When she looked at him questioningly, he explained, "Alec kens who I am—I mean, he's heard I was flogged, but he's no seen it. And to ken somethin" like that is no the same as seein" it wi" yer ain eyes." He frowned at the floor and continued, "It's—maybe ye'll no ken what I mean. But when ye ken a man's suffered some harm, it's only one o" the things ye ken about him, and it doesna make much difference to how ye see him. Alec kens I've been flogged as he kens I've red hair, and it doesna matter to how he treats me."