and the rest can very well wait.
Come, lose no more time, if you please."

His tone was so cutting that I managed to do as he bid by a sort of
instinct, my mind being all the time quite lost. No sooner had I picked
up the portmanteaus than he turned his back and marched off through the
long shrubbery, where it began already to be dusk, for the wood is thick
and evergreen. I followed behind, loaded almost to the dust, though I
profess I was not conscious of the burthen; being swallowed up in the
monstrosity of this return, and my mind flying like a weaver's shuttle.

On a sudden I set the portmanteaus to the ground and halted. He turned
and looked back at me.

"Well?" said he.

"You are the Master of Ballantrae?"

"You will do me the justice to observe," says he, "that I have made no
secret with the astute Mackellar."

"And in the name of God," cries I, "what brings you here? Go back, while
it is yet time."

"I thank you," said he. "Your master has chosen this way, and not I; but
since he has made the choice, he (and you also) must abide by the
result.--And now pick up these things of mine, which you have set down
in a very boggy place, and attend to that which I have made your
business."

But I had no thought now of obedience; I came straight up to him. "If
nothing will move you to go back," said I; "though, sure, under all the
circumstances, any Christian, or even any gentleman, would scruple to go
forward...."

"These are gratifying expressions," he threw in.

"If nothing will move you to go back," I continued, "there are still
some decencies to be observed. Wait here with your baggage, and I will
go forward and prepare your family. Your father is an old man; and ..." I
stumbled ... "there are decencies to be observed."

"Truly," said he, "this Mackellar improves upon acquaintance. But look
you here, my man, and understand it once for all--you waste your breath
upon me, and I go my own way with inevitable motion."

"Ah!" says I. "Is that so? We shall see then!"

And I turned and took to my heels for Durrisdeer. He clutched at me, and
cried out angrily, and then I believe I heard him laugh, and then I am
certain he pursued me for a step or two, and (I suppose) desisted. One
thing at least is sure, that I came but a few minutes later to the door
of the great house, nearly strangled for the lack of breath, but quite
alone. Straight up the stair I ran, and burst into the hall, and stopped
before the fami