the black dwarf-第16章

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s　hands　in　gratitude　for　the　vegetables　with　which　he　supplied　them　from　his　garden。　　〃You；　at　least；〃　he　said〃you；　at　least；　see　no　differences　in　form　which　can　alter　your　feelings　to　a　benefactorto　you；　the　finest　shape　that　ever　statuary　moulded　would　be　an　object　of　indifference　or　of　alarm；　should　it　present　itself　instead　of　the　mis…shapen　trunk　to　whose　services　you　are　accustomed。　　While　I　was　in　the　world；　did　I　ever　meet　with　such　a　return　of　gratitude？　　No；　the　domestic　whom　I　had　bred　from　infancy　made　mouths　at　me　as　he　stood　behind　my　chair；　the　friend　whom　I　had　supported　with　my　fortune；　and　for　whose　sake　I　had　even　stained（he　stopped　with　a　strong　convulsive　shudder）；　even　he　thought　me　more　fit　for　the　society　of　lunaticsfor　their　disgraceful　restraintsfor　their　cruel　privations；　than　for　communication　with　the　rest　of　humanity。　Hubert　aloneand　Hubert　too　will　one　day　abandon　me。　　All　are　of　a　piece；　one　mass　of　wickedness；　selfishness；　and　ingratitude　wretches；　who　sin　even　in　their　devotions；　and　of　such　hardness　of　heart；　that　they　do　not；　without　hypocrisy；　even　thank　the　Deity　himself　for　his　warm　sun　and　pure　air。〃

As　he　was　plunged　in　these　gloomy　soliloquies；　he　heard　the　tramp　of　a　horse　on　the　other　side　of　his　enclosure；　and　a　strong　clear　bass　voice　singing　with　the　liveliness　inspired　by　a　light　heart；

　Canny　Hobbie　Elliot；　canny　Hobbie　now；　　Canny　Hobbie　Elliot；　I'se　gang　alang　wi'　you。

At　the　same　moment；　a　large　deer　greyhound　sprung　over　the　hermit's　fence。　　It　is　well　known　to　the　sportsmen　in　these　wilds；　that　the　appearance　and　scent　of　the　goat　so　much　resemble　those　of　their　usual　objects　of　chase；　that　the　best…broke　greyhounds　will　sometimes　fly　upon　them。　　The　dog　in　question　instantly　pulled　down　and　throttled　one　of　the　hermit's　she…　goats；　while　Hobbie　Elliot；　who　came　up；　and　jumped　from　his　horse　for　the　purpose；　was　unable　to　extricate　the　harmless　animal　from　the　fangs　of　his　attendant　until　it　was　expiring。　The　Dwarf　eyed；　for　a　few　moments；　the　convulsive　starts　of　his　dying　favourite；　until　the　poor　goat　stretched　out　her　limbs　with　the　twitches　and　shivering　fit　of　the　last　agony。　　He　then　started　into　an　access　of　frenzy；　and　unsheathing　a　long　sharp　knife；　or　dagger；　which　he　wore　under　his　coat；　he　was　about　to　launch　it　at　the　dog；　when　Hobbie；　perceiving　his　purpose；　interposed；　and　caught　hold　of　his　hand；　exclaiming；　〃Let　a　be　the　hound；　manlet　a　be　the　hound！Na；　na；　Killbuck　maunna　be　guided　that　gate；　neither。〃

The　Dwarf　turned　his　rage　on　the　young　farmer；　and；　by　a　sudden　effort；　far　more　powerful　than　Hobbie　expected　from　such　a　person；　freed　his　wrist　from　his　grasp；　and　offered　the　dagger　at　his　heart。　　All　this　was　done　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye；　and　the　incensed　Recluse　might　have　completed　his　vengeance　by　plunging　the　weapon　in　Elliot's　bosom；　had　he　not　been　checked　by　an　internal　impulse　which　made　him　hurl　the　knife　to　a　distance。

〃No；〃　he　exclaimed；　as　he　thus　voluntarily　deprived　himself　of　the　means　of　gratifying　his　rage；　〃not　againnot　again！〃

Hobbie　retreated　a　step　or　two　in　great　surprise；　discomposure；　and　disdain；　at　having　been　placed　in　such　danger　by　an　object　apparently　so　contemptible。

〃The　deil's　in　the　body　for　strength　and　bitterness！〃　　were　the　first　words　that　escaped　him；　which　he　followed　up　with　an　apology　for　the　accident　that　had　given　rise　to　their　disagreement。　　〃I　am　no　justifying　Killbuck　a'thegither　neither；　and　I　am　sure　it　is　as　vexing　to　me　as　to　you；　Elshie；　that　the　mischance　should　hae　happened；　but　I'll　send　you　twa　goats　and　twa　fat　gimmers；　man；　to　make　a'　straight　again。　　A　wise　man　like　you　shouldna　bear　malice　against　a　poor　dumb　thing；　ye　see　that　a　goat's　like　first…cousin　to　a　deer；　sae　he　acted　but　according　to　his　nature　after　a'。　　Had　it　been　a　pet…lamb；　there　wad　hae　been　mair　to　be　said。　　Ye　suld　keep　sheep；　Elshie；　and　no　goats；　where　there's　sae　mony　deerhounds　aboutbut　I'll　send　ye　baith。〃

〃Wretch！〃　　said　the　Hermit；　〃your　cruelty　has　destroyed　one　of　the　only　creatures　in　existence　that　would　look　on　me　with　kindness！〃

