We're in Balwhidder, too; there should be no want of
houses, no, nor friends' houses here. Do ye gang easier so, Davie?"

"Ay," said I, "I can be doing this way"; and I pressed his arm with my
hand.

Again he came near sobbing. "Davie," said he, "I'm no' a right man at
all; I have neither sense nor kindness; I couldna remember ye were just
a bairn, I couldna see ye were dying on your feet; Davie, ye'll have to
try and forgive me."

"O man, let's say no more about it!" said I. "We're neither one of us to
mend the other--that's the truth! We must just bear and forbear, man
Alan.--O but my stitch is sore! Is there nae house?"

"I'll find a house to ye, David," he said stoutly. "We'll follow down
the burn, where there's bound to be houses. My poor man, will ye no' be
better on my back?"

"O Alan," says I, "and me a good twelve inches taller?"

"Ye're no such a thing," cried Alan, with a start. "There may be a
trifling matter of an inch or two; I'm no' saying I'm just exactly what
ye would call a tall man, whatever; and I daresay," he added, his voice
tailing off in a laughable manner, "now when I come to think of it, I
daresay ye'll be just about right. Ay, it'll be a foot, or near-hand; or
maybe even mair!"

It was sweet and laughable to hear Alan eat his words up in the fear of
some fresh quarrel. I could have laughed, had not my stitch caught me