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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1460-0.txt b/1460-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..52db007 --- /dev/null +++ b/1460-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6157 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1460 *** + +THE BLACK DWARF + +by Sir Walter Scott + + + + +CONTENTS. + + I. Tales of my Landlord + Introduction by “Jedediah Cleishbotham” + II. Introduction to THE BLACK DWARF + III. Main text of THE BLACK DWARF + + + Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the + etext in square brackets (“[]”) close to the place where + they were referenced by a suffix in the original text. + Text in italics has been written in capital letters. + + + + +I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD + +COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, SCHOOLMASTER AND +PARISH-CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official description +prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the sedate and reflecting +part of mankind, to whom only I would be understood to address myself, +such attention as is due to the sedulous instructor of youth, and the +careful performer of my Sabbath duties, I will forbear to hold up +a candle to the daylight, or to point out to the judicious those +recommendations of my labours which they must necessarily anticipate +from the perusal of the title-page. Nevertheless, I am not unaware, +that, as Envy always dogs Merit at the heels, there may be those who +will whisper, that albeit my learning and good principles cannot +(lauded be the heavens) be denied by any one, yet that my situation at +Gandercleugh hath been more favourable to my acquisitions in learning +than to the enlargement of my views of the ways and works of the present +generation. To the which objection, if, peradventure, any such shall be +started, my answer shall be threefold: + +First, Gandercleugh is, as it were, the central part--the navel (SI +FAS SIT DICERE) of this our native realm of Scotland; so that men, from +every corner thereof, when travelling on their concernments of business, +either towards our metropolis of law, by which I mean Edinburgh, or +towards our metropolis and mart of gain, whereby I insinuate Glasgow, +are frequently led to make Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place of +rest for the night. And it must be acknowledged by the most sceptical, +that I, who have sat in the leathern armchair, on the left-hand side of +the fire, in the common room of the Wallace Inn, winter and summer, +for every evening in my life, during forty years bypast (the Christian +Sabbaths only excepted), must have seen more of the manners and customs +of various tribes and people, than if I had sought them out by my +own painful travel and bodily labour. Even so doth the tollman at the +well-frequented turn-pike on the Wellbraehead, sitting at his ease in +his own dwelling, gather more receipt of custom, than if, moving forth +upon the road, he were to require a contribution from each person whom +he chanced to meet in his journey, when, according to the vulgar adage, +he might possibly be greeted with more kicks than halfpence. + +But, secondly, supposing it again urged, that Ithacus, the most wise of +the Greeks, acquired his renown, as the Roman poet hath assured us, by +visiting states and men, I reply to the Zoilus who shall adhere to this +objection, that, DE FACTO, I have seen states and men also; for I have +visited the famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the former twice, +and the latter three times, in the course of my earthly pilgrimage. And, +moreover, I had the honour to sit in the General Assembly (meaning, as +an auditor, in the galleries thereof), and have heard as much goodly +speaking on the law of patronage, as, with the fructification thereof +in mine own understanding, hath made me be considered as an oracle upon +that doctrine ever since my safe and happy return to Gandercleugh. + +Again--and thirdly, If it be nevertheless pretended that my information +and knowledge of mankind, however extensive, and however painfully +acquired, by constant domestic enquiry, and by foreign travel, is, +natheless, incompetent to the task of recording the pleasant narratives +of my Landlord, I will let these critics know, to their own eternal +shame and confusion as well as to the abashment and discomfiture of all +who shall rashly take up a song against me, that I am NOT the writer, +redacter, or compiler, of the Tales of my Landlord; nor am I, in one +single iota, answerable for their contents, more or less. And now, ye +generation of critics, who raise yourselves up as if it were brazen +serpents, to hiss with your tongues, and to smite with your stings, bow +yourselves down to your native dust, and acknowledge that yours have +been the thoughts of ignorance, and the words of vain foolishness. Lo! +ye are caught in your own snare, and your own pit hath yawned for you. +Turn, then, aside from the task that is too heavy for you; destroy +not your teeth by gnawing a file; waste not your strength by spurning +against a castle wall; nor spend your breath in contending in swiftness +with a fleet steed; and let those weigh the Tales of my Landlord, who +shall bring with them the scales of candour cleansed from the rust of +prejudice by the hands of intelligent modesty. For these alone they were +compiled, as will appear from a brief narrative which my zeal for truth +compelled me to make supplementary to the present Proem. + +It is well known that my Landlord was a pleasing and a facetious man, +acceptable unto all the parish of Gandercleugh, excepting only the +Laird, the Exciseman, and those for whom he refused to draw liquor upon +trust. Their causes of dislike I will touch separately, adding my own +refutation thereof. + +His honour, the Laird, accused our Landlord, deceased, of having +encouraged, in various times and places, the destruction of hares, +rabbits, fowls black and grey, partridges, moor-pouts, roe-deer, and +other birds and quadrupeds, at unlawful seasons, and contrary to the +laws of this realm, which have secured, in their wisdom, the slaughter +of such animals for the great of the earth, whom I have remarked to take +an uncommon (though to me, an unintelligible) pleasure therein. Now, in +humble deference to his honour, and in justifiable defence of my friend +deceased, I reply to this charge, that howsoever the form of such +animals might appear to be similar to those so protected by the law, yet +it was a mere DECEPTIO VISUS; for what resembled hares were, in fact, +HILL-KIDS, and those partaking of the appearance of moor-fowl, were +truly WOOD PIGEONS and consumed and eaten EO NOMINE, and not otherwise. + +Again, the Exciseman pretended, that my deceased Landlord did encourage +that species of manufacture called distillation, without having an +especial permission from the Great, technically called a license, for +doing so. Now, I stand up to confront this falsehood; and in defiance +of him, his gauging-stick, and pen and inkhorn, I tell him, that I +never saw, or tasted, a glass of unlawful aqua vitae in the house of +my Landlord; nay, that, on the contrary, we needed not such devices, in +respect of a pleasing and somewhat seductive liquor, which was vended +and consumed at the Wallace Inn, under the name of MOUNTAIN DEW. If +there is a penalty against manufacturing such a liquor, let him show me +the statute; and when he does, I’ll tell him if I will obey it or no. + +Concerning those who came to my Landlord for liquor, and went thirsty +away, for lack of present coin, or future credit, I cannot but say it +has grieved my bowels as if the case had been mine own. Nevertheless, my +Landlord considered the necessities of a thirsty soul, and would permit +them, in extreme need, and when their soul was impoverished for lack +of moisture, to drink to the full value of their watches and wearing +apparel, exclusively of their inferior habiliments, which he was +uniformly inexorable in obliging them to retain, for the credit of the +house. As to mine own part, I may well say, that he never refused me +that modicum of refreshment with which I am wont to recruit nature after +the fatigues of my school. It is true, I taught his five sons English +and Latin, writing, book-keeping, with a tincture of mathematics, and +that I instructed his daughter in psalmody. Nor do I remember me of +any fee or HONORARIUM received from him on account of these my labours, +except the compotations aforesaid. Nevertheless this compensation suited +my humour well, since it is a hard sentence to bid a dry throat wait +till quarter-day. + +But, truly, were I to speak my simple conceit and belief, I think my +Landlord was chiefly moved to waive in my behalf the usual requisition +of a symbol, or reckoning, from the pleasure he was wont to take in my +conversation, which, though solid and edifying in the main, was, like +a well-built palace, decorated with facetious narratives and devices, +tending much to the enhancement and ornament thereof. And so pleased was +my Landlord of the Wallace in his replies during such colloquies, that +there was no district in Scotland, yea, and no peculiar, and, as it +were, distinctive custom therein practised, but was discussed betwixt +us; insomuch, that those who stood by were wont to say, it was worth +a bottle of ale to hear us communicate with each other. And not a few +travellers, from distant parts, as well as from the remote districts of +our kingdom, were wont to mingle in the conversation, and to tell news +that had been gathered in foreign lands, or preserved from oblivion in +this our own. + +Now I chanced to have contracted for teaching the lower classes with a +young person called Peter, or Patrick, Pattieson, who had been educated +for our Holy Kirk, yea, had, by the license of presbytery, his voice +opened therein as a preacher, who delighted in the collection of olden +tales and legends, and in garnishing them with the flowers of poesy, +whereof he was a vain and frivolous professor. For he followed not the +example of those strong poets whom I proposed to him as a pattern, but +formed versification of a flimsy and modern texture, to the compounding +whereof was necessary small pains and less thought. And hence I have +chid him as being one of those who bring forward the fatal revolution +prophesied by Mr. Robert Carey, in his Vaticination on the Death of the +celebrated Dr. John Donne: + + Now thou art gone, and thy strict laws will be + Too hard for libertines in poetry; + Till verse (by thee refined) in this last age + Turn ballad rhyme. + +I had also disputations with him touching his indulging rather a +flowing and redundant than a concise and stately diction in his prose +exercitations. But notwithstanding these symptoms of inferior taste, +and a humour of contradicting his betters upon passages of dubious +construction in Latin authors, I did grievously lament when Peter +Pattieson was removed from me by death, even as if he had been the +offspring of my own loins. And in respect his papers had been left in +my care (to answer funeral and death-bed expenses), I conceived myself +entitled to dispose of one parcel thereof, entitled, “Tales of my +Landlord,” to one cunning in the trade (as it is called) of bookselling. +He was a mirthful man, of small stature, cunning in counterfeiting of +voices, and in making facetious tales and responses, and whom I have to +laud for the truth of his dealings towards me. + +Now, therefore, the world may see the injustice that charges me with +incapacity to write these narratives, seeing, that though I have proved +that I could have written them if I would, yet, not having done so, +the censure will deservedly fall, if at all due, upon the memory of Mr. +Peter Pattieson; whereas I must be justly entitled to the praise, +when any is due, seeing that, as the Dean of St. Patrick’s wittily and +logically expresseth it, + + That without which a thing is not, + Is CAUSA SINE QUA NON. + +The work, therefore, is unto me as a child is to a parent; in the which +child, if it proveth worthy, the parent hath honour and praise; but, if +otherwise, the disgrace will deservedly attach to itself alone. + +I have only further to intimate, that Mr. Peter Pattieson, in arranging +these Tales for the press, hath more consulted his own fancy than the +accuracy of the narrative; nay, that he hath sometimes blended two +or three stories together for the mere grace of his plots. Of which +infidelity, although I disapprove and enter my testimony against it, yet +I have not taken upon me to correct the same, in respect it was the will +of the deceased, that his manuscript should be submitted to the press +without diminution or alteration. A fanciful nicety it was on the part +of my deceased friend, who, if thinking wisely, ought rather to have +conjured me, by all the tender ties of our friendship and common +pursuits, to have carefully revised, altered, and augmented, at my +judgment and discretion. But the will of the dead must be scrupulously +obeyed, even when we weep over their pertinacity and self-delusion. So, +gentle reader, I bid you farewell, recommending you to such fare as the +mountains of your own country produce; and I will only farther premise, +that each Tale is preceded by a short introduction, mentioning the +persons by whom, and the circumstances under which, the materials +thereof were collected. + +JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM. + + + + +II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. + +The ideal being who is here presented as residing in solitude, and +haunted by a consciousness of his own deformity, and a suspicion of +his being generally subjected to the scorn of his fellow-men, is not +altogether imaginary. An individual existed many years since, under +the author’s observation, which suggested such a character. This poor +unfortunate man’s name was David Ritchie, a native of Tweeddale. He was +the son of a labourer in the slate-quarries of Stobo, and must have +been born in the misshapen form which he exhibited, though he sometimes +imputed it to ill-usage when in infancy. He was bred a brush-maker at +Edinburgh, and had wandered to several places, working at his trade, +from all which he was chased by the disagreeable attention which his +hideous singularity of form and face attracted wherever he came. The +author understood him to say he had even been in Dublin. + +Tired at length of being the object of shouts, laughter, and derision, +David Ritchie resolved, like a deer hunted from the herd, to retreat to +some wilderness, where he might have the least possible communication +with the world which scoffed at him. He settled himself, with this view, +upon a patch of wild moorland at the bottom of a bank on the farm +of Woodhouse, in the sequestered vale of the small river Manor, in +Peeblesshire. The few people who had occasion to pass that way were much +surprised, and some superstitious persons a little alarmed, to see so +strange a figure as Bow’d Davie (i.e. Crooked David) employed in a task, +for which he seemed so totally unfit, as that of erecting a house. The +cottage which he built was extremely small, but the walls, as well as +those of a little garden that surrounded it, were constructed with an +ambitious degree of solidity, being composed of layers of large stones +and turf; and some of the corner stones were so weighty, as to puzzle +the spectators how such a person as the architect could possibly have +raised them. In fact, David received from passengers, or those who came +attracted by curiosity, a good deal of assistance; and as no one knew +how much aid had been given by others, the wonder of each individual +remained undiminished. + +The proprietor of the ground, the late Sir James Naesmith, baronet, +chanced to pass this singular dwelling, which, having been placed there +without right or leave asked or given, formed an exact parallel with +Falstaff’s simile of a “fair house built on another’s ground;” so that +poor David might have lost his edifice by mistaking the property where +he had erected it. Of course, the proprietor entertained no idea +of exacting such a forfeiture, but readily sanctioned the harmless +encroachment. + +The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane-Moor has been +generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of +David of Manor Water. He was not quite three feet and a half high, since +he could stand upright in the door of his mansion, which was just that +height. The following particulars concerning his figure and temper occur +in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for 1817, and are now understood to have been +communicated by the ingenious Mr. Robert Chambers of Edinburgh, who has +recorded with much spirit the traditions of the Good Town, and, in other +publications, largely and agreeably added to the stock of our popular +antiquities. He is the countryman of David Ritchie, and had the best +access to collect anecdotes of him. + +“His skull,” says this authority, “which was of an oblong and rather +unusual shape, was said to be of such strength, that he could strike it +with ease through the panel of a door, or the end of a barrel. His laugh +is said to have been quite horrible; and his screech-owl voice, shrill, +uncouth, and dissonant, corresponded well with his other peculiarities. + +“There was nothing very uncommon about his dress. He usually wore an old +slouched hat when he went abroad; and when at home, a sort of cowl +or night-cap. He never wore shoes, being unable to adapt them to +his mis-shapen finlike feet, but always had both feet and legs quite +concealed, and wrapt up with pieces of cloth. He always walked with a +sort of pole or pike-staff, considerably taller than himself. His habits +were, in many respects, singular, and indicated a mind congenial to its +uncouth tabernacle. A jealous, misanthropical, and irritable temper, +was his prominent characteristic. The sense of his deformity haunted him +like a phantom. And the insults and scorn to which this exposed him, had +poisoned his heart with fierce and bitter feelings, which, from other +points in his character, do not appear to have been more largely infused +into his original temperament than that of his fellow-men. + +“He detested children, on account of their propensity to insult and +persecute him. To strangers he was generally reserved, crabbed, and +surly; and though he by no means refused assistance or charity, he +seldom either expressed or exhibited much gratitude. Even towards +persons who had been his greatest benefactors, and who possessed the +greatest share of his good-will, he frequently displayed much caprice +and jealousy. A lady who had known him from his infancy, and who +has furnished us in the most obliging manner with some particulars +respecting him, says, that although Davie showed as much respect and +attachment to her father’s family, as it was in his nature to show +to any, yet they were always obliged to be very cautious in their +deportment towards him. One day, having gone to visit him with another +lady, he took them through his garden, and was showing them, with much +pride and good-humour, all his rich and tastefully assorted borders, +when they happened to stop near a plot of cabbages which had been +somewhat injured by the caterpillars. Davie, observing one of the ladies +smile, instantly assumed his savage, scowling aspect, rushed among the +cabbages, and dashed them to pieces with his KENT, exclaiming, ‘I hate +the worms, for they mock me!’ + +“Another lady, likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his, very +unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion. +Throwing back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden, +he fancied he observed her spit, and exclaimed, with great ferocity, ‘Am +I a toad, woman! that ye spit at me--that ye spit at me?’ and without +listening to any answer or excuse, drove her out of his garden +with imprecations and insult. When irritated by persons for whom he +entertained little respect, his misanthropy displayed itself in words, +and sometimes in actions, of still greater rudeness; and he used on +such occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and +threats.” [SCOTS MAGAZINE, vol. lxxx. p.207.] + +Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works; +and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate, which does not +possess some source of gratification peculiar to itself, This poor +man, whose misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural +deformity, had yet his own particular enjoyments. Driven into solitude, +he became an admirer of the beauties of nature. His garden, which he +sedulously cultivated, and from a piece of wild moorland made a very +productive spot, was his pride and his delight; but he was also an +admirer of more natural beauty: the soft sweep of the green hill, the +bubbling of a clear fountain, or the complexities of a wild thicket, +were scenes on which he often gazed for hours, and, as he said, with +inexpressible delight. It was perhaps for this reason that he was fond +of Shenstone’s pastorals, and some parts of PARADISE LOST. The author +has heard his most unmusical voice repeat the celebrated description of +Paradise, which he seemed fully to appreciate. His other studies were of +a different cast, chiefly polemical. He never went to the parish church, +and was therefore suspected of entertaining heterodox opinions, though +his objection was probably to the concourse of spectators, to whom he +must have exposed his unseemly deformity. He spoke of a future state +with intense feeling, and even with tears. He expressed disgust at the +idea, of his remains being mixed with the common rubbish, as he called +it, of the churchyard, and selected with his usual taste a beautiful and +wild spot in the glen where he had his hermitage, in which to take his +last repose. He changed his mind, however, and was finally interred in +the common burial-ground of Manor parish. + +The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made +him appear, in the eyes of the vulgar, a man possessed of supernatural +power. Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment, for some +of the poor and ignorant, as well as all the children, in the +neighbourhood, held him to be what is called uncanny. He himself did not +altogether discourage the idea; it enlarged his very limited circle +of power, and in so far gratified his conceit; and it soothed his +misanthropy, by increasing his means of giving terror or pain. But even +in a rude Scottish glen thirty years back, the fear of sorcery was very +much out of date. + +David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes, especially such +as were supposed to be haunted, and valued himself upon his courage in +doing so. To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly +than himself. At heart, he was superstitious, and planted many +rowans (mountain ashes) around his hut, as a certain defence against +necromancy. For the same reason, doubtless, he desired to have +rowan-trees set above his grave. + +We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty. +His only living favourites were a dog and a cat, to which he was +particularly attached, and his bees, which he treated with great care. +He took a sister, latterly, to live in a hut adjacent to his own, but +he did not permit her to enter it. She was weak in intellect, but not +deformed in person; simple, or rather silly, but not, like her brother, +sullen or bizarre. David was never affectionate to her; it was not in +his nature; but he endured her. He maintained himself and her by the +sale of the product of their garden and bee-hives; and, latterly, +they had a small allowance from the parish. Indeed, in the simple +and patriarchal state in which the country then was, persons in the +situation of David and his sister were sure to be supported. They had +only to apply to the next gentleman or respectable farmer, and were sure +to find them equally ready and willing to supply their very moderate +wants. David often received gratuities from strangers, which he never +asked, never refused, and never seemed to consider as an obligation. He +had a right, indeed, to regard himself as one of Nature’s paupers, +to whom she gave a title to be maintained by his kind, even by that +deformity which closed against him all ordinary ways of supporting +himself by his own labour. Besides, a bag was suspended in the mill for +David Ritchie’s benefit; and those who were carrying home a melder of +meal, seldom failed to add a GOWPEN [Handful] to the alms-bag of the +deformed cripple. In short, David had no occasion for money, save to +purchase snuff, his only luxury, in which he indulged himself liberally. +When he died, in the beginning of the present century, he was found +to have hoarded about twenty pounds, a habit very consistent with his +disposition; for wealth is power, and power was what David Ritchie +desired to possess, as a compensation for his exclusion from human +society. + +His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which this brief +notice forms the introduction; and the author is sorry to learn that a +sort of “local sympathy,” and the curiosity then expressed concerning +the Author of WAVERLEY and the subjects of his Novels, exposed the poor +woman to enquiries which gave her pain. When pressed about her brother’s +peculiarities, she asked, in her turn, why they would not permit the +dead to rest? To others, who pressed for some account of her parents, +she answered in the same tone of feeling. + +The author saw this poor, and, it may be said, unhappy man, in autumn +1797 being then, as he has the happiness still to remain, connected by +ties of intimate friendship with the family of the venerable Dr. Adam +Fergusson, the philosopher and historian, who then resided at the +mansion-house of Halyards, in the vale of Manor, about a mile from +Ritchie’s hermitage, the author was upon a visit at Halyards, which +lasted for several days, and was made acquainted with this singular +anchorite, whom Dr. Fergusson considered as an extraordinary character, +and whom he assisted in various ways, particularly by the occasional +loan of books. Though the taste of the philosopher and the poor peasant +did not, it may be supposed, always correspond, [I remember David was +particularly anxious to see a book, which he called, I think, LETTERS TO +ELECT LADIES, and which, he said, was the best composition he had +ever read; but Dr. Fergusson’s library did not supply the volume.] Dr. +Fergusson considered him as a man of a powerful capacity and original +ideas, but whose mind was thrown off its just bias by a predominant +degree of self-love and self-opinion, galled by the sense of ridicule +and contempt, and avenging itself upon society, in idea at least, by a +gloomy misanthropy. + +David Ritchie, besides the utter obscurity of his life while in +existence, had been dead for many years, when it occurred to the author +that such a character might be made a powerful agent in fictitious +narrative. He, accordingly, sketched that of Elshie of the +Mucklestane-Moor. The story was intended to be longer, and the +catastrophe more artificially brought out; but a friendly critic, to +whose opinion I subjected the work in its progress, was of opinion, that +the idea of the Solitary was of a kind too revolting, and more likely to +disgust than to interest the reader. As I had good right to consider my +adviser as an excellent judge of public opinion, I got off my subject +by hastening the story to an end, as fast as it was possible; and, by +huddling into one volume, a tale which was designed to occupy two, have +perhaps produced a narrative as much disproportioned and distorted, as +the Black Dwarf who is its subject. + + + + +III. THE BLACK DWARF. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PRELIMINARY. + + Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT. + +It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night +before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six +inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn. The first +was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat +covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and +dreadnought overalls. He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough +in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and +a double-bitted military bridle. The man who accompanied him was +apparently his servant; he rode a shaggy little grey pony, had a blue +bonnet on his head, and a large check napkin folded about his neck, wore +a pair of long blue worsted hose instead of boots, had his gloveless +hands much stained with tar, and observed an air of deference and +respect towards his companion, but without any of those indications +of precedence and punctilio which are preserved between the gentry +and their domestics. On the contrary, the two travellers entered the +court-yard abreast, and the concluding sentence of the conversation +which had been carrying on betwixt them was a joint ejaculation, “Lord +guide us, an this weather last, what will come o’ the lambs!” The hint +was sufficient for my Landlord, who, advancing to take the horse of the +principal person, and holding him by the reins as he dismounted, while +his ostler rendered the same service to the attendant, welcomed the +stranger to Gandercleugh, and, in the same breath, enquired, “What news +from the south hielands?” + +“News?” said the farmer, “bad eneugh news, I think;--an we can carry +through the yowes, it will be a’ we can do; we maun e’en leave the lambs +to the Black Dwarfs care.” + +“Ay, ay,” subjoined the old shepherd (for such he was), shaking his +head, “he’ll be unco busy amang the morts this season.” + +“The Black Dwarf!” said MY LEARNED FRIEND AND PATRON, Mr. Jedediah +Cleishbotham, “and what sort of a personage may he be?” + +[We have, in this and other instances, printed in italics (CAPITALS +in this etext) some few words which the worthy editor, Mr. Jedediah +Cleishbotham, seems to have interpolated upon the text of his deceased +friend, Mr. Pattieson. We must observe, once for all, that such +liberties seem only to have been taken by the learned gentleman where +his own character and conduct are concerned; and surely he must be the +best judge of the style in which his own character and conduct should be +treated of.] + +“Hout awa, man,” answered the farmer, “ye’ll hae heard o’ Canny Elshie +the Black Dwarf, or I am muckle mistaen--A’ the warld tells tales about +him, but it’s but daft nonsense after a’--I dinna believe a word o’t +frae beginning to end.” + +“Your father believed it unco stievely, though,” said the old man, to +whom the scepticism of his master gave obvious displeasure. + +“Ay, very true, Bauldie, but that was in the time o’ the +blackfaces--they believed a hantle queer things in thae days, that +naebody heeds since the lang sheep cam in.” + +“The mair’s the pity, the mair’s the pity,” said the old man. “Your +father, and sae I have aften tell’d ye, maister, wad hae been sair vexed +to hae seen the auld peel-house wa’s pu’d down to make park dykes; and +the bonny broomy knowe, where he liked sae weel to sit at e’en, wi’ his +plaid about him, and look at the kye as they cam down the loaning, ill +wad he hae liked to hae seen that braw sunny knowe a’ riven out wi’ the +pleugh in the fashion it is at this day.” + +“Hout, Bauldie,” replied the principal, “tak ye that dram the landlord’s +offering ye, and never fash your head about the changes o’ the warld, +sae lang as ye’re blithe and bien yoursell.” + +“Wussing your health, sirs,” said the shepherd; and having taken off his +glass, and observed the whisky was the right thing, he continued, “It’s +no for the like o’ us to be judging, to be sure; but it was a bonny +knowe that broomy knowe, and an unco braw shelter for the lambs in a +severe morning like this.” + +“Ay,” said his patron, “but ye ken we maun hae turnips for the lang +sheep, billie, and muckle hard wark to get them, baith wi’ the pleugh +and the howe; and that wad sort ill wi’ sitting on the broomy knowe, and +cracking about Black Dwarfs, and siccan clavers, as was the gate lang +syne, when the short sheep were in the fashion.” + +“Aweel, aweel, maister,” said the attendant, “short sheep had short +rents, I’m thinking.” + +Here my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron again interposed, and observed, “that +he could never perceive any material difference, in point of longitude, +between one sheep and another.” + +This occasioned a loud hoarse laugh on the part of the farmer, and an +astonished stare on the part of the shepherd. + +“It’s the woo’, man,--it’s the woo’, and no the beasts themsells, that +makes them be ca’d lang or short. I believe if ye were to measure their +backs, the short sheep wad be rather the langer-bodied o’ the twa; but +it’s the woo’ that pays the rent in thae days, and it had muckle need.” + +“Odd, Bauldie says very true,--short sheep did make short rents--my +father paid for our steading just threescore punds, and it stands me in +three hundred, plack and bawbee.--And that’s very true--I hae nae time +to be standing here clavering--Landlord, get us our breakfast, and see +an’ get the yauds fed--I am for doun to Christy Wilson’s, to see if him +and me can gree about the luckpenny I am to gie him for his year-aulds. +We had drank sax mutchkins to the making the bargain at St. Boswell’s +fair, and some gate we canna gree upon the particulars preceesely, for +as muckle time as we took about it--I doubt we draw to a plea--But hear +ye, neighbour,” addressing my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron, “if ye want to +hear onything about lang or short sheep, I will be back here to my kail +against ane o’clock; or, if ye want ony auld-warld stories about the +Black Dwarf, and sic-like, if ye’ll ware a half mutchkin upon Bauldie +there, he’ll crack t’ye like a pen-gun. And I’se gie ye a mutchkin +mysell, man, if I can settle weel wi’ Christy Wilson.” + +The farmer returned at the hour appointed, and with him came Christy +Wilson, their difference having been fortunately settled without an +appeal to the gentlemen of the long robe. My LEARNED AND WORTHY patron +failed not to attend, both on account of the refreshment promised to the +mind and to the body, ALTHOUGH HE IS KNOWN TO PARTAKE OF THE LATTER IN +A VERY MODERATE DEGREE; and the party, with which my Landlord was +associated, continued to sit late in the evening, seasoning their liquor +with many choice tales and songs. The last incident which I recollect, +was my LEARNED AND WORTHY patron falling from his chair, just as he +concluded a long lecture upon temperance, by reciting, from the “Gentle +Shepherd,” a couplet, which he RIGHT HAPPILY transferred from the vice +of avarice to that of ebriety: + + He that has just eneugh may soundly sleep, + The owercome only fashes folk to keep. + +In the course of the evening the Black Dwarf had not been forgotten, +and the old shepherd, Bauldie, told so many stories of him, that they +excited a good deal of interest. It also appeared, though not till the +third punch-bowl was emptied, that much of the farmer’s scepticism on +the subject was affected, as evincing a liberality of thinking, and a +freedom from ancient prejudices, becoming a man who paid three hundred +pounds a-year of rent, while, in fact, he had a lurking belief in the +traditions of his forefathers. After my usual manner, I made farther +enquiries of other persons connected with the wild and pastoral district +in which the scene of the following narrative is placed, and I was +fortunate enough to recover many links of the story, not generally +known, and which account, at least in some degree, for the circumstances +of exaggerated marvel with which superstition has attired it in the more +vulgar traditions. + +[The Black Dwarf, now almost forgotten, was once held a formidable +personage by the dalesmen of the Border, where he got the blame of +whatever mischief befell the sheep or cattle. “He was,” says Dr. Leyden, +who makes considerable use of him in the ballad called the Cowt of +Keeldar, “a fairy of the most malignant order--the genuine Northern +Duergar.” The best and most authentic account of this dangerous and +mysterious being occurs in a tale communicated to the author by that +eminent antiquary, Richard Surtees, Esq. of Mainsforth, author of the +HISTORY OF THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM. + +According to this well-attested legend, two young Northumbrians were +out on a shooting party, and had plunged deep among the mountainous +moorlands which border on Cumberland. They stopped for refreshment in +a little secluded dell by the side of a rivulet. There, after they had +partaken of such food as they brought with them, one of the party fell +asleep; the other, unwilling to disturb his friend’s repose, stole +silently out of the dell with the purpose of looking around him, when he +was astonished to find himself close to a being who seemed not to belong +to this world, as he was the most hideous dwarf that the sun had ever +shone on. His head was of full human size, forming a frightful contrast +with his height, which was considerably under four feet. It was thatched +with no other covering than long matted red hair, like that of the felt +of a badger in consistence, and in colour a reddish brown, like the hue +of the heather-blossom. His limbs seemed of great strength; nor was he +otherwise deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness to his +diminutive height. The terrified sportsman stood gazing on this horrible +apparition, until, with an angry countenance, the being demanded by what +right he intruded himself on those hills, and destroyed their harmless +inhabitants. The perplexed stranger endeavoured to propitiate the +incensed dwarf, by offering to surrender his game, as he would to an +earthly Lord of the Manor. The proposal only redoubled the offence +already taken by the dwarf, who alleged that he was the lord of those +mountains, and the protector of the wild creatures who found a retreat +in their solitary recesses; and that all spoils derived from their +death, or misery, were abhorrent to him. The hunter humbled himself +before the angry goblin, and by protestations of his ignorance, and +of his resolution to abstain from such intrusion in future, at last +succeeded in pacifying him. The gnome now became more communicative, and +spoke of himself as belonging to a species of beings something between +the angelic race and humanity. He added, moreover, which could hardly +have been anticipated, that he had hopes of sharing in the redemption of +the race of Adam. He pressed the sportsman to visit his dwelling, which +he said was hard by, and plighted his faith for his safe return. But at +this moment, the shout of the sportsman’s companion was heard calling +for his friend, and the dwarf, as if unwilling that more than one +person should be cognisant of his presence, disappeared as the young man +emerged from the dell to join his comrade. + +It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such +matters, that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit, he would, +notwithstanding the dwarf’s fair pretences, have been either torn to +pieces, or immured for years in the recesses of some fairy hill. + +Such is the last and most authentic account of the apparition of the +Black Dwarf.] + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Will none but Hearne the Hunter serve your turn? + --MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. + +In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland, where an +ideal line, drawn along the tops of lofty and bleak mountains, separates +that land from her sister kingdom, a young man, called Halbert, or +Hobbie Elliot, a substantial farmer, who boasted his descent from old +Martin Elliot of the Preakin-tower, noted in Border story and song, was +on his return from deer-stalking. The deer, once so numerous among these +solitary wastes, were now reduced to a very few herds, which, sheltering +themselves in the most remote and inaccessible recesses, rendered the +task of pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious. There were, +however, found many youth of the country ardently attached to this +sport, with all its dangers and fatigues. The sword had been sheathed +upon the Borders for more than a hundred years, by the peaceful union of +the crowns in the reign of James the First of Great Britain. Still +the country retained traces of what it had been in former days; the +inhabitants, their more peaceful avocations having been repeatedly +interrupted by the civil wars of the preceding century, were scarce yet +broken in to the habits of regular industry, sheep-farming had not been +introduced upon any considerable scale, and the feeding of black cattle +was the chief purpose to which the hills and valleys were applied. Near +to the farmer’s house, the tenant usually contrived to raise such a crop +of oats or barley, as afforded meal for his family; and the whole of +this slovenly and imperfect mode of cultivation left much time upon his +own hands, and those of his domestics. This was usually employed by the +young men in hunting and fishing; and the spirit of adventure, which +formerly led to raids and forays in the same districts, was still to be +discovered in the eagerness with which they pursued those rural sports. + +The more high-spirited among the youth were, about the time that our +narrative begins, expecting, rather with hope than apprehension, an +opportunity of emulating their fathers in their military achievements, +the recital of which formed the chief part of their amusement within +doors. The passing of the Scottish act of security had given the alarm +of England, as it seemed to point at a separation of the two British +kingdoms, after the decease of Queen Anne, the reigning sovereign. +Godolphin, then at the head of the English administration, foresaw that +there was no other mode of avoiding the probable extremity of a civil +war, but by carrying through an incorporating union. How that treaty +was managed, and how little it seemed for some time to promise the +beneficial results which have since taken place to such extent, may be +learned from the history of the period. It is enough for our purpose +to say, that all Scotland was indignant at the terms on which their +legislature had surrendered their national independence. The general +resentment led to the strangest leagues and to the wildest plans. The +Cameronians were about to take arms for the restoration of the house of +Stewart, whom they regarded, with justice, as their oppressors; and +the intrigues of the period presented the strange picture of papists, +prelatists, and presbyterians, caballing among themselves against the +English government, out of a common feeling that their country had been +treated with injustice. The fermentation was universal; and, as the +population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms, under the act +of security, they were not indifferently prepared for war, and waited +but the declaration of some of the nobility to break out into open +hostility. It was at this period of public confusion that our story +opens. + +The cleugh, or wild ravine, into which Hobbie Elliot had followed the +game, was already far behind him, and he was considerably advanced on +his return homeward, when the night began to close upon him. This +would have been a circumstance of great indifference to the experienced +sportsman, who could have walked blindfold over every inch of his +native heaths, had it not happened near a spot, which, according to +the traditions of the country, was in extremely bad fame, as haunted +by supernatural appearances. To tales of this kind Hobbie had, from his +childhood, lent an attentive ear; and as no part of the country afforded +such a variety of legends, so no man was more deeply read in their +fearful lore than Hobbie of the Heugh-foot; for so our gallant was +called, to distinguish him from a round dozen of Elliots who bore the +same Christian name. It cost him no efforts, therefore, to call to +memory the terrific incidents connected with the extensive waste upon +which he was now entering. In fact, they presented themselves with a +readiness which he felt to be somewhat dismaying. + +This dreary common was called Mucklestane-Moor, from a huge column of +unhewn granite, which raised its massy head on a knell near the centre +of the heath, perhaps to tell of the mighty dead who slept beneath, or +to preserve the memory of some bloody skirmish. The real cause of +its existence had, however, passed away; and tradition, which is as +frequently an inventor of fiction as a preserver of truth, had supplied +its place with a supplementary legend of her own, which now came full +upon Hobbie’s memory. The ground about the pillar was strewed, or rather +encumbered, with many large fragments of stone of the same consistence +with the column, which, from their appearance as they lay scattered on +the waste, were popularly called the Grey Geese of Mucklestane-Moor. The +legend accounted for this name and appearance by the catastrophe of a +noted and most formidable witch who frequented these hills in former +days, causing the ewes to KEB, and the kine to cast their calves, and +performing all the feats of mischief ascribed to these evil beings. On +this moor she used to hold her revels with her sister hags; and rings +were still pointed out on which no grass nor heath ever grew, the turf +being, as it were, calcined by the scorching hoofs of their diabolical +partners. + +Once upon a time this old hag is said to have crossed the moor, driving +before her a flock of geese, which she proposed to sell to advantage +at a neighbouring fair;--for it is well known that the fiend, however +liberal in imparting his powers of doing mischief, ungenerously leaves +his allies under the necessity of performing the meanest rustic labours +for subsistence. The day was far advanced, and her chance of obtaining +a good price depended on her being first at the market. But the geese, +which had hitherto preceded her in a pretty orderly manner, when they +came to this wide common, interspersed with marshes and pools of water, +scattered in every direction, to plunge into the element in which they +delighted. Incensed at the obstinacy with which they defied all her +efforts to collect them, and not remembering the precise terms of the +contract by which the fiend was bound to obey her commands for a certain +space, the sorceress exclaimed, “Deevil, that neither I nor they ever +stir from this spot more!” The words were hardly uttered, when, by a +metamorphosis as sudden as any in Ovid, the hag and her refractory flock +were converted into stone, the angel whom she served, being a strict +formalist, grasping eagerly at an opportunity of completing the ruin of +her body and soul by a literal obedience to her orders. It is said, that +when she perceived and felt the transformation which was about to take +place, she exclaimed to the treacherous fiend, “Ah, thou false thief! +lang hast thou promised me a grey gown, and now I am getting ane that +will last for ever.” The dimensions of the pillar, and of the stones, +were often appealed to, as a proof of the superior stature and size of +old women and geese in the days of other years, by those praisers of +the past who held the comfortable opinion of the gradual degeneracy of +mankind. + +All particulars of this legend Hobbie called to mind as he passed along +the moor. He also remembered, that, since the catastrophe had taken +place, the scene of it had been avoided, at least after night-fall, by +all human beings, as being the ordinary resort of kelpies, spunkies, and +other demons, once the companions of the witch’s diabolical revels, +and now continuing to rendezvous upon the same spot, as if still in +attendance on their transformed mistress. Hobbie’s natural hardihood, +however, manfully combated with these intrusive sensations of awe. +He summoned to his side the brace of large greyhounds, who were the +companions of his sports, and who were wont, in his own phrase, to fear +neither dog nor devil; he looked at the priming of his piece, and, like +the clown in Hallowe’en, whistled up the warlike ditty of Jock of the +Side, as a general causes his drums be beat to inspirit the doubtful +courage of his soldiers. + +In this state of mind, he was very glad to hear a friendly voice shout +in his rear, and propose to him a partner on the road. He slackened his +pace, and was quickly joined by a youth well known to him, a gentleman +of some fortune in that remote country, and who had been abroad on the +same errand with himself. Young Earnscliff, “of that ilk,” had +lately come of age, and succeeded to a moderate fortune, a good deal +dilapidated, from the share his family had taken in the disturbances +of the period. They were much and generally respected in the country; +a reputation which this young gentleman seemed likely to sustain, as he +was well educated, and of excellent dispositions. + +“Now, Earnscliff;” exclaimed Hobbie, “I am glad to meet your honour +ony gate, and company’s blithe on a bare moor like this--it’s an unco +bogilly bit--Where hae ye been sporting?” + +“Up the Carla Cleugh, Hobbie,” answered Earnscliff, returning his +greeting. “But will our dogs keep the peace, think you?” + +“Deil a fear o’ mine,” said Hobbie, “they hae scarce a leg to stand +on.--Odd! the deer’s fled the country, I think! I have been as far +as Inger-fell-foot, and deil a horn has Hobbie seen, excepting three +red-wud raes, that never let me within shot of them, though I gaed +a mile round to get up the wind to them, an’ a’. Deil o’ me wad care +muckle, only I wanted some venison to our auld gude-dame. The carline, +she sits in the neuk yonder, upbye, and cracks about the grand shooters +and hunters lang syne--Odd, I think they hae killed a’ the deer in the +country, for my part.” + +“Well, Hobbie, I have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliff this +morning--you shall have half of him for your grandmother.” + +“Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, ye’re kend to a’ the country for a kind +heart. It will do the auld wife’s heart gude--mair by token, when she +kens it comes frae you--and maist of a’ gin ye’ll come up and take your +share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now in the auld tower, and a’ your +folk at that weary Edinburgh. I wonder what they can find to do amang +a wheen ranks o’ stane-houses wi’ slate on the tap o’ them, that might +live on their ain bonny green hills.” + +“My education and my sisters’ has kept my mother much in Edinburgh for +several years,” said Earnscliff; “but I promise you I propose to make up +for lost time.” + +“And ye’ll rig out the auld tower a bit,” said Hobbie, “and live +hearty and neighbour-like wi’ the auld family friends, as the Laird o’ +Earnscliff should? I can tell ye, my mother--my grandmother I mean--but, +since we lost our ain mother, we ca’ her sometimes the tane, and +sometimes the tother--but, ony gate, she conceits hersell no that +distant connected wi’ you.” + +“Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinner +to-morrow with all my heart.” + +“Weel, that’s kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we were nae +kin--and my gude-dame’s fain to see you--she clavers about your father +that was killed lang syne.” + +“Hush, hush, Hobbie--not a word about that--it’s a story better +forgotten.” + +“I dinna ken--if it had chanced amang our folk, we wad hae keepit it in +mind mony a day till we got some mends for’t--but ye ken your ain ways +best, you lairds--I have heard say that Ellieslaw’s friend stickit your +sire after the laird himsell had mastered his sword.” + +“Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine and +politics--many swords were drawn--it is impossible to say who struck the +blow.” + +“At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I am sure if +ye were sae disposed as to take amends on him, naebody could say it was +wrang, for your father’s blood is beneath his nails--and besides there’s +naebody else left that was concerned to take amends upon, and he’s a +prelatist and a jacobite into the bargain--I can tell ye the country +folk look for something atween ye.” + +“O for shame, Hobbie!” replied the young Laird; “you, that profess +religion, to stir your friend up to break the law, and take vengeance +at his own hand, and in such a bogilly bit too, where we know not what +beings may be listening to us!” + +“Hush, hush!” said Hobbie, drawing nearer to his companion, “I was nae +thinking o’ the like o’ them--But I can guess a wee bit what keeps your +hand up, Mr. Patrick; we a’ ken it’s no lack o’ courage, but the twa +grey een of a bonny lass, Miss Isabel Vere, that keeps you sae sober.” + +“I assure you, Hobbie,” said his companion, rather angrily, “I assure +you you are mistaken; and it is extremely wrong of you, either to think +of, or to utter, such an idea; I have no idea of permitting freedoms to +be carried so far as to connect my name with that of any young lady.” + +“Why, there now--there now!” retorted Elliot; “did I not say it was nae +want o’ spunk that made ye sae mim?--Weel, weel, I meant nae offence; +but there’s just ae thing ye may notice frae a friend. The auld Laird +of Ellieslaw has the auld riding blood far hetter at his heart than ye +hae--troth, he kens naething about thae newfangled notions o’ peace and +quietness--he’s a’ for the auld-warld doings o’ lifting and laying on, +and he has a wheen stout lads at his back too, and keeps them weel up in +heart, and as fu’ o’ mischief as young colts. Where he gets the gear to +do’t nane can say; he lives high, and far abune his rents here; however, +he pays his way--Sae, if there’s ony out-break in the country, he’s +likely to break out wi’ the first--and weel does he mind the auld +quarrels between ye, I’m surmizing he’ll be for a touch at the auld +tower at Earnscliff.” + +“Well, Hobbie,” answered the young gentleman, “if he should be so ill +advised, I shall try to make the old tower good against him, as it has +been made good by my betters against his betters many a day ago.” + +“Very right--very right--that’s speaking like a man now,” said the stout +yeoman; “and, if sae should be that this be sae, if ye’ll just gar your +servant jow out the great bell in the tower, there’s me, and my twa +brothers, and little Davie of the Stenhouse, will be wi’ you, wi’ a’ the +power we can make, in the snapping of a flint.” + +“Many thanks, Hobbie,” answered Earnscliff; “but I hope we shall have no +war of so unnatural and unchristian a kind in our time.” + +“Hout, sir, hout,” replied Elliot; “it wad be but a wee bit neighbour +war, and Heaven and earth would make allowances for it in this +uncultivated place--it’s just the nature o’ the folk and the land--we +canna live quiet like Loudon folk--we haena sae muckle to do. It’s +impossible.” + +“Well, Hobbie,” said the Laird, “for one who believes so deeply as you +do in supernatural appearances, I must own you take Heaven in your own +hand rather audaciously, considering where we are walking.” + +“What needs I care for the Mucklestane-Moor ony mair than ye do +yoursell, Earnscliff?” said Hobbie, something offended; “to be sure, +they do say there’s a sort o’ worricows and lang-nebbit things about the +land, but what need I care for them? I hae a good conscience, and little +to answer for, unless it be about a rant amang the lasses, or a splore +at a fair, and that’s no muckle to speak of. Though I say it mysell, I +am as quiet a lad and as peaceable--” + +“And Dick Turnbull’s head that you broke, and Willie of Winton whom you +shot at?” said his travelling companion. + +“Hout, Earnscliff, ye keep a record of a’ men’s misdoings--Dick’s head’s +healed again, and we’re to fight out the quarrel at Jeddart, on the +Rood-day, so that’s like a thing settled in a peaceable way; and then I +am friends wi’ Willie again, puir chield--it was but twa or three hail +draps after a’. I wad let onybody do the like o’t to me for a pint o’ +brandy. But Willie’s lowland bred, poor fallow, and soon frighted for +himsell--And, for the worricows, were we to meet ane on this very bit--” + +“As is not unlikely,” said young Earnscliff, “for there stands your old +witch, Hobbie.” + +“I say,” continued Elliot, as if indignant at this hint--“I say, if the +auld carline hersell was to get up out o’ the grund just before us here, +I would think nae mair--But, gude preserve us, Earnscliff; what can yon, +be!” + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Brown Dwarf, that o’er the moorland strays, + Thy name to Keeldar tell! + “The Brown Man of the Moor, that stays + Beneath the heather-bell.”--JOHN LEYDEN + +The object which alarmed the young farmer in the middle of his valorous +protestations, startled for a moment even his less prejudiced companion. +The moon, which had arisen during their conversation, was, in the phrase +of that country, wading or struggling with clouds, and shed only a +doubtful and occasional light. By one of her beams, which streamed upon +the great granite column to which they now approached, they discovered +a form, apparently human, but of a size much less than ordinary, which +moved slowly among the large grey stones, not like a person intending +to journey onward, but with the slow, irregular, flitting movement of a +being who hovers around some spot of melancholy recollection, uttering +also, from time to time, a sort of indistinct muttering sound. This so +much resembled his idea of the motions of an apparition, that Hobbie +Elliot, making a dead pause, while his hair erected itself upon his +scalp, whispered to his companion, “It’s Auld Ailie hersell! Shall I gie +her a shot, in the name of God?” + +“For Heaven’s sake, no,” said his companion, holding down the weapon +which he was about to raise to the aim--“for Heaven’s sake, no; it’s +some poor distracted creature.” + +“Ye’re distracted yoursell, for thinking of going so near to her,” said +Elliot, holding his companion in his turn, as he prepared to advance. +“We’ll aye hae time to pit ower a bit prayer (an I could but mind ane) +afore she comes this length--God! she’s in nae hurry,” continued he, +growing bolder from his companion’s confidence, and the little notice +the apparition seemed to take of them. “She hirples like a hen on a het +girdle. I redd ye, Earnscliff” (this he added in a gentle whisper), “let +us take a cast about, as if to draw the wind on a buck--the bog is no +abune knee-deep, and better a saft road as bad company.” [The Scots use +the epithet soft, IN MALAM PARTEM, in two cases, at least. A SOFT road +is a road through quagmire and bogs; and SOFT weather signifies that +which is very rainy.] + +Earnscliff, however, in spite of his companion’s resistance and +remonstrances, continued to advance on the path they had originally +pursued, and soon confronted the object of their investigation. + +The height of the figure, which appeared even to decrease as they +approached it, seemed to be under four feet, and its form, as far as the +imperfect light afforded them the means of discerning, was very nearly +as broad as long, or rather of a spherical shape, which could only +be occasioned by some strange personal deformity. The young sportsman +hailed this extraordinary appearance twice, without receiving any +answer, or attending to the pinches by which his companion endeavoured +to intimate that their best course was to walk on, without giving +farther disturbance to a being of such singular and preternatural +exterior. To the third repeated demand of “Who are you? What do you here +at this hour of night?”--a voice replied, whose shrill, uncouth, and +dissonant tones made Elliot step two paces back, and startled even his +companion, “Pass on your way, and ask nought at them that ask nought at +you.” + +“What do you do here so far from shelter? Are you benighted on your +journey? Will you follow us home [‘God forbid!’ ejaculated Hobbie +Elliot, involuntarily), and I will give you a lodging?” + +“I would sooner lodge by mysell in the deepest of the Tarras-flow,” + again whispered Hobbie. + +“Pass on your way,” rejoined the figure, the harsh tones of his voice +still more exalted by passion. “I want not your guidance--I want not +your lodging--it is five years since my head was under a human roof, and +I trust it was for the last time.” + +“He is mad,” said Earnscliff. + +“He has a look of auld Humphrey Ettercap, the tinkler, that perished +in this very moss about five years syne,” answered his superstitious +companion; “but Humphrey wasna that awfu’ big in the bouk.” + +“Pass on your way,” reiterated the object of their curiosity, “the +breath of your human bodies poisons the air around me--the sound of pour +human voices goes through my ears like sharp bodkins.” + +“Lord safe us!” whispered Hobbie, “that the dead should bear sie fearfu’ +ill-will to the living!--his saul maun be in a puir way, I’m jealous.” + +“Come, my friend,” said Earnscliff, “you seem to suffer under some +strong affliction; common humanity will not allow us to leave you here.” + +“Common humanity!” exclaimed the being, with a scornful laugh that +sounded like a shriek, “where got ye that catch-word--that noose for +woodcocks--that common disguise for man-traps--that bait which the +wretched idiot who swallows, will soon find covers a hook with barbs ten +times sharper than those you lay for the animals which you murder for +your luxury!” + +“I tell you, my friend,” again replied Earnscliff, “you are incapable of +judging of your own situation--you will perish in this wilderness, and +we must, in compassion, force you along with us.” + +“I’ll hae neither hand nor foot in’t,” said Hobbie; “let the ghaist take +his ain way, for God’s sake!” + +“My blood be on my own head, if I perish here,” said the figure; and, +observing Earnscliff meditating to lay hold on him, he added, “And +your blood be upon yours, if you touch but the skirt of my garments, to +infect me with the taint of mortality!” + +The moon shone more brightly as he spoke thus, and Earnscliff observed +that he held out his right hand armed with some weapon of offence, which +glittered in the cold ray like the blade of a long knife, or the barrel +of a pistol. It would have been madness to persevere in his attempt upon +a being thus armed, and holding such desperate language, especially as +it was plain he would have little aid from his companion, who had fairly +left him to settle matters with the apparition as he could, and had +proceeded a few paces on his way homeward. Earnscliff, however, turned +and followed Hobbie, after looking back towards the supposed maniac, +who, as if raised to frenzy by the interview, roamed wildly around the +great stone, exhausting his voice in shrieks and imprecations, that +thrilled wildly along the waste heath. + +The two sportsmen moved on some time in silence, until they were out +of hearing of these uncouth sounds, which was not ere they had gained a +considerable distance from the pillar that gave name to the moor. Each +made his private comments on the scene they had witnessed, until Hobbie +Elliot suddenly exclaimed, “Weel, I’ll uphaud that yon ghaist, if it +be a ghaist, has baith done and suffered muckle evil in the flesh, that +gars him rampauge in that way after he is dead and gane.” + +“It seems to me the very madness of misanthropy,” said Earnscliff; +following his own current of thought. + +“And ye didna think it was a spiritual creature, then?” asked Hobbie at +his companion. + +“Who, I?--No, surely.” + +“Weel, I am partly of the mind mysell that it may be a live thing--and +yet I dinna ken, I wadna wish to see ony thing look liker a bogle.” + +“At any rate,” said Earnscliff, “I will ride over to-morrow and see what +has become of the unhappy being.” + +“In fair daylight?” queried the yeoman; “then, grace o’ God, I’se be +wi’ ye. But here we are nearer to Heugh-foot than to your house by twa +mile,--hadna ye better e’en gae hame wi’ me, and we’ll send the callant +on the powny to tell them that you are wi’ us, though I believe there’s +naebody at hame to wait for you but the servants and the cat.” + +“Have with you then, friend Hobbie,” said the young hunter; “and as I +would not willingly have either the servants be anxious, or puss forfeit +her supper, in my absence, I’ll be obliged to you to send the boy as you +propose.” + +“Aweel, that IS kind, I must say. And ye’ll gae hame to Heugh-foot? +They’ll be right blithe to see you, that will they.” + +This affair settled, they walked briskly on a little farther, when, +coming to the ridge of a pretty steep hill, Hobbie Elliot exclaimed, +“Now, Earnscliff, I am aye glad when I come to this very bit--Ye see +the light below, that’s in the ha’ window, where grannie, the gash auld +carline, is sitting birling at her wheel--and ye see yon other light +that’s gaun whiddin’ back and forrit through amang the windows? that’s +my cousin, Grace Armstrong,--she’s twice as clever about the house as my +sisters, and sae they say themsells, for they’re good-natured lasses as +ever trode on heather; but they confess themsells, and sae does grannie, +that she has far maist action, and is the best goer about the toun, now +that grannie is off the foot hersell.--My brothers, ane o’ them’s away +to wait upon the chamberlain, and ane’s at Moss-phadraig, that’s our led +farm--he can see after the stock just as weel as I can do.” + +“You are lucky, my good friend, in having so many valuable relations.” + +“Troth am I--Grace make me thankful, I’se never deny it.--But will +ye tell me now, Earnscliff, you that have been at college, and the +high-school of Edinburgh, and got a’ sort o’ lair where it was to +be best gotten--will ye tell me--no that it’s ony concern of mine in +particular,--but I heard the priest of St. John’s, and our minister, +bargaining about it at the Winter fair, and troth they baith spak very +weel--Now, the priest says it’s unlawful to marry ane’s cousin; but I +cannot say I thought he brought out the Gospel authorities half sae weel +as our minister--our minister is thought the best divine and the best +preacher atween this and Edinburgh--Dinna ye think he was likely to be +right?” + +“Certainly marriage, by all protestant Christians, is held to be as free +as God made it by the Levitical law; so, Hobbie, there can be no bar, +legal or religious, betwixt you and Miss Armstrong.” + +“Hout awa’ wi’ your joking, Earnscliff,” replied his companion,--“ye +are angry aneugh yoursell if ane touches you a bit, man, on the sooth +side of the jest--No that I was asking the question about Grace, for ye +maun ken she’s no my cousin-germain out and out, but the daughter of +my uncle’s wife by her first marriage, so she’s nae kith nor kin to +me--only a connexion like. But now we’re at the Sheeling-hill--I’ll fire +off my gun, to let them ken I’m coming, that’s aye my way; and if I hae +a deer I gie them twa shots, ane for the deer and ane for mysell.” + +He fired off his piece accordingly, and the number of lights were +seen to traverse the house, and even to gleam before it. Hobbie Elliot +pointed out one of these to Earnscliff, which seemed to glide from the +house towards some of the outhouses-“That’s Grace hersell,” said Hobbie. +“She’ll no meet me at the door, I’se warrant her--but she’ll be awa’, +for a’ that, to see if my hounds’ supper be ready, poor beasts.” + +“Love me, love my dog,” answered Earnscliff. “Ah, Hobbie, you are a +lucky young fellow!” + +This observation was uttered with something like a sigh, which +apparently did not escape the ear of his companion. + +“Hout, other folk may be as lucky as I am--O how I have seen Miss Isabel +Vere’s head turn after somebody when they passed ane another at the +Carlisle races! Wha kens but things may come round in this world?” + +Earnscliff muttered something like an answer; but whether in assent of +the proposition, or rebuking the application of it, could not easily be +discovered; and it seems probable that the speaker himself was willing +his meaning should rest in doubt and obscurity. They had now descended +the broad loaning, which, winding round the foot of the steep bank, +or heugh, brought them in front of the thatched, but comfortable, +farm-house, which was the dwelling of Hobbie Elliot and his family. + +The doorway was thronged with joyful faces; but the appearance of a +stranger blunted many a gibe which had been prepared on Hobbie’s lack +of success in the deer-stalking. There was a little bustle among three +handsome young women, each endeavouring to devolve upon another the task +of ushering the stranger into the apartment, while probably all were +anxious to escape for the purpose of making some little personal +arrangements, before presenting themselves to a young gentleman in a +dishabille only intended for their brother. + +Hobbie, in the meanwhile, bestowing some hearty and general abuse upon +them all (for Grace was not of the party), snatched the candle from the +hand of one of the rustic coquettes, as she stood playing pretty with +it in her hand, and ushered his guest into the family parlour, or rather +hall; for the place having been a house of defence in former times, the +sitting apartment was a vaulted and paved room, damp and dismal enough +compared with the lodgings of the yeomanry of our days, but which, when +well lighted up with a large sparkling fire of turf and bog-wood, seemed +to Earnscliff a most comfortable exchange for the darkness and bleak +blast of the hill. Kindly and repeatedly was he welcomed by the +venerable old dame, the mistress of the family, who, dressed in her +coif and pinners, her close and decent gown of homespun wool, but with a +large gold necklace and ear-rings, looked, what she really was, the lady +as well as the farmer’s wife, while, seated in her chair of wicker, by +the corner of the great chimney, she directed the evening occupations +of the young women, and of two or three stout serving wenches, who sate +plying their distaffs behind the backs of their young mistresses. + +As soon as Earnscliff had been duly welcomed, and hasty orders issued +for some addition to the evening meal, his grand-dame and sisters opened +their battery upon Hobbie Elliot for his lack of success against the +deer. + +“Jenny needna have kept up her kitchen-fire for a’ that Hobbie has +brought hame,” said one sister. + +“Troth no, lass,” said another; “the gathering peat, if it was weel +blawn, wad dress a’ our Hobbie’s venison.” [The gathering peat is the +piece of turf left to treasure up the secret seeds of fire, without any +generous consumption of fuel; in a word, to keep the fire alive.] + +“Ay, or the low of the candle, if the wind wad let it hide steady,” said +a third; “if I were him, I would bring hame a black craw, rather than +come back three times without a buck’s horn to blaw on.” + +Hobbie turned from the one to the other, regarding them alternately +with a frown on his brow, the augury of which was confuted by the +good-humoured laugh on the lower part of his countenance. He then strove +to propitiate them, by mentioning the intended present of his companion. + +“In my young days,” said the old lady, “a man wad hae been ashamed +to come back frae the hill without a buck hanging on each side o’ his +horse, like a cadger carrying calves.” + +“I wish they had left some for us then, grannie,” retorted Hobbie; +“they’ve cleared the country o’ them, thae auld friends o’ yours, I’m +thinking.” + +“We see other folk can find game, though you cannot, Hobbie,” said the +eldest sister, glancing a look at young Earnscliff. + +“Weel, weel, woman, hasna every dog his day, begging Earnscliff’s +pardon for the auld saying--Mayna I hae his luck, and he mine, another +time?--It’s a braw thing for a man to be out a’ day, and frighted--na, I +winna say that neither but mistrysted wi’ bogles in the hame-coming, an’ +then to hae to flyte wi’ a wheen women that hae been doing naething a’ +the live-lang day, but whirling a bit stick, wi’ a thread trailing at +it, or boring at a clout.” + +“Frighted wi’ bogles!” exclaimed the females, one and all,--for great +was the regard then paid, and perhaps still paid, in these glens, to all +such fantasies. + +“I did not say frighted, now--I only said mis-set wi’ the thing--And +there was but ae bogle, neither--Earnscliff, ye saw it; as weel as I +did?” + +And he proceeded, without very much exaggeration, to detail, in his own +way, the meeting they had with the mysterious being at Mucklestane-Moor, +concluding, he could not conjecture what on earth it could be, unless it +was either the Enemy himsell, or some of the auld Peghts that held the +country lang syne. + +“Auld Peght!” exclaimed the grand-dame; “na, na--bless thee frae scathe, +my bairn, it’s been nae Peght that--it’s been the Brown Man of the +Moors! O weary fa’ thae evil days!--what can evil beings be coming for +to distract a poor country, now it’s peacefully settled, and living in +love and law--O weary on him! he ne’er brought gude to these lands or +the indwellers. My father aften tauld me he was seen in the year o’ the +bloody fight at Marston-Moor, and then again in Montrose’s troubles, and +again before the rout o’ Dunbar, and, in my ain time, he was seen about +the time o’ Bothwell-Brigg, and they said the second-sighted Laird of +Benarbuck had a communing wi’ him some time afore Argyle’s landing, +but that I cannot speak to sae preceesely--it was far in the west.--O, +bairns, he’s never permitted but in an ill time, sae mind ilka ane o’ ye +to draw to Him that can help in the day of trouble.” + +Earnscliff now interposed, and expressed his firm conviction that the +person they had seen was some poor maniac, and had no commission from +the invisible world to announce either war or evil. But his opinion +found a very cold audience, and all joined to deprecate his purpose of +returning to the spot the next day. + +“O, my bonny bairn,” said the old dame (for, in the kindness of +her heart, she extended her parental style to all in whom she was +interested)---“You should beware mair than other folk--there’s been a +heavy breach made in your house wi’ your father’s bloodshed, and wi’ +law-pleas, and losses sinsyne;--and you are the flower of the flock, and +the lad that will build up the auld bigging again (if it be His will) +to be an honour to the country, and a safeguard to those that dwell +in it--you, before others, are called upon to put yoursell in no rash +adventures--for yours was aye ower venturesome a race, and muckle harm +they have got by it.” + +“But I am sure, my good friend, you would not have me be afraid of going +to an open moor in broad daylight?” + +“I dinna ken,” said the good old dame; “I wad never bid son or friend o’ +mine haud their hand back in a gude cause, whether it were a friend’s or +their ain--that should be by nae bidding of mine, or of ony body that’s +come of a gentle kindred--But it winna gang out of a grey head like +mine, that to gang to seek for evil that’s no fashing wi’ you, is clean +against law and Scripture.” + +Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of maintaining +with good effect, and the entrance of supper broke off the conversation. +Miss Grace had by this time made her appearance, and Hobbie, not without +a conscious glance at Earnscliff, placed himself by her side. Mirth +and lively conversation, in which the old lady of the house took the +good-humoured share which so well becomes old age, restored to the +cheeks of the damsels the roses which their brother’s tale of the +apparition had chased away, and they danced and sung for an hour after +supper as if there were no such things as goblins in the world. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind; + For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, + That I might love thee something.--TIMON OF ATHENS + +On the following morning, after breakfast, Earnscliff took leave of +his hospitable friends, promising to return in time to partake of the +venison, which had arrived from his house. Hobbie, who apparently took +leave of him at the door of his habitation, slunk out, however, and +joined him at the top of the hill. + +“Ye’ll be gaun yonder, Mr. Patrick; feind o’ me will mistryst you for +a’ my mother says. I thought it best to slip out quietly though, in case +she should mislippen something of what we’re gaun to do--we maunna vex +her at nae rate--it was amaist the last word my father said to me on his +deathbed.” + +“By no means, Hobbie,” said Earnscliff; “she well merits all your +attention.” + +“Troth, for that matter, she would be as sair vexed amaist for you as +for me. But d’ye really think there’s nae presumption in venturing back +yonder?--We hae nae special commission, ye ken.” + +“If I thought as you do, Hobbie,” said the young gentleman, “I would not +perhaps enquire farther into this business; but as I am of opinion that +preternatural visitations are either ceased altogether, or become very +rare in our days, I am unwilling to leave a matter uninvestigated which +may concern the life of a poor distracted being.” + +“Aweel, aweel, if ye really think that,” answered Hobbie +doubtfully--“And it’s for certain the very fairies--I mean the very good +neighbours themsells (for they say folk suldna ca’ them fairies) that +used to be seen on every green knowe at e’en, are no half sae often +visible in our days. I canna depone to having ever seen ane mysell, but, +I ance heard ane whistle ahint me in the moss, as like a whaup [Curlew] +as ae thing could be like anither. And mony ane my father saw when he +used to come hame frae the fairs at e’en, wi’ a drap drink in his head, +honest man.” + +Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension of +superstition from one generation to another which was inferred In this +last observation; and they continued to reason on such subjects, until +they came in sight of the upright stone which gave name to the moor. + +“As I shall answer,” says Hobbie, “yonder’s the creature creeping about +yet!--But it’s daylight, and you have your gun, and I brought out my bit +whinger--I think we may venture on him.” + +“By all manner of means,” said Earnscliff; “but, in the name of wonder, +what can he be doing there?” + +“Biggin a dry-stane dyke, I think, wi’ the grey geese, as they ca’ thae +great loose stanes--Odd, that passes a’ thing I e’er heard tell of!” + +As they approached nearer, Earnscliff could not help agreeing with his +companion. The figure they had seen the night before seemed slowly and +toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones one upon another, as if +to form a small enclosure. Materials lay around him in great plenty, but +the labour of carrying on the work was immense, from the size of most of +the stones; and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in +moving several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his +edifice. He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the two +young men came up, and was so intent upon executing his purpose, that +he did not perceive them till they were close upon him. In straining +and heaving at the stone, in order to place it according to his wish, +he displayed a degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with +his size and apparent deformity. Indeed, to judge from the difficulties +he had already surmounted, he must have been of Herculean powers; for +some of the stones he had succeeded in raising apparently required two +men’s strength to have moved them. Hobbie’s suspicions began to revive, +on seeing the preternatural strength he exerted. + +“I am amaist persuaded it’s the ghaist of a stane-mason--see siccan +band-statnes as he’s laid i--An it be a man, after a’, I wonder what +he wad take by the rood to build a march dyke. There’s ane sair wanted +between Cringlehope and the Shaws.--Honest man” (raising his voice), “ye +make good firm wark there?” + +The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare, and, +getting up from his stooping posture, stood before them in all his +native and hideous deformity. His head was of uncommon size, covered +with a fell of shaggy hair, partly grizzled with age; his eyebrows, +shaggy and prominent, overhung a pair of small dark, piercing eyes, +set far back in their sockets, that rolled with a portentous wildness, +indicative of a partial insanity. The rest of his features were of the +coarse, rough-hewn stamp, with which a painter would equip a giant +in romance; to which was added the wild, irregular, and peculiar +expression, so often seen in the countenances of those whose persons are +deformed. His body, thick and square, like that of a man of middle size, +was mounted upon two large feet; but nature seemed to have forgotten the +legs and the thighs, or they were so very short as to be hidden by the +dress which he wore. His arms were long and brawny, furnished with two +muscular hands, and, where uncovered in the eagerness of his labour, +were shagged with coarse black hair. It seemed as if nature had +originally intended the separate parts of his body to be the members of +a giant, but had afterwards capriciously assigned them to the person of +a dwarf, so ill did the length of his arms and the iron strength of his +frame correspond with the shortness of his stature. His clothing was a +sort of coarse brown tunic, like a monk’s frock, girt round him with a +belt of seal-skin. On his head he had a cap made of badger’s skin, or +some other rough fur, which added considerably to the grotesque effect +of his whole appearance, and overshadowed features, whose habitual +expression seemed that of sullen malignant misanthropy. + +This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence, with a dogged +and irritated look, until Earnscliff, willing to soothe him into better +temper, observed, “You are hard tasked, my friend; allow us to assist +you.” + +Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone, by their joint efforts, upon +the rising wall. The Dwarf watched them with the eye of a taskmaster, +and testified, by peevish gestures, his impatience at the time which +they took in adjusting the stone. He pointed to another--they raised it +also--to a third, to a fourth--they continued to humour him, though with +some trouble, for he assigned them, as if intentionally, the heaviest +fragments which lay near. + +“And now, friend,” said Elliot, as the unreasonable Dwarf indicated +another stone larger than any they had moved, “Earnscliff may do as he +likes; but be ye man or be ye waur, deil be in my fingers if I break +my back wi’ heaving thae stanes ony langer like a barrow-man, without +getting sae muckle as thanks for my pains.” + +“Thanks!” exclaimed the Dwarf, with a motion expressive of the utmost +contempt--“There--take them, and fatten upon them! Take them, and may +they thrive with you as they have done with me--as they have done with +every mortal worm that ever heard the word spoken by his fellow reptile! +Hence--either labour or begone!” + +“This is a fine reward we have, Earnscliff, for building a tabernacle +for the devil, and prejudicing our ain souls into the bargain, for what +we ken.” + +“Our presence,” answered Earnscliff, “seems only to irritate his frenzy; +we had better leave him, and send some one to provide him with food and +necessaries.” + +They did so. The servant dispatched for this purpose found the Dwarf +still labouring at his wall, but could not extract a word from him. +The lad, infected with the superstitions of the country, did not long +persist in an attempt to intrude questions or advice on so singular a +figure, but having placed the articles which he had brought for his use +on a stone at some distance, he left them at the misanthrope’s disposal. + +The Dwarf proceeded in his labours, day after day, with an assiduity so +incredible as to appear almost supernatural. In one day he often seemed +to have done the work of two men, and his building soon assumed +the appearance of the walls of a hut, which, though very small, and +constructed only of stones and turf, without any mortar, exhibited, from +the unusual size of the stones employed, an appearance of solidity very +uncommon for a cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction. +Earnscliff; attentive to his motions, no sooner perceived to what they +tended, than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable for forming +the roof, which he caused to be left in the neighbourhood of the spot, +resolving next day to send workmen to put them up. But his purpose was +anticipated, for in the evening, during the night, and early in the +morning, the Dwarf had laboured so hard, and with such ingenuity, that +he had nearly completed the adjustment of the rafters. His next labour +was to cut rushes and thatch his dwelling, a task which he performed +with singular dexterity. + +As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional assistance +of a passenger, materials suitable to his purpose, and tools, were +supplied to him, in the use of which he proved to be skilful. He +constructed the door and window of his cot, he adjusted a rude bedstead, +and a few shelves, and appeared to become somewhat soothed in his temper +as his accommodations increased. + +His next task was to form a strong enclosure, and to cultivate the land +within it to the best of his power; until, by transporting mould, and +working up what was upon the spot, he formed a patch of garden-ground. +It must be naturally supposed, that, as above hinted, this solitary +being received assistance occasionally from such travellers as crossed +the moor by chance, as well as from several who went from curiosity to +visit his works. It was, indeed, impossible to see a human creature, so +unfitted, at first sight, for hard labour, toiling with such unremitting +assiduity, without stopping a few minutes to aid him in his task; and, +as no one of his occasional assistants was acquainted with the degree +of help which the Dwarf had received from others, the celerity of his +progress lost none of its marvels in their eyes. The strong and compact +appearance of the cottage, formed in so very short a space, and by such +a being, and the superior skill which he displayed in mechanics, and in +other arts, gave suspicion to the surrounding neighbours. They insisted, +that, if he was not a phantom,--an opinion which was now +abandoned, since he plainly appeared a being of blood and bone with +themselves,--yet he must be in close league with the invisible world, +and have chosen that sequestered spot to carry on his communication with +them undisturbed. They insisted, though in a different sense from the +philosopher’s application of the phrase, that he was never less alone +than when alone; and that from the heights which commanded the moor at +a distance, passengers often discovered a person at work along with +this dweller of the desert, who regularly disappeared as soon as they +approached closer to the cottage. Such a figure was also occasionally +seen sitting beside him at the door, walking with him in the moor, or +assisting him in fetching water from his fountain. Earnscliff explained +this phenomenon by supposing it to be the Dwarf’s shadow. + +“Deil a shadow has he,” replied Hobbie Elliot, who was a strenuous +defender of the general opinion; “he’s ower far in wi’ the Auld Ane to +have a shadow. Besides,” he argued more logically, “wha ever heard of a +shadow that cam between a body and the sun? and this thing, be it what +it will, is thinner and taller than the body himsell, and has been seen +to come between him and the sun mair than anes or twice either.” + +These suspicions, which, in any other part of the country, might have +been attended with investigations a little inconvenient to the supposed +wizard, were here only productive of respect and awe. The recluse being +seemed somewhat gratified by the marks of timid veneration with which +an occasional passenger approached his dwelling, the look of startled +surprise with which he surveyed his person and his premises, and the +hurried step with which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful +spot. The boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty +glance at the walls of his cottage and garden, and to apologize for it +by a courteous salutation, which the inmate sometimes deigned to return +by a word or a nod. Earnscliff often passed that way, and seldom without +enquiring after the solitary inmate, who seemed now to have arranged his +establishment for life. + +It was impossible to engage him in any conversation on his own personal +affairs; nor was he communicative or accessible in talking on any other +subject whatever, although he seemed to have considerably relented in +the extreme ferocity of his misanthropy, or rather to be less frequently +visited with the fits of derangement of which this was a symptom. No +argument could prevail upon him to accept anything beyond the simplest +necessaries, although much more was offered by Earnscliff out of +charity, and by his more superstitious neighbours from other motives. +The benefits of these last he repaid by advice, when consulted (as at +length he slowly was) on their diseases, or those of their cattle. He +often furnished them with medicines also, and seemed possessed, not only +of such as were the produce of the country, but of foreign drugs. +He gave these persons to understand, that his name was Elshender the +Recluse; but his popular epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie, or the +Wise Wight of Mucklestane-Moor. Some extended their queries beyond their +bodily complaints, and requested advice upon other matters, which he +delivered with an oracular shrewdness that greatly confirmed the opinion +of his possessing preternatural skill. The querists usually left some +offering upon a stone, at a distance from his dwelling; if it was money, +or any article which did not suit him to accept, he either threw it +away, or suffered it to remain where it was without making use of it. +On all occasions his manners were rude and unsocial; and his words, in +number, just sufficient to express his meaning as briefly as possible, +and he shunned all communication that went a syllable beyond the matter +in hand. When winter had passed away, and his garden began to afford +him herbs and vegetables, he confined himself almost entirely to those +articles of food. He accepted, notwithstanding, a pair of she-goats from +Earnscliff, which fed on the moor, and supplied him with milk. + +When Earnscliff found his gift had been received, he soon afterwards +paid the hermit a visit. The old man was seated an a broad flat stone +near his garden door, which was the seat of science he usually occupied +when disposed to receive his patients or clients. The inside of his hut, +and that of his garden, he kept as sacred from human intrusion as the +natives of Otaheite do their Morai;--apparently he would have deemed it +polluted by the step of any human being. When he shut himself up in his +habitation, no entreaty could prevail upon him to make himself visible, +or to give audience to any one whomsoever. + +Earnscliff had been fishing in a small river at some distance. He had +his rod in his hand, and his basket, filled with trout, at his shoulder. +He sate down upon a stone nearly opposite to the Dwarf who, familiarized +with his presence, took no farther notice of him than by elevating his +huge mis-shapen head for the purpose of staring at him, and then again +sinking it upon his bosom, as if in profound meditation. Earnscliff +looked around him, and observed that the hermit had increased his +accommodations by the construction of a shed for the reception of his +goats. + +“You labour hard, Elshie,” he said, willing to lead this singular being +into conversation. + +“Labour,” re-echoed the Dwarf, “is the mildest evil of a lot so +miserable as that of mankind; better to labour like me, than sport like +you.” + +“I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports, Elshie, and +yet--” + +“And yet,” interrupted the Dwarf, “they are better than your ordinary +business; better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on mute fishes than +on your fellow-creatures. Yet why should I say so? Why should not the +whole human herd butt, gore, and gorge upon each other, till all are +extirpated but one huge and over-fed Behemoth, and he, when he had +throttled and gnawed the bones of all his fellows--he, when his prey +failed him, to be roaring whole days for lack of food, and, finally, +to die, inch by inch, of famine--it were a consummation worthy of the +race!” + +“Your deeds are better, Elshie, than your words,” answered Earnscliff; +“you labour to preserve the race whom your misanthropy slanders.” + +“I do; but why?--Hearken. You are one on whom I look with the least +loathing, and I care not, if, contrary to my wont, I waste a few words +in compassion to your infatuated blindness. If I cannot send disease +into families, and murrain among the herds, can I attain the same end +so well as by prolonging the lives of those who can serve the purpose of +destruction as effectually?--If Alice of Bower had died in winter, would +young Ruthwin have been slain for her love the last spring?