"I walked over the moors," I said. "I have been walking for some days. I found myself yesterday evening in a wood just the other side of Culbut."
A light seemed to break in on her. "Oh, I see!" she exclaimed. "You came over the hills. You are a Highlander! That is very interesting. No wonder you look down a little on us Culbutians! But what made you leave that paradise to come here? And why didn't you tell us before that you were a Highlander? I am sure my father and mother would have been very flattered."
She seemed quite excited, and regarded me with curiosity not unmixed with reverence.[14]
"Well, I have never called myself a Highlander, exactly," I said. "In England we call the Scotch Highlanders."
"England! Scotch!" she repeated. "How extraordinary it is! I must get you to show it to me on a map."
"Yes, I should like to see a map," I said. "You see, everything is very different with us."
"Oh, I know it is. You are the most fortunate people in the world. All this must seem very extraordinary to you, and I'm afraid rather painful. I wonder you take it all as naturally as you do. I suppose you have never seen a house like this before?"
"It is certainly a very charming house," I said, "but it is not altogether unlike the one I was brought up in near London."
Her air of bewilderment returned. "London!" she said. "I have never heard of any of the places you mention. Is England a district?"
"Yes; a pretty large one."