`` Ay ? '' said Mr. Campbell . `` Very well , Davie . Then it behoves me to tell your fortune ; or so far as I may . When your mother was gone , and your father -LRB- the worthy , Christian man -RRB- began to sicken for his end , he gave me in charge a certain letter , which he said was your inheritance . ` So soon , ' says he , ` as I am gone , and the house is redd up and the gear disposed of ' -LRB- all which , Davie , hath been done -RRB- , ` give my boy this letter into his hand , and start him off to the house of Shaws , not far from Cramond . That is the place I came from , ' he said , ` and it 's where it befits that my boy should return . He is a steady lad , ' your father said , ` and a canny goer ; and I doubt not he will come safe , and be well lived where he goes . ' '' `` The house of Shaws ! '' I cried . `` What had my poor father to do with the house of Shaws ? '' `` Nay , '' said Mr. Campbell , `` who can tell that for a surety ? But the name of that family , Davie , boy , is the name you bear -- Balfours of Shaws : an ancient , honest , reputable house , peradventure in these latter days decayed . Your father , too , was a man of learning as befitted his position ; no man more plausibly conducted school ; nor had he the manner or the speech of a common dominie ; but -LRB- as ye will yourself remember -RRB- I took aye a pleasure to have him to the manse to meet the gentry ; and those of my own house , Campbell of Kilrennet , Campbell of Dunswire , Campbell of Minch , and others , all well-kenned gentlemen , had pleasure in his society . Lastly , to put all the elements of this affair before you , here is the testamentary letter itself , superscrived by the own hand of our departed brother . '' He gave me the letter , which was addressed in these words : `` To the hands of Ebenezer Balfour , Esquire , of Shaws , in his house of Shaws , these will be delivered by my son , David Balfour . '' My heart was beating hard at this great prospect now suddenly opening before a lad of seventeen years of age , the son of a poor country dominie in the Forest of Ettrick . `` Mr. Campbell , '' I stammered , `` and if you were in my shoes , would you go ? '' `` Of a surety , '' said the minister , `` that would I , and without pause . A pretty lad like you should get to Cramond -LRB- which is near in by Edinburgh -RRB- in two days of walk .
If the worst came to the worst , and your high relations -LRB- as I can not but suppose them to be somewhat of your blood -RRB- should XXXXX you to the door , ye can but walk the two days back again and risp at the manse door .
addressed beating conducted delivered departed gave meet put return tell