--Who +thought of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of +Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death-bed?--My draughts, my skill, +recovered him. And, now, who dare leave his herd upon the lea without a +watch, or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth-hound?” + +“I own,” answered Earnscliff; “you did little good to society by the +last of these cures. But, to balance the evil, there is my friend +Hobbie, honest Hobbie of the Heugh-foot, your skill relieved him last +winter in a fever that might have cost him his life.” + +“Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance,” said: the Dwarf, +smiling maliciously, “and thus they speak in their folly. Have you +marked the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated, how +sportive, how playful, how gentle,--but trust him with your game, your +lambs, your poultry, his inbred ferocity breaks forth; he gripes, tears, +ravages, and devours.” + +“Such is the animal’s instinct,” answered Earnscliff; “but what has that +to do with Hobbie?” + +“It is his emblem--it is his picture,” retorted the Recluse. “He is +at present tame, quiet, and domesticated, for lack of opportunity to +exercise his inborn propensities; but let the trumpet of war sound--let +the young blood-hound snuff blood, he will be as ferocious as the +wildest of his Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasant’s +abode. Can you deny, that even at present he often urges you to take +bloody revenge for an injury received when you were a boy?”--Earnscliff +started; the Recluse appeared not to observe his surprise, and +proceeded--“The trumpet WILL blow, the young blood-hound WILL lap blood, +and I will laugh and say, For this I have preserved thee!” He paused, +and continued,--“Such are my cures;--their object, their purpose, +perpetuating the mass of misery, and playing even in this desert my +part in the general tragedy. Were YOU on your sick bed, I might, in +compassion, send you a cup of poison.” + +“I am much obliged to you, Elshie, and certainly shall not fail to +consult you, with so comfortable a hope from your assistance.” + +“Do not flatter yourself too far,” replied the Hermit, “with the hope +that I will positively yield to the frailty of pity. Why should I snatch +a dupe, so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are, from +the wretchedness which his own visions, and the villainy of the world, +are preparing for him? Why should I play the compassionate Indian, and, +knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk, at once spoil +the three days’ amusement of my kindred tribe, at the very moment when +the brands were lighted, the pincers heated, the cauldrons boiling, +the knives sharpened, to tear, scorch, seethe, and scarify the intended +victim?” + +“A dreadful picture you present to me of life, Elshie; but I am not +daunted by it,” returned Earnscliff. “We are sent here, in one sense, to +bear and to suffer; but, in another, to do and to enjoy. The active day +has its evening of repose; even patient sufferance has its alleviations, +where there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged.” + +“I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine,” said the Dwarf, his eyes +kindling with insane fury,--“I spurn at it, as worthy only of the beasts +that perish; but I will waste no more words with you.” + +He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, with great +vehemence, “Yet, lest you still think my apparent benefits to +mankind flow from the stupid and servile source, called love of our +fellow-creatures, know, that were there a man who had annihilated my +soul’s dearest hope--who had torn my heart to mammocks, and seared my +brain till it glowed like a volcano, and were that man’s fortune and +life in my power as completely as this frail potsherd” (he snatched up +an earthen cup which stood beside him), “I would not dash him into atoms +thus”--(he flung the vessel with fury against the wall),--“No!” (he +spoke more composedly, but with the utmost bitterness), “I would pamper +him with wealth and power to inflame his evil passions, and to fulfil +his evil designs; he should lack no means of vice and villainy; he +should be the centre of a whirlpool that itself should know neither rest +nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, while it wrecked every goodly +ship that approached its limits! he should be an earthquake capable +of shaking the very land in which he dwelt, and rendering all its +inhabitants friendless, outcast, and miserable--as I am!” + +The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words, +shutting the door with furious violence, and rapidly drawing two bolts, +one after another, as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that +hated race, who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy. Earnscliff left the +moor with mingled sensations of pity and horror, pondering what strange +and melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of +mind, a man whose language argued him to be of rank and education much +superior to the vulgar. He was also surprised to see how much particular +information a person who had lived in that country so short a time, +and in so recluse a manner, had been able to collect respecting the +dispositions and private affairs of the inhabitants. + +“It is no wonder,” he said to himself, “that with such extent of +information, such a mode of life, so uncouth a figure, and sentiments +so virulently misanthropic, this unfortunate should be regarded by the +vulgar as in league with the Enemy of Mankind.” + + + +CHAPTER V. + + The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath + Feels, in its barrenness, some touch of spring; + And, in the April dew, or beam of May, + Its moss and lichen freshen and revive; + And thus the heart, most sear’d to human pleasure, + Melts at the tear, joys in the smile, of woman.--BEAUMONT + +As the season advanced, the weather became more genial, and the Recluse +was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone in the front of +his mansion. As he sate there one day, about the hour of noon, a party +of gentlemen and ladies, well mounted, and numerously attended, swept +across the heath at some distance from his dwelling. Dogs, hawks, and +led-horses swelled the retinue, and the air resounded at intervals +with the cheer of the hunters, and the sound of horns blown by the +attendants. The Recluse was about to retire into his mansion at +the sight of a train so joyous, when three young ladies, with their +attendants, who had made a circuit, and detached themselves from their +party, in order to gratify their curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight +of Mucklestane-Moor, came suddenly up, ere he could effect his purpose. +The first shrieked, and put her hands before her eyes, at sight of an +object so unusually deformed. The second, with a hysterical giggle, +which she intended should disguise her terrors, asked the Recluse, +whether he could tell their fortune. The third, who was best mounted, +best dressed, and incomparably the best-looking of the three, advanced, +as if to cover the incivility of her companions. + +“We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses, and our +party have gone forward without us,” said the young lady. “Seeing you, +father, at the door of your house, we have turned this way to--” + +“Hush!” interrupted the Dwarf; “so young, and already so artful? You +came--you know you came, to exult in the consciousness of your own +youth, wealth, and beauty, by contrasting them with age, poverty, and +deformity. It is a fit employment for the daughter of your father; but O +how unlike the child of your mother!” + +“Did you, then, know my parents, and do you know me?” + +“Yes; this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes, but I have +seen you in my dreams.” + +“Your dreams?” + +“Ay, Isabel Vere. What hast thou, or thine, to do with my waking +thoughts?” + +“Your waking thoughts, sir,” said the second of Miss Vere’s companions, +with a sort of mock gravity, “are fixed, doubtless, upon wisdom; folly +can only intrude on your sleeping moments.” + +“Over thine,” retorted the Dwarf, more splenetically than became a +philosopher or hermit, “folly exercises an unlimited empire, asleep or +awake.” + +“Lord bless us!” said the lady, “he’s a prophet, sure enough.” + +“As surely,” continued the Recluse, “as thou art a woman.--A woman!--I +should have said a lady--a fine lady. You asked me to tell your +fortune--it is a simple one; an endless chase through life after follies +not worth catching, and, when caught, successively thrown away--a chase, +pursued from the days of tottering infancy to those of old age upon his +crutches. Toys and merry-makings in childhood--love and its absurdities +in youth--spadille and basto in age, shall succeed each other as +objects of pursuit--flowers and butterflies in spring--butterflies +and thistle-down in summer--withered leaves in autumn and winter--all +pursued, all caught, all flung aside.--Stand apart; your fortune is +said.” + +“All CAUGHT, however,” retorted the laughing fair one, who was a cousin +of Miss Vere’s; “that’s something, Nancy,” she continued, turning to +the timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf; “will you ask your +fortune?” + +“Not for worlds,” said she, drawing back; “I have heard enough of +yours.” + +“Well, then,” said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, “I’ll pay +for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess.” + +“Truth,” said the Soothsayer, “can neither be bought nor sold;” and he +pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain. + +“Well, then,” said the lady, “I’ll keep my money, Mr. Elshender, to +assist me in the chase I am to pursue.” + +“You will need it,” replied the cynic; “without it, few pursue +successfully, and fewer are themselves pursued.--Stop!” he said to Miss +Vere, as her companions moved off, “With you I have more to say. +You have what your companions would wish to have, or be thought to +have,--beauty, wealth, station, accomplishments.” + +“Forgive my following my companions, father; I am proof both to flattery +and fortune-telling.” + +“Stay,” continued the Dwarf, with his hand on her horse’s rein, “I am +no common soothsayer, and I am no flatterer. All the advantages I +have detailed, all and each of them have their corresponding +evils--unsuccessful love, crossed affections, the gloom of a convent, +or an odious alliance. I, who wish ill to all mankind, cannot wish more +evil to you, so much is your course of life crossed by it.” + +“And if it be, father, let me enjoy the readiest solace of adversity +while prosperity is in my power. You are old; you are poor; your +habitation is far from human aid, were you ill, or in want; your +situation, in many respects, exposes you to the suspicions of the +vulgar, which are too apt to break out into actions of brutality. Let +me think I have mended the lot of one human being! Accept of such +assistance as I have power to offer; do this for my sake, if not for +your own, that when these evils arise, which you prophesy perhaps too +truly, I may not have to reflect, that the hours of my happier time have +been passed altogether in vain.” + +The old man answered with a broken voice, and almost without addressing +himself to the young lady,-- + +“Yes, ‘tis thus thou shouldst think--‘tis thus thou shouldst speak, +if ever human speech and thought kept touch with each other! They do +not--they do not--Alas! they cannot. And yet--wait here an instant--stir +not till my return.” He went to his little garden, and returned with a +half-blown rose. “Thou hast made me shed a tear, the first which has +wet my eyelids for many a year; for that good deed receive this token +of gratitude. It is but a common rose; preserve it, however, and do not +part with it. Come to me in your hour of adversity. Show me that rose, +or but one leaf of it, were it withered as my heart is--if it should be +in my fiercest and wildest movements of rage against a hateful world, +still it will recall gentler thoughts to my bosom, and perhaps afford +happier prospects to thine. But no message,” he exclaimed, rising +into his usual mood of misanthropy,--“no message--no go-between! Come +thyself; and the heart and the doors that are shut against every other +earthly being, shall open to thee and to thy sorrows. And now pass on.” + +He let go the bridle-rein, and the young lady rode on, after expressing +her thanks to this singular being, as well as her surprise at the +extraordinary nature of his address would permit, often turning back to +look at the Dwarf, who still remained at the door of his habitation, +and watched her progress over the moor towards her father’s castle of +Ellieslaw, until the brow of the hill hid the party from his sight. + +The ladies, meantime, jested with Miss Vere on the strange interview +they had just had with the far-famed wizard of the Moor. “Isabella has +all the luck at home and abroad! Her hawk strikes down the black-cock; +her eyes wound the gallant; no chance for her poor companions and +kinswomen; even the conjuror cannot escape the force of her charms. You +should, in compassion, cease to be such an engrosser, my dear Isabel, or +at least set up shop, and sell off all the goods you do not mean to keep +for your own use.” + +“You shall have them all,” replied Miss Vere, “and the conjuror to boot, +at a very easy rate.” + +“No! Nancy shall have the conjuror,” said Miss Ilderton, “to supply +deficiencies; she’s not quite a witch herself, you know.” + +“Lord, sister,” answered the younger Miss Ilderton, “what could I do +with so frightful a monster? I kept my eyes shut, after once glancing at +him; and, I protest, I thought I saw him still, though I winked as close +as ever I could.” + +“That’s a pity,” said her sister; “ever while you live, Nancy, choose an +admirer whose faults can be hid by winking at them.--Well, then, I must +take him myself, I suppose, and put him into mamma’s Japan cabinet, +in order to show that Scotland can produce a specimen of mortal clay +moulded into a form ten thousand times uglier than the imaginations of +Canton and Pekin, fertile as they are in monsters, have immortalized in +porcelain.” + +“There is something,” said Miss Vere, “so melancholy in the situation of +this poor man, that I cannot enter into your mirth, Lucy, so readily as +usual. If he has no resources, how is he to exist in this waste country, +living, as he does, at such a distance from mankind? and if he has the +means of securing occasional assistance, will not the very suspicion +that he is possessed of them, expose him to plunder and assassination by +some of our unsettled neighbours?” + +“But you forget that they say he is a warlock,” said Nancy Ilderton. + +“And, if his magic diabolical should fail him,” rejoined her sister, “I +would have him trust to his magic natural, and thrust his enormous head, +and most preternatural visage, out at his door or window, full in view +of the assailants. The boldest robber that ever rode would hardly bide a +second glance of him. Well, I wish I had the use of that Gorgon head of +his for only one half hour.” + +“For what purpose, Lucy?” said Miss Vere. + +“O! I would frighten out of the castle that dark, stiff, and stately Sir +Frederick Langley, that is so great a favourite with your father, and so +little a favourite of yours. I protest I shall be obliged to the Wizard +as long as I live, if it were only for the half hour’s relief from that +man’s company which we have gained by deviating from the party to visit +Elshie.” + +“What would you say, then,” said Miss Vere, in a low tone, so as not to +be heard by the younger sister, who rode before them, the narrow path +not admitting of their moving all three abreast,--“What would you say, +my dearest Lucy, if it were proposed to you to endure his company for +life?” + +“Say? I would say, NO, NO, NO, three times, each louder than another, +till they should hear me at Carlisle.” + +“And Sir Frederick would say then, nineteen nay-says are half a grant.” + +“That,” replied Miss Lucy, “depends entirely on the manner in which the +nay-says are said. Mine should have not one grain of concession in them, +I promise you.” + +“But if your father,” said Miss Vere, “were to say,--Thus do, or--” + +“I would stand to the consequences of his OR, were he the most cruel +father that ever was recorded in romance, to fill up the alternative.” + +“And what if he threatened you with a catholic aunt, an abbess, and a +cloister?” + +“Then,” said Miss Ilderton, “I would threaten him with a protestant +son-in-law, and be glad of an opportunity to disobey him for conscience’ +sake. And now that Nancy is out of hearing, let me really say, I +think you would be excusable before God and man for resisting this +preposterous match by every means in your power. A proud, dark, +ambitious man; a caballer against the state; infamous for his avarice +and severity; a bad son, a bad brother, unkind and ungenerous to all his +relatives--Isabel, I would die rather than have him.” + +“Don’t let my father hear you give me such advice,” said Miss Vere, “or +adieu, my dear Lucy, to Ellieslaw Castle.” + +“And adieu to Ellieslaw Castle, with all my heart,” said her friend, “if +I once saw you fairly out of it, and settled under some kinder protector +than he whom nature has given you. O, if my poor father had been in his +former health, how gladly would he have received and sheltered you, till +this ridiculous and cruel persecution were blown over!” + +“Would to God it had been so, my dear Lucy!” answered Isabella; “but +I fear, that, in your father’s weak state of health, he would be +altogether unable to protect me against the means which would be +immediately used for reclaiming the poor fugitive.” + +“I fear so indeed,” replied Miss Ilderton; “but we will consider and +devise something. Now that your father and his guests seem so deeply +engaged in some mysterious plot, to judge from the passing and returning +of messages, from the strange faces which appear and disappear without +being announced by their names, from the collecting and cleaning of +arms, and the anxious gloom and bustle which seem to agitate every male +in the castle, it may not be impossible for us (always in case matters +be driven to extremity) to shape out some little supplemental conspiracy +of our own. I hope the gentlemen have not kept all the policy to +themselves; and there is one associate that I would gladly admit to our +counsel.” + +“Not Nancy?” + +“O, no!” said Miss Ilderton; “Nancy, though an excellent good girl, +and fondly attached to you, would make a dull conspirator--as dull as +Renault and all the other subordinate plotters in VENICE PRESERVED. No; +this is a Jaffier, or Pierre, if you like the character better; and yet +though I know I shall please you, I am afraid to mention his name to +you, lest I vex you at the same time. Can you not guess? Something +about an eagle and a rock--it does not begin with eagle in English, but +something very like it in Scotch.” + +“You cannot mean young Earnscliff, Lucy?” said Miss Vere, blushing +deeply. + +“And whom else should I mean,” said Lucy. “Jaffiers and Pierres are very +scarce in this country, I take it, though one could find Renaults and +Bedamars enow.” + +“How call you talk so wildly, Lucy? Your plays and romances have +positively turned your brain. You know, that, independent of my father’s +consent, without which I never will marry any one, and which, in the +case you point at, would never be granted; independent, too, of our +knowing nothing of young Earnscliff’s inclinations, but by your own +vivid conjectures and fancies--besides all this, there is the fatal +brawl!” + +“When his father was killed?” said Lucy. “But that was very long ago; +and I hope we have outlived the time of bloody feud, when a quarrel was +carried down between two families from father to son, like a Spanish +game at chess, and a murder or two committed in every generation, just +to keep the matter from going to sleep. We do with our quarrels nowadays +as with our clothes; cut them out for ourselves, and wear them out in +our own day, and should no more think of resenting our fathers’ feuds, +than of wearing their slashed doublets and trunk-hose.” + +“You treat this far too lightly, Lucy,” answered Miss Vere. + +“Not a bit, my dear Isabella,” said Lucy. “Consider, your father, though +present in the unhappy affray, is never supposed to have struck the +fatal blow; besides, in former times, in case of mutual slaughter +between clans, subsequent alliances were so far from being excluded, +that the hand of a daughter or a sister was the most frequent gage of +reconciliation. You laugh at my skill in romance; but, I assure you, +should your history be written, like that of many a less distressed and +less deserving heroine, the well-judging reader would set you down for +the lady and the love of Earnscliff; from the very obstacle which you +suppose so insurmountable.” + +“But these are not the days of romance, but of sad reality, for there +stands the castle of Ellieslaw.” + +“And there stands Sir Frederick Langley at the gate, waiting to assist +the ladies from their palfreys. I would as lief touch a toad; I will +disappoint him, and take old Horsington the groom for my master of the +horse.” + +So saying, the lively young lady switched her palfrey forward, and +passing Sir Frederick with a familiar nod as he stood ready to take +her horse’s rein, she cantered on, and jumped into the arms of the old +groom. Fain would Isabella have done the same had she dared; but her +father stood near, displeasure already darkening on a countenance +peculiarly qualified to express the harsher passions, and she was +compelled to receive the unwelcome assiduities of her detested suitor. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Let not us that are squires of the night’s body be called + thieves of the day’s booty; let us be Diana’s foresters, + gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon. + --HENRY THE FOURTH, PART I. + +The Solitary had consumed the remainder of that day in which he had the +interview with the young ladies, within the precincts of his garden. +Evening again found him seated on his favourite stone. The sun setting +red, and among seas of rolling clouds, threw a gloomy lustre over the +moor, and gave a deeper purple to the broad outline of heathy mountains +which surrounded this desolate spot. The Dwarf sate watching the clouds +as they lowered above each other in masses of conglomerated vapours, +and, as a strong lurid beam of the sinking luminary darted full on his +solitary and uncouth figure, he might well have seemed the demon of +the storm which was gathering, or some gnome summoned forth from the +recesses of the earth by the subterranean signals of its approach. As he +sate thus, with his dark eye turned towards the scowling and blackening +heaven, a horseman rode rapidly up to him, and stopping, as if to +let his horse breathe for an instant, made a sort of obeisance to the +anchoret, with an air betwixt effrontery and embarrassment. + +The figure of the rider was thin, tall, and slender, but remarkably +athletic, bony, and sinewy; like one who had all his life followed those +violent exercises which prevent the human form from increasing in bulk, +while they harden and confirm by habit its muscular powers. His face, +sharp-featured, sun-burnt, and freckled, had a sinister expression of +violence, impudence, and cunning, each of which seemed alternately to +predominate over the others. Sandy-coloured hair, and reddish eyebrows, +from under which looked forth his sharp grey eyes, completed the +inauspicious outline of the horseman’s physiognomy. He had pistols in +his holsters, and another pair peeped from his belt, though he had taken +some pains to conceal them by buttoning his doublet. He wore a rusted +steel head piece; a buff jacket of rather an antique cast; gloves, of +which that for the right hand was covered with small scales of iron, +like an ancient gauntlet; and a long broadsword completed his equipage. + +“So,” said the Dwarf, “rapine and murder once more on horseback.” + +“On horseback?” said the bandit; “ay, ay, Elshie, your leech-craft has +set me on the bonny bay again.” + +“And all those promises of amendment which you made during your illness +forgotten?” continued Elshender. + +“All clear away, with the water-saps and panada,” returned the unabashed +convalescent. “Ye ken, Elshie, for they say ye are weel acquent wi’ the +gentleman, + + “When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be, + When the devil was well, the devil a monk was he.” + +“Thou say’st true,” said the Solitary; “as well divide a wolf from his +appetite for carnage, or a raven from her scent of slaughter, as thee +from thy accursed propensities.” + +“Why, what would you have me to do? It’s born with me--lies in my +very blude and bane. Why, man, the lads of Westburnflat, for ten lang +descents, have been reivers and lifters. They have all drunk hard, lived +high, taking deep revenge for light offence, and never wanted gear for +the winning.” + +“Right; and thou art as thorough-bred a wolf,” said the Dwarf, “as ever +leapt a lamb-fold at night. On what hell’s errand art thou bound now?” + +“Can your skill not guess?” + +“Thus far I know,” said the Dwarf, “that thy purpose is bad, thy deed +will be worse, and the issue worst of all.” + +“And you like me the better for it, Father Elshie, eh?” said +Westburnflat; “you always said you did.” + +“I have cause to like all,” answered the Solitary, “that are scourges to +their fellow-creatures, and thou art a bloody one.” + +“No--I say not guilty to that--lever bluidy unless there’s resistance, +and that sets a man’s bristles up, ye ken. And this is nae great matter, +after a’; just to cut the comb of a young cock that has been crawing a +little ower crousely.” + +“Not young Earnscliff?” said the Solitary, with some emotion. + +“No; not young Earnscliff--not young Earnscliff YET; but his time may +come, if he will not take warning, and get him back to the burrow-town +that he’s fit for, and no keep skelping about here, destroying the +few deer that are left in the country, and pretending to act as a +magistrate, and writing letters to the great folk at Auld Reekie, about +the disturbed state of the land. Let him take care o’ himsell.” + +“Then it must be Hobbie of the Heugh-foot,” said Elshie. “What harm has +the lad done you?” + +“Harm! nae great harm; but I hear he says I staid away from the Ba’spiel +on Fastern’s E’en, for fear of him; and it was only for fear of the +Country Keeper, for there was a warrant against me. I’ll stand Hobbie’s +feud, and a’ his clan’s. But it’s not so much for that, as to gie him +a lesson not to let his tongue gallop ower freely about his betters. I +trow he will hae lost the best pen-feather o’ his wing before to-morrow +morning.--Farewell, Elshie; there’s some canny boys waiting for me down +amang the shaws, owerby; I will see you as I come back, and bring ye a +blithe tale in return for your leech-craft.” + +Ere the Dwarf could collect himself to reply, the Reiver of Westburnflat +set spurs to his horse. The animal, starting at one of the stones which +lay scattered about, flew from the path. The rider exercised his spurs +without moderation or mercy. The horse became furious, reared, kicked, +plunged, and bolted like a deer, with all his four feet off the ground +at once. It was in vain; the unrelenting rider sate as if he had been +a part of the horse which he bestrode; and, after a short but furious +contest, compelled the subdued animal to proceed upon the path at a rate +which soon carried him out of sight of the Solitary. + +“That villain,” exclaimed the Dwarf,--“that cool-blooded, hardened, +unrelenting ruffian,--that wretch, whose every thought is infected with +crimes,--has thewes and sinews, limbs, strength, and activity enough, to +compel a nobler animal than himself to carry him to the place where he +is to perpetrate his wickedness; while I, had I the weakness to wish to +put his wretched victim on his guard, and to save the helpless family, +would see my good intentions frustrated by the decrepitude which chains +me to the spot.--Why should I wish it were otherwise? What have my +screech-owl voice, my hideous form, and my mis-shapen features, to +do with the fairer workmanship of nature? Do not men receive even my +benefits with shrinking horror and ill-suppressed disgust? And why +should I interest myself in a race which accounts me a prodigy and an +outcast, and which has treated me as such? No; by all the ingratitude +which I have reaped--by all the wrongs which I have sustained--by my +imprisonment, my stripes, my chains, I will wrestle down my feelings of +rebellious humanity! I will not be the fool I have been, to swerve from +my principles whenever there was an appeal, forsooth, to my feelings; as +if I, towards whom none show sympathy, ought to have sympathy with any +one. Let Destiny drive forth her scythed car through the overwhelmed and +trembling mass of humanity! Shall I be the idiot to throw this decrepit +form, this mis-shapen lump of mortality, under her wheels, that the +Dwarf, the Wizard, the Hunchback, may save from destruction some fair +form or some active frame, and all the world clap their hands at the +exchange? No, never!--And yet this Elliot--this Hobbie, so young and +gallant, so frank, so--I will think of it no longer. I cannot aid him if +I would, and I am resolved--firmly resolved, that I would not aid him, +if a wish were the pledge of his safety!” + +Having thus ended his soliloquy, he retreated into his hut for shelter +from the storm which was fast approaching, and now began to burst in +large and heavy drops of rain. The last rays of the sun now disappeared +entirely, and two or three claps of distant thunder followed each other +at brief intervals, echoing and re-echoing among the range of heathy +fells like the sound of a distant engagement. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn!-- + . . . . + Return to thy dwelling; all lonely, return; + For the blackness of ashes shall mark where it stood, + And a wild mother scream o’er her famishing brood.--CAMPBELL. + +The night continued sullen and stormy; but morning rose as if refreshed +by the rains. Even the Mucklestane-Moor, with its broad bleak swells of +barren grounds, interspersed with marshy pools of water, seemed to smile +under the serene influence of the sky, just as good-humour can spread +a certain inexpressible charm over the plainest human countenance. +The heath was in its thickest and deepest bloom. The bees, which the +Solitary had added to his rural establishment, were abroad and on the +wing, and filled the air with the murmurs of their industry. As the old +man crept out of his little hut, his two she-goats came to meet him, and +licked his 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 benefactor--to +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 lunatics--for +their disgraceful restraints--for their cruel privations, than for +communication with the rest of humanity. Hubert alone--and 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, man--let 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 again--not 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 about--but 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 be--But 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 brouze--the like’s no been seen +sin’ the days of auld Martin of the Preakin-tower--I 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 for a blink. I am thinking it wad concern my safety if she were +to come back here, for there’s mony o’ the Elliots, and they band weel +thegither for right or wrang. Now, what I chiefly come to ask your rede +in, is how to make her sure?” + +“Wouldst thou murder her, then?” + +“Umph! no, no; that I would not do, if I could help it. But they say +they can whiles get folk cannily away to the plantations from some of +the outports, and something to boot for them that brings a bonny wench. +They’re wanted beyond seas thae female cattle, and they’re no that +scarce here. But I think o’ doing better for this lassie. There’s a +leddy, that, unless she be a’ the better bairn, is to be sent to foreign +parts whether she will or no; now, I think of sending Grace to wait on +her--she’s a bonny lassie. Hobbie will hae a merry morning when he comes +hame, and misses baith bride and gear.” + +“Ay; and do you not pity him?” said the Recluse. + +“Wad he pity me were I gaeing up the Castle hill at Jeddart? [ The +place of execution at that ancient burgh, where many of Westburnflat’s +profession have made their final exit.] And yet I rue something for the +bit lassie; but he’ll get anither, and little skaith dune--ane is as +gude as anither. And now, you that like to hear o’ splores, heard ye +ever o’ a better ane than I hae had this morning?” + +“Air, ocean, and fire,” said the Dwarf, speaking to himself, “the +earthquake, the tempest, the volcano, are all mild and moderate, +compared to the wrath of man. And what is this fellow, but one more +skilled than others in executing the end of his existence?--Hear me, +felon, go again where I before sent thee.” + +“To the Steward?” + +“Ay; and tell him, Elshender the Recluse commands him to give thee gold. +But, hear me, let the maiden be discharged free and uninjured; return +her to her friends, and let her swear not to discover thy villainy.” + +“Swear,” said Westburnflat; “but what if she break her aith? Women are +not famous for keeping their plight. A wise man like you should ken +that.--And uninjured--wha kens what may happen were she to be left lang +at Tinning-Beck? Charlie Cheat-the-Woodie is a rough customer. But if +the gold could be made up to twenty pieces, I think I could ensure her +being wi’ her friends within the twenty-four hours.” + +The Dwarf took his tablets from his pocket, marked a line on them, and +tore out the leaf. “There,” he said, giving the robber the leaf--“But, +mark me; thou knowest I am not to be fooled by thy treachery; if thou +darest to disobey my directions, thy wretched life, be sure, shall +answer it.” + +“I know,” said the fellow, looking down, “that you have power on earth, +however you came by it; you can do what nae other man can do, baith by +physic and foresight; and the gold is shelled down when ye command, as +fast as I have seen the ash-keys fall in a frosty morning in October. I +will not disobey you.” + +“Begone, then, and relieve me of thy hateful presence.” + +The robber set spurs to his horse, and rode off without reply. + +Hobbie Elliot had, in the meanwhile, pursued his journey rapidly, +harassed by those oppressive and indistinct fears that all was not +right, which men usually term a presentiment of misfortune. Ere he +reached the top of the bank from which he could look down on his own +habitation, he was met by his nurse, a person then of great consequence +in all families in Scotland, whether of the higher or middling classes. +The connexion between them and their foster-children was considered a +tie far too dearly intimate to be broken; and it usually happened, in +the course of years, that the nurse became a resident in the family +of her foster-son, assisting in the domestic duties, and receiving all +marks of attention and regard from the heads of the family. So soon +as Hobbie recognised the figure of Annaple, in her red cloak and black +hood, he could not help exclaiming to himself, “What ill luck can +hae brought the auld nurse sae far frae hame, her that never stirs a +gun-shot frae the door-stane for ordinar?--Hout, it will just be to get +crane-berries, or whortle-berries, or some such stuff, out of the moss, +to make the pies and tarts for the feast on Monday.--I cannot get the +words of that cankered auld cripple deil’s-buckie out o’ my head--the +least thing makes me dread some ill news.--O, Killbuck, man! were there +nae deer and goats in the country besides, but ye behoved to gang and +worry his creature, by a’ other folk’s?” + +By this time Annaple, with a brow like a tragic volume, had hobbled +towards him, and caught his horse by the bridle. The despair in her look +was so evident as to deprive even him of the power of asking the cause. +“O my bairn!” she cried, “gang na forward--gang na forward--it’s a sight +to kill onybody, let alane thee.” + +“In God’s name, what’s the matter?” said the astonished horseman, +endeavouring to extricate his bridle from the grasp of the old woman; +“for Heaven’s sake, let me go and see what’s the matter.” + +“Ohon! that I should have lived to see the day!--The steading’s a’ in +a low, and the bonny stack-yard lying in the red ashes, and the gear a’ +driven away. But gang na forward; it wad break your young heart, hinny, +to see what my auld een hae seen this morning.” + +“And who has dared to do this? let go my bridle, Annaple--where is my +grandmother--my sisters?--Where is Grace Armstrong?--God!--the words of +the warlock are knelling in my ears!” + +He sprang from his horse to rid himself of Annaple’s interruption, and, +ascending the hill with great speed, soon came in view of the spectacle +with which she had threatened him. It was indeed a heart-breaking +sight. The habitation which he had left in its seclusion, beside the +mountain-stream, surrounded with every evidence of rustic plenty, was +now a wasted and blackened ruin. From amongst the shattered and sable +walls the smoke continued to rise. The turf-stack, the barn-yard, the +offices stocked with cattle, all the wealth of an upland cultivator of +the period, of which poor Elliot possessed no common share, had +been laid waste or carried off in a single night. He stood a moment +motionless, and then exclaimed, “I am ruined--ruined to the ground!--But +curse on the warld’s gear--Had it not been the week before the +bridal--But I am nae babe, to sit down and greet about it. If I can but +find Grace, and my grandmother, and my sisters weel, I can go to the +wars in Flanders, as my gude-sire did, under the Bellenden banner, wi’ +auld Buccleuch. At ony rate, I will keep up a heart, or they will lose +theirs a’thegither.” + +Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill, resolved to suppress his +own despair, and administer consolation which he did not feel. The +neighbouring inhabitants of the dell, particularly those of his own +name, had already assembled. The younger part were in arms and clamorous +for revenge, although they knew not upon whom; the elder were taking +measures for the relief of the distressed family. Annaple’s cottage, +which was situated down the brook, at some distance from the scene of +mischief, had been hastily adapted for the temporary accommodation +of the old lady and her daughters, with such articles as had been +contributed by the neighbours, for very little was saved from the wreck. + +“Are we to stand here a’ day, sirs,” exclaimed one tall young man, “and +look at the burnt wa’s of our kinsman’s house? Every wreath of the reek +is a blast of shame upon us! Let us to horse, and take the chase.--Who +has the nearest bloodhound?” + +“It’s young Earnscliff,” answered another; “and he’s been on and away +wi’ six horse lang syne, to see if he can track them.” + +“Let us follow him then, and raise the country, and mak mair help as +we ride, and then have at the Cumberland reivers! Take, burn, and +slay--they that lie nearest us shall smart first.” + +“Whisht! haud your tongues, daft callants,” said an old man, “ye dinna +ken what ye speak about. What! wad ye raise war atween two pacificated +countries?” + +“And what signifies deaving us wi’ tales about our fathers,” retorted +the young; man, “if we’re to sit and see our friends’ houses burnt ower +their heads, and no put out hand to revenge them? Our fathers did not do +that, I trow?” + +“I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie’s wrang, puir chield; +but we maun take the law wi’ us in thae days, Simon,” answered the more +prudent elder. + +“And besides,” said another old man, “I dinna believe there’s ane now +living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border. +Tam o’ Whittram kend a’ about it; but he died in the hard winter.” + +“Ay,” said a third, “he was at the great gathering, when they chased as +far as Thirlwall; it was the year after the fight of Philiphaugh.” + +“Hout,” exclaimed another of these discording counsellors, “there’s nae +great skill needed; just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear, or +hayfork, or siclike, and blaw a horn, and cry the gathering-word, and +then it’s lawful to follow gear into England, and recover it by the +strong hand, or to take gear frae some other Englishman, providing ye +lift nae mair than’s been lifted frae you. That’s the auld Border law, +made at Dundrennan, in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need +doubt it. It’s as clear as the sun.” + +“Come away, then, lads,” cried Simon, “get to your geldings, and we’ll +take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi’ us; he kens the value o’ the +stock and plenishing that’s been lost. Hobbie’s stalls and stakes shall +be fou again or night; and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon, +we’se lay an English ane as low as Heugh-foot is--and that’s fair play, +a’ the warld ower.” + +This animating proposal was received with great applause by the younger +part of the assemblage, when a whisper ran among them, “There’s Hobbie +himsell, puir fallow! we’ll be guided by him.” + +The principal sufferer, having now reached the bottom of the hill, +pushed on through the crowd, unable, from the tumultuous state of his +feelings, to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly +hands by which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their +sympathy in his misfortune. While he pressed Simon of Hackburn’s +hand, his anxiety at length found words. “Thank ye, Simon--thank ye, +neighbours--I ken what ye wad a’ say. But where are they?--Where are--” + He stopped, as if afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry; and +with a similar feeling, his kinsmen, without reply, pointed to the hut, +into which Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of one who +is resolved to know the worst at once. A general and powerful expression +of sympathy accompanied him. “Ah, puir fallow--puir Hobbie!” + +“He’ll learn the warst o’t now!” + +“But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o’ the puir lassie.” + +Such were the exclamations of the group, who, having no acknowledged +leader to direct their motions, passively awaited the return of the +sufferer, and determined to be guided by his directions. + +The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree +affecting. His sisters threw themselves upon him, and almost stifled him +with their caresses, as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish +the absence of one yet more beloved. + +“God help thee, my son! He can help when worldly trust is a broken +reed.”--Such was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson. +He looked eagerly round, holding two of his sisters by the hand, while +the third hung about his neck--“I see you--I count you--my grandmother, +Lilias, Jean, and Annot; but where is--” (he hesitated, and then +continued, as if with an effort), “Where is Grace? Surely this is not a +time to hide hersell frae me--there’s nae time for daffing now.” + +“O, brother!” and “Our poor Grace!” was the only answer his questions +could procure, till his grandmother rose up, and gently disengaged +him from the weeping girls, led him to a seat, and with the affecting +serenity which sincere piety, like oil sprinkled on the waves, can throw +over the most acute feelings, she said, “My bairn, when thy grandfather +was killed in the wars, and left me with six orphans around me, with +scarce bread to eat, or a roof to cover us, I had strength,--not of mine +own--but I had strength given me to say, The Lord’s will be done!--My +son, our peaceful house was last night broken into by moss-troopers, +armed and masked; they have taken and destroyed all, and carried off our +dear Grace. Pray for strength to say, His will be done!” + +“Mother! mother! urge me not--I cannot--not now I am a sinful man, and +of a hardened race. Masked armed--Grace carried off! Gie me my sword, +and my father’s knapsack--I will have vengeance, if I should go to the +pit of darkness to seek it!” + +“O my bairn, my bairn! be patient under the rod. Who knows when He may +lift His hand off from us? Young Earnscliff, Heaven bless him, has taen +the chase, with Davie of Stenhouse, and the first comers. I cried to let +house and plenishing burn, and follow the reivers to recover Grace, and +Earnscliff and his men were ower the Fell within three hours after the +deed. God bless him! he’s a real Earnscliff; he’s his father’s true +son--a leal friend.” + +“A true friend indeed; God bless him!” exclaimed Hobbie; “let’s on and +away, and take the chase after him.” + +“O, my child, before you run on danger, let me hear you but say, HIS +will be done!” + +“Urge me not, mother--not now.” He was rushing out, when, looking back, +he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of affliction. He +returned hastily, threw himself into her arms, and said, “Yes, mother, I +CAN say, HIS will be done, since it will comfort you.” + +“May He go forth--may He go forth with you, my dear bairn; and O, may He +give you cause to say on your return, HIS name be praised!” + +“Farewell, mother!--farewell, my dear sisters!” exclaimed Elliot, and +rushed out of the house. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Now horse and hattock, cried the Laird,-- + Now horse and hattock, speedilie; + They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye, + Let them never look in the face o’ me.--Border Ballad. + +“Horse! horse! and spear!” exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen. Many a ready +foot was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastily collected arms and +accoutrements, no easy matter in such a confusion, the glen resounded +with the approbation of his younger friends. + +“Ay, ay!” exclaimed Simon of Hackburn, “that’s the gate to take it, +Hobbie. Let women sit and greet at hame, men must do as they have been +done by; it’s the Scripture says’t.” + +“Haud your tongue, sir,” said one of the seniors, sternly; “dinna abuse +the Word that gate, ye dinna ken what ye speak about.” + +“Hae ye ony tidings?--Hae ye ony speerings, Hobbie?--O, callants, dinna +be ower hasty,” said old Dick of the Dingle. + +“What signifies preaching to us, e’enow?” said Simon; “if ye canna make +help yoursell, dinna keep back them that can.” + +“Whisht, sir; wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrang’d ye?” + +“D’ye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our fathers +before us?--All evil comes out o’ thereaway--it’s an auld saying and a +true; and we’ll e’en away there, as if the devil was blawing us south.” + +“We’ll follow the track o’ Earnscliff’s horses ower the waste,” cried +one Elliot. + +“I’ll prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border, an there +had been a fair held there the day before,” said Hugh, the blacksmith of +Ringleburn, “for I aye shoe his horse wi’ my ain hand.” + +“Lay on the deer-hounds,” cried another “where are they?” + +“Hout, man, the sun’s been lang up, and the dew is aff the grund--the +scent will never lie.” + +Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds, which were roving about the +ruins of their old habitation, and filling the air with their doleful +howls. + +“Now, Killbuck,” said Hobbie, “try thy skill this day,” and then, as if a +light had suddenly broke on him,--“that ill-faur’d goblin spak something +o’ this! He may ken mair o’t, either by villains on earth, or devils +below--I’ll hae it frae him, if I should cut it out o’ his mis-shapen +bouk wi’ my whinger.” He then hastily gave directions to his comrades: +“Four o’ ye, wi’ Simon, haud right forward to Graeme’s-gap. If they’re +English, they’ll be for being back that way. The rest disperse +by twasome and threesome through the waste, and meet me at the +Trysting-pool. Tell my brothers, when they come up, to follow and meet +us there. Poor lads, they will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; +little think they what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venison +to! I’ll ride ower Mucklestane-Moor mysell.” + +“And if I were you,” said Dick of the Dingle, “I would speak to Canny +Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, if he’s sae +minded.” + +“He SHALL tell me,” said Hobbie, who was busy putting his arms in order, +“what he kens o’ this night’s job, or I shall right weel ken wherefore +he does not.” + +“Ay, but speak him fair, my bonny man--speak him fair Hobbie; the +like o’ him will no bear thrawing. They converse sae muckle wi’ thae +fractious ghaists and evil spirits, that it clean spoils their temper.” + +“Let me alane to guide him,” answered Hobbie; “there’s that in my breast +this day, that would ower-maister a’ the warlocks on earth, and a’ the +devils in hell.” + +And being now fully equipped, he threw himself on his horse, and spurred +him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent. + +Elliot speedily surmounted the hill, rode down the other side at the +same rate, crossed a wood, and traversed a long glen, ere he at length +regained Mucklestane-Moor. As he was obliged, in the course of his +journey, to relax his speed in consideration of the labour which his +horse might still have to undergo, he had time to consider maturely in +what manner he should address the Dwarf, in order to extract from him +the knowledge which he supposed him to be in possession of concerning +the authors of his misfortunes. Hobbie, though blunt, plain of speech, +and hot of disposition, like most of his countrymen, was by no means +deficient in the shrewdness which is also their characteristic. He +reflected, that from what he had observed on the memorable night when +the Dwarf was first seen, and from the conduct of that mysterious being +ever since, he was likely to be rendered even more obstinate in his +sullenness by threats and violence. + +“I’ll speak him fair,” he said, “as auld Dickon advised me. Though folk +say he has a league wi’ Satan, he canna be sic an incarnate devil as no +to take some pity in a case like mine; and folk threep he’ll whiles do +good, charitable sort o’ things. I’ll keep my heart doun as weel as I +can, and stroke him wi’ the hair; and if the warst come to the warst, +it’s but wringing the head o’ him about at last.” + +In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the +Solitary. + +The old man was not upon his seat of audience, nor could Hobbie perceive +him in his garden, or enclosures. + +“He’s gotten into his very keep,” said Hobbie, “maybe to be out o’ +the gate; but I’se pu’ it doun about his lugs, if I canna win at him +otherwise.” + +Having thus communed with himself, he raised his voice, and invoked +Elshie in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting feelings would +permit. “Elshie, my gude friend!” No reply. “Elshie, canny Father +Elshie!” The Dwarf remained mute. “Sorrow be in the crooked carcass of +thee!” said the Borderer between his teeth; and then again attempting a +soothing tone,--“Good Father Elshie, a most miserable creature desires +some counsel of your wisdom.” + +“The better!” answered the shrill and discordant voice of the Dwarf +through a very small window, resembling an arrow slit, which he had +constructed near the door of his dwelling, and through which he could +see any one who approached it, without the possibility of their looking +in upon him. + +“The better!” said Hobbie impatiently; “what is the better, Elshie? Do +you not hear me tell you I am the most miserable wretch living?” + +“And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better! and did I +not tell you this morning, when you thought yourself so happy, what an +evening was coming upon you?” + +“That ye did e’en,” replied Hobbie, “and that gars me come to you for +advice now; they that foresaw the trouble maun ken the cure.” + +“I know no cure for earthly trouble,” returned the Dwarf “or, if I +did, why should I help others, when none hath aided me? Have I not lost +wealth, that would have bought all thy barren hills a hundred times +over? rank, to which thine is as that of a peasant? society, where +there was an interchange of all that was amiable--of all that was +intellectual? Have I not lost all this? Am I not residing here, the +veriest outcast on the face of Nature, in the most hideous and most +solitary of her retreats, myself more hideous than all that is around +me? And why should other worms complain to me when they are trodden on, +since I am myself lying crushed and writhing under the chariot-wheel?” + +“Ye may have lost all this,” answered Hobbie, in the bitterness of +emotion; “land and friends, goods and gear; ye may hae lost them +a’,--but ye ne’er can hae sae sair a heart as mine, for ye ne’er lost +nae Grace Armstrong. And now my last hopes are gane, and I shall ne’er +see her mair.” + +This he said in the tone of deepest emotion--and there followed a long +pause, for the mention of his bride’s name had overcome the more angry +and irritable feelings of poor Hobbie. Ere he had again addressed the +Solitary, the bony hand and long fingers of the latter, holding a large +leathern bag, was thrust forth at the small window, and as it unclutched +the burden, and let it drop with a clang upon the ground, his harsh +voice again addressed Elliot. + +“There--there lies a salve for every human ill; so, at least, each human +wretch readily thinks.--Begone; return twice as wealthy as thou wert +before yesterday, and torment me no more with questions, complaints, or +thanks; they are alike odious to me.” + +“It is a’ gowd, by Heaven!” said Elliot, having glanced at the contents; +and then again addressing the Hermit, “Muckle obliged for your goodwill; +and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o’ the siller, or a wadset +ower the lands o’ Wideopen. But I dinna ken, Elshie; to be free wi’ you, +I dinna like to use siller unless I kend it was decently come by; and +maybe it might turn into sclate-stanes, and cheat some poor man.” + +“Ignorant idiot!” retorted the Dwarf; “the trash is as genuine poison as +ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth. Take it--use it, and may it +thrive with you as it hath done with me!” + +“But I tell you,” said Elliot, “it wasna about the gear that I was +consulting you,--it was a braw barn-yard, doubtless, and thirty head of +finer cattle there werena on this side of the Catrail; but let the +gear gang,--if ye could but gie me speerings o’ puir Grace, I would +be content to be your slave for life, in onything that didna touch my +salvation. O, Elshie, speak, man, speak!” + +“Well, then,” answered the Dwarf, as if worn out by his importunity, +“since thou hast not enough of woes of thine own, but must needs seek to +burden thyself with those of a partner, seek her whom thou hast lost in +the WEST.” + +“In the WEST? That’s a wide word.” + +“It is the last,” said the Dwarf, “which I design to utter;” and he drew +the shutters of his window, leaving Hobbie to make the most of the hint +he had given. + +The west! the west!--thought Elliot; the country is pretty quiet down +that way, unless it were Jock o’ the Todholes; and he’s ower auld now +for the like o’ thae jobs.--West!--By My life, it must be Westburnflat. +“Elshie, just tell me one word. Am I right? Is it Westburnflat? If I +am wrang, say sae. I wadna like to wyte an innocent neighbour wi’ +violence--No answer?--It must be the Red Reiver--I didna think he wad +hae ventured on me, neither, and sae mony kin as there’s o’ us--I +am thinking he’ll hae some better backing than his Cumberland +friends.--Fareweel to you, Elshie, and mony thanks--I downa be fashed +wi’ the siller e’en now, for I maun awa’ to meet my friends at the +Trysting-place--Sae, if ye carena to open the window, ye can fetch it in +after I’m awa’.” + +Still there was no reply. + +“He’s deaf, or he’s daft, or he’s baith; but I hae nae time to stay to +claver wi’ him.” + +And off rode Hobbie Elliot towards the place of rendezvous which he had +named to his friends. + +Four or five riders were already gathered at the Trysting pool. They +stood in close consultation together, while their horses were permitted +to graze among the poplars which overhung the broad still pool. A more +numerous party were seen coming from the southward. It proved to be +Earnscliff and his party, who had followed the track of the cattle as +far as the English border, but had halted on the information that +a considerable force was drawn together under some of the Jacobite +gentlemen in that district, and there were tidings of insurrection in +different parts of Scotland. This took away from the act which had been +perpetrated the appearance of private animosity, or love of plunder; and +Earnscliff was now disposed to regard it as a symptom of civil war. +The young gentleman greeted Hobbie with the most sincere sympathy, and +informed him of the news he had received. + +“Then, may I never stir frae the bit,” said Elliot, “if auld Ellieslaw +is not at the bottom o’ the haill villainy! Ye see he’s leagued wi’ the +Cumberland Catholics; and that agrees weel wi’ what Elshie hinted about +Westburnflat, for Ellieslaw aye protected him, and he will want to harry +and disarm the country about his ain hand before he breaks out.” + +Some now remembered that the party of ruffians had been heard to say +they were acting for James VIII., and were charged to disarm all rebels. +Others had heard Westburnflat boast, in drinking parties, that Ellieslaw +would soon be in arms for the Jacobite cause, and that he himself was +to hold a command under him, and that they would be bad neighbours for +young Earnscliff; and all that stood out for the established government. +The result was a strong belief that Westburnflat had headed the party +under Ellieslaw’s orders; and they resolved to proceed instantly to the +house of the former, and, if possible, to secure his person. They were +by this time joined by so many of their dispersed friends, that their +number amounted to upwards of twenty horsemen, well mounted, and +tolerably, though variously, armed. + +A brook, which issued from a narrow glen among the hills, entered, at +Westburnflat, upon the open marshy level, which, expanding about half +a mile in every direction, gives name to the spot. In this place the +character of the stream becomes changed, and, from being a lively +brisk-running mountain-torrent, it stagnates, like a blue swollen snake, +in dull deep windings, through the swampy level. On the side of the +stream, and nearly about the centre of the plain, arose the tower of +Westburnflat, one of the few remaining strongholds formerly so numerous +upon the Borders. The ground upon which it stood was gently elevated +above the marsh for the space of about a hundred yards, affording +an esplanade of dry turf, which extended itself in the immediate +neighbourhood of the tower; but, beyond which, the surface presented to +strangers was that of an impassable and dangerous bog. The owner of the +tower and his inmates alone knew the winding and intricate paths, which, +leading over ground that was comparatively sound, admitted visitors +to his residence. But among the party which were assembled under +Earnscliff’s directions, there was more than one person qualified to act +as a guide. For although the owner’s character and habits of life were +generally known, yet the laxity of feeling with respect to property +prevented his being looked on with the abhorrence with which he must +have been regarded in a more civilized country. He was considered, among +his more peaceable neighbours, pretty much as a gambler, cock-fighter, +or horse-jockey would be regarded at the present day; a person, of +course, whose habits were to be condemned, and his society, in general, +avoided, yet who could not be considered as marked with the indelible +infamy attached to his profession, where laws have been habitually +observed. And their indignation was awakened against him upon +this occasion, not so much on account of the general nature of the +transaction, which was just such as was to be expected from this +marauder, as that the violence had been perpetrated upon a neighbour +against whom he had no cause of quarrel,--against a friend of their +own,--above all, against one of the name of Elliot, to which clan most +of them belonged. It was not, therefore, wonderful, that there should +be several in the band pretty well acquainted with the locality of his +habitation, and capable of giving such directions and guidance as soon +placed the whole party on the open space of firm ground in front of the +Tower of Westburnflat. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + So spak the knicht; the geaunt sed, + Lend forth with the the sely maid, + And mak me quile of the and sche; + For glaunsing ee, or brow so brent, + Or cheek with rose and lilye blent, + Me lists not ficht with the.--ROMANCE OF THE FALCON. + +The tower, before which the party now stood, was a small square +building, of the most gloomy aspect. The walls were of great thickness, +and the windows, or slits which served the purpose of windows, seemed +rather calculated to afford the defenders the means of employing missile +weapons, than for admitting air or light to the apartments within. A +small battlement projected over the walls on every side, and afforded +farther advantage of defence by its niched parapet, within which arose +a steep roof, flagged with grey stones. A single turret at one angle, +defended by a door studded with huge iron nails, rose above the +battlement, and gave access to the roof from within, by the spiral +staircase which it enclosed. It seemed to the party that their motions +were watched by some one concealed within this turret; and they were +confirmed in their belief when, through a narrow loophole, a female hand +was seen to wave a handkerchief, as if by way of signal to them. Hobbie +was almost out of his senses with joy and eagerness. + +“It was Grace’s hand and arm,” he said; “I can swear to it amang a +thousand. There is not the like of it on this side of the Lowdens--We’ll +have her out, lads, if we should carry off the Tower of Westburnflat +stane by stane.” + +Earnscliff, though he doubted the possibility of recognising a fair +maiden’s hand at such a distance from the eye of the lover, would say +nothing to damp his friend’s animated hopes, and it was resolved to +summon the garrison. + +The shouts of the party, and the winding of one or two horns, at length +brought to a loophole, which flanked the entrance, the haggard face of +an old woman. + +“That’s the Reiver’s mother,” said one of the Elliots; “she’s ten times +waur than himsell, and is wyted for muckle of the ill he does about the +country.” + +“Wha are ye? what d’ye want here?” were the queries of the respectable +progenitor. + +“We are seeking William Graeme of Westburnflat,” said Earnscliff. + +“He’s no at hame,” returned the old dame. + +“When did he leave home?” pursued Earnscliff. + +“I canna tell,” said the portress. + +“When will he return?” said Hobbie Elliot. + +“I dinna ken naething about it,” replied the inexorable guardian of the +keep. + +“Is there anybody within the tower with you?” again demanded Earnscliff. + +“Naebody but mysell and baudrons,” said the old woman. + +“Then open the gate and admit us,” said Earnscliff; “I am a justice of +peace, and in search of the evidence of a felony.” + +“Deil be in their fingers that draws a bolt for ye,” retorted the +portress; “for mine shall never do it. Thinkna ye shame o’ yoursells, +to come here siccan a band o’ ye, wi’ your swords, and spears, and +steel-caps, to frighten a lone widow woman?” + +“Our information,” said Earnscliff; “is positive; we are seeking goods +which have been forcibly carried off, to a great amount.” + +“And a young woman, that’s been cruelly made prisoner, that’s worth mair +than a’ the gear, twice told,” said Hobbie. + +“And I warn you.” continued Earnscliff, “that your only way to prove +your son’s innocence is to give us quiet admittance to search the +house.” + +“And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys, or draw the bolts, +or open the grate to sic a clamjamfrie?” said the old dame, scoffingly. + +“Force our way with the king’s keys, and break the neck of every living +soul we find in the house, if ye dinna gie it ower forthwith!” menaced +the incensed Hobbie. + +“Threatened folks live lang,” said the hag, in the same tone of irony; +“there’s the iron grate--try your skeel on’t, lads--it has kept out as +gude men as you or now.” + +So saying, she laughed, and withdrew from the aperture through which she +had held the parley. + +The besiegers now opened a serious consultation. The immense thickness +of the walls, and the small size of the windows, might, for a time, have +even resisted cannon-shot. The entrance was secured, first, by a strong +grated door, composed entirely of hammered iron, of such ponderous +strength as seemed calculated to resist any force that could be brought +against it. “Pinches or forehammers will never pick upon’t,” said +Hugh, the blacksmith of Ringleburn; “ye might as weel batter at it wi’ +pipe-staples.” + +Within the doorway, and at the distance of nine feet, which was the +solid thickness of the wall, there was a second door of oak, crossed, +both breadth and lengthways, with clenched bars of iron, and studded +full of broad-headed nails. Besides all these defences, they were by no +means confident in the truth of the old dame’s assertion, that she +alone composed the garrison. The more knowing of the party had observed +hoof-marks in the track by which they approached the tower, which +seemed to indicate that several persons had very lately passed in that +direction. + +To all these difficulties was added their want of means for attacking +the place. There was no hope of procuring ladders long enough to reach +the battlements, and the windows, besides being very narrow, were +secured with iron bars. Scaling was therefore out of the question; +mining was still more so, for want of tools and gunpowder; neither +were the besiegers provided with food, means of shelter, or other +conveniences, which might have enabled them to convert the siege into a +blockade; and there would, at any rate, have been a risk of relief from +some of the marauder’s comrades. Hobbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, +as, walking round the fastness, he could devise no means of making a +forcible entry. At length he suddenly exclaimed, “And what for no do as +our fathers did lang syne?--Put hand to the wark, lads. Let us cut up +bushes and briers, pile them before the door and set fire to them, and +smoke that auld devil’s dam as if she were to be reested for bacon.” + +All immediately closed with this proposal, and some went to work with +swords and knives to cut down the alder and hawthorn bushes which grew +by the side of the sluggish stream, many of which were sufficiently +decayed and dried for their purpose, while others began to collect +them in a large stack, properly disposed for burning, as close to the +iron-grate as they could be piled. Fire was speedily obtained from +one of their guns, and Hobbie was already advancing to the pile with a +kindled brand, when the surly face of the robber, and the muzzle of +a musquetoon, were partially shown at a shot-hole which flanked the +entrance. “Mony thanks to ye,” he said, scoffingly, “for collecting sae +muckle winter eilding for us; but if ye step a foot nearer it wi’ that +lunt, it’s be the dearest step ye ever made in your days.” + +“We’ll sune see that,” said Hobbie, advancing fearlessly with the torch. + +The marauder snapped his piece at him, which, fortunately for our honest +friend, did not go off; while Earnscliff, firing at the same moment +at the narrow aperture and slight mark afforded by the robber’s face, +grazed the side of his head with a bullet. He had apparently calculated +upon his post affording him more security, for he no sooner felt +the wound, though a very slight one, than he requested a parley, +and demanded to know what they meant by attacking in this fashion a +peaceable and honest man, and shedding his blood in that lawless manner? + +“We want your prisoner,” said Earnscliff, “to be delivered up to us in +safety.” + +“And what concern have you with her?” replied the marauder. + +“That,” retorted Earnscliff, “you, who are detaining her by force, have +no right to enquire.” + +“Aweel, I think I can gie a guess,” said the robber. “Weel, sirs, I am +laith to enter into deadly feud with you by spilling ony of your bluid, +though Earnscliff hasna stopped to shed mine--and he can hit a mark to a +groat’s breadth--so, to prevent mair skaith, I am willing to deliver up +the prisoner, since nae less will please you.” + +“And Hobbie’s gear?” cried Simon of Hackburn. “D’ye think you’re to be +free to plunder the faulds and byres of a gentle Elliot, as if they were +an auld wife’s hens’-cavey?” + +“As I live by bread,” replied Willie of Westburnflat “As I live by +bread, I have not a single cloot o’ them! They’re a’ ower the march lang +syne; there’s no a horn o’ them about the tower. But I’ll see what o’ +them can be gotten back, and I’ll take this day twa days to meet Hobbie +at the Castleton wi’ twa friends on ilka side, and see to make an +agreement about a’ the wrang he can wyte me wi’.” + +“Ay, ay,” said Elliot, “that will do weel eneugh.”--And then aside to +his kinsman, “Murrain on the gear! Lordsake, man! say nought about them. +Let us but get puir Grace out o’ that auld hellicat’s clutches.” + +“Will ye gie me your word, Earnscliff,” said the marauder, who still +lingered at the shot-hole, “your faith and troth, with hand and glove, +that I am free to come and free to gae, with five minutes to open the +grate, and five minutes to steek it and to draw the bolts? less winna +do, for they want creishing sairly. Will ye do this?” + +“You shall have full time,” said Earnscliff; “I plight my faith and +troth, my hand and my glove.” + +“Wait there a moment, then,” said Westburnflat; “or hear ye, I wad +rather ye wad fa’ back a pistol-shot from the door. It’s no that I +mistrust your word, Earnscliff; but it’s best to be sure.” + +O, friend, thought Hobbie to himself, as he drew back, an I had you but +on Turner’s-holm, [There is a level meadow, on the very margin of the +two kingdoms, called Turner’s-holm, just where the brook called Crissop +joins the Liddel. It is said to have derived its name as being a place +frequently assigned for tourneys, during the ancient Border times.] and +naebody by but twa honest lads to see fair play, I wad make ye wish ye +had broken your leg ere ye had touched beast or body that belanged to +me! + +“He has a white feather in his wing this same Westburnflat, after +a’,” said Simon of Hackburn, somewhat scandalized by his ready +surrender.--“He’ll ne’er fill his father’s boots.” + +In the meanwhile, the inner door of the tower was opened, and the mother +of the freebooter appeared in the space betwixt that and the outer +grate. Willie himself was next seen, leading forth a female, and the old +woman, carefully bolting the grate behind them, remained on the post as +a sort of sentinel. + +“Ony ane or twa o’ ye come forward,” said the outlaw, “and take her frae +my hand haill and sound.” + +Hobbie advanced eagerly, to meet his betrothed bride. Earnscliff +followed more slowly, to guard against treachery. Suddenly Hobbie +slackened his pace in the deepest mortification, while that of +Earnscliff was hastened by impatient surprise. It was not Grace +Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, whose liberation had been effected by +their appearance before the tower. + +“Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong?” exclaimed Hobbie, in the +extremity of wrath and indignation. + +“Not in my hands,” answered Westburnflat; “ye may search the tower, if +ye misdoubt me.” + +“You false villain, you shall account for her, or die on the spot,” said +Elliot, presenting his gun. + +But his companions, who now came up, instantly disarmed him of his +weapon, exclaiming, all at once, “Hand and glove! faith and troth! Haud +a care, Hobbie we maun keep our faith wi’ Westburnflat, were he the +greatest rogue ever rode.” + +Thus protected, the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been +somewhat daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot. + +“I have kept my word, sirs,” he said, “and I look to have nae wrang +amang ye. If this is no the prisoner ye sought,” he said, addressing +Earnscliff, “ye’ll render her back to me again. I am answerable for her +to those that aught her.” + +“For God’s sake, Mr. Earnscliff, protect me!” said Miss Vere, clinging +to her deliverer; “do not you abandon one whom the whole world seems to +have abandoned.” + +“Fear nothing,” whispered Earnscliff, “I will protect you with my life.” + Then turning to Westburnflat, “Villain!” he said, “how dared you to +insult this lady?” + +“For that matter, Earnscliff,” answered the freebooter, “I can answer to +them that has better right to ask me than you have; but if you come with +an armed force, and take her awa’ from them that her friends lodged her +wi’, how will you answer THAT--But it’s your ain affair--Nae single man +can keep a tower against twenty--A’ the men o’ the Mearns downa do mair +than they dow.” + +“He lies most falsely,” said Isabella; “he carried me off by violence +from my father.” + +“Maybe he only wanted ye to think sae, hinny,” replied the robber; “but +it’s nae business o’ mine, let it be as it may.--So ye winna resign her +back to me?” + +“Back to you, fellow? Surely no,” answered Earnscliff; “I will +protect Miss Vere, and escort her safely wherever she is pleased to be +conveyed.” + +“Ay, ay, maybe you and her hae settled that already,” said Willie of +Westburnflat. + +“And Grace?” interrupted Hobbie, shaking himself loose from the friends +who had been preaching to him the sanctity of the safe-conduct, upon +the faith of which the freebooter had ventured from his tower,--“Where’s +Grace?” and he rushed on the marauder, sword in hand. + +Westburnflat, thus pressed, after calling out, “Godsake, Hobbie, hear +me a gliff!” fairly turned his back and fled. His mother stood ready +to open and shut the grate; but Hobbie struck at the freebooter as he +entered with so much force, that the sword made a considerable cleft in +the lintel of the vaulted door, which is still shown as a memorial of +the superior strength of those who lived in the days of yore. Ere +Hobbie could repeat the blow, the door was shut and secured, and he was +compelled to retreat to his companions, who were now preparing to break +up the siege of Westburnflat. They insisted upon his accompanying them +in their return. + +“Ye hae broken truce already,” said old Dick of the Dingle; “an we +takena the better care, ye’ll play mair gowk’s tricks, and make yoursell +the laughing-stock of the haill country, besides having your friends +charged with slaughter under trust. Bide till the meeting at Castleton, +as ye hae greed; and if he disna make ye amends, then we’ll hae it out +o’ his heart’s blood. But let us gang reasonably to wark and keep our +tryst, and I’se warrant we get back Grace, and the kye an’ a’.” + +This cold-blooded reasoning went ill down with the unfortunate lover; +but, as he could only obtain the assistance of his neighbours and +kinsmen on their own terms, he was compelled to acquiesce in their +notions of good faith and regular procedure. + +Earnscliff now requested the assistance of a few of the party to +convey Miss Vere to her father’s castle of Ellieslaw, to which she was +peremptory in desiring to be conducted. This was readily granted; and +five or six young men agreed to attend him as an escort. Hobbie was not +of the number. Almost heart-broken by the events of the day, and his +final disappointment, he returned moodily home to take such measures as +he could for the sustenance and protection of his family, and to arrange +with his neighbours the farther steps which should be adopted for +the recovery of Grace Armstrong. The rest of the party dispersed in +different directions, as soon as they had crossed the morass. The +outlaw and his mother watched them from the tower, until they entirely +disappeared. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + I left my ladye’s bower last night-- + It was clad in wreaths of snaw,-- + I’ll seek it when the sun is bright, + And sweet the roses blaw.--OLD BALLAD. + +Incensed at what he deemed the coldness of his friends, in a cause +which interested him so nearly, Hobbie had shaken himself free of their +company, and was now on his solitary road homeward. “The fiend founder +thee!” said he, as he spurred impatiently his over-fatigued and +stumbling horse; “thou art like a’ the rest o’ them. Hae I not bred +thee, and fed thee, and dressed thee wi’ mine ain hand, and wouldst thou +snapper now and break my neck at my utmost need? But thou’rt e’en like +the lave--the farthest off o’ them a’ is my cousin ten times removed, +and day or night I wad hae served them wi’ my best blood; and now, I +think they show mair regard to the common thief of Westburnflat than to +their ain kinsman. But I should see the lights now in Heugh-foot--Wae’s +me!” he continued, recollecting himself, “there will neither coal nor +candle-light shine in the Heugh-foot ony mair! An it werena for my +mother and sisters, and poor Grace, I could find in my heart to put +spurs to the beast, and loup ower the scaur into the water to make an +end o’t a’.”--In this disconsolate mood he turned his horse’s bridle +towards the cottage in which his family had found refuge. + +As he approached the door, he heard whispering and tittering amongst +his sisters. “The deevil’s in the women,” said poor Hobbie; “they +would nicker, and laugh, and giggle, if their best friend was lying a +corp--and yet I am glad they can keep up their hearts sae weel, poor +silly things; but the dirdum fa’s on me, to be sure, and no on them.” + +While he thus meditated, he was engaged in fastening up his horse in +a shed. “Thou maun do without horse-sheet and surcingle now, lad,” he +said, addressing the animal; “you and me hae had a downcome alike; we +had better hae fa’en i, the deepest pool o’ Tarras.” + +He was interrupted by the youngest of his sisters, who came running +out, and, speaking in a constrained voice, as if to stifle some emotion, +called out to him, “What are ye doing there, Hobbie, fiddling about the +naig, and there’s ane frae Cumberland been waiting here for ye this hour +and mair? Haste ye in, man; I’ll take off the saddle.” + +“Ane frae Cumberland!” exclaimed Elliot; and putting the bridle of his +horse into the hand of his sister, he rushed into the cottage. “Where is +he? where is he!” he exclaimed, glancing eagerly around, and seeing only +females; “Did he bring news of Grace?” + +“He doughtna bide an instant langer,” said the elder sister, still with +a suppressed laugh. + +“Hout fie, bairns!” said the old lady, with something of a good-humoured +reproof, “ye shouldna vex your billy Hobbie that way.--Look round, my +bairn, and see if there isna ane here mair than ye left this morning.” + +Hobbie looked eagerly round. “There’s you, and the three titties.” + +“There’s four of us now, Hobbie, lad,” said the youngest, who at this +moment entered. + +In an instant Hobbie had in his arms Grace Armstrong, who, with one +of his sister’s plaids around her, had passed unnoticed at his first +entrance. “How dared you do this?” said Hobbie. + +“It wasna my fault,” said Grace, endeavouring to cover her face with her +hands to hide at once her blushes, and escape the storm of hearty kisses +with which her bridegroom punished her simple stratagem,--“It wasna my +fault, Hobbie; ye should kiss Jeanie and the rest o’ them, for they hae +the wyte o’t.” + +“And so I will,” said Hobbie, and embraced and kissed his sisters +and grandmother a hundred times, while the whole party half-laughed, +half-cried, in the extremity of their joy. “I am the happiest man,” said +Hobbie, throwing himself down on a seat, almost exhausted,--“I am the +happiest man in the world!” + +“Then, O my dear bairn,” said the good old dame, who lost no opportunity +of teaching her lesson of religion at those moments when the heart +was best open to receive it,--“Then, O my son, give praise to Him that +brings smiles out o’ tears and joy out o’ grief, as He brought light out +o’ darkness and the world out o’ naething. Was it not my word, that if +ye could say His will be done, ye might hae cause to say His name be +praised?” + +“It was--it was your word, grannie; and I do praise Him for His mercy, +and for leaving me a good parent when my ain were gane,” said honest +Hobbie, taking her hand, “that puts me in mind to think of Him, baith in +happiness and distress.” + +There was a solemn pause of one or two minutes employed in the exercise +of mental devotion, which expressed, in purity and sincerity, the +gratitude of the affectionate family to that Providence who had +unexpectedly restored to their embraces the friend whom they had lost. + +Hobbie’s first enquiries were concerning the adventures which Grace +had undergone. They were told at length, but amounted in substance +to this:--That she was awaked by the noise which the ruffians made in +breaking into the house, and by the resistance made by one or two of the +servants, which was soon overpowered; that, dressing herself hastily, +she ran downstairs, and having seen, in the scuffle, Westburnflat’s +vizard drop off, imprudently named him by his name, and besought him for +mercy; that the ruffian instantly stopped her mouth, dragged her from +the house, and placed her on horseback, behind one of his associates. + +“I’ll break the accursed neck of him,” said Hobbie, “if there werena +another Graeme in the land but himsell!” + +She proceeded to say, that she was carried southward along with the +party, and the spoil which they drove before them, until they had +crossed the Border. Suddenly a person, known to her as a kinsman of +Westburnflat, came riding very fast after the marauders, and told their +leader, that his cousin had learnt from a sure hand that no luck would +come of it, unless the lass was restored to her friends. After some +discussion, the chief of the party seemed to acquiesce. Grace was placed +behind her new guardian, who pursued in silence, and with great speed, +the least-frequented path to the Heugh-foot, and ere evening closed, set +down the fatigued and terrified damsel within a quarter of a mile of the +dwelling of her friends. Many and sincere were the congratulations which +passed on all sides. + +As these emotions subsided, less pleasing considerations began to +intrude themselves. + +“This is a miserable place for ye a’,” said Hobbie, looking around him; +“I can sleep weel eneugh mysell outby beside the naig, as I hae done +mony a lang night on the hills; but how ye are to put yoursells up, I +canna see! And what’s waur, I canna mend it; and what’s waur than a’, +the morn may come, and the day after that, without your being a bit +better off.” + +“It was a cowardly cruel thing,” said one of the sisters, looking round, +“to harry a puir family to the bare wa’s this gate.” + +“And leave us neither stirk nor stot,” said the youngest brother, who +now entered, “nor sheep nor lamb, nor aught that eats grass and corn.” + +“If they had ony quarrel wi’ us,” said Harry, the second brother, “were +we na ready to have fought it out? And that we should have been a’ frae +hame, too,--ane and a’ upon the hill--Odd, an we had been at hame, Will +Graeme’s stamach shouldna hae wanted its morning; but it’s biding him, +is it na, Hobbie?” + +“Our neighbours hae taen a day at the Castleton to gree wi’ him at the +sight o’ men,” said Hobbie, mournfully; “they behoved to have it a’ +their ain gate, or there was nae help to be got at their hands.” + +“To gree wi’ him!” exclaimed both his brothers at once, “after siccan an +act of stouthrife as hasna been heard o’ in the country since the auld +riding days!” + +“Very true, billies, and my blood was e’en boiling at it; but the sight +o’ Grace Armstrong has settled it brawly.” + +“But the stocking, Hobbie’” said John Elliot; “we’re utterly ruined. +Harry and I hae been to gather what was on the outby land, and there’s +scarce a cloot left. I kenna how we’re to carry on--We maun a’ gang +to the wars, I think. Westburnflat hasna the means, e’en if he had the +will, to make up our loss; there’s nae mends to be got out o’ him, but +what ye take out o’ his banes. He hasna a four-footed creature but the +vicious blood thing he rides on, and that’s sair trash’d wi’ his night +wark. We are ruined stoop and roop.” + +Hobbie cast a mournful glance on Grace Armstrong, who returned it with a +downcast look and a gentle sigh. + +“Dinna be cast down, bairns,” said the grandmother, “we hae gude friends +that winna forsake us in adversity. There’s Sir Thomas Kittleloof is my +third cousin by the mother’s side, and he has come by a hantle siller, +and been made a knight-baronet into the bargain, for being ane o’ the +commissioners at the Union.” + +“He wadna gie a bodle to save us frae famishing,” said Hobbie; “and, if +he did, the bread that I bought wi’t would stick in my throat, when +I thought it was part of the price of puir auld Scotland’s crown and +independence.” + +“There’s the Laird o’ Dunder, ane o’ the auldest families in +Tiviotdale.” + +“He’s in the tolbooth, mother--he’s in the Heart of Mid-Louden for a +thousand merk he borrowed from Saunders Wyliecoat the writer.” + +“Poor man!” exclaimed Mrs. Elliot, “can we no send him something, +Hobbie?” + +“Ye forget, grannie, ye forget we want help oursells,” said Hobbie, +somewhat peevishly. + +“Troth did I, hinny,” replied the good-natured lady, “just at the +instant; it’s sae natural to think on ane’s blude relations before +themsells;--But there’s young Earnscliff.” + +“He has ower little o’ his ain; and siccan a name to keep up, it wad be +a shame,” said Hobbie, “to burden him wi’ our distress. And I’ll tell +ye, grannie, it’s needless to sit rhyming ower the style of a’ your +kith, kin, and allies, as if there was a charm in their braw names to do +us good; the grandees hae forgotten us, and those of our ain degree hae +just little eneugh to gang on wi’ themsells; ne’er a friend hae we that +can, or will, help us to stock the farm again.” + +“Then, Hobbie, me maun trust in Him that can raise up friends and +fortune out o’ the bare moor, as they say.” + +Hobbie sprung upon his feet. “Ye are right, grannie!” he exclaimed; “ye +are right. I do ken a friend on the bare moor, that baith can and will +help us--The turns o’ this day hae dung my head clean hirdie-girdie. +I left as muckle gowd lying on Mucklestane-Moor this morning as would +plenish the house and stock the Heugh-foot twice ower, and I am certain +sure Elshie wadna grudge us the use of it.” + +“Elshie!” said his grandmother in astonishment; “what Elshie do you +mean?” + +“What Elshie should I mean, but Canny Elshie, the Wight o’ Mucklestane,” + replied Hobbie. + +“God forfend, my bairn, you should gang to fetch water out o’ broken +cisterns, or seek for relief frae them that deal wi’ the Evil One! There +was never luck in their gifts, nor grace in their paths. And the haill +country kens that body Elshie’s an unco man. O, if there was the law, +and the douce quiet administration of justice, that makes a kingdom +flourish in righteousness, the like o’ them suldna be suffered to live! +The wizard and the witch are the abomination and the evil thing in the +land.” + +“Troth, mother,” answered Hobbie, “ye may say what ye like, but I am in +the mind that witches and warlocks havena half the power they had lang +syne; at least, sure am I, that ae ill-deviser, like auld Ellieslaw, or +ae ill-doer, like that d--d villain Westburnflat, is a greater plague +and abomination in a country-side than a haill curnie o’ the warst +witches that ever capered on a broomstick, or played cantrips on +Fastern’s E’en. It wad hae been lang or Elshie had burnt down my house +and barns, and I am determined to try if he will do aught to build them +up again. He’s weel kend a skilfu’ man ower a’ the country, as far as +Brough under Stanmore.” + +“Bide a wee, my bairn; mind his benefits havena thriven wi’ a’body. Jock +Howden died o’ the very same disorder Elshie pretended to cure him of, +about the fa’ o’ the leaf; and though he helped Lambside’s cow weel out +o’ the moor-ill, yet the louping-ill’s been sairer amane; his sheep than +ony season before. And then I have heard he uses sic words abusing human +nature, that’s like a fleeing in the face of Providence; and ye mind ye +said yoursell, the first time ye ever saw him, that he was mair like a +bogle than a living thing.” + +“Hout, mother,” said Hobbie, “Elshie’s no that bad a chield; he’s a +grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a rough +talker, but his bark is waur than his bite; sae, if I had anes something +to eat, for I havena had a morsel ower my throat this day, I wad streek +mysell down for twa or three hours aside the beast, and be on and awa’ +to Mucklestane wi’ the first skreigh o’ morning.” + +“And what for no the night, Hobbie,” said Harry, “and I will ride wi’ +ye?” + +“My naig is tired,” said Hobbie. + +“Ye may take mine, then,” said John. + +“But I am a wee thing wearied mysell.” + +“You wearied?” said Harry; “shame on ye! I have kend ye keep the saddle +four-and-twenty hours thegither, and ne’er sic a word as weariness in +your wame.” + +“The night’s very dark,” said Hobbie, rising and looking through the +casement of the cottage; “and, to speak truth, and shame the deil, +though Elshie’s a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would rather take +daylight wi’ me when I gang to visit him.” + +This frank avowal put a stop to further argument; and Hobbie, having +thus compromised matters between the rashness of his brother’s counsel, +and the timid cautions which he received from his grandmother, refreshed +himself with such food as the cottage afforded; and, after a cordial +salutation all round, retired to the shed, and stretched himself beside +his trusty palfrey. His brothers shared between them some trusses of +clean straw, disposed in the stall usually occupied by old Annaple’s +cow; and the females arranged themselves for repose as well as the +accommodations of the cottage would permit. + +With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed down +and saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. He avoided the +company of either of his brothers, from an idea that the Dwarf was most +propitious to those who visited him alone. + +“The creature,” said he to himself, as he went along, “is no +neighbourly; ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can abide. +I wonder if he’s looked out o’ the crib o’ him to gather up the bag +o’ siller. If he hasna done that, it will hae been a braw windfa’ for +somebody, and I’ll be finely flung.--Come, Tarras,” said he to his +horse, striking him at the same time with his spur, “make mair fit, man; +we maun be first on the field if we can.” + +He was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the beams of +the rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was descending presented +him a distinct, though distant view, of the Dwarf’s dwelling. The door +opened, and Hobbie witnessed with his own eyes that phenomenon which he +had frequently heard mentioned. Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf +could be termed such) issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and +stood as if in converse together in the open air. The taller form then +stooped, as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the +hut, then both moved forward a little way, and again halted, as in deep +conference. All Hobbie’s superstitious terrors revived on witnessing +this’spectacle. That the Dwarf would open his dwelling to a mortal +guest, was as improbable as that any one would choose voluntarily to +be his nocturnal visitor; and, under full conviction that he beheld a +wizard holding intercourse with his familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at +once his breath and his bridle, resolved not to incur the indignation +of either by a hasty intrusion on their conference. They were probably +aware of his approach, for he had not halted for a moment before the +Dwarf returned to his cottage; and the taller figure who had accompanied +him, glided round the enclosure of the garden, and seemed to disappear +from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie. + +“Saw ever mortal the like o’ that!” said Elliot; “but my case is +desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I’se venture down the brae +on him.” + +Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace, when, +nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall figure, +he discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a small black +rough-looking object, like a terrier dog. + +“He has nae dog that ever I heard of,” said Hobbie, “but mony a deil +about his hand--lord forgie me for saying sic a word!