"'Od," said Johnny, "I'll surely get a mouthfu' o' sense frae somebody here, an' fin' out whar I am."
In this Johnny certainly did succeed; but not much to his comfort, as the sequel will show. The first person he addressed, on approaching the house, was a little girl, who, when he spoke, stared at him in the greatest amazement, then rushed screaming into the house. This proceeding brought out several young men and women, to whom Johnny now addressed himself; but the only answer he obtained was a stare of astonishment similar to the child's, and then a general burst of laughter. At length one of the girls went into the house and brought out a jolly-looking elderly man, who, from certain parts of his dress, seemed to be in the seafaring way.
"Vell, mine freend, vat you vant?" said this person, who spoke broken English—"vere you come from?"
"I cam last frae Alloa," said Johnny, "and I want to ken, sir, if I'm onything near to Brechin?"
"Preekin! Vere dat?"
"'Od, I thocht everbody in Scotland kent that," said Johnny, smiling.
"Ah! maybe Scotlan', mine freend, but no Hollands," replied he of the broken English.
"I dinna ken whether they ken't it in Holland or no," said Johnny, "that's a country I'm no in the least acquaint wi'; but I'm sure it's weel aneuch kent in Scotland."
"Ah! maybe Scotlan', but no Hollands, my freend," repeated the man, smiling in his turn; "but you vas in Hollands."