〃Dear　Elshie；〃　answered　Hobbie；　〃I'm　wae　ye　suld　hae　cause　to　say　sae；　I'm　sure　it　wasna　wi'　my　will。　　And　yet；　it's　true；　I　should　hae　minded　your　goats；　and　coupled　up　the　dogs。　　I'm　sure　I　would　rather　they　had　worried　the　primest　wether　in　my　faulds。Come；　man；　forget　and　forgie。　　I'm　e'en　as　vexed　as　ye　can　beBut　I　am　a　bridegroom；　ye　see；　and　that　puts　a'　things　out　o'　my　head；　I　think。　　There's　the　marriage…dinner；　or　gude　part　o't；　that　my　twa　brithers　are　bringing　on　a　sled　round　by　the　Riders'　Slack；　three　goodly　bucks　as　ever　ran　on　Dallomlea；　as　the　sang　says；　they　couldna　come　the　straight　road　for　the　saft　grund。　　I　wad　send　ye　a　bit　venison；　but　ye　wadna　take　it　weel　maybe；　for　Killbuck　catched　it。〃

During　this　long　speech；　in　which　the　good…natured　Borderer　endeavoured　to　propitiate　the　offended　Dwarf　by　every　argument　he　could　think　of；　he　heard　him　with　his　eyes　bent　on　the　ground；　as　if　in　the　deepest　meditation；　and　at　length　broke　forth　〃Nature？yes！　　it　is　indeed　in　the　usual　beaten　path　of　Nature。　　The　strong　gripe　and　throttle　the　weak；　the　rich　depress　and　despoil　the　needy；　the　happy　（those　who　are　idiots　enough　to　think　themselves　happy）　insult　the　misery　and　diminish　the　consolation　of　the　wretched。Go　hence；　thou　who　hast　contrived　to　give　an　additional　pang　to　the　most　miserable　of　human　beings　thou　who　hast　deprived　me　of　what　I　half　considered　as　a　source　of　comfort。　　Go　hence；　and　enjoy　the　happiness　prepared　for　thee　at　home！〃

〃Never　stir；〃　said　Hobbie；　〃if　I　wadna　take　you　wi'　me；　man；　if　ye　wad　but　say　it　wad　divert　ye　to　be　at　the　bridal　on　Monday。　There　will　be　a　hundred　strapping　Elliots　to　ride　the　brouzethe　like's　no　been　seen　sin'　the　days　of　auld　Martin　of　the　Preakin…　towerI　wad　send　the　sled　for　ye　wi'　a　canny　powny。〃

〃Is　it　to　me　you　propose　once　more　to　mix　in　the　society　of　the　common　herd？〃　　said　the　Recluse；　with　an　air　of　deep　disgust。

〃Commons！〃　　retorted　Hobbie；　〃nae　siccan　commons　neither；　the　Elliots　hae　been　lang　kend　a　gentle　race。〃

〃Hence！　　begone！〃　　reiterated　the　Dwarf；　〃may　the　same　evil　luck　attend　thee　that　thou　hast　left　behind　with　me！　　If　I　go　not　with　you　myself；　see　if　you　can　escape　what　my　attendants；　Wrath　and　Misery；　have　brought　to　thy　threshold　before　thee。〃

〃I　wish　ye　wadna　speak　that　gate；〃　said　Hobbie。　　〃Ye　ken　yoursell；　Elshie；　naebody　judges　you　to　be　ower　canny；　now；　I'll　tell　ye　just　ae　word　for　a'ye　hae　spoken　as　muckle　as　wussing　ill　to　me　and　mine；　now；　if　ony　mischance　happen　to　Grace；　which　God　forbid；　or　to　mysell；　or　to　the　poor　dumb　tyke；　or　if　I　be　skaithed　and　injured　in　body；　gudes；　or　gear；　I'll　no　forget　wha　it　is　that　it's　owing　to。〃

〃Out；　hind！〃　　exclaimed　the　Dwarf；　〃home！　　home　to　your　dwelling；　and　think　on　me　when　you　find　what　has　befallen　there。〃

〃Aweel；　aweel；〃　said　Hobbie；　mounting　his　horse；　〃it　serves　naething　to　strive　wi'　cripples；they　are　aye　cankered；　but　I'll　just　tell　ye　ae　thing；　neighbour；　that　if　things　be　otherwise　than　weel　wi'　Grace　Armstrong；　I'se　gie　you　a　scouther　if　there　be　a　tar…barrel　in　the　five　parishes。〃

So　saying；　he　rode　off；　and　Elshie；　after　looking　at　him　with　a　scornful　and　indignant　laugh；　took　spade　and　mattock；　and　occupied　himself　in　digging　a　grave　for　his　deceased　favourite。

A　low　whistle；　and　the　words；　〃Hisht；　Elshie；　hisht！〃　disturbed　him　in　this　melancholy　occupation。　　He　looked　up；　and　the　Red　Reiver　of　Westburnflat　was　before　him。　　Like　Banquo's　murderer；　there　was　blood　on　his　face；　as　well　as　upon　the　rowels　of　his　spurs　and　the　sides　of　his　over…ridden　horse。

〃How　now；　ruffian！〃　　demanded　the　Dwarf；　〃is　thy　job　chared？〃

〃Ay；　ay；　doubt　not　that；　Elshie；〃　answered　the　freebooter；　〃When　I　ride；　my　foes　may　moan。　　They　have　had　mair　light　than　comfort　at　the　Heugh…foot　this　morning；　there's　a　toom　byre　and　a　wide；　and　a　wail　and　a　cry　for　the　bonny　bride。〃

〃The　bride？〃

〃Ay；　Charlie　Cheat…the…Woodie；　as　we　ca'　him；　that's　Charlie　Foster　of　Tinning　Beck；　has　promised　to　keep　her　in　Cumberland　till　the　blast　blaw　by。　　She　saw　me；　and　kend　me　in　the　splore；　for　the　mask　fell　frae　my　face