--It keeps its +grund, be what it like--I’m judging it’s a badger; but whae kens what +shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it will maybe start up +like a lion or a crocodile when I come nearer. I’se e’en drive a stage +at it, for if it change its shape when I’m ower near, Tarras will never +stand it; and it will be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight +wi’ baith at ance.” + +He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which continued +motionless. “It’s nae living thing, after a’,” said Hobbie, approaching, +“but the very bag o’ siller he flung out o’ the window yesterday! and +that other queer lang creature has just brought it sae muckle farther +on the way to me.” He then advanced and lifted the heavy fur pouch, +which was quite full of gold. “Mercy on us!” said Hobbie, whose heart +fluttered between glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects +in life, and suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was +afforded him---“Mercy on us! it’s an awfu’ thing to touch what has been +sae lately in the claws of something no canny, I canna shake mysell +loose o’ the belief that there has been some jookery-paukery of Satan’s +in a’ this; but I am determined to conduct mysell like an honest man and +a good Christian, come o’t what will.” + +He advanced accordingly to the cottage door, and having knocked +repeatedly without receiving any answer, he at length elevated his voice +and addressed the inmate of the hut. “Elshie! Father Elshie! I ken ye’re +within doors, and wauking, for I saw ye at the door-cheek as I cam ower +the bent; will ye come out and speak just a gliff to ane that has mony +thanks to gie ye?--It was a’ true ye tell’d me about Westburnflat; but +he’s sent back Grace safe and skaithless, sae there’s nae ill happened +yet but what may be suffered or sustained;--Wad ye but come out a gliff; +man, or but say ye’re listening?--Aweel, since ye winna answer, I’se +e’en proceed wi’ my tale. Ye see I hae been thinking it wad be a sair +thing on twa young folk, like Grace and me, to put aff our marriage for +mony years till I was abroad and came back again wi’ some gear; and they +say folk maunna take booty in the wars as they did lang syne, and the +queen’s pay is a sma’ matter; there’s nae gathering gear on that--and +then my grandame’s auld--and my sisters wad sit peengin’ at the +ingle-side for want o’ me to ding them about--and Earnscliff, or the +neighbourhood, or maybe your ainsell, Elshie, might want some good turn +that Hob Elliot could do ye--and it’s a pity that the auld house o’ the +Heugh-foot should be wrecked a’thegither. Sae I was thinking--but 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 wilt--do 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 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 Reiver of Westburnflat. + + + +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, +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 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 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 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 +father--she 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. + +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, +until some months before the commencement of our narrative, when the +public opinion of his embarrassed circumstances was confirmed, by +the residence of Mr. Ratcliffe at Ellieslaw Castle, who, by the tacit +consent, though obviously to the great displeasure, of the lord of the +mansion, seemed, from the moment of his arrival, to assume and exercise +a predominant and unaccountable influence in the management of his +private affairs. + +Mr. Ratcliffe was a grave, steady, reserved man, in an advanced period +of life. To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon business, he +appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms. With others he held +little communication; but in any casual intercourse, or conversation, +displayed the powers of an active and well-informed mind. For some +time before taking up his final residence at the castle, he had been +an occasional visitor there, and was at such times treated by Mr. Vere +(contrary to his general practice towards those who were inferior to +him in rank) with marked attention, and even deference. Yet his arrival +always appeared to be an embarrassment to his host, and his departure a +relief; so that, when he became a constant inmate of the family, it was +impossible not to observe indications of the displeasure with which Mr. +Vere regarded his presence. Indeed, their intercourse formed a singular +mixture of confidence and constraint. Mr. Vere’s most important affairs +were regulated by Mr. Ratcliffe; and although he was none of those +indulgent men of fortune, who, too indolent to manage their own +business, are glad to devolve it upon another, yet, in many instances, +he was observed to give up his own judgment, and submit to the contrary +opinions which Mr. Ratcliffe did not hesitate distinctly to express. + +Nothing seemed to vex Mr. Vere more than when strangers indicated any +observation of the state of tutelage under which he appeared to labour. +When it was noticed by Sir Frederick, or any of his intimates, he +sometimes repelled their remarks haughtily and indignantly, and +sometimes endeavoured to evade them, by saying, with a forced laugh, +“That Ratcliffe knew his own importance, but that he was the most honest +and skilful fellow in the world; and that it would be impossible for him +to manage his English affairs without his advice and assistance.” Such +was the person who entered the room at the moment Mr. Vere was summoning +him to his presence, and who now heard with surprise, mingled with +obvious incredulity, the hasty narrative of what had befallen Isabella. + +Her father concluded, addressing Sir Frederick and the other gentlemen, +who stood around in astonishment, “And now, my friends, you see the most +unhappy father in Scotland. Lend me your assistance, gentlemen--give me +your advice, Mr. Ratcliffe. I am incapable of acting, or thinking, under +the unexpected violence of such a blow.” + +“Let us take our horses, call our attendants, and scour the country in +pursuit of the villains,” said Sir Frederick. + +“Is there no one whom you can suspect,” said Ratcliffe, gravely, “of +having some motive for this strange crime? These are not the days of +romance, when ladies are carried off merely for their beauty.” + +“I fear,” said Mr. Vere, “I can too well account for this strange +incident. Read this letter, which Miss Lucy Ilderton thought fit to +address from my house of Ellieslaw to young Mr. Earnscliff; whom, of all +men, I have a hereditary right to call my enemy. You see she writes +to him as the confidant of a passion which he has the assurance to +entertain for my daughter; tells him she serves his cause with her +friend very ardently, but that he has a friend in the garrison who +serves him yet more effectually. Look particularly at the pencilled +passages, Mr. Ratcliffe, where this meddling girl recommends bold +measures, with an assurance that his suit would be successful anywhere +beyond the bounds of the barony of Ellieslaw.” + +“And you argue, from this romantic letter of a very romantic young lady, +Mr. Vere,” said Ratcliffe, “that young Earnscliff has carried off your +daughter, and committed a very great and criminal act of violence, on no +better advice and assurance than that of Miss Lucy Ilderton?” + +“What else can I think?” said Ellieslaw. + +“What else CAN you think?” said Sir Frederick; “or who else could have +any motive for committing such a crime?” + +“Were that the best mode of fixing the guilt,” said Mr. Ratcliffe, +calmly, “there might easily be pointed out persons to whom such actions +are more congenial, and who have also sufficient motives of instigation. +Supposing it were judged advisable to remove Miss Vere to some place in +which constraint might be exercised upon her inclinations to a degree +which cannot at present be attempted under the roof of Ellieslaw +Castle--What says Sir Frederick Langley to that supposition?” + +“I say,” returned Sir Frederick, “that although Mr. Vere may choose to +endure in Mr. Ratcliffe freedoms totally inconsistent with his situation +in life, I will not permit such license of innuendo, by word or look, to +be extended to me, with impunity.” + +“And I say,” said young Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells, who was also +a guest at the castle, “that you are all stark mad to be standing +wrangling here, instead of going in pursuit of the ruffians.” + +“I have ordered off the domestics already in the track most likely to +overtake them,” said Mr. Vere “if you will favour me with your company, +we will follow them, and assist in the search.” + +The efforts of the party were totally unsuccessful, probably because +Ellieslaw directed the pursuit to proceed in the direction of Earnscliff +Tower, under the supposition that the owner would prove to be the +author of the violence, so that they followed a direction diametrically +opposite to that in which the ruffians had actually proceeded. In the +evening they returned, harassed and out of spirits. But other guests +had, in the meanwhile, arrived at the castle; and, after the recent loss +sustained by the owner had been related, wondered at, and lamented, the +recollection of it was, for the present, drowned in the discussion +of deep political intrigues, of which the crisis and explosion were +momentarily looked for. + +Several of the gentlemen who took part in this divan were Catholics, and +all of them stanch Jacobites, whose hopes were at present at the highest +pitch, as an invasion, in favour of the Pretender, was daily expected +from France, which Scotland, between the defenceless state of its +garrisons and fortified places, and the general disaffection of the +inhabitants, was rather prepared to welcome than to resist. Ratcliffe, +who neither sought to assist at their consultations on this subject, +nor was invited to do so, had, in the meanwhile, retired to his own +apartment. Miss Ilderton was sequestered from society in a sort of +honourable confinement, “until,” said Mr. Vere, “she should be safely +conveyed home to her father’s house,” an opportunity for which occurred +on the following day. + +The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the loss of +Miss Vere, and the strange manner in which it had happened, seemed to be +forgotten by the other guests at the castle. They knew not, that those +the most interested in her fate were well acquainted with the cause +of her being carried off, and the place of her retreat; and that the +others, in the anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking +forth of a conspiracy, were little accessible to any feelings but what +arose immediately out of their own machinations. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Some one way, some another--Do you know + Where we may apprehend her? + +The researches after Miss Vere were (for the sake of appearances, +perhaps) resumed on the succeeding day, with similar bad success, and +the party were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening. + +“It is singular,” said Mareschal to Ratcliffe, “that four horsemen and +a female prisoner should have passed through the country without leaving +the slightest trace of their passage. One would think they had traversed +the air, or sunk through the ground.” + +“Men may often,” answered Ratcliffe, “arrive at the knowledge of that +which is, from discovering that which is not. We have now scoured every +road, path, and track leading from the castle, in all the various points +of the compass, saving only that intricate and difficult pass which +leads southward down the Westburn, and through the morasses.” + +“And why have we not examined that?” said Mareschal. + +“O, Mr. Vere can best answer that question,” replied his companion, +dryly. + +“Then I will ask it instantly,” said Mareschal; and, addressing Mr. +Vere, “I am informed, sir,” said he, “there is a path we have not +examined, leading by Westburnflat.” + +“O,” said Sir Frederick, laughing, “we know the owner of Westburnflat +well--a wild lad, that knows little difference between his neighbour’s +goods and his own; but, withal, very honest to his principles: he would +disturb nothing belonging to Ellieslaw.” + +“Besides,” said Mr. Vere, smiling mysteriously, “he had other tow on his +distaff last night. Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh-foot +has had his house burnt, and his cattle driven away, because he refused +to give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for the +king?” + +The company smiled upon each other, as at hearing of an exploit which +favoured their own views. + +“Yet, nevertheless,” resumed Mareschal, “I think we ought to ride in +this direction also, otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for our +negligence.” + +No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal, and the party +turned their horses’ heads towards Westburnflat. + +They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling of +horses was heard, and a small body of riders were perceived advancing to +meet them. + +“There comes Earnscliff,” said Mareschal; “I know his bright bay with +the star in his front.” + +“And there is my daughter along with him,” exclaimed Vere, +furiously. “Who shall call my suspicions false or injurious now? +Gentlemen--friends--lend me the assistance of your swords for the +recovery of my child.” + +He unsheathed his weapon, and was imitated by Sir Frederick and several +of the party, who prepared to charge those that were advancing towards +them. But the greater part hesitated. + +“They come to us in all peace and security,” said Mareschal-Wells; “let +us first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair. If +Miss Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff, +I will be first to revenge her; but let us hear what they say.” + +“You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal,” continued Vere; “you +are the last I would have expected to hear express them.” + +“You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the cause may +excuse it.” + +He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a loud +voice,--“Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere advance alone +to meet us. You are charged with having carried that lady off from her +father’s house; and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her +recovery, and for bringing to justice those who have injured her.” + +“And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal?” said +Earnscliff, haughtily,--“than I, who had the satisfaction this morning +to liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined, and who +am now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw?” + +“Is this so, Miss Vere?” said Mareschal. + +“It is,” answered Isabella, eagerly,--“it is so; for Heaven’s sake +sheathe your swords. I will swear by all that is sacred, that I was +carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were alike unknown to +me, and am now restored to freedom by means of this gentleman’s gallant +interference.” + +“By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done?” pursued +Mareschal.--“Had you no knowledge of the place to which you were +conveyed?--Earnscliff, where did you find this lady?” + +But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, and, +returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the conference. + +“When I know,” he said, “exactly how much I owe to Mr. Earnscliff, he +may rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime,” taking the bridle of +Miss Vere’s horse, “thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter in +the power of her natural guardian.” + +A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal +haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon the road +to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a conference so +earnest, that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude by +approaching them too nearly. In the meantime, Earnscliff, as he took +leave of the other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaw’s party, said aloud, +“Although I am unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can +authorize such a suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seems +to believe that I have had some hand in the atrocious violence which has +been offered to his daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to take notice +of my explicit denial of a charge so dishonourable; and that, although +I can pardon the bewildering feelings of a father in such a moment, +yet, if any other gentleman,” (he looked hard at Sir Frederick Langley) +“thinks my word and that of Miss Vere, with the evidence of my friends +who accompany me, too slight for my exculpation, I will be happy--most +happy--to repel the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honour +dearer than his life.” + +“And I’ll be his second,” said Simon of Hackburn, “and take up ony twa +o’ ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; it’s a’ ane to Simon.” + +“Who is that rough-looking fellow?” said Sir Frederick Langley, “and +what has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen?” + +“I’se be a lad frae the Hie Te’iot,” said Simon, “and I’se quarrel wi’ +ony body I like, except the king, or the laird I live under.” + +“Come,” said; Mareschal, “let us have no brawls.--Mr. Earnscliff; +although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may be +opponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without losing our +respect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I believe you as innocent +of this matter as I am myself; and I will pledge myself that my cousin +Ellieslaw, as soon as the perplexity attending these sudden events has +left his judgment to its free exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge the +very important service you have this day rendered him.” + +“To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself--Good +evening, gentlemen,” continued Earnscliff; “I see most of your party are +already on their way to Ellieslaw.” + +Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the party +with indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards +the Heugh-foot, to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for farther +researches after his bride, of whose restoration to her friends he was +still ignorant. + +“There he goes,” said Mareschal; “he is a fine, gallant young fellow, +upon my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust with him on +the green turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his equal with the +foils, and I should like to try him at sharps.” + +“In my opinion,” answered Sir Frederick Langley, “we have done very +ill in having suffered him, and those men who are with him, to go off +without taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very likely to draw to +a head under such a sprightly young fellow as that.” + +“For shame, Sir Frederick!” exclaimed Mareschal; “do you think that +Ellieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being offered to +Earnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter? +or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you think that I, and the rest +of these gentlemen, would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such a +transaction? No, no, fair play and auld Scotland for ever! When the +sword is drawn, I will be as ready to use it as any man; but while it is +in the sheath, let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours.” + +Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle, when Ellieslaw, who +had been arrived a few minutes before, met them in the court-yard. + +“How is Miss Vere? and have you learned the cause of her being carried +off?” asked Mareschal hastily. + +“She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued; and I cannot expect +much light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited,” + replied her father. “She and I were not the less obliged to you, +Mareschal, and to my other friends, for their kind enquiries. But I must +suppress the father’s feelings for a while to give myself up to those of +the patriot. You know this is the day fixed for our final decision--time +presses--our friends are arriving, and I have opened house, not only +for the gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarily +employ. We have, therefore, little time to prepare to meet them.--Look +over these lists, Marchie (an abbreviation by which Mareschal-Wells was +known among his friends). Do you, Sir Frederick, read these letters from +Lothian and the west--all is ripe for the sickle, and we have but to +summon out the reapers.” + +“With all my heart,” said Mareschal; “the more mischief the better +sport.” + +Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted. + +“Walk aside with me, my good friend,” said Ellieslaw to the sombre +baronet; “I have something for your private ear, with which I know you +will be gratified.” + +They walked into the house, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standing +together in the court. + +“And so,” said Ratcliffe, “the gentlemen of your political persuasion +think the downfall of this government so certain, that they disdain even +to throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party?” + +“Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe,” answered Mareschal, “the actions and sentiments +YOUR friends may require to be veiled, but I am better pleased that ours +can go barefaced.” + +“And is it possible,” continued Ratcliffe, “that you, who, +notwithstanding pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper (I beg pardon, +Mr. Mareschal, I am a plain man)--that you, who, notwithstanding +these constitutional defects, possess natural good sense and acquired +information, should be infatuated enough to embroil yourself in such +desperate proceedings? How does your head feel when you are engaged in +these dangerous conferences?” + +“Not quite so secure on my shoulders,” answered Mareschal, “as if I were +talking of hunting and hawking. I am not of so indifferent a mould as +my cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as if it were a child’s nursery +rhymes, and loses and recovers that sweet girl, his daughter, with a +good deal less emotion on both occasions, than would have affected me +had I lost and recovered a greyhound puppy. My temper is not quite so +inflexible, nor my hate against government so inveterate, as to blind me +to the full danger of the attempt.” + +“Then why involve yourself in it?” said Ratcliffe. + +“Why, I love this poor exiled king with all my heart; and my father was +an old Killiecrankie man, and I long to see some amends on the Unionist +courtiers, that have bought and sold old Scotland, whose crown has been +so long independent.” + +“And for the sake of these shadows,” said his monitor, “you are going to +involve your country in war and yourself in trouble?” + +“I involve? No!--but, trouble for trouble, I had rather it came +to-morrow than a month hence. COME, I know it will; and, as your country +folks say, better soon than syne--it will never find me younger--and as +for hanging, as Sir John Falstaff says, I can become a gallows as well +as another. You know the end of the old ballad; + + “Sae dauntonly, sae wantonly, + Sae rantingly gaed he, + He play’d a spring, and danced a round, + Beneath the gallows tree.” + +“Mr. Mareschal, I am sorry for you,” said his grave adviser. + +“I am obliged to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; but I would not have you judge of +our enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there are wiser heads than +mine at the work.” + +“Wiser heads than yours may lie as low,” said Ratcliffe, in a warning +tone. + +“Perhaps so; but no lighter heart shall; and, to prevent it being made +heavier by your remonstrances, I will bid you adieu, Mr. Ratcliffe, till +dinner-time, when you shall see that my apprehensions have not spoiled +my appetite.” + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + To face the garment of rebellion + With some fine colour, that may please the eye + Of fickle changelings, and poor discontents, + Which gape and rub the elbow at the news + Of hurlyburly innovation.--HENRY THE FOURTH, PART II. + +There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for the +entertainment on this important day, when not only the gentlemen of note +in the neighbourhood, attached to the Jacobite interest, were expected +to rendezvous, but also many subordinate malecontents, whom difficulty +of circumstances, love of change, resentment against England, or any of +the numerous causes which inflamed men’s passions at the time, rendered +apt to join in perilous enterprise. The men of rank and substance were +not many in number; for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof, +and most of the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterian +persuasion, and therefore, however displeased with the Union, unwilling +to engage in a Jacobite conspiracy. But there were some gentlemen of +property, who, either from early principle, from religious motives, or +sharing the ambitious views of Ellieslaw, had given countenance to his +scheme; and there were, also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal, +desirous of signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous +enterprise, by which they hoped to vindicate the independence of their +country. The other members of the party were persons of inferior rank +and desperate fortunes, who were now ready to rise in that part of the +country, as they did afterwards in the year 1715, under Forster and +Derwentwater, when a troop, commanded by a Border gentleman, named +Douglas, consisted almost entirely of freebooters, among whom the +notorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was called, held a distinguished command. +We think it necessary to mention these particulars, applicable solely +to the province in which our scene lies; because, unquestionably, the +Jacobite party, in the other parts of the kingdom, consisted of much +more formidable, as well as much more respectable, materials. + +One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw Castle, +which was still left much in the state in which it had been one hundred +years before, stretching, that is, in gloomy length, along the whole +side of the castle, vaulted with ribbed arches of freestone, the groins +of which sprung from projecting figures, that, carved into all the +wild forms which the fantastic imagination of a Gothic architect could +devise, grinned, frowned, and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below. +Long narrow windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides, filled +up with stained glass, through which the sun emitted a dusky and +discoloured light. A banner, which tradition averred to have been taken +from the English at the battle of Sark, waved over the chair in which +Ellieslaw presided, as if to inflame the courage of the guests, by +reminding them of ancient victories over their neighbours. He himself, +a portly figure, dressed on this occasion with uncommon care, and with +features, which, though of a stern and sinister expression, might well +be termed handsome, looked the old feudal baron extremely well. Sir +Frederick Langley was placed on his right hand, and Mr. Mareschal of +Mareschal-Wells on his left. Some gentlemen of consideration, with their +sons, brothers, and nephews, were seated at the upper end of the table, +and among these Mr. Ratcliffe had his place. Beneath the salt-cellar (a +massive piece of plate which occupied the midst of the table) sate the +SINE NOMINE TURBA, men whose vanity was gratified by holding even this +subordinate space at the social board, while the distinction observed in +ranking them was a salve to the pride of their superiors. That the lower +house was not very select must be admitted, since Willie of Westburnflat +was one of the party. The unabashed audacity of this fellow, in daring +to present himself in the house of a gentleman, to whom he had just +offered so flagrant an insult, can only be accounted for by supposing +him conscious that his share in carrying off Miss Vere was a secret, +safe in her possession and that of her father. + +Before this numerous and miscellaneous party was placed a dinner, +consisting, not indeed of the delicacies of the season, as the +newspapers express it, but of viands, ample, solid, and sumptuous, under +which the very board groaned. But the mirth was not in proportion to the +good cheer. The lower end of the table were, for some time, chilled by +constraint and respect on finding themselves members of so august an +assembly; and those who were placed around it had those feelings of awe +with which P. P., clerk of the parish, describes himself oppressed, +when he first uplifted the psalm in presence of those persons of high +worship, the wise Mr. Justice Freeman, the good Lady Jones, and the +great Sir Thomas Truby. This ceremonious frost, however, soon gave way +before the incentives to merriment, which were liberally supplied, +and as liberally consumed by the guests of the lower description. They +became talkative, loud, and even clamorous in their mirth. + +But it was not in the power of wine or brandy to elevate the spirits of +those who held the higher places at the banquet. They experienced the +chilling revulsion of spirits which often takes place, when men +are called upon to take a desperate resolution, after having placed +themselves in circumstances where it is alike difficult to advance or +to recede. The precipice looked deeper and more dangerous as they +approached the brink, and each waited with an inward emotion of awe, +expecting which of his confederates would set the example by plunging +himself down. This inward sensation of fear and reluctance acted +differently, according to the various habits and characters of the +company. One looked grave; another looked silly; a third gazed with +apprehension on the empty seats at the higher end of the table, designed +for members of the conspiracy whose prudence had prevailed over their +political zeal, and who had absented themselves from their consultations +at this critical period; and some seemed to be reckoning up in their +minds the comparative rank and prospects of those who were present and +absent. Sir Frederick Langley was reserved, moody, and discontented. +Ellieslaw himself made such forced efforts to raise the spirits of the +company, as plainly marked the flagging of his own. Ratcliffe watched +the scene with the composure of a vigilant but uninterested spectator. +Mareschal alone, true to the thoughtless vivacity of his character, ate +and drank, laughed and jested, and seemed even to find amusement in the +embarrassment of the company. + +“What has damped our noble courage this morning?” he exclaimed. “We seem +to be met at a funeral, where the chief mourners must not speak above +their breath, while the mutes and the saulies (looking to the lower end +of the table) are carousing below. Ellieslaw, when will you LIFT? +[To LIFT, meaning to lift the coffin, is the common expression for +commencing a funeral.] where sleeps your spirit, man? and what has +quelled the high hope of the Knight of Langley-dale?” + +“You speak like a madman,” said Ellieslaw; “do you not see how many are +absent?” + +“And what of that?” said Mareschal. “Did you not know before, that +one-half of the world are better talkers than doers? For my part, I am +much encouraged by seeing at least two-thirds of our friends true to the +rendezvous, though I suspect one-half of these came to secure the dinner +in case of the worst.” + +“There is no news from the coast which can amount to certainty of the +King’s arrival,” said another of the company, in that tone of subdued +and tremulous whisper which implies a failure of resolution. + +“Not a line from the Earl of D--, nor a single gentleman from the +southern side of the Border,” said a third. + +“Who is he that wishes for more men from England,” exclaimed Mareschal, +in a theatrical tone of affected heroism, + + “My cousin Ellieslaw? No, my fair cousin, + If we are doom’d to die--” + +“For God’s sake,” said Ellieslaw, “spare us your folly at present, +Mareschal.” + +“Well, then,” said his kinsman, “I’ll bestow my wisdom upon you instead, +such as it is. If we have gone forward like fools, do not let us go back +like cowards. We have done enough to draw upon us both the suspicion and +vengeance of the government; do not let us give up before we have done +something to deserve it.--What, will no one speak? Then I’ll leap the +ditch the first.” And, starting up, he filled a beer-glass to the brim +with claret, and waving his hand, commanded all to follow his example, +and to rise up from their seats. All obeyed-the more qualified guests as +if passively, the others with enthusiasm “Then, my friends, I give you +the pledge of the day--The independence of Scotland, and the health of +our lawful sovereign, King James the Eighth, now landed in Lothian, and, +as I trust and believe, in full possession of his ancient capital!” + +He quaffed off the wine, and threw the glass over his head. + +“It should never,” he said, “be profaned by a meaner toast.” + +All followed his example, and, amid the crash of glasses and the shouts +of the company, pledged themselves to stand or fall with the principles +and political interest which their toast expressed. + +“You have leaped the ditch with a witness,” said Ellieslaw, apart to +Mareschal; “but I believe it is all for the best; at all events, we +cannot now retreat from our undertaking. One man alone” (looking at +Ratcliffe) “has refused the pledge; but of that by and by.” + +Then, rising up, he addressed the company in a style of inflammatory +invective against the government and its measures, but especially the +Union; a treaty, by means of which, he affirmed, Scotland had been at +once cheated of her independence, her commerce, and her honour, and laid +as a fettered slave at the foot of the rival against whom, through such +a length of ages, through so many dangers, and by so much blood, she had +honourably defended her rights. This was touching a theme which found a +responsive chord in the bosom of every man present. + +“Our commerce is destroyed,” hollowed old John Rewcastle, a Jedburgh +smuggler, from the lower end of the table. + +“Our agriculture is ruined,” said the Laird of Broken-girth-flow, a +territory which, since the days of Adam, had borne nothing but ling and +whortle-berries. + +“Our religion is cut up, root and branch,” said the pimple-nosed pastor +of the Episcopal meeting-house at Kirkwhistle. + +“We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench, without +a certificate from the presbytery and kirk-treasurer,” said +Mareschal-Wells. + +“Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning, without license from a +commissioner of excise,” said the smuggler. + +“Or ride over the fell in a moonless night,” said Westburnflat, “without +asking leave of young Earnscliff; or some Englified justice of the +peace: thae were gude days on the Border when there was neither peace +nor justice heard of.” + +“Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe,” continued Ellieslaw, +“and take arms for the protection of our rights, our fortunes, our +lives, and our families.” + +“Think upon genuine episcopal ordination, without which there can be no +lawful clergy,” said the divine. + +“Think of the piracies committed on our East-Indian trade by Green +and the English thieves,” said William Willieson, half-owner and sole +skipper of a brig that made four voyages annually between Cockpool and +Whitehaven. + +“Remember your liberties,” rejoined Mareschal, who seemed to take a +mischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the enthusiasm +which he had excited, like a roguish boy, who, having lifted the sluice +of a mill-dam, enjoys the clatter of the wheels which he has put +in motion, without thinking of the mischief he may have occasioned. +“Remember your liberties,” he exclaimed; “confound cess, press, and +presbytery, and the memory of old Willie that first brought them upon +us!” + +“Damn the gauger!” echoed old John Rewcastle; “I’ll cleave him wi’ my +ain hand.” + +“And confound the country-keeper and the constable!” re-echoed +Westburnflat; “I’ll weize a brace of balls through them before morning.” + +“We are agreed, then,” said Ellieslaw, when the shouts had somewhat +subsided, “to bear this state of things no longer?” + +“We are agreed to a man,” answered his guests. + +“Not literally so,” said Mr. Ratcliffe; “for though I cannot hope to +assuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have seized +upon the company, yet I beg to observe, that so far as the opinion of a +single member goes, I do not entirely coincide in the list of grievances +which has been announced, and that I do utterly protest against the +frantic measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them. I +can easily suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out of +the heat of the moment, or have been said perhaps in jest. But there are +some jests of a nature very apt to transpire; and you ought to remember, +gentlemen, that stone-walls have ears.” + +“Stone-walls may have ears,” returned Ellieslaw, eyeing him with a look +of triumphant malignity, “but domestic spies, Mr. Ratcliffe, will soon +find themselves without any, if any such dares to continue his abode +in a family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion, where his +conduct has been that of a presumptuous meddler, and from which his +exit shall be that of a baffled knave, if he does not know how to take a +hint.” + +“Mr. Vere,” returned Ratcliffe, with calm contempt, “I am fully aware, +that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you, which it must +through the rash step you are about to adopt, it will immediately become +unsafe to myself, as it has always been hateful to you. But I have one +protection, and it is a strong one; for you would not willingly hear me +detail before gentlemen, and men of honour, the singular circumstances +in which our connexion took its rise. As to the rest, I rejoice at its +conclusion; and as I think that Mr. Mareschal and some other gentlemen +will guarantee the safety of my ears and of my throat (for which last I +have more reason to be apprehensive) during the course of the night, I +shall not leave your castle till to-morrow morning.” + +“Be it so, sir,” replied Mr. Vere; “you are entirely safe from my +resentment, because you are beneath it, and not because I am afraid of +your disclosing my family secrets, although, for your own sake, I warn +you to beware how you do so. Your agency and intermediation can be of +little consequence to one who will win or lose all, as lawful right or +unjust usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue. +Farewell, sir.” + +Ratcliffe arose, and cast upon him a look, which Vere seemed to sustain +with difficulty, and, bowing to those around him, left the room. + +This conversation made an impression on many of the company, which +Ellieslaw hastened to dispel, by entering upon the business of the day. +Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection. +Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders, +with powers to direct their farther measures. A place of rendezvous was +appointed, at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day, with +such followers and friends to the cause as each could collect around +him. Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations; +and Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others, who, with +Westburnflat and the old smuggler, continued to ply the bottle stanchly, +for leaving the head of the table, as he must necessarily hold a +separate and sober conference with the coadjutors whom they had +associated with him in the command. The apology was the more readily +accepted, as he prayed them, at the same time, to continue to amuse +themselves with such refreshments as the cellars of the castle afforded. +Shouts of applause followed their retreat; and the names of Vere, +Langley, and, above all, of Mareschal, were thundered forth in chorus, +and bathed with copious bumpers repeatedly, during the remainder of the +evening. + +When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate apartment, +they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of embarrassment, +which, in Sir Frederick’s dark features, amounted to an expression of +discontented sullenness. Mareschal was the first to break the pause, +saying, with a loud burst of laughter, + +--“Well! we are fairly embarked now, gentlemen--VOGUE LA GALERE!” + +“We may thank you for the plunge,” said Ellieslaw. + +“Yes; but I don’t know how far you will thank me,” answered Mareschal, +“when I show you this letter which I received just before we sat down. +My servant told me it was delivered by a man he had never seen before, +who went off at the gallop, after charging him to put it into my own +hand.” + +Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter, and read aloud-- + +EDINBURGH,-- + +HOND. SIR, Having obligations to your family, which shall be nameless, +and learning that you are one of the company of, adventurers doing +business for the house of James and Company, late merchants in London, +now in Dunkirk, I think it right to send you this early and private +information, that the vessels you expected have been driven off the +coast, without having been able to break bulk, or to land any part +of their cargo; and that the west-country partners have resolved to +withdraw their name from the firm, as it must prove a losing concern. +Having good hope you will avail yourself of this early information, to +do what is needful for your own security, I rest your humble servant, +NIHIL NAMELESS. + +FOR RALPH MARESCHAL, OF MARESCHAL-WELLS + +--THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED. + +Sir Frederick’s jaw dropped, and his countenance blackened, as the +letter was read, and Ellieslaw exclaimed,--“Why, this affects the very +mainspring of our enterprise. If the French fleet, with the king on +board, has been chased off by the English, as this d--d scrawl seems to +intimate, where are we?” + +“Just where we were this morning, I think,” said Mareschal, still +laughing. + +“Pardon me, and a truce to your ill-timed mirth, Mr. Mareschal; this +morning we were not committed publicly, as we now stand committed by +your own mad act, when you had a letter in your pocket apprizing you +that our undertaking was desperate.” + +“Ay, ay, I expected you would say so. But, in the first place, my friend +Nihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam; and, moreover, I would +have you know that I am tired of a party that does nothing but form +bold resolutions overnight, and sleep them away with their wine before +morning. The government are now unprovided of men and ammunition; in a +few weeks they will have enough of both: the country is now in a flame +against them; in a few weeks, betwixt the effects of self-interest, of +fear, and of lukewarm indifference, which are already so visible, this +first fervour will be as cold as Christmas. So, as I was determined to +go the vole, I have taken care you shall dip as deep as I; it signifies +nothing plunging. You are fairly in the bog, and must struggle through.” + +“You are mistaken with respect to one of us, Mr. Mareschal,” said Sir +Frederick Langley; and, applying himself to the bell, he desired the +person who entered to order his servants and horses instantly. + +“You must not leave us, Sir Frederick,” said Ellieslaw; “if we have our +musters to go over.” + +“I will go to-night, Mr. Vere,” said Sir Frederick, “and write you my +intentions in this matter when I am at home.” + +“Ay,” said Mareschal, “and send them by a troop of horse from Carlisle +to make us prisoners? Look ye, Sir Frederick, I for one will neither be +deserted nor betrayed; and if you leave Ellieslaw Castle to-night, it +shall be by passing over my dead body.” + +“For shame! Mareschal,” said Mr. Vere, “how can you so hastily +misinterpret our friend’s intentions? I am sure Sir Frederick can +only be jesting with us; for, were he not too honourable to dream of +deserting the cause, he cannot but remember the full proofs we have of +his accession to it, and his eager activity in advancing it. He cannot +but be conscious, besides, that the first information will be readily +received by government, and that if the question be, which can first +lodge intelligence of the affair, we can easily save a few hours on +him.” + +“You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in such +a race of treachery; for my part, I won’t enter my horse for such a +plate,” said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, “A pretty pair of +fellows to trust a man’s neck with!” + +“I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper,” said Sir +Frederick Langley; “and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw. I +have no reason to keep faith with one” (looking at Vere) “who has kept +none with me.” + +“In what respect,” said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of his hand, +his impetuous kinsman--“how have I disappointed you, Sir Frederick?” + +“In the nearest and most tender point--you have trifled with me +concerning our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the gage of +our political undertaking. This carrying off and this bringing back of +Miss Vere,--the cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuses +with which you cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you may +yourself retain possession of the estates which are hers by right, +and make me, in the meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise, +by holding out hopes and expectations which you are resolved never to +realize.” + +“Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred--” + +“I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too +long,” answered Sir Frederick. + +“If you leave us,” said Ellieslaw, “you cannot but know both your ruin +and ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together.” + +“Leave me to take care of myself,” returned the knight; “but were what +you say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther.” + +“Can nothing--no surety convince you of my sincerity?” said Ellieslaw, +anxiously; “this morning I should have repelled your unjust suspicions +as an insult; but situated as we now are--” + +“You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?” retorted Sir Frederick. +“If you would have me think so, there is but one way to convince me of +it--let your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening.” + +“So soon?--impossible,” answered Vere; “think of her late alarm--of our +present undertaking.” + +“I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the altar. +You have a chapel in the castle--Doctor Hobbler is present among the +company-this proof of your good faith to-night, and we are again +joined in heart and hand. If you refuse me when it is so much for your +advantage to consent, how shall I trust you to-morrow, when I shall +stand committed in your undertaking, and unable to retract?” + +“And I am to understand, that, if you can be made my son-in-law +to-night, our friendship is renewed?” said Ellieslaw. + +“Most infallibly, and most inviolably,” replied Sir Frederick. + +“Then,” said Vere, “though what you ask is premature, indelicate, and +unjust towards my character, yet, Sir Frederick, give me your hand--my +daughter shall be your wife.” + +“This night?” + +“This very night,” replied Ellieslaw, “before the clock strikes twelve.” + +“With her own consent, I trust,” said Mareschal; “for I promise you +both, gentlemen, I will not stand tamely by, and see any violence put on +the will of my pretty kinswoman.” + +“Another pest in this hot-headed fellow,” muttered Ellieslaw; and then +aloud, “With her own consent? For what do you take me, Mareschal, that +you should suppose your interference necessary to protect my daughter +against her father? Depend upon it, she has no repugnance to Sir +Frederick Langley.” + +“Or rather to be called Lady Langley? faith, like enough--there are +many women might be of her mind; and I beg your pardon, but these sudden +demands and concessions alarmed me a little on her account.” + +“It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me,” said +Ellieslaw; “but perhaps if she is found intractable, Sir Frederick will +consider--” + +“I will consider nothing, Mr. Vere--your daughter’s hand to-night, or I +depart, were it at midnight--there is my ultimatum.” + +“I embrace it,” said Ellieslaw; “and I will leave you to talk upon our +military preparations, while I go to prepare my daughter for so sudden a +change of condition.” + +So saying, he left the company. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + He brings Earl Osmond to receive my vows. + O dreadful change! for Tancred, haughty Osmond. + --TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA. + +Mr. Vere, whom long practice of dissimulation had enabled to model his +very gait and footsteps to aid the purposes of deception, walked along +the stone passage, and up the first flight of steps towards Miss Vere’s +apartment, with the alert, firm, and steady pace of one who is bound, +indeed, upon important business, but who entertains no doubt he can +terminate his affairs satisfactorily. But when out of hearing of the +gentlemen whom he had left, his step became so slow and irresolute, as +to correspond with his doubts and his fears. At length he paused in an +antechamber to collect his ideas, and form his plan of argument, before +approaching his daughter. + +“In what more hopeless and inextricable dilemma was ever an unfortunate +man involved!” Such was the tenor of his reflections.--“If we now fall +to pieces by disunion, there can be little doubt that the government +will take my life as the prime agitator of the insurrection. Or, grant I +could stoop to save myself by a hasty submission, am I not, even in that +case, utterly ruined? I have broken irreconcilably with Ratcliffe, and +can have nothing to expect from that quarter but insult and persecution. +I must wander forth an impoverished and dishonoured man, without +even the means of sustaining life, far less wealth sufficient to +counterbalance the infamy which my countrymen, both those whom I +desert and those whom I join, will attach to the name of the political +renegade. It is not to be thought of. And yet, what choice remains +between this lot and the ignominious scaffold? Nothing can save me but +reconciliation with these men; and, to accomplish this, I have promised +to Langley that Isabella shall marry him ere midnight, and to Mareschal, +that she shall do so without compulsion. I have but one remedy betwixt +me and ruin--her consent to take a suitor whom she dislikes, upon such +short notice as would disgust her, even were he a favoured lover--But +I must trust to the romantic generosity of her disposition; and let +me paint the necessity of her obedience ever so strongly, I cannot +overcharge its reality.” + +Having finished this sad chain of reflections upon his perilous +condition, he entered his daughter’s apartment with every nerve bent up +to the support of the argument which he was about to sustain. Though a +deceitful and ambitious man, he was not so devoid of natural affection +but that he was shocked at the part he was about to act, in practising +on the feelings of a dutiful and affectionate child; but the +recollections, that, if he succeeded, his daughter would only be +trepanned into an advantageous match, and that, if he failed, he himself +was a lost man, were quite sufficient to drown all scruples. + +He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing-room, her head +reclining on her hand, and either sunk in slumber, or so deeply engaged +in meditation, that she did not hear the noise he made at his entrance. +He approached with his features composed to a deep expression of sorrow +and sympathy, and, sitting down beside her, solicited her attention by +quietly taking her hand, a motion which he did not fail to accompany +with a deep sigh. + +“My father!” said Isabella, with a sort of start, which expressed at +least as much fear, as joy or affection. + +“Yes, Isabella,” said Vere, “your unhappy father, who comes now as a +penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury done to her +in the excess of his affection, and then to take leave of her for ever.” + +“Sir? Offence to me take leave for ever? What does all this mean?” said +Miss Vere. + +“Yes, Isabella, I am serious. But first let me ask you, have you no +suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance which befell +you yesterday morning?” + +“You, sir?” answered Isabella, stammering between a consciousness that +he had guessed her thoughts justly, and the shame as well as fear which +forbade her to acknowledge a suspicion so degrading and so unnatural. + +“Yes!” he continued, “your hesitation confesses that you entertained +such an opinion, and I have now the painful task of acknowledging that +your suspicions have done me no injustice. But listen to my motives. +In an evil hour I countenanced the addresses of Sir Frederick Langley, +conceiving it impossible that you could have any permanent objections to +a match where the advantages were, in most respects, on your side. In +a worse, I entered with him into measures calculated to restore our +banished monarch, and the independence of my country. He has taken +advantage of my unguarded confidence, and now has my life at his +disposal.” + +“Your life, sir?” said Isabella, faintly. + +“Yes, Isabella,” continued her father, “the life of him who gave life to +you. So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his headlong passion +(for, to do him justice, I believe his unreasonable conduct arises from +excess of attachment to you) was likely to hurry him, I endeavoured, +by finding a plausible pretext for your absence for some weeks, to +extricate myself from the dilemma in which I am placed. For this purpose +I wished, in case your objections to the match continued insurmountable, +to have sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your +maternal aunt at Paris. By a series of mistakes you have been brought +from the place of secrecy and security which I had destined for your +temporary abode. Fate has baffled my last chance of escape, and I have +only to give you my blessing, and send you from the castle with Mr. +Ratcliffe, who now leaves it; my own fate will soon be decided.” + +“Good Heaven, sir! can this be possible?” exclaimed Isabella. “O, why +was I freed from the restraint in which you placed me? or why did you +not impart your pleasure to me?” + +“Think an instant, Isabella. Would you have had me prejudice in your +opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving, by communicating to +you the injurious eagerness with which he pursued his object? Could I do +so honourably, having promised to assist his suit?--But it is all over, +I and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men; it only remains +to send you from hence under a safe escort.” + +“Great powers! and is there no remedy?” said the terrified young woman. + +“None, my child,” answered Vere, gently, “unless one which you would not +advise your father to adopt--to be the first to betray his friends.” + +“O, no! no!” she answered, abhorrently yet hastily, as if to reject +the temptation which the alternative presented to her. “But is there no +other hope--through flight--through mediation--through supplication?--I +will bend my knee to Sir Frederick!” + +“It would be a fruitless degradation; he is determined on his course, +and I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate. On one +condition only he will turn aside from his purpose, and that condition +my lips shall never utter to you.” + +“Name it, I conjure you, my dear father!” exclaimed Isabella. “What CAN +he ask that we ought not to grant, to prevent the hideous catastrophe +with which you are threatened?” + +“That, Isabella,” said Vere, solemnly, “you shall never know, until your +father’s head has rolled on the bloody scaffold; then, indeed, you will +learn there was one sacrifice by which he might have been saved.” + +“And why not speak it now?” said Isabella; “do you fear I would flinch +from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation? or would you +bequeath me the bitter legacy of life-long remorse, so oft as I shall +think that you perished, while there remained one mode of preventing the +dreadful misfortune that overhangs you?” + +“Then, my child,” said Vere, “since you press me to name what I would a +thousand times rather leave in silence, I must inform you that he will +accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage, and that conferred +before midnight this very evening!” + +“This evening, sir?” said the young lady, struck with horror at the +proposal--“and to such a man!--A man?--a monster, who could wish to win +the daughter by threatening the life of the father--it is impossible!” + +“You say right, my child,” answered her father, “it is indeed +impossible; nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such a +sacrifice--It is the course of nature that the old should die and be +forgot, and the young should live and be happy.” + +“My father die, and his child can save him!--but no--no--my dear father, +pardon me, it is impossible; you only wish to guide me to your wishes. I +know your object is what you think my happiness, and this dreadful tale +is only told to influence my conduct and subdue my scruples.” + +“My daughter,” replied Ellieslaw, in a tone where offended authority +seemed to struggle with parental affection, “my child suspects me of +inventing a false tale to work upon her feelings! Even this I must +bear, and even from this unworthy suspicion I must descend to vindicate +myself. You know the stainless honour of your cousin Mareschal--mark +what I shall write to him, and judge from his answer, if the danger in +which we stand is not real, and whether I have not used every means to +avert it.” + +He sate down, wrote a few lines hastily, and handed them to Isabella, +who, after repeated and painful efforts, cleared her eyes and head +sufficiently to discern their purport. + +“Dear cousin,” said the billet, “I find my daughter, as I expected, in +despair at the untimely and premature urgency of Sir Frederick Langley. +She cannot even comprehend the peril in which we stand, or how much we +are in his power--Use your influence with him, for Heaven’s sake, to +modify proposals, to the acceptance of which I cannot, and will not, +urge my child against all her own feelings, as well as those of delicacy +and propriety, and oblige your loving cousin,--R. V.” + +In the agitation of the moment, when her swimming eyes and dizzy brain +could hardly comprehend the sense of what she looked upon, it is not +surprising that Miss Vere should have omitted to remark that this +letter seemed to rest her scruples rather upon the form and time of the +proposed union, than on a rooted dislike to the suitor proposed to her. +Mr. Vere rang the bell, and gave the letter to a servant to be delivered +to Mr. Mareschal, and, rising from his chair, continued to traverse +the apartment in silence and in great agitation until the answer was +returned. He glanced it over, and wrung the hand of his daughter as he +gave it to her. The tenor was as follows:-- + +“My dear kinsman, I have already urged the knight on the point you +mention, and I find him as fixed as Cheviot. I am truly sorry my fair +cousin should be pressed to give up any of her maidenly rights. Sir +Frederick consents, however, to leave the castle with me the instant +the ceremony is performed, and we will raise our followers and begin the +fray. Thus there is great hope the bridegroom may be knocked on the head +before he and the bride can meet again, so Bell has a fair chance to be +Lady Langley A TRES BON MARCHE. For the rest, I can only say, that if +she can make up her mind to the alliance at all--it is no time for mere +maiden ceremony--my pretty cousin must needs consent to marry in haste, +or we shall all repent at leisure, or rather have very little leisure +to repent; which is all at present from him who rests your affectionate +kinsman,--R. M.” + +“P.S.--Tell Isabella that I would rather cut the knight’s throat after +all, and end the dilemma that way, than see her constrained to marry him +against her will.” + +When Isabella had read this letter, it dropped from her hand, and she +would, at the same time, have fallen from her chair, had she not been +supported by her father. + +“My God, my child will die!” exclaimed Vere, the feelings of nature +overcoming, even in HIS breast, the sentiments of selfish policy; “look +up, Isabella--look up, my child--come what will, you shall not be +the sacrifice--I will fall myself with the consciousness I leave you +happy--My child may weep on my grave, but she shall not--not in this +instance--reproach my memory.” He called a servant.--“Go, bid Ratcliffe +come hither directly.” + +During this interval, Miss Vere became deadly pale, clenched her hands, +pressing the palms strongly together, closed her eyes, and drew her lips +with strong compression, as if the severe constraint which she put upon +her internal feelings extended even to her muscular organization. Then +raising her head, and drawing in her breath strongly ere she spoke, she +said, with firmness,--“Father, I consent to the marriage.” + +“You shall not--you shall not,--my child--my dear child--you shall not +embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain danger.” + +So exclaimed Ellieslaw; and, strange and inconsistent beings that we +are! he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his heart. + +“Father,” repeated Isabella, “I will consent to this marriage.” + +“No, my child, no--not now at least--we will humble ourselves to obtain +delay from him; and yet, Isabella, could you overcome a dislike +which has no real foundation, think, in other respects, what a +match!--wealth--rank--importance.” + +“Father!” reiterated Isabella, “I have consented.” + +It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying anything else, or even +of varying the phrase which, with such effort, she had compelled herself +to utter. + +“Heaven bless thee, my child!--Heaven bless thee!--And it WILL bless +thee with riches, with pleasure, with power.” + +Miss Vere faintly entreated to be left by herself for the rest of the +evening. + +“But will you not receive Sir Frederick?” said her father, anxiously. + +“I will meet him,” she replied, “I will meet him--when I must, and where +I must; but spare me now.” + +“Be it so, my dearest; you shall know no restraint that I can save +you from. Do not think too hardly of Sir Frederick for this,--it is an +excess of passion.” + +Isabella waved her hand impatiently. + +“Forgive me, my child--I go--Heaven bless thee. At eleven--if you call +me not before--at eleven I come to seek you.” + +When he left Isabella she dropped upon her knees--“Heaven aid me +to support the resolution I have taken--Heaven only can--O, poor +Earnscliff! who shall comfort him? and with what contempt will he +pronounce her name, who listened to him to-day and gave herself to +another at night! But let him despise me--better so than that he should +know the truth--let him despise me; if it will but lessen his grief, I +should feel comfort in the loss of his esteem.” + +She wept bitterly; attempting in vain, from time to time, to commence +the prayer for which she had sunk on her knees, but unable to calm her +spirits sufficiently for the exercise of devotion. As she remained in +this agony of mind, the door of her apartment was slowly opened. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + The darksome cave they enter, where they found + The woful man, low sitting on the ground, + Musing full sadly in his sullen mind.--FAERY QUEEN. + +The intruder on Miss Vere’s sorrows was Ratcliffe. Ellieslaw had, in the +agitation of his mind, forgotten to countermand the order he had given +to call him thither, so that he opened the door with the words, “You +sent for me, Mr. Vere.” Then looking around--“Miss Vere, alone! on the +ground! and in tears!” + +“Leave me--leave me, Mr. Ratcliffe,” said the unhappy young lady. + +“I must not leave you,” said Ratcliffe; “I have been repeatedly +requesting admittance to take my leave of you, and have been refused, +until your father himself sent for me. Blame me not, if I am bold and +intrusive; I have a duty to discharge which makes me so.” + +“I cannot listen to you--I cannot speak to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; take my +best wishes, and for God’s sake leave me.” + +“Tell me only,” said Ratcliffe, “is it true that this monstrous match is +to go forward, and this very night? I heard the servants proclaim it as +I was on the great staircase--I heard the directions given to clear out +the chapel.” + +“Spare me, Mr. Ratcliffe,” replied the luckless bride; “and from the +state in which you see me, judge of the cruelty of these questions.” + +“Married? to Sir Frederick Langley? and this night? It must not +cannot--shall not be.” + +“It MUST be, Mr. Ratcliff, or my father is ruined.” + +“Ah! I understand,” answered Ratcliffe; “and you have sacrificed +yourself to save him who--But let the virtue of the child atone for the +faults of the father it is no time to rake them up.--What CAN be done? +Time presses--I know but one remedy--with four-and-twenty hours I might +find many--Miss Vere, you must implore the protection of the only human +being who has it in his power to control the course of events which +threatens to hurry you before it.” + +“And what human being,” answered Miss Vere, “has such power?” + +“Start not when I name him,” said Ratcliffe, coming near her, and +speaking in a low but distinct voice. “It is he who is called Elshender +the Recluse of Mucklestane-Moor.” + +“You are mad, Mr. Ratcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by an +ill-timed jest!” + +“I am as much in my senses, young lady,” answered her adviser, “as you +are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least of all with +your misery. I swear to you that this being (who is other far than +what he seems) actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this +hateful union.” + +“And of insuring my father’s safety?” + +“Yes! even that,” said Ratcliffe, “if you plead his cause with him--yet +how to obtain admittance to the Recluse!” + +“Fear not that,” said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the incident +of the rose; “I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in +my extremity, and gave me this flower as a token. Ere it faded away +entirely, I would need, he said, his assistance: is it possible his +words can have been aught but the ravings of insanity?” + +“Doubt it not fear it not--but above all,” said Ratcliffe, “let us lose +no time--are you at liberty, and unwatched?” + +“I believe so,” said Isabella: “but what would you have me to do?” + +“Leave the castle instantly,” said Ratcliffe, “and throw yourself at the +feet of this extraordinary man, who in circumstances that seem to argue +the extremity of the most contemptible poverty, possesses yet an almost +absolute influence over your fate.--Guests and servants are deep in +their carouse--the leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable +schemes--my horse stands ready in the stable--I will saddle one for you, +and meet you at the little garden-gate--O, let no doubt of my prudence +or fidelity prevent your taking the only step in your power to escape +the dreadful fate which must attend the wife of Sir Frederick Langley!” + +“Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Miss Vere, “you have always been esteemed a man +of honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always catch at the +feeblest twig,--I will trust you--I will follow your advice--I will meet +you at the garden-gate.” + +She bolted the outer-door of her apartment as soon as Mr. Ratcliffe left +her, and descended to the garden by a separate stair of communication +which opened to her dressing-room. On the way she felt inclined to +retract the consent she had so hastily given to a plan so hopeless +and extravagant. But as she passed in her descent a private door which +entered into the chapel from the back-stair, she heard the voice of the +female-servants as they were employed in the task of cleaning it. + +“Married! and to sae bad a man--Ewhow, sirs! onything rather than that.” + +“They are right--they are right,” said Miss Vere, “anything rather than +that!” + +She hurried to the garden. Mr. Ratcliffe was true to his +appointment--the horses stood saddled at the garden-gate, and in a few +minutes they were advancing rapidly towards the hut of the Solitary. + +While the ground was favourable, the speed of their journey was such as +to prevent much communication; but when a steep ascent compelled them to +slacken their pace, a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss Vere’s +mind. + +“Mr. Ratcliffe,” she said, pulling up her horse’s bridle, “let us +prosecute no farther a journey, which nothing but the extreme agitation +of my mind can vindicate my having undertaken--I am well aware that this +man passes among the vulgar as being possessed of supernatural powers, +and carrying on an intercourse with beings of another world; but I would +have you aware I am neither to be imposed on by such follies, nor, were +I to believe in their existence, durst I, with my feelings of religion, +apply to this being in my distress.” + +“I should have thought, Miss Vere,” replied Ratcliffe, “my character and +habits of thinking were so well known to you, that you might have held +me exculpated from crediting in such absurdity.” + +“But in what other mode,” said Isabella, “can a being, so miserable +himself in appearance, possess the power of assisting me?” + +“Miss Vere.” said Ratcliffe, after a momentary pause, “I am bound by +a solemn oath of secrecy--You must, without farther explanation, be +satisfied with my pledged assurance, that he does possess the power, if +you can inspire him with the will; and that, I doubt not, you will be +able to do.” + +“Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Miss Vere, “you may yourself be mistaken; you ask +an unlimited degree of confidence from me.” + +“Recollect, Miss Vere,” he replied, “that when, in your humanity, you +asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell and his +ruined family--when you requested me to prevail on him to do a +thing most abhorrent to his nature--to forgive an injury and remit a +penalty--I stipulated that you should ask me no questions concerning the +sources of my influence--You found no reason to distrust me then, do not +distrust me now.” + +“But the extraordinary mode of life of this man,” said Miss Vere; “his +seclusion--his figure--the deepness of mis-anthropy which he is said to +express in his language--Mr. Ratcliffe, what can I think of him if he +really possesses the powers you ascribe to him?” + +“This man, young lady, was bred a Catholic, a sect which affords a +thousand instances of those who have retired from power and affluence to +voluntary privations more strict even than his.” + +“But he avows no religious motive,” replied Miss Vere. + +“No,” replied Ratcliffe; “disgust with the world has operated his +retreat from it without assuming the veil of superstition. Thus far I +may tell you--he was born to great wealth, which his parents designed +should become greater by his union with a kinswoman, whom for that +purpose they bred up in their own house. You have seen his figure; +judge what the young lady must have thought of the lot to which she was +destined--Yet, habituated to his appearance, she showed no reluctance, +and the friends of--of the person whom I speak of, doubted not that the +excess of his attachment, the various acquisitions of his mind, his +many and amiable qualities, had overcome the natural horror which +his destined bride must have entertained at an exterior so dreadfully +inauspicious.” + +“And did they judge truly?” said Isabella. + +“You shall hear. He, at least, was fully aware of his own deficiency; +the sense of it haunted him like a phantom. ‘I am,’ was his own +expression to me,--I mean to a man whom he trusted,--‘I am, in spite +of what you would say, a poor miserable outcast, fitter to have been +smothered in the cradle than to have been brought up to scare the world +in which I crawl.’ The person whom he addressed in vain endeavoured to +impress him with the indifference to external form which is the natural +result of philosophy, or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental +talents to the more attractive attributes that are merely personal. +‘I hear you,’ he would reply; ‘but you speak the voice of cold-blooded +stoicism, or, at least, of friendly partiality. But look at every book +which we have read, those excepted of that abstract philosophy which +feels no responsive voice in our natural feelings. Is not personal form, +such as at least can be tolerated without horror and disgust, always +represented as essential to our ideas of a friend, far more a lover? +Is not such a mis-shapen monster as I am, excluded, by the very fiat +of Nature, from her fairest enjoyments? What but my wealth prevents +all--perhaps even Letitia, or you--from shunning me as something foreign +to your nature, and more odious, by bearing that distorted resemblance +to humanity which we observe in the animal tribes that are more hateful +to man because they seem his caricature?’” + +“You repeat the sentiments of a madman,” said Miss Vere. + +“No,” replied her conductor, “unless a morbid and excessive sensibility +on such a subject can be termed insanity. Yet I will not deny that this +governing feeling and apprehension carried the person who entertained +it, to lengths which indicated a deranged imagination. He appeared +to think that it was necessary for him, by exuberant, and not always +well-chosen instances of liberality, and even profusion, to unite +himself to the human race, from which he conceived himself naturally +dissevered. The benefits which he bestowed, from a disposition naturally +philanthropical in an uncommon degree, were exaggerated by the influence +of the goading reflection, that more was necessary from him than from +others,--lavishing his treasures as if to bribe mankind to receive him +into their class. It is scarcely necessary to say, that the bounty which +flowed from a source so capricious was often abused, and his confidence +frequently betrayed. These disappointments, which occur to all, more or +less, and most to such as confer benefits without just discrimination, +his diseased fancy set down to the hatred and contempt excited by his +personal deformity.--But I fatigue you, Miss Vere?” + +“No, by no means; I--I could not prevent my attention from wandering an +instant; pray proceed.” + +“He became at length,” continued Ratcliffe, “the most ingenious +self-tormentor of whom I have ever heard; the scoff of the rabble, and +the sneer of the yet more brutal vulgar of his own rank, was to him +agony and breaking on the wheel. He regarded the laugh of the common +people whom he passed on the street, and the suppressed titter, or yet +more offensive terror, of the young girls to whom he was introduced in +company, as proofs of the true sense which the world entertained of +him, as a prodigy unfit to be received among them on the usual terms +of society, and as vindicating the wisdom of his purpose in withdrawing +himself from among them. On the faith and sincerity of two persons +alone, he seemed to rely implicitly--on that of his betrothed bride, and +of a friend eminently gifted in personal accomplishments, who seemed, +and indeed probably was, sincerely attached to him. He ought to have +been so at least, for he was literally loaded with benefits by him whom +you are now about to see. The parents of the subject of my story died +within a short space of each other. Their death postponed the marriage, +for which the day had been fixed. The lady did not seem greatly to +mourn this delay,--perhaps that was not to have been expected; but +she intimated no change of intention, when, after a decent interval, +a second day was named for their union. The friend of whom I spoke was +then a constant resident at the Hall. In an evil hour, at the earnest +request and entreaty of this friend, they joined a general party, where +men of different political opinions were mingled, and where they drank +deep. A quarrel ensued; the friend of the Recluse drew his sword with +others, and was thrown down and disarmed by a more powerful antagonist. +They fell in the struggle at the feet of the Recluse, who, maimed and +truncated as his form appears, possesses, nevertheless, great strength, +as well as violent passions. He caught up a sword, pierced the heart +of his friend’s antagonist, was tried, and his life, with difficulty, +redeemed from justice at the expense of a year’s close imprisonment, the +punishment of manslaughter. The incident affected him most deeply, +the more that the deceased was a man of excellent character, and had +sustained gross insult and injury ere he drew his sword. I think, from +that moment, I observed--I beg pardon--The fits of morbid sensibility +which had tormented this unfortunate gentleman, were rendered henceforth +more acute by remorse, which he, of all men, was least capable of having +incurred, or of sustaining when it became his unhappy lot. His paroxysms +of agony could not be concealed from the lady to whom he was betrothed; +and it must be confessed they were of an alarming and fearful nature. +He comforted himself, that, at the expiry of his imprisonment, he could +form with his wife and friend a society, encircled by which he might +dispense with more extensive communication with the world. He was +deceived; before that term elapsed, his friend and his betrothed bride +were man and wife. The effects of a shock so dreadful on an ardent +temperament, a disposition already soured by bitter remorse, and +loosened by the indulgence of a gloomy imagination from the rest of +mankind, I cannot describe to you; it was as if the last cable at which +the vessel rode had suddenly parted, and left her abandoned to all the +wild fury of the tempest. He was placed under medical restraint. As a +temporary measure this might have been justifiable; but his hard-hearted +friend, who, in consequence of his marriage, was now his nearest ally, +prolonged his confinement, in order to enjoy the management of his +immense estates. There was one who owed his all to the sufferer, an +humble friend, but grateful and faithful. By unceasing exertion, and +repeated invocation of justice, he at length succeeded in obtaining +his patron’s freedom, and reinstatement in the management of his own +property, to which was soon added that of his intended bride, who having +died without male issue, her estates reverted to him, as heir of entail. +But freedom and wealth were unable to restore the equipoise of his mind; +to the former his grief made him indifferent--the latter only served him +as far as it afforded him the means of indulging his strange and wayward +fancy. He had renounced the Catholic religion, but perhaps some of +its doctrines continued to influence a mind, over which remorse and +misanthropy now assumed, in appearance, an unbounded authority. His life +has since been that alternately of a pilgrim and a hermit, suffering +the most severe privations, not indeed in ascetic devotion, but in +abhorrence of mankind. Yet no man’s words and actions have been at +such a wide difference, nor has any hypocritical wretch ever been more +ingenious in assigning good motives for his vile actions, than this +unfortunate in reconciling to his abstract principles of misanthropy, +a conduct which flows from his natural generosity and kindness of +feeling.” + +“Still, Mr. Ratcliffe--still you describe the inconsistencies of a +madman.” + +“By no means,” replied Ratcliffe. “That the imagination of this +gentleman is disordered, I will not pretend to dispute; I have already +told you that it has sometimes broken out into paroxysms approaching +to real mental alienation. But it is of his common state of mind that I +speak; it is irregular, but not deranged; the shades are as gradual as +those that divide the light of noonday from midnight. The courtier who +ruins his fortune for the attainment of a title which can do him no +good, or power of which he can make no suitable or creditable use, the +miser who hoards his useless wealth, and the prodigal who squanders it, +are all marked with a certain shade of insanity. To criminals who are +guilty of enormities, when the temptation, to a sober mind, bears no +proportion to the horror of the act, or the probability of detection and +punishment, the same observation applies; and every violent passion, as +well as anger, may be termed a short madness.” + +“This may be all good philosophy, Mr. Ratcliffe,” answered Miss Vere; +“but, excuse me, it by no means emboldens me to visit, at this late +hour, a person whose extravagance of imagination you yourself can only +palliate.” + +“Rather, then,” said Ratcliffe, “receive my solemn assurances, that you +do not incur the slightest danger. But what I have been hitherto afraid +to mention for fear of alarming you is, that now when we are within +sight of his retreat, for I can discover it through the twilight, I must +go no farther with you; you must proceed alone.” + +“Alone?--I dare not.” + +“You must,” continued Ratcliffe; “I will remain here and wait for you.” + +“You will not, then, stir from this place,” said Miss Vere “yet +the distance is so great, you could not hear me were I to cry for +assistance.” + +“Fear nothing,” said her guide; “or observe, at least, the utmost +caution in stifling every expression of timidity. Remember that his +predominant and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness +of the hideousness of his appearance. Your path lies straight beside +yon half-fallen willow; keep the left side of it; the marsh lies on the +right. Farewell for a time. Remember the evil you are threatened with, +and let it overcome at once your fears and scruples.” + +“Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Isabella, “farewell; if you have deceived one so +unfortunate as myself, you have for ever forfeited the fair character +for probity and honour to which I have trusted.” + +“On my life--on my soul,” continued Ratcliffe, raising his voice as the +distance between them increased, “you are safe--perfectly safe.” + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + --‘Twas time and griefs + That framed him thus: Time, with his fairer hand, + Offering the fortunes of his former days, + The former man may make him.--Bring us to him, + And chance it as it may.--OLD PLAY. + +The sounds of Ratcliffe’s voice had died on Isabella’s ear; but as she +frequently looked back, it was some encouragement to her to discern his +form now darkening in the gloom. Ere, however, she went much farther, +she lost the object in the increasing shade. The last glimmer of the +twilight placed her before the hut of the Solitary. She twice extended +her hand to the door, and twice she withdrew it; and when she did at +length make the effort, the knock did not equal in violence the throb of +her own bosom. Her next effort was louder; her third was reiterated, for +the fear of not obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe promised +so much, began to overpower the terrors of his presence from whom she +was to request it. At length, as she still received no answer, she +repeatedly called upon the Dwarf by his assumed name, and requested him +to answer and open to her. + +“What miserable being is reduced,” said the appalling voice of the +Solitary, “to seek refuge here? Go hence; when the heath-fowl need +shelter, they seek it not in the nest of the night-raven.” + +“I come to you, father,” said Isabella, “in my hour of adversity, even +as you yourself commanded, when you promised your heart and your door +should be open to my distress; but I fear--” + +“Ha!” said the Solitary, “then thou art Isabella Vere? Give me a token +that thou art she.” + +“I have brought you back the rose which you gave me; it has not had time +to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon me!” + +“And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge,” said the Dwarf, “I will not +forfeit mine. The heart and the door that are shut against every other +earthly being, shall be open to thee and to thy sorrows.” + +She heard him move in his hut, and presently afterwards strike a light. +One by one, bolt and bar were then withdrawn, the heart of Isabella +throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting were successively +removed. The door opened, and the Solitary stood before her, his uncouth +form and features illuminated by the iron lamp which he held in his +hand. + +“Enter, daughter of affliction,” he said,--“enter the house of misery.” + +She entered, and observed, with a precaution which increased her +trepidation, that the Recluse’s first act, after setting the lamp upon +the table, was to replace the numerous bolts which secured the door +of his hut. She shrunk as she heard the noise which accompanied this +ominous operation, yet remembered Ratcliffe’s caution, and endeavoured +to suppress all appearance of apprehension. The light of the lamp was +weak and uncertain; but the Solitary, without taking immediate notice of +Isabella, otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small +settle beside the fireplace, made haste to kindle some dry furze, which +presently cast a blaze through the cottage. Wooden shelves, which bore +a few books, some bundles of dried herbs, and one or two wooden cups and +platters, were on one side of the fire; on the other were placed some +ordinary tools of field-labour, mingled with those used by mechanics. +Where the bed should have been, there was a wooden frame, strewed with +withered moss and rushes, the couch of the ascetic. The whole space of +the cottage did not exceed ten feet by six within the walls; and its +only furniture, besides what we have mentioned, was a table and two +stools formed of rough deals. + +Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed with +a being, whose history had nothing to reassure her, and the fearful +conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an almost +superstitious terror. He occupied the seat opposite to her, and dropping +his huge and shaggy eyebrows over his piercing black eyes, gazed at her +in silence, as if agitated by a variety of contending feelings. On the +other side sate Isabella, pale as death, her long hair uncurled by the +evening damps, and falling over her shoulders and breast, as the wet +streamers droop from the mast when the storm has passed away, and left +the vessel stranded on the beach. The Dwarf first broke the silence with +the sudden, abrupt, and alarming question,--“Woman, what evil fate has +brought thee hither?” + +“My father’s danger, and your own command,” she replied faintly, but +firmly. + +“And you hope for aid from me?” + +“If you can bestow it,” she replied, still in the same tone of mild +submission. + +“And how should I possess that power?” continued the Dwarf, with a +bitter sneer; “Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs? Is this the +castle in which one powerful enough to be sued to by a fair suppliant +is likely to hold his residence? I but mocked thee, girl, when I said I +would relieve thee.” + +“Then must I depart, and face my fate as I best may!” + +“No!” said the Dwarf, rising and interposing between her and the door, +and motioning to her sternly to resume her seat--“No! you leave me +not in this way; we must have farther conference. Why should one being +desire aid of another? Why should not each be sufficient to itself? Look +round you--I, the most despised and most decrepit on Nature’s common, +have required sympathy and help from no one. These stones are of my own +piling; these utensils I framed with my own hands; and with this”--and +he laid his hand with a fierce smile on the long dagger which he always +wore beneath his garment, and unsheathed it so far that the blade +glimmered clear in the fire-light--“with this,” he pursued, as he thrust +the weapon back into the scabbard, “I can, if necessary, defend the +vital spark enclosed in this poor trunk, against the fairest and +strongest that shall threaten me with injury.” + +It was with difficulty Isabella refrained from screaming out aloud; but +she DID refrain. + +“This,” continued the Recluse, “is the life of nature, solitary, +self-sufficing, and independent. The wolf calls not the wolf to aid him +in forming his den; and the vulture invites not another to assist her in +striking down her prey.” + +“And when they are unable to procure themselves support,” said Isabella, +judiciously thinking that he would be most accessible to argument +couched in his own metaphorical style, “what then is to befall them?” + +“Let them starve, die, and be forgotten; it is the common lot of +humanity.” + +“It is the lot of the wild tribes of nature,” said Isabella, “but +chiefly of those who are destined to support themselves by rapine, which +brooks no partner; but it is not the law of nature in general; even the +lower orders have confederacies for mutual defence. But mankind--the +race would perish did they cease to aid each other.--From the time +that the mother binds the child’s head, till the moment that some kind +assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot +exist without mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid, have right to +ask it of their fellow-mortals; no one who has the power of granting can +refuse it without guilt.” + +“And in this simple hope, poor maiden,” said the Solitary, “thou hast +come into the desert, to seek one whose wish it were that the league +thou hast spoken of were broken for ever, and that, in very truth, the +whole race should perish? Wert thou not frightened?” + +“Misery,” said Isabella, firmly, “is superior to fear.” + +“Hast thou not heard it said in thy mortal world, that I have leagued +myself with other powers, deformed to the eye and malevolent to the +human race as myself? Hast thou not heard this--And dost thou seek my +cell at midnight?” + +“The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears,” said +Isabella; but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied the affected +courage which her words expressed. + +“Ho! ho!” said the Dwarf, “thou vauntest thyself a philosopher? Yet, +shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrusting thyself, +young and beautiful, in the power of one so spited against humanity, as +to place his chief pleasure in defacing, destroying, and degrading her +fairest works?” + +Isabella, much alarmed, continued to answer with firmness, “Whatever +injuries you may have sustained in the world, you are incapable of +revenging them on one who never wronged you, nor, wilfully, any other.” + +“Ay, but, maiden,” he continued, his dark eyes flashing with an +expression of malignity which communicated itself to his wild and +distorted features, “revenge is the hungry wolf, which asks only to tear +flesh and lap blood. Think you the lamb’s plea of innocence would be +listened to by him?” + +“Man!” said Isabella, rising, and expressing herself with much dignity, +“I fear not the horrible ideas with which you would impress me. I cast +them from me with disdain. Be you mortal or fiend, you would not offer +injury to one who sought you as a suppliant in her utmost need. You +would not--you durst not.” + +“Thou say’st truly, maiden,” rejoined the Solitary; “I dare not--I would +not. Begone to thy dwelling. Fear nothing with which they threaten thee. +Thou hast asked my protection--thou shalt find it effectual.” + +“But, father, this very night I have consented to wed the man that I +abhor, or I must put the seal to my father’s ruin.” + +“This night?--at what hour?” + +“Ere midnight.” + +“And twilight,” said the Dwarf, “has already passed away. But fear +nothing, there is ample time to protect thee.” + +“And my father?” continued Isabella, in a suppliant tone. + +“Thy father,” replied the Dwarf, “has been, and is, my most bitter +enemy. But fear not; thy virtue shall save him. And now, begone; were +I to keep thee longer by me, I might again fall into the stupid dreams +concerning human worth from which I have been so fearfully awakened. But +fear nothing--at the very foot of the altar I will redeem thee. Adieu, +time presses, and I must act!” + +He led her to the door of the hut, which he opened for her departure. +She remounted her horse, which had been feeding in the outer enclosure, +and pressed him forward by the light of the moon, which was now rising, +to the spot where she had left Ratcliffe. + +“Have you succeeded?” was his first eager question. + +“I have obtained promises from him to whom you sent me; but how can he +possibly accomplish them?” + +“Thank God!” said Ratcliffe; “doubt not his power to fulfil his +promise.” + +At this moment a shrill whistle was heard to resound along the heath. + +“Hark!” said Ratcliffe, “he calls me--Miss Vere, return home, and leave +unbolted the postern-door of the garden; to that which opens on the +back-stairs I have a private key.” + +A second whistle was heard, yet more shrill and prolonged than the +first. + +“I come, I come,” said Ratcliffe; and setting spurs to his horse, rode +over the heath in the direction of the Recluse’s hut. Miss Vere returned +to the castle, the mettle of the animal on which she rode, and her own +anxiety of mind, combining to accelerate her journey. + +She obeyed Ratcliffe’s directions, though without well apprehending +their purpose, and leaving her horse at large in a paddock near +the garden, hurried to her own apartment, which she reached without +observation. She now unbolted her door, and rang her bell for lights. +Her father appeared along with the servant who answered her summons. + +“He had been twice,” he said, “listening at her door during the two +hours that had elapsed since he left her, and, not hearing her speak, +had become apprehensive that she was taken ill.” + +“And now, my dear father,” she said, “permit me to claim the promise you +so kindly gave; let the last moments of freedom which I am to enjoy be +mine without interruption; and protract to the last moment the respite +which is allowed me.” + +“I will,” said her father; “nor shall you be again interrupted. But this +disordered dress--this dishevelled hair--do not let me find you thus +when I call on you again; the sacrifice, to be beneficial, must be +voluntary.” + +“Must it be so?” she replied; “then fear not, my father! the victim +shall be adorned.” + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + This looks not like a nuptial.--MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. + +The chapel in the castle of Ellieslaw, destined to be the scene of this +ill-omened union, was a building of much older date than the castle +itself, though that claimed considerable antiquity. Before the wars +between England and Scotland had become so common and of such long +duration, that the buildings along both sides of the Border were chiefly +dedicated to warlike purposes, there had been a small settlement of +monks at Ellieslaw, a dependency, it is believed by antiquaries, on the +rich Abbey of Jedburgh. Their possessions had long passed away under the +changes introduced by war and mutual ravage. A feudal castle had +arisen on the ruin of their cells, and their chapel was included in its +precincts. + +The edifice, in its round arches and massive pillars, the simplicity +of which referred their date to what has been called the Saxon +architecture, presented at all times a dark and sombre appearance, and +had been frequently used as the cemetery of the family of the feudal +lords, as well as formerly of the monastic brethren. But it looked +doubly gloomy by the effect of the few and smoky torches which were used +to enlighten it on the present occasion, and which, spreading a glare +of yellow light in their immediate vicinity, were surrounded beyond by +a red and purple halo reflected from their own smoke, and beyond that +again by a zone of darkness which magnified the extent of the chapel, +while it rendered it impossible for the eye to ascertain its limits. +Some injudicious ornaments, adopted in haste for the occasion, rather +added to the dreariness of the scene. Old fragments of tapestry, torn +from the walls of other apartments, had been hastily and partially +disposed around those of the chapel, and mingled inconsistently with +scutcheons and funeral emblems of the dead, which they elsewhere +exhibited. On each side of the stone altar was a monument, the +appearance of which formed an equally strange contrast. On the one was +the figure, in stone, of some grim hermit, or monk, who had died in +the odour of sanctity; he was represented as recumbent, in his cowl and +scapulaire, with his face turned upward as in the act of devotion, and +his hands folded, from which his string of beads was dependent. On +the other side was a tomb, in the Italian taste, composed of the most +beautiful statuary marble, and accounted a model of modern art. It +was erected to the memory of Isabella’s mother, the late Mrs. Vere of +Ellieslaw, who was represented as in a dying posture, while a weeping +cherub, with eyes averted, seemed in the act of extinguishing a +dying lamp as emblematic of her speedy dissolution. It was, indeed, a +masterpiece of art, but misplaced in the rude vault to which it had been +consigned. Many were surprised, and even scandalized, that Ellieslaw, +not remarkable for attention to his lady while alive, should erect after +her death such a costly mausoleum in affected sorrow; others cleared him +from the imputation of hypocrisy, and averred that the monument had +been constructed under the direction and at the sole expense of Mr. +Ratcliffe. + +Before these monuments the wedding guests were assembled. They were +few in number; for many had left the castle to prepare for the ensuing +political explosion, and Ellieslaw was, in the circumstances of the +case, far from being desirous to extend invitations farther than to +those near relations whose presence the custom of the country rendered +indispensable. Next to the altar stood Sir Frederick Langley, dark, +moody, and thoughtful, even beyond his wont, and near him, Mareschal, +who was to play the part of bridesman, as it was called. The thoughtless +humour of this young gentleman, on which he never deigned to place +the least restraint, added to the cloud which overhung the brow of the +bridegroom. + +“The bride is not yet come out of her chamber,” he whispered to Sir +Frederick; “I trust that we must not have recourse to the violent +expedients of the Romans which I read of at College. It would be hard +upon my pretty cousin to be run away with twice in two days, though I +know none better worth such a violent compliment.” + +Sir Frederick attempted to turn a deaf ear to this discourse, humming a +tune, and looking another may, but Mareschal proceeded in the same wild +manner. + +“This delay is hard upon Dr. Hobbler, who was disturbed to accelerate +preparations for this joyful event when he had successfully extracted +the cork of his third bottle. I hope you will keep him free of the +censure of his superiors, for I take it this is beyond canonical +hours.--But here come Ellieslaw and my pretty cousin--prettier than +ever, I think, were it not she seems so faint and so deadly pale--Hark +ye, Sir Knight, if she says not YES with right good-will, it shall be no +wedding, for all that has come and gone yet.” + +“No wedding, sir?” returned Sir Frederick, in a loud whisper, the +tone of which indicated that his angry feelings were suppressed with +difficulty. + +“No--no marriage,” replied Mareschal, “there’s my hand and glove on’t.” + +Sir Frederick Langley took his hand, and as he wrung it hard, said in +a lower whisper, “Mareschal, you shall answer this,” and then flung his +hand from him. + +“That I will readily do,” said Mareschal, “for never word escaped my +lips that my hand was not ready to guarantee.-So, speak up, my pretty +cousin, and tell me if it be your free will and unbiassed resolution to +accept of this gallant knight for your lord and husband; for if you have +the tenth part of a scruple upon the subject, fall back, fall edge, he +shall not have you.” + +“Are you mad, Mr. Mareschal?” said Ellieslaw, who, having been this +young man’s guardian during his minority, often employed a tone of +authority to him. “Do you suppose I would drag my daughter to the foot +of the altar, were it not her own choice?” + +“Tut, Ellieslaw,” retorted the young gentleman, “never tell me of the +contrary; her eyes are full of tears, and her cheeks are whiter than +her white dress. I must insist, in the name of common humanity, that the +ceremony be adjourned till to-morrow.” + +“She shall tell you herself, thou incorrigible intermeddler in what +concerns thee not, that it is her wish the ceremony should go on--Is it +not, Isabella, my dear?” + +“It is,” said Isabella, half fainting--“since there is no help, either +in God or man.” + +The first word alone was distinctly audible. Mareschal shrugged up his +shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rather supported, his +daughter to the altar. Sir Frederick moved forward and placed himself by +her side. The clergyman opened his prayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere +for the signal to commence the service. + +“Proceed,” said the latter. + +But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife, called, +in such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in the vaulted +chapel, “Forbear!” + +All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the clash +of swords, or something resembling it, was heard from the remote +apartments. It ceased almost instantly. + +“What new device is this?” said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing +Ellieslaw and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion. + +“It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest,” said Ellieslaw, +though greatly confounded; “we must make large allowances for the excess +of this evening’s festivity. Proceed with the service.” + +Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they had +before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female attendants +screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid their hands on +their swords. Ere the first moment of surprise had passed by, the Dwarf +stepped from behind the monument, and placed himself full in front of +Mr. Vere. The effect of so strange and hideous an apparition in such +a place and in such circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to +annihilate the Laird of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughter’s arm, +staggered against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as +if for support, laid his brow against the column. + +“Who is this fellow?” said Sir Frederick; “and what does he mean by this +intrusion?” + +“It is one who comes to tell you,” said the Dwarf, with the peculiar +acrimony which usually marked his manner, “that, in marrying that young +lady, you wed neither the heiress of Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley Hall, +nor of Polverton, nor of one furrow of land, unless she marries with MY +consent; and to thee that consent shall never be given. Down--down +on thy knees, and thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding +qualities with which thou hast no concern--portionless truth, virtue, +and innocence--thou, base ingrate,” he continued, addressing himself to +Ellieslaw, “what is thy wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who wouldst sell +thy daughter to relieve thee from danger, as in famine thou wouldst have +slain and devoured her to preserve thy own vile life!--Ay, hide thy face +with thy hands; well mayst thou blush to look on him whose body thou +didst consign to chains, his hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. +Saved once more by the virtue of her who calls thee father, go hence, +and may the pardon and benefits I confer on thee prove literal coals of +fire, till thy brain is seared and scorched like mine!” + +Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair. + +“Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe,” said the Dwarf, “and inform him of his +destiny. He will rejoice--for to breathe air and to handle gold is to +him happiness.” + +“I understand nothing of all this,” said Sir Frederick Langley; “but we +are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for King James; and +whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward Mauley, who has been so long +supposed dead in confinement, or whether you be an impostor assuming +his name and title, we will use the freedom of detaining you, till your +appearance here, at this moment, is better accounted for; we will have +no spies among us--Seize on him, my friends.” + +But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick himself +stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands on his person, +when his progress was suddenly stopped by the glittering point of a +partisan, which the sturdy hand of Hobbie Elliot presented against his +bosom. + +“I’ll gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him!” said the +stout Borderer; “stand back, or I’ll strike ye through! Naebody shall +lay a finger on Elshie; he’s a canny neighbourly man, aye ready to make +a friend help; and, though ye may think him a lamiter, yet, grippie for +grippie, friend, I’ll wad a wether he’ll make the bluid spin frae under +your nails. He’s a teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smith’s vice.” + +“What has brought you here, Elliot?” said Mareschal; “who called on you +for interference?” + +“Troth, Mareschal-Wells,” answered Hobbie, “I am just come here, wi’ +twenty or thretty mair o’ us, in my ain name and the King’s--or Queen’s, +ca’ they her? and Canny Elshie’s into the bargain, to keep the peace, +and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien me. A bonny breakfast the +loons gae me the ither morning, and him at the bottom on’t; and trow +ye I wasna ready to supper him up?--Ye needna lay your hands on your +swords, gentlemen, the house is ours wi’ little din; for the doors were +open, and there had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took +their swords and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods.” + +Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel. + +“By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with armed +men, and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and let us fight our +way.” + +“Binna rash--binna rash,” exclaimed Hobbie; “hear me a bit, hear me a +bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King James, as +ye ca’ him, and the prelates, we thought it right to keep up the auld +neighbour war, and stand up for the t’other ane and the Kirk; but we’ll +no hurt a hair o’ your heads, if ye like to gang hame quietly. And it +will be your best way, for there’s sure news come frae Loudoun, that him +they ca’ Bang, or Byng, or what is’t, has bang’d the French ships and +the new king aff the coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi’ +auld Nanse for want of a better Queen.” + +Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts so +unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost instantly, +and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, with such of his +attendants as were able to follow him. + +“And what will you do, Mr. Mareschal?” said Ratcliffe. + +“Why, faith,” answered he, smiling, “I hardly know; my spirit is too +great, and my fortune too small, for me to follow the example of the +doughty bridegroom. It is not in my nature, and it is hardly worth my +while.” + +“Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will be +overlooked, as there has been no overt act.” + +“Hout, ay,” said Elliot, “just let byganes be byganes, and a’ friends +again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I hae gien him +baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed three blows of the +broadsword wi’ him before he lap the window into the castle-moat, and +swattered through it like a wild-duck. He’s a clever fallow, indeed! +maun kilt awa wi’ ae bonny lass in the morning, and another at night, +less wadna serve him! but if he disna kilt himsell out o’ the country, +I’se kilt him wi’ a tow, for the Castleton meeting’s clean blawn ower; +his friends will no countenance him.” + +During the general confusion, Isabella had thrown herself at the feet of +her kinsman, Sir Edward Mauley, for so we must now call the Solitary, +to express at once her gratitude, and to beseech forgiveness for her +father. The eyes of all began to be fixed on them, as soon as their own +agitation and the bustle of the attendants had somewhat abated. Miss +Vere kneeled beside the tomb of her mother, to whose statue her features +exhibited a marked resemblance. She held the hand of the Dwarf, +which she kissed repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and +motionless, excepting that his eyes glanced alternately on the marble +figure and the living suppliant. At length, the large drops which +gathered on his eye-lashes compelled him to draw his hand across them. + +“I thought,” he said, “that tears and I had done; but we shed them at +our birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our graves. But no +melting of the heart shall dissolve my resolution. I part here, at once, +and for ever, with all of which the memory” (looking to the tomb), “or +the presence” (he pressed Isabella’s hand), “is dear to me.--Speak not +to me! attempt not to thwart my determination! it will avail nothing; +you will hear of and see this lump of deformity no more. To you I shall +be dead ere I am actually in my grave, and you will think of me as of a +friend disencumbered from the toils and crimes of existence.” + +He kissed Isabella on the forehead, impressed another kiss on the +brow of the statue by which she knelt, and left the chapel followed by +Ratcliffe. Isabella, almost exhausted by the emotions of the day, +was carried to her apartment by her women. Most of the other guests +dispersed, after having separately endeavoured to impress on all who +would listen to them their disapprobation of the plots formed against +the government, or their regret for having engaged in them. Hobbie +Elliot assumed the command of the castle for the night, and mounted a +regular guard. He boasted not a little of the alacrity with which his +friends and he had obeyed a hasty summons received from Elshie through +the faithful Ratcliffe. And it was a lucky chance, he said, that on that +very day they had got notice that Westburnflat did not intend to +keep his tryste at Castleton, but to hold them at defiance; so that a +considerable party had assembled at the Heugh-foot, with the intention +of paying a visit to the robber’s tower on the ensuing morning, and +their course was easily directed to Ellieslaw Castle. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + --Last scene of all, + To close this strange eventful history.--AS YOU LIKE IT. + +On the next morning, Mr. Ratcliffe presented Miss Vere with a letter +from her father, of which the following is the tenor:-- + +“MY DEAREST CHILD, The malice of a persecuting government will compel +me, for my own safety, to retreat abroad, and to remain for some time +in foreign parts. I do not ask you to accompany, or follow me; you will +attend to my interest and your own more effectually by remaining where +you are. It is unnecessary to enter into a minute detail concerning the +causes of the strange events which yesterday took place. I think I have +reason to complain of the usage I have received from Sir Edward Mauley, +who is your nearest kinsman by the mother’s side; but as he has declared +you his heir, and is to put you in immediate possession of a large part +of his fortune, I account it a full atonement. I am aware he has never +forgiven the preference which your mother gave to my addresses, instead +of complying with the terms of a sort of family compact, which absurdly +and tyrannically destined her to wed her deformed relative. The shock +was even sufficient to unsettle his wits (which, indeed, were never +over-well arranged), and I had, as the husband of his nearest kinswoman +and heir, the delicate task of taking care of his person and property, +until he was reinstated in the management of the latter by those who, no +doubt, thought they were doing him justice; although, if some parts of +his subsequent conduct be examined, it will appear that he ought, +for his own sake, to have been left under the influence of a mild and +salutary restraint. + +“In one particular, however, he showed a sense of the ties of blood, +as well as of his own frailty; for while he sequestered himself closely +from the world, under various names and disguises, and insisted on +spreading a report of his own death (in which to gratify him I willingly +acquiesced), he left at my disposal the rents of a great proportion of +his estates, and especially all those, which, having belonged to your +mother, reverted to him as a male fief. In this he may have thought +that he was acting with extreme generosity, while, in the opinion of all +impartial men, he will only be considered as having fulfilled a natural +obligation, seeing that, in justice, if not in strict law, you must +be considered as the heir of your mother, and I as your legal +administrator. Instead, therefore, of considering myself as loaded +with obligations to Sir Edward on this account, I think I had reason +to complain that these remittances were only doled out to me at the +pleasure of Mr. Ratcliffe, who, moreover, exacted from me mortgages +over my paternal estate of Ellieslaw for any sums which I required as an +extra advance; and thus may be said to have insinuated himself into the +absolute management and control of my property. Or, if all this seeming +friendship was employed by Sir Edward for the purpose of obtaining a +complete command of my affairs, and acquiring the power of ruining me +at his pleasure, I feel myself, I must repeat, still less bound by the +alleged obligation. + +“About the autumn of last year, as I understand, either his own crazed +imagination, or the accomplishment of some such scheme as I have hinted, +brought him down to this country. His alleged motive, it seems, was a +desire of seeing a monument which he had directed to be raised in the +chapel over the tomb of your mother. Mr. Ratcliffe, who at this time +had done me the honour to make my house his own, had the complaisance to +introduce him secretly into the chapel. The consequence, as he informs +me, was a frenzy of several hours, during which he fled into the +neighbouring moors, in one of the wildest spots of which he chose, when +he was somewhat recovered, to fix his mansion, and set up for a sort of +country empiric, a character which, even in his best days, he was fond +of assuming. It is remarkable, that, instead of informing me of these +circumstances, that I might have had the relative of my late wife taken +such care of as his calamitous condition required, Mr. Ratcliffe seems +to have had such culpable indulgence for his irregular plans as to +promise and even swear secrecy concerning them. He visited Sir Edward +often, and assisted in the fantastic task he had taken upon him of +constructing a hermitage. Nothing they appear to have dreaded more than +a discovery of their intercourse. + +“The ground was open in every direction around, and a small subterranean +cave, probably sepulchral, which their researches had detected near +the great granite pillar, served to conceal Ratcliffe, when any one +approached his master. I think you will be of opinion, my love, that +this secrecy must have had some strong motive. It is also remarkable, +that while I thought my unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of +La Trappe, he should have been actually living, for many months, in this +bizarre disguise, within five miles of my house, and obtaining regular +information of my most private movements, either by Ratcliffe, or +through Westburnflat or others, whom he had the means to bribe to any +extent. He makes it a crime against me that I endeavoured to establish +your marriage with Sir Frederick. I acted for the best; but if Sir +Edward Mauley thought otherwise, why did he not step manfully forward, +express his own purpose of becoming a party to the settlements, and take +that interest which he is entitled to claim in you as heir to his great +property? + +“Even now, though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat tardy in +announcing his purpose, I am far from opposing my authority against +his wishes, although the person he desires you to regard as your future +husband be young Earnscliff; the very last whom I should have thought +likely to be acceptable to him, considering a certain fatal event. But I +give my free and hearty consent, providing the settlements are drawn in +such an irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by +that state of dependence, and that sudden and causeless revocation of +allowances, of which I have so much reason to complain. Of Sir Frederick +Langley, I augur, you will hear no more. He is not likely to claim the +hand of a dowerless maiden. I therefore commit you, my dear Isabella, to +the wisdom of Providence and to your own prudence, begging you to lose +no time in securing those advantages, which the fickleness of your +kinsman has withdrawn from me to shower upon you. + +“Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edward’s intention to settle a considerable +sum upon me yearly, for my maintenance in foreign parts; but this my +heart is too proud to accept from him. I told him I had a dear child, +who, while in affluence herself, would never suffer me to be in poverty. +I thought it right to intimate this to him pretty roundly, that whatever +increase be settled upon you, it may be calculated so as to cover this +necessary and natural encumbrance. I shall willingly settle upon you +the castle and manor of Ellieslaw, to show my parental affection and +disinterested zeal for promoting your settlement in life. The annual +interest of debts charged on the estate somewhat exceeds the income, +even after a reasonable rent has been put upon the mansion and mains. +But as all the debts are in the person of Mr. Ratcliffe, as your +kinsman’s trustee, he will not be a troublesome creditor. And here I +must make you aware, that though I have to complain of Mr. Ratcliffe’s +conduct to me personally, I, nevertheless, believe him a just and +upright man, with whom you may safely consult on your affairs, not to +mention that to cherish his good opinion will be the best way to retain +that of your kinsman. Remember me to Marchie--I hope he will not be +troubled on account of late matters. I will write more fully from the +Continent. Meanwhile, I rest your loving father, RICHARD VERE.” + +The above letter throws the only additional light which we have been +able to procure upon the earlier part of our story. It was Hobbie’s +opinion, and may be that of most of our readers, that the Recluse +of Mucklestane-Moor had but a kind of a gleaming, or twilight +understanding; and that he had neither very clear views as to what he +himself wanted, nor was apt to pursue his ends by the clearest and most +direct means; so that to seek the clew of his conduct, was likened, by +Hobbie, to looking for a straight path through a common, over which are +a hundred devious tracks, but not one distinct line of road. + +When Isabella had perused the letter, her first enquiry was after her +father. He had left the castle, she was informed, early in the morning, +after a long interview with Mr. Ratcliffe, and was already far on his +way to the next port, where he might expect to find shipping for the +Continent. + +“Where was Sir Edward Mauley?” + +No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the preceding +evening. + +“Odd, if onything has befa’en puir Elshie,” said Hobbie Elliot, “I wad +rather I were harried ower again.” + +He immediately rode to his dwelling, and the remaining she-goat came +bleating to meet him, for her milking time was long past. The Solitary +was nowhere to be seen; his door, contrary to wont, was open, his fire +extinguished, and the whole hut was left in the state which it exhibited +on Isabella’s visit to him. It was pretty clear that the means of +conveyance which had brought the Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding +evening, had removed him from it to some other place of abode. Hobbie +returned disconsolate to the castle. + +“I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an’ a’.” + +“You have indeed,” said Ratcliffe, producing a paper, which he put into +Hobbie’s hands; “but read that, and you will perceive you have been no +loser by having known him.” + +It was a short deed of gift, by which “Sir Edward Mauley, otherwise +called Elshender the Recluse, endowed Halbert or Hobbie Elliot, and +Grace Armstrong, in full property, with a considerable sum borrowed by +Elliot from him.” + +Hobbie’s joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down his +rough cheeks. + +“It’s a queer thing,” he said; “but I canna joy in the gear, unless I +kend the puir body was happy that gave it me.” + +“Next to enjoying happiness ourselves,” said Ratcliffe, “is the +consciousness of having bestowed it on others. Had all my master’s +benefits been conferred like the present, what a different return would +they have produced! But the indiscriminate profusion that would glut +avarice, or supply prodigality, neither does good, nor is rewarded by +gratitude. It is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind.” + +“And that wad be a light har’st,” said Hobbie; “but, wi’ my young +leddie’s leave, I wad fain take down Eishie’s skeps o’ bees, and set +them in Grace’s bit flower yard at the Heugh-foot--they shall ne’er be +smeekit by ony o’ huz. And the puir goat, she would be negleckit about a +great toun like this; and she could feed bonnily on our lily lea by the +burn side, and the hounds wad ken her in a day’s time, and never fash +her, and Grace wad milk her ilka morning wi’ her ain hand, for Elshie’s +sake; for though he was thrawn and cankered in his converse, he likeit +dumb creatures weel.” + +Hobbie’s requests were readily granted, not without some wonder at +the natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this mode of +displaying his gratitude. He was delighted when Ratcliffe informed him +that his benefactor should not remain ignorant of the care which he took +of his favourite. + +“And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties, and, +abune a’, Grace and mysell, are weel and thriving, and that it’s a’ his +doing--that canna but please him, ane wad think.” + +And Elliot and the family at Heugh-foot were, and continued to be, as +fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty, tenderness, and gallantry +so well merited. + +All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now removed, +and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part of Sir Edward +Mauley, might have satisfied the cupidity of Ellieslaw himself. But Miss +Vere and Ratcliffe thought it unnecessary to mention to Earnscliff that +one great motive of Sir Edward, in thus loading the young pair with +benefits, was to expiate his having, many years before, shed the blood +of his father in a hasty brawl. If it be true, as Ratcliffe asserted, +that the Dwarf’s extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat, under +the consciousness of having diffused happiness among so many, the +recollection of this circumstance might probably be one of his chief +motives for refusing obstinately ever to witness their state of +contentment. + +Mareschal hunted, shot, and drank claret--tired of the country, went +abroad, served three campaigns, came home, and married Lucy Ilderton. + +Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife, and found and left +them contented and happy. The scheming ambition of Sir Frederick +Langley engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of 1715. He was made +prisoner at Preston, in Lancashire, with the Earl of Derwentwater, +and others. His defence, and the dying speech which he made at his +execution, may be found in the State Trials. Mr. Vere, supplied by +his daughter with an ample income, continued to reside abroad, engaged +deeply in the affair of Law’s bank during the regency 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 end--drank brandy with +the neighbours, whom, in his younger days, he had plundered--died 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. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Dwarf, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1460 *** diff --git a/1460-h/1460-h.htm b/1460-h/1460-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..749c8b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/1460-h/1460-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7217 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Black Dwarf, by Sir Walter Scott + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd7; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1460 ***</div> + + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE BLACK DWARF + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by Sir Walter Scott + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD, INTRODUCTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> <b>III. THE BLACK DWARF</b>. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + <br /> Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the <br /> + etext in square brackets close to the place where <br /> they were + referenced by a suffix in the original text. <br /> Text in italics has + been written in capital letters. <br /> + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD + </h2> + <p> + COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, SCHOOLMASTER AND + PARISH-CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION. + </h2> + <p> + As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official description + prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the sedate and reflecting part + of mankind, to whom only I would be understood to address myself, such + attention as is due to the sedulous instructor of youth, and the careful + performer of my Sabbath duties, I will forbear to hold up a candle to the + daylight, or to point out to the judicious those recommendations of my + labours which they must necessarily anticipate from the perusal of the + title-page. Nevertheless, I am not unaware, that, as Envy always dogs + Merit at the heels, there may be those who will whisper, that albeit my + learning and good principles cannot (lauded be the heavens) be denied by + any one, yet that my situation at Gandercleugh hath been more favourable + to my acquisitions in learning than to the enlargement of my views of the + ways and works of the present generation. To the which objection, if, + peradventure, any such shall be started, my answer shall be threefold: + </p> + <p> + First, Gandercleugh is, as it were, the central part—the navel (SI + FAS SIT DICERE) of this our native realm of Scotland; so that men, from + every corner thereof, when travelling on their concernments of business, + either towards our metropolis of law, by which I mean Edinburgh, or + towards our metropolis and mart of gain, whereby I insinuate Glasgow, are + frequently led to make Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place of rest + for the night. And it must be acknowledged by the most sceptical, that I, + who have sat in the leathern armchair, on the left-hand side of the fire, + in the common room of the Wallace Inn, winter and summer, for every + evening in my life, during forty years bypast (the Christian Sabbaths only + excepted), must have seen more of the manners and customs of various + tribes and people, than if I had sought them out by my own painful travel + and bodily labour. Even so doth the tollman at the well-frequented + turn-pike on the Wellbraehead, sitting at his ease in his own dwelling, + gather more receipt of custom, than if, moving forth upon the road, he + were to require a contribution from each person whom he chanced to meet in + his journey, when, according to the vulgar adage, he might possibly be + greeted with more kicks than halfpence. + </p> + <p> + But, secondly, supposing it again urged, that Ithacus, the most wise of + the Greeks, acquired his renown, as the Roman poet hath assured us, by + visiting states and men, I reply to the Zoilus who shall adhere to this + objection, that, DE FACTO, I have seen states and men also; for I have + visited the famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the former twice, and + the latter three times, in the course of my earthly pilgrimage. And, + moreover, I had the honour to sit in the General Assembly (meaning, as an + auditor, in the galleries thereof), and have heard as much goodly speaking + on the law of patronage, as, with the fructification thereof in mine own + understanding, hath made me be considered as an oracle upon that doctrine + ever since my safe and happy return to Gandercleugh. + </p> + <p> + Again—and thirdly, If it be nevertheless pretended that my + information and knowledge of mankind, however extensive, and however + painfully acquired, by constant domestic enquiry, and by foreign travel, + is, natheless, incompetent to the task of recording the pleasant + narratives of my Landlord, I will let these critics know, to their own + eternal shame and confusion as well as to the abashment and discomfiture + of all who shall rashly take up a song against me, that I am NOT the + writer, redacter, or compiler, of the Tales of my Landlord; nor am I, in + one single iota, answerable for their contents, more or less. And now, ye + generation of critics, who raise yourselves up as if it were brazen + serpents, to hiss with your tongues, and to smite with your stings, bow + yourselves down to your native dust, and acknowledge that yours have been + the thoughts of ignorance, and the words of vain foolishness. Lo! ye are + caught in your own snare, and your own pit hath yawned for you. Turn, + then, aside from the task that is too heavy for you; destroy not your + teeth by gnawing a file; waste not your strength by spurning against a + castle wall; nor spend your breath in contending in swiftness with a fleet + steed; and let those weigh the Tales of my Landlord, who shall bring with + them the scales of candour cleansed from the rust of prejudice by the + hands of intelligent modesty. For these alone they were compiled, as will + appear from a brief narrative which my zeal for truth compelled me to make + supplementary to the present Proem. + </p> + <p> + It is well known that my Landlord was a pleasing and a facetious man, + acceptable unto all the parish of Gandercleugh, excepting only the Laird, + the Exciseman, and those for whom he refused to draw liquor upon trust. + Their causes of dislike I will touch separately, adding my own refutation + thereof. + </p> + <p> + His honour, the Laird, accused our Landlord, deceased, of having + encouraged, in various times and places, the destruction of hares, + rabbits, fowls black and grey, partridges, moor-pouts, roe-deer, and other + birds and quadrupeds, at unlawful seasons, and contrary to the laws of + this realm, which have secured, in their wisdom, the slaughter of such + animals for the great of the earth, whom I have remarked to take an + uncommon (though to me, an unintelligible) pleasure therein. Now, in + humble deference to his honour, and in justifiable defence of my friend + deceased, I reply to this charge, that howsoever the form of such animals + might appear to be similar to those so protected by the law, yet it was a + mere DECEPTIO VISUS; for what resembled hares were, in fact, HILL-KIDS, + and those partaking of the appearance of moor-fowl, were truly WOOD + PIGEONS and consumed and eaten EO NOMINE, and not otherwise. + </p> + <p> + Again, the Exciseman pretended, that my deceased Landlord did encourage + that species of manufacture called distillation, without having an + especial permission from the Great, technically called a license, for + doing so. Now, I stand up to confront this falsehood; and in defiance of + him, his gauging-stick, and pen and inkhorn, I tell him, that I never saw, + or tasted, a glass of unlawful aqua vitae in the house of my Landlord; + nay, that, on the contrary, we needed not such devices, in respect of a + pleasing and somewhat seductive liquor, which was vended and consumed at + the Wallace Inn, under the name of MOUNTAIN DEW. If there is a penalty + against manufacturing such a liquor, let him show me the statute; and when + he does, I’ll tell him if I will obey it or no. + </p> + <p> + Concerning those who came to my Landlord for liquor, and went thirsty + away, for lack of present coin, or future credit, I cannot but say it has + grieved my bowels as if the case had been mine own. Nevertheless, my + Landlord considered the necessities of a thirsty soul, and would permit + them, in extreme need, and when their soul was impoverished for lack of + moisture, to drink to the full value of their watches and wearing apparel, + exclusively of their inferior habiliments, which he was uniformly + inexorable in obliging them to retain, for the credit of the house. As to + mine own part, I may well say, that he never refused me that modicum of + refreshment with which I am wont to recruit nature after the fatigues of + my school. It is true, I taught his five sons English and Latin, writing, + book-keeping, with a tincture of mathematics, and that I instructed his + daughter in psalmody. Nor do I remember me of any fee or HONORARIUM + received from him on account of these my labours, except the compotations + aforesaid. Nevertheless this compensation suited my humour well, since it + is a hard sentence to bid a dry throat wait till quarter-day. + </p> + <p> + But, truly, were I to speak my simple conceit and belief, I think my + Landlord was chiefly moved to waive in my behalf the usual requisition of + a symbol, or reckoning, from the pleasure he was wont to take in my + conversation, which, though solid and edifying in the main, was, like a + well-built palace, decorated with facetious narratives and devices, + tending much to the enhancement and ornament thereof. And so pleased was + my Landlord of the Wallace in his replies during such colloquies, that + there was no district in Scotland, yea, and no peculiar, and, as it were, + distinctive custom therein practised, but was discussed betwixt us; + insomuch, that those who stood by were wont to say, it was worth a bottle + of ale to hear us communicate with each other. And not a few travellers, + from distant parts, as well as from the remote districts of our kingdom, + were wont to mingle in the conversation, and to tell news that had been + gathered in foreign lands, or preserved from oblivion in this our own. + </p> + <p> + Now I chanced to have contracted for teaching the lower classes with a + young person called Peter, or Patrick, Pattieson, who had been educated + for our Holy Kirk, yea, had, by the license of presbytery, his voice + opened therein as a preacher, who delighted in the collection of olden + tales and legends, and in garnishing them with the flowers of poesy, + whereof he was a vain and frivolous professor. For he followed not the + example of those strong poets whom I proposed to him as a pattern, but + formed versification of a flimsy and modern texture, to the compounding + whereof was necessary small pains and less thought. And hence I have chid + him as being one of those who bring forward the fatal revolution + prophesied by Mr. Robert Carey, in his Vaticination on the Death of the + celebrated Dr. John Donne: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Now thou art gone, and thy strict laws will be + Too hard for libertines in poetry; + Till verse (by thee refined) in this last age + Turn ballad rhyme. +</pre> + <p> + I had also disputations with him touching his indulging rather a flowing + and redundant than a concise and stately diction in his prose + exercitations. But notwithstanding these symptoms of inferior taste, and a + humour of contradicting his betters upon passages of dubious construction + in Latin authors, I did grievously lament when Peter Pattieson was removed + from me by death, even as if he had been the offspring of my own loins. + And in respect his papers had been left in my care (to answer funeral and + death-bed expenses), I conceived myself entitled to dispose of one parcel + thereof, entitled, “Tales of my Landlord,” to one cunning in the trade (as + it is called) of bookselling. He was a mirthful man, of small stature, + cunning in counterfeiting of voices, and in making facetious tales and + responses, and whom I have to laud for the truth of his dealings towards + me. + </p> + <p> + Now, therefore, the world may see the injustice that charges me with + incapacity to write these narratives, seeing, that though I have proved + that I could have written them if I would, yet, not having done so, the + censure will deservedly fall, if at all due, upon the memory of Mr. Peter + Pattieson; whereas I must be justly entitled to the praise, when any is + due, seeing that, as the Dean of St. Patrick’s wittily and logically + expresseth it, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + That without which a thing is not, + Is CAUSA SINE QUA NON. +</pre> + <p> + The work, therefore, is unto me as a child is to a parent; in the which + child, if it proveth worthy, the parent hath honour and praise; but, if + otherwise, the disgrace will deservedly attach to itself alone. + </p> + <p> + I have only further to intimate, that Mr. Peter Pattieson, in arranging + these Tales for the press, hath more consulted his own fancy than the + accuracy of the narrative; nay, that he hath sometimes blended two or + three stories together for the mere grace of his plots. Of which + infidelity, although I disapprove and enter my testimony against it, yet I + have not taken upon me to correct the same, in respect it was the will of + the deceased, that his manuscript should be submitted to the press without + diminution or alteration. A fanciful nicety it was on the part of my + deceased friend, who, if thinking wisely, ought rather to have conjured + me, by all the tender ties of our friendship and common pursuits, to have + carefully revised, altered, and augmented, at my judgment and discretion. + But the will of the dead must be scrupulously obeyed, even when we weep + over their pertinacity and self-delusion. So, gentle reader, I bid you + farewell, recommending you to such fare as the mountains of your own + country produce; and I will only farther premise, that each Tale is + preceded by a short introduction, mentioning the persons by whom, and the + circumstances under which, the materials thereof were collected. + </p> + <p> + JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM. <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. + </h2> + <p> + The ideal being who is here presented as residing in solitude, and haunted + by a consciousness of his own deformity, and a suspicion of his being + generally subjected to the scorn of his fellow-men, is not altogether + imaginary. An individual existed many years since, under the author’s + observation, which suggested such a character. This poor unfortunate man’s + name was David Ritchie, a native of Tweeddale. He was the son of a + labourer in the slate-quarries of Stobo, and must have been born in the + misshapen form which he exhibited, though he sometimes imputed it to + ill-usage when in infancy. He was bred a brush-maker at Edinburgh, and had + wandered to several places, working at his trade, from all which he was + chased by the disagreeable attention which his hideous singularity of form + and face attracted wherever he came. The author understood him to say he + had even been in Dublin. + </p> + <p> + Tired at length of being the object of shouts, laughter, and derision, + David Ritchie resolved, like a deer hunted from the herd, to retreat to + some wilderness, where he might have the least possible communication with + the world which scoffed at him. He settled himself, with this view, upon a + patch of wild moorland at the bottom of a bank on the farm of Woodhouse, + in the sequestered vale of the small river Manor, in Peeblesshire. The few + people who had occasion to pass that way were much surprised, and some + superstitious persons a little alarmed, to see so strange a figure as + Bow’d Davie (i.e. Crooked David) employed in a task, for which he seemed + so totally unfit, as that of erecting a house. The cottage which he built + was extremely small, but the walls, as well as those of a little garden + that surrounded it, were constructed with an ambitious degree of solidity, + being composed of layers of large stones and turf; and some of the corner + stones were so weighty, as to puzzle the spectators how such a person as + the architect could possibly have raised them. In fact, David received + from passengers, or those who came attracted by curiosity, a good deal of + assistance; and as no one knew how much aid had been given by others, the + wonder of each individual remained undiminished. + </p> + <p> + The proprietor of the ground, the late Sir James Naesmith, baronet, + chanced to pass this singular dwelling, which, having been placed there + without right or leave asked or given, formed an exact parallel with + Falstaff’s simile of a “fair house built on another’s ground;” so that + poor David might have lost his edifice by mistaking the property where he + had erected it. Of course, the proprietor entertained no idea of exacting + such a forfeiture, but readily sanctioned the harmless encroachment. + </p> + <p> + The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane-Moor has been + generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of + David of Manor Water. He was not quite three feet and a half high, since + he could stand upright in the door of his mansion, which was just that + height. The following particulars concerning his figure and temper occur + in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for 1817, and are now understood to have been + communicated by the ingenious Mr. Robert Chambers of Edinburgh, who has + recorded with much spirit the traditions of the Good Town, and, in other + publications, largely and agreeably added to the stock of our popular + antiquities. He is the countryman of David Ritchie, and had the best + access to collect anecdotes of him. + </p> + <p> + “His skull,” says this authority, “which was of an oblong and rather + unusual shape, was said to be of such strength, that he could strike it + with ease through the panel of a door, or the end of a barrel. His laugh + is said to have been quite horrible; and his screech-owl voice, shrill, + uncouth, and dissonant, corresponded well with his other peculiarities. + </p> + <p> + “There was nothing very uncommon about his dress. He usually wore an old + slouched hat when he went abroad; and when at home, a sort of cowl or + night-cap. He never wore shoes, being unable to adapt them to his + mis-shapen finlike feet, but always had both feet and legs quite + concealed, and wrapt up with pieces of cloth. He always walked with a sort + of pole or pike-staff, considerably taller than himself. His habits were, + in many respects, singular, and indicated a mind congenial to its uncouth + tabernacle. A jealous, misanthropical, and irritable temper, was his + prominent characteristic. The sense of his deformity haunted him like a + phantom. And the insults and scorn to which this exposed him, had poisoned + his heart with fierce and bitter feelings, which, from other points in his + character, do not appear to have been more largely infused into his + original temperament than that of his fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + “He detested children, on account of their propensity to insult and + persecute him. To strangers he was generally reserved, crabbed, and surly; + and though he by no means refused assistance or charity, he seldom either + expressed or exhibited much gratitude. Even towards persons who had been + his greatest benefactors, and who possessed the greatest share of his + good-will, he frequently displayed much caprice and jealousy. A lady who + had known him from his infancy, and who has furnished us in the most + obliging manner with some particulars respecting him, says, that although + Davie showed as much respect and attachment to her father’s family, as it + was in his nature to show to any, yet they were always obliged to be very + cautious in their deportment towards him. One day, having gone to visit + him with another lady, he took them through his garden, and was showing + them, with much pride and good-humour, all his rich and tastefully + assorted borders, when they happened to stop near a plot of cabbages which + had been somewhat injured by the caterpillars. Davie, observing one of the + ladies smile, instantly assumed his savage, scowling aspect, rushed among + the cabbages, and dashed them to pieces with his KENT, exclaiming, ‘I hate + the worms, for they mock me!’ + </p> + <p> + “Another lady, likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his, very + unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion. Throwing + back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden, he fancied + he observed her spit, and exclaimed, with great ferocity, ‘Am I a toad, + woman! that ye spit at me—that ye spit at me?’ and without listening + to any answer or excuse, drove her out of his garden with imprecations and + insult. When irritated by persons for whom he entertained little respect, + his misanthropy displayed itself in words, and sometimes in actions, of + still greater rudeness; and he used on such occasions the most unusual and + singularly savage imprecations and threats.” [SCOTS MAGAZINE, vol. lxxx. + p.207.] + </p> + <p> + Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works; and + there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate, which does not possess some + source of gratification peculiar to itself, This poor man, whose + misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural deformity, had + yet his own particular enjoyments. Driven into solitude, he became an + admirer of the beauties of nature. His garden, which he sedulously + cultivated, and from a piece of wild moorland made a very productive spot, + was his pride and his delight; but he was also an admirer of more natural + beauty: the soft sweep of the green hill, the bubbling of a clear + fountain, or the complexities of a wild thicket, were scenes on which he + often gazed for hours, and, as he said, with inexpressible delight. It was + perhaps for this reason that he was fond of Shenstone’s pastorals, and + some parts of PARADISE LOST. The author has heard his most unmusical voice + repeat the celebrated description of Paradise, which he seemed fully to + appreciate. His other studies were of a different cast, chiefly polemical. + He never went to the parish church, and was therefore suspected of + entertaining heterodox opinions, though his objection was probably to the + concourse of spectators, to whom he must have exposed his unseemly + deformity. He spoke of a future state with intense feeling, and even with + tears. He expressed disgust at the idea, of his remains being mixed with + the common rubbish, as he called it, of the churchyard, and selected with + his usual taste a beautiful and wild spot in the glen where he had his + hermitage, in which to take his last repose. He changed his mind, however, + and was finally interred in the common burial-ground of Manor parish. + </p> + <p> + The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made him + appear, in the eyes of the vulgar, a man possessed of supernatural power. + Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment, for some of the poor + and ignorant, as well as all the children, in the neighbourhood, held him + to be what is called uncanny. He himself did not altogether discourage the + idea; it enlarged his very limited circle of power, and in so far + gratified his conceit; and it soothed his misanthropy, by increasing his + means of giving terror or pain. But even in a rude Scottish glen thirty + years back, the fear of sorcery was very much out of date. + </p> + <p> + David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes, especially such as + were supposed to be haunted, and valued himself upon his courage in doing + so. To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly than + himself. At heart, he was superstitious, and planted many rowans (mountain + ashes) around his hut, as a certain defence against necromancy. For the + same reason, doubtless, he desired to have rowan-trees set above his + grave. + </p> + <p> + We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty. His + only living favourites were a dog and a cat, to which he was particularly + attached, and his bees, which he treated with great care. He took a + sister, latterly, to live in a hut adjacent to his own, but he did not + permit her to enter it. She was weak in intellect, but not deformed in + person; simple, or rather silly, but not, like her brother, sullen or + bizarre. David was never affectionate to her; it was not in his nature; + but he endured her. He maintained himself and her by the sale of the + product of their garden and bee-hives; and, latterly, they had a small + allowance from the parish. Indeed, in the simple and patriarchal state in + which the country then was, persons in the situation of David and his + sister were sure to be supported. They had only to apply to the next + gentleman or respectable farmer, and were sure to find them equally ready + and willing to supply their very moderate wants. David often received + gratuities from strangers, which he never asked, never refused, and never + seemed to consider as an obligation. He had a right, indeed, to regard + himself as one of Nature’s paupers, to whom she gave a title to be + maintained by his kind, even by that deformity which closed against him + all ordinary ways of supporting himself by his own labour. Besides, a bag + was suspended in the mill for David Ritchie’s benefit; and those who were + carrying home a melder of meal, seldom failed to add a GOWPEN [Handful] to + the alms-bag of the deformed cripple. In short, David had no occasion for + money, save to purchase snuff, his only luxury, in which he indulged + himself liberally. When he died, in the beginning of the present century, + he was found to have hoarded about twenty pounds, a habit very consistent + with his disposition; for wealth is power, and power was what David + Ritchie desired to possess, as a compensation for his exclusion from human + society. + </p> + <p> + His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which this brief + notice forms the introduction; and the author is sorry to learn that a + sort of “local sympathy,” and the curiosity then expressed concerning the + Author of WAVERLEY and the subjects of his Novels, exposed the poor woman + to enquiries which gave her pain. When pressed about her brother’s + peculiarities, she asked, in her turn, why they would not permit the dead + to rest? To others, who pressed for some account of her parents, she + answered in the same tone of feeling. + </p> + <p> + The author saw this poor, and, it may be said, unhappy man, in autumn 1797 + being then, as he has the happiness still to remain, connected by ties of + intimate friendship with the family of the venerable Dr. Adam Fergusson, + the philosopher and historian, who then resided at the mansion-house of + Halyards, in the vale of Manor, about a mile from Ritchie’s hermitage, the + author was upon a visit at Halyards, which lasted for several days, and + was made acquainted with this singular anchorite, whom Dr. Fergusson + considered as an extraordinary character, and whom he assisted in various + ways, particularly by the occasional loan of books. Though the taste of + the philosopher and the poor peasant did not, it may be supposed, always + correspond, [I remember David was particularly anxious to see a book, + which he called, I think, LETTERS TO ELECT LADIES, and which, he said, was + the best composition he had ever read; but Dr. Fergusson’s library did not + supply the volume.] Dr. Fergusson considered him as a man of a powerful + capacity and original ideas, but whose mind was thrown off its just bias + by a predominant degree of self-love and self-opinion, galled by the sense + of ridicule and contempt, and avenging itself upon society, in idea at + least, by a gloomy misanthropy. + </p> + <p> + David Ritchie, besides the utter obscurity of his life while in existence, + had been dead for many years, when it occurred to the author that such a + character might be made a powerful agent in fictitious narrative. He, + accordingly, sketched that of Elshie of the Mucklestane-Moor. The story + was intended to be longer, and the catastrophe more artificially brought + out; but a friendly critic, to whose opinion I subjected the work in its + progress, was of opinion, that the idea of the Solitary was of a kind too + revolting, and more likely to disgust than to interest the reader. As I + had good right to consider my adviser as an excellent judge of public + opinion, I got off my subject by hastening the story to an end, as fast as + it was possible; and, by huddling into one volume, a tale which was + designed to occupy two, have perhaps produced a narrative as much + disproportioned and distorted, as the Black Dwarf who is its subject. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. THE BLACK DWARF. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <h3> + PRELIMINARY. + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?—AS YOU LIKE IT. +</pre> + <p> + It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night + before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six + inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn. The first + was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat + covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and + dreadnought overalls. He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough + in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a + double-bitted military bridle. The man who accompanied him was apparently + his servant; he rode a shaggy little grey pony, had a blue bonnet on his + head, and a large check napkin folded about his neck, wore a pair of long + blue worsted hose instead of boots, had his gloveless hands much stained + with tar, and observed an air of deference and respect towards his + companion, but without any of those indications of precedence and + punctilio which are preserved between the gentry and their domestics. On + the contrary, the two travellers entered the court-yard abreast, and the + concluding sentence of the conversation which had been carrying on betwixt + them was a joint ejaculation, “Lord guide us, an this weather last, what + will come o’ the lambs!” The hint was sufficient for my Landlord, who, + advancing to take the horse of the principal person, and holding him by + the reins as he dismounted, while his ostler rendered the same service to + the attendant, welcomed the stranger to Gandercleugh, and, in the same + breath, enquired, “What news from the south hielands?” + </p> + <p> + “News?” said the farmer, “bad eneugh news, I think;—an we can carry + through the yowes, it will be a’ we can do; we maun e’en leave the lambs + to the Black Dwarfs care.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay,” subjoined the old shepherd (for such he was), shaking his head, + “he’ll be unco busy amang the morts this season.” + </p> + <p> + “The Black Dwarf!” said MY LEARNED FRIEND AND PATRON, Mr. Jedediah + Cleishbotham, “and what sort of a personage may he be?” + </p> + <p> + [We have, in this and other instances, printed in italics (CAPITALS in + this etext) some few words which the worthy editor, Mr. Jedediah + Cleishbotham, seems to have interpolated upon the text of his deceased + friend, Mr. Pattieson. We must observe, once for all, that such liberties + seem only to have been taken by the learned gentleman where his own + character and conduct are concerned; and surely he must be the best judge + of the style in which his own character and conduct should be treated of.] + </p> + <p> + “Hout awa, man,” answered the farmer, “ye’ll hae heard o’ Canny Elshie the + Black Dwarf, or I am muckle mistaen—A’ the warld tells tales about + him, but it’s but daft nonsense after a’—I dinna believe a word o’t + frae beginning to end.” + </p> + <p> + “Your father believed it unco stievely, though,” said the old man, to whom + the scepticism of his master gave obvious displeasure. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, very true, Bauldie, but that was in the time o’ the blackfaces—they + believed a hantle queer things in thae days, that naebody heeds since the + lang sheep cam in.” + </p> + <p> + “The mair’s the pity, the mair’s the pity,” said the old man. “Your + father, and sae I have aften tell’d ye, maister, wad hae been sair vexed + to hae seen the auld peel-house wa’s pu’d down to make park dykes; and the + bonny broomy knowe, where he liked sae weel to sit at e’en, wi’ his plaid + about him, and look at the kye as they cam down the loaning, ill wad he + hae liked to hae seen that braw sunny knowe a’ riven out wi’ the pleugh in + the fashion it is at this day.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, Bauldie,” replied the principal, “tak ye that dram the landlord’s + offering ye, and never fash your head about the changes o’ the warld, sae + lang as ye’re blithe and bien yoursell.” + </p> + <p> + “Wussing your health, sirs,” said the shepherd; and having taken off his + glass, and observed the whisky was the right thing, he continued, “It’s no + for the like o’ us to be judging, to be sure; but it was a bonny knowe + that broomy knowe, and an unco braw shelter for the lambs in a severe + morning like this.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said his patron, “but ye ken we maun hae turnips for the lang sheep, + billie, and muckle hard wark to get them, baith wi’ the pleugh and the + howe; and that wad sort ill wi’ sitting on the broomy knowe, and cracking + about Black Dwarfs, and siccan clavers, as was the gate lang syne, when + the short sheep were in the fashion.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, aweel, maister,” said the attendant, “short sheep had short rents, + I’m thinking.” + </p> + <p> + Here my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron again interposed, and observed, “that he + could never perceive any material difference, in point of longitude, + between one sheep and another.” + </p> + <p> + This occasioned a loud hoarse laugh on the part of the farmer, and an + astonished stare on the part of the shepherd. + </p> + <p> + “It’s the woo’, man,—it’s the woo’, and no the beasts themsells, + that makes them be ca’d lang or short. I believe if ye were to measure + their backs, the short sheep wad be rather the langer-bodied o’ the twa; + but it’s the woo’ that pays the rent in thae days, and it had muckle + need.” + </p> + <p> + “Odd, Bauldie says very true,—short sheep did make short rents—my + father paid for our steading just threescore punds, and it stands me in + three hundred, plack and bawbee.—And that’s very true—I hae + nae time to be standing here clavering—Landlord, get us our + breakfast, and see an’ get the yauds fed—I am for doun to Christy + Wilson’s, to see if him and me can gree about the luckpenny I am to gie + him for his year-aulds. We had drank sax mutchkins to the making the + bargain at St. Boswell’s fair, and some gate we canna gree upon the + particulars preceesely, for as muckle time as we took about it—I + doubt we draw to a plea—But hear ye, neighbour,” addressing my + WORTHY AND LEARNED patron, “if ye want to hear onything about lang or + short sheep, I will be back here to my kail against ane o’clock; or, if ye + want ony auld-warld stories about the Black Dwarf, and sic-like, if ye’ll + ware a half mutchkin upon Bauldie there, he’ll crack t’ye like a pen-gun. + And I’se gie ye a mutchkin mysell, man, if I can settle weel wi’ Christy + Wilson.” + </p> + <p> + The farmer returned at the hour appointed, and with him came Christy + Wilson, their difference having been fortunately settled without an appeal + to the gentlemen of the long robe. My LEARNED AND WORTHY patron failed not + to attend, both on account of the refreshment promised to the mind and to + the body, ALTHOUGH HE IS KNOWN TO PARTAKE OF THE LATTER IN A VERY MODERATE + DEGREE; and the party, with which my Landlord was associated, continued to + sit late in the evening, seasoning their liquor with many choice tales and + songs. The last incident which I recollect, was my LEARNED AND WORTHY + patron falling from his chair, just as he concluded a long lecture upon + temperance, by reciting, from the “Gentle Shepherd,” a couplet, which he + RIGHT HAPPILY transferred from the vice of avarice to that of ebriety: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + He that has just eneugh may soundly sleep, + The owercome only fashes folk to keep. +</pre> + <p> + In the course of the evening the Black Dwarf had not been forgotten, and + the old shepherd, Bauldie, told so many stories of him, that they excited + a good deal of interest. It also appeared, though not till the third + punch-bowl was emptied, that much of the farmer’s scepticism on the + subject was affected, as evincing a liberality of thinking, and a freedom + from ancient prejudices, becoming a man who paid three hundred pounds + a-year of rent, while, in fact, he had a lurking belief in the traditions + of his forefathers. After my usual manner, I made farther enquiries of + other persons connected with the wild and pastoral district in which the + scene of the following narrative is placed, and I was fortunate enough to + recover many links of the story, not generally known, and which account, + at least in some degree, for the circumstances of exaggerated marvel with + which superstition has attired it in the more vulgar traditions. + </p> + <p> + [The Black Dwarf, now almost forgotten, was once held a formidable + personage by the dalesmen of the Border, where he got the blame of + whatever mischief befell the sheep or cattle. “He was,” says Dr. Leyden, + who makes considerable use of him in the ballad called the Cowt of + Keeldar, “a fairy of the most malignant order—the genuine Northern + Duergar.” The best and most authentic account of this dangerous and + mysterious being occurs in a tale communicated to the author by that + eminent antiquary, Richard Surtees, Esq. of Mainsforth, author of the + HISTORY OF THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM. + </p> + <p> + According to this well-attested legend, two young Northumbrians were out + on a shooting party, and had plunged deep among the mountainous moorlands + which border on Cumberland. They stopped for refreshment in a little + secluded dell by the side of a rivulet. There, after they had partaken of + such food as they brought with them, one of the party fell asleep; the + other, unwilling to disturb his friend’s repose, stole silently out of the + dell with the purpose of looking around him, when he was astonished to + find himself close to a being who seemed not to belong to this world, as + he was the most hideous dwarf that the sun had ever shone on. His head was + of full human size, forming a frightful contrast with his height, which + was considerably under four feet. It was thatched with no other covering + than long matted red hair, like that of the felt of a badger in + consistence, and in colour a reddish brown, like the hue of the + heather-blossom. His limbs seemed of great strength; nor was he otherwise + deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness to his diminutive + height. The terrified sportsman stood gazing on this horrible apparition, + until, with an angry countenance, the being demanded by what right he + intruded himself on those hills, and destroyed their harmless inhabitants. + The perplexed stranger endeavoured to propitiate the incensed dwarf, by + offering to surrender his game, as he would to an earthly Lord of the + Manor. The proposal only redoubled the offence already taken by the dwarf, + who alleged that he was the lord of those mountains, and the protector of + the wild creatures who found a retreat in their solitary recesses; and + that all spoils derived from their death, or misery, were abhorrent to + him. The hunter humbled himself before the angry goblin, and by + protestations of his ignorance, and of his resolution to abstain from such + intrusion in future, at last succeeded in pacifying him. The gnome now + became more communicative, and spoke of himself as belonging to a species + of beings something between the angelic race and humanity. He added, + moreover, which could hardly have been anticipated, that he had hopes of + sharing in the redemption of the race of Adam. He pressed the sportsman to + visit his dwelling, which he said was hard by, and plighted his faith for + his safe return. But at this moment, the shout of the sportsman’s + companion was heard calling for his friend, and the dwarf, as if unwilling + that more than one person should be cognisant of his presence, disappeared + as the young man emerged from the dell to join his comrade. + </p> + <p> + It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such matters, + that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit, he would, notwithstanding + the dwarf’s fair pretences, have been either torn to pieces, or immured + for years in the recesses of some fairy hill. + </p> + <p> + Such is the last and most authentic account of the apparition of the Black + Dwarf.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Will none but Hearne the Hunter serve your turn? + —MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. +</pre> + <p> + In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland, where an + ideal line, drawn along the tops of lofty and bleak mountains, separates + that land from her sister kingdom, a young man, called Halbert, or Hobbie + Elliot, a substantial farmer, who boasted his descent from old Martin + Elliot of the Preakin-tower, noted in Border story and song, was on his + return from deer-stalking. The deer, once so numerous among these solitary + wastes, were now reduced to a very few herds, which, sheltering themselves + in the most remote and inaccessible recesses, rendered the task of + pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious. There were, however, found + many youth of the country ardently attached to this sport, with all its + dangers and fatigues. The sword had been sheathed upon the Borders for + more than a hundred years, by the peaceful union of the crowns in the + reign of James the First of Great Britain. Still the country retained + traces of what it had been in former days; the inhabitants, their more + peaceful avocations having been repeatedly interrupted by the civil wars + of the preceding century, were scarce yet broken in to the habits of + regular industry, sheep-farming had not been introduced upon any + considerable scale, and the feeding of black cattle was the chief purpose + to which the hills and valleys were applied. Near to the farmer’s house, + the tenant usually contrived to raise such a crop of oats or barley, as + afforded meal for his family; and the whole of this slovenly and imperfect + mode of cultivation left much time upon his own hands, and those of his + domestics. This was usually employed by the young men in hunting and + fishing; and the spirit of adventure, which formerly led to raids and + forays in the same districts, was still to be discovered in the eagerness + with which they pursued those rural sports. + </p> + <p> + The more high-spirited among the youth were, about the time that our + narrative begins, expecting, rather with hope than apprehension, an + opportunity of emulating their fathers in their military achievements, the + recital of which formed the chief part of their amusement within doors. + The passing of the Scottish act of security had given the alarm of + England, as it seemed to point at a separation of the two British + kingdoms, after the decease of Queen Anne, the reigning sovereign. + Godolphin, then at the head of the English administration, foresaw that + there was no other mode of avoiding the probable extremity of a civil war, + but by carrying through an incorporating union. How that treaty was + managed, and how little it seemed for some time to promise the beneficial + results which have since taken place to such extent, may be learned from + the history of the period. It is enough for our purpose to say, that all + Scotland was indignant at the terms on which their legislature had + surrendered their national independence. The general resentment led to the + strangest leagues and to the wildest plans. The Cameronians were about to + take arms for the restoration of the house of Stewart, whom they regarded, + with justice, as their oppressors; and the intrigues of the period + presented the strange picture of papists, prelatists, and presbyterians, + caballing among themselves against the English government, out of a common + feeling that their country had been treated with injustice. The + fermentation was universal; and, as the population of Scotland had been + generally trained to arms, under the act of security, they were not + indifferently prepared for war, and waited but the declaration of some of + the nobility to break out into open hostility. It was at this period of + public confusion that our story opens. + </p> + <p> + The cleugh, or wild ravine, into which Hobbie Elliot had followed the + game, was already far behind him, and he was considerably advanced on his + return homeward, when the night began to close upon him. This would have + been a circumstance of great indifference to the experienced sportsman, + who could have walked blindfold over every inch of his native heaths, had + it not happened near a spot, which, according to the traditions of the + country, was in extremely bad fame, as haunted by supernatural + appearances. To tales of this kind Hobbie had, from his childhood, lent an + attentive ear; and as no part of the country afforded such a variety of + legends, so no man was more deeply read in their fearful lore than Hobbie + of the Heugh-foot; for so our gallant was called, to distinguish him from + a round dozen of Elliots who bore the same Christian name. It cost him no + efforts, therefore, to call to memory the terrific incidents connected + with the extensive waste upon which he was now entering. In fact, they + presented themselves with a readiness which he felt to be somewhat + dismaying. + </p> + <p> + This dreary common was called Mucklestane-Moor, from a huge column of + unhewn granite, which raised its massy head on a knell near the centre of + the heath, perhaps to tell of the mighty dead who slept beneath, or to + preserve the memory of some bloody skirmish. The real cause of its + existence had, however, passed away; and tradition, which is as frequently + an inventor of fiction as a preserver of truth, had supplied its place + with a supplementary legend of her own, which now came full upon Hobbie’s + memory. The ground about the pillar was strewed, or rather encumbered, + with many large fragments of stone of the same consistence with the + column, which, from their appearance as they lay scattered on the waste, + were popularly called the Grey Geese of Mucklestane-Moor. The legend + accounted for this name and appearance by the catastrophe of a noted and + most formidable witch who frequented these hills in former days, causing + the ewes to KEB, and the kine to cast their calves, and performing all the + feats of mischief ascribed to these evil beings. On this moor she used to + hold her revels with her sister hags; and rings were still pointed out on + which no grass nor heath ever grew, the turf being, as it were, calcined + by the scorching hoofs of their diabolical partners. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time this old hag is said to have crossed the moor, driving + before her a flock of geese, which she proposed to sell to advantage at a + neighbouring fair;—for it is well known that the fiend, however + liberal in imparting his powers of doing mischief, ungenerously leaves his + allies under the necessity of performing the meanest rustic labours for + subsistence. The day was far advanced, and her chance of obtaining a good + price depended on her being first at the market. But the geese, which had + hitherto preceded her in a pretty orderly manner, when they came to this + wide common, interspersed with marshes and pools of water, scattered in + every direction, to plunge into the element in which they delighted. + Incensed at the obstinacy with which they defied all her efforts to + collect them, and not remembering the precise terms of the contract by + which the fiend was bound to obey her commands for a certain space, the + sorceress exclaimed, “Deevil, that neither I nor they ever stir from this + spot more!” The words were hardly uttered, when, by a metamorphosis as + sudden as any in Ovid, the hag and her refractory flock were converted + into stone, the angel whom she served, being a strict formalist, grasping + eagerly at an opportunity of completing the ruin of her body and soul by a + literal obedience to her orders. It is said, that when she perceived and + felt the transformation which was about to take place, she exclaimed to + the treacherous fiend, “Ah, thou false thief! lang hast thou promised me a + grey gown, and now I am getting ane that will last for ever.” The + dimensions of the pillar, and of the stones, were often appealed to, as a + proof of the superior stature and size of old women and geese in the days + of other years, by those praisers of the past who held the comfortable + opinion of the gradual degeneracy of mankind. + </p> + <p> + All particulars of this legend Hobbie called to mind as he passed along + the moor. He also remembered, that, since the catastrophe had taken place, + the scene of it had been avoided, at least after night-fall, by all human + beings, as being the ordinary resort of kelpies, spunkies, and other + demons, once the companions of the witch’s diabolical revels, and now + continuing to rendezvous upon the same spot, as if still in attendance on + their transformed mistress. Hobbie’s natural hardihood, however, manfully + combated with these intrusive sensations of awe. He summoned to his side + the brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports, and + who were wont, in his own phrase, to fear neither dog nor devil; he looked + at the priming of his piece, and, like the clown in Hallowe’en, whistled + up the warlike ditty of Jock of the Side, as a general causes his drums be + beat to inspirit the doubtful courage of his soldiers. + </p> + <p> + In this state of mind, he was very glad to hear a friendly voice shout in + his rear, and propose to him a partner on the road. He slackened his pace, + and was quickly joined by a youth well known to him, a gentleman of some + fortune in that remote country, and who had been abroad on the same errand + with himself. Young Earnscliff, “of that ilk,” had lately come of age, and + succeeded to a moderate fortune, a good deal dilapidated, from the share + his family had taken in the disturbances of the period. They were much and + generally respected in the country; a reputation which this young + gentleman seemed likely to sustain, as he was well educated, and of + excellent dispositions. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Earnscliff;” exclaimed Hobbie, “I am glad to meet your honour ony + gate, and company’s blithe on a bare moor like this—it’s an unco + bogilly bit—Where hae ye been sporting?” + </p> + <p> + “Up the Carla Cleugh, Hobbie,” answered Earnscliff, returning his + greeting. “But will our dogs keep the peace, think you?” + </p> + <p> + “Deil a fear o’ mine,” said Hobbie, “they hae scarce a leg to stand on.—Odd! + the deer’s fled the country, I think! I have been as far as + Inger-fell-foot, and deil a horn has Hobbie seen, excepting three red-wud + raes, that never let me within shot of them, though I gaed a mile round to + get up the wind to them, an’ a’. Deil o’ me wad care muckle, only I wanted + some venison to our auld gude-dame. The carline, she sits in the neuk + yonder, upbye, and cracks about the grand shooters and hunters lang syne—Odd, + I think they hae killed a’ the deer in the country, for my part.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Hobbie, I have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliff this + morning—you shall have half of him for your grandmother.” + </p> + <p> + “Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, ye’re kend to a’ the country for a kind + heart. It will do the auld wife’s heart gude—mair by token, when she + kens it comes frae you—and maist of a’ gin ye’ll come up and take + your share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now in the auld tower, and a’ + your folk at that weary Edinburgh. I wonder what they can find to do amang + a wheen ranks o’ stane-houses wi’ slate on the tap o’ them, that might + live on their ain bonny green hills.” + </p> + <p> + “My education and my sisters’ has kept my mother much in Edinburgh for + several years,” said Earnscliff; “but I promise you I propose to make up + for lost time.” + </p> + <p> + “And ye’ll rig out the auld tower a bit,” said Hobbie, “and live hearty + and neighbour-like wi’ the auld family friends, as the Laird o’ Earnscliff + should? I can tell ye, my mother—my grandmother I mean—but, + since we lost our ain mother, we ca’ her sometimes the tane, and sometimes + the tother—but, ony gate, she conceits hersell no that distant + connected wi’ you.” + </p> + <p> + “Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinner to-morrow + with all my heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Weel, that’s kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we were nae kin—and + my gude-dame’s fain to see you—she clavers about your father that + was killed lang syne.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush, Hobbie—not a word about that—it’s a story better + forgotten.” + </p> + <p> + “I dinna ken—if it had chanced amang our folk, we wad hae keepit it + in mind mony a day till we got some mends for’t—but ye ken your ain + ways best, you lairds—I have heard say that Ellieslaw’s friend + stickit your sire after the laird himsell had mastered his sword.” + </p> + <p> + “Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine and politics—many + swords were drawn—it is impossible to say who struck the blow.” + </p> + <p> + “At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I am sure if ye + were sae disposed as to take amends on him, naebody could say it was + wrang, for your father’s blood is beneath his nails—and besides + there’s naebody else left that was concerned to take amends upon, and he’s + a prelatist and a jacobite into the bargain—I can tell ye the + country folk look for something atween ye.” + </p> + <p> + “O for shame, Hobbie!” replied the young Laird; “you, that profess + religion, to stir your friend up to break the law, and take vengeance at + his own hand, and in such a bogilly bit too, where we know not what beings + may be listening to us!” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush!” said Hobbie, drawing nearer to his companion, “I was nae + thinking o’ the like o’ them—But I can guess a wee bit what keeps + your hand up, Mr. Patrick; we a’ ken it’s no lack o’ courage, but the twa + grey een of a bonny lass, Miss Isabel Vere, that keeps you sae sober.” + </p> + <p> + “I assure you, Hobbie,” said his companion, rather angrily, “I assure you + you are mistaken; and it is extremely wrong of you, either to think of, or + to utter, such an idea; I have no idea of permitting freedoms to be + carried so far as to connect my name with that of any young lady.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, there now—there now!” retorted Elliot; “did I not say it was + nae want o’ spunk that made ye sae mim?—Weel, weel, I meant nae + offence; but there’s just ae thing ye may notice frae a friend. The auld + Laird of Ellieslaw has the auld riding blood far hetter at his heart than + ye hae—troth, he kens naething about thae newfangled notions o’ + peace and quietness—he’s a’ for the auld-warld doings o’ lifting and + laying on, and he has a wheen stout lads at his back too, and keeps them + weel up in heart, and as fu’ o’ mischief as young colts. Where he gets the + gear to do’t nane can say; he lives high, and far abune his rents here; + however, he pays his way—Sae, if there’s ony out-break in the + country, he’s likely to break out wi’ the first—and weel does he + mind the auld quarrels between ye, I’m surmizing he’ll be for a touch at + the auld tower at Earnscliff.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Hobbie,” answered the young gentleman, “if he should be so ill + advised, I shall try to make the old tower good against him, as it has + been made good by my betters against his betters many a day ago.” + </p> + <p> + “Very right—very right—that’s speaking like a man now,” said + the stout yeoman; “and, if sae should be that this be sae, if ye’ll just + gar your servant jow out the great bell in the tower, there’s me, and my + twa brothers, and little Davie of the Stenhouse, will be wi’ you, wi’ a’ + the power we can make, in the snapping of a flint.” + </p> + <p> + “Many thanks, Hobbie,” answered Earnscliff; “but I hope we shall have no + war of so unnatural and unchristian a kind in our time.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, sir, hout,” replied Elliot; “it wad be but a wee bit neighbour war, + and Heaven and earth would make allowances for it in this uncultivated + place—it’s just the nature o’ the folk and the land—we canna + live quiet like Loudon folk—we haena sae muckle to do. It’s + impossible.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Hobbie,” said the Laird, “for one who believes so deeply as you do + in supernatural appearances, I must own you take Heaven in your own hand + rather audaciously, considering where we are walking.” + </p> + <p> + “What needs I care for the Mucklestane-Moor ony mair than ye do yoursell, + Earnscliff?” said Hobbie, something offended; “to be sure, they do say + there’s a sort o’ worricows and lang-nebbit things about the land, but + what need I care for them? I hae a good conscience, and little to answer + for, unless it be about a rant amang the lasses, or a splore at a fair, + and that’s no muckle to speak of. Though I say it mysell, I am as quiet a + lad and as peaceable—” + </p> + <p> + “And Dick Turnbull’s head that you broke, and Willie of Winton whom you + shot at?” said his travelling companion. + </p> + <p> + “Hout, Earnscliff, ye keep a record of a’ men’s misdoings—Dick’s + head’s healed again, and we’re to fight out the quarrel at Jeddart, on the + Rood-day, so that’s like a thing settled in a peaceable way; and then I am + friends wi’ Willie again, puir chield—it was but twa or three hail + draps after a’. I wad let onybody do the like o’t to me for a pint o’ + brandy. But Willie’s lowland bred, poor fallow, and soon frighted for + himsell—And, for the worricows, were we to meet ane on this very bit—” + </p> + <p> + “As is not unlikely,” said young Earnscliff, “for there stands your old + witch, Hobbie.” + </p> + <p> + “I say,” continued Elliot, as if indignant at this hint—“I say, if + the auld carline hersell was to get up out o’ the grund just before us + here, I would think nae mair—But, gude preserve us, Earnscliff; what + can yon, be!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Brown Dwarf, that o’er the moorland strays, + Thy name to Keeldar tell! + “The Brown Man of the Moor, that stays + Beneath the heather-bell.”—JOHN LEYDEN +</pre> + <p> + The object which alarmed the young farmer in the middle of his valorous + protestations, startled for a moment even his less prejudiced companion. + The moon, which had arisen during their conversation, was, in the phrase + of that country, wading or struggling with clouds, and shed only a + doubtful and occasional light. By one of her beams, which streamed upon + the great granite column to which they now approached, they discovered a + form, apparently human, but of a size much less than ordinary, which moved + slowly among the large grey stones, not like a person intending to journey + onward, but with the slow, irregular, flitting movement of a being who + hovers around some spot of melancholy recollection, uttering also, from + time to time, a sort of indistinct muttering sound. This so much resembled + his idea of the motions of an apparition, that Hobbie Elliot, making a + dead pause, while his hair erected itself upon his scalp, whispered to his + companion, “It’s Auld Ailie hersell! Shall I gie her a shot, in the name + of God?” + </p> + <p> + “For Heaven’s sake, no,” said his companion, holding down the weapon which + he was about to raise to the aim—“for Heaven’s sake, no; it’s some + poor distracted creature.” + </p> + <p> + “Ye’re distracted yoursell, for thinking of going so near to her,” said + Elliot, holding his companion in his turn, as he prepared to advance. + “We’ll aye hae time to pit ower a bit prayer (an I could but mind ane) + afore she comes this length—God! she’s in nae hurry,” continued he, + growing bolder from his companion’s confidence, and the little notice the + apparition seemed to take of them. “She hirples like a hen on a het + girdle. I redd ye, Earnscliff” (this he added in a gentle whisper), “let + us take a cast about, as if to draw the wind on a buck—the bog is no + abune knee-deep, and better a saft road as bad company.” [The Scots use + the epithet soft, IN MALAM PARTEM, in two cases, at least. A SOFT road is + a road through quagmire and bogs; and SOFT weather signifies that which is + very rainy.] + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff, however, in spite of his companion’s resistance and + remonstrances, continued to advance on the path they had originally + pursued, and soon confronted the object of their investigation. + </p> + <p> + The height of the figure, which appeared even to decrease as they + approached it, seemed to be under four feet, and its form, as far as the + imperfect light afforded them the means of discerning, was very nearly as + broad as long, or rather of a spherical shape, which could only be + occasioned by some strange personal deformity. The young sportsman hailed + this extraordinary appearance twice, without receiving any answer, or + attending to the pinches by which his companion endeavoured to intimate + that their best course was to walk on, without giving farther disturbance + to a being of such singular and preternatural exterior. To the third + repeated demand of “Who are you? What do you here at this hour of night?”—a + voice replied, whose shrill, uncouth, and dissonant tones made Elliot step + two paces back, and startled even his companion, “Pass on your way, and + ask nought at them that ask nought at you.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you do here so far from shelter? Are you benighted on your + journey? Will you follow us home (‘God forbid!’ ejaculated Hobbie Elliot, + involuntarily), and I will give you a lodging?” + </p> + <p> + “I would sooner lodge by mysell in the deepest of the Tarras-flow,” again + whispered Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Pass on your way,” rejoined the figure, the harsh tones of his voice + still more exalted by passion. “I want not your guidance—I want not + your lodging—it is five years since my head was under a human roof, + and I trust it was for the last time.” + </p> + <p> + “He is mad,” said Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “He has a look of auld Humphrey Ettercap, the tinkler, that perished in + this very moss about five years syne,” answered his superstitious + companion; “but Humphrey wasna that awfu’ big in the bouk.” + </p> + <p> + “Pass on your way,” reiterated the object of their curiosity, “the breath + of your human bodies poisons the air around me—the sound of pour + human voices goes through my ears like sharp bodkins.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord safe us!” whispered Hobbie, “that the dead should bear sie fearfu’ + ill-will to the living!—his saul maun be in a puir way, I’m + jealous.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, my friend,” said Earnscliff, “you seem to suffer under some strong + affliction; common humanity will not allow us to leave you here.” + </p> + <p> + “Common humanity!” exclaimed the being, with a scornful laugh that sounded + like a shriek, “where got ye that catch-word—that noose for + woodcocks—that common disguise for man-traps—that bait which + the wretched idiot who swallows, will soon find covers a hook with barbs + ten times sharper than those you lay for the animals which you murder for + your luxury!” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you, my friend,” again replied Earnscliff, “you are incapable of + judging of your own situation—you will perish in this wilderness, + and we must, in compassion, force you along with us.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ll hae neither hand nor foot in’t,” said Hobbie; “let the ghaist take + his ain way, for God’s sake!” + </p> + <p> + “My blood be on my own head, if I perish here,” said the figure; and, + observing Earnscliff meditating to lay hold on him, he added, “And your + blood be upon yours, if you touch but the skirt of my garments, to infect + me with the taint of mortality!” + </p> + <p> + The moon shone more brightly as he spoke thus, and Earnscliff observed + that he held out his right hand armed with some weapon of offence, which + glittered in the cold ray like the blade of a long knife, or the barrel of + a pistol. It would have been madness to persevere in his attempt upon a + being thus armed, and holding such desperate language, especially as it + was plain he would have little aid from his companion, who had fairly left + him to settle matters with the apparition as he could, and had proceeded a + few paces on his way homeward. Earnscliff, however, turned and followed + Hobbie, after looking back towards the supposed maniac, who, as if raised + to frenzy by the interview, roamed wildly around the great stone, + exhausting his voice in shrieks and imprecations, that thrilled wildly + along the waste heath. + </p> + <p> + The two sportsmen moved on some time in silence, until they were out of + hearing of these uncouth sounds, which was not ere they had gained a + considerable distance from the pillar that gave name to the moor. Each + made his private comments on the scene they had witnessed, until Hobbie + Elliot suddenly exclaimed, “Weel, I’ll uphaud that yon ghaist, if it be a + ghaist, has baith done and suffered muckle evil in the flesh, that gars + him rampauge in that way after he is dead and gane.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to me the very madness of misanthropy,” said Earnscliff; + following his own current of thought. + </p> + <p> + “And ye didna think it was a spiritual creature, then?” asked Hobbie at + his companion. + </p> + <p> + “Who, I?—No, surely.” + </p> + <p> + “Weel, I am partly of the mind mysell that it may be a live thing—and + yet I dinna ken, I wadna wish to see ony thing look liker a bogle.” + </p> + <p> + “At any rate,” said Earnscliff, “I will ride over to-morrow and see what + has become of the unhappy being.” + </p> + <p> + “In fair daylight?” queried the yeoman; “then, grace o’ God, I’se be wi’ + ye. But here we are nearer to Heugh-foot than to your house by twa mile,—hadna + ye better e’en gae hame wi’ me, and we’ll send the callant on the powny to + tell them that you are wi’ us, though I believe there’s naebody at hame to + wait for you but the servants and the cat.” + </p> + <p> + “Have with you then, friend Hobbie,” said the young hunter; “and as I + would not willingly have either the servants be anxious, or puss forfeit + her supper, in my absence, I’ll be obliged to you to send the boy as you + propose.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, that IS kind, I must say. And ye’ll gae hame to Heugh-foot? + They’ll be right blithe to see you, that will they.” + </p> + <p> + This affair settled, they walked briskly on a little farther, when, coming + to the ridge of a pretty steep hill, Hobbie Elliot exclaimed, “Now, + Earnscliff, I am aye glad when I come to this very bit—Ye see the + light below, that’s in the ha’ window, where grannie, the gash auld + carline, is sitting birling at her wheel—and ye see yon other light + that’s gaun whiddin’ back and forrit through amang the windows? that’s my + cousin, Grace Armstrong,—she’s twice as clever about the house as my + sisters, and sae they say themsells, for they’re good-natured lasses as + ever trode on heather; but they confess themsells, and sae does grannie, + that she has far maist action, and is the best goer about the toun, now + that grannie is off the foot hersell.—My brothers, ane o’ them’s + away to wait upon the chamberlain, and ane’s at Moss-phadraig, that’s our + led farm—he can see after the stock just as weel as I can do.” + </p> + <p> + “You are lucky, my good friend, in having so many valuable relations.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth am I—Grace make me thankful, I’se never deny it.—But + will ye tell me now, Earnscliff, you that have been at college, and the + high-school of Edinburgh, and got a’ sort o’ lair where it was to be best + gotten—will ye tell me—no that it’s ony concern of mine in + particular,—but I heard the priest of St. John’s, and our minister, + bargaining about it at the Winter fair, and troth they baith spak very + weel—Now, the priest says it’s unlawful to marry ane’s cousin; but I + cannot say I thought he brought out the Gospel authorities half sae weel + as our minister—our minister is thought the best divine and the best + preacher atween this and Edinburgh—Dinna ye think he was likely to + be right?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly marriage, by all protestant Christians, is held to be as free + as God made it by the Levitical law; so, Hobbie, there can be no bar, + legal or religious, betwixt you and Miss Armstrong.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout awa’ wi’ your joking, Earnscliff,” replied his companion,—“ye + are angry aneugh yoursell if ane touches you a bit, man, on the sooth side + of the jest—No that I was asking the question about Grace, for ye + maun ken she’s no my cousin-germain out and out, but the daughter of my + uncle’s wife by her first marriage, so she’s nae kith nor kin to me—only + a connexion like. But now we’re at the Sheeling-hill—I’ll fire off + my gun, to let them ken I’m coming, that’s aye my way; and if I hae a deer + I gie them twa shots, ane for the deer and ane for mysell.” + </p> + <p> + He fired off his piece accordingly, and the number of lights were seen to + traverse the house, and even to gleam before it. Hobbie Elliot pointed out + one of these to Earnscliff, which seemed to glide from the house towards + some of the outhouses-“That’s Grace hersell,” said Hobbie. “She’ll no meet + me at the door, I’se warrant her—but she’ll be awa’, for a’ that, to + see if my hounds’ supper be ready, poor beasts.” + </p> + <p> + “Love me, love my dog,” answered Earnscliff. “Ah, Hobbie, you are a lucky + young fellow!” + </p> + <p> + This observation was uttered with something like a sigh, which apparently + did not escape the ear of his companion. + </p> + <p> + “Hout, other folk may be as lucky as I am—O how I have seen Miss + Isabel Vere’s head turn after somebody when they passed ane another at the + Carlisle races! Wha kens but things may come round in this world?” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff muttered something like an answer; but whether in assent of the + proposition, or rebuking the application of it, could not easily be + discovered; and it seems probable that the speaker himself was willing his + meaning should rest in doubt and obscurity. They had now descended the + broad loaning, which, winding round the foot of the steep bank, or heugh, + brought them in front of the thatched, but comfortable, farm-house, which + was the dwelling of Hobbie Elliot and his family. + </p> + <p> + The doorway was thronged with joyful faces; but the appearance of a + stranger blunted many a gibe which had been prepared on Hobbie’s lack of + success in the deer-stalking. There was a little bustle among three + handsome young women, each endeavouring to devolve upon another the task + of ushering the stranger into the apartment, while probably all were + anxious to escape for the purpose of making some little personal + arrangements, before presenting themselves to a young gentleman in a + dishabille only intended for their brother. + </p> + <p> + Hobbie, in the meanwhile, bestowing some hearty and general abuse upon + them all (for Grace was not of the party), snatched the candle from the + hand of one of the rustic coquettes, as she stood playing pretty with it + in her hand, and ushered his guest into the family parlour, or rather + hall; for the place having been a house of defence in former times, the + sitting apartment was a vaulted and paved room, damp and dismal enough + compared with the lodgings of the yeomanry of our days, but which, when + well lighted up with a large sparkling fire of turf and bog-wood, seemed + to Earnscliff a most comfortable exchange for the darkness and bleak blast + of the hill. Kindly and repeatedly was he welcomed by the venerable old + dame, the mistress of the family, who, dressed in her coif and pinners, + her close and decent gown of homespun wool, but with a large gold necklace + and ear-rings, looked, what she really was, the lady as well as the + farmer’s wife, while, seated in her chair of wicker, by the corner of the + great chimney, she directed the evening occupations of the young women, + and of two or three stout serving wenches, who sate plying their distaffs + behind the backs of their young mistresses. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Earnscliff had been duly welcomed, and hasty orders issued for + some addition to the evening meal, his grand-dame and sisters opened their + battery upon Hobbie Elliot for his lack of success against the deer. + </p> + <p> + “Jenny needna have kept up her kitchen-fire for a’ that Hobbie has brought + hame,” said one sister. + </p> + <p> + “Troth no, lass,” said another; “the gathering peat, if it was weel blawn, + wad dress a’ our Hobbie’s venison.” [The gathering peat is the piece of + turf left to treasure up the secret seeds of fire, without any generous + consumption of fuel; in a word, to keep the fire alive.] + </p> + <p> + “Ay, or the low of the candle, if the wind wad let it hide steady,” said a + third; “if I were him, I would bring hame a black craw, rather than come + back three times without a buck’s horn to blaw on.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie turned from the one to the other, regarding them alternately with a + frown on his brow, the augury of which was confuted by the good-humoured + laugh on the lower part of his countenance. He then strove to propitiate + them, by mentioning the intended present of his companion. + </p> + <p> + “In my young days,” said the old lady, “a man wad hae been ashamed to come + back frae the hill without a buck hanging on each side o’ his horse, like + a cadger carrying calves.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish they had left some for us then, grannie,” retorted Hobbie; + “they’ve cleared the country o’ them, thae auld friends o’ yours, I’m + thinking.” + </p> + <p> + “We see other folk can find game, though you cannot, Hobbie,” said the + eldest sister, glancing a look at young Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “Weel, weel, woman, hasna every dog his day, begging Earnscliff’s pardon + for the auld saying—Mayna I hae his luck, and he mine, another time?—It’s + a braw thing for a man to be out a’ day, and frighted—na, I winna + say that neither but mistrysted wi’ bogles in the hame-coming, an’ then to + hae to flyte wi’ a wheen women that hae been doing naething a’ the + live-lang day, but whirling a bit stick, wi’ a thread trailing at it, or + boring at a clout.” + </p> + <p> + “Frighted wi’ bogles!” exclaimed the females, one and all,—for great + was the regard then paid, and perhaps still paid, in these glens, to all + such fantasies. + </p> + <p> + “I did not say frighted, now—I only said mis-set wi’ the thing—And + there was but ae bogle, neither—Earnscliff, ye saw it; as weel as I + did?” + </p> + <p> + And he proceeded, without very much exaggeration, to detail, in his own + way, the meeting they had with the mysterious being at Mucklestane-Moor, + concluding, he could not conjecture what on earth it could be, unless it + was either the Enemy himsell, or some of the auld Peghts that held the + country lang syne. + </p> + <p> + “Auld Peght!” exclaimed the grand-dame; “na, na—bless thee frae + scathe, my bairn, it’s been nae Peght that—it’s been the Brown Man + of the Moors! O weary fa’ thae evil days!—what can evil beings be + coming for to distract a poor country, now it’s peacefully settled, and + living in love and law—O weary on him! he ne’er brought gude to + these lands or the indwellers. My father aften tauld me he was seen in the + year o’ the bloody fight at Marston-Moor, and then again in Montrose’s + troubles, and again before the rout o’ Dunbar, and, in my ain time, he was + seen about the time o’ Bothwell-Brigg, and they said the second-sighted + Laird of Benarbuck had a communing wi’ him some time afore Argyle’s + landing, but that I cannot speak to sae preceesely—it was far in the + west.—O, bairns, he’s never permitted but in an ill time, sae mind + ilka ane o’ ye to draw to Him that can help in the day of trouble.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff now interposed, and expressed his firm conviction that the + person they had seen was some poor maniac, and had no commission from the + invisible world to announce either war or evil. But his opinion found a + very cold audience, and all joined to deprecate his purpose of returning + to the spot the next day. + </p> + <p> + “O, my bonny bairn,” said the old dame (for, in the kindness of her heart, + she extended her parental style to all in whom she was interested)—-“You + should beware mair than other folk—there’s been a heavy breach made + in your house wi’ your father’s bloodshed, and wi’ law-pleas, and losses + sinsyne;—and you are the flower of the flock, and the lad that will + build up the auld bigging again (if it be His will) to be an honour to the + country, and a safeguard to those that dwell in it—you, before + others, are called upon to put yoursell in no rash adventures—for + yours was aye ower venturesome a race, and muckle harm they have got by + it.” + </p> + <p> + “But I am sure, my good friend, you would not have me be afraid of going + to an open moor in broad daylight?” + </p> + <p> + “I dinna ken,” said the good old dame; “I wad never bid son or friend o’ + mine haud their hand back in a gude cause, whether it were a friend’s or + their ain—that should be by nae bidding of mine, or of ony body + that’s come of a gentle kindred—But it winna gang out of a grey head + like mine, that to gang to seek for evil that’s no fashing wi’ you, is + clean against law and Scripture.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of maintaining + with good effect, and the entrance of supper broke off the conversation. + Miss Grace had by this time made her appearance, and Hobbie, not without a + conscious glance at Earnscliff, placed himself by her side. Mirth and + lively conversation, in which the old lady of the house took the + good-humoured share which so well becomes old age, restored to the cheeks + of the damsels the roses which their brother’s tale of the apparition had + chased away, and they danced and sung for an hour after supper as if there + were no such things as goblins in the world. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind; + For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, + That I might love thee something.—TIMON OF ATHENS +</pre> + <p> + On the following morning, after breakfast, Earnscliff took leave of his + hospitable friends, promising to return in time to partake of the venison, + which had arrived from his house. Hobbie, who apparently took leave of him + at the door of his habitation, slunk out, however, and joined him at the + top of the hill. + </p> + <p> + “Ye’ll be gaun yonder, Mr. Patrick; feind o’ me will mistryst you for a’ + my mother says. I thought it best to slip out quietly though, in case she + should mislippen something of what we’re gaun to do—we maunna vex + her at nae rate—it was amaist the last word my father said to me on + his deathbed.” + </p> + <p> + “By no means, Hobbie,” said Earnscliff; “she well merits all your + attention.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, for that matter, she would be as sair vexed amaist for you as for + me. But d’ye really think there’s nae presumption in venturing back + yonder?—We hae nae special commission, ye ken.” + </p> + <p> + “If I thought as you do, Hobbie,” said the young gentleman, “I would not + perhaps enquire farther into this business; but as I am of opinion that + preternatural visitations are either ceased altogether, or become very + rare in our days, I am unwilling to leave a matter uninvestigated which + may concern the life of a poor distracted being.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, aweel, if ye really think that,” answered Hobbie doubtfully—“And + it’s for certain the very fairies—I mean the very good neighbours + themsells (for they say folk suldna ca’ them fairies) that used to be seen + on every green knowe at e’en, are no half sae often visible in our days. I + canna depone to having ever seen ane mysell, but, I ance heard ane whistle + ahint me in the moss, as like a whaup [Curlew] as ae thing could be like + anither. And mony ane my father saw when he used to come hame frae the + fairs at e’en, wi’ a drap drink in his head, honest man.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension of + superstition from one generation to another which was inferred In this + last observation; and they continued to reason on such subjects, until + they came in sight of the upright stone which gave name to the moor. + </p> + <p> + “As I shall answer,” says Hobbie, “yonder’s the creature creeping about + yet!—But it’s daylight, and you have your gun, and I brought out my + bit whinger—I think we may venture on him.” + </p> + <p> + “By all manner of means,” said Earnscliff; “but, in the name of wonder, + what can he be doing there?” + </p> + <p> + “Biggin a dry-stane dyke, I think, wi’ the grey geese, as they ca’ thae + great loose stanes—Odd, that passes a’ thing I e’er heard tell of!” + </p> + <p> + As they approached nearer, Earnscliff could not help agreeing with his + companion. The figure they had seen the night before seemed slowly and + toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones one upon another, as if to + form a small enclosure. Materials lay around him in great plenty, but the + labour of carrying on the work was immense, from the size of most of the + stones; and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in moving + several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his edifice. + He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the two young men + came up, and was so intent upon executing his purpose, that he did not + perceive them till they were close upon him. In straining and heaving at + the stone, in order to place it according to his wish, he displayed a + degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with his size and + apparent deformity. Indeed, to judge from the difficulties he had already + surmounted, he must have been of Herculean powers; for some of the stones + he had succeeded in raising apparently required two men’s strength to have + moved them. Hobbie’s suspicions began to revive, on seeing the + preternatural strength he exerted. + </p> + <p> + “I am amaist persuaded it’s the ghaist of a stane-mason—see siccan + band-statnes as he’s laid i—An it be a man, after a’, I wonder what + he wad take by the rood to build a march dyke. There’s ane sair wanted + between Cringlehope and the Shaws.—Honest man” (raising his voice), + “ye make good firm wark there?” + </p> + <p> + The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare, and, + getting up from his stooping posture, stood before them in all his native + and hideous deformity. His head was of uncommon size, covered with a fell + of shaggy hair, partly grizzled with age; his eyebrows, shaggy and + prominent, overhung a pair of small dark, piercing eyes, set far back in + their sockets, that rolled with a portentous wildness, indicative of a + partial insanity. The rest of his features were of the coarse, rough-hewn + stamp, with which a painter would equip a giant in romance; to which was + added the wild, irregular, and peculiar expression, so often seen in the + countenances of those whose persons are deformed. His body, thick and + square, like that of a man of middle size, was mounted upon two large + feet; but nature seemed to have forgotten the legs and the thighs, or they + were so very short as to be hidden by the dress which he wore. His arms + were long and brawny, furnished with two muscular hands, and, where + uncovered in the eagerness of his labour, were shagged with coarse black + hair. It seemed as if nature had originally intended the separate parts of + his body to be the members of a giant, but had afterwards capriciously + assigned them to the person of a dwarf, so ill did the length of his arms + and the iron strength of his frame correspond with the shortness of his + stature. His clothing was a sort of coarse brown tunic, like a monk’s + frock, girt round him with a belt of seal-skin. On his head he had a cap + made of badger’s skin, or some other rough fur, which added considerably + to the grotesque effect of his whole appearance, and overshadowed + features, whose habitual expression seemed that of sullen malignant + misanthropy. + </p> + <p> + This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence, with a dogged + and irritated look, until Earnscliff, willing to soothe him into better + temper, observed, “You are hard tasked, my friend; allow us to assist + you.” + </p> + <p> + Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone, by their joint efforts, upon + the rising wall. The Dwarf watched them with the eye of a taskmaster, and + testified, by peevish gestures, his impatience at the time which they took + in adjusting the stone. He pointed to another—they raised it also—to + a third, to a fourth—they continued to humour him, though with some + trouble, for he assigned them, as if intentionally, the heaviest fragments + which lay near. + </p> + <p> + “And now, friend,” said Elliot, as the unreasonable Dwarf indicated + another stone larger than any they had moved, “Earnscliff may do as he + likes; but be ye man or be ye waur, deil be in my fingers if I break my + back wi’ heaving thae stanes ony langer like a barrow-man, without getting + sae muckle as thanks for my pains.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks!” exclaimed the Dwarf, with a motion expressive of the utmost + contempt—“There—take them, and fatten upon them! Take them, + and may they thrive with you as they have done with me—as they have + done with every mortal worm that ever heard the word spoken by his fellow + reptile! Hence—either labour or begone!” + </p> + <p> + “This is a fine reward we have, Earnscliff, for building a tabernacle for + the devil, and prejudicing our ain souls into the bargain, for what we + ken.” + </p> + <p> + “Our presence,” answered Earnscliff, “seems only to irritate his frenzy; + we had better leave him, and send some one to provide him with food and + necessaries.” + </p> + <p> + They did so. The servant dispatched for this purpose found the Dwarf still + labouring at his wall, but could not extract a word from him. The lad, + infected with the superstitions of the country, did not long persist in an + attempt to intrude questions or advice on so singular a figure, but having + placed the articles which he had brought for his use on a stone at some + distance, he left them at the misanthrope’s disposal. + </p> + <p> + The Dwarf proceeded in his labours, day after day, with an assiduity so + incredible as to appear almost supernatural. In one day he often seemed to + have done the work of two men, and his building soon assumed the + appearance of the walls of a hut, which, though very small, and + constructed only of stones and turf, without any mortar, exhibited, from + the unusual size of the stones employed, an appearance of solidity very + uncommon for a cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction. + Earnscliff; attentive to his motions, no sooner perceived to what they + tended, than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable for forming + the roof, which he caused to be left in the neighbourhood of the spot, + resolving next day to send workmen to put them up. But his purpose was + anticipated, for in the evening, during the night, and early in the + morning, the Dwarf had laboured so hard, and with such ingenuity, that he + had nearly completed the adjustment of the rafters. His next labour was to + cut rushes and thatch his dwelling, a task which he performed with + singular dexterity. + </p> + <p> + As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional assistance of + a passenger, materials suitable to his purpose, and tools, were supplied + to him, in the use of which he proved to be skilful. He constructed the + door and window of his cot, he adjusted a rude bedstead, and a few + shelves, and appeared to become somewhat soothed in his temper as his + accommodations increased. + </p> + <p> + His next task was to form a strong enclosure, and to cultivate the land + within it to the best of his power; until, by transporting mould, and + working up what was upon the spot, he formed a patch of garden-ground. It + must be naturally supposed, that, as above hinted, this solitary being + received assistance occasionally from such travellers as crossed the moor + by chance, as well as from several who went from curiosity to visit his + works. It was, indeed, impossible to see a human creature, so unfitted, at + first sight, for hard labour, toiling with such unremitting assiduity, + without stopping a few minutes to aid him in his task; and, as no one of + his occasional assistants was acquainted with the degree of help which the + Dwarf had received from others, the celerity of his progress lost none of + its marvels in their eyes. The strong and compact appearance of the + cottage, formed in so very short a space, and by such a being, and the + superior skill which he displayed in mechanics, and in other arts, gave + suspicion to the surrounding neighbours. They insisted, that, if he was + not a phantom,—an opinion which was now abandoned, since he plainly + appeared a being of blood and bone with themselves,—yet he must be + in close league with the invisible world, and have chosen that sequestered + spot to carry on his communication with them undisturbed. They insisted, + though in a different sense from the philosopher’s application of the + phrase, that he was never less alone than when alone; and that from the + heights which commanded the moor at a distance, passengers often + discovered a person at work along with this dweller of the desert, who + regularly disappeared as soon as they approached closer to the cottage. + Such a figure was also occasionally seen sitting beside him at the door, + walking with him in the moor, or assisting him in fetching water from his + fountain. Earnscliff explained this phenomenon by supposing it to be the + Dwarf’s shadow. + </p> + <p> + “Deil a shadow has he,” replied Hobbie Elliot, who was a strenuous + defender of the general opinion; “he’s ower far in wi’ the Auld Ane to + have a shadow. Besides,” he argued more logically, “wha ever heard of a + shadow that cam between a body and the sun? and this thing, be it what it + will, is thinner and taller than the body himsell, and has been seen to + come between him and the sun mair than anes or twice either.” + </p> + <p> + These suspicions, which, in any other part of the country, might have been + attended with investigations a little inconvenient to the supposed wizard, + were here only productive of respect and awe. The recluse being seemed + somewhat gratified by the marks of timid veneration with which an + occasional passenger approached his dwelling, the look of startled + surprise with which he surveyed his person and his premises, and the + hurried step with which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful + spot. The boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty + glance at the walls of his cottage and garden, and to apologize for it by + a courteous salutation, which the inmate sometimes deigned to return by a + word or a nod. Earnscliff often passed that way, and seldom without + enquiring after the solitary inmate, who seemed now to have arranged his + establishment for life. + </p> + <p> + It was impossible to engage him in any conversation on his own personal + affairs; nor was he communicative or accessible in talking on any other + subject whatever, although he seemed to have considerably relented in the + extreme ferocity of his misanthropy, or rather to be less frequently + visited with the fits of derangement of which this was a symptom. No + argument could prevail upon him to accept anything beyond the simplest + necessaries, although much more was offered by Earnscliff out of charity, + and by his more superstitious neighbours from other motives. The benefits + of these last he repaid by advice, when consulted (as at length he slowly + was) on their diseases, or those of their cattle. He often furnished them + with medicines also, and seemed possessed, not only of such as were the + produce of the country, but of foreign drugs. He gave these persons to + understand, that his name was Elshender the Recluse; but his popular + epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie, or the Wise Wight of + Mucklestane-Moor. Some extended their queries beyond their bodily + complaints, and requested advice upon other matters, which he delivered + with an oracular shrewdness that greatly confirmed the opinion of his + possessing preternatural skill. The querists usually left some offering + upon a stone, at a distance from his dwelling; if it was money, or any + article which did not suit him to accept, he either threw it away, or + suffered it to remain where it was without making use of it. On all + occasions his manners were rude and unsocial; and his words, in number, + just sufficient to express his meaning as briefly as possible, and he + shunned all communication that went a syllable beyond the matter in hand. + When winter had passed away, and his garden began to afford him herbs and + vegetables, he confined himself almost entirely to those articles of food. + He accepted, notwithstanding, a pair of she-goats from Earnscliff, which + fed on the moor, and supplied him with milk. + </p> + <p> + When Earnscliff found his gift had been received, he soon afterwards paid + the hermit a visit. The old man was seated an a broad flat stone near his + garden door, which was the seat of science he usually occupied when + disposed to receive his patients or clients. The inside of his hut, and + that of his garden, he kept as sacred from human intrusion as the natives + of Otaheite do their Morai;—apparently he would have deemed it + polluted by the step of any human being. When he shut himself up in his + habitation, no entreaty could prevail upon him to make himself visible, or + to give audience to any one whomsoever. + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff had been fishing in a small river at some distance. He had his + rod in his hand, and his basket, filled with trout, at his shoulder. He + sate down upon a stone nearly opposite to the Dwarf who, familiarized with + his presence, took no farther notice of him than by elevating his huge + mis-shapen head for the purpose of staring at him, and then again sinking + it upon his bosom, as if in profound meditation. Earnscliff looked around + him, and observed that the hermit had increased his accommodations by the + construction of a shed for the reception of his goats. + </p> + <p> + “You labour hard, Elshie,” he said, willing to lead this singular being + into conversation. + </p> + <p> + “Labour,” re-echoed the Dwarf, “is the mildest evil of a lot so miserable + as that of mankind; better to labour like me, than sport like you.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports, Elshie, and + yet—” + </p> + <p> + “And yet,” interrupted the Dwarf, “they are better than your ordinary + business; better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on mute fishes than + on your fellow-creatures. Yet why should I say so? Why should not the + whole human herd butt, gore, and gorge upon each other, till all are + extirpated but one huge and over-fed Behemoth, and he, when he had + throttled and gnawed the bones of all his fellows—he, when his prey + failed him, to be roaring whole days for lack of food, and, finally, to + die, inch by inch, of famine—it were a consummation worthy of the + race!” + </p> + <p> + “Your deeds are better, Elshie, than your words,” answered Earnscliff; + “you labour to preserve the race whom your misanthropy slanders.” + </p> + <p> + “I do; but why?—Hearken. You are one on whom I look with the least + loathing, and I care not, if, contrary to my wont, I waste a few words in + compassion to your infatuated blindness. If I cannot send disease into + families, and murrain among the herds, can I attain the same end so well + as by prolonging the lives of those who can serve the purpose of + destruction as effectually?—If Alice of Bower had died in winter, + would young Ruthwin have been slain for her love the last spring?—Who + thought of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of + Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death-bed?—My draughts, my + skill, recovered him. And, now, who dare leave his herd upon the lea + without a watch, or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth-hound?” + </p> + <p> + “I own,” answered Earnscliff; “you did little good to society by the last + of these cures. But, to balance the evil, there is my friend Hobbie, + honest Hobbie of the Heugh-foot, your skill relieved him last winter in a + fever that might have cost him his life.” + </p> + <p> + “Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance,” said: the Dwarf, + smiling maliciously, “and thus they speak in their folly. Have you marked + the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated, how sportive, how + playful, how gentle,—but trust him with your game, your lambs, your + poultry, his inbred ferocity breaks forth; he gripes, tears, ravages, and + devours.” + </p> + <p> + “Such is the animal’s instinct,” answered Earnscliff; “but what has that + to do with Hobbie?” + </p> + <p> + “It is his emblem—it is his picture,” retorted the Recluse. “He is + at present tame, quiet, and domesticated, for lack of opportunity to + exercise his inborn propensities; but let the trumpet of war sound—let + the young blood-hound snuff blood, he will be as ferocious as the wildest + of his Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasant’s abode. Can + you deny, that even at present he often urges you to take bloody revenge + for an injury received when you were a boy?”—Earnscliff started; the + Recluse appeared not to observe his surprise, and proceeded—“The + trumpet WILL blow, the young blood-hound WILL lap blood, and I will laugh + and say, For this I have preserved thee!” He paused, and continued,—“Such + are my cures;—their object, their purpose, perpetuating the mass of + misery, and playing even in this desert my part in the general tragedy. + Were YOU on your sick bed, I might, in compassion, send you a cup of + poison.” + </p> + <p> + “I am much obliged to you, Elshie, and certainly shall not fail to consult + you, with so comfortable a hope from your assistance.” + </p> + <p> + “Do not flatter yourself too far,” replied the Hermit, “with the hope that + I will positively yield to the frailty of pity. Why should I snatch a + dupe, so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are, from the + wretchedness which his own visions, and the villainy of the world, are + preparing for him? Why should I play the compassionate Indian, and, + knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk, at once spoil the + three days’ amusement of my kindred tribe, at the very moment when the + brands were lighted, the pincers heated, the cauldrons boiling, the knives + sharpened, to tear, scorch, seethe, and scarify the intended victim?” + </p> + <p> + “A dreadful picture you present to me of life, Elshie; but I am not + daunted by it,” returned Earnscliff. “We are sent here, in one sense, to + bear and to suffer; but, in another, to do and to enjoy. The active day + has its evening of repose; even patient sufferance has its alleviations, + where there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged.” + </p> + <p> + “I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine,” said the Dwarf, his eyes + kindling with insane fury,—“I spurn at it, as worthy only of the + beasts that perish; but I will waste no more words with you.” + </p> + <p> + He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, with great + vehemence, “Yet, lest you still think my apparent benefits to mankind flow + from the stupid and servile source, called love of our fellow-creatures, + know, that were there a man who had annihilated my soul’s dearest hope—who + had torn my heart to mammocks, and seared my brain till it glowed like a + volcano, and were that man’s fortune and life in my power as completely as + this frail potsherd” (he snatched up an earthen cup which stood beside + him), “I would not dash him into atoms thus”—(he flung the vessel + with fury against the wall),—“No!” (he spoke more composedly, but + with the utmost bitterness), “I would pamper him with wealth and power to + inflame his evil passions, and to fulfil his evil designs; he should lack + no means of vice and villainy; he should be the centre of a whirlpool that + itself should know neither rest nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, + while it wrecked every goodly ship that approached its limits! he should + be an earthquake capable of shaking the very land in which he dwelt, and + rendering all its inhabitants friendless, outcast, and miserable—as + I am!” + </p> + <p> + The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words, + shutting the door with furious violence, and rapidly drawing two bolts, + one after another, as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that hated + race, who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy. Earnscliff left the moor + with mingled sensations of pity and horror, pondering what strange and + melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of mind, a man + whose language argued him to be of rank and education much superior to the + vulgar. He was also surprised to see how much particular information a + person who had lived in that country so short a time, and in so recluse a + manner, had been able to collect respecting the dispositions and private + affairs of the inhabitants. + </p> + <p> + “It is no wonder,” he said to himself, “that with such extent of + information, such a mode of life, so uncouth a figure, and sentiments so + virulently misanthropic, this unfortunate should be regarded by the vulgar + as in league with the Enemy of Mankind.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath + Feels, in its barrenness, some touch of spring; + And, in the April dew, or beam of May, + Its moss and lichen freshen and revive; + And thus the heart, most sear’d to human pleasure, + Melts at the tear, joys in the smile, of woman.—BEAUMONT +</pre> + <p> + As the season advanced, the weather became more genial, and the Recluse + was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone in the front of + his mansion. As he sate there one day, about the hour of noon, a party of + gentlemen and ladies, well mounted, and numerously attended, swept across + the heath at some distance from his dwelling. Dogs, hawks, and led-horses + swelled the retinue, and the air resounded at intervals with the cheer of + the hunters, and the sound of horns blown by the attendants. The Recluse + was about to retire into his mansion at the sight of a train so joyous, + when three young ladies, with their attendants, who had made a circuit, + and detached themselves from their party, in order to gratify their + curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight of Mucklestane-Moor, came suddenly + up, ere he could effect his purpose. The first shrieked, and put her hands + before her eyes, at sight of an object so unusually deformed. The second, + with a hysterical giggle, which she intended should disguise her terrors, + asked the Recluse, whether he could tell their fortune. The third, who was + best mounted, best dressed, and incomparably the best-looking of the + three, advanced, as if to cover the incivility of her companions. + </p> + <p> + “We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses, and our + party have gone forward without us,” said the young lady. “Seeing you, + father, at the door of your house, we have turned this way to—” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” interrupted the Dwarf; “so young, and already so artful? You came—you + know you came, to exult in the consciousness of your own youth, wealth, + and beauty, by contrasting them with age, poverty, and deformity. It is a + fit employment for the daughter of your father; but O how unlike the child + of your mother!” + </p> + <p> + “Did you, then, know my parents, and do you know me?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes, but I have + seen you in my dreams.” + </p> + <p> + “Your dreams?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Isabel Vere. What hast thou, or thine, to do with my waking + thoughts?” + </p> + <p> + “Your waking thoughts, sir,” said the second of Miss Vere’s companions, + with a sort of mock gravity, “are fixed, doubtless, upon wisdom; folly can + only intrude on your sleeping moments.” + </p> + <p> + “Over thine,” retorted the Dwarf, more splenetically than became a + philosopher or hermit, “folly exercises an unlimited empire, asleep or + awake.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord bless us!” said the lady, “he’s a prophet, sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + “As surely,” continued the Recluse, “as thou art a woman.—A woman!—I + should have said a lady—a fine lady. You asked me to tell your + fortune—it is a simple one; an endless chase through life after + follies not worth catching, and, when caught, successively thrown away—a + chase, pursued from the days of tottering infancy to those of old age upon + his crutches. Toys and merry-makings in childhood—love and its + absurdities in youth—spadille and basto in age, shall succeed each + other as objects of pursuit—flowers and butterflies in spring—butterflies + and thistle-down in summer—withered leaves in autumn and winter—all + pursued, all caught, all flung aside.—Stand apart; your fortune is + said.” + </p> + <p> + “All CAUGHT, however,” retorted the laughing fair one, who was a cousin of + Miss Vere’s; “that’s something, Nancy,” she continued, turning to the + timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf; “will you ask your + fortune?” + </p> + <p> + “Not for worlds,” said she, drawing back; “I have heard enough of yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, “I’ll pay + for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess.” + </p> + <p> + “Truth,” said the Soothsayer, “can neither be bought nor sold;” and he + pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said the lady, “I’ll keep my money, Mr. Elshender, to assist + me in the chase I am to pursue.” + </p> + <p> + “You will need it,” replied the cynic; “without it, few pursue + successfully, and fewer are themselves pursued.—Stop!” he said to + Miss Vere, as her companions moved off, “With you I have more to say. You + have what your companions would wish to have, or be thought to have,—beauty, + wealth, station, accomplishments.” + </p> + <p> + “Forgive my following my companions, father; I am proof both to flattery + and fortune-telling.” + </p> + <p> + “Stay,” continued the Dwarf, with his hand on her horse’s rein, “I am no + common soothsayer, and I am no flatterer. All the advantages I have + detailed, all and each of them have their corresponding evils—unsuccessful + love, crossed affections, the gloom of a convent, or an odious alliance. + I, who wish ill to all mankind, cannot wish more evil to you, so much is + your course of life crossed by it.” + </p> + <p> + “And if it be, father, let me enjoy the readiest solace of adversity while + prosperity is in my power. You are old; you are poor; your habitation is + far from human aid, were you ill, or in want; your situation, in many + respects, exposes you to the suspicions of the vulgar, which are too apt + to break out into actions of brutality. Let me think I have mended the lot + of one human being! Accept of such assistance as I have power to offer; do + this for my sake, if not for your own, that when these evils arise, which + you prophesy perhaps too truly, I may not have to reflect, that the hours + of my happier time have been passed altogether in vain.” + </p> + <p> + The old man answered with a broken voice, and almost without addressing + himself to the young lady,— + </p> + <p> + “Yes, ‘tis thus thou shouldst think—‘tis thus thou shouldst speak, + if ever human speech and thought kept touch with each other! They do not—they + do not—Alas! they cannot. And yet—wait here an instant—stir + not till my return.” He went to his little garden, and returned with a + half-blown rose. “Thou hast made me shed a tear, the first which has wet + my eyelids for many a year; for that good deed receive this token of + gratitude. It is but a common rose; preserve it, however, and do not part + with it. Come to me in your hour of adversity. Show me that rose, or but + one leaf of it, were it withered as my heart is—if it should be in + my fiercest and wildest movements of rage against a hateful world, still + it will recall gentler thoughts to my bosom, and perhaps afford happier + prospects to thine. But no message,” he exclaimed, rising into his usual + mood of misanthropy,—“no message—no go-between! Come thyself; + and the heart and the doors that are shut against every other earthly + being, shall open to thee and to thy sorrows. And now pass on.” + </p> + <p> + He let go the bridle-rein, and the young lady rode on, after expressing + her thanks to this singular being, as well as her surprise at the + extraordinary nature of his address would permit, often turning back to + look at the Dwarf, who still remained at the door of his habitation, and + watched her progress over the moor towards her father’s castle of + Ellieslaw, until the brow of the hill hid the party from his sight. + </p> + <p> + The ladies, meantime, jested with Miss Vere on the strange interview they + had just had with the far-famed wizard of the Moor. “Isabella has all the + luck at home and abroad! Her hawk strikes down the black-cock; her eyes + wound the gallant; no chance for her poor companions and kinswomen; even + the conjuror cannot escape the force of her charms. You should, in + compassion, cease to be such an engrosser, my dear Isabel, or at least set + up shop, and sell off all the goods you do not mean to keep for your own + use.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have them all,” replied Miss Vere, “and the conjuror to boot, + at a very easy rate.” + </p> + <p> + “No! Nancy shall have the conjuror,” said Miss Ilderton, “to supply + deficiencies; she’s not quite a witch herself, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord, sister,” answered the younger Miss Ilderton, “what could I do with + so frightful a monster? I kept my eyes shut, after once glancing at him; + and, I protest, I thought I saw him still, though I winked as close as + ever I could.” + </p> + <p> + “That’s a pity,” said her sister; “ever while you live, Nancy, choose an + admirer whose faults can be hid by winking at them.—Well, then, I + must take him myself, I suppose, and put him into mamma’s Japan cabinet, + in order to show that Scotland can produce a specimen of mortal clay + moulded into a form ten thousand times uglier than the imaginations of + Canton and Pekin, fertile as they are in monsters, have immortalized in + porcelain.” + </p> + <p> + “There is something,” said Miss Vere, “so melancholy in the situation of + this poor man, that I cannot enter into your mirth, Lucy, so readily as + usual. If he has no resources, how is he to exist in this waste country, + living, as he does, at such a distance from mankind? and if he has the + means of securing occasional assistance, will not the very suspicion that + he is possessed of them, expose him to plunder and assassination by some + of our unsettled neighbours?” + </p> + <p> + “But you forget that they say he is a warlock,” said Nancy Ilderton. + </p> + <p> + “And, if his magic diabolical should fail him,” rejoined her sister, “I + would have him trust to his magic natural, and thrust his enormous head, + and most preternatural visage, out at his door or window, full in view of + the assailants. The boldest robber that ever rode would hardly bide a + second glance of him. Well, I wish I had the use of that Gorgon head of + his for only one half hour.” + </p> + <p> + “For what purpose, Lucy?” said Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “O! I would frighten out of the castle that dark, stiff, and stately Sir + Frederick Langley, that is so great a favourite with your father, and so + little a favourite of yours. I protest I shall be obliged to the Wizard as + long as I live, if it were only for the half hour’s relief from that man’s + company which we have gained by deviating from the party to visit Elshie.” + </p> + <p> + “What would you say, then,” said Miss Vere, in a low tone, so as not to be + heard by the younger sister, who rode before them, the narrow path not + admitting of their moving all three abreast,—“What would you say, my + dearest Lucy, if it were proposed to you to endure his company for life?” + </p> + <p> + “Say? I would say, NO, NO, NO, three times, each louder than another, till + they should hear me at Carlisle.” + </p> + <p> + “And Sir Frederick would say then, nineteen nay-says are half a grant.” + </p> + <p> + “That,” replied Miss Lucy, “depends entirely on the manner in which the + nay-says are said. Mine should have not one grain of concession in them, I + promise you.” + </p> + <p> + “But if your father,” said Miss Vere, “were to say,—Thus do, or—” + </p> + <p> + “I would stand to the consequences of his OR, were he the most cruel + father that ever was recorded in romance, to fill up the alternative.” + </p> + <p> + “And what if he threatened you with a catholic aunt, an abbess, and a + cloister?” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said Miss Ilderton, “I would threaten him with a protestant + son-in-law, and be glad of an opportunity to disobey him for conscience’ + sake. And now that Nancy is out of hearing, let me really say, I think you + would be excusable before God and man for resisting this preposterous + match by every means in your power. A proud, dark, ambitious man; a + caballer against the state; infamous for his avarice and severity; a bad + son, a bad brother, unkind and ungenerous to all his relatives—Isabel, + I would die rather than have him.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t let my father hear you give me such advice,” said Miss Vere, “or + adieu, my dear Lucy, to Ellieslaw Castle.” + </p> + <p> + “And adieu to Ellieslaw Castle, with all my heart,” said her friend, “if I + once saw you fairly out of it, and settled under some kinder protector + than he whom nature has given you. O, if my poor father had been in his + former health, how gladly would he have received and sheltered you, till + this ridiculous and cruel persecution were blown over!” + </p> + <p> + “Would to God it had been so, my dear Lucy!” answered Isabella; “but I + fear, that, in your father’s weak state of health, he would be altogether + unable to protect me against the means which would be immediately used for + reclaiming the poor fugitive.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear so indeed,” replied Miss Ilderton; “but we will consider and + devise something. Now that your father and his guests seem so deeply + engaged in some mysterious plot, to judge from the passing and returning + of messages, from the strange faces which appear and disappear without + being announced by their names, from the collecting and cleaning of arms, + and the anxious gloom and bustle which seem to agitate every male in the + castle, it may not be impossible for us (always in case matters be driven + to extremity) to shape out some little supplemental conspiracy of our own. + I hope the gentlemen have not kept all the policy to themselves; and there + is one associate that I would gladly admit to our counsel.” + </p> + <p> + “Not Nancy?” + </p> + <p> + “O, no!” said Miss Ilderton; “Nancy, though an excellent good girl, and + fondly attached to you, would make a dull conspirator—as dull as + Renault and all the other subordinate plotters in VENICE PRESERVED. No; + this is a Jaffier, or Pierre, if you like the character better; and yet + though I know I shall please you, I am afraid to mention his name to you, + lest I vex you at the same time. Can you not guess? Something about an + eagle and a rock—it does not begin with eagle in English, but + something very like it in Scotch.” + </p> + <p> + “You cannot mean young Earnscliff, Lucy?” said Miss Vere, blushing deeply. + </p> + <p> + “And whom else should I mean,” said Lucy. “Jaffiers and Pierres are very + scarce in this country, I take it, though one could find Renaults and + Bedamars enow.” + </p> + <p> + “How call you talk so wildly, Lucy? Your plays and romances have + positively turned your brain. You know, that, independent of my father’s + consent, without which I never will marry any one, and which, in the case + you point at, would never be granted; independent, too, of our knowing + nothing of young Earnscliff’s inclinations, but by your own vivid + conjectures and fancies—besides all this, there is the fatal brawl!” + </p> + <p> + “When his father was killed?” said Lucy. “But that was very long ago; and + I hope we have outlived the time of bloody feud, when a quarrel was + carried down between two families from father to son, like a Spanish game + at chess, and a murder or two committed in every generation, just to keep + the matter from going to sleep. We do with our quarrels nowadays as with + our clothes; cut them out for ourselves, and wear them out in our own day, + and should no more think of resenting our fathers’ feuds, than of wearing + their slashed doublets and trunk-hose.” + </p> + <p> + “You treat this far too lightly, Lucy,” answered Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “Not a bit, my dear Isabella,” said Lucy. “Consider, your father, though + present in the unhappy affray, is never supposed to have struck the fatal + blow; besides, in former times, in case of mutual slaughter between clans, + subsequent alliances were so far from being excluded, that the hand of a + daughter or a sister was the most frequent gage of reconciliation. You + laugh at my skill in romance; but, I assure you, should your history be + written, like that of many a less distressed and less deserving heroine, + the well-judging reader would set you down for the lady and the love of + Earnscliff; from the very obstacle which you suppose so insurmountable.” + </p> + <p> + “But these are not the days of romance, but of sad reality, for there + stands the castle of Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + “And there stands Sir Frederick Langley at the gate, waiting to assist the + ladies from their palfreys. I would as lief touch a toad; I will + disappoint him, and take old Horsington the groom for my master of the + horse.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, the lively young lady switched her palfrey forward, and passing + Sir Frederick with a familiar nod as he stood ready to take her horse’s + rein, she cantered on, and jumped into the arms of the old groom. Fain + would Isabella have done the same had she dared; but her father stood + near, displeasure already darkening on a countenance peculiarly qualified + to express the harsher passions, and she was compelled to receive the + unwelcome assiduities of her detested suitor. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Let not us that are squires of the night’s body be called + thieves of the day’s booty; let us be Diana’s foresters, + gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon. + —HENRY THE FOURTH, PART I. +</pre> + <p> + The Solitary had consumed the remainder of that day in which he had the + interview with the young ladies, within the precincts of his garden. + Evening again found him seated on his favourite stone. The sun setting + red, and among seas of rolling clouds, threw a gloomy lustre over the + moor, and gave a deeper purple to the broad outline of heathy mountains + which surrounded this desolate spot. The Dwarf sate watching the clouds as + they lowered above each other in masses of conglomerated vapours, and, as + a strong lurid beam of the sinking luminary darted full on his solitary + and uncouth figure, he might well have seemed the demon of the storm which + was gathering, or some gnome summoned forth from the recesses of the earth + by the subterranean signals of its approach. As he sate thus, with his + dark eye turned towards the scowling and blackening heaven, a horseman + rode rapidly up to him, and stopping, as if to let his horse breathe for + an instant, made a sort of obeisance to the anchoret, with an air betwixt + effrontery and embarrassment. + </p> + <p> + The figure of the rider was thin, tall, and slender, but remarkably + athletic, bony, and sinewy; like one who had all his life followed those + violent exercises which prevent the human form from increasing in bulk, + while they harden and confirm by habit its muscular powers. His face, + sharp-featured, sun-burnt, and freckled, had a sinister expression of + violence, impudence, and cunning, each of which seemed alternately to + predominate over the others. Sandy-coloured hair, and reddish eyebrows, + from under which looked forth his sharp grey eyes, completed the + inauspicious outline of the horseman’s physiognomy. He had pistols in his + holsters, and another pair peeped from his belt, though he had taken some + pains to conceal them by buttoning his doublet. He wore a rusted steel + head piece; a buff jacket of rather an antique cast; gloves, of which that + for the right hand was covered with small scales of iron, like an ancient + gauntlet; and a long broadsword completed his equipage. + </p> + <p> + “So,” said the Dwarf, “rapine and murder once more on horseback.” + </p> + <p> + “On horseback?” said the bandit; “ay, ay, Elshie, your leech-craft has set + me on the bonny bay again.” + </p> + <p> + “And all those promises of amendment which you made during your illness + forgotten?” continued Elshender. + </p> + <p> + “All clear away, with the water-saps and panada,” returned the unabashed + convalescent. “Ye ken, Elshie, for they say ye are weel acquent wi’ the + gentleman, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be, + When the devil was well, the devil a monk was he.” + </pre> + <p> + “Thou say’st true,” said the Solitary; “as well divide a wolf from his + appetite for carnage, or a raven from her scent of slaughter, as thee from + thy accursed propensities.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what would you have me to do? It’s born with me—lies in my + very blude and bane. Why, man, the lads of Westburnflat, for ten lang + descents, have been reivers and lifters. They have all drunk hard, lived + high, taking deep revenge for light offence, and never wanted gear for the + winning.” + </p> + <p> + “Right; and thou art as thorough-bred a wolf,” said the Dwarf, “as ever + leapt a lamb-fold at night. On what hell’s errand art thou bound now?” + </p> + <p> + “Can your skill not guess?” + </p> + <p> + “Thus far I know,” said the Dwarf, “that thy purpose is bad, thy deed will + be worse, and the issue worst of all.” + </p> + <p> + “And you like me the better for it, Father Elshie, eh?” said Westburnflat; + “you always said you did.” + </p> + <p> + “I have cause to like all,” answered the Solitary, “that are scourges to + their fellow-creatures, and thou art a bloody one.” + </p> + <p> + “No—I say not guilty to that—lever bluidy unless there’s + resistance, and that sets a man’s bristles up, ye ken. And this is nae + great matter, after a’; just to cut the comb of a young cock that has been + crawing a little ower crousely.” + </p> + <p> + “Not young Earnscliff?” said the Solitary, with some emotion. + </p> + <p> + “No; not young Earnscliff—not young Earnscliff YET; but his time may + come, if he will not take warning, and get him back to the burrow-town + that he’s fit for, and no keep skelping about here, destroying the few + deer that are left in the country, and pretending to act as a magistrate, + and writing letters to the great folk at Auld Reekie, about the disturbed + state of the land. Let him take care o’ himsell.” + </p> + <p> + “Then it must be Hobbie of the Heugh-foot,” said Elshie. “What harm has + the lad done you?” + </p> + <p> + “Harm! nae great harm; but I hear he says I staid away from the Ba’spiel + on Fastern’s E’en, for fear of him; and it was only for fear of the + Country Keeper, for there was a warrant against me. I’ll stand Hobbie’s + feud, and a’ his clan’s. But it’s not so much for that, as to gie him a + lesson not to let his tongue gallop ower freely about his betters. I trow + he will hae lost the best pen-feather o’ his wing before to-morrow + morning.—Farewell, Elshie; there’s some canny boys waiting for me + down amang the shaws, owerby; I will see you as I come back, and bring ye + a blithe tale in return for your leech-craft.” + </p> + <p> + Ere the Dwarf could collect himself to reply, the Reiver of Westburnflat + set spurs to his horse. The animal, starting at one of the stones which + lay scattered about, flew from the path. The rider exercised his spurs + without moderation or mercy. The horse became furious, reared, kicked, + plunged, and bolted like a deer, with all his four feet off the ground at + once. It was in vain; the unrelenting rider sate as if he had been a part + of the horse which he bestrode; and, after a short but furious contest, + compelled the subdued animal to proceed upon the path at a rate which soon + carried him out of sight of the Solitary. + </p> + <p> + “That villain,” exclaimed the Dwarf,—“that cool-blooded, hardened, + unrelenting ruffian,—that wretch, whose every thought is infected + with crimes,—has thewes and sinews, limbs, strength, and activity + enough, to compel a nobler animal than himself to carry him to the place + where he is to perpetrate his wickedness; while I, had I the weakness to + wish to put his wretched victim on his guard, and to save the helpless + family, would see my good intentions frustrated by the decrepitude which + chains me to the spot.—Why should I wish it were otherwise? What + have my screech-owl voice, my hideous form, and my mis-shapen features, to + do with the fairer workmanship of nature? Do not men receive even my + benefits with shrinking horror and ill-suppressed disgust? And why should + I interest myself in a race which accounts me a prodigy and an outcast, + and which has treated me as such? No; by all the ingratitude which I have + reaped—by all the wrongs which I have sustained—by my + imprisonment, my stripes, my chains, I will wrestle down my feelings of + rebellious humanity! I will not be the fool I have been, to swerve from my + principles whenever there was an appeal, forsooth, to my feelings; as if + I, towards whom none show sympathy, ought to have sympathy with any one. + Let Destiny drive forth her scythed car through the overwhelmed and + trembling mass of humanity! Shall I be the idiot to throw this decrepit + form, this mis-shapen lump of mortality, under her wheels, that the Dwarf, + the Wizard, the Hunchback, may save from destruction some fair form or + some active frame, and all the world clap their hands at the exchange? No, + never!—And yet this Elliot—this Hobbie, so young and gallant, + so frank, so—I will think of it no longer. I cannot aid him if I + would, and I am resolved—firmly resolved, that I would not aid him, + if a wish were the pledge of his safety!” + </p> + <p> + Having thus ended his soliloquy, he retreated into his hut for shelter + from the storm which was fast approaching, and now began to burst in large + and heavy drops of rain. The last rays of the sun now disappeared + entirely, and two or three claps of distant thunder followed each other at + brief intervals, echoing and re-echoing among the range of heathy fells + like the sound of a distant engagement. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn!— + . . . . + Return to thy dwelling; all lonely, return; + For the blackness of ashes shall mark where it stood, + And a wild mother scream o’er her famishing brood.—CAMPBELL. +</pre> + <p> + The night continued sullen and stormy; but morning rose as if refreshed by + the rains. Even the Mucklestane-Moor, with its broad bleak swells of + barren grounds, interspersed with marshy pools of water, seemed to smile + under the serene influence of the sky, just as good-humour can spread a + certain inexpressible charm over the plainest human countenance. The heath + was in its thickest and deepest bloom. The bees, which the Solitary had + added to his rural establishment, were abroad and on the wing, and filled + the air with the murmurs of their industry. As the old man crept out of + his little hut, his two she-goats came to meet him, and licked his 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 benefactor—to 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 lunatics—for their + disgraceful restraints—for their cruel privations, than for + communication with the rest of humanity. Hubert alone—and 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.” + </p> + <p> + 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, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Canny Hobbie Elliot, canny Hobbie now, + Canny Hobbie Elliot, I’se gang alang wi’ you. +</pre> + <p> + 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, man—let a + be the hound!—Na, na, Killbuck maunna be guided that gate, neither.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he exclaimed, as he thus voluntarily deprived himself of the means + of gratifying his rage; “not again—not again!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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 + about—but I’ll send ye baith.” + </p> + <p> + “Wretch!” said the Hermit, “your cruelty has destroyed one of the only + creatures in existence that would look on me with kindness!” + </p> + <p> + “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 be—But 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.” + </p> + <p> + 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!” + </p> + <p> + “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 brouze—the like’s no been seen + sin’ the days of auld Martin of the Preakin-tower—I wad send the + sled for ye wi’ a canny powny.” + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Commons!” retorted Hobbie, “nae siccan commons neither; the Elliots hae + been lang kend a gentle race.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “Out, hind!” exclaimed the Dwarf; “home! home to your dwelling, and think + on me when you find what has befallen there.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “How now, ruffian!” demanded the Dwarf, “is thy job chared?” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “The bride?” + </p> + <p> + “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 + for a blink. I am thinking it wad concern my safety if she were to come + back here, for there’s mony o’ the Elliots, and they band weel thegither + for right or wrang. Now, what I chiefly come to ask your rede in, is how + to make her sure?” + </p> + <p> + “Wouldst thou murder her, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Umph! no, no; that I would not do, if I could help it. But they say they + can whiles get folk cannily away to the plantations from some of the + outports, and something to boot for them that brings a bonny wench. + They’re wanted beyond seas thae female cattle, and they’re no that scarce + here. But I think o’ doing better for this lassie. There’s a leddy, that, + unless she be a’ the better bairn, is to be sent to foreign parts whether + she will or no; now, I think of sending Grace to wait on her—she’s a + bonny lassie. Hobbie will hae a merry morning when he comes hame, and + misses baith bride and gear.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay; and do you not pity him?” said the Recluse. + </p> + <p> + “Wad he pity me were I gaeing up the Castle hill at Jeddart? [ The place + of execution at that ancient burgh, where many of Westburnflat’s + profession have made their final exit.] And yet I rue something for the + bit lassie; but he’ll get anither, and little skaith dune—ane is as + gude as anither. And now, you that like to hear o’ splores, heard ye ever + o’ a better ane than I hae had this morning?” + </p> + <p> + “Air, ocean, and fire,” said the Dwarf, speaking to himself, “the + earthquake, the tempest, the volcano, are all mild and moderate, compared + to the wrath of man. And what is this fellow, but one more skilled than + others in executing the end of his existence?—Hear me, felon, go + again where I before sent thee.” + </p> + <p> + “To the Steward?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay; and tell him, Elshender the Recluse commands him to give thee gold. + But, hear me, let the maiden be discharged free and uninjured; return her + to her friends, and let her swear not to discover thy villainy.” + </p> + <p> + “Swear,” said Westburnflat; “but what if she break her aith? Women are not + famous for keeping their plight. A wise man like you should ken that.—And + uninjured—wha kens what may happen were she to be left lang at + Tinning-Beck? Charlie Cheat-the-Woodie is a rough customer. But if the + gold could be made up to twenty pieces, I think I could ensure her being + wi’ her friends within the twenty-four hours.” + </p> + <p> + The Dwarf took his tablets from his pocket, marked a line on them, and + tore out the leaf. “There,” he said, giving the robber the leaf—“But, + mark me; thou knowest I am not to be fooled by thy treachery; if thou + darest to disobey my directions, thy wretched life, be sure, shall answer + it.” + </p> + <p> + “I know,” said the fellow, looking down, “that you have power on earth, + however you came by it; you can do what nae other man can do, baith by + physic and foresight; and the gold is shelled down when ye command, as + fast as I have seen the ash-keys fall in a frosty morning in October. I + will not disobey you.” + </p> + <p> + “Begone, then, and relieve me of thy hateful presence.” + </p> + <p> + The robber set spurs to his horse, and rode off without reply. + </p> + <p> + Hobbie Elliot had, in the meanwhile, pursued his journey rapidly, harassed + by those oppressive and indistinct fears that all was not right, which men + usually term a presentiment of misfortune. Ere he reached the top of the + bank from which he could look down on his own habitation, he was met by + his nurse, a person then of great consequence in all families in Scotland, + whether of the higher or middling classes. The connexion between them and + their foster-children was considered a tie far too dearly intimate to be + broken; and it usually happened, in the course of years, that the nurse + became a resident in the family of her foster-son, assisting in the + domestic duties, and receiving all marks of attention and regard from the + heads of the family. So soon as Hobbie recognised the figure of Annaple, + in her red cloak and black hood, he could not help exclaiming to himself, + “What ill luck can hae brought the auld nurse sae far frae hame, her that + never stirs a gun-shot frae the door-stane for ordinar?—Hout, it + will just be to get crane-berries, or whortle-berries, or some such stuff, + out of the moss, to make the pies and tarts for the feast on Monday.—I + cannot get the words of that cankered auld cripple deil’s-buckie out o’ my + head—the least thing makes me dread some ill news.—O, + Killbuck, man! were there nae deer and goats in the country besides, but + ye behoved to gang and worry his creature, by a’ other folk’s?” + </p> + <p> + By this time Annaple, with a brow like a tragic volume, had hobbled + towards him, and caught his horse by the bridle. The despair in her look + was so evident as to deprive even him of the power of asking the cause. “O + my bairn!” she cried, “gang na forward—gang na forward—it’s a + sight to kill onybody, let alane thee.” + </p> + <p> + “In God’s name, what’s the matter?” said the astonished horseman, + endeavouring to extricate his bridle from the grasp of the old woman; “for + Heaven’s sake, let me go and see what’s the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “Ohon! that I should have lived to see the day!—The steading’s a’ in + a low, and the bonny stack-yard lying in the red ashes, and the gear a’ + driven away. But gang na forward; it wad break your young heart, hinny, to + see what my auld een hae seen this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “And who has dared to do this? let go my bridle, Annaple—where is my + grandmother—my sisters?—Where is Grace Armstrong?—God!—the + words of the warlock are knelling in my ears!” + </p> + <p> + He sprang from his horse to rid himself of Annaple’s interruption, and, + ascending the hill with great speed, soon came in view of the spectacle + with which she had threatened him. It was indeed a heart-breaking sight. + The habitation which he had left in its seclusion, beside the + mountain-stream, surrounded with every evidence of rustic plenty, was now + a wasted and blackened ruin. From amongst the shattered and sable walls + the smoke continued to rise. The turf-stack, the barn-yard, the offices + stocked with cattle, all the wealth of an upland cultivator of the period, + of which poor Elliot possessed no common share, had been laid waste or + carried off in a single night. He stood a moment motionless, and then + exclaimed, “I am ruined—ruined to the ground!—But curse on the + warld’s gear—Had it not been the week before the bridal—But I + am nae babe, to sit down and greet about it. If I can but find Grace, and + my grandmother, and my sisters weel, I can go to the wars in Flanders, as + my gude-sire did, under the Bellenden banner, wi’ auld Buccleuch. At ony + rate, I will keep up a heart, or they will lose theirs a’thegither.” + </p> + <p> + Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill, resolved to suppress his own + despair, and administer consolation which he did not feel. The + neighbouring inhabitants of the dell, particularly those of his own name, + had already assembled. The younger part were in arms and clamorous for + revenge, although they knew not upon whom; the elder were taking measures + for the relief of the distressed family. Annaple’s cottage, which was + situated down the brook, at some distance from the scene of mischief, had + been hastily adapted for the temporary accommodation of the old lady and + her daughters, with such articles as had been contributed by the + neighbours, for very little was saved from the wreck. + </p> + <p> + “Are we to stand here a’ day, sirs,” exclaimed one tall young man, “and + look at the burnt wa’s of our kinsman’s house? Every wreath of the reek is + a blast of shame upon us! Let us to horse, and take the chase.—Who + has the nearest bloodhound?” + </p> + <p> + “It’s young Earnscliff,” answered another; “and he’s been on and away wi’ + six horse lang syne, to see if he can track them.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us follow him then, and raise the country, and mak mair help as we + ride, and then have at the Cumberland reivers! Take, burn, and slay—they + that lie nearest us shall smart first.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht! haud your tongues, daft callants,” said an old man, “ye dinna ken + what ye speak about. What! wad ye raise war atween two pacificated + countries?” + </p> + <p> + “And what signifies deaving us wi’ tales about our fathers,” retorted the + young; man, “if we’re to sit and see our friends’ houses burnt ower their + heads, and no put out hand to revenge them? Our fathers did not do that, I + trow?” + </p> + <p> + “I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie’s wrang, puir chield; + but we maun take the law wi’ us in thae days, Simon,” answered the more + prudent elder. + </p> + <p> + “And besides,” said another old man, “I dinna believe there’s ane now + living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border. + Tam o’ Whittram kend a’ about it; but he died in the hard winter.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said a third, “he was at the great gathering, when they chased as + far as Thirlwall; it was the year after the fight of Philiphaugh.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout,” exclaimed another of these discording counsellors, “there’s nae + great skill needed; just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear, or + hayfork, or siclike, and blaw a horn, and cry the gathering-word, and then + it’s lawful to follow gear into England, and recover it by the strong + hand, or to take gear frae some other Englishman, providing ye lift nae + mair than’s been lifted frae you. That’s the auld Border law, made at + Dundrennan, in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need doubt it. It’s + as clear as the sun.” + </p> + <p> + “Come away, then, lads,” cried Simon, “get to your geldings, and we’ll + take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi’ us; he kens the value o’ the stock + and plenishing that’s been lost. Hobbie’s stalls and stakes shall be fou + again or night; and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon, we’se lay + an English ane as low as Heugh-foot is—and that’s fair play, a’ the + warld ower.” + </p> + <p> + This animating proposal was received with great applause by the younger + part of the assemblage, when a whisper ran among them, “There’s Hobbie + himsell, puir fallow! we’ll be guided by him.” + </p> + <p> + The principal sufferer, having now reached the bottom of the hill, pushed + on through the crowd, unable, from the tumultuous state of his feelings, + to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly hands by + which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their sympathy in his + misfortune. While he pressed Simon of Hackburn’s hand, his anxiety at + length found words. “Thank ye, Simon—thank ye, neighbours—I + ken what ye wad a’ say. But where are they?—Where are—” He + stopped, as if afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry; and with a + similar feeling, his kinsmen, without reply, pointed to the hut, into + which Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of one who is + resolved to know the worst at once. A general and powerful expression of + sympathy accompanied him. “Ah, puir fallow—puir Hobbie!” + </p> + <p> + “He’ll learn the warst o’t now!” + </p> + <p> + “But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o’ the puir lassie.” + </p> + <p> + Such were the exclamations of the group, who, having no acknowledged + leader to direct their motions, passively awaited the return of the + sufferer, and determined to be guided by his directions. + </p> + <p> + The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree + affecting. His sisters threw themselves upon him, and almost stifled him + with their caresses, as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish the + absence of one yet more beloved. + </p> + <p> + “God help thee, my son! He can help when worldly trust is a broken reed.”—Such + was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson. He looked + eagerly round, holding two of his sisters by the hand, while the third + hung about his neck—“I see you—I count you—my + grandmother, Lilias, Jean, and Annot; but where is—” (he hesitated, + and then continued, as if with an effort), “Where is Grace? Surely this is + not a time to hide hersell frae me—there’s nae time for daffing + now.” + </p> + <p> + “O, brother!” and “Our poor Grace!” was the only answer his questions + could procure, till his grandmother rose up, and gently disengaged him + from the weeping girls, led him to a seat, and with the affecting serenity + which sincere piety, like oil sprinkled on the waves, can throw over the + most acute feelings, she said, “My bairn, when thy grandfather was killed + in the wars, and left me with six orphans around me, with scarce bread to + eat, or a roof to cover us, I had strength,—not of mine own—but + I had strength given me to say, The Lord’s will be done!—My son, our + peaceful house was last night broken into by moss-troopers, armed and + masked; they have taken and destroyed all, and carried off our dear Grace. + Pray for strength to say, His will be done!” + </p> + <p> + “Mother! mother! urge me not—I cannot—not now I am a sinful + man, and of a hardened race. Masked armed—Grace carried off! Gie me + my sword, and my father’s knapsack—I will have vengeance, if I + should go to the pit of darkness to seek it!” + </p> + <p> + “O my bairn, my bairn! be patient under the rod. Who knows when He may + lift His hand off from us? Young Earnscliff, Heaven bless him, has taen + the chase, with Davie of Stenhouse, and the first comers. I cried to let + house and plenishing burn, and follow the reivers to recover Grace, and + Earnscliff and his men were ower the Fell within three hours after the + deed. God bless him! he’s a real Earnscliff; he’s his father’s true son—a + leal friend.” + </p> + <p> + “A true friend indeed; God bless him!” exclaimed Hobbie; “let’s on and + away, and take the chase after him.” + </p> + <p> + “O, my child, before you run on danger, let me hear you but say, HIS will + be done!” + </p> + <p> + “Urge me not, mother—not now.” He was rushing out, when, looking + back, he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of affliction. He + returned hastily, threw himself into her arms, and said, “Yes, mother, I + CAN say, HIS will be done, since it will comfort you.” + </p> + <p> + “May He go forth—may He go forth with you, my dear bairn; and O, may + He give you cause to say on your return, HIS name be praised!” + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, mother!—farewell, my dear sisters!” exclaimed Elliot, and + rushed out of the house. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Now horse and hattock, cried the Laird,— + Now horse and hattock, speedilie; + They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye, + Let them never look in the face o’ me.—Border Ballad. +</pre> + <p> + “Horse! horse! and spear!” exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen. Many a ready + foot was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastily collected arms and + accoutrements, no easy matter in such a confusion, the glen resounded with + the approbation of his younger friends. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay!” exclaimed Simon of Hackburn, “that’s the gate to take it, + Hobbie. Let women sit and greet at hame, men must do as they have been + done by; it’s the Scripture says’t.” + </p> + <p> + “Haud your tongue, sir,” said one of the seniors, sternly; “dinna abuse + the Word that gate, ye dinna ken what ye speak about.” + </p> + <p> + “Hae ye ony tidings?—Hae ye ony speerings, Hobbie?—O, + callants, dinna be ower hasty,” said old Dick of the Dingle. + </p> + <p> + “What signifies preaching to us, e’enow?” said Simon; “if ye canna make + help yoursell, dinna keep back them that can.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht, sir; wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrang’d ye?” + </p> + <p> + “D’ye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our fathers before + us?—All evil comes out o’ thereaway—it’s an auld saying and a + true; and we’ll e’en away there, as if the devil was blawing us south.” + </p> + <p> + “We’ll follow the track o’ Earnscliff’s horses ower the waste,” cried one + Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border, an there had + been a fair held there the day before,” said Hugh, the blacksmith of + Ringleburn, “for I aye shoe his horse wi’ my ain hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Lay on the deer-hounds,” cried another “where are they?” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, man, the sun’s been lang up, and the dew is aff the grund—the + scent will never lie.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds, which were roving about the ruins + of their old habitation, and filling the air with their doleful howls. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Killbuck,” said Hobbie, “try thy skill this day,” and then, as if a + light had suddenly broke on him,—“that ill-faur’d goblin spak + something o’ this! He may ken mair o’t, either by villains on earth, or + devils below—I’ll hae it frae him, if I should cut it out o’ his + mis-shapen bouk wi’ my whinger.” He then hastily gave directions to his + comrades: “Four o’ ye, wi’ Simon, haud right forward to Graeme’s-gap. If + they’re English, they’ll be for being back that way. The rest disperse by + twasome and threesome through the waste, and meet me at the Trysting-pool. + Tell my brothers, when they come up, to follow and meet us there. Poor + lads, they will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; little think they + what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venison to! I’ll ride ower + Mucklestane-Moor mysell.” + </p> + <p> + “And if I were you,” said Dick of the Dingle, “I would speak to Canny + Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, if he’s sae + minded.” + </p> + <p> + “He SHALL tell me,” said Hobbie, who was busy putting his arms in order, + “what he kens o’ this night’s job, or I shall right weel ken wherefore he + does not.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but speak him fair, my bonny man—speak him fair Hobbie; the + like o’ him will no bear thrawing. They converse sae muckle wi’ thae + fractious ghaists and evil spirits, that it clean spoils their temper.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me alane to guide him,” answered Hobbie; “there’s that in my breast + this day, that would ower-maister a’ the warlocks on earth, and a’ the + devils in hell.” + </p> + <p> + And being now fully equipped, he threw himself on his horse, and spurred + him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent. + </p> + <p> + Elliot speedily surmounted the hill, rode down the other side at the same + rate, crossed a wood, and traversed a long glen, ere he at length regained + Mucklestane-Moor. As he was obliged, in the course of his journey, to + relax his speed in consideration of the labour which his horse might still + have to undergo, he had time to consider maturely in what manner he should + address the Dwarf, in order to extract from him the knowledge which he + supposed him to be in possession of concerning the authors of his + misfortunes. Hobbie, though blunt, plain of speech, and hot of + disposition, like most of his countrymen, was by no means deficient in the + shrewdness which is also their characteristic. He reflected, that from + what he had observed on the memorable night when the Dwarf was first seen, + and from the conduct of that mysterious being ever since, he was likely to + be rendered even more obstinate in his sullenness by threats and violence. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll speak him fair,” he said, “as auld Dickon advised me. Though folk + say he has a league wi’ Satan, he canna be sic an incarnate devil as no to + take some pity in a case like mine; and folk threep he’ll whiles do good, + charitable sort o’ things. I’ll keep my heart doun as weel as I can, and + stroke him wi’ the hair; and if the warst come to the warst, it’s but + wringing the head o’ him about at last.” + </p> + <p> + In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the + Solitary. + </p> + <p> + The old man was not upon his seat of audience, nor could Hobbie perceive + him in his garden, or enclosures. + </p> + <p> + “He’s gotten into his very keep,” said Hobbie, “maybe to be out o’ the + gate; but I’se pu’ it doun about his lugs, if I canna win at him + otherwise.” + </p> + <p> + Having thus communed with himself, he raised his voice, and invoked Elshie + in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting feelings would permit. + “Elshie, my gude friend!” No reply. “Elshie, canny Father Elshie!” The + Dwarf remained mute. “Sorrow be in the crooked carcass of thee!” said the + Borderer between his teeth; and then again attempting a soothing tone,—“Good + Father Elshie, a most miserable creature desires some counsel of your + wisdom.” + </p> + <p> + “The better!” answered the shrill and discordant voice of the Dwarf + through a very small window, resembling an arrow slit, which he had + constructed near the door of his dwelling, and through which he could see + any one who approached it, without the possibility of their looking in + upon him. + </p> + <p> + “The better!” said Hobbie impatiently; “what is the better, Elshie? Do you + not hear me tell you I am the most miserable wretch living?” + </p> + <p> + “And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better! and did I not + tell you this morning, when you thought yourself so happy, what an evening + was coming upon you?” + </p> + <p> + “That ye did e’en,” replied Hobbie, “and that gars me come to you for + advice now; they that foresaw the trouble maun ken the cure.” + </p> + <p> + “I know no cure for earthly trouble,” returned the Dwarf “or, if I did, + why should I help others, when none hath aided me? Have I not lost wealth, + that would have bought all thy barren hills a hundred times over? rank, to + which thine is as that of a peasant? society, where there was an + interchange of all that was amiable—of all that was intellectual? + Have I not lost all this? Am I not residing here, the veriest outcast on + the face of Nature, in the most hideous and most solitary of her retreats, + myself more hideous than all that is around me? And why should other worms + complain to me when they are trodden on, since I am myself lying crushed + and writhing under the chariot-wheel?” + </p> + <p> + “Ye may have lost all this,” answered Hobbie, in the bitterness of + emotion; “land and friends, goods and gear; ye may hae lost them a’,—but + ye ne’er can hae sae sair a heart as mine, for ye ne’er lost nae Grace + Armstrong. And now my last hopes are gane, and I shall ne’er see her + mair.” + </p> + <p> + This he said in the tone of deepest emotion—and there followed a + long pause, for the mention of his bride’s name had overcome the more + angry and irritable feelings of poor Hobbie. Ere he had again addressed + the Solitary, the bony hand and long fingers of the latter, holding a + large leathern bag, was thrust forth at the small window, and as it + unclutched the burden, and let it drop with a clang upon the ground, his + harsh voice again addressed Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “There—there lies a salve for every human ill; so, at least, each + human wretch readily thinks.—Begone; return twice as wealthy as thou + wert before yesterday, and torment me no more with questions, complaints, + or thanks; they are alike odious to me.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a’ gowd, by Heaven!” said Elliot, having glanced at the contents; + and then again addressing the Hermit, “Muckle obliged for your goodwill; + and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o’ the siller, or a wadset ower + the lands o’ Wideopen. But I dinna ken, Elshie; to be free wi’ you, I + dinna like to use siller unless I kend it was decently come by; and maybe + it might turn into sclate-stanes, and cheat some poor man.” + </p> + <p> + “Ignorant idiot!” retorted the Dwarf; “the trash is as genuine poison as + ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth. Take it—use it, and may + it thrive with you as it hath done with me!” + </p> + <p> + “But I tell you,” said Elliot, “it wasna about the gear that I was + consulting you,—it was a braw barn-yard, doubtless, and thirty head + of finer cattle there werena on this side of the Catrail; but let the gear + gang,—if ye could but gie me speerings o’ puir Grace, I would be + content to be your slave for life, in onything that didna touch my + salvation. O, Elshie, speak, man, speak!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” answered the Dwarf, as if worn out by his importunity, + “since thou hast not enough of woes of thine own, but must needs seek to + burden thyself with those of a partner, seek her whom thou hast lost in + the WEST.” + </p> + <p> + “In the WEST? That’s a wide word.” + </p> + <p> + “It is the last,” said the Dwarf, “which I design to utter;” and he drew + the shutters of his window, leaving Hobbie to make the most of the hint he + had given. + </p> + <p> + The west! the west!—thought Elliot; the country is pretty quiet down + that way, unless it were Jock o’ the Todholes; and he’s ower auld now for + the like o’ thae jobs.—West!—By My life, it must be + Westburnflat. “Elshie, just tell me one word. Am I right? Is it + Westburnflat? If I am wrang, say sae. I wadna like to wyte an innocent + neighbour wi’ violence—No answer?—It must be the Red Reiver—I + didna think he wad hae ventured on me, neither, and sae mony kin as + there’s o’ us—I am thinking he’ll hae some better backing than his + Cumberland friends.—Fareweel to you, Elshie, and mony thanks—I + downa be fashed wi’ the siller e’en now, for I maun awa’ to meet my + friends at the Trysting-place—Sae, if ye carena to open the window, + ye can fetch it in after I’m awa’.” + </p> + <p> + Still there was no reply. + </p> + <p> + “He’s deaf, or he’s daft, or he’s baith; but I hae nae time to stay to + claver wi’ him.” + </p> + <p> + And off rode Hobbie Elliot towards the place of rendezvous which he had + named to his friends. + </p> + <p> + Four or five riders were already gathered at the Trysting pool. They stood + in close consultation together, while their horses were permitted to graze + among the poplars which overhung the broad still pool. A more numerous + party were seen coming from the southward. It proved to be Earnscliff and + his party, who had followed the track of the cattle as far as the English + border, but had halted on the information that a considerable force was + drawn together under some of the Jacobite gentlemen in that district, and + there were tidings of insurrection in different parts of Scotland. This + took away from the act which had been perpetrated the appearance of + private animosity, or love of plunder; and Earnscliff was now disposed to + regard it as a symptom of civil war. The young gentleman greeted Hobbie + with the most sincere sympathy, and informed him of the news he had + received. + </p> + <p> + “Then, may I never stir frae the bit,” said Elliot, “if auld Ellieslaw is + not at the bottom o’ the haill villainy! Ye see he’s leagued wi’ the + Cumberland Catholics; and that agrees weel wi’ what Elshie hinted about + Westburnflat, for Ellieslaw aye protected him, and he will want to harry + and disarm the country about his ain hand before he breaks out.” + </p> + <p> + Some now remembered that the party of ruffians had been heard to say they + were acting for James VIII., and were charged to disarm all rebels. Others + had heard Westburnflat boast, in drinking parties, that Ellieslaw would + soon be in arms for the Jacobite cause, and that he himself was to hold a + command under him, and that they would be bad neighbours for young + Earnscliff; and all that stood out for the established government. The + result was a strong belief that Westburnflat had headed the party under + Ellieslaw’s orders; and they resolved to proceed instantly to the house of + the former, and, if possible, to secure his person. They were by this time + joined by so many of their dispersed friends, that their number amounted + to upwards of twenty horsemen, well mounted, and tolerably, though + variously, armed. + </p> + <p> + A brook, which issued from a narrow glen among the hills, entered, at + Westburnflat, upon the open marshy level, which, expanding about half a + mile in every direction, gives name to the spot. In this place the + character of the stream becomes changed, and, from being a lively + brisk-running mountain-torrent, it stagnates, like a blue swollen snake, + in dull deep windings, through the swampy level. On the side of the + stream, and nearly about the centre of the plain, arose the tower of + Westburnflat, one of the few remaining strongholds formerly so numerous + upon the Borders. The ground upon which it stood was gently elevated above + the marsh for the space of about a hundred yards, affording an esplanade + of dry turf, which extended itself in the immediate neighbourhood of the + tower; but, beyond which, the surface presented to strangers was that of + an impassable and dangerous bog. The owner of the tower and his inmates + alone knew the winding and intricate paths, which, leading over ground + that was comparatively sound, admitted visitors to his residence. But + among the party which were assembled under Earnscliff’s directions, there + was more than one person qualified to act as a guide. For although the + owner’s character and habits of life were generally known, yet the laxity + of feeling with respect to property prevented his being looked on with the + abhorrence with which he must have been regarded in a more civilized + country. He was considered, among his more peaceable neighbours, pretty + much as a gambler, cock-fighter, or horse-jockey would be regarded at the + present day; a person, of course, whose habits were to be condemned, and + his society, in general, avoided, yet who could not be considered as + marked with the indelible infamy attached to his profession, where laws + have been habitually observed. And their indignation was awakened against + him upon this occasion, not so much on account of the general nature of + the transaction, which was just such as was to be expected from this + marauder, as that the violence had been perpetrated upon a neighbour + against whom he had no cause of quarrel,—against a friend of their + own,—above all, against one of the name of Elliot, to which clan + most of them belonged. It was not, therefore, wonderful, that there should + be several in the band pretty well acquainted with the locality of his + habitation, and capable of giving such directions and guidance as soon + placed the whole party on the open space of firm ground in front of the + Tower of Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + So spak the knicht; the geaunt sed, + Lend forth with the the sely maid, + And mak me quile of the and sche; + For glaunsing ee, or brow so brent, + Or cheek with rose and lilye blent, + Me lists not ficht with the.—ROMANCE OF THE FALCON. +</pre> + <p> + The tower, before which the party now stood, was a small square building, + of the most gloomy aspect. The walls were of great thickness, and the + windows, or slits which served the purpose of windows, seemed rather + calculated to afford the defenders the means of employing missile weapons, + than for admitting air or light to the apartments within. A small + battlement projected over the walls on every side, and afforded farther + advantage of defence by its niched parapet, within which arose a steep + roof, flagged with grey stones. A single turret at one angle, defended by + a door studded with huge iron nails, rose above the battlement, and gave + access to the roof from within, by the spiral staircase which it enclosed. + It seemed to the party that their motions were watched by some one + concealed within this turret; and they were confirmed in their belief + when, through a narrow loophole, a female hand was seen to wave a + handkerchief, as if by way of signal to them. Hobbie was almost out of his + senses with joy and eagerness. + </p> + <p> + “It was Grace’s hand and arm,” he said; “I can swear to it amang a + thousand. There is not the like of it on this side of the Lowdens—We’ll + have her out, lads, if we should carry off the Tower of Westburnflat stane + by stane.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff, though he doubted the possibility of recognising a fair + maiden’s hand at such a distance from the eye of the lover, would say + nothing to damp his friend’s animated hopes, and it was resolved to summon + the garrison. + </p> + <p> + The shouts of the party, and the winding of one or two horns, at length + brought to a loophole, which flanked the entrance, the haggard face of an + old woman. + </p> + <p> + “That’s the Reiver’s mother,” said one of the Elliots; “she’s ten times + waur than himsell, and is wyted for muckle of the ill he does about the + country.” + </p> + <p> + “Wha are ye? what d’ye want here?” were the queries of the respectable + progenitor. + </p> + <p> + “We are seeking William Graeme of Westburnflat,” said Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “He’s no at hame,” returned the old dame. + </p> + <p> + “When did he leave home?” pursued Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “I canna tell,” said the portress. + </p> + <p> + “When will he return?” said Hobbie Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “I dinna ken naething about it,” replied the inexorable guardian of the + keep. + </p> + <p> + “Is there anybody within the tower with you?” again demanded Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “Naebody but mysell and baudrons,” said the old woman. + </p> + <p> + “Then open the gate and admit us,” said Earnscliff; “I am a justice of + peace, and in search of the evidence of a felony.” + </p> + <p> + “Deil be in their fingers that draws a bolt for ye,” retorted the + portress; “for mine shall never do it. Thinkna ye shame o’ yoursells, to + come here siccan a band o’ ye, wi’ your swords, and spears, and + steel-caps, to frighten a lone widow woman?” + </p> + <p> + “Our information,” said Earnscliff; “is positive; we are seeking goods + which have been forcibly carried off, to a great amount.” + </p> + <p> + “And a young woman, that’s been cruelly made prisoner, that’s worth mair + than a’ the gear, twice told,” said Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “And I warn you.” continued Earnscliff, “that your only way to prove your + son’s innocence is to give us quiet admittance to search the house.” + </p> + <p> + “And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys, or draw the bolts, or + open the grate to sic a clamjamfrie?” said the old dame, scoffingly. + </p> + <p> + “Force our way with the king’s keys, and break the neck of every living + soul we find in the house, if ye dinna gie it ower forthwith!” menaced the + incensed Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Threatened folks live lang,” said the hag, in the same tone of irony; + “there’s the iron grate—try your skeel on’t, lads—it has kept + out as gude men as you or now.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, she laughed, and withdrew from the aperture through which she + had held the parley. + </p> + <p> + The besiegers now opened a serious consultation. The immense thickness of + the walls, and the small size of the windows, might, for a time, have even + resisted cannon-shot. The entrance was secured, first, by a strong grated + door, composed entirely of hammered iron, of such ponderous strength as + seemed calculated to resist any force that could be brought against it. + “Pinches or forehammers will never pick upon’t,” said Hugh, the blacksmith + of Ringleburn; “ye might as weel batter at it wi’ pipe-staples.” + </p> + <p> + Within the doorway, and at the distance of nine feet, which was the solid + thickness of the wall, there was a second door of oak, crossed, both + breadth and lengthways, with clenched bars of iron, and studded full of + broad-headed nails. Besides all these defences, they were by no means + confident in the truth of the old dame’s assertion, that she alone + composed the garrison. The more knowing of the party had observed + hoof-marks in the track by which they approached the tower, which seemed + to indicate that several persons had very lately passed in that direction. + </p> + <p> + To all these difficulties was added their want of means for attacking the + place. There was no hope of procuring ladders long enough to reach the + battlements, and the windows, besides being very narrow, were secured with + iron bars. Scaling was therefore out of the question; mining was still + more so, for want of tools and gunpowder; neither were the besiegers + provided with food, means of shelter, or other conveniences, which might + have enabled them to convert the siege into a blockade; and there would, + at any rate, have been a risk of relief from some of the marauder’s + comrades. Hobbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, as, walking round the + fastness, he could devise no means of making a forcible entry. At length + he suddenly exclaimed, “And what for no do as our fathers did lang syne?—Put + hand to the wark, lads. Let us cut up bushes and briers, pile them before + the door and set fire to them, and smoke that auld devil’s dam as if she + were to be reested for bacon.” + </p> + <p> + All immediately closed with this proposal, and some went to work with + swords and knives to cut down the alder and hawthorn bushes which grew by + the side of the sluggish stream, many of which were sufficiently decayed + and dried for their purpose, while others began to collect them in a large + stack, properly disposed for burning, as close to the iron-grate as they + could be piled. Fire was speedily obtained from one of their guns, and + Hobbie was already advancing to the pile with a kindled brand, when the + surly face of the robber, and the muzzle of a musquetoon, were partially + shown at a shot-hole which flanked the entrance. “Mony thanks to ye,” he + said, scoffingly, “for collecting sae muckle winter eilding for us; but if + ye step a foot nearer it wi’ that lunt, it’s be the dearest step ye ever + made in your days.” + </p> + <p> + “We’ll sune see that,” said Hobbie, advancing fearlessly with the torch. + </p> + <p> + The marauder snapped his piece at him, which, fortunately for our honest + friend, did not go off; while Earnscliff, firing at the same moment at the + narrow aperture and slight mark afforded by the robber’s face, grazed the + side of his head with a bullet. He had apparently calculated upon his post + affording him more security, for he no sooner felt the wound, though a + very slight one, than he requested a parley, and demanded to know what + they meant by attacking in this fashion a peaceable and honest man, and + shedding his blood in that lawless manner? + </p> + <p> + “We want your prisoner,” said Earnscliff, “to be delivered up to us in + safety.” + </p> + <p> + “And what concern have you with her?” replied the marauder. + </p> + <p> + “That,” retorted Earnscliff, “you, who are detaining her by force, have no + right to enquire.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, I think I can gie a guess,” said the robber. “Weel, sirs, I am + laith to enter into deadly feud with you by spilling ony of your bluid, + though Earnscliff hasna stopped to shed mine—and he can hit a mark + to a groat’s breadth—so, to prevent mair skaith, I am willing to + deliver up the prisoner, since nae less will please you.” + </p> + <p> + “And Hobbie’s gear?” cried Simon of Hackburn. “D’ye think you’re to be + free to plunder the faulds and byres of a gentle Elliot, as if they were + an auld wife’s hens’-cavey?” + </p> + <p> + “As I live by bread,” replied Willie of Westburnflat “As I live by bread, + I have not a single cloot o’ them! They’re a’ ower the march lang syne; + there’s no a horn o’ them about the tower. But I’ll see what o’ them can + be gotten back, and I’ll take this day twa days to meet Hobbie at the + Castleton wi’ twa friends on ilka side, and see to make an agreement about + a’ the wrang he can wyte me wi’.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay,” said Elliot, “that will do weel eneugh.”—And then aside to + his kinsman, “Murrain on the gear! Lordsake, man! say nought about them. + Let us but get puir Grace out o’ that auld hellicat’s clutches.” + </p> + <p> + “Will ye gie me your word, Earnscliff,” said the marauder, who still + lingered at the shot-hole, “your faith and troth, with hand and glove, + that I am free to come and free to gae, with five minutes to open the + grate, and five minutes to steek it and to draw the bolts? less winna do, + for they want creishing sairly. Will ye do this?” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have full time,” said Earnscliff; “I plight my faith and troth, + my hand and my glove.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait there a moment, then,” said Westburnflat; “or hear ye, I wad rather + ye wad fa’ back a pistol-shot from the door. It’s no that I mistrust your + word, Earnscliff; but it’s best to be sure.” + </p> + <p> + O, friend, thought Hobbie to himself, as he drew back, an I had you but on + Turner’s-holm, [There is a level meadow, on the very margin of the two + kingdoms, called Turner’s-holm, just where the brook called Crissop joins + the Liddel. It is said to have derived its name as being a place + frequently assigned for tourneys, during the ancient Border times.] and + naebody by but twa honest lads to see fair play, I wad make ye wish ye had + broken your leg ere ye had touched beast or body that belanged to me! + </p> + <p> + “He has a white feather in his wing this same Westburnflat, after a’,” + said Simon of Hackburn, somewhat scandalized by his ready surrender.—“He’ll + ne’er fill his father’s boots.” + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, the inner door of the tower was opened, and the mother + of the freebooter appeared in the space betwixt that and the outer grate. + Willie himself was next seen, leading forth a female, and the old woman, + carefully bolting the grate behind them, remained on the post as a sort of + sentinel. + </p> + <p> + “Ony ane or twa o’ ye come forward,” said the outlaw, “and take her frae + my hand haill and sound.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie advanced eagerly, to meet his betrothed bride. Earnscliff followed + more slowly, to guard against treachery. Suddenly Hobbie slackened his + pace in the deepest mortification, while that of Earnscliff was hastened + by impatient surprise. It was not Grace Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, + whose liberation had been effected by their appearance before the tower. + </p> + <p> + “Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong?” exclaimed Hobbie, in the + extremity of wrath and indignation. + </p> + <p> + “Not in my hands,” answered Westburnflat; “ye may search the tower, if ye + misdoubt me.” + </p> + <p> + “You false villain, you shall account for her, or die on the spot,” said + Elliot, presenting his gun. + </p> + <p> + But his companions, who now came up, instantly disarmed him of his weapon, + exclaiming, all at once, “Hand and glove! faith and troth! Haud a care, + Hobbie we maun keep our faith wi’ Westburnflat, were he the greatest rogue + ever rode.” + </p> + <p> + Thus protected, the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been somewhat + daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “I have kept my word, sirs,” he said, “and I look to have nae wrang amang + ye. If this is no the prisoner ye sought,” he said, addressing Earnscliff, + “ye’ll render her back to me again. I am answerable for her to those that + aught her.” + </p> + <p> + “For God’s sake, Mr. Earnscliff, protect me!” said Miss Vere, clinging to + her deliverer; “do not you abandon one whom the whole world seems to have + abandoned.” + </p> + <p> + “Fear nothing,” whispered Earnscliff, “I will protect you with my life.” + Then turning to Westburnflat, “Villain!” he said, “how dared you to insult + this lady?” + </p> + <p> + “For that matter, Earnscliff,” answered the freebooter, “I can answer to + them that has better right to ask me than you have; but if you come with + an armed force, and take her awa’ from them that her friends lodged her + wi’, how will you answer THAT—But it’s your ain affair—Nae + single man can keep a tower against twenty—A’ the men o’ the Mearns + downa do mair than they dow.” + </p> + <p> + “He lies most falsely,” said Isabella; “he carried me off by violence from + my father.” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe he only wanted ye to think sae, hinny,” replied the robber; “but + it’s nae business o’ mine, let it be as it may.—So ye winna resign + her back to me?” + </p> + <p> + “Back to you, fellow? Surely no,” answered Earnscliff; “I will protect + Miss Vere, and escort her safely wherever she is pleased to be conveyed.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, maybe you and her hae settled that already,” said Willie of + Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + “And Grace?” interrupted Hobbie, shaking himself loose from the friends + who had been preaching to him the sanctity of the safe-conduct, upon the + faith of which the freebooter had ventured from his tower,—“Where’s + Grace?” and he rushed on the marauder, sword in hand. + </p> + <p> + Westburnflat, thus pressed, after calling out, “Godsake, Hobbie, hear me a + gliff!” fairly turned his back and fled. His mother stood ready to open + and shut the grate; but Hobbie struck at the freebooter as he entered with + so much force, that the sword made a considerable cleft in the lintel of + the vaulted door, which is still shown as a memorial of the superior + strength of those who lived in the days of yore. Ere Hobbie could repeat + the blow, the door was shut and secured, and he was compelled to retreat + to his companions, who were now preparing to break up the siege of + Westburnflat. They insisted upon his accompanying them in their return. + </p> + <p> + “Ye hae broken truce already,” said old Dick of the Dingle; “an we takena + the better care, ye’ll play mair gowk’s tricks, and make yoursell the + laughing-stock of the haill country, besides having your friends charged + with slaughter under trust. Bide till the meeting at Castleton, as ye hae + greed; and if he disna make ye amends, then we’ll hae it out o’ his + heart’s blood. But let us gang reasonably to wark and keep our tryst, and + I’se warrant we get back Grace, and the kye an’ a’.” + </p> + <p> + This cold-blooded reasoning went ill down with the unfortunate lover; but, + as he could only obtain the assistance of his neighbours and kinsmen on + their own terms, he was compelled to acquiesce in their notions of good + faith and regular procedure. + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff now requested the assistance of a few of the party to convey + Miss Vere to her father’s castle of Ellieslaw, to which she was peremptory + in desiring to be conducted. This was readily granted; and five or six + young men agreed to attend him as an escort. Hobbie was not of the number. + Almost heart-broken by the events of the day, and his final + disappointment, he returned moodily home to take such measures as he could + for the sustenance and protection of his family, and to arrange with his + neighbours the farther steps which should be adopted for the recovery of + Grace Armstrong. The rest of the party dispersed in different directions, + as soon as they had crossed the morass. The outlaw and his mother watched + them from the tower, until they entirely disappeared. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + I left my ladye’s bower last night— + It was clad in wreaths of snaw,— + I’ll seek it when the sun is bright, + And sweet the roses blaw.—OLD BALLAD. +</pre> + <p> + Incensed at what he deemed the coldness of his friends, in a cause which + interested him so nearly, Hobbie had shaken himself free of their company, + and was now on his solitary road homeward. “The fiend founder thee!” said + he, as he spurred impatiently his over-fatigued and stumbling horse; “thou + art like a’ the rest o’ them. Hae I not bred thee, and fed thee, and + dressed thee wi’ mine ain hand, and wouldst thou snapper now and break my + neck at my utmost need? But thou’rt e’en like the lave—the farthest + off o’ them a’ is my cousin ten times removed, and day or night I wad hae + served them wi’ my best blood; and now, I think they show mair regard to + the common thief of Westburnflat than to their ain kinsman. But I should + see the lights now in Heugh-foot—Wae’s me!” he continued, + recollecting himself, “there will neither coal nor candle-light shine in + the Heugh-foot ony mair! An it werena for my mother and sisters, and poor + Grace, I could find in my heart to put spurs to the beast, and loup ower + the scaur into the water to make an end o’t a’.”—In this + disconsolate mood he turned his horse’s bridle towards the cottage in + which his family had found refuge. + </p> + <p> + As he approached the door, he heard whispering and tittering amongst his + sisters. “The deevil’s in the women,” said poor Hobbie; “they would + nicker, and laugh, and giggle, if their best friend was lying a corp—and + yet I am glad they can keep up their hearts sae weel, poor silly things; + but the dirdum fa’s on me, to be sure, and no on them.” + </p> + <p> + While he thus meditated, he was engaged in fastening up his horse in a + shed. “Thou maun do without horse-sheet and surcingle now, lad,” he said, + addressing the animal; “you and me hae had a downcome alike; we had better + hae fa’en i, the deepest pool o’ Tarras.” + </p> + <p> + He was interrupted by the youngest of his sisters, who came running out, + and, speaking in a constrained voice, as if to stifle some emotion, called + out to him, “What are ye doing there, Hobbie, fiddling about the naig, and + there’s ane frae Cumberland been waiting here for ye this hour and mair? + Haste ye in, man; I’ll take off the saddle.” + </p> + <p> + “Ane frae Cumberland!” exclaimed Elliot; and putting the bridle of his + horse into the hand of his sister, he rushed into the cottage. “Where is + he? where is he!” he exclaimed, glancing eagerly around, and seeing only + females; “Did he bring news of Grace?” + </p> + <p> + “He doughtna bide an instant langer,” said the elder sister, still with a + suppressed laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Hout fie, bairns!” said the old lady, with something of a good-humoured + reproof, “ye shouldna vex your billy Hobbie that way.—Look round, my + bairn, and see if there isna ane here mair than ye left this morning.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie looked eagerly round. “There’s you, and the three titties.” + </p> + <p> + “There’s four of us now, Hobbie, lad,” said the youngest, who at this + moment entered. + </p> + <p> + In an instant Hobbie had in his arms Grace Armstrong, who, with one of his + sister’s plaids around her, had passed unnoticed at his first entrance. + “How dared you do this?” said Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “It wasna my fault,” said Grace, endeavouring to cover her face with her + hands to hide at once her blushes, and escape the storm of hearty kisses + with which her bridegroom punished her simple stratagem,—“It wasna + my fault, Hobbie; ye should kiss Jeanie and the rest o’ them, for they hae + the wyte o’t.” + </p> + <p> + “And so I will,” said Hobbie, and embraced and kissed his sisters and + grandmother a hundred times, while the whole party half-laughed, + half-cried, in the extremity of their joy. “I am the happiest man,” said + Hobbie, throwing himself down on a seat, almost exhausted,—“I am the + happiest man in the world!” + </p> + <p> + “Then, O my dear bairn,” said the good old dame, who lost no opportunity + of teaching her lesson of religion at those moments when the heart was + best open to receive it,—“Then, O my son, give praise to Him that + brings smiles out o’ tears and joy out o’ grief, as He brought light out + o’ darkness and the world out o’ naething. Was it not my word, that if ye + could say His will be done, ye might hae cause to say His name be + praised?” + </p> + <p> + “It was—it was your word, grannie; and I do praise Him for His + mercy, and for leaving me a good parent when my ain were gane,” said + honest Hobbie, taking her hand, “that puts me in mind to think of Him, + baith in happiness and distress.” + </p> + <p> + There was a solemn pause of one or two minutes employed in the exercise of + mental devotion, which expressed, in purity and sincerity, the gratitude + of the affectionate family to that Providence who had unexpectedly + restored to their embraces the friend whom they had lost. + </p> + <p> + Hobbie’s first enquiries were concerning the adventures which Grace had + undergone. They were told at length, but amounted in substance to this:—That + she was awaked by the noise which the ruffians made in breaking into the + house, and by the resistance made by one or two of the servants, which was + soon overpowered; that, dressing herself hastily, she ran downstairs, and + having seen, in the scuffle, Westburnflat’s vizard drop off, imprudently + named him by his name, and besought him for mercy; that the ruffian + instantly stopped her mouth, dragged her from the house, and placed her on + horseback, behind one of his associates. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll break the accursed neck of him,” said Hobbie, “if there werena + another Graeme in the land but himsell!” + </p> + <p> + She proceeded to say, that she was carried southward along with the party, + and the spoil which they drove before them, until they had crossed the + Border. Suddenly a person, known to her as a kinsman of Westburnflat, came + riding very fast after the marauders, and told their leader, that his + cousin had learnt from a sure hand that no luck would come of it, unless + the lass was restored to her friends. After some discussion, the chief of + the party seemed to acquiesce. Grace was placed behind her new guardian, + who pursued in silence, and with great speed, the least-frequented path to + the Heugh-foot, and ere evening closed, set down the fatigued and + terrified damsel within a quarter of a mile of the dwelling of her + friends. Many and sincere were the congratulations which passed on all + sides. + </p> + <p> + As these emotions subsided, less pleasing considerations began to intrude + themselves. + </p> + <p> + “This is a miserable place for ye a’,” said Hobbie, looking around him; “I + can sleep weel eneugh mysell outby beside the naig, as I hae done mony a + lang night on the hills; but how ye are to put yoursells up, I canna see! + And what’s waur, I canna mend it; and what’s waur than a’, the morn may + come, and the day after that, without your being a bit better off.” + </p> + <p> + “It was a cowardly cruel thing,” said one of the sisters, looking round, + “to harry a puir family to the bare wa’s this gate.” + </p> + <p> + “And leave us neither stirk nor stot,” said the youngest brother, who now + entered, “nor sheep nor lamb, nor aught that eats grass and corn.” + </p> + <p> + “If they had ony quarrel wi’ us,” said Harry, the second brother, “were we + na ready to have fought it out? And that we should have been a’ frae hame, + too,—ane and a’ upon the hill—Odd, an we had been at hame, + Will Graeme’s stamach shouldna hae wanted its morning; but it’s biding + him, is it na, Hobbie?” + </p> + <p> + “Our neighbours hae taen a day at the Castleton to gree wi’ him at the + sight o’ men,” said Hobbie, mournfully; “they behoved to have it a’ their + ain gate, or there was nae help to be got at their hands.” + </p> + <p> + “To gree wi’ him!” exclaimed both his brothers at once, “after siccan an + act of stouthrife as hasna been heard o’ in the country since the auld + riding days!” + </p> + <p> + “Very true, billies, and my blood was e’en boiling at it; but the sight o’ + Grace Armstrong has settled it brawly.” + </p> + <p> + “But the stocking, Hobbie’” said John Elliot; “we’re utterly ruined. Harry + and I hae been to gather what was on the outby land, and there’s scarce a + cloot left. I kenna how we’re to carry on—We maun a’ gang to the + wars, I think. Westburnflat hasna the means, e’en if he had the will, to + make up our loss; there’s nae mends to be got out o’ him, but what ye take + out o’ his banes. He hasna a four-footed creature but the vicious blood + thing he rides on, and that’s sair trash’d wi’ his night wark. We are + ruined stoop and roop.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie cast a mournful glance on Grace Armstrong, who returned it with a + downcast look and a gentle sigh. + </p> + <p> + “Dinna be cast down, bairns,” said the grandmother, “we hae gude friends + that winna forsake us in adversity. There’s Sir Thomas Kittleloof is my + third cousin by the mother’s side, and he has come by a hantle siller, and + been made a knight-baronet into the bargain, for being ane o’ the + commissioners at the Union.” + </p> + <p> + “He wadna gie a bodle to save us frae famishing,” said Hobbie; “and, if he + did, the bread that I bought wi’t would stick in my throat, when I thought + it was part of the price of puir auld Scotland’s crown and independence.” + </p> + <p> + “There’s the Laird o’ Dunder, ane o’ the auldest families in Tiviotdale.” + </p> + <p> + “He’s in the tolbooth, mother—he’s in the Heart of Mid-Louden for a + thousand merk he borrowed from Saunders Wyliecoat the writer.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor man!” exclaimed Mrs. Elliot, “can we no send him something, Hobbie?” + </p> + <p> + “Ye forget, grannie, ye forget we want help oursells,” said Hobbie, + somewhat peevishly. + </p> + <p> + “Troth did I, hinny,” replied the good-natured lady, “just at the instant; + it’s sae natural to think on ane’s blude relations before themsells;—But + there’s young Earnscliff.” + </p> + <p> + “He has ower little o’ his ain; and siccan a name to keep up, it wad be a + shame,” said Hobbie, “to burden him wi’ our distress. And I’ll tell ye, + grannie, it’s needless to sit rhyming ower the style of a’ your kith, kin, + and allies, as if there was a charm in their braw names to do us good; the + grandees hae forgotten us, and those of our ain degree hae just little + eneugh to gang on wi’ themsells; ne’er a friend hae we that can, or will, + help us to stock the farm again.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, Hobbie, me maun trust in Him that can raise up friends and fortune + out o’ the bare moor, as they say.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie sprung upon his feet. “Ye are right, grannie!” he exclaimed; “ye + are right. I do ken a friend on the bare moor, that baith can and will + help us—The turns o’ this day hae dung my head clean hirdie-girdie. + I left as muckle gowd lying on Mucklestane-Moor this morning as would + plenish the house and stock the Heugh-foot twice ower, and I am certain + sure Elshie wadna grudge us the use of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Elshie!” said his grandmother in astonishment; “what Elshie do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “What Elshie should I mean, but Canny Elshie, the Wight o’ Mucklestane,” + replied Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “God forfend, my bairn, you should gang to fetch water out o’ broken + cisterns, or seek for relief frae them that deal wi’ the Evil One! There + was never luck in their gifts, nor grace in their paths. And the haill + country kens that body Elshie’s an unco man. O, if there was the law, and + the douce quiet administration of justice, that makes a kingdom flourish + in righteousness, the like o’ them suldna be suffered to live! The wizard + and the witch are the abomination and the evil thing in the land.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, mother,” answered Hobbie, “ye may say what ye like, but I am in + the mind that witches and warlocks havena half the power they had lang + syne; at least, sure am I, that ae ill-deviser, like auld Ellieslaw, or ae + ill-doer, like that d—d villain Westburnflat, is a greater plague + and abomination in a country-side than a haill curnie o’ the warst witches + that ever capered on a broomstick, or played cantrips on Fastern’s E’en. + It wad hae been lang or Elshie had burnt down my house and barns, and I am + determined to try if he will do aught to build them up again. He’s weel + kend a skilfu’ man ower a’ the country, as far as Brough under Stanmore.” + </p> + <p> + “Bide a wee, my bairn; mind his benefits havena thriven wi’ a’body. Jock + Howden died o’ the very same disorder Elshie pretended to cure him of, + about the fa’ o’ the leaf; and though he helped Lambside’s cow weel out o’ + the moor-ill, yet the louping-ill’s been sairer amane; his sheep than ony + season before. And then I have heard he uses sic words abusing human + nature, that’s like a fleeing in the face of Providence; and ye mind ye + said yoursell, the first time ye ever saw him, that he was mair like a + bogle than a living thing.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, mother,” said Hobbie, “Elshie’s no that bad a chield; he’s a + grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a rough talker, + but his bark is waur than his bite; sae, if I had anes something to eat, + for I havena had a morsel ower my throat this day, I wad streek mysell + down for twa or three hours aside the beast, and be on and awa’ to + Mucklestane wi’ the first skreigh o’ morning.” + </p> + <p> + “And what for no the night, Hobbie,” said Harry, “and I will ride wi’ ye?” + </p> + <p> + “My naig is tired,” said Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Ye may take mine, then,” said John. + </p> + <p> + “But I am a wee thing wearied mysell.” + </p> + <p> + “You wearied?” said Harry; “shame on ye! I have kend ye keep the saddle + four-and-twenty hours thegither, and ne’er sic a word as weariness in your + wame.” + </p> + <p> + “The night’s very dark,” said Hobbie, rising and looking through the + casement of the cottage; “and, to speak truth, and shame the deil, though + Elshie’s a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would rather take daylight + wi’ me when I gang to visit him.” + </p> + <p> + This frank avowal put a stop to further argument; and Hobbie, having thus + compromised matters between the rashness of his brother’s counsel, and the + timid cautions which he received from his grandmother, refreshed himself + with such food as the cottage afforded; and, after a cordial salutation + all round, retired to the shed, and stretched himself beside his trusty + palfrey. His brothers shared between them some trusses of clean straw, + disposed in the stall usually occupied by old Annaple’s cow; and the + females arranged themselves for repose as well as the accommodations of + the cottage would permit. + </p> + <p> + With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed down and + saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. He avoided the + company of either of his brothers, from an idea that the Dwarf was most + propitious to those who visited him alone. + </p> + <p> + “The creature,” said he to himself, as he went along, “is no neighbourly; + ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can abide. I wonder if he’s + looked out o’ the crib o’ him to gather up the bag o’ siller. If he hasna + done that, it will hae been a braw windfa’ for somebody, and I’ll be + finely flung.—Come, Tarras,” said he to his horse, striking him at + the same time with his spur, “make mair fit, man; we maun be first on the + field if we can.” + </p> + <p> + He was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the beams of the + rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was descending presented him a + distinct, though distant view, of the Dwarf’s dwelling. The door opened, + and Hobbie witnessed with his own eyes that phenomenon which he had + frequently heard mentioned. Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf could + be termed such) issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and stood + as if in converse together in the open air. The taller form then stooped, + as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the hut, then both + moved forward a little way, and again halted, as in deep conference. All + Hobbie’s superstitious terrors revived on witnessing this’spectacle. That + the Dwarf would open his dwelling to a mortal guest, was as improbable as + that any one would choose voluntarily to be his nocturnal visitor; and, + under full conviction that he beheld a wizard holding intercourse with his + familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at once his breath and his bridle, + resolved not to incur the indignation of either by a hasty intrusion on + their conference. They were probably aware of his approach, for he had not + halted for a moment before the Dwarf returned to his cottage; and the + taller figure who had accompanied him, glided round the enclosure of the + garden, and seemed to disappear from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Saw ever mortal the like o’ that!” said Elliot; “but my case is + desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I’se venture down the brae + on him.” + </p> + <p> + Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace, when, + nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall figure, he + discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a small black + rough-looking object, like a terrier dog. + </p> + <p> + “He has nae dog that ever I heard of,” said Hobbie, “but mony a deil about + his hand—lord forgie me for saying sic a word!—It keeps its + grund, be what it like—I’m judging it’s a badger; but whae kens what + shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it will maybe start up like + a lion or a crocodile when I come nearer. I’se e’en drive a stage at it, + for if it change its shape when I’m ower near, Tarras will never stand it; + and it will be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight wi’ baith at + ance.” + </p> + <p> + He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which continued + motionless. “It’s nae living thing, after a’,” said Hobbie, approaching, + “but the very bag o’ siller he flung out o’ the window yesterday! and that + other queer lang creature has just brought it sae muckle farther on the + way to me.” He then advanced and lifted the heavy fur pouch, which was + quite full of gold. “Mercy on us!” said Hobbie, whose heart fluttered + between glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects in life, and + suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was afforded him—-“Mercy + on us! it’s an awfu’ thing to touch what has been sae lately in the claws + of something no canny, I canna shake mysell loose o’ the belief that there + has been some jookery-paukery of Satan’s in a’ this; but I am determined + to conduct mysell like an honest man and a good Christian, come o’t what + will.” + </p> + <p> + He advanced accordingly to the cottage door, and having knocked repeatedly + without receiving any answer, he at length elevated his voice and + addressed the inmate of the hut. “Elshie! Father Elshie! I ken ye’re + within doors, and wauking, for I saw ye at the door-cheek as I cam ower + the bent; will ye come out and speak just a gliff to ane that has mony + thanks to gie ye?—It was a’ true ye tell’d me about Westburnflat; + but he’s sent back Grace safe and skaithless, sae there’s nae ill happened + yet but what may be suffered or sustained;—Wad ye but come out a + gliff; man, or but say ye’re listening?—Aweel, since ye winna + answer, I’se e’en proceed wi’ my tale. Ye see I hae been thinking it wad + be a sair thing on twa young folk, like Grace and me, to put aff our + marriage for mony years till I was abroad and came back again wi’ some + gear; and they say folk maunna take booty in the wars as they did lang + syne, and the queen’s pay is a sma’ matter; there’s nae gathering gear on + that—and then my grandame’s auld—and my sisters wad sit + peengin’ at the ingle-side for want o’ me to ding them about—and + Earnscliff, or the neighbourhood, or maybe your ainsell, Elshie, might + want some good turn that Hob Elliot could do ye—and it’s a pity that + the auld house o’ the Heugh-foot should be wrecked a’thegither. Sae I was + thinking—but 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.” + </p> + <p> + “Say what thou wilt—do what thou wilt,” answered the Dwarf from his + cabin, “but begone, and leave me at peace.” + </p> + <p> + “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 + 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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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 + Reiver of Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 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. +</pre> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + Sustaining with mutual difficulty a desultory conversation, they at length + gained the centre of a small wood, composed of large oaks, 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “To Friendship, sir!” said Miss Vere; “and why on this gloomy and + sequestered spot, rather than elsewhere?” + </p> + <p> + “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 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.” + </p> + <p> + “You are severe, sir,” said Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “If I have been unfortunate enough to offend, sir, I can conscientiously + excuse Miss Ilderton from being either my counsellor or confidante.” + </p> + <p> + “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?” + </p> + <p> + “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 + 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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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 consequences compelled + him to deliver up his prisoner in the manner we have already related. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + All his conduct and gestures were those of a desperate man. + </p> + <p> + “Speak not to me, Sir Frederick,” he said impatiently; “You are no father—she + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + 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, until some months before the commencement of + our narrative, when the public opinion of his embarrassed circumstances + was confirmed, by the residence of Mr. Ratcliffe at Ellieslaw Castle, who, + by the tacit consent, though obviously to the great displeasure, of the + lord of the mansion, seemed, from the moment of his arrival, to assume and + exercise a predominant and unaccountable influence in the management of + his private affairs. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ratcliffe was a grave, steady, reserved man, in an advanced period of + life. To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon business, he + appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms. With others he held + little communication; but in any casual intercourse, or conversation, + displayed the powers of an active and well-informed mind. For some time + before taking up his final residence at the castle, he had been an + occasional visitor there, and was at such times treated by Mr. Vere + (contrary to his general practice towards those who were inferior to him + in rank) with marked attention, and even deference. Yet his arrival always + appeared to be an embarrassment to his host, and his departure a relief; + so that, when he became a constant inmate of the family, it was impossible + not to observe indications of the displeasure with which Mr. Vere regarded + his presence. Indeed, their intercourse formed a singular mixture of + confidence and constraint. Mr. Vere’s most important affairs were + regulated by Mr. Ratcliffe; and although he was none of those indulgent + men of fortune, who, too indolent to manage their own business, are glad + to devolve it upon another, yet, in many instances, he was observed to + give up his own judgment, and submit to the contrary opinions which Mr. + Ratcliffe did not hesitate distinctly to express. + </p> + <p> + Nothing seemed to vex Mr. Vere more than when strangers indicated any + observation of the state of tutelage under which he appeared to labour. + When it was noticed by Sir Frederick, or any of his intimates, he + sometimes repelled their remarks haughtily and indignantly, and sometimes + endeavoured to evade them, by saying, with a forced laugh, “That Ratcliffe + knew his own importance, but that he was the most honest and skilful + fellow in the world; and that it would be impossible for him to manage his + English affairs without his advice and assistance.” Such was the person + who entered the room at the moment Mr. Vere was summoning him to his + presence, and who now heard with surprise, mingled with obvious + incredulity, the hasty narrative of what had befallen Isabella. + </p> + <p> + Her father concluded, addressing Sir Frederick and the other gentlemen, + who stood around in astonishment, “And now, my friends, you see the most + unhappy father in Scotland. Lend me your assistance, gentlemen—give + me your advice, Mr. Ratcliffe. I am incapable of acting, or thinking, + under the unexpected violence of such a blow.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us take our horses, call our attendants, and scour the country in + pursuit of the villains,” said Sir Frederick. + </p> + <p> + “Is there no one whom you can suspect,” said Ratcliffe, gravely, “of + having some motive for this strange crime? These are not the days of + romance, when ladies are carried off merely for their beauty.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear,” said Mr. Vere, “I can too well account for this strange + incident. Read this letter, which Miss Lucy Ilderton thought fit to + address from my house of Ellieslaw to young Mr. Earnscliff; whom, of all + men, I have a hereditary right to call my enemy. You see she writes to him + as the confidant of a passion which he has the assurance to entertain for + my daughter; tells him she serves his cause with her friend very ardently, + but that he has a friend in the garrison who serves him yet more + effectually. Look particularly at the pencilled passages, Mr. Ratcliffe, + where this meddling girl recommends bold measures, with an assurance that + his suit would be successful anywhere beyond the bounds of the barony of + Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + “And you argue, from this romantic letter of a very romantic young lady, + Mr. Vere,” said Ratcliffe, “that young Earnscliff has carried off your + daughter, and committed a very great and criminal act of violence, on no + better advice and assurance than that of Miss Lucy Ilderton?” + </p> + <p> + “What else can I think?” said Ellieslaw. + </p> + <p> + “What else CAN you think?” said Sir Frederick; “or who else could have any + motive for committing such a crime?” + </p> + <p> + “Were that the best mode of fixing the guilt,” said Mr. Ratcliffe, calmly, + “there might easily be pointed out persons to whom such actions are more + congenial, and who have also sufficient motives of instigation. Supposing + it were judged advisable to remove Miss Vere to some place in which + constraint might be exercised upon her inclinations to a degree which + cannot at present be attempted under the roof of Ellieslaw Castle—What + says Sir Frederick Langley to that supposition?” + </p> + <p> + “I say,” returned Sir Frederick, “that although Mr. Vere may choose to + endure in Mr. Ratcliffe freedoms totally inconsistent with his situation + in life, I will not permit such license of innuendo, by word or look, to + be extended to me, with impunity.” + </p> + <p> + “And I say,” said young Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells, who was also a guest + at the castle, “that you are all stark mad to be standing wrangling here, + instead of going in pursuit of the ruffians.” + </p> + <p> + “I have ordered off the domestics already in the track most likely to + overtake them,” said Mr. Vere “if you will favour me with your company, we + will follow them, and assist in the search.” + </p> + <p> + The efforts of the party were totally unsuccessful, probably because + Ellieslaw directed the pursuit to proceed in the direction of Earnscliff + Tower, under the supposition that the owner would prove to be the author + of the violence, so that they followed a direction diametrically opposite + to that in which the ruffians had actually proceeded. In the evening they + returned, harassed and out of spirits. But other guests had, in the + meanwhile, arrived at the castle; and, after the recent loss sustained by + the owner had been related, wondered at, and lamented, the recollection of + it was, for the present, drowned in the discussion of deep political + intrigues, of which the crisis and explosion were momentarily looked for. + </p> + <p> + Several of the gentlemen who took part in this divan were Catholics, and + all of them stanch Jacobites, whose hopes were at present at the highest + pitch, as an invasion, in favour of the Pretender, was daily expected from + France, which Scotland, between the defenceless state of its garrisons and + fortified places, and the general disaffection of the inhabitants, was + rather prepared to welcome than to resist. Ratcliffe, who neither sought + to assist at their consultations on this subject, nor was invited to do + so, had, in the meanwhile, retired to his own apartment. Miss Ilderton was + sequestered from society in a sort of honourable confinement, “until,” + said Mr. Vere, “she should be safely conveyed home to her father’s house,” + an opportunity for which occurred on the following day. + </p> + <p> + The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the loss of + Miss Vere, and the strange manner in which it had happened, seemed to be + forgotten by the other guests at the castle. They knew not, that those the + most interested in her fate were well acquainted with the cause of her + being carried off, and the place of her retreat; and that the others, in + the anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking forth of a + conspiracy, were little accessible to any feelings but what arose + immediately out of their own machinations. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Some one way, some another—Do you know + Where we may apprehend her? +</pre> + <p> + The researches after Miss Vere were (for the sake of appearances, perhaps) + resumed on the succeeding day, with similar bad success, and the party + were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening. + </p> + <p> + “It is singular,” said Mareschal to Ratcliffe, “that four horsemen and a + female prisoner should have passed through the country without leaving the + slightest trace of their passage. One would think they had traversed the + air, or sunk through the ground.” + </p> + <p> + “Men may often,” answered Ratcliffe, “arrive at the knowledge of that + which is, from discovering that which is not. We have now scoured every + road, path, and track leading from the castle, in all the various points + of the compass, saving only that intricate and difficult pass which leads + southward down the Westburn, and through the morasses.” + </p> + <p> + “And why have we not examined that?” said Mareschal. + </p> + <p> + “O, Mr. Vere can best answer that question,” replied his companion, dryly. + </p> + <p> + “Then I will ask it instantly,” said Mareschal; and, addressing Mr. Vere, + “I am informed, sir,” said he, “there is a path we have not examined, + leading by Westburnflat.” + </p> + <p> + “O,” said Sir Frederick, laughing, “we know the owner of Westburnflat well—a + wild lad, that knows little difference between his neighbour’s goods and + his own; but, withal, very honest to his principles: he would disturb + nothing belonging to Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + “Besides,” said Mr. Vere, smiling mysteriously, “he had other tow on his + distaff last night. Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh-foot has + had his house burnt, and his cattle driven away, because he refused to + give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for the king?” + </p> + <p> + The company smiled upon each other, as at hearing of an exploit which + favoured their own views. + </p> + <p> + “Yet, nevertheless,” resumed Mareschal, “I think we ought to ride in this + direction also, otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for our + negligence.” + </p> + <p> + No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal, and the party + turned their horses’ heads towards Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling of + horses was heard, and a small body of riders were perceived advancing to + meet them. + </p> + <p> + “There comes Earnscliff,” said Mareschal; “I know his bright bay with the + star in his front.” + </p> + <p> + “And there is my daughter along with him,” exclaimed Vere, furiously. “Who + shall call my suspicions false or injurious now? Gentlemen—friends—lend + me the assistance of your swords for the recovery of my child.” + </p> + <p> + He unsheathed his weapon, and was imitated by Sir Frederick and several of + the party, who prepared to charge those that were advancing towards them. + But the greater part hesitated. + </p> + <p> + “They come to us in all peace and security,” said Mareschal-Wells; “let us + first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair. If Miss + Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff, I will + be first to revenge her; but let us hear what they say.” + </p> + <p> + “You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal,” continued Vere; “you are + the last I would have expected to hear express them.” + </p> + <p> + “You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the cause may + excuse it.” + </p> + <p> + He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a loud + voice,—“Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere advance alone + to meet us. You are charged with having carried that lady off from her + father’s house; and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her + recovery, and for bringing to justice those who have injured her.” + </p> + <p> + “And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal?” said + Earnscliff, haughtily,—“than I, who had the satisfaction this + morning to liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined, + and who am now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw?” + </p> + <p> + “Is this so, Miss Vere?” said Mareschal. + </p> + <p> + “It is,” answered Isabella, eagerly,—“it is so; for Heaven’s sake + sheathe your swords. I will swear by all that is sacred, that I was + carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were alike unknown to + me, and am now restored to freedom by means of this gentleman’s gallant + interference.” + </p> + <p> + “By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done?” pursued Mareschal.—“Had + you no knowledge of the place to which you were conveyed?—Earnscliff, + where did you find this lady?” + </p> + <p> + But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, and, + returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the conference. + </p> + <p> + “When I know,” he said, “exactly how much I owe to Mr. Earnscliff, he may + rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime,” taking the bridle of Miss + Vere’s horse, “thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter in the power + of her natural guardian.” + </p> + <p> + A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal + haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon the road + to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a conference so earnest, + that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude by approaching + them too nearly. In the meantime, Earnscliff, as he took leave of the + other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaw’s party, said aloud, “Although I am + unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can authorize such a + suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seems to believe that I + have had some hand in the atrocious violence which has been offered to his + daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to take notice of my explicit denial + of a charge so dishonourable; and that, although I can pardon the + bewildering feelings of a father in such a moment, yet, if any other + gentleman,” (he looked hard at Sir Frederick Langley) “thinks my word and + that of Miss Vere, with the evidence of my friends who accompany me, too + slight for my exculpation, I will be happy—most happy—to repel + the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honour dearer than his life.” + </p> + <p> + “And I’ll be his second,” said Simon of Hackburn, “and take up ony twa o’ + ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; it’s a’ ane to Simon.” + </p> + <p> + “Who is that rough-looking fellow?” said Sir Frederick Langley, “and what + has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen?” + </p> + <p> + “I’se be a lad frae the Hie Te’iot,” said Simon, “and I’se quarrel wi’ ony + body I like, except the king, or the laird I live under.” + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said; Mareschal, “let us have no brawls.—Mr. Earnscliff; + although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may be + opponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without losing our + respect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I believe you as innocent of + this matter as I am myself; and I will pledge myself that my cousin + Ellieslaw, as soon as the perplexity attending these sudden events has + left his judgment to its free exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge the + very important service you have this day rendered him.” + </p> + <p> + “To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself—Good + evening, gentlemen,” continued Earnscliff; “I see most of your party are + already on their way to Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the party with + indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards the Heugh-foot, + to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for farther researches after his + bride, of whose restoration to her friends he was still ignorant. + </p> + <p> + “There he goes,” said Mareschal; “he is a fine, gallant young fellow, upon + my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust with him on the green + turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his equal with the foils, and I + should like to try him at sharps.” + </p> + <p> + “In my opinion,” answered Sir Frederick Langley, “we have done very ill in + having suffered him, and those men who are with him, to go off without + taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very likely to draw to a head + under such a sprightly young fellow as that.” + </p> + <p> + “For shame, Sir Frederick!” exclaimed Mareschal; “do you think that + Ellieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being offered to + Earnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter? + or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you think that I, and the rest of + these gentlemen, would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such a + transaction? No, no, fair play and auld Scotland for ever! When the sword + is drawn, I will be as ready to use it as any man; but while it is in the + sheath, let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours.” + </p> + <p> + Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle, when Ellieslaw, who had + been arrived a few minutes before, met them in the court-yard. + </p> + <p> + “How is Miss Vere? and have you learned the cause of her being carried + off?” asked Mareschal hastily. + </p> + <p> + “She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued; and I cannot expect + much light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited,” + replied her father. “She and I were not the less obliged to you, + Mareschal, and to my other friends, for their kind enquiries. But I must + suppress the father’s feelings for a while to give myself up to those of + the patriot. You know this is the day fixed for our final decision—time + presses—our friends are arriving, and I have opened house, not only + for the gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarily + employ. We have, therefore, little time to prepare to meet them.—Look + over these lists, Marchie (an abbreviation by which Mareschal-Wells was + known among his friends). Do you, Sir Frederick, read these letters from + Lothian and the west—all is ripe for the sickle, and we have but to + summon out the reapers.” + </p> + <p> + “With all my heart,” said Mareschal; “the more mischief the better sport.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted. + </p> + <p> + “Walk aside with me, my good friend,” said Ellieslaw to the sombre + baronet; “I have something for your private ear, with which I know you + will be gratified.” + </p> + <p> + They walked into the house, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standing + together in the court. + </p> + <p> + “And so,” said Ratcliffe, “the gentlemen of your political persuasion + think the downfall of this government so certain, that they disdain even + to throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe,” answered Mareschal, “the actions and sentiments + YOUR friends may require to be veiled, but I am better pleased that ours + can go barefaced.” + </p> + <p> + “And is it possible,” continued Ratcliffe, “that you, who, notwithstanding + pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper (I beg pardon, Mr. Mareschal, I am + a plain man)—that you, who, notwithstanding these constitutional + defects, possess natural good sense and acquired information, should be + infatuated enough to embroil yourself in such desperate proceedings? How + does your head feel when you are engaged in these dangerous conferences?” + </p> + <p> + “Not quite so secure on my shoulders,” answered Mareschal, “as if I were + talking of hunting and hawking. I am not of so indifferent a mould as my + cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as if it were a child’s nursery + rhymes, and loses and recovers that sweet girl, his daughter, with a good + deal less emotion on both occasions, than would have affected me had I + lost and recovered a greyhound puppy. My temper is not quite so + inflexible, nor my hate against government so inveterate, as to blind me + to the full danger of the attempt.” + </p> + <p> + “Then why involve yourself in it?” said Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I love this poor exiled king with all my heart; and my father was an + old Killiecrankie man, and I long to see some amends on the Unionist + courtiers, that have bought and sold old Scotland, whose crown has been so + long independent.” + </p> + <p> + “And for the sake of these shadows,” said his monitor, “you are going to + involve your country in war and yourself in trouble?” + </p> + <p> + “I involve? No!—but, trouble for trouble, I had rather it came + to-morrow than a month hence. COME, I know it will; and, as your country + folks say, better soon than syne—it will never find me younger—and + as for hanging, as Sir John Falstaff says, I can become a gallows as well + as another. You know the end of the old ballad; + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Sae dauntonly, sae wantonly, + Sae rantingly gaed he, + He play’d a spring, and danced a round, + Beneath the gallows tree.” + </pre> + <p> + “Mr. Mareschal, I am sorry for you,” said his grave adviser. + </p> + <p> + “I am obliged to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; but I would not have you judge of our + enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there are wiser heads than mine at + the work.” + </p> + <p> + “Wiser heads than yours may lie as low,” said Ratcliffe, in a warning + tone. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps so; but no lighter heart shall; and, to prevent it being made + heavier by your remonstrances, I will bid you adieu, Mr. Ratcliffe, till + dinner-time, when you shall see that my apprehensions have not spoiled my + appetite.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + To face the garment of rebellion + With some fine colour, that may please the eye + Of fickle changelings, and poor discontents, + Which gape and rub the elbow at the news + Of hurlyburly innovation.—HENRY THE FOURTH, PART II. +</pre> + <p> + There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for the + entertainment on this important day, when not only the gentlemen of note + in the neighbourhood, attached to the Jacobite interest, were expected to + rendezvous, but also many subordinate malecontents, whom difficulty of + circumstances, love of change, resentment against England, or any of the + numerous causes which inflamed men’s passions at the time, rendered apt to + join in perilous enterprise. The men of rank and substance were not many + in number; for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof, and most of + the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterian persuasion, and + therefore, however displeased with the Union, unwilling to engage in a + Jacobite conspiracy. But there were some gentlemen of property, who, + either from early principle, from religious motives, or sharing the + ambitious views of Ellieslaw, had given countenance to his scheme; and + there were, also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal, desirous of + signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous enterprise, by which + they hoped to vindicate the independence of their country. The other + members of the party were persons of inferior rank and desperate fortunes, + who were now ready to rise in that part of the country, as they did + afterwards in the year 1715, under Forster and Derwentwater, when a troop, + commanded by a Border gentleman, named Douglas, consisted almost entirely + of freebooters, among whom the notorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was called, + held a distinguished command. We think it necessary to mention these + particulars, applicable solely to the province in which our scene lies; + because, unquestionably, the Jacobite party, in the other parts of the + kingdom, consisted of much more formidable, as well as much more + respectable, materials. + </p> + <p> + One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw Castle, + which was still left much in the state in which it had been one hundred + years before, stretching, that is, in gloomy length, along the whole side + of the castle, vaulted with ribbed arches of freestone, the groins of + which sprung from projecting figures, that, carved into all the wild forms + which the fantastic imagination of a Gothic architect could devise, + grinned, frowned, and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below. Long + narrow windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides, filled up with + stained glass, through which the sun emitted a dusky and discoloured + light. A banner, which tradition averred to have been taken from the + English at the battle of Sark, waved over the chair in which Ellieslaw + presided, as if to inflame the courage of the guests, by reminding them of + ancient victories over their neighbours. He himself, a portly figure, + dressed on this occasion with uncommon care, and with features, which, + though of a stern and sinister expression, might well be termed handsome, + looked the old feudal baron extremely well. Sir Frederick Langley was + placed on his right hand, and Mr. Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells on his + left. Some gentlemen of consideration, with their sons, brothers, and + nephews, were seated at the upper end of the table, and among these Mr. + Ratcliffe had his place. Beneath the salt-cellar (a massive piece of plate + which occupied the midst of the table) sate the SINE NOMINE TURBA, men + whose vanity was gratified by holding even this subordinate space at the + social board, while the distinction observed in ranking them was a salve + to the pride of their superiors. That the lower house was not very select + must be admitted, since Willie of Westburnflat was one of the party. The + unabashed audacity of this fellow, in daring to present himself in the + house of a gentleman, to whom he had just offered so flagrant an insult, + can only be accounted for by supposing him conscious that his share in + carrying off Miss Vere was a secret, safe in her possession and that of + her father. + </p> + <p> + Before this numerous and miscellaneous party was placed a dinner, + consisting, not indeed of the delicacies of the season, as the newspapers + express it, but of viands, ample, solid, and sumptuous, under which the + very board groaned. But the mirth was not in proportion to the good cheer. + The lower end of the table were, for some time, chilled by constraint and + respect on finding themselves members of so august an assembly; and those + who were placed around it had those feelings of awe with which P. P., + clerk of the parish, describes himself oppressed, when he first uplifted + the psalm in presence of those persons of high worship, the wise Mr. + Justice Freeman, the good Lady Jones, and the great Sir Thomas Truby. This + ceremonious frost, however, soon gave way before the incentives to + merriment, which were liberally supplied, and as liberally consumed by the + guests of the lower description. They became talkative, loud, and even + clamorous in their mirth. + </p> + <p> + But it was not in the power of wine or brandy to elevate the spirits of + those who held the higher places at the banquet. They experienced the + chilling revulsion of spirits which often takes place, when men are called + upon to take a desperate resolution, after having placed themselves in + circumstances where it is alike difficult to advance or to recede. The + precipice looked deeper and more dangerous as they approached the brink, + and each waited with an inward emotion of awe, expecting which of his + confederates would set the example by plunging himself down. This inward + sensation of fear and reluctance acted differently, according to the + various habits and characters of the company. One looked grave; another + looked silly; a third gazed with apprehension on the empty seats at the + higher end of the table, designed for members of the conspiracy whose + prudence had prevailed over their political zeal, and who had absented + themselves from their consultations at this critical period; and some + seemed to be reckoning up in their minds the comparative rank and + prospects of those who were present and absent. Sir Frederick Langley was + reserved, moody, and discontented. Ellieslaw himself made such forced + efforts to raise the spirits of the company, as plainly marked the + flagging of his own. Ratcliffe watched the scene with the composure of a + vigilant but uninterested spectator. Mareschal alone, true to the + thoughtless vivacity of his character, ate and drank, laughed and jested, + and seemed even to find amusement in the embarrassment of the company. + </p> + <p> + “What has damped our noble courage this morning?” he exclaimed. “We seem + to be met at a funeral, where the chief mourners must not speak above + their breath, while the mutes and the saulies (looking to the lower end of + the table) are carousing below. Ellieslaw, when will you LIFT? [To LIFT, + meaning to lift the coffin, is the common expression for commencing a + funeral.] where sleeps your spirit, man? and what has quelled the high + hope of the Knight of Langley-dale?” + </p> + <p> + “You speak like a madman,” said Ellieslaw; “do you not see how many are + absent?” + </p> + <p> + “And what of that?” said Mareschal. “Did you not know before, that + one-half of the world are better talkers than doers? For my part, I am + much encouraged by seeing at least two-thirds of our friends true to the + rendezvous, though I suspect one-half of these came to secure the dinner + in case of the worst.” + </p> + <p> + “There is no news from the coast which can amount to certainty of the + King’s arrival,” said another of the company, in that tone of subdued and + tremulous whisper which implies a failure of resolution. + </p> + <p> + “Not a line from the Earl of D—, nor a single gentleman from the + southern side of the Border,” said a third. + </p> + <p> + “Who is he that wishes for more men from England,” exclaimed Mareschal, in + a theatrical tone of affected heroism, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “My cousin Ellieslaw? No, my fair cousin, + If we are doom’d to die—” + </pre> + <p> + “For God’s sake,” said Ellieslaw, “spare us your folly at present, + Mareschal.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said his kinsman, “I’ll bestow my wisdom upon you instead, + such as it is. If we have gone forward like fools, do not let us go back + like cowards. We have done enough to draw upon us both the suspicion and + vengeance of the government; do not let us give up before we have done + something to deserve it.—What, will no one speak? Then I’ll leap the + ditch the first.” And, starting up, he filled a beer-glass to the brim + with claret, and waving his hand, commanded all to follow his example, and + to rise up from their seats. All obeyed-the more qualified guests as if + passively, the others with enthusiasm “Then, my friends, I give you the + pledge of the day—The independence of Scotland, and the health of + our lawful sovereign, King James the Eighth, now landed in Lothian, and, + as I trust and believe, in full possession of his ancient capital!” + </p> + <p> + He quaffed off the wine, and threw the glass over his head. + </p> + <p> + “It should never,” he said, “be profaned by a meaner toast.” + </p> + <p> + All followed his example, and, amid the crash of glasses and the shouts of + the company, pledged themselves to stand or fall with the principles and + political interest which their toast expressed. + </p> + <p> + “You have leaped the ditch with a witness,” said Ellieslaw, apart to + Mareschal; “but I believe it is all for the best; at all events, we cannot + now retreat from our undertaking. One man alone” (looking at Ratcliffe) + “has refused the pledge; but of that by and by.” + </p> + <p> + Then, rising up, he addressed the company in a style of inflammatory + invective against the government and its measures, but especially the + Union; a treaty, by means of which, he affirmed, Scotland had been at once + cheated of her independence, her commerce, and her honour, and laid as a + fettered slave at the foot of the rival against whom, through such a + length of ages, through so many dangers, and by so much blood, she had + honourably defended her rights. This was touching a theme which found a + responsive chord in the bosom of every man present. + </p> + <p> + “Our commerce is destroyed,” hollowed old John Rewcastle, a Jedburgh + smuggler, from the lower end of the table. + </p> + <p> + “Our agriculture is ruined,” said the Laird of Broken-girth-flow, a + territory which, since the days of Adam, had borne nothing but ling and + whortle-berries. + </p> + <p> + “Our religion is cut up, root and branch,” said the pimple-nosed pastor of + the Episcopal meeting-house at Kirkwhistle. + </p> + <p> + “We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench, without a + certificate from the presbytery and kirk-treasurer,” said Mareschal-Wells. + </p> + <p> + “Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning, without license from a + commissioner of excise,” said the smuggler. + </p> + <p> + “Or ride over the fell in a moonless night,” said Westburnflat, “without + asking leave of young Earnscliff; or some Englified justice of the peace: + thae were gude days on the Border when there was neither peace nor justice + heard of.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe,” continued Ellieslaw, + “and take arms for the protection of our rights, our fortunes, our lives, + and our families.” + </p> + <p> + “Think upon genuine episcopal ordination, without which there can be no + lawful clergy,” said the divine. + </p> + <p> + “Think of the piracies committed on our East-Indian trade by Green and the + English thieves,” said William Willieson, half-owner and sole skipper of a + brig that made four voyages annually between Cockpool and Whitehaven. + </p> + <p> + “Remember your liberties,” rejoined Mareschal, who seemed to take a + mischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the enthusiasm which + he had excited, like a roguish boy, who, having lifted the sluice of a + mill-dam, enjoys the clatter of the wheels which he has put in motion, + without thinking of the mischief he may have occasioned. “Remember your + liberties,” he exclaimed; “confound cess, press, and presbytery, and the + memory of old Willie that first brought them upon us!” + </p> + <p> + “Damn the gauger!” echoed old John Rewcastle; “I’ll cleave him wi’ my ain + hand.” + </p> + <p> + “And confound the country-keeper and the constable!” re-echoed + Westburnflat; “I’ll weize a brace of balls through them before morning.” + </p> + <p> + “We are agreed, then,” said Ellieslaw, when the shouts had somewhat + subsided, “to bear this state of things no longer?” + </p> + <p> + “We are agreed to a man,” answered his guests. + </p> + <p> + “Not literally so,” said Mr. Ratcliffe; “for though I cannot hope to + assuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have seized upon + the company, yet I beg to observe, that so far as the opinion of a single + member goes, I do not entirely coincide in the list of grievances which + has been announced, and that I do utterly protest against the frantic + measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them. I can easily + suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out of the heat of + the moment, or have been said perhaps in jest. But there are some jests of + a nature very apt to transpire; and you ought to remember, gentlemen, that + stone-walls have ears.” + </p> + <p> + “Stone-walls may have ears,” returned Ellieslaw, eyeing him with a look of + triumphant malignity, “but domestic spies, Mr. Ratcliffe, will soon find + themselves without any, if any such dares to continue his abode in a + family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion, where his conduct + has been that of a presumptuous meddler, and from which his exit shall be + that of a baffled knave, if he does not know how to take a hint.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Vere,” returned Ratcliffe, with calm contempt, “I am fully aware, + that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you, which it must through + the rash step you are about to adopt, it will immediately become unsafe to + myself, as it has always been hateful to you. But I have one protection, + and it is a strong one; for you would not willingly hear me detail before + gentlemen, and men of honour, the singular circumstances in which our + connexion took its rise. As to the rest, I rejoice at its conclusion; and + as I think that Mr. Mareschal and some other gentlemen will guarantee the + safety of my ears and of my throat (for which last I have more reason to + be apprehensive) during the course of the night, I shall not leave your + castle till to-morrow morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Be it so, sir,” replied Mr. Vere; “you are entirely safe from my + resentment, because you are beneath it, and not because I am afraid of + your disclosing my family secrets, although, for your own sake, I warn you + to beware how you do so. Your agency and intermediation can be of little + consequence to one who will win or lose all, as lawful right or unjust + usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue. Farewell, + sir.” + </p> + <p> + Ratcliffe arose, and cast upon him a look, which Vere seemed to sustain + with difficulty, and, bowing to those around him, left the room. + </p> + <p> + This conversation made an impression on many of the company, which + Ellieslaw hastened to dispel, by entering upon the business of the day. + Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection. + Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders, with + powers to direct their farther measures. A place of rendezvous was + appointed, at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day, with such + followers and friends to the cause as each could collect around him. + Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations; and + Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others, who, with Westburnflat and + the old smuggler, continued to ply the bottle stanchly, for leaving the + head of the table, as he must necessarily hold a separate and sober + conference with the coadjutors whom they had associated with him in the + command. The apology was the more readily accepted, as he prayed them, at + the same time, to continue to amuse themselves with such refreshments as + the cellars of the castle afforded. Shouts of applause followed their + retreat; and the names of Vere, Langley, and, above all, of Mareschal, + were thundered forth in chorus, and bathed with copious bumpers + repeatedly, during the remainder of the evening. + </p> + <p> + When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate apartment, + they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of embarrassment, which, + in Sir Frederick’s dark features, amounted to an expression of + discontented sullenness. Mareschal was the first to break the pause, + saying, with a loud burst of laughter, + </p> + <p> + —“Well! we are fairly embarked now, gentlemen—VOGUE LA + GALERE!” + </p> + <p> + “We may thank you for the plunge,” said Ellieslaw. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but I don’t know how far you will thank me,” answered Mareschal, + “when I show you this letter which I received just before we sat down. My + servant told me it was delivered by a man he had never seen before, who + went off at the gallop, after charging him to put it into my own hand.” + </p> + <p> + Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter, and read aloud— + </p> + <p> + EDINBURGH,— + </p> + <p> + HOND. SIR, Having obligations to your family, which shall be nameless, and + learning that you are one of the company of, adventurers doing business + for the house of James and Company, late merchants in London, now in + Dunkirk, I think it right to send you this early and private information, + that the vessels you expected have been driven off the coast, without + having been able to break bulk, or to land any part of their cargo; and + that the west-country partners have resolved to withdraw their name from + the firm, as it must prove a losing concern. Having good hope you will + avail yourself of this early information, to do what is needful for your + own security, I rest your humble servant, NIHIL NAMELESS. + </p> + <p> + FOR RALPH MARESCHAL, OF MARESCHAL-WELLS —THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED. + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick’s jaw dropped, and his countenance blackened, as the letter + was read, and Ellieslaw exclaimed,—“Why, this affects the very + mainspring of our enterprise. If the French fleet, with the king on board, + has been chased off by the English, as this d—d scrawl seems to + intimate, where are we?” + </p> + <p> + “Just where we were this morning, I think,” said Mareschal, still + laughing. + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, and a truce to your ill-timed mirth, Mr. Mareschal; this + morning we were not committed publicly, as we now stand committed by your + own mad act, when you had a letter in your pocket apprizing you that our + undertaking was desperate.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, I expected you would say so. But, in the first place, my friend + Nihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam; and, moreover, I would + have you know that I am tired of a party that does nothing but form bold + resolutions overnight, and sleep them away with their wine before morning. + The government are now unprovided of men and ammunition; in a few weeks + they will have enough of both: the country is now in a flame against them; + in a few weeks, betwixt the effects of self-interest, of fear, and of + lukewarm indifference, which are already so visible, this first fervour + will be as cold as Christmas. So, as I was determined to go the vole, I + have taken care you shall dip as deep as I; it signifies nothing plunging. + You are fairly in the bog, and must struggle through.” + </p> + <p> + “You are mistaken with respect to one of us, Mr. Mareschal,” said Sir + Frederick Langley; and, applying himself to the bell, he desired the + person who entered to order his servants and horses instantly. + </p> + <p> + “You must not leave us, Sir Frederick,” said Ellieslaw; “if we have our + musters to go over.” + </p> + <p> + “I will go to-night, Mr. Vere,” said Sir Frederick, “and write you my + intentions in this matter when I am at home.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Mareschal, “and send them by a troop of horse from Carlisle to + make us prisoners? Look ye, Sir Frederick, I for one will neither be + deserted nor betrayed; and if you leave Ellieslaw Castle to-night, it + shall be by passing over my dead body.” + </p> + <p> + “For shame! Mareschal,” said Mr. Vere, “how can you so hastily + misinterpret our friend’s intentions? I am sure Sir Frederick can only be + jesting with us; for, were he not too honourable to dream of deserting the + cause, he cannot but remember the full proofs we have of his accession to + it, and his eager activity in advancing it. He cannot but be conscious, + besides, that the first information will be readily received by + government, and that if the question be, which can first lodge + intelligence of the affair, we can easily save a few hours on him.” + </p> + <p> + “You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in such a + race of treachery; for my part, I won’t enter my horse for such a plate,” + said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, “A pretty pair of fellows to + trust a man’s neck with!” + </p> + <p> + “I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper,” said Sir + Frederick Langley; “and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw. I have + no reason to keep faith with one” (looking at Vere) “who has kept none + with me.” + </p> + <p> + “In what respect,” said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of his hand, + his impetuous kinsman—“how have I disappointed you, Sir Frederick?” + </p> + <p> + “In the nearest and most tender point—you have trifled with me concerning + our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the gage of our political + undertaking. This carrying off and this bringing back of Miss Vere,—the + cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuses with which you + cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you may yourself retain + possession of the estates which are hers by right, and make me, in the + meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise, by holding out hopes and + expectations which you are resolved never to realize.” + </p> + <p> + “Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred—” + </p> + <p> + “I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too + long,” answered Sir Frederick. + </p> + <p> + “If you leave us,” said Ellieslaw, “you cannot but know both your ruin and + ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together.” + </p> + <p> + “Leave me to take care of myself,” returned the knight; “but were what you + say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther.” + </p> + <p> + “Can nothing—no surety convince you of my sincerity?” said + Ellieslaw, anxiously; “this morning I should have repelled your unjust + suspicions as an insult; but situated as we now are—” + </p> + <p> + “You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?” retorted Sir Frederick. “If + you would have me think so, there is but one way to convince me of it—let + your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening.” + </p> + <p> + “So soon?—impossible,” answered Vere; “think of her late alarm—of + our present undertaking.” + </p> + <p> + “I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the altar. You + have a chapel in the castle—Doctor Hobbler is present among the + company-this proof of your good faith to-night, and we are again joined in + heart and hand. If you refuse me when it is so much for your advantage to + consent, how shall I trust you to-morrow, when I shall stand committed in + your undertaking, and unable to retract?” + </p> + <p> + “And I am to understand, that, if you can be made my son-in-law to-night, + our friendship is renewed?” said Ellieslaw. + </p> + <p> + “Most infallibly, and most inviolably,” replied Sir Frederick. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said Vere, “though what you ask is premature, indelicate, and + unjust towards my character, yet, Sir Frederick, give me your hand—my + daughter shall be your wife.” + </p> + <p> + “This night?” + </p> + <p> + “This very night,” replied Ellieslaw, “before the clock strikes twelve.” + </p> + <p> + “With her own consent, I trust,” said Mareschal; “for I promise you both, + gentlemen, I will not stand tamely by, and see any violence put on the + will of my pretty kinswoman.” + </p> + <p> + “Another pest in this hot-headed fellow,” muttered Ellieslaw; and then + aloud, “With her own consent? For what do you take me, Mareschal, that you + should suppose your interference necessary to protect my daughter against + her father? Depend upon it, she has no repugnance to Sir Frederick + Langley.” + </p> + <p> + “Or rather to be called Lady Langley? faith, like enough—there are + many women might be of her mind; and I beg your pardon, but these sudden + demands and concessions alarmed me a little on her account.” + </p> + <p> + “It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me,” said + Ellieslaw; “but perhaps if she is found intractable, Sir Frederick will + consider—” + </p> + <p> + “I will consider nothing, Mr. Vere—your daughter’s hand to-night, or + I depart, were it at midnight—there is my ultimatum.” + </p> + <p> + “I embrace it,” said Ellieslaw; “and I will leave you to talk upon our + military preparations, while I go to prepare my daughter for so sudden a + change of condition.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he left the company. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + He brings Earl Osmond to receive my vows. + O dreadful change! for Tancred, haughty Osmond. + —TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA. +</pre> + <p> + Mr. Vere, whom long practice of dissimulation had enabled to model his + very gait and footsteps to aid the purposes of deception, walked along the + stone passage, and up the first flight of steps towards Miss Vere’s + apartment, with the alert, firm, and steady pace of one who is bound, + indeed, upon important business, but who entertains no doubt he can + terminate his affairs satisfactorily. But when out of hearing of the + gentlemen whom he had left, his step became so slow and irresolute, as to + correspond with his doubts and his fears. At length he paused in an + antechamber to collect his ideas, and form his plan of argument, before + approaching his daughter. + </p> + <p> + “In what more hopeless and inextricable dilemma was ever an unfortunate + man involved!” Such was the tenor of his reflections.—“If we now + fall to pieces by disunion, there can be little doubt that the government + will take my life as the prime agitator of the insurrection. Or, grant I + could stoop to save myself by a hasty submission, am I not, even in that + case, utterly ruined? I have broken irreconcilably with Ratcliffe, and can + have nothing to expect from that quarter but insult and persecution. I + must wander forth an impoverished and dishonoured man, without even the + means of sustaining life, far less wealth sufficient to counterbalance the + infamy which my countrymen, both those whom I desert and those whom I + join, will attach to the name of the political renegade. It is not to be + thought of. And yet, what choice remains between this lot and the + ignominious scaffold? Nothing can save me but reconciliation with these + men; and, to accomplish this, I have promised to Langley that Isabella + shall marry him ere midnight, and to Mareschal, that she shall do so + without compulsion. I have but one remedy betwixt me and ruin—her + consent to take a suitor whom she dislikes, upon such short notice as + would disgust her, even were he a favoured lover—But I must trust to + the romantic generosity of her disposition; and let me paint the necessity + of her obedience ever so strongly, I cannot overcharge its reality.” + </p> + <p> + Having finished this sad chain of reflections upon his perilous condition, + he entered his daughter’s apartment with every nerve bent up to the + support of the argument which he was about to sustain. Though a deceitful + and ambitious man, he was not so devoid of natural affection but that he + was shocked at the part he was about to act, in practising on the feelings + of a dutiful and affectionate child; but the recollections, that, if he + succeeded, his daughter would only be trepanned into an advantageous + match, and that, if he failed, he himself was a lost man, were quite + sufficient to drown all scruples. + </p> + <p> + He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing-room, her head + reclining on her hand, and either sunk in slumber, or so deeply engaged in + meditation, that she did not hear the noise he made at his entrance. He + approached with his features composed to a deep expression of sorrow and + sympathy, and, sitting down beside her, solicited her attention by quietly + taking her hand, a motion which he did not fail to accompany with a deep + sigh. + </p> + <p> + “My father!” said Isabella, with a sort of start, which expressed at least + as much fear, as joy or affection. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Isabella,” said Vere, “your unhappy father, who comes now as a + penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury done to her in + the excess of his affection, and then to take leave of her for ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Sir? Offence to me take leave for ever? What does all this mean?” said + Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Isabella, I am serious. But first let me ask you, have you no + suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance which befell + you yesterday morning?” + </p> + <p> + “You, sir?” answered Isabella, stammering between a consciousness that he + had guessed her thoughts justly, and the shame as well as fear which + forbade her to acknowledge a suspicion so degrading and so unnatural. + </p> + <p> + “Yes!” he continued, “your hesitation confesses that you entertained such + an opinion, and I have now the painful task of acknowledging that your + suspicions have done me no injustice. But listen to my motives. In an evil + hour I countenanced the addresses of Sir Frederick Langley, conceiving it + impossible that you could have any permanent objections to a match where + the advantages were, in most respects, on your side. In a worse, I entered + with him into measures calculated to restore our banished monarch, and the + independence of my country. He has taken advantage of my unguarded + confidence, and now has my life at his disposal.” + </p> + <p> + “Your life, sir?” said Isabella, faintly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Isabella,” continued her father, “the life of him who gave life to + you. So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his headlong passion + (for, to do him justice, I believe his unreasonable conduct arises from + excess of attachment to you) was likely to hurry him, I endeavoured, by + finding a plausible pretext for your absence for some weeks, to extricate + myself from the dilemma in which I am placed. For this purpose I wished, + in case your objections to the match continued insurmountable, to have + sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your maternal aunt + at Paris. By a series of mistakes you have been brought from the place of + secrecy and security which I had destined for your temporary abode. Fate + has baffled my last chance of escape, and I have only to give you my + blessing, and send you from the castle with Mr. Ratcliffe, who now leaves + it; my own fate will soon be decided.” + </p> + <p> + “Good Heaven, sir! can this be possible?” exclaimed Isabella. “O, why was + I freed from the restraint in which you placed me? or why did you not + impart your pleasure to me?” + </p> + <p> + “Think an instant, Isabella. Would you have had me prejudice in your + opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving, by communicating to you + the injurious eagerness with which he pursued his object? Could I do so + honourably, having promised to assist his suit?—But it is all over, + I and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men; it only remains to + send you from hence under a safe escort.” + </p> + <p> + “Great powers! and is there no remedy?” said the terrified young woman. + </p> + <p> + “None, my child,” answered Vere, gently, “unless one which you would not + advise your father to adopt—to be the first to betray his friends.” + </p> + <p> + “O, no! no!” she answered, abhorrently yet hastily, as if to reject the + temptation which the alternative presented to her. “But is there no other + hope—through flight—through mediation—through + supplication?—I will bend my knee to Sir Frederick!” + </p> + <p> + “It would be a fruitless degradation; he is determined on his course, and + I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate. On one condition + only he will turn aside from his purpose, and that condition my lips shall + never utter to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Name it, I conjure you, my dear father!” exclaimed Isabella. “What CAN he + ask that we ought not to grant, to prevent the hideous catastrophe with + which you are threatened?” + </p> + <p> + “That, Isabella,” said Vere, solemnly, “you shall never know, until your + father’s head has rolled on the bloody scaffold; then, indeed, you will + learn there was one sacrifice by which he might have been saved.” + </p> + <p> + “And why not speak it now?” said Isabella; “do you fear I would flinch + from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation? or would you bequeath + me the bitter legacy of life-long remorse, so oft as I shall think that + you perished, while there remained one mode of preventing the dreadful + misfortune that overhangs you?” + </p> + <p> + “Then, my child,” said Vere, “since you press me to name what I would a + thousand times rather leave in silence, I must inform you that he will + accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage, and that conferred + before midnight this very evening!” + </p> + <p> + “This evening, sir?” said the young lady, struck with horror at the + proposal—“and to such a man!—A man?—a monster, who could + wish to win the daughter by threatening the life of the father—it is + impossible!” + </p> + <p> + “You say right, my child,” answered her father, “it is indeed impossible; + nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such a sacrifice—It + is the course of nature that the old should die and be forgot, and the + young should live and be happy.” + </p> + <p> + “My father die, and his child can save him!—but no—no—my + dear father, pardon me, it is impossible; you only wish to guide me to + your wishes. I know your object is what you think my happiness, and this + dreadful tale is only told to influence my conduct and subdue my + scruples.” + </p> + <p> + “My daughter,” replied Ellieslaw, in a tone where offended authority + seemed to struggle with parental affection, “my child suspects me of + inventing a false tale to work upon her feelings! Even this I must bear, + and even from this unworthy suspicion I must descend to vindicate myself. + You know the stainless honour of your cousin Mareschal—mark what I + shall write to him, and judge from his answer, if the danger in which we + stand is not real, and whether I have not used every means to avert it.” + </p> + <p> + He sate down, wrote a few lines hastily, and handed them to Isabella, who, + after repeated and painful efforts, cleared her eyes and head sufficiently + to discern their purport. + </p> + <p> + “Dear cousin,” said the billet, “I find my daughter, as I expected, in + despair at the untimely and premature urgency of Sir Frederick Langley. + She cannot even comprehend the peril in which we stand, or how much we are + in his power—Use your influence with him, for Heaven’s sake, to + modify proposals, to the acceptance of which I cannot, and will not, urge + my child against all her own feelings, as well as those of delicacy and + propriety, and oblige your loving cousin,—R. V.” + </p> + <p> + In the agitation of the moment, when her swimming eyes and dizzy brain + could hardly comprehend the sense of what she looked upon, it is not + surprising that Miss Vere should have omitted to remark that this letter + seemed to rest her scruples rather upon the form and time of the proposed + union, than on a rooted dislike to the suitor proposed to her. Mr. Vere + rang the bell, and gave the letter to a servant to be delivered to Mr. + Mareschal, and, rising from his chair, continued to traverse the apartment + in silence and in great agitation until the answer was returned. He + glanced it over, and wrung the hand of his daughter as he gave it to her. + The tenor was as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “My dear kinsman, I have already urged the knight on the point you + mention, and I find him as fixed as Cheviot. I am truly sorry my fair + cousin should be pressed to give up any of her maidenly rights. Sir + Frederick consents, however, to leave the castle with me the instant the + ceremony is performed, and we will raise our followers and begin the fray. + Thus there is great hope the bridegroom may be knocked on the head before + he and the bride can meet again, so Bell has a fair chance to be Lady + Langley A TRES BON MARCHE. For the rest, I can only say, that if she can + make up her mind to the alliance at all—it is no time for mere + maiden ceremony—my pretty cousin must needs consent to marry in + haste, or we shall all repent at leisure, or rather have very little + leisure to repent; which is all at present from him who rests your + affectionate kinsman,—R. M.” + </p> + <p> + “P.S.—Tell Isabella that I would rather cut the knight’s throat + after all, and end the dilemma that way, than see her constrained to marry + him against her will.” + </p> + <p> + When Isabella had read this letter, it dropped from her hand, and she + would, at the same time, have fallen from her chair, had she not been + supported by her father. + </p> + <p> + “My God, my child will die!” exclaimed Vere, the feelings of nature + overcoming, even in HIS breast, the sentiments of selfish policy; “look + up, Isabella—look up, my child—come what will, you shall not + be the sacrifice—I will fall myself with the consciousness I leave + you happy—My child may weep on my grave, but she shall not—not + in this instance—reproach my memory.” He called a servant.—“Go, + bid Ratcliffe come hither directly.” + </p> + <p> + During this interval, Miss Vere became deadly pale, clenched her hands, + pressing the palms strongly together, closed her eyes, and drew her lips + with strong compression, as if the severe constraint which she put upon + her internal feelings extended even to her muscular organization. Then + raising her head, and drawing in her breath strongly ere she spoke, she + said, with firmness,—“Father, I consent to the marriage.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall not—you shall not,—my child—my dear child—you + shall not embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain danger.” + </p> + <p> + So exclaimed Ellieslaw; and, strange and inconsistent beings that we are! + he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his heart. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” repeated Isabella, “I will consent to this marriage.” + </p> + <p> + “No, my child, no—not now at least—we will humble ourselves to + obtain delay from him; and yet, Isabella, could you overcome a dislike + which has no real foundation, think, in other respects, what a match!—wealth—rank—importance.” + </p> + <p> + “Father!” reiterated Isabella, “I have consented.” + </p> + <p> + It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying anything else, or even of + varying the phrase which, with such effort, she had compelled herself to + utter. + </p> + <p> + “Heaven bless thee, my child!—Heaven bless thee!—And it WILL + bless thee with riches, with pleasure, with power.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Vere faintly entreated to be left by herself for the rest of the + evening. + </p> + <p> + “But will you not receive Sir Frederick?” said her father, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + “I will meet him,” she replied, “I will meet him—when I must, and + where I must; but spare me now.” + </p> + <p> + “Be it so, my dearest; you shall know no restraint that I can save you + from. Do not think too hardly of Sir Frederick for this,—it is an + excess of passion.” + </p> + <p> + Isabella waved her hand impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Forgive me, my child—I go—Heaven bless thee. At eleven—if + you call me not before—at eleven I come to seek you.” + </p> + <p> + When he left Isabella she dropped upon her knees—“Heaven aid me to + support the resolution I have taken—Heaven only can—O, poor + Earnscliff! who shall comfort him? and with what contempt will he + pronounce her name, who listened to him to-day and gave herself to another + at night! But let him despise me—better so than that he should know + the truth—let him despise me; if it will but lessen his grief, I + should feel comfort in the loss of his esteem.” + </p> + <p> + She wept bitterly; attempting in vain, from time to time, to commence the + prayer for which she had sunk on her knees, but unable to calm her spirits + sufficiently for the exercise of devotion. As she remained in this agony + of mind, the door of her apartment was slowly opened. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The darksome cave they enter, where they found + The woful man, low sitting on the ground, + Musing full sadly in his sullen mind.—FAERY QUEEN. +</pre> + <p> + The intruder on Miss Vere’s sorrows was Ratcliffe. Ellieslaw had, in the + agitation of his mind, forgotten to countermand the order he had given to + call him thither, so that he opened the door with the words, “You sent for + me, Mr. Vere.” Then looking around—“Miss Vere, alone! on the ground! + and in tears!” + </p> + <p> + “Leave me—leave me, Mr. Ratcliffe,” said the unhappy young lady. + </p> + <p> + “I must not leave you,” said Ratcliffe; “I have been repeatedly requesting + admittance to take my leave of you, and have been refused, until your + father himself sent for me. Blame me not, if I am bold and intrusive; I + have a duty to discharge which makes me so.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot listen to you—I cannot speak to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; take + my best wishes, and for God’s sake leave me.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me only,” said Ratcliffe, “is it true that this monstrous match is + to go forward, and this very night? I heard the servants proclaim it as I + was on the great staircase—I heard the directions given to clear out + the chapel.” + </p> + <p> + “Spare me, Mr. Ratcliffe,” replied the luckless bride; “and from the state + in which you see me, judge of the cruelty of these questions.” + </p> + <p> + “Married? to Sir Frederick Langley? and this night? It must not cannot—shall + not be.” + </p> + <p> + “It MUST be, Mr. Ratcliff, or my father is ruined.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I understand,” answered Ratcliffe; “and you have sacrificed yourself + to save him who—But let the virtue of the child atone for the faults + of the father it is no time to rake them up.—What CAN be done? Time + presses—I know but one remedy—with four-and-twenty hours I + might find many—Miss Vere, you must implore the protection of the + only human being who has it in his power to control the course of events + which threatens to hurry you before it.” + </p> + <p> + “And what human being,” answered Miss Vere, “has such power?” + </p> + <p> + “Start not when I name him,” said Ratcliffe, coming near her, and speaking + in a low but distinct voice. “It is he who is called Elshender the Recluse + of Mucklestane-Moor.” + </p> + <p> + “You are mad, Mr. Ratcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by an + ill-timed jest!” + </p> + <p> + “I am as much in my senses, young lady,” answered her adviser, “as you + are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least of all with your + misery. I swear to you that this being (who is other far than what he + seems) actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this hateful + union.” + </p> + <p> + “And of insuring my father’s safety?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes! even that,” said Ratcliffe, “if you plead his cause with him—yet + how to obtain admittance to the Recluse!” + </p> + <p> + “Fear not that,” said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the incident of the + rose; “I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in my extremity, + and gave me this flower as a token. Ere it faded away entirely, I would + need, he said, his assistance: is it possible his words can have been + aught but the ravings of insanity?” + </p> + <p> + “Doubt it not fear it not—but above all,” said Ratcliffe, “let us + lose no time—are you at liberty, and unwatched?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe so,” said Isabella: “but what would you have me to do?” + </p> + <p> + “Leave the castle instantly,” said Ratcliffe, “and throw yourself at the + feet of this extraordinary man, who in circumstances that seem to argue + the extremity of the most contemptible poverty, possesses yet an almost + absolute influence over your fate.—Guests and servants are deep in + their carouse—the leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable + schemes—my horse stands ready in the stable—I will saddle one + for you, and meet you at the little garden-gate—O, let no doubt of + my prudence or fidelity prevent your taking the only step in your power to + escape the dreadful fate which must attend the wife of Sir Frederick + Langley!” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Miss Vere, “you have always been esteemed a man of + honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always catch at the + feeblest twig,—I will trust you—I will follow your advice—I + will meet you at the garden-gate.” + </p> + <p> + She bolted the outer-door of her apartment as soon as Mr. Ratcliffe left + her, and descended to the garden by a separate stair of communication + which opened to her dressing-room. On the way she felt inclined to retract + the consent she had so hastily given to a plan so hopeless and + extravagant. But as she passed in her descent a private door which entered + into the chapel from the back-stair, she heard the voice of the + female-servants as they were employed in the task of cleaning it. + </p> + <p> + “Married! and to sae bad a man—Ewhow, sirs! onything rather than + that.” + </p> + <p> + “They are right—they are right,” said Miss Vere, “anything rather + than that!” + </p> + <p> + She hurried to the garden. Mr. Ratcliffe was true to his appointment—the + horses stood saddled at the garden-gate, and in a few minutes they were + advancing rapidly towards the hut of the Solitary. + </p> + <p> + While the ground was favourable, the speed of their journey was such as to + prevent much communication; but when a steep ascent compelled them to + slacken their pace, a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss Vere’s + mind. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” she said, pulling up her horse’s bridle, “let us + prosecute no farther a journey, which nothing but the extreme agitation of + my mind can vindicate my having undertaken—I am well aware that this + man passes among the vulgar as being possessed of supernatural powers, and + carrying on an intercourse with beings of another world; but I would have + you aware I am neither to be imposed on by such follies, nor, were I to + believe in their existence, durst I, with my feelings of religion, apply + to this being in my distress.” + </p> + <p> + “I should have thought, Miss Vere,” replied Ratcliffe, “my character and + habits of thinking were so well known to you, that you might have held me + exculpated from crediting in such absurdity.” + </p> + <p> + “But in what other mode,” said Isabella, “can a being, so miserable + himself in appearance, possess the power of assisting me?” + </p> + <p> + “Miss Vere.” said Ratcliffe, after a momentary pause, “I am bound by a + solemn oath of secrecy—You must, without farther explanation, be + satisfied with my pledged assurance, that he does possess the power, if + you can inspire him with the will; and that, I doubt not, you will be able + to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Miss Vere, “you may yourself be mistaken; you ask an + unlimited degree of confidence from me.” + </p> + <p> + “Recollect, Miss Vere,” he replied, “that when, in your humanity, you + asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell and his ruined + family—when you requested me to prevail on him to do a thing most + abhorrent to his nature—to forgive an injury and remit a penalty—I + stipulated that you should ask me no questions concerning the sources of + my influence—You found no reason to distrust me then, do not + distrust me now.” + </p> + <p> + “But the extraordinary mode of life of this man,” said Miss Vere; “his + seclusion—his figure—the deepness of mis-anthropy which he is + said to express in his language—Mr. Ratcliffe, what can I think of + him if he really possesses the powers you ascribe to him?” + </p> + <p> + “This man, young lady, was bred a Catholic, a sect which affords a + thousand instances of those who have retired from power and affluence to + voluntary privations more strict even than his.” + </p> + <p> + “But he avows no religious motive,” replied Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Ratcliffe; “disgust with the world has operated his retreat + from it without assuming the veil of superstition. Thus far I may tell you—he + was born to great wealth, which his parents designed should become greater + by his union with a kinswoman, whom for that purpose they bred up in their + own house. You have seen his figure; judge what the young lady must have + thought of the lot to which she was destined—Yet, habituated to his + appearance, she showed no reluctance, and the friends of—of the + person whom I speak of, doubted not that the excess of his attachment, the + various acquisitions of his mind, his many and amiable qualities, had + overcome the natural horror which his destined bride must have entertained + at an exterior so dreadfully inauspicious.” + </p> + <p> + “And did they judge truly?” said Isabella. + </p> + <p> + “You shall hear. He, at least, was fully aware of his own deficiency; the + sense of it haunted him like a phantom. ‘I am,’ was his own expression to + me,—I mean to a man whom he trusted,—‘I am, in spite of what + you would say, a poor miserable outcast, fitter to have been smothered in + the cradle than to have been brought up to scare the world in which I + crawl.’ The person whom he addressed in vain endeavoured to impress him + with the indifference to external form which is the natural result of + philosophy, or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental talents to + the more attractive attributes that are merely personal. ‘I hear you,’ he + would reply; ‘but you speak the voice of cold-blooded stoicism, or, at + least, of friendly partiality. But look at every book which we have read, + those excepted of that abstract philosophy which feels no responsive voice + in our natural feelings. Is not personal form, such as at least can be + tolerated without horror and disgust, always represented as essential to + our ideas of a friend, far more a lover? Is not such a mis-shapen monster + as I am, excluded, by the very fiat of Nature, from her fairest + enjoyments? What but my wealth prevents all—perhaps even Letitia, or + you—from shunning me as something foreign to your nature, and more + odious, by bearing that distorted resemblance to humanity which we observe + in the animal tribes that are more hateful to man because they seem his + caricature?’” + </p> + <p> + “You repeat the sentiments of a madman,” said Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied her conductor, “unless a morbid and excessive sensibility on + such a subject can be termed insanity. Yet I will not deny that this + governing feeling and apprehension carried the person who entertained it, + to lengths which indicated a deranged imagination. He appeared to think + that it was necessary for him, by exuberant, and not always well-chosen + instances of liberality, and even profusion, to unite himself to the human + race, from which he conceived himself naturally dissevered. The benefits + which he bestowed, from a disposition naturally philanthropical in an + uncommon degree, were exaggerated by the influence of the goading + reflection, that more was necessary from him than from others,—lavishing + his treasures as if to bribe mankind to receive him into their class. It + is scarcely necessary to say, that the bounty which flowed from a source + so capricious was often abused, and his confidence frequently betrayed. + These disappointments, which occur to all, more or less, and most to such + as confer benefits without just discrimination, his diseased fancy set + down to the hatred and contempt excited by his personal deformity.—But + I fatigue you, Miss Vere?” + </p> + <p> + “No, by no means; I—I could not prevent my attention from wandering + an instant; pray proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “He became at length,” continued Ratcliffe, “the most ingenious + self-tormentor of whom I have ever heard; the scoff of the rabble, and the + sneer of the yet more brutal vulgar of his own rank, was to him agony and + breaking on the wheel. He regarded the laugh of the common people whom he + passed on the street, and the suppressed titter, or yet more offensive + terror, of the young girls to whom he was introduced in company, as proofs + of the true sense which the world entertained of him, as a prodigy unfit + to be received among them on the usual terms of society, and as + vindicating the wisdom of his purpose in withdrawing himself from among + them. On the faith and sincerity of two persons alone, he seemed to rely + implicitly—on that of his betrothed bride, and of a friend eminently + gifted in personal accomplishments, who seemed, and indeed probably was, + sincerely attached to him. He ought to have been so at least, for he was + literally loaded with benefits by him whom you are now about to see. The + parents of the subject of my story died within a short space of each + other. Their death postponed the marriage, for which the day had been + fixed. The lady did not seem greatly to mourn this delay,—perhaps + that was not to have been expected; but she intimated no change of + intention, when, after a decent interval, a second day was named for their + union. The friend of whom I spoke was then a constant resident at the + Hall. In an evil hour, at the earnest request and entreaty of this friend, + they joined a general party, where men of different political opinions + were mingled, and where they drank deep. A quarrel ensued; the friend of + the Recluse drew his sword with others, and was thrown down and disarmed + by a more powerful antagonist. They fell in the struggle at the feet of + the Recluse, who, maimed and truncated as his form appears, possesses, + nevertheless, great strength, as well as violent passions. He caught up a + sword, pierced the heart of his friend’s antagonist, was tried, and his + life, with difficulty, redeemed from justice at the expense of a year’s + close imprisonment, the punishment of manslaughter. The incident affected + him most deeply, the more that the deceased was a man of excellent + character, and had sustained gross insult and injury ere he drew his + sword. I think, from that moment, I observed—I beg pardon—The + fits of morbid sensibility which had tormented this unfortunate gentleman, + were rendered henceforth more acute by remorse, which he, of all men, was + least capable of having incurred, or of sustaining when it became his + unhappy lot. His paroxysms of agony could not be concealed from the lady + to whom he was betrothed; and it must be confessed they were of an + alarming and fearful nature. He comforted himself, that, at the expiry of + his imprisonment, he could form with his wife and friend a society, + encircled by which he might dispense with more extensive communication + with the world. He was deceived; before that term elapsed, his friend and + his betrothed bride were man and wife. The effects of a shock so dreadful + on an ardent temperament, a disposition already soured by bitter remorse, + and loosened by the indulgence of a gloomy imagination from the rest of + mankind, I cannot describe to you; it was as if the last cable at which + the vessel rode had suddenly parted, and left her abandoned to all the + wild fury of the tempest. He was placed under medical restraint. As a + temporary measure this might have been justifiable; but his hard-hearted + friend, who, in consequence of his marriage, was now his nearest ally, + prolonged his confinement, in order to enjoy the management of his immense + estates. There was one who owed his all to the sufferer, an humble friend, + but grateful and faithful. By unceasing exertion, and repeated invocation + of justice, he at length succeeded in obtaining his patron’s freedom, and + reinstatement in the management of his own property, to which was soon + added that of his intended bride, who having died without male issue, her + estates reverted to him, as heir of entail. But freedom and wealth were + unable to restore the equipoise of his mind; to the former his grief made + him indifferent—the latter only served him as far as it afforded him + the means of indulging his strange and wayward fancy. He had renounced the + Catholic religion, but perhaps some of its doctrines continued to + influence a mind, over which remorse and misanthropy now assumed, in + appearance, an unbounded authority. His life has since been that + alternately of a pilgrim and a hermit, suffering the most severe + privations, not indeed in ascetic devotion, but in abhorrence of mankind. + Yet no man’s words and actions have been at such a wide difference, nor + has any hypocritical wretch ever been more ingenious in assigning good + motives for his vile actions, than this unfortunate in reconciling to his + abstract principles of misanthropy, a conduct which flows from his natural + generosity and kindness of feeling.” + </p> + <p> + “Still, Mr. Ratcliffe—still you describe the inconsistencies of a + madman.” + </p> + <p> + “By no means,” replied Ratcliffe. “That the imagination of this gentleman + is disordered, I will not pretend to dispute; I have already told you that + it has sometimes broken out into paroxysms approaching to real mental + alienation. But it is of his common state of mind that I speak; it is + irregular, but not deranged; the shades are as gradual as those that + divide the light of noonday from midnight. The courtier who ruins his + fortune for the attainment of a title which can do him no good, or power + of which he can make no suitable or creditable use, the miser who hoards + his useless wealth, and the prodigal who squanders it, are all marked with + a certain shade of insanity. To criminals who are guilty of enormities, + when the temptation, to a sober mind, bears no proportion to the horror of + the act, or the probability of detection and punishment, the same + observation applies; and every violent passion, as well as anger, may be + termed a short madness.” + </p> + <p> + “This may be all good philosophy, Mr. Ratcliffe,” answered Miss Vere; + “but, excuse me, it by no means emboldens me to visit, at this late hour, + a person whose extravagance of imagination you yourself can only + palliate.” + </p> + <p> + “Rather, then,” said Ratcliffe, “receive my solemn assurances, that you do + not incur the slightest danger. But what I have been hitherto afraid to + mention for fear of alarming you is, that now when we are within sight of + his retreat, for I can discover it through the twilight, I must go no + farther with you; you must proceed alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Alone?—I dare not.” + </p> + <p> + “You must,” continued Ratcliffe; “I will remain here and wait for you.” + </p> + <p> + “You will not, then, stir from this place,” said Miss Vere “yet the + distance is so great, you could not hear me were I to cry for assistance.” + </p> + <p> + “Fear nothing,” said her guide; “or observe, at least, the utmost caution + in stifling every expression of timidity. Remember that his predominant + and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness of the + hideousness of his appearance. Your path lies straight beside yon + half-fallen willow; keep the left side of it; the marsh lies on the right. + Farewell for a time. Remember the evil you are threatened with, and let it + overcome at once your fears and scruples.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Isabella, “farewell; if you have deceived one so + unfortunate as myself, you have for ever forfeited the fair character for + probity and honour to which I have trusted.” + </p> + <p> + “On my life—on my soul,” continued Ratcliffe, raising his voice as + the distance between them increased, “you are safe—perfectly safe.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + —‘Twas time and griefs + That framed him thus: Time, with his fairer hand, + Offering the fortunes of his former days, + The former man may make him.—Bring us to him, + And chance it as it may.—OLD PLAY. +</pre> + <p> + The sounds of Ratcliffe’s voice had died on Isabella’s ear; but as she + frequently looked back, it was some encouragement to her to discern his + form now darkening in the gloom. Ere, however, she went much farther, she + lost the object in the increasing shade. The last glimmer of the twilight + placed her before the hut of the Solitary. She twice extended her hand to + the door, and twice she withdrew it; and when she did at length make the + effort, the knock did not equal in violence the throb of her own bosom. + Her next effort was louder; her third was reiterated, for the fear of not + obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe promised so much, began to + overpower the terrors of his presence from whom she was to request it. At + length, as she still received no answer, she repeatedly called upon the + Dwarf by his assumed name, and requested him to answer and open to her. + </p> + <p> + “What miserable being is reduced,” said the appalling voice of the + Solitary, “to seek refuge here? Go hence; when the heath-fowl need + shelter, they seek it not in the nest of the night-raven.” + </p> + <p> + “I come to you, father,” said Isabella, “in my hour of adversity, even as + you yourself commanded, when you promised your heart and your door should + be open to my distress; but I fear—” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” said the Solitary, “then thou art Isabella Vere? Give me a token + that thou art she.” + </p> + <p> + “I have brought you back the rose which you gave me; it has not had time + to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon me!” + </p> + <p> + “And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge,” said the Dwarf, “I will not + forfeit mine. The heart and the door that are shut against every other + earthly being, shall be open to thee and to thy sorrows.” + </p> + <p> + She heard him move in his hut, and presently afterwards strike a light. + One by one, bolt and bar were then withdrawn, the heart of Isabella + throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting were successively + removed. The door opened, and the Solitary stood before her, his uncouth + form and features illuminated by the iron lamp which he held in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Enter, daughter of affliction,” he said,—“enter the house of + misery.” + </p> + <p> + She entered, and observed, with a precaution which increased her + trepidation, that the Recluse’s first act, after setting the lamp upon the + table, was to replace the numerous bolts which secured the door of his + hut. She shrunk as she heard the noise which accompanied this ominous + operation, yet remembered Ratcliffe’s caution, and endeavoured to suppress + all appearance of apprehension. The light of the lamp was weak and + uncertain; but the Solitary, without taking immediate notice of Isabella, + otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small settle beside the + fireplace, made haste to kindle some dry furze, which presently cast a + blaze through the cottage. Wooden shelves, which bore a few books, some + bundles of dried herbs, and one or two wooden cups and platters, were on + one side of the fire; on the other were placed some ordinary tools of + field-labour, mingled with those used by mechanics. Where the bed should + have been, there was a wooden frame, strewed with withered moss and + rushes, the couch of the ascetic. The whole space of the cottage did not + exceed ten feet by six within the walls; and its only furniture, besides + what we have mentioned, was a table and two stools formed of rough deals. + </p> + <p> + Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed with a + being, whose history had nothing to reassure her, and the fearful + conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an almost superstitious + terror. He occupied the seat opposite to her, and dropping his huge and + shaggy eyebrows over his piercing black eyes, gazed at her in silence, as + if agitated by a variety of contending feelings. On the other side sate + Isabella, pale as death, her long hair uncurled by the evening damps, and + falling over her shoulders and breast, as the wet streamers droop from the + mast when the storm has passed away, and left the vessel stranded on the + beach. The Dwarf first broke the silence with the sudden, abrupt, and + alarming question,—“Woman, what evil fate has brought thee hither?” + </p> + <p> + “My father’s danger, and your own command,” she replied faintly, but + firmly. + </p> + <p> + “And you hope for aid from me?” + </p> + <p> + “If you can bestow it,” she replied, still in the same tone of mild + submission. + </p> + <p> + “And how should I possess that power?” continued the Dwarf, with a bitter + sneer; “Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs? Is this the castle in + which one powerful enough to be sued to by a fair suppliant is likely to + hold his residence? I but mocked thee, girl, when I said I would relieve + thee.” + </p> + <p> + “Then must I depart, and face my fate as I best may!” + </p> + <p> + “No!” said the Dwarf, rising and interposing between her and the door, and + motioning to her sternly to resume her seat—“No! you leave me not in + this way; we must have farther conference. Why should one being desire aid + of another? Why should not each be sufficient to itself? Look round you—I, + the most despised and most decrepit on Nature’s common, have required + sympathy and help from no one. These stones are of my own piling; these + utensils I framed with my own hands; and with this”—and he laid his + hand with a fierce smile on the long dagger which he always wore beneath + his garment, and unsheathed it so far that the blade glimmered clear in + the fire-light—“with this,” he pursued, as he thrust the weapon back + into the scabbard, “I can, if necessary, defend the vital spark enclosed + in this poor trunk, against the fairest and strongest that shall threaten + me with injury.” + </p> + <p> + It was with difficulty Isabella refrained from screaming out aloud; but + she DID refrain. + </p> + <p> + “This,” continued the Recluse, “is the life of nature, solitary, + self-sufficing, and independent. The wolf calls not the wolf to aid him in + forming his den; and the vulture invites not another to assist her in + striking down her prey.” + </p> + <p> + “And when they are unable to procure themselves support,” said Isabella, + judiciously thinking that he would be most accessible to argument couched + in his own metaphorical style, “what then is to befall them?” + </p> + <p> + “Let them starve, die, and be forgotten; it is the common lot of + humanity.” + </p> + <p> + “It is the lot of the wild tribes of nature,” said Isabella, “but chiefly + of those who are destined to support themselves by rapine, which brooks no + partner; but it is not the law of nature in general; even the lower orders + have confederacies for mutual defence. But mankind—the race would + perish did they cease to aid each other.—From the time that the + mother binds the child’s head, till the moment that some kind assistant + wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot exist without + mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid, have right to ask it of their + fellow-mortals; no one who has the power of granting can refuse it without + guilt.” + </p> + <p> + “And in this simple hope, poor maiden,” said the Solitary, “thou hast come + into the desert, to seek one whose wish it were that the league thou hast + spoken of were broken for ever, and that, in very truth, the whole race + should perish? Wert thou not frightened?” + </p> + <p> + “Misery,” said Isabella, firmly, “is superior to fear.” + </p> + <p> + “Hast thou not heard it said in thy mortal world, that I have leagued + myself with other powers, deformed to the eye and malevolent to the human + race as myself? Hast thou not heard this—And dost thou seek my cell + at midnight?” + </p> + <p> + “The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears,” said Isabella; + but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied the affected courage + which her words expressed. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! ho!” said the Dwarf, “thou vauntest thyself a philosopher? Yet, + shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrusting thyself, young + and beautiful, in the power of one so spited against humanity, as to place + his chief pleasure in defacing, destroying, and degrading her fairest + works?” + </p> + <p> + Isabella, much alarmed, continued to answer with firmness, “Whatever + injuries you may have sustained in the world, you are incapable of + revenging them on one who never wronged you, nor, wilfully, any other.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but, maiden,” he continued, his dark eyes flashing with an expression + of malignity which communicated itself to his wild and distorted features, + “revenge is the hungry wolf, which asks only to tear flesh and lap blood. + Think you the lamb’s plea of innocence would be listened to by him?” + </p> + <p> + “Man!” said Isabella, rising, and expressing herself with much dignity, “I + fear not the horrible ideas with which you would impress me. I cast them + from me with disdain. Be you mortal or fiend, you would not offer injury + to one who sought you as a suppliant in her utmost need. You would not—you + durst not.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou say’st truly, maiden,” rejoined the Solitary; “I dare not—I + would not. Begone to thy dwelling. Fear nothing with which they threaten + thee. Thou hast asked my protection—thou shalt find it effectual.” + </p> + <p> + “But, father, this very night I have consented to wed the man that I + abhor, or I must put the seal to my father’s ruin.” + </p> + <p> + “This night?—at what hour?” + </p> + <p> + “Ere midnight.” + </p> + <p> + “And twilight,” said the Dwarf, “has already passed away. But fear + nothing, there is ample time to protect thee.” + </p> + <p> + “And my father?” continued Isabella, in a suppliant tone. + </p> + <p> + “Thy father,” replied the Dwarf, “has been, and is, my most bitter enemy. + But fear not; thy virtue shall save him. And now, begone; were I to keep + thee longer by me, I might again fall into the stupid dreams concerning + human worth from which I have been so fearfully awakened. But fear nothing—at + the very foot of the altar I will redeem thee. Adieu, time presses, and I + must act!” + </p> + <p> + He led her to the door of the hut, which he opened for her departure. She + remounted her horse, which had been feeding in the outer enclosure, and + pressed him forward by the light of the moon, which was now rising, to the + spot where she had left Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + “Have you succeeded?” was his first eager question. + </p> + <p> + “I have obtained promises from him to whom you sent me; but how can he + possibly accomplish them?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God!” said Ratcliffe; “doubt not his power to fulfil his promise.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment a shrill whistle was heard to resound along the heath. + </p> + <p> + “Hark!” said Ratcliffe, “he calls me—Miss Vere, return home, and + leave unbolted the postern-door of the garden; to that which opens on the + back-stairs I have a private key.” + </p> + <p> + A second whistle was heard, yet more shrill and prolonged than the first. + </p> + <p> + “I come, I come,” said Ratcliffe; and setting spurs to his horse, rode + over the heath in the direction of the Recluse’s hut. Miss Vere returned + to the castle, the mettle of the animal on which she rode, and her own + anxiety of mind, combining to accelerate her journey. + </p> + <p> + She obeyed Ratcliffe’s directions, though without well apprehending their + purpose, and leaving her horse at large in a paddock near the garden, + hurried to her own apartment, which she reached without observation. She + now unbolted her door, and rang her bell for lights. Her father appeared + along with the servant who answered her summons. + </p> + <p> + “He had been twice,” he said, “listening at her door during the two hours + that had elapsed since he left her, and, not hearing her speak, had become + apprehensive that she was taken ill.” + </p> + <p> + “And now, my dear father,” she said, “permit me to claim the promise you + so kindly gave; let the last moments of freedom which I am to enjoy be + mine without interruption; and protract to the last moment the respite + which is allowed me.” + </p> + <p> + “I will,” said her father; “nor shall you be again interrupted. But this + disordered dress—this dishevelled hair—do not let me find you + thus when I call on you again; the sacrifice, to be beneficial, must be + voluntary.” + </p> + <p> + “Must it be so?” she replied; “then fear not, my father! the victim shall + be adorned.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + This looks not like a nuptial.—MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. +</pre> + <p> + The chapel in the castle of Ellieslaw, destined to be the scene of this + ill-omened union, was a building of much older date than the castle + itself, though that claimed considerable antiquity. Before the wars + between England and Scotland had become so common and of such long + duration, that the buildings along both sides of the Border were chiefly + dedicated to warlike purposes, there had been a small settlement of monks + at Ellieslaw, a dependency, it is believed by antiquaries, on the rich + Abbey of Jedburgh. Their possessions had long passed away under the + changes introduced by war and mutual ravage. A feudal castle had arisen on + the ruin of their cells, and their chapel was included in its precincts. + </p> + <p> + The edifice, in its round arches and massive pillars, the simplicity of + which referred their date to what has been called the Saxon architecture, + presented at all times a dark and sombre appearance, and had been + frequently used as the cemetery of the family of the feudal lords, as well + as formerly of the monastic brethren. But it looked doubly gloomy by the + effect of the few and smoky torches which were used to enlighten it on the + present occasion, and which, spreading a glare of yellow light in their + immediate vicinity, were surrounded beyond by a red and purple halo + reflected from their own smoke, and beyond that again by a zone of + darkness which magnified the extent of the chapel, while it rendered it + impossible for the eye to ascertain its limits. Some injudicious + ornaments, adopted in haste for the occasion, rather added to the + dreariness of the scene. Old fragments of tapestry, torn from the walls of + other apartments, had been hastily and partially disposed around those of + the chapel, and mingled inconsistently with scutcheons and funeral emblems + of the dead, which they elsewhere exhibited. On each side of the stone + altar was a monument, the appearance of which formed an equally strange + contrast. On the one was the figure, in stone, of some grim hermit, or + monk, who had died in the odour of sanctity; he was represented as + recumbent, in his cowl and scapulaire, with his face turned upward as in + the act of devotion, and his hands folded, from which his string of beads + was dependent. On the other side was a tomb, in the Italian taste, + composed of the most beautiful statuary marble, and accounted a model of + modern art. It was erected to the memory of Isabella’s mother, the late + Mrs. Vere of Ellieslaw, who was represented as in a dying posture, while a + weeping cherub, with eyes averted, seemed in the act of extinguishing a + dying lamp as emblematic of her speedy dissolution. It was, indeed, a + masterpiece of art, but misplaced in the rude vault to which it had been + consigned. Many were surprised, and even scandalized, that Ellieslaw, not + remarkable for attention to his lady while alive, should erect after her + death such a costly mausoleum in affected sorrow; others cleared him from + the imputation of hypocrisy, and averred that the monument had been + constructed under the direction and at the sole expense of Mr. Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + Before these monuments the wedding guests were assembled. They were few in + number; for many had left the castle to prepare for the ensuing political + explosion, and Ellieslaw was, in the circumstances of the case, far from + being desirous to extend invitations farther than to those near relations + whose presence the custom of the country rendered indispensable. Next to + the altar stood Sir Frederick Langley, dark, moody, and thoughtful, even + beyond his wont, and near him, Mareschal, who was to play the part of + bridesman, as it was called. The thoughtless humour of this young + gentleman, on which he never deigned to place the least restraint, added + to the cloud which overhung the brow of the bridegroom. + </p> + <p> + “The bride is not yet come out of her chamber,” he whispered to Sir + Frederick; “I trust that we must not have recourse to the violent + expedients of the Romans which I read of at College. It would be hard upon + my pretty cousin to be run away with twice in two days, though I know none + better worth such a violent compliment.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick attempted to turn a deaf ear to this discourse, humming a + tune, and looking another may, but Mareschal proceeded in the same wild + manner. + </p> + <p> + “This delay is hard upon Dr. Hobbler, who was disturbed to accelerate + preparations for this joyful event when he had successfully extracted the + cork of his third bottle. I hope you will keep him free of the censure of + his superiors, for I take it this is beyond canonical hours.—But + here come Ellieslaw and my pretty cousin—prettier than ever, I + think, were it not she seems so faint and so deadly pale—Hark ye, + Sir Knight, if she says not YES with right good-will, it shall be no + wedding, for all that has come and gone yet.” + </p> + <p> + “No wedding, sir?” returned Sir Frederick, in a loud whisper, the tone of + which indicated that his angry feelings were suppressed with difficulty. + </p> + <p> + “No—no marriage,” replied Mareschal, “there’s my hand and glove + on’t.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick Langley took his hand, and as he wrung it hard, said in a + lower whisper, “Mareschal, you shall answer this,” and then flung his hand + from him. + </p> + <p> + “That I will readily do,” said Mareschal, “for never word escaped my lips + that my hand was not ready to guarantee.-So, speak up, my pretty cousin, + and tell me if it be your free will and unbiassed resolution to accept of + this gallant knight for your lord and husband; for if you have the tenth + part of a scruple upon the subject, fall back, fall edge, he shall not + have you.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you mad, Mr. Mareschal?” said Ellieslaw, who, having been this young + man’s guardian during his minority, often employed a tone of authority to + him. “Do you suppose I would drag my daughter to the foot of the altar, + were it not her own choice?” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, Ellieslaw,” retorted the young gentleman, “never tell me of the + contrary; her eyes are full of tears, and her cheeks are whiter than her + white dress. I must insist, in the name of common humanity, that the + ceremony be adjourned till to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “She shall tell you herself, thou incorrigible intermeddler in what + concerns thee not, that it is her wish the ceremony should go on—Is + it not, Isabella, my dear?” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” said Isabella, half fainting—“since there is no help, + either in God or man.” + </p> + <p> + The first word alone was distinctly audible. Mareschal shrugged up his + shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rather supported, his + daughter to the altar. Sir Frederick moved forward and placed himself by + her side. The clergyman opened his prayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere for + the signal to commence the service. + </p> + <p> + “Proceed,” said the latter. + </p> + <p> + But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife, called, in + such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in the vaulted chapel, + “Forbear!” + </p> + <p> + All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the clash of + swords, or something resembling it, was heard from the remote apartments. + It ceased almost instantly. + </p> + <p> + “What new device is this?” said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing Ellieslaw + and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion. + </p> + <p> + “It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest,” said Ellieslaw, + though greatly confounded; “we must make large allowances for the excess + of this evening’s festivity. Proceed with the service.” + </p> + <p> + Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they had + before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female attendants + screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid their hands on + their swords. Ere the first moment of surprise had passed by, the Dwarf + stepped from behind the monument, and placed himself full in front of Mr. + Vere. The effect of so strange and hideous an apparition in such a place + and in such circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to annihilate + the Laird of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughter’s arm, staggered + against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as if for + support, laid his brow against the column. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this fellow?” said Sir Frederick; “and what does he mean by this + intrusion?” + </p> + <p> + “It is one who comes to tell you,” said the Dwarf, with the peculiar + acrimony which usually marked his manner, “that, in marrying that young + lady, you wed neither the heiress of Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley Hall, nor of + Polverton, nor of one furrow of land, unless she marries with MY consent; + and to thee that consent shall never be given. Down—down on thy + knees, and thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding qualities + with which thou hast no concern—portionless truth, virtue, and + innocence—thou, base ingrate,” he continued, addressing himself to + Ellieslaw, “what is thy wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who wouldst sell + thy daughter to relieve thee from danger, as in famine thou wouldst have + slain and devoured her to preserve thy own vile life!—Ay, hide thy + face with thy hands; well mayst thou blush to look on him whose body thou + didst consign to chains, his hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. Saved + once more by the virtue of her who calls thee father, go hence, and may + the pardon and benefits I confer on thee prove literal coals of fire, till + thy brain is seared and scorched like mine!” + </p> + <p> + Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair. + </p> + <p> + “Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe,” said the Dwarf, “and inform him of his + destiny. He will rejoice—for to breathe air and to handle gold is to + him happiness.” + </p> + <p> + “I understand nothing of all this,” said Sir Frederick Langley; “but we + are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for King James; and + whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward Mauley, who has been so long + supposed dead in confinement, or whether you be an impostor assuming his + name and title, we will use the freedom of detaining you, till your + appearance here, at this moment, is better accounted for; we will have no + spies among us—Seize on him, my friends.” + </p> + <p> + But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick himself + stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands on his person, + when his progress was suddenly stopped by the glittering point of a + partisan, which the sturdy hand of Hobbie Elliot presented against his + bosom. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him!” said the + stout Borderer; “stand back, or I’ll strike ye through! Naebody shall lay + a finger on Elshie; he’s a canny neighbourly man, aye ready to make a + friend help; and, though ye may think him a lamiter, yet, grippie for + grippie, friend, I’ll wad a wether he’ll make the bluid spin frae under + your nails. He’s a teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smith’s vice.” + </p> + <p> + “What has brought you here, Elliot?” said Mareschal; “who called on you + for interference?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, Mareschal-Wells,” answered Hobbie, “I am just come here, wi’ + twenty or thretty mair o’ us, in my ain name and the King’s—or + Queen’s, ca’ they her? and Canny Elshie’s into the bargain, to keep the + peace, and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien me. A bonny + breakfast the loons gae me the ither morning, and him at the bottom on’t; + and trow ye I wasna ready to supper him up?—Ye needna lay your hands + on your swords, gentlemen, the house is ours wi’ little din; for the doors + were open, and there had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took + their swords and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods.” + </p> + <p> + Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel. + </p> + <p> + “By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with armed men, + and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and let us fight our way.” + </p> + <p> + “Binna rash—binna rash,” exclaimed Hobbie; “hear me a bit, hear me a + bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King James, as ye ca’ + him, and the prelates, we thought it right to keep up the auld neighbour + war, and stand up for the t’other ane and the Kirk; but we’ll no hurt a + hair o’ your heads, if ye like to gang hame quietly. And it will be your + best way, for there’s sure news come frae Loudoun, that him they ca’ Bang, + or Byng, or what is’t, has bang’d the French ships and the new king aff + the coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi’ auld Nanse for want of + a better Queen.” + </p> + <p> + Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts so + unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost instantly, + and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, with such of his + attendants as were able to follow him. + </p> + <p> + “And what will you do, Mr. Mareschal?” said Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + “Why, faith,” answered he, smiling, “I hardly know; my spirit is too + great, and my fortune too small, for me to follow the example of the + doughty bridegroom. It is not in my nature, and it is hardly worth my + while.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will be + overlooked, as there has been no overt act.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, ay,” said Elliot, “just let byganes be byganes, and a’ friends + again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I hae gien him + baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed three blows of the + broadsword wi’ him before he lap the window into the castle-moat, and + swattered through it like a wild-duck. He’s a clever fallow, indeed! maun + kilt awa wi’ ae bonny lass in the morning, and another at night, less + wadna serve him! but if he disna kilt himsell out o’ the country, I’se + kilt him wi’ a tow, for the Castleton meeting’s clean blawn ower; his + friends will no countenance him.” + </p> + <p> + During the general confusion, Isabella had thrown herself at the feet of + her kinsman, Sir Edward Mauley, for so we must now call the Solitary, to + express at once her gratitude, and to beseech forgiveness for her father. + The eyes of all began to be fixed on them, as soon as their own agitation + and the bustle of the attendants had somewhat abated. Miss Vere kneeled + beside the tomb of her mother, to whose statue her features exhibited a + marked resemblance. She held the hand of the Dwarf, which she kissed + repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and motionless, excepting + that his eyes glanced alternately on the marble figure and the living + suppliant. At length, the large drops which gathered on his eye-lashes + compelled him to draw his hand across them. + </p> + <p> + “I thought,” he said, “that tears and I had done; but we shed them at our + birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our graves. But no + melting of the heart shall dissolve my resolution. I part here, at once, + and for ever, with all of which the memory” (looking to the tomb), “or the + presence” (he pressed Isabella’s hand), “is dear to me.—Speak not to + me! attempt not to thwart my determination! it will avail nothing; you + will hear of and see this lump of deformity no more. To you I shall be + dead ere I am actually in my grave, and you will think of me as of a + friend disencumbered from the toils and crimes of existence.” + </p> + <p> + He kissed Isabella on the forehead, impressed another kiss on the brow of + the statue by which she knelt, and left the chapel followed by Ratcliffe. + Isabella, almost exhausted by the emotions of the day, was carried to her + apartment by her women. Most of the other guests dispersed, after having + separately endeavoured to impress on all who would listen to them their + disapprobation of the plots formed against the government, or their regret + for having engaged in them. Hobbie Elliot assumed the command of the + castle for the night, and mounted a regular guard. He boasted not a little + of the alacrity with which his friends and he had obeyed a hasty summons + received from Elshie through the faithful Ratcliffe. And it was a lucky + chance, he said, that on that very day they had got notice that + Westburnflat did not intend to keep his tryste at Castleton, but to hold + them at defiance; so that a considerable party had assembled at the + Heugh-foot, with the intention of paying a visit to the robber’s tower on + the ensuing morning, and their course was easily directed to Ellieslaw + Castle. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + —Last scene of all, + To close this strange eventful history.—AS YOU LIKE IT. +</pre> + <p> + On the next morning, Mr. Ratcliffe presented Miss Vere with a letter from + her father, of which the following is the tenor:— + </p> + <p> + “MY DEAREST CHILD, The malice of a persecuting government will compel me, + for my own safety, to retreat abroad, and to remain for some time in + foreign parts. I do not ask you to accompany, or follow me; you will + attend to my interest and your own more effectually by remaining where you + are. It is unnecessary to enter into a minute detail concerning the causes + of the strange events which yesterday took place. I think I have reason to + complain of the usage I have received from Sir Edward Mauley, who is your + nearest kinsman by the mother’s side; but as he has declared you his heir, + and is to put you in immediate possession of a large part of his fortune, + I account it a full atonement. I am aware he has never forgiven the + preference which your mother gave to my addresses, instead of complying + with the terms of a sort of family compact, which absurdly and + tyrannically destined her to wed her deformed relative. The shock was even + sufficient to unsettle his wits (which, indeed, were never over-well + arranged), and I had, as the husband of his nearest kinswoman and heir, + the delicate task of taking care of his person and property, until he was + reinstated in the management of the latter by those who, no doubt, thought + they were doing him justice; although, if some parts of his subsequent + conduct be examined, it will appear that he ought, for his own sake, to + have been left under the influence of a mild and salutary restraint. + </p> + <p> + “In one particular, however, he showed a sense of the ties of blood, as + well as of his own frailty; for while he sequestered himself closely from + the world, under various names and disguises, and insisted on spreading a + report of his own death (in which to gratify him I willingly acquiesced), + he left at my disposal the rents of a great proportion of his estates, and + especially all those, which, having belonged to your mother, reverted to + him as a male fief. In this he may have thought that he was acting with + extreme generosity, while, in the opinion of all impartial men, he will + only be considered as having fulfilled a natural obligation, seeing that, + in justice, if not in strict law, you must be considered as the heir of + your mother, and I as your legal administrator. Instead, therefore, of + considering myself as loaded with obligations to Sir Edward on this + account, I think I had reason to complain that these remittances were only + doled out to me at the pleasure of Mr. Ratcliffe, who, moreover, exacted + from me mortgages over my paternal estate of Ellieslaw for any sums which + I required as an extra advance; and thus may be said to have insinuated + himself into the absolute management and control of my property. Or, if + all this seeming friendship was employed by Sir Edward for the purpose of + obtaining a complete command of my affairs, and acquiring the power of + ruining me at his pleasure, I feel myself, I must repeat, still less bound + by the alleged obligation. + </p> + <p> + “About the autumn of last year, as I understand, either his own crazed + imagination, or the accomplishment of some such scheme as I have hinted, + brought him down to this country. His alleged motive, it seems, was a + desire of seeing a monument which he had directed to be raised in the + chapel over the tomb of your mother. Mr. Ratcliffe, who at this time had + done me the honour to make my house his own, had the complaisance to + introduce him secretly into the chapel. The consequence, as he informs me, + was a frenzy of several hours, during which he fled into the neighbouring + moors, in one of the wildest spots of which he chose, when he was somewhat + recovered, to fix his mansion, and set up for a sort of country empiric, a + character which, even in his best days, he was fond of assuming. It is + remarkable, that, instead of informing me of these circumstances, that I + might have had the relative of my late wife taken such care of as his + calamitous condition required, Mr. Ratcliffe seems to have had such + culpable indulgence for his irregular plans as to promise and even swear + secrecy concerning them. He visited Sir Edward often, and assisted in the + fantastic task he had taken upon him of constructing a hermitage. Nothing + they appear to have dreaded more than a discovery of their intercourse. + </p> + <p> + “The ground was open in every direction around, and a small subterranean + cave, probably sepulchral, which their researches had detected near the + great granite pillar, served to conceal Ratcliffe, when any one approached + his master. I think you will be of opinion, my love, that this secrecy + must have had some strong motive. It is also remarkable, that while I + thought my unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of La Trappe, he + should have been actually living, for many months, in this bizarre + disguise, within five miles of my house, and obtaining regular information + of my most private movements, either by Ratcliffe, or through Westburnflat + or others, whom he had the means to bribe to any extent. He makes it a + crime against me that I endeavoured to establish your marriage with Sir + Frederick. I acted for the best; but if Sir Edward Mauley thought + otherwise, why did he not step manfully forward, express his own purpose + of becoming a party to the settlements, and take that interest which he is + entitled to claim in you as heir to his great property? + </p> + <p> + “Even now, though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat tardy in + announcing his purpose, I am far from opposing my authority against his + wishes, although the person he desires you to regard as your future + husband be young Earnscliff; the very last whom I should have thought + likely to be acceptable to him, considering a certain fatal event. But I + give my free and hearty consent, providing the settlements are drawn in + such an irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by that + state of dependence, and that sudden and causeless revocation of + allowances, of which I have so much reason to complain. Of Sir Frederick + Langley, I augur, you will hear no more. He is not likely to claim the + hand of a dowerless maiden. I therefore commit you, my dear Isabella, to + the wisdom of Providence and to your own prudence, begging you to lose no + time in securing those advantages, which the fickleness of your kinsman + has withdrawn from me to shower upon you. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edward’s intention to settle a considerable + sum upon me yearly, for my maintenance in foreign parts; but this my heart + is too proud to accept from him. I told him I had a dear child, who, while + in affluence herself, would never suffer me to be in poverty. I thought it + right to intimate this to him pretty roundly, that whatever increase be + settled upon you, it may be calculated so as to cover this necessary and + natural encumbrance. I shall willingly settle upon you the castle and + manor of Ellieslaw, to show my parental affection and disinterested zeal + for promoting your settlement in life. The annual interest of debts + charged on the estate somewhat exceeds the income, even after a reasonable + rent has been put upon the mansion and mains. But as all the debts are in + the person of Mr. Ratcliffe, as your kinsman’s trustee, he will not be a + troublesome creditor. And here I must make you aware, that though I have + to complain of Mr. Ratcliffe’s conduct to me personally, I, nevertheless, + believe him a just and upright man, with whom you may safely consult on + your affairs, not to mention that to cherish his good opinion will be the + best way to retain that of your kinsman. Remember me to Marchie—I + hope he will not be troubled on account of late matters. I will write more + fully from the Continent. Meanwhile, I rest your loving father, RICHARD + VERE.” + </p> + <p> + The above letter throws the only additional light which we have been able + to procure upon the earlier part of our story. It was Hobbie’s opinion, + and may be that of most of our readers, that the Recluse of + Mucklestane-Moor had but a kind of a gleaming, or twilight understanding; + and that he had neither very clear views as to what he himself wanted, nor + was apt to pursue his ends by the clearest and most direct means; so that + to seek the clew of his conduct, was likened, by Hobbie, to looking for a + straight path through a common, over which are a hundred devious tracks, + but not one distinct line of road. + </p> + <p> + When Isabella had perused the letter, her first enquiry was after her + father. He had left the castle, she was informed, early in the morning, + after a long interview with Mr. Ratcliffe, and was already far on his way + to the next port, where he might expect to find shipping for the + Continent. + </p> + <p> + “Where was Sir Edward Mauley?” + </p> + <p> + No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the preceding + evening. + </p> + <p> + “Odd, if onything has befa’en puir Elshie,” said Hobbie Elliot, “I wad + rather I were harried ower again.” + </p> + <p> + He immediately rode to his dwelling, and the remaining she-goat came + bleating to meet him, for her milking time was long past. The Solitary was + nowhere to be seen; his door, contrary to wont, was open, his fire + extinguished, and the whole hut was left in the state which it exhibited + on Isabella’s visit to him. It was pretty clear that the means of + conveyance which had brought the Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding + evening, had removed him from it to some other place of abode. Hobbie + returned disconsolate to the castle. + </p> + <p> + “I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an’ a’.” + </p> + <p> + “You have indeed,” said Ratcliffe, producing a paper, which he put into + Hobbie’s hands; “but read that, and you will perceive you have been no + loser by having known him.” + </p> + <p> + It was a short deed of gift, by which “Sir Edward Mauley, otherwise called + Elshender the Recluse, endowed Halbert or Hobbie Elliot, and Grace + Armstrong, in full property, with a considerable sum borrowed by Elliot + from him.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie’s joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down his rough + cheeks. + </p> + <p> + “It’s a queer thing,” he said; “but I canna joy in the gear, unless I kend + the puir body was happy that gave it me.” + </p> + <p> + “Next to enjoying happiness ourselves,” said Ratcliffe, “is the + consciousness of having bestowed it on others. Had all my master’s + benefits been conferred like the present, what a different return would + they have produced! But the indiscriminate profusion that would glut + avarice, or supply prodigality, neither does good, nor is rewarded by + gratitude. It is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind.” + </p> + <p> + “And that wad be a light har’st,” said Hobbie; “but, wi’ my young leddie’s + leave, I wad fain take down Eishie’s skeps o’ bees, and set them in + Grace’s bit flower yard at the Heugh-foot—they shall ne’er be + smeekit by ony o’ huz. And the puir goat, she would be negleckit about a + great toun like this; and she could feed bonnily on our lily lea by the + burn side, and the hounds wad ken her in a day’s time, and never fash her, + and Grace wad milk her ilka morning wi’ her ain hand, for Elshie’s sake; + for though he was thrawn and cankered in his converse, he likeit dumb + creatures weel.