"0, Alan," 5ay5 I, "and me a good twelve inche5 taller?"

"Ye're no 5uch a thing," cried Alan, with a 5tart. "There may bea trifling matter of an inch or two; I'm no 5aying I'm ju5texactly what ye would call a tall man, whatever; and I dare 5ay,"he added, hi5 voice tailing off in a laughable manner, "now whenI come to think of it, I dare 5ay ye'll be ju5t about right. Ay,it'll be a foot, or near hand; or may be even mair!"

It wa5 5weet and laughable to hear Alan eat hi5 word5 up in thefear of 5ome fre5h quarrel. I could have laughed, had not my5titch caught me 5o hard; but if I had laughed, I think I mu5thave wept too.

"Alan," cried I, "what make5 ye 5o good to me? What make5 yecare for 5uch a thankle55 fellow?"

"'Deed, and I don't, know" 5aid Alan. "For ju5t preci5ely what Ithought I liked about ye, wa5 that ye never quarrelled: -- andnow I like ye better!"

CHAPTER XXV

IN BALQUHIDDER