the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第31章
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Sae I was thinkingbut deil hae me； that I should say sae；〃 continued he；
checking himself； 〃if I can bring mysell to ask a favour of ane that winna
sae muckle as ware a word on me； to tell me if he hears me speaking till
him。〃
〃Say what thou wiltdo what thou wilt；〃 answered the Dwarf from his
cabin； 〃but begone； and leave me at peace。〃
〃Weel； weel；〃 replied Elliot； 〃since ye are willing to hear me； I'se make
my tale short。 Since ye are sae kind as to say ye are content to lend me
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as muckle siller as will stock and plenish the Heugh…foot； I am content； on
my part； to accept the courtesy wi' mony kind thanks； and troth； I think it
will be as safe in my hands as yours； if ye leave it flung about in that gate
for the first loon body to lift； forbye the risk o' bad neighbours that can
win through steekit doors and lockfast places； as I can tell to my cost。 I
say； since ye hae sae muckle consideration for me； I'se be blithe to accept
your kindness； and my mother and me （she's a life…renter； and I am fiar； o'
the lands o' Wideopen） would grant you a wadset； or an heritable bond； for
the siller； and to pay the annual rent half…yearly； and Saunders Wyliecoat
to draw the bond； and you to be at nae charge wi' the writings。〃
〃Cut short thy jargon； and begone；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃thy loquacious
bull…headed honesty makes thee a more intolerable plague than the light…
fingered courtier who would take a man's all without troubling him with
either thanks； explanation； or apology。 Hence； I say！ thou art one of
those tame slaves whose word is as good as their bond。 Keep the money；
principal and interest； until I demand it of thee。〃
〃But；〃 continued the pertinacious Borderer； 〃we are a' life…like and
death…like； Elshie； and there really should be some black and white on this
transaction。 Sae just make me a minute； or missive； in ony form ye like；
and I'se write it fair ower； and subscribe it before famous witnesses。
Only； Elshie； I wad wuss ye to pit naething in't that may be prejudicial to
my salvation； for I'll hae the minister to read it ower； and it wad only be
exposing yoursell to nae purpose。 And now I'm ganging awa'； for ye'll be
wearied o' my cracks； and I am wearied wi' cracking without an answer
and I'se bring ye a bit o' bride's…cake ane o' thae days； and maybe bring
Grace to see you。 Ye wad like to see Grace； man； for as dour as ye are
Eh； Lord I I wish he may be weel； that was a sair grane！ or； maybe； he
thought I was speaking of heavenly grace； and no of Grace Armstrong。
Poor man； I am very doubtfu' o' his condition； but I am sure he is as kind
to me as if I were his son； and a queer…looking father I wad hae had； if that
had been e'en sae。〃
Hobbie now relieved his benefactor of his presence； and rode blithely
home to display his treasure； and consult upon the means of repairing the
damage which his fortune had sustained through the aggression of the Red
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Reiver of Westburnflat。
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THE BLACK DWARF
CHAPTER XI。
Three ruffians seized me yester morn； Alas！ a maiden most
forlorn； They choked my cries with wicked might； And bound me on a
palfrey white： As sure as Heaven shall pity me； I cannot tell what men
they be。 CHRISTABELLE。
The course of our story must here revert a little； to detail the
circumstances which had placed Miss Vere in the unpleasant situation
from which she was unexpectedly； and indeed unintentionally liberated； by
the appearance of Earnscliff and Elliot； with their friends and followers；
before the Tower of Westburnflat。
On the morning preceding the night in which Hobbie's house was
plundered and burnt； Miss Vere was requested by her father to accompany
him in a walk through a distant part of the romantic grounds which lay
round his castle of Ellieslaw。 〃To hear was to obey；〃 in the true style of
Oriental despotism； but Isabella trembled in silence while she followed her
father through rough paths； now winding by the side of the river； now
ascending the cliffs which serve for its banks。 A single servant； selected
perhaps for his stupidity； was the only person who attended them。 From
her father's silence； Isabella little doubted that he had chosen this distant
and sequestered scene to resume the argument which they had so
frequently maintained upon the subject of Sir Frederick's addresses； and
that he was meditating in what manner he should most effectually impress
upon her the necessity of receiving him as her suitor。 But her fears
seemed for some time to be unfounded。 The only sentences which her
father from time to time addressed to her； respected the beauties of the
romantic landscape through which they strolled； and which varied its
features at every step。 To these observations； although they seemed to
come from a heart occupied by more gloomy as well as more important
cares； Isabella endeavoured to answer in a manner as free and
unconstrained as it was possible for her to assume； amid the involuntary
apprehensions which crowded upon her imagination。
Sustaining with mutual difficulty a desultory conversation； they at
length gained the centre of a small wood； composed of large oaks；
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intermingled with birches； mountain…ashes； hazel； holly； and a variety of
underwood。 The boughs of the tall trees met closely above； and the
underwood filled up each interval between their trunks below。 The spot
on which they stood was rather more open； still； however； embowered
under the natural arcade of tall trees； and darkened on the sides for a space
around by a great and lively growth of copse…wood and bushes。
〃And here； Isabella；〃 said Mr。 Vere； as he pursued the conversation； so
often resumed； so often dropped； 〃here I would erect an altar to
Friendship。〃
〃To Friendship； sir！〃 said Miss Vere； 〃and why on this gloomy and
sequestered spot； rather than elsewhere？〃
〃O； the propriety of the LOCALE is easily vindicated；〃 replied her
father； with a sneer。 〃You know； Miss Vere （for you； I am well aware； are
a learned young lady）； you know； that the Romans were not satisfied with
embodying； for the purpose of worship； each useful quality and moral
virtue to which they could give a name； but they； moreover； worshipped
the same under each variety of titles and attributes which could give a
distinct shade； or individual character； to the virtue in question。 Now； for
example； the Friendship to whom a temple should be here dedicated； is not
Masculine Friendship； which abhors and despises duplicity； art； and
disguise； but Female Fri