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie’s requests were readily granted, not without some wonder at the + natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this mode of + displaying his gratitude. He was delighted when Ratcliffe informed him + that his benefactor should not remain ignorant of the care which he took + of his favourite. + </p> + <p> + “And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties, and, abune + a’, Grace and mysell, are weel and thriving, and that it’s a’ his doing—that + canna but please him, ane wad think.” + </p> + <p> + And Elliot and the family at Heugh-foot were, and continued to be, as + fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty, tenderness, and gallantry so + well merited. + </p> + <p> + All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now removed, + and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part of Sir Edward + Mauley, might have satisfied the cupidity of Ellieslaw himself. But Miss + Vere and Ratcliffe thought it unnecessary to mention to Earnscliff that + one great motive of Sir Edward, in thus loading the young pair with + benefits, was to expiate his having, many years before, shed the blood of + his father in a hasty brawl. If it be true, as Ratcliffe asserted, that + the Dwarf’s extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat, under the + consciousness of having diffused happiness among so many, the recollection + of this circumstance might probably be one of his chief motives for + refusing obstinately ever to witness their state of contentment. + </p> + <p> + Mareschal hunted, shot, and drank claret—tired of the country, went + abroad, served three campaigns, came home, and married Lucy Ilderton. + </p> + <p> + Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife, and found and left + them contented and happy. The scheming ambition of Sir Frederick Langley + engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of 1715. He was made prisoner + at Preston, in Lancashire, with the Earl of Derwentwater, and others. His + defence, and the dying speech which he made at his execution, may be found + in the State Trials. Mr. Vere, supplied by his daughter with an ample + income, continued to reside abroad, engaged deeply in the affair of Law’s + bank during the regency 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 end—drank brandy with the neighbours, whom, in his + younger days, he had plundered—died 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1460 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d826e0c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #1460 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1460) diff --git a/old/1460-0.txt b/old/1460-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1eaf0e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1460-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6544 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Dwarf, by Sir Walter Scott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Black Dwarf + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Release Date: February 15, 2006 [EBook #1460] +Last Updated: August 30, 2016 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK DWARF *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + + + + + +THE BLACK DWARF + +by Sir Walter Scott + + + + +CONTENTS. + + I. Tales of my Landlord + Introduction by Jedediah Cleishbotham + II. Introduction to THE BLACK DWARF + III. Main text of THE BLACK DWARF + + + Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the + etext in square brackets ([]) close to the place where + they were referenced by a suffix in the original text. + Text in italics has been written in capital letters. + + + + +I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD + +COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, SCHOOLMASTER AND +PARISH-CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official description +prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the sedate and reflecting +part of mankind, to whom only I would be understood to address myself, +such attention as is due to the sedulous instructor of youth, and the +careful performer of my Sabbath duties, I will forbear to hold up +a candle to the daylight, or to point out to the judicious those +recommendations of my labours which they must necessarily anticipate +from the perusal of the title-page. Nevertheless, I am not unaware, +that, as Envy always dogs Merit at the heels, there may be those who +will whisper, that albeit my learning and good principles cannot +(lauded be the heavens) be denied by any one, yet that my situation at +Gandercleugh hath been more favourable to my acquisitions in learning +than to the enlargement of my views of the ways and works of the present +generation. To the which objection, if, peradventure, any such shall be +started, my answer shall be threefold: + +First, Gandercleugh is, as it were, the central part--the navel (SI +FAS SIT DICERE) of this our native realm of Scotland; so that men, from +every corner thereof, when travelling on their concernments of business, +either towards our metropolis of law, by which I mean Edinburgh, or +towards our metropolis and mart of gain, whereby I insinuate Glasgow, +are frequently led to make Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place of +rest for the night. And it must be acknowledged by the most sceptical, +that I, who have sat in the leathern armchair, on the left-hand side of +the fire, in the common room of the Wallace Inn, winter and summer, +for every evening in my life, during forty years bypast (the Christian +Sabbaths only excepted), must have seen more of the manners and customs +of various tribes and people, than if I had sought them out by my +own painful travel and bodily labour. Even so doth the tollman at the +well-frequented turn-pike on the Wellbraehead, sitting at his ease in +his own dwelling, gather more receipt of custom, than if, moving forth +upon the road, he were to require a contribution from each person whom +he chanced to meet in his journey, when, according to the vulgar adage, +he might possibly be greeted with more kicks than halfpence. + +But, secondly, supposing it again urged, that Ithacus, the most wise of +the Greeks, acquired his renown, as the Roman poet hath assured us, by +visiting states and men, I reply to the Zoilus who shall adhere to this +objection, that, DE FACTO, I have seen states and men also; for I have +visited the famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the former twice, +and the latter three times, in the course of my earthly pilgrimage. And, +moreover, I had the honour to sit in the General Assembly (meaning, as +an auditor, in the galleries thereof), and have heard as much goodly +speaking on the law of patronage, as, with the fructification thereof +in mine own understanding, hath made me be considered as an oracle upon +that doctrine ever since my safe and happy return to Gandercleugh. + +Again--and thirdly, If it be nevertheless pretended that my information +and knowledge of mankind, however extensive, and however painfully +acquired, by constant domestic enquiry, and by foreign travel, is, +natheless, incompetent to the task of recording the pleasant narratives +of my Landlord, I will let these critics know, to their own eternal +shame and confusion as well as to the abashment and discomfiture of all +who shall rashly take up a song against me, that I am NOT the writer, +redacter, or compiler, of the Tales of my Landlord; nor am I, in one +single iota, answerable for their contents, more or less. And now, ye +generation of critics, who raise yourselves up as if it were brazen +serpents, to hiss with your tongues, and to smite with your stings, bow +yourselves down to your native dust, and acknowledge that yours have +been the thoughts of ignorance, and the words of vain foolishness. Lo! +ye are caught in your own snare, and your own pit hath yawned for you. +Turn, then, aside from the task that is too heavy for you; destroy +not your teeth by gnawing a file; waste not your strength by spurning +against a castle wall; nor spend your breath in contending in swiftness +with a fleet steed; and let those weigh the Tales of my Landlord, who +shall bring with them the scales of candour cleansed from the rust of +prejudice by the hands of intelligent modesty. For these alone they were +compiled, as will appear from a brief narrative which my zeal for truth +compelled me to make supplementary to the present Proem. + +It is well known that my Landlord was a pleasing and a facetious man, +acceptable unto all the parish of Gandercleugh, excepting only the +Laird, the Exciseman, and those for whom he refused to draw liquor upon +trust. Their causes of dislike I will touch separately, adding my own +refutation thereof. + +His honour, the Laird, accused our Landlord, deceased, of having +encouraged, in various times and places, the destruction of hares, +rabbits, fowls black and grey, partridges, moor-pouts, roe-deer, and +other birds and quadrupeds, at unlawful seasons, and contrary to the +laws of this realm, which have secured, in their wisdom, the slaughter +of such animals for the great of the earth, whom I have remarked to take +an uncommon (though to me, an unintelligible) pleasure therein. Now, in +humble deference to his honour, and in justifiable defence of my friend +deceased, I reply to this charge, that howsoever the form of such +animals might appear to be similar to those so protected by the law, yet +it was a mere DECEPTIO VISUS; for what resembled hares were, in fact, +HILL-KIDS, and those partaking of the appearance of moor-fowl, were +truly WOOD PIGEONS and consumed and eaten EO NOMINE, and not otherwise. + +Again, the Exciseman pretended, that my deceased Landlord did encourage +that species of manufacture called distillation, without having an +especial permission from the Great, technically called a license, for +doing so. Now, I stand up to confront this falsehood; and in defiance +of him, his gauging-stick, and pen and inkhorn, I tell him, that I +never saw, or tasted, a glass of unlawful aqua vitae in the house of +my Landlord; nay, that, on the contrary, we needed not such devices, in +respect of a pleasing and somewhat seductive liquor, which was vended +and consumed at the Wallace Inn, under the name of MOUNTAIN DEW. If +there is a penalty against manufacturing such a liquor, let him show me +the statute; and when he does, Ill tell him if I will obey it or no. + +Concerning those who came to my Landlord for liquor, and went thirsty +away, for lack of present coin, or future credit, I cannot but say it +has grieved my bowels as if the case had been mine own. Nevertheless, my +Landlord considered the necessities of a thirsty soul, and would permit +them, in extreme need, and when their soul was impoverished for lack +of moisture, to drink to the full value of their watches and wearing +apparel, exclusively of their inferior habiliments, which he was +uniformly inexorable in obliging them to retain, for the credit of the +house. As to mine own part, I may well say, that he never refused me +that modicum of refreshment with which I am wont to recruit nature after +the fatigues of my school. It is true, I taught his five sons English +and Latin, writing, book-keeping, with a tincture of mathematics, and +that I instructed his daughter in psalmody. Nor do I remember me of +any fee or HONORARIUM received from him on account of these my labours, +except the compotations aforesaid. Nevertheless this compensation suited +my humour well, since it is a hard sentence to bid a dry throat wait +till quarter-day. + +But, truly, were I to speak my simple conceit and belief, I think my +Landlord was chiefly moved to waive in my behalf the usual requisition +of a symbol, or reckoning, from the pleasure he was wont to take in my +conversation, which, though solid and edifying in the main, was, like +a well-built palace, decorated with facetious narratives and devices, +tending much to the enhancement and ornament thereof. And so pleased was +my Landlord of the Wallace in his replies during such colloquies, that +there was no district in Scotland, yea, and no peculiar, and, as it +were, distinctive custom therein practised, but was discussed betwixt +us; insomuch, that those who stood by were wont to say, it was worth +a bottle of ale to hear us communicate with each other. And not a few +travellers, from distant parts, as well as from the remote districts of +our kingdom, were wont to mingle in the conversation, and to tell news +that had been gathered in foreign lands, or preserved from oblivion in +this our own. + +Now I chanced to have contracted for teaching the lower classes with a +young person called Peter, or Patrick, Pattieson, who had been educated +for our Holy Kirk, yea, had, by the license of presbytery, his voice +opened therein as a preacher, who delighted in the collection of olden +tales and legends, and in garnishing them with the flowers of poesy, +whereof he was a vain and frivolous professor. For he followed not the +example of those strong poets whom I proposed to him as a pattern, but +formed versification of a flimsy and modern texture, to the compounding +whereof was necessary small pains and less thought. And hence I have +chid him as being one of those who bring forward the fatal revolution +prophesied by Mr. Robert Carey, in his Vaticination on the Death of the +celebrated Dr. John Donne: + + Now thou art gone, and thy strict laws will be + Too hard for libertines in poetry; + Till verse (by thee refined) in this last age + Turn ballad rhyme. + +I had also disputations with him touching his indulging rather a +flowing and redundant than a concise and stately diction in his prose +exercitations. But notwithstanding these symptoms of inferior taste, +and a humour of contradicting his betters upon passages of dubious +construction in Latin authors, I did grievously lament when Peter +Pattieson was removed from me by death, even as if he had been the +offspring of my own loins. And in respect his papers had been left in +my care (to answer funeral and death-bed expenses), I conceived myself +entitled to dispose of one parcel thereof, entitled, Tales of my +Landlord, to one cunning in the trade (as it is called) of bookselling. +He was a mirthful man, of small stature, cunning in counterfeiting of +voices, and in making facetious tales and responses, and whom I have to +laud for the truth of his dealings towards me. + +Now, therefore, the world may see the injustice that charges me with +incapacity to write these narratives, seeing, that though I have proved +that I could have written them if I would, yet, not having done so, +the censure will deservedly fall, if at all due, upon the memory of Mr. +Peter Pattieson; whereas I must be justly entitled to the praise, +when any is due, seeing that, as the Dean of St. Patricks wittily and +logically expresseth it, + + That without which a thing is not, + Is CAUSA SINE QUA NON. + +The work, therefore, is unto me as a child is to a parent; in the which +child, if it proveth worthy, the parent hath honour and praise; but, if +otherwise, the disgrace will deservedly attach to itself alone. + +I have only further to intimate, that Mr. Peter Pattieson, in arranging +these Tales for the press, hath more consulted his own fancy than the +accuracy of the narrative; nay, that he hath sometimes blended two +or three stories together for the mere grace of his plots. Of which +infidelity, although I disapprove and enter my testimony against it, yet +I have not taken upon me to correct the same, in respect it was the will +of the deceased, that his manuscript should be submitted to the press +without diminution or alteration. A fanciful nicety it was on the part +of my deceased friend, who, if thinking wisely, ought rather to have +conjured me, by all the tender ties of our friendship and common +pursuits, to have carefully revised, altered, and augmented, at my +judgment and discretion. But the will of the dead must be scrupulously +obeyed, even when we weep over their pertinacity and self-delusion. So, +gentle reader, I bid you farewell, recommending you to such fare as the +mountains of your own country produce; and I will only farther premise, +that each Tale is preceded by a short introduction, mentioning the +persons by whom, and the circumstances under which, the materials +thereof were collected. + +JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM. + + + + +II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. + +The ideal being who is here presented as residing in solitude, and +haunted by a consciousness of his own deformity, and a suspicion of +his being generally subjected to the scorn of his fellow-men, is not +altogether imaginary. An individual existed many years since, under +the authors observation, which suggested such a character. This poor +unfortunate mans name was David Ritchie, a native of Tweeddale. He was +the son of a labourer in the slate-quarries of Stobo, and must have +been born in the misshapen form which he exhibited, though he sometimes +imputed it to ill-usage when in infancy. He was bred a brush-maker at +Edinburgh, and had wandered to several places, working at his trade, +from all which he was chased by the disagreeable attention which his +hideous singularity of form and face attracted wherever he came. The +author understood him to say he had even been in Dublin. + +Tired at length of being the object of shouts, laughter, and derision, +David Ritchie resolved, like a deer hunted from the herd, to retreat to +some wilderness, where he might have the least possible communication +with the world which scoffed at him. He settled himself, with this view, +upon a patch of wild moorland at the bottom of a bank on the farm +of Woodhouse, in the sequestered vale of the small river Manor, in +Peeblesshire. The few people who had occasion to pass that way were much +surprised, and some superstitious persons a little alarmed, to see so +strange a figure as Bowd Davie (i.e. Crooked David) employed in a task, +for which he seemed so totally unfit, as that of erecting a house. The +cottage which he built was extremely small, but the walls, as well as +those of a little garden that surrounded it, were constructed with an +ambitious degree of solidity, being composed of layers of large stones +and turf; and some of the corner stones were so weighty, as to puzzle +the spectators how such a person as the architect could possibly have +raised them. In fact, David received from passengers, or those who came +attracted by curiosity, a good deal of assistance; and as no one knew +how much aid had been given by others, the wonder of each individual +remained undiminished. + +The proprietor of the ground, the late Sir James Naesmith, baronet, +chanced to pass this singular dwelling, which, having been placed there +without right or leave asked or given, formed an exact parallel with +Falstaffs simile of a fair house built on anothers ground; so that +poor David might have lost his edifice by mistaking the property where +he had erected it. Of course, the proprietor entertained no idea +of exacting such a forfeiture, but readily sanctioned the harmless +encroachment. + +The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane-Moor has been +generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of +David of Manor Water. He was not quite three feet and a half high, since +he could stand upright in the door of his mansion, which was just that +height. The following particulars concerning his figure and temper occur +in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for 1817, and are now understood to have been +communicated by the ingenious Mr. Robert Chambers of Edinburgh, who has +recorded with much spirit the traditions of the Good Town, and, in other +publications, largely and agreeably added to the stock of our popular +antiquities. He is the countryman of David Ritchie, and had the best +access to collect anecdotes of him. + +His skull, says this authority, which was of an oblong and rather +unusual shape, was said to be of such strength, that he could strike it +with ease through the panel of a door, or the end of a barrel. His laugh +is said to have been quite horrible; and his screech-owl voice, shrill, +uncouth, and dissonant, corresponded well with his other peculiarities. + +There was nothing very uncommon about his dress. He usually wore an old +slouched hat when he went abroad; and when at home, a sort of cowl +or night-cap. He never wore shoes, being unable to adapt them to +his mis-shapen finlike feet, but always had both feet and legs quite +concealed, and wrapt up with pieces of cloth. He always walked with a +sort of pole or pike-staff, considerably taller than himself. His habits +were, in many respects, singular, and indicated a mind congenial to its +uncouth tabernacle. A jealous, misanthropical, and irritable temper, +was his prominent characteristic. The sense of his deformity haunted him +like a phantom. And the insults and scorn to which this exposed him, had +poisoned his heart with fierce and bitter feelings, which, from other +points in his character, do not appear to have been more largely infused +into his original temperament than that of his fellow-men. + +He detested children, on account of their propensity to insult and +persecute him. To strangers he was generally reserved, crabbed, and +surly; and though he by no means refused assistance or charity, he +seldom either expressed or exhibited much gratitude. Even towards +persons who had been his greatest benefactors, and who possessed the +greatest share of his good-will, he frequently displayed much caprice +and jealousy. A lady who had known him from his infancy, and who +has furnished us in the most obliging manner with some particulars +respecting him, says, that although Davie showed as much respect and +attachment to her fathers family, as it was in his nature to show +to any, yet they were always obliged to be very cautious in their +deportment towards him. One day, having gone to visit him with another +lady, he took them through his garden, and was showing them, with much +pride and good-humour, all his rich and tastefully assorted borders, +when they happened to stop near a plot of cabbages which had been +somewhat injured by the caterpillars. Davie, observing one of the ladies +smile, instantly assumed his savage, scowling aspect, rushed among the +cabbages, and dashed them to pieces with his KENT, exclaiming, I hate +the worms, for they mock me! + +Another lady, likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his, very +unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion. +Throwing back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden, +he fancied he observed her spit, and exclaimed, with great ferocity, Am +I a toad, woman! that ye spit at me--that ye spit at me? and without +listening to any answer or excuse, drove her out of his garden +with imprecations and insult. When irritated by persons for whom he +entertained little respect, his misanthropy displayed itself in words, +and sometimes in actions, of still greater rudeness; and he used on +such occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and +threats. [SCOTS MAGAZINE, vol. lxxx. p.207.] + +Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works; +and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate, which does not +possess some source of gratification peculiar to itself, This poor +man, whose misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural +deformity, had yet his own particular enjoyments. Driven into solitude, +he became an admirer of the beauties of nature. His garden, which he +sedulously cultivated, and from a piece of wild moorland made a very +productive spot, was his pride and his delight; but he was also an +admirer of more natural beauty: the soft sweep of the green hill, the +bubbling of a clear fountain, or the complexities of a wild thicket, +were scenes on which he often gazed for hours, and, as he said, with +inexpressible delight. It was perhaps for this reason that he was fond +of Shenstones pastorals, and some parts of PARADISE LOST. The author +has heard his most unmusical voice repeat the celebrated description of +Paradise, which he seemed fully to appreciate. His other studies were of +a different cast, chiefly polemical. He never went to the parish church, +and was therefore suspected of entertaining heterodox opinions, though +his objection was probably to the concourse of spectators, to whom he +must have exposed his unseemly deformity. He spoke of a future state +with intense feeling, and even with tears. He expressed disgust at the +idea, of his remains being mixed with the common rubbish, as he called +it, of the churchyard, and selected with his usual taste a beautiful and +wild spot in the glen where he had his hermitage, in which to take his +last repose. He changed his mind, however, and was finally interred in +the common burial-ground of Manor parish. + +The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made +him appear, in the eyes of the vulgar, a man possessed of supernatural +power. Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment, for some +of the poor and ignorant, as well as all the children, in the +neighbourhood, held him to be what is called uncanny. He himself did not +altogether discourage the idea; it enlarged his very limited circle +of power, and in so far gratified his conceit; and it soothed his +misanthropy, by increasing his means of giving terror or pain. But even +in a rude Scottish glen thirty years back, the fear of sorcery was very +much out of date. + +David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes, especially such +as were supposed to be haunted, and valued himself upon his courage in +doing so. To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly +than himself. At heart, he was superstitious, and planted many +rowans (mountain ashes) around his hut, as a certain defence against +necromancy. For the same reason, doubtless, he desired to have +rowan-trees set above his grave. + +We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty. +His only living favourites were a dog and a cat, to which he was +particularly attached, and his bees, which he treated with great care. +He took a sister, latterly, to live in a hut adjacent to his own, but +he did not permit her to enter it. She was weak in intellect, but not +deformed in person; simple, or rather silly, but not, like her brother, +sullen or bizarre. David was never affectionate to her; it was not in +his nature; but he endured her. He maintained himself and her by the +sale of the product of their garden and bee-hives; and, latterly, +they had a small allowance from the parish. Indeed, in the simple +and patriarchal state in which the country then was, persons in the +situation of David and his sister were sure to be supported. They had +only to apply to the next gentleman or respectable farmer, and were sure +to find them equally ready and willing to supply their very moderate +wants. David often received gratuities from strangers, which he never +asked, never refused, and never seemed to consider as an obligation. He +had a right, indeed, to regard himself as one of Natures paupers, +to whom she gave a title to be maintained by his kind, even by that +deformity which closed against him all ordinary ways of supporting +himself by his own labour. Besides, a bag was suspended in the mill for +David Ritchies benefit; and those who were carrying home a melder of +meal, seldom failed to add a GOWPEN [Handful] to the alms-bag of the +deformed cripple. In short, David had no occasion for money, save to +purchase snuff, his only luxury, in which he indulged himself liberally. +When he died, in the beginning of the present century, he was found +to have hoarded about twenty pounds, a habit very consistent with his +disposition; for wealth is power, and power was what David Ritchie +desired to possess, as a compensation for his exclusion from human +society. + +His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which this brief +notice forms the introduction; and the author is sorry to learn that a +sort of local sympathy, and the curiosity then expressed concerning +the Author of WAVERLEY and the subjects of his Novels, exposed the poor +woman to enquiries which gave her pain. When pressed about her brothers +peculiarities, she asked, in her turn, why they would not permit the +dead to rest? To others, who pressed for some account of her parents, +she answered in the same tone of feeling. + +The author saw this poor, and, it may be said, unhappy man, in autumn +1797 being then, as he has the happiness still to remain, connected by +ties of intimate friendship with the family of the venerable Dr. Adam +Fergusson, the philosopher and historian, who then resided at the +mansion-house of Halyards, in the vale of Manor, about a mile from +Ritchies hermitage, the author was upon a visit at Halyards, which +lasted for several days, and was made acquainted with this singular +anchorite, whom Dr. Fergusson considered as an extraordinary character, +and whom he assisted in various ways, particularly by the occasional +loan of books. Though the taste of the philosopher and the poor peasant +did not, it may be supposed, always correspond, [I remember David was +particularly anxious to see a book, which he called, I think, LETTERS TO +ELECT LADIES, and which, he said, was the best composition he had +ever read; but Dr. Fergussons library did not supply the volume.] Dr. +Fergusson considered him as a man of a powerful capacity and original +ideas, but whose mind was thrown off its just bias by a predominant +degree of self-love and self-opinion, galled by the sense of ridicule +and contempt, and avenging itself upon society, in idea at least, by a +gloomy misanthropy. + +David Ritchie, besides the utter obscurity of his life while in +existence, had been dead for many years, when it occurred to the author +that such a character might be made a powerful agent in fictitious +narrative. He, accordingly, sketched that of Elshie of the +Mucklestane-Moor. The story was intended to be longer, and the +catastrophe more artificially brought out; but a friendly critic, to +whose opinion I subjected the work in its progress, was of opinion, that +the idea of the Solitary was of a kind too revolting, and more likely to +disgust than to interest the reader. As I had good right to consider my +adviser as an excellent judge of public opinion, I got off my subject +by hastening the story to an end, as fast as it was possible; and, by +huddling into one volume, a tale which was designed to occupy two, have +perhaps produced a narrative as much disproportioned and distorted, as +the Black Dwarf who is its subject. + + + + +III. THE BLACK DWARF. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PRELIMINARY. + + Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT. + +It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night +before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six +inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn. The first +was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat +covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and +dreadnought overalls. He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough +in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and +a double-bitted military bridle. The man who accompanied him was +apparently his servant; he rode a shaggy little grey pony, had a blue +bonnet on his head, and a large check napkin folded about his neck, wore +a pair of long blue worsted hose instead of boots, had his gloveless +hands much stained with tar, and observed an air of deference and +respect towards his companion, but without any of those indications +of precedence and punctilio which are preserved between the gentry +and their domestics. On the contrary, the two travellers entered the +court-yard abreast, and the concluding sentence of the conversation +which had been carrying on betwixt them was a joint ejaculation, Lord +guide us, an this weather last, what will come o the lambs! The hint +was sufficient for my Landlord, who, advancing to take the horse of the +principal person, and holding him by the reins as he dismounted, while +his ostler rendered the same service to the attendant, welcomed the +stranger to Gandercleugh, and, in the same breath, enquired, What news +from the south hielands? + +News? said the farmer, bad eneugh news, I think;--an we can carry +through the yowes, it will be a we can do; we maun een leave the lambs +to the Black Dwarfs care. + +Ay, ay, subjoined the old shepherd (for such he was), shaking his +head, hell be unco busy amang the morts this season. + +The Black Dwarf! said MY LEARNED FRIEND AND PATRON, Mr. Jedediah +Cleishbotham, and what sort of a personage may he be? + +[We have, in this and other instances, printed in italics (CAPITALS +in this etext) some few words which the worthy editor, Mr. Jedediah +Cleishbotham, seems to have interpolated upon the text of his deceased +friend, Mr. Pattieson. We must observe, once for all, that such +liberties seem only to have been taken by the learned gentleman where +his own character and conduct are concerned; and surely he must be the +best judge of the style in which his own character and conduct should be +treated of.] + +Hout awa, man, answered the farmer, yell hae heard o Canny Elshie +the Black Dwarf, or I am muckle mistaen--A the warld tells tales about +him, but its but daft nonsense after a--I dinna believe a word ot +frae beginning to end. + +Your father believed it unco stievely, though, said the old man, to +whom the scepticism of his master gave obvious displeasure. + +Ay, very true, Bauldie, but that was in the time o the +blackfaces--they believed a hantle queer things in thae days, that +naebody heeds since the lang sheep cam in. + +The mairs the pity, the mairs the pity, said the old man. Your +father, and sae I have aften telld ye, maister, wad hae been sair vexed +to hae seen the auld peel-house was pud down to make park dykes; and +the bonny broomy knowe, where he liked sae weel to sit at een, wi his +plaid about him, and look at the kye as they cam down the loaning, ill +wad he hae liked to hae seen that braw sunny knowe a riven out wi the +pleugh in the fashion it is at this day. + +Hout, Bauldie, replied the principal, tak ye that dram the landlords +offering ye, and never fash your head about the changes o the warld, +sae lang as yere blithe and bien yoursell. + +Wussing your health, sirs, said the shepherd; and having taken off his +glass, and observed the whisky was the right thing, he continued, Its +no for the like o us to be judging, to be sure; but it was a bonny +knowe that broomy knowe, and an unco braw shelter for the lambs in a +severe morning like this. + +Ay, said his patron, but ye ken we maun hae turnips for the lang +sheep, billie, and muckle hard wark to get them, baith wi the pleugh +and the howe; and that wad sort ill wi sitting on the broomy knowe, and +cracking about Black Dwarfs, and siccan clavers, as was the gate lang +syne, when the short sheep were in the fashion. + +Aweel, aweel, maister, said the attendant, short sheep had short +rents, Im thinking. + +Here my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron again interposed, and observed, that +he could never perceive any material difference, in point of longitude, +between one sheep and another. + +This occasioned a loud hoarse laugh on the part of the farmer, and an +astonished stare on the part of the shepherd. + +Its the woo, man,--its the woo, and no the beasts themsells, that +makes them be cad lang or short. I believe if ye were to measure their +backs, the short sheep wad be rather the langer-bodied o the twa; but +its the woo that pays the rent in thae days, and it had muckle need. + +Odd, Bauldie says very true,--short sheep did make short rents--my +father paid for our steading just threescore punds, and it stands me in +three hundred, plack and bawbee.--And thats very true--I hae nae time +to be standing here clavering--Landlord, get us our breakfast, and see +an get the yauds fed--I am for doun to Christy Wilsons, to see if him +and me can gree about the luckpenny I am to gie him for his year-aulds. +We had drank sax mutchkins to the making the bargain at St. Boswells +fair, and some gate we canna gree upon the particulars preceesely, for +as muckle time as we took about it--I doubt we draw to a plea--But hear +ye, neighbour, addressing my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron, if ye want to +hear onything about lang or short sheep, I will be back here to my kail +against ane oclock; or, if ye want ony auld-warld stories about the +Black Dwarf, and sic-like, if yell ware a half mutchkin upon Bauldie +there, hell crack tye like a pen-gun. And Ise gie ye a mutchkin +mysell, man, if I can settle weel wi Christy Wilson. + +The farmer returned at the hour appointed, and with him came Christy +Wilson, their difference having been fortunately settled without an +appeal to the gentlemen of the long robe. My LEARNED AND WORTHY patron +failed not to attend, both on account of the refreshment promised to the +mind and to the body, ALTHOUGH HE IS KNOWN TO PARTAKE OF THE LATTER IN +A VERY MODERATE DEGREE; and the party, with which my Landlord was +associated, continued to sit late in the evening, seasoning their liquor +with many choice tales and songs. The last incident which I recollect, +was my LEARNED AND WORTHY patron falling from his chair, just as he +concluded a long lecture upon temperance, by reciting, from the Gentle +Shepherd, a couplet, which he RIGHT HAPPILY transferred from the vice +of avarice to that of ebriety: + + He that has just eneugh may soundly sleep, + The owercome only fashes folk to keep. + +In the course of the evening the Black Dwarf had not been forgotten, +and the old shepherd, Bauldie, told so many stories of him, that they +excited a good deal of interest. It also appeared, though not till the +third punch-bowl was emptied, that much of the farmers scepticism on +the subject was affected, as evincing a liberality of thinking, and a +freedom from ancient prejudices, becoming a man who paid three hundred +pounds a-year of rent, while, in fact, he had a lurking belief in the +traditions of his forefathers. After my usual manner, I made farther +enquiries of other persons connected with the wild and pastoral district +in which the scene of the following narrative is placed, and I was +fortunate enough to recover many links of the story, not generally +known, and which account, at least in some degree, for the circumstances +of exaggerated marvel with which superstition has attired it in the more +vulgar traditions. + +[The Black Dwarf, now almost forgotten, was once held a formidable +personage by the dalesmen of the Border, where he got the blame of +whatever mischief befell the sheep or cattle. He was, says Dr. Leyden, +who makes considerable use of him in the ballad called the Cowt of +Keeldar, a fairy of the most malignant order--the genuine Northern +Duergar. The best and most authentic account of this dangerous and +mysterious being occurs in a tale communicated to the author by that +eminent antiquary, Richard Surtees, Esq. of Mainsforth, author of the +HISTORY OF THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM. + +According to this well-attested legend, two young Northumbrians were +out on a shooting party, and had plunged deep among the mountainous +moorlands which border on Cumberland. They stopped for refreshment in +a little secluded dell by the side of a rivulet. There, after they had +partaken of such food as they brought with them, one of the party fell +asleep; the other, unwilling to disturb his friends repose, stole +silently out of the dell with the purpose of looking around him, when he +was astonished to find himself close to a being who seemed not to belong +to this world, as he was the most hideous dwarf that the sun had ever +shone on. His head was of full human size, forming a frightful contrast +with his height, which was considerably under four feet. It was thatched +with no other covering than long matted red hair, like that of the felt +of a badger in consistence, and in colour a reddish brown, like the hue +of the heather-blossom. His limbs seemed of great strength; nor was he +otherwise deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness to his +diminutive height. The terrified sportsman stood gazing on this horrible +apparition, until, with an angry countenance, the being demanded by what +right he intruded himself on those hills, and destroyed their harmless +inhabitants. The perplexed stranger endeavoured to propitiate the +incensed dwarf, by offering to surrender his game, as he would to an +earthly Lord of the Manor. The proposal only redoubled the offence +already taken by the dwarf, who alleged that he was the lord of those +mountains, and the protector of the wild creatures who found a retreat +in their solitary recesses; and that all spoils derived from their +death, or misery, were abhorrent to him. The hunter humbled himself +before the angry goblin, and by protestations of his ignorance, and +of his resolution to abstain from such intrusion in future, at last +succeeded in pacifying him. The gnome now became more communicative, and +spoke of himself as belonging to a species of beings something between +the angelic race and humanity. He added, moreover, which could hardly +have been anticipated, that he had hopes of sharing in the redemption of +the race of Adam. He pressed the sportsman to visit his dwelling, which +he said was hard by, and plighted his faith for his safe return. But at +this moment, the shout of the sportsmans companion was heard calling +for his friend, and the dwarf, as if unwilling that more than one +person should be cognisant of his presence, disappeared as the young man +emerged from the dell to join his comrade. + +It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such +matters, that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit, he would, +notwithstanding the dwarfs fair pretences, have been either torn to +pieces, or immured for years in the recesses of some fairy hill. + +Such is the last and most authentic account of the apparition of the +Black Dwarf.] + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Will none but Hearne the Hunter serve your turn? + --MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. + +In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland, where an +ideal line, drawn along the tops of lofty and bleak mountains, separates +that land from her sister kingdom, a young man, called Halbert, or +Hobbie Elliot, a substantial farmer, who boasted his descent from old +Martin Elliot of the Preakin-tower, noted in Border story and song, was +on his return from deer-stalking. The deer, once so numerous among these +solitary wastes, were now reduced to a very few herds, which, sheltering +themselves in the most remote and inaccessible recesses, rendered the +task of pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious. There were, +however, found many youth of the country ardently attached to this +sport, with all its dangers and fatigues. The sword had been sheathed +upon the Borders for more than a hundred years, by the peaceful union of +the crowns in the reign of James the First of Great Britain. Still +the country retained traces of what it had been in former days; the +inhabitants, their more peaceful avocations having been repeatedly +interrupted by the civil wars of the preceding century, were scarce yet +broken in to the habits of regular industry, sheep-farming had not been +introduced upon any considerable scale, and the feeding of black cattle +was the chief purpose to which the hills and valleys were applied. Near +to the farmers house, the tenant usually contrived to raise such a crop +of oats or barley, as afforded meal for his family; and the whole of +this slovenly and imperfect mode of cultivation left much time upon his +own hands, and those of his domestics. This was usually employed by the +young men in hunting and fishing; and the spirit of adventure, which +formerly led to raids and forays in the same districts, was still to be +discovered in the eagerness with which they pursued those rural sports. + +The more high-spirited among the youth were, about the time that our +narrative begins, expecting, rather with hope than apprehension, an +opportunity of emulating their fathers in their military achievements, +the recital of which formed the chief part of their amusement within +doors. The passing of the Scottish act of security had given the alarm +of England, as it seemed to point at a separation of the two British +kingdoms, after the decease of Queen Anne, the reigning sovereign. +Godolphin, then at the head of the English administration, foresaw that +there was no other mode of avoiding the probable extremity of a civil +war, but by carrying through an incorporating union. How that treaty +was managed, and how little it seemed for some time to promise the +beneficial results which have since taken place to such extent, may be +learned from the history of the period. It is enough for our purpose +to say, that all Scotland was indignant at the terms on which their +legislature had surrendered their national independence. The general +resentment led to the strangest leagues and to the wildest plans. The +Cameronians were about to take arms for the restoration of the house of +Stewart, whom they regarded, with justice, as their oppressors; and +the intrigues of the period presented the strange picture of papists, +prelatists, and presbyterians, caballing among themselves against the +English government, out of a common feeling that their country had been +treated with injustice. The fermentation was universal; and, as the +population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms, under the act +of security, they were not indifferently prepared for war, and waited +but the declaration of some of the nobility to break out into open +hostility. It was at this period of public confusion that our story +opens. + +The cleugh, or wild ravine, into which Hobbie Elliot had followed the +game, was already far behind him, and he was considerably advanced on +his return homeward, when the night began to close upon him. This +would have been a circumstance of great indifference to the experienced +sportsman, who could have walked blindfold over every inch of his +native heaths, had it not happened near a spot, which, according to +the traditions of the country, was in extremely bad fame, as haunted +by supernatural appearances. To tales of this kind Hobbie had, from his +childhood, lent an attentive ear; and as no part of the country afforded +such a variety of legends, so no man was more deeply read in their +fearful lore than Hobbie of the Heugh-foot; for so our gallant was +called, to distinguish him from a round dozen of Elliots who bore the +same Christian name. It cost him no efforts, therefore, to call to +memory the terrific incidents connected with the extensive waste upon +which he was now entering. In fact, they presented themselves with a +readiness which he felt to be somewhat dismaying. + +This dreary common was called Mucklestane-Moor, from a huge column of +unhewn granite, which raised its massy head on a knell near the centre +of the heath, perhaps to tell of the mighty dead who slept beneath, or +to preserve the memory of some bloody skirmish. The real cause of +its existence had, however, passed away; and tradition, which is as +frequently an inventor of fiction as a preserver of truth, had supplied +its place with a supplementary legend of her own, which now came full +upon Hobbies memory. The ground about the pillar was strewed, or rather +encumbered, with many large fragments of stone of the same consistence +with the column, which, from their appearance as they lay scattered on +the waste, were popularly called the Grey Geese of Mucklestane-Moor. The +legend accounted for this name and appearance by the catastrophe of a +noted and most formidable witch who frequented these hills in former +days, causing the ewes to KEB, and the kine to cast their calves, and +performing all the feats of mischief ascribed to these evil beings. On +this moor she used to hold her revels with her sister hags; and rings +were still pointed out on which no grass nor heath ever grew, the turf +being, as it were, calcined by the scorching hoofs of their diabolical +partners. + +Once upon a time this old hag is said to have crossed the moor, driving +before her a flock of geese, which she proposed to sell to advantage +at a neighbouring fair;--for it is well known that the fiend, however +liberal in imparting his powers of doing mischief, ungenerously leaves +his allies under the necessity of performing the meanest rustic labours +for subsistence. The day was far advanced, and her chance of obtaining +a good price depended on her being first at the market. But the geese, +which had hitherto preceded her in a pretty orderly manner, when they +came to this wide common, interspersed with marshes and pools of water, +scattered in every direction, to plunge into the element in which they +delighted. Incensed at the obstinacy with which they defied all her +efforts to collect them, and not remembering the precise terms of the +contract by which the fiend was bound to obey her commands for a certain +space, the sorceress exclaimed, Deevil, that neither I nor they ever +stir from this spot more! The words were hardly uttered, when, by a +metamorphosis as sudden as any in Ovid, the hag and her refractory flock +were converted into stone, the angel whom she served, being a strict +formalist, grasping eagerly at an opportunity of completing the ruin of +her body and soul by a literal obedience to her orders. It is said, that +when she perceived and felt the transformation which was about to take +place, she exclaimed to the treacherous fiend, Ah, thou false thief! +lang hast thou promised me a grey gown, and now I am getting ane that +will last for ever. The dimensions of the pillar, and of the stones, +were often appealed to, as a proof of the superior stature and size of +old women and geese in the days of other years, by those praisers of +the past who held the comfortable opinion of the gradual degeneracy of +mankind. + +All particulars of this legend Hobbie called to mind as he passed along +the moor. He also remembered, that, since the catastrophe had taken +place, the scene of it had been avoided, at least after night-fall, by +all human beings, as being the ordinary resort of kelpies, spunkies, and +other demons, once the companions of the witchs diabolical revels, +and now continuing to rendezvous upon the same spot, as if still in +attendance on their transformed mistress. Hobbies natural hardihood, +however, manfully combated with these intrusive sensations of awe. +He summoned to his side the brace of large greyhounds, who were the +companions of his sports, and who were wont, in his own phrase, to fear +neither dog nor devil; he looked at the priming of his piece, and, like +the clown in Halloween, whistled up the warlike ditty of Jock of the +Side, as a general causes his drums be beat to inspirit the doubtful +courage of his soldiers. + +In this state of mind, he was very glad to hear a friendly voice shout +in his rear, and propose to him a partner on the road. He slackened his +pace, and was quickly joined by a youth well known to him, a gentleman +of some fortune in that remote country, and who had been abroad on the +same errand with himself. Young Earnscliff, of that ilk, had +lately come of age, and succeeded to a moderate fortune, a good deal +dilapidated, from the share his family had taken in the disturbances +of the period. They were much and generally respected in the country; +a reputation which this young gentleman seemed likely to sustain, as he +was well educated, and of excellent dispositions. + +Now, Earnscliff; exclaimed Hobbie, I am glad to meet your honour +ony gate, and companys blithe on a bare moor like this--its an unco +bogilly bit--Where hae ye been sporting? + +Up the Carla Cleugh, Hobbie, answered Earnscliff, returning his +greeting. But will our dogs keep the peace, think you? + +Deil a fear o mine, said Hobbie, they hae scarce a leg to stand +on.--Odd! the deers fled the country, I think! I have been as far +as Inger-fell-foot, and deil a horn has Hobbie seen, excepting three +red-wud raes, that never let me within shot of them, though I gaed +a mile round to get up the wind to them, an a. Deil o me wad care +muckle, only I wanted some venison to our auld gude-dame. The carline, +she sits in the neuk yonder, upbye, and cracks about the grand shooters +and hunters lang syne--Odd, I think they hae killed a the deer in the +country, for my part. + +Well, Hobbie, I have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliff this +morning--you shall have half of him for your grandmother. + +Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, yere kend to a the country for a kind +heart. It will do the auld wifes heart gude--mair by token, when she +kens it comes frae you--and maist of a gin yell come up and take your +share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now in the auld tower, and a your +folk at that weary Edinburgh. I wonder what they can find to do amang +a wheen ranks o stane-houses wi slate on the tap o them, that might +live on their ain bonny green hills. + +My education and my sisters has kept my mother much in Edinburgh for +several years, said Earnscliff; but I promise you I propose to make up +for lost time. + +And yell rig out the auld tower a bit, said Hobbie, and live +hearty and neighbour-like wi the auld family friends, as the Laird o +Earnscliff should? I can tell ye, my mother--my grandmother I mean--but, +since we lost our ain mother, we ca her sometimes the tane, and +sometimes the tother--but, ony gate, she conceits hersell no that +distant connected wi you. + +Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinner +to-morrow with all my heart. + +Weel, thats kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we were nae +kin--and my gude-dames fain to see you--she clavers about your father +that was killed lang syne. + +Hush, hush, Hobbie--not a word about that--its a story better +forgotten. + +I dinna ken--if it had chanced amang our folk, we wad hae keepit it in +mind mony a day till we got some mends fort--but ye ken your ain ways +best, you lairds--I have heard say that Ellieslaws friend stickit your +sire after the laird himsell had mastered his sword. + +Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine and +politics--many swords were drawn--it is impossible to say who struck the +blow. + +At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I am sure if +ye were sae disposed as to take amends on him, naebody could say it was +wrang, for your fathers blood is beneath his nails--and besides theres +naebody else left that was concerned to take amends upon, and hes a +prelatist and a jacobite into the bargain--I can tell ye the country +folk look for something atween ye. + +O for shame, Hobbie! replied the young Laird; you, that profess +religion, to stir your friend up to break the law, and take vengeance +at his own hand, and in such a bogilly bit too, where we know not what +beings may be listening to us! + +Hush, hush! said Hobbie, drawing nearer to his companion, I was nae +thinking o the like o them--But I can guess a wee bit what keeps your +hand up, Mr. Patrick; we a ken its no lack o courage, but the twa +grey een of a bonny lass, Miss Isabel Vere, that keeps you sae sober. + +I assure you, Hobbie, said his companion, rather angrily, I assure +you you are mistaken; and it is extremely wrong of you, either to think +of, or to utter, such an idea; I have no idea of permitting freedoms to +be carried so far as to connect my name with that of any young lady. + +Why, there now--there now! retorted Elliot; did I not say it was nae +want o spunk that made ye sae mim?--Weel, weel, I meant nae offence; +but theres just ae thing ye may notice frae a friend. The auld Laird +of Ellieslaw has the auld riding blood far hetter at his heart than ye +hae--troth, he kens naething about thae newfangled notions o peace and +quietness--hes a for the auld-warld doings o lifting and laying on, +and he has a wheen stout lads at his back too, and keeps them weel up in +heart, and as fu o mischief as young colts. Where he gets the gear to +dot nane can say; he lives high, and far abune his rents here; however, +he pays his way--Sae, if theres ony out-break in the country, hes +likely to break out wi the first--and weel does he mind the auld +quarrels between ye, Im surmizing hell be for a touch at the auld +tower at Earnscliff. + +Well, Hobbie, answered the young gentleman, if he should be so ill +advised, I shall try to make the old tower good against him, as it has +been made good by my betters against his betters many a day ago. + +Very right--very right--thats speaking like a man now, said the stout +yeoman; and, if sae should be that this be sae, if yell just gar your +servant jow out the great bell in the tower, theres me, and my twa +brothers, and little Davie of the Stenhouse, will be wi you, wi a the +power we can make, in the snapping of a flint. + +Many thanks, Hobbie, answered Earnscliff; but I hope we shall have no +war of so unnatural and unchristian a kind in our time. + +Hout, sir, hout, replied Elliot; it wad be but a wee bit neighbour +war, and Heaven and earth would make allowances for it in this +uncultivated place--its just the nature o the folk and the land--we +canna live quiet like Loudon folk--we haena sae muckle to do. Its +impossible. + +Well, Hobbie, said the Laird, for one who believes so deeply as you +do in supernatural appearances, I must own you take Heaven in your own +hand rather audaciously, considering where we are walking. + +What needs I care for the Mucklestane-Moor ony mair than ye do +yoursell, Earnscliff? said Hobbie, something offended; to be sure, +they do say theres a sort o worricows and lang-nebbit things about the +land, but what need I care for them? I hae a good conscience, and little +to answer for, unless it be about a rant amang the lasses, or a splore +at a fair, and thats no muckle to speak of. Though I say it mysell, I +am as quiet a lad and as peaceable-- + +And Dick Turnbulls head that you broke, and Willie of Winton whom you +shot at? said his travelling companion. + +Hout, Earnscliff, ye keep a record of a mens misdoings--Dicks heads +healed again, and were to fight out the quarrel at Jeddart, on the +Rood-day, so thats like a thing settled in a peaceable way; and then I +am friends wi Willie again, puir chield--it was but twa or three hail +draps after a. I wad let onybody do the like ot to me for a pint o +brandy. But Willies lowland bred, poor fallow, and soon frighted for +himsell--And, for the worricows, were we to meet ane on this very bit-- + +As is not unlikely, said young Earnscliff, for there stands your old +witch, Hobbie. + +I say, continued Elliot, as if indignant at this hint--I say, if the +auld carline hersell was to get up out o the grund just before us here, +I would think nae mair--But, gude preserve us, Earnscliff; what can yon, +be! + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Brown Dwarf, that oer the moorland strays, + Thy name to Keeldar tell! + The Brown Man of the Moor, that stays + Beneath the heather-bell.--JOHN LEYDEN + +The object which alarmed the young farmer in the middle of his valorous +protestations, startled for a moment even his less prejudiced companion. +The moon, which had arisen during their conversation, was, in the phrase +of that country, wading or struggling with clouds, and shed only a +doubtful and occasional light. By one of her beams, which streamed upon +the great granite column to which they now approached, they discovered +a form, apparently human, but of a size much less than ordinary, which +moved slowly among the large grey stones, not like a person intending +to journey onward, but with the slow, irregular, flitting movement of a +being who hovers around some spot of melancholy recollection, uttering +also, from time to time, a sort of indistinct muttering sound. This so +much resembled his idea of the motions of an apparition, that Hobbie +Elliot, making a dead pause, while his hair erected itself upon his +scalp, whispered to his companion, Its Auld Ailie hersell! Shall I gie +her a shot, in the name of God? + +For Heavens sake, no, said his companion, holding down the weapon +which he was about to raise to the aim--for Heavens sake, no; its +some poor distracted creature. + +Yere distracted yoursell, for thinking of going so near to her, said +Elliot, holding his companion in his turn, as he prepared to advance. +Well aye hae time to pit ower a bit prayer (an I could but mind ane) +afore she comes this length--God! shes in nae hurry, continued he, +growing bolder from his companions confidence, and the little notice +the apparition seemed to take of them. She hirples like a hen on a het +girdle. I redd ye, Earnscliff (this he added in a gentle whisper), let +us take a cast about, as if to draw the wind on a buck--the bog is no +abune knee-deep, and better a saft road as bad company. [The Scots use +the epithet soft, IN MALAM PARTEM, in two cases, at least. A SOFT road +is a road through quagmire and bogs; and SOFT weather signifies that +which is very rainy.] + +Earnscliff, however, in spite of his companions resistance and +remonstrances, continued to advance on the path they had originally +pursued, and soon confronted the object of their investigation. + +The height of the figure, which appeared even to decrease as they +approached it, seemed to be under four feet, and its form, as far as the +imperfect light afforded them the means of discerning, was very nearly +as broad as long, or rather of a spherical shape, which could only +be occasioned by some strange personal deformity. The young sportsman +hailed this extraordinary appearance twice, without receiving any +answer, or attending to the pinches by which his companion endeavoured +to intimate that their best course was to walk on, without giving +farther disturbance to a being of such singular and preternatural +exterior. To the third repeated demand of Who are you? What do you here +at this hour of night?--a voice replied, whose shrill, uncouth, and +dissonant tones made Elliot step two paces back, and startled even his +companion, Pass on your way, and ask nought at them that ask nought at +you. + +What do you do here so far from shelter? Are you benighted on your +journey? Will you follow us home [God forbid! ejaculated Hobbie +Elliot, involuntarily), and I will give you a lodging? + +I would sooner lodge by mysell in the deepest of the Tarras-flow, + again whispered Hobbie. + +Pass on your way, rejoined the figure, the harsh tones of his voice +still more exalted by passion. I want not your guidance--I want not +your lodging--it is five years since my head was under a human roof, and +I trust it was for the last time. + +He is mad, said Earnscliff. + +He has a look of auld Humphrey Ettercap, the tinkler, that perished +in this very moss about five years syne, answered his superstitious +companion; but Humphrey wasna that awfu big in the bouk. + +Pass on your way, reiterated the object of their curiosity, the +breath of your human bodies poisons the air around me--the sound of pour +human voices goes through my ears like sharp bodkins. + +Lord safe us! whispered Hobbie, that the dead should bear sie fearfu +ill-will to the living!--his saul maun be in a puir way, Im jealous. + +Come, my friend, said Earnscliff, you seem to suffer under some +strong affliction; common humanity will not allow us to leave you here. + +Common humanity! exclaimed the being, with a scornful laugh that +sounded like a shriek, where got ye that catch-word--that noose for +woodcocks--that common disguise for man-traps--that bait which the +wretched idiot who swallows, will soon find covers a hook with barbs ten +times sharper than those you lay for the animals which you murder for +your luxury! + +I tell you, my friend, again replied Earnscliff, you are incapable of +judging of your own situation--you will perish in this wilderness, and +we must, in compassion, force you along with us. + +Ill hae neither hand nor foot int, said Hobbie; let the ghaist take +his ain way, for Gods sake! + +My blood be on my own head, if I perish here, said the figure; and, +observing Earnscliff meditating to lay hold on him, he added, And +your blood be upon yours, if you touch but the skirt of my garments, to +infect me with the taint of mortality! + +The moon shone more brightly as he spoke thus, and Earnscliff observed +that he held out his right hand armed with some weapon of offence, which +glittered in the cold ray like the blade of a long knife, or the barrel +of a pistol. It would have been madness to persevere in his attempt upon +a being thus armed, and holding such desperate language, especially as +it was plain he would have little aid from his companion, who had fairly +left him to settle matters with the apparition as he could, and had +proceeded a few paces on his way homeward. Earnscliff, however, turned +and followed Hobbie, after looking back towards the supposed maniac, +who, as if raised to frenzy by the interview, roamed wildly around the +great stone, exhausting his voice in shrieks and imprecations, that +thrilled wildly along the waste heath. + +The two sportsmen moved on some time in silence, until they were out +of hearing of these uncouth sounds, which was not ere they had gained a +considerable distance from the pillar that gave name to the moor. Each +made his private comments on the scene they had witnessed, until Hobbie +Elliot suddenly exclaimed, Weel, Ill uphaud that yon ghaist, if it +be a ghaist, has baith done and suffered muckle evil in the flesh, that +gars him rampauge in that way after he is dead and gane. + +It seems to me the very madness of misanthropy, said Earnscliff; +following his own current of thought. + +And ye didna think it was a spiritual creature, then? asked Hobbie at +his companion. + +Who, I?--No, surely. + +Weel, I am partly of the mind mysell that it may be a live thing--and +yet I dinna ken, I wadna wish to see ony thing look liker a bogle. + +At any rate, said Earnscliff, I will ride over to-morrow and see what +has become of the unhappy being. + +In fair daylight? queried the yeoman; then, grace o God, Ise be +wi ye. But here we are nearer to Heugh-foot than to your house by twa +mile,--hadna ye better een gae hame wi me, and well send the callant +on the powny to tell them that you are wi us, though I believe theres +naebody at hame to wait for you but the servants and the cat. + +Have with you then, friend Hobbie, said the young hunter; and as I +would not willingly have either the servants be anxious, or puss forfeit +her supper, in my absence, Ill be obliged to you to send the boy as you +propose. + +Aweel, that IS kind, I must say. And yell gae hame to Heugh-foot? +Theyll be right blithe to see you, that will they. + +This affair settled, they walked briskly on a little farther, when, +coming to the ridge of a pretty steep hill, Hobbie Elliot exclaimed, +Now, Earnscliff, I am aye glad when I come to this very bit--Ye see +the light below, thats in the ha window, where grannie, the gash auld +carline, is sitting birling at her wheel--and ye see yon other light +thats gaun whiddin back and forrit through amang the windows? thats +my cousin, Grace Armstrong,--shes twice as clever about the house as my +sisters, and sae they say themsells, for theyre good-natured lasses as +ever trode on heather; but they confess themsells, and sae does grannie, +that she has far maist action, and is the best goer about the toun, now +that grannie is off the foot hersell.--My brothers, ane o thems away +to wait upon the chamberlain, and anes at Moss-phadraig, thats our led +farm--he can see after the stock just as weel as I can do. + +You are lucky, my good friend, in having so many valuable relations. + +Troth am I--Grace make me thankful, Ise never deny it.--But will +ye tell me now, Earnscliff, you that have been at college, and the +high-school of Edinburgh, and got a sort o lair where it was to +be best gotten--will ye tell me--no that its ony concern of mine in +particular,--but I heard the priest of St. Johns, and our minister, +bargaining about it at the Winter fair, and troth they baith spak very +weel--Now, the priest says its unlawful to marry anes cousin; but I +cannot say I thought he brought out the Gospel authorities half sae weel +as our minister--our minister is thought the best divine and the best +preacher atween this and Edinburgh--Dinna ye think he was likely to be +right? + +Certainly marriage, by all protestant Christians, is held to be as free +as God made it by the Levitical law; so, Hobbie, there can be no bar, +legal or religious, betwixt you and Miss Armstrong. + +Hout awa wi your joking, Earnscliff, replied his companion,--ye +are angry aneugh yoursell if ane touches you a bit, man, on the sooth +side of the jest--No that I was asking the question about Grace, for ye +maun ken shes no my cousin-germain out and out, but the daughter of +my uncles wife by her first marriage, so shes nae kith nor kin to +me--only a connexion like. But now were at the Sheeling-hill--Ill fire +off my gun, to let them ken Im coming, thats aye my way; and if I hae +a deer I gie them twa shots, ane for the deer and ane for mysell. + +He fired off his piece accordingly, and the number of lights were +seen to traverse the house, and even to gleam before it. Hobbie Elliot +pointed out one of these to Earnscliff, which seemed to glide from the +house towards some of the outhouses-Thats Grace hersell, said Hobbie. +Shell no meet me at the door, Ise warrant her--but shell be awa, +for a that, to see if my hounds supper be ready, poor beasts. + +Love me, love my dog, answered Earnscliff. Ah, Hobbie, you are a +lucky young fellow! + +This observation was uttered with something like a sigh, which +apparently did not escape the ear of his companion. + +Hout, other folk may be as lucky as I am--O how I have seen Miss Isabel +Veres head turn after somebody when they passed ane another at the +Carlisle races! Wha kens but things may come round in this world? + +Earnscliff muttered something like an answer; but whether in assent of +the proposition, or rebuking the application of it, could not easily be +discovered; and it seems probable that the speaker himself was willing +his meaning should rest in doubt and obscurity. They had now descended +the broad loaning, which, winding round the foot of the steep bank, +or heugh, brought them in front of the thatched, but comfortable, +farm-house, which was the dwelling of Hobbie Elliot and his family. + +The doorway was thronged with joyful faces; but the appearance of a +stranger blunted many a gibe which had been prepared on Hobbies lack +of success in the deer-stalking. There was a little bustle among three +handsome young women, each endeavouring to devolve upon another the task +of ushering the stranger into the apartment, while probably all were +anxious to escape for the purpose of making some little personal +arrangements, before presenting themselves to a young gentleman in a +dishabille only intended for their brother. + +Hobbie, in the meanwhile, bestowing some hearty and general abuse upon +them all (for Grace was not of the party), snatched the candle from the +hand of one of the rustic coquettes, as she stood playing pretty with +it in her hand, and ushered his guest into the family parlour, or rather +hall; for the place having been a house of defence in former times, the +sitting apartment was a vaulted and paved room, damp and dismal enough +compared with the lodgings of the yeomanry of our days, but which, when +well lighted up with a large sparkling fire of turf and bog-wood, seemed +to Earnscliff a most comfortable exchange for the darkness and bleak +blast of the hill. Kindly and repeatedly was he welcomed by the +venerable old dame, the mistress of the family, who, dressed in her +coif and pinners, her close and decent gown of homespun wool, but with a +large gold necklace and ear-rings, looked, what she really was, the lady +as well as the farmers wife, while, seated in her chair of wicker, by +the corner of the great chimney, she directed the evening occupations +of the young women, and of two or three stout serving wenches, who sate +plying their distaffs behind the backs of their young mistresses. + +As soon as Earnscliff had been duly welcomed, and hasty orders issued +for some addition to the evening meal, his grand-dame and sisters opened +their battery upon Hobbie Elliot for his lack of success against the +deer. + +Jenny needna have kept up her kitchen-fire for a that Hobbie has +brought hame, said one sister. + +Troth no, lass, said another; the gathering peat, if it was weel +blawn, wad dress a our Hobbies venison. [The gathering peat is the +piece of turf left to treasure up the secret seeds of fire, without any +generous consumption of fuel; in a word, to keep the fire alive.] + +Ay, or the low of the candle, if the wind wad let it hide steady, said +a third; if I were him, I would bring hame a black craw, rather than +come back three times without a bucks horn to blaw on. + +Hobbie turned from the one to the other, regarding them alternately +with a frown on his brow, the augury of which was confuted by the +good-humoured laugh on the lower part of his countenance. He then strove +to propitiate them, by mentioning the intended present of his companion. + +In my young days, said the old lady, a man wad hae been ashamed +to come back frae the hill without a buck hanging on each side o his +horse, like a cadger carrying calves. + +I wish they had left some for us then, grannie, retorted Hobbie; +theyve cleared the country o them, thae auld friends o yours, Im +thinking. + +We see other folk can find game, though you cannot, Hobbie, said the +eldest sister, glancing a look at young Earnscliff. + +Weel, weel, woman, hasna every dog his day, begging Earnscliffs +pardon for the auld saying--Mayna I hae his luck, and he mine, another +time?--Its a braw thing for a man to be out a day, and frighted--na, I +winna say that neither but mistrysted wi bogles in the hame-coming, an +then to hae to flyte wi a wheen women that hae been doing naething a +the live-lang day, but whirling a bit stick, wi a thread trailing at +it, or boring at a clout. + +Frighted wi bogles! exclaimed the females, one and all,--for great +was the regard then paid, and perhaps still paid, in these glens, to all +such fantasies. + +I did not say frighted, now--I only said mis-set wi the thing--And +there was but ae bogle, neither--Earnscliff, ye saw it; as weel as I +did? + +And he proceeded, without very much exaggeration, to detail, in his own +way, the meeting they had with the mysterious being at Mucklestane-Moor, +concluding, he could not conjecture what on earth it could be, unless it +was either the Enemy himsell, or some of the auld Peghts that held the +country lang syne. + +Auld Peght! exclaimed the grand-dame; na, na--bless thee frae scathe, +my bairn, its been nae Peght that--its been the Brown Man of the +Moors! O weary fa thae evil days!--what can evil beings be coming for +to distract a poor country, now its peacefully settled, and living in +love and law--O weary on him! he neer brought gude to these lands or +the indwellers. My father aften tauld me he was seen in the year o the +bloody fight at Marston-Moor, and then again in Montroses troubles, and +again before the rout o Dunbar, and, in my ain time, he was seen about +the time o Bothwell-Brigg, and they said the second-sighted Laird of +Benarbuck had a communing wi him some time afore Argyles landing, +but that I cannot speak to sae preceesely--it was far in the west.--O, +bairns, hes never permitted but in an ill time, sae mind ilka ane o ye +to draw to Him that can help in the day of trouble. + +Earnscliff now interposed, and expressed his firm conviction that the +person they had seen was some poor maniac, and had no commission from +the invisible world to announce either war or evil. But his opinion +found a very cold audience, and all joined to deprecate his purpose of +returning to the spot the next day. + +O, my bonny bairn, said the old dame (for, in the kindness of +her heart, she extended her parental style to all in whom she was +interested)---You should beware mair than other folk--theres been a +heavy breach made in your house wi your fathers bloodshed, and wi +law-pleas, and losses sinsyne;--and you are the flower of the flock, and +the lad that will build up the auld bigging again (if it be His will) +to be an honour to the country, and a safeguard to those that dwell +in it--you, before others, are called upon to put yoursell in no rash +adventures--for yours was aye ower venturesome a race, and muckle harm +they have got by it. + +But I am sure, my good friend, you would not have me be afraid of going +to an open moor in broad daylight? + +I dinna ken, said the good old dame; I wad never bid son or friend o +mine haud their hand back in a gude cause, whether it were a friends or +their ain--that should be by nae bidding of mine, or of ony body thats +come of a gentle kindred--But it winna gang out of a grey head like +mine, that to gang to seek for evil thats no fashing wi you, is clean +against law and Scripture. + +Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of maintaining +with good effect, and the entrance of supper broke off the conversation. +Miss Grace had by this time made her appearance, and Hobbie, not without +a conscious glance at Earnscliff, placed himself by her side. Mirth +and lively conversation, in which the old lady of the house took the +good-humoured share which so well becomes old age, restored to the +cheeks of the damsels the roses which their brothers tale of the +apparition had chased away, and they danced and sung for an hour after +supper as if there were no such things as goblins in the world. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind; + For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, + That I might love thee something.--TIMON OF ATHENS + +On the following morning, after breakfast, Earnscliff took leave of +his hospitable friends, promising to return in time to partake of the +venison, which had arrived from his house. Hobbie, who apparently took +leave of him at the door of his habitation, slunk out, however, and +joined him at the top of the hill. + +Yell be gaun yonder, Mr. Patrick; feind o me will mistryst you for +a my mother says. I thought it best to slip out quietly though, in case +she should mislippen something of what were gaun to do--we maunna vex +her at nae rate--it was amaist the last word my father said to me on his +deathbed. + +By no means, Hobbie, said Earnscliff; she well merits all your +attention. + +Troth, for that matter, she would be as sair vexed amaist for you as +for me. But dye really think theres nae presumption in venturing back +yonder?--We hae nae special commission, ye ken. + +If I thought as you do, Hobbie, said the young gentleman, I would not +perhaps enquire farther into this business; but as I am of opinion that +preternatural visitations are either ceased altogether, or become very +rare in our days, I am unwilling to leave a matter uninvestigated which +may concern the life of a poor distracted being. + +Aweel, aweel, if ye really think that, answered Hobbie +doubtfully--And its for certain the very fairies--I mean the very good +neighbours themsells (for they say folk suldna ca them fairies) that +used to be seen on every green knowe at een, are no half sae often +visible in our days. I canna depone to having ever seen ane mysell, but, +I ance heard ane whistle ahint me in the moss, as like a whaup [Curlew] +as ae thing could be like anither. And mony ane my father saw when he +used to come hame frae the fairs at een, wi a drap drink in his head, +honest man. + +Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension of +superstition from one generation to another which was inferred In this +last observation; and they continued to reason on such subjects, until +they came in sight of the upright stone which gave name to the moor. + +As I shall answer, says Hobbie, yonders the creature creeping about +yet!--But its daylight, and you have your gun, and I brought out my bit +whinger--I think we may venture on him. + +By all manner of means, said Earnscliff; but, in the name of wonder, +what can he be doing there? + +Biggin a dry-stane dyke, I think, wi the grey geese, as they ca thae +great loose stanes--Odd, that passes a thing I eer heard tell of! + +As they approached nearer, Earnscliff could not help agreeing with his +companion. The figure they had seen the night before seemed slowly and +toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones one upon another, as if +to form a small enclosure. Materials lay around him in great plenty, but +the labour of carrying on the work was immense, from the size of most of +the stones; and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in +moving several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his +edifice. He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the two +young men came up, and was so intent upon executing his purpose, that +he did not perceive them till they were close upon him. In straining +and heaving at the stone, in order to place it according to his wish, +he displayed a degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with +his size and apparent deformity. Indeed, to judge from the difficulties +he had already surmounted, he must have been of Herculean powers; for +some of the stones he had succeeded in raising apparently required two +mens strength to have moved them. Hobbies suspicions began to revive, +on seeing the preternatural strength he exerted. + +I am amaist persuaded its the ghaist of a stane-mason--see siccan +band-statnes as hes laid i--An it be a man, after a, I wonder what +he wad take by the rood to build a march dyke. Theres ane sair wanted +between Cringlehope and the Shaws.--Honest man (raising his voice), ye +make good firm wark there? + +The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare, and, +getting up from his stooping posture, stood before them in all his +native and hideous deformity. His head was of uncommon size, covered +with a fell of shaggy hair, partly grizzled with age; his eyebrows, +shaggy and prominent, overhung a pair of small dark, piercing eyes, +set far back in their sockets, that rolled with a portentous wildness, +indicative of a partial insanity. The rest of his features were of the +coarse, rough-hewn stamp, with which a painter would equip a giant +in romance; to which was added the wild, irregular, and peculiar +expression, so often seen in the countenances of those whose persons are +deformed. His body, thick and square, like that of a man of middle size, +was mounted upon two large feet; but nature seemed to have forgotten the +legs and the thighs, or they were so very short as to be hidden by the +dress which he wore. His arms were long and brawny, furnished with two +muscular hands, and, where uncovered in the eagerness of his labour, +were shagged with coarse black hair. It seemed as if nature had +originally intended the separate parts of his body to be the members of +a giant, but had afterwards capriciously assigned them to the person of +a dwarf, so ill did the length of his arms and the iron strength of his +frame correspond with the shortness of his stature. His clothing was a +sort of coarse brown tunic, like a monks frock, girt round him with a +belt of seal-skin. On his head he had a cap made of badgers skin, or +some other rough fur, which added considerably to the grotesque effect +of his whole appearance, and overshadowed features, whose habitual +expression seemed that of sullen malignant misanthropy. + +This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence, with a dogged +and irritated look, until Earnscliff, willing to soothe him into better +temper, observed, You are hard tasked, my friend; allow us to assist +you. + +Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone, by their joint efforts, upon +the rising wall. The Dwarf watched them with the eye of a taskmaster, +and testified, by peevish gestures, his impatience at the time which +they took in adjusting the stone. He pointed to another--they raised it +also--to a third, to a fourth--they continued to humour him, though with +some trouble, for he assigned them, as if intentionally, the heaviest +fragments which lay near. + +And now, friend, said Elliot, as the unreasonable Dwarf indicated +another stone larger than any they had moved, Earnscliff may do as he +likes; but be ye man or be ye waur, deil be in my fingers if I break +my back wi heaving thae stanes ony langer like a barrow-man, without +getting sae muckle as thanks for my pains. + +Thanks! exclaimed the Dwarf, with a motion expressive of the utmost +contempt--There--take them, and fatten upon them! Take them, and may +they thrive with you as they have done with me--as they have done with +every mortal worm that ever heard the word spoken by his fellow reptile! +Hence--either labour or begone! + +This is a fine reward we have, Earnscliff, for building a tabernacle +for the devil, and prejudicing our ain souls into the bargain, for what +we ken. + +Our presence, answered Earnscliff, seems only to irritate his frenzy; +we had better leave him, and send some one to provide him with food and +necessaries. + +They did so. The servant dispatched for this purpose found the Dwarf +still labouring at his wall, but could not extract a word from him. +The lad, infected with the superstitions of the country, did not long +persist in an attempt to intrude questions or advice on so singular a +figure, but having placed the articles which he had brought for his use +on a stone at some distance, he left them at the misanthropes disposal. + +The Dwarf proceeded in his labours, day after day, with an assiduity so +incredible as to appear almost supernatural. In one day he often seemed +to have done the work of two men, and his building soon assumed +the appearance of the walls of a hut, which, though very small, and +constructed only of stones and turf, without any mortar, exhibited, from +the unusual size of the stones employed, an appearance of solidity very +uncommon for a cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction. +Earnscliff; attentive to his motions, no sooner perceived to what they +tended, than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable for forming +the roof, which he caused to be left in the neighbourhood of the spot, +resolving next day to send workmen to put them up. But his purpose was +anticipated, for in the evening, during the night, and early in the +morning, the Dwarf had laboured so hard, and with such ingenuity, that +he had nearly completed the adjustment of the rafters. His next labour +was to cut rushes and thatch his dwelling, a task which he performed +with singular dexterity. + +As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional assistance +of a passenger, materials suitable to his purpose, and tools, were +supplied to him, in the use of which he proved to be skilful. He +constructed the door and window of his cot, he adjusted a rude bedstead, +and a few shelves, and appeared to become somewhat soothed in his temper +as his accommodations increased. + +His next task was to form a strong enclosure, and to cultivate the land +within it to the best of his power; until, by transporting mould, and +working up what was upon the spot, he formed a patch of garden-ground. +It must be naturally supposed, that, as above hinted, this solitary +being received assistance occasionally from such travellers as crossed +the moor by chance, as well as from several who went from curiosity to +visit his works. It was, indeed, impossible to see a human creature, so +unfitted, at first sight, for hard labour, toiling with such unremitting +assiduity, without stopping a few minutes to aid him in his task; and, +as no one of his occasional assistants was acquainted with the degree +of help which the Dwarf had received from others, the celerity of his +progress lost none of its marvels in their eyes. The strong and compact +appearance of the cottage, formed in so very short a space, and by such +a being, and the superior skill which he displayed in mechanics, and in +other arts, gave suspicion to the surrounding neighbours. They insisted, +that, if he was not a phantom,--an opinion which was now +abandoned, since he plainly appeared a being of blood and bone with +themselves,--yet he must be in close league with the invisible world, +and have chosen that sequestered spot to carry on his communication with +them undisturbed. They insisted, though in a different sense from the +philosophers application of the phrase, that he was never less alone +than when alone; and that from the heights which commanded the moor at +a distance, passengers often discovered a person at work along with +this dweller of the desert, who regularly disappeared as soon as they +approached closer to the cottage. Such a figure was also occasionally +seen sitting beside him at the door, walking with him in the moor, or +assisting him in fetching water from his fountain. Earnscliff explained +this phenomenon by supposing it to be the Dwarfs shadow. + +Deil a shadow has he, replied Hobbie Elliot, who was a strenuous +defender of the general opinion; hes ower far in wi the Auld Ane to +have a shadow. Besides, he argued more logically, wha ever heard of a +shadow that cam between a body and the sun? and this thing, be it what +it will, is thinner and taller than the body himsell, and has been seen +to come between him and the sun mair than anes or twice either. + +These suspicions, which, in any other part of the country, might have +been attended with investigations a little inconvenient to the supposed +wizard, were here only productive of respect and awe. The recluse being +seemed somewhat gratified by the marks of timid veneration with which +an occasional passenger approached his dwelling, the look of startled +surprise with which he surveyed his person and his premises, and the +hurried step with which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful +spot. The boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty +glance at the walls of his cottage and garden, and to apologize for it +by a courteous salutation, which the inmate sometimes deigned to return +by a word or a nod. Earnscliff often passed that way, and seldom without +enquiring after the solitary inmate, who seemed now to have arranged his +establishment for life. + +It was impossible to engage him in any conversation on his own personal +affairs; nor was he communicative or accessible in talking on any other +subject whatever, although he seemed to have considerably relented in +the extreme ferocity of his misanthropy, or rather to be less frequently +visited with the fits of derangement of which this was a symptom. No +argument could prevail upon him to accept anything beyond the simplest +necessaries, although much more was offered by Earnscliff out of +charity, and by his more superstitious neighbours from other motives. +The benefits of these last he repaid by advice, when consulted (as at +length he slowly was) on their diseases, or those of their cattle. He +often furnished them with medicines also, and seemed possessed, not only +of such as were the produce of the country, but of foreign drugs. +He gave these persons to understand, that his name was Elshender the +Recluse; but his popular epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie, or the +Wise Wight of Mucklestane-Moor. Some extended their queries beyond their +bodily complaints, and requested advice upon other matters, which he +delivered with an oracular shrewdness that greatly confirmed the opinion +of his possessing preternatural skill. The querists usually left some +offering upon a stone, at a distance from his dwelling; if it was money, +or any article which did not suit him to accept, he either threw it +away, or suffered it to remain where it was without making use of it. +On all occasions his manners were rude and unsocial; and his words, in +number, just sufficient to express his meaning as briefly as possible, +and he shunned all communication that went a syllable beyond the matter +in hand. When winter had passed away, and his garden began to afford +him herbs and vegetables, he confined himself almost entirely to those +articles of food. He accepted, notwithstanding, a pair of she-goats from +Earnscliff, which fed on the moor, and supplied him with milk. + +When Earnscliff found his gift had been received, he soon afterwards +paid the hermit a visit. The old man was seated an a broad flat stone +near his garden door, which was the seat of science he usually occupied +when disposed to receive his patients or clients. The inside of his hut, +and that of his garden, he kept as sacred from human intrusion as the +natives of Otaheite do their Morai;--apparently he would have deemed it +polluted by the step of any human being. When he shut himself up in his +habitation, no entreaty could prevail upon him to make himself visible, +or to give audience to any one whomsoever. + +Earnscliff had been fishing in a small river at some distance. He had +his rod in his hand, and his basket, filled with trout, at his shoulder. +He sate down upon a stone nearly opposite to the Dwarf who, familiarized +with his presence, took no farther notice of him than by elevating his +huge mis-shapen head for the purpose of staring at him, and then again +sinking it upon his bosom, as if in profound meditation. Earnscliff +looked around him, and observed that the hermit had increased his +accommodations by the construction of a shed for the reception of his +goats. + +You labour hard, Elshie, he said, willing to lead this singular being +into conversation. + +Labour, re-echoed the Dwarf, is the mildest evil of a lot so +miserable as that of mankind; better to labour like me, than sport like +you. + +I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports, Elshie, and +yet-- + +And yet, interrupted the Dwarf, they are better than your ordinary +business; better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on mute fishes than +on your fellow-creatures. Yet why should I say so? Why should not the +whole human herd butt, gore, and gorge upon each other, till all are +extirpated but one huge and over-fed Behemoth, and he, when he had +throttled and gnawed the bones of all his fellows--he, when his prey +failed him, to be roaring whole days for lack of food, and, finally, +to die, inch by inch, of famine--it were a consummation worthy of the +race! + +Your deeds are better, Elshie, than your words, answered Earnscliff; +you labour to preserve the race whom your misanthropy slanders. + +I do; but why?--Hearken. You are one on whom I look with the least +loathing, and I care not, if, contrary to my wont, I waste a few words +in compassion to your infatuated blindness. If I cannot send disease +into families, and murrain among the herds, can I attain the same end +so well as by prolonging the lives of those who can serve the purpose of +destruction as effectually?--If Alice of Bower had died in winter, would +young Ruthwin have been slain for her love the last spring?--Who +thought of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of +Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death-bed?--My draughts, my skill, +recovered him. And, now, who dare leave his herd upon the lea without a +watch, or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth-hound? + +I own, answered Earnscliff; you did little good to society by the +last of these cures. But, to balance the evil, there is my friend +Hobbie, honest Hobbie of the Heugh-foot, your skill relieved him last +winter in a fever that might have cost him his life. + +Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance, said: the Dwarf, +smiling maliciously, and thus they speak in their folly. Have you +marked the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated, how +sportive, how playful, how gentle,--but trust him with your game, your +lambs, your poultry, his inbred ferocity breaks forth; he gripes, tears, +ravages, and devours. + +Such is the animals instinct, answered Earnscliff; but what has that +to do with Hobbie? + +It is his emblem--it is his picture, retorted the Recluse. He is +at present tame, quiet, and domesticated, for lack of opportunity to +exercise his inborn propensities; but let the trumpet of war sound--let +the young blood-hound snuff blood, he will be as ferocious as the +wildest of his Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasants +abode. Can you deny, that even at present he often urges you to take +bloody revenge for an injury received when you were a boy?--Earnscliff +started; the Recluse appeared not to observe his surprise, and +proceeded--The trumpet WILL blow, the young blood-hound WILL lap blood, +and I will laugh and say, For this I have preserved thee! He paused, +and continued,--Such are my cures;--their object, their purpose, +perpetuating the mass of misery, and playing even in this desert my +part in the general tragedy. Were YOU on your sick bed, I might, in +compassion, send you a cup of poison. + +I am much obliged to you, Elshie, and certainly shall not fail to +consult you, with so comfortable a hope from your assistance. + +Do not flatter yourself too far, replied the Hermit, with the hope +that I will positively yield to the frailty of pity. Why should I snatch +a dupe, so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are, from +the wretchedness which his own visions, and the villainy of the world, +are preparing for him? Why should I play the compassionate Indian, and, +knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk, at once spoil +the three days amusement of my kindred tribe, at the very moment when +the brands were lighted, the pincers heated, the cauldrons boiling, +the knives sharpened, to tear, scorch, seethe, and scarify the intended +victim? + +A dreadful picture you present to me of life, Elshie; but I am not +daunted by it, returned Earnscliff. We are sent here, in one sense, to +bear and to suffer; but, in another, to do and to enjoy. The active day +has its evening of repose; even patient sufferance has its alleviations, +where there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged. + +I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine, said the Dwarf, his eyes +kindling with insane fury,--I spurn at it, as worthy only of the beasts +that perish; but I will waste no more words with you. + +He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, with great +vehemence, Yet, lest you still think my apparent benefits to +mankind flow from the stupid and servile source, called love of our +fellow-creatures, know, that were there a man who had annihilated my +souls dearest hope--who had torn my heart to mammocks, and seared my +brain till it glowed like a volcano, and were that mans fortune and +life in my power as completely as this frail potsherd (he snatched up +an earthen cup which stood beside him), I would not dash him into atoms +thus--(he flung the vessel with fury against the wall),--No! (he +spoke more composedly, but with the utmost bitterness), I would pamper +him with wealth and power to inflame his evil passions, and to fulfil +his evil designs; he should lack no means of vice and villainy; he +should be the centre of a whirlpool that itself should know neither rest +nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, while it wrecked every goodly +ship that approached its limits! he should be an earthquake capable +of shaking the very land in which he dwelt, and rendering all its +inhabitants friendless, outcast, and miserable--as I am! + +The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words, +shutting the door with furious violence, and rapidly drawing two bolts, +one after another, as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that +hated race, who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy. Earnscliff left the +moor with mingled sensations of pity and horror, pondering what strange +and melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of +mind, a man whose language argued him to be of rank and education much +superior to the vulgar. He was also surprised to see how much particular +information a person who had lived in that country so short a time, +and in so recluse a manner, had been able to collect respecting the +dispositions and private affairs of the inhabitants. + +It is no wonder, he said to himself, that with such extent of +information, such a mode of life, so uncouth a figure, and sentiments +so virulently misanthropic, this unfortunate should be regarded by the +vulgar as in league with the Enemy of Mankind. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath + Feels, in its barrenness, some touch of spring; + And, in the April dew, or beam of May, + Its moss and lichen freshen and revive; + And thus the heart, most seard to human pleasure, + Melts at the tear, joys in the smile, of woman.--BEAUMONT + +As the season advanced, the weather became more genial, and the Recluse +was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone in the front of +his mansion. As he sate there one day, about the hour of noon, a party +of gentlemen and ladies, well mounted, and numerously attended, swept +across the heath at some distance from his dwelling. Dogs, hawks, and +led-horses swelled the retinue, and the air resounded at intervals +with the cheer of the hunters, and the sound of horns blown by the +attendants. The Recluse was about to retire into his mansion at +the sight of a train so joyous, when three young ladies, with their +attendants, who had made a circuit, and detached themselves from their +party, in order to gratify their curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight +of Mucklestane-Moor, came suddenly up, ere he could effect his purpose. +The first shrieked, and put her hands before her eyes, at sight of an +object so unusually deformed. The second, with a hysterical giggle, +which she intended should disguise her terrors, asked the Recluse, +whether he could tell their fortune. The third, who was best mounted, +best dressed, and incomparably the best-looking of the three, advanced, +as if to cover the incivility of her companions. + +We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses, and our +party have gone forward without us, said the young lady. Seeing you, +father, at the door of your house, we have turned this way to-- + +Hush! interrupted the Dwarf; so young, and already so artful? You +came--you know you came, to exult in the consciousness of your own +youth, wealth, and beauty, by contrasting them with age, poverty, and +deformity. It is a fit employment for the daughter of your father; but O +how unlike the child of your mother! + +Did you, then, know my parents, and do you know me? + +Yes; this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes, but I have +seen you in my dreams. + +Your dreams? + +Ay, Isabel Vere. What hast thou, or thine, to do with my waking +thoughts? + +Your waking thoughts, sir, said the second of Miss Veres companions, +with a sort of mock gravity, are fixed, doubtless, upon wisdom; folly +can only intrude on your sleeping moments. + +Over thine, retorted the Dwarf, more splenetically than became a +philosopher or hermit, folly exercises an unlimited empire, asleep or +awake. + +Lord bless us! said the lady, hes a prophet, sure enough. + +As surely, continued the Recluse, as thou art a woman.--A woman!--I +should have said a lady--a fine lady. You asked me to tell your +fortune--it is a simple one; an endless chase through life after follies +not worth catching, and, when caught, successively thrown away--a chase, +pursued from the days of tottering infancy to those of old age upon his +crutches. Toys and merry-makings in childhood--love and its absurdities +in youth--spadille and basto in age, shall succeed each other as +objects of pursuit--flowers and butterflies in spring--butterflies +and thistle-down in summer--withered leaves in autumn and winter--all +pursued, all caught, all flung aside.--Stand apart; your fortune is +said. + +All CAUGHT, however, retorted the laughing fair one, who was a cousin +of Miss Veres; thats something, Nancy, she continued, turning to +the timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf; will you ask your +fortune? + +Not for worlds, said she, drawing back; I have heard enough of +yours. + +Well, then, said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, Ill pay +for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess. + +Truth, said the Soothsayer, can neