the black dwarf-第41章

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ency　of　the　Duke　of　Orleans；　and　was　at　one　time　supposed　to　be　immensely　rich。　　But；　on　the　bursting　of　that　famous　bubble；　he　was　so　much　chagrined　at　being　again　reduced　to　a　moderate　annuity　（although　he　saw　thousands　of　his　companions　in　misfortune　absolutely　starving）；　that　vexation　of　mind　brought　on　a　paralytic　stroke；　of　which　he　died；　after　lingering　under　its　effects　a　few　weeks。

Willie　of　Westburnflat　fled　from　the　wrath　of　Hobbie　Elliot；　as　his　betters　did　from　the　pursuit　of　the　law。　　His　patriotism　urged　him　to　serve　his　country　abroad；　while　his　reluctance　to　leave　his　native　soil　pressed　him　rather　to　remain　in　the　beloved　island；　and　collect　purses；　watches；　and　rings　on　the　highroads　at　home。　　Fortunately　for　him；　the　first　impulse　prevailed；　and　he　joined　the　army　under　Marlborough；　obtained　a　commission　to　which　he　was　recommended　by　his　services　in　collecting　cattle　for　the　commissariat；　returned　home　after　many　years；　with　some　money　（how　come　by　Heaven　only　knows）；demolished　the　peel…house　at　Westburnflat；　and　built；　in　its　stead；　a　high　narrow　ONSTEAD；　of　three　stories；　with　a　chimney　at　each　enddrank　brandy　with　the　neighbours；　whom；　in　his　younger　days；　he　had　plundereddied　in　his　bed；　and　is　recorded　upon　his　tombstone　at　Kirkwhistle　（still　extant）；　as　having　played　all　the　parts　of　a　brave　soldier；　a　discreet　neighbour；　and　a　sincere　Christian。

Mr。　Ratcliffe　resided　usually　with　the　family　at　Ellieslaw；　but　regularly　every　spring　and　autumn　he　absented　himself　for　about　a　month。　　On　the　direction　and　purpose　of　his　periodical　journey　he　remained　steadily　silent；　but　it　was　well　understood　that　he　was　then　in　attendance　on　his　unfortunate　patron。　　At　length；　on　his　return　from　one　of　these　visits；　his　grave　countenance；　and　deep　mourning　dress；　announced　to　the　Ellieslaw　family　that　their　benefactor　was　no　more。　　Sir　Edward's　death　made　no　addition　to　their　fortune；　for　he　had　divested　himself　of　his　property　during　his　lifetime；　and　chiefly　in　their　favour。　　Ratcliffe；　his　sole　confidant；　died　at　a　good　old　age；　but　without　ever　naming　the　place　to　which　his　master　had　finally　retired；　or　the　manner　of　his　death；　or　the　place　of　his　burial。　　It　was　supposed　that　on　all　these　particulars　his　patron　had　enjoined　him　strict　secrecy。

The　sudden　disappearance　of　Elshie　from　his　extraordinary　hermitage　corroborated　the　reports　which　the　common　people　had　spread　concerning　him。　　Many　believed　that；　having　ventured　to　enter　a　consecrated　building；　contrary　to　his　paction　with　the　Evil　One；　he　had　been　bodily　carried　off　while　on　his　return　to　his　cottage；　but　most　are　of　opinion　that　he　only　disappeared　for　a　season；　and　continues　to　be　seen　from　time　to　time　among　the　hills。　　And　retaining；　according　to　custom；　a　more　vivid　recollection　of　his　wild　and　desperate　language；　than　of　the　benevolent　tendency　of　most　of　his　actions；　he　is　usually　identified　with　the　malignant　demon　called　the　Man　of　the　Moors；　whose　feats　were　quoted　by　Mrs。　Elliot　to　her　grandsons；　and；　accordingly；　is　generally　represented　as　bewitching　the　sheep；　causing　the　ewes　to　KEB；　that　is；　to　cast　their　lambs；　or　seen　loosening　the　impending　wreath　of　snow　to　precipitate　its　weight　on　such　as　take　shelter；　during　the　storm；　beneath　the　bank　of　a　torrent；　or　under　the　shelter　of　a　deep　glen。　　In　short；　the　evils　most　dreaded　and　deprecated　by　the　inhabitants　of　that　pastoral　country；　are　ascribed　to　the　agency　of　the　BLACK　DWARF。





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