Oh, if you repent you of your bargain, and if it be one which you may break off without disgrace to your truth or your manhood, take back his silver, and trust not to his fair words." "It may not be, mother," said Hamish; "I do not repent my engagement, unless that it must make me leave you soon." "Leave me! how leave me?
Silly boy, think you I know not what duty belongs to the wife or mother of a daring man?
Thou art but a boy yet; and when thy father had been the dread of the country for twenty years, he did not despise my company and assistance, but often said my help was worth that of two strong gillies." "It is not on that score, mother, but since I must leave the country--" "Leave the country!" replied his mother, interrupting him.

"And think you that I am like a bush, that is rooted to the soil where it grows, and must die if carried elsewhere?
I have breathed other winds than these of Ben Cruachan.

I have followed your father to the wilds of Ross and the impenetrable deserts of Y Mac Y Mhor.

Tush, man! my limbs, old as they are, will bear me as far as your young feet can trace the way." "Alas, mother," said the young man, with a faltering accent, "but to cross the sea--" "The sea! who am I that I should fear the sea?
Have I never been in a birling in my life--never known the Sound of Mull, the Isles of Treshornish, and the rough rocks of Harris ?" "Alas, mother, I go far--far from all of these.

I am enlisted in one of the new regiments, and we go against the French in America." "Enlisted!" uttered the astonished mother--"against MY will--without MY consent! You could not! you would not!" Then rising up, and assuming a posture of almost imperial command, "Hamish, you DARED not!" "Despair, mother, dares everything," answered Hamish, in a tone of melancholy resolution.