the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第32章
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Masculine Friendship； which abhors and despises duplicity； art； and
disguise； but Female Friendship； which consists in little else than a mutual
disposition on the part of the friends； as they call themselves； to abet each
other in obscure fraud and petty intrigue。〃
〃You are severe； sir；〃 said Miss Vere。
〃Only just；〃 said her father； 〃a humble copier I am from nature； with
the advantage of contemplating two such excellent studies as Lucy
Ilderton and yourself。〃
〃If I have been unfortunate enough to offend； sir； I can conscientiously
excuse Miss Ilderton from being either my counsellor or confidante。〃
〃Indeed！ how came you； then；〃 said Mr。 Vere； 〃by the flippancy of
speech； and pertness of argument； by which you have disgusted Sir
Frederick； and given me of late such deep offence？〃
〃If my manner has been so unfortunate as to displease you； sir； it is
impossible for me to apologize too deeply； or too sincerely； but I cannot
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confess the same contrition for having answered Sir Frederick flippantly
when he pressed me rudely。 Since he forgot I was a lady； it was time to
show him that I am at least a woman。〃
〃Reserve； then； your pertness for those who press you on the topic；
Isabella；〃 said her father coldly； 〃for my part； I am weary of the subject；
and will never speak upon it again。〃
〃God bless you； my dear father；〃 said Isabella； seizing his reluctant
hand 〃there is nothing you can impose on me； save the task of listening to
this man's persecution； that I will call； or think； a hardship。〃
〃You are very obliging； Miss Vere； when it happens to suit you to be
dutiful；〃 said her unrelenting father； forcing himself at the same time from
the affectionate grasp of her hand； 〃but henceforward； child； I shall save
myself the trouble of offering you unpleasant advice on any topic。 You
must look to yourself。〃
At this moment four ruffians rushed upon them。 Mr。 Vere and his
servant drew their hangers； which it was the fashion of the time to wear；
and attempted to defend themselves and protect Isabella。 But while each of
them was engaged by an antagonist； she was forced into the thicket by the
two remaining villains； who placed her and themselves on horses which
stood ready behind the copse… wood。 They mounted at the same time；
and； placing her between them； set of at a round gallop； holding the reins
of her horse on each side。 By many an obscure and winding path； over
dale and down； through moss and moor； she was conveyed to the tower of
Westburnflat； where she remained strictly watched； but not otherwise ill…
treated； under the guardianship of the old woman； to whose son that retreat
belonged。 No entreaties could prevail upon the hag to give Miss Vere
any information on the object of her being carried forcibly off； and
confined in this secluded place。 The arrival of Earnscliff； with a strong
party of horsemen； before the tower； alarmed the robber。 As he had
already directed Grace Armstrong to be restored to her friends； it did not
occur to him that this unwelcome visit was on her account； and seeing at
the head of the party； Earnscliff； whose attachment to Miss Vere was
whispered in the country； he doubted not that her liberation was the sole
object of the attack upon his fastness。 The dread of personal
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THE BLACK DWARF
consequences compelled him to deliver up his prisoner in the manner we
have already related。
At the moment the tramp of horses was heard which carried off the
daughter of Ellieslaw； her father fell to the earth； and his servant； a stout
young fellow； who was gaining ground on the ruffian with whom he had
been engaged； left the combat to come to his master's assistance； little
doubting that he had received a mortal wound； Both the villains
immediately desisted from farther combat； and； retreating into the thicket；
mounted their horses； and went off at full speed after their companions。
Meantime； Dixon had the satisfaction to find Mr。 Vere not only alive； but
unwounded。 He had overreached himself； and stumbled； it seemed； over
the root of a tree； in making too eager a blow at his antagonist。 The
despair he felt at his daughter's disappearance； was； in Dixon's phrase；
such as would have melted the heart of a whin stane； and he was so much
exhausted by his feelings； and the vain researches which he made to
discover the track of the ravishers； that a considerable time elapsed ere he
reached home； and communicated the alarm to his domestics。
All his conduct and gestures were those of a desperate man。
〃Speak not to me； Sir Frederick；〃 he said impatiently； 〃You are no
fathershe was my child； an ungrateful one！ I fear； but still my child
my only child。 Where is Miss Ilderton？ she must know something of
this。 It corresponds with what I was informed of her schemes。 Go；
Dixon； call Ratcliffe here Let him come without a minute's delay。〃 The
person he had named at this moment entered the room。
〃I say； Dixon；〃 continued Mr。 Vere； in an altered tone； 〃let Mr。
Ratcliffe know； I beg the favour of his company on particular business。
Ah！ my dear sir；〃 he proceeded； as if noticing him for the first time； 〃you
are the very man whose advice can be of the utmost service to me in this
cruel extremity。〃
〃What has happened； Mr。 Vere； to discompose you？〃 said Mr；
Ratcliffe； gravely； and while the Laird of Ellieslaw details to him； with the
most animated gestures of grief and indignation； the singular adventure of
the morning； we shall take the opportunity to inform our readers of the
relative circumstances in which these gentlemen stood to each other。
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In early youth； Mr。 Vere of Ellieslaw had been remarkable for a career
of dissipation； which； in advanced life； he had exchanged for the no less
destructive career of dark and turbulent ambition。 In both cases； he had
gratified the predominant passion without respect to the diminution of his
private fortune； although； where such inducements were wanting； he was
deemed close； avaricious； and grasping。 His affairs being much
embarrassed by his earlier extravagance； he went to England； where he
was understood to have formed a very advantageous matrimonial
connexion。 He was many years absent from his family estate。
Suddenly and unexpectedly he returned a widower； bringing with him his
daughter； then a girl of about ten years old。 From this moment his
expense seemed unbounded； in the eyes of the simple inhabitants of his
native mountains。 It was supposed he must necessarily have plunged
himself deeply in debt。 Yet he continued to live in the same lavish expense；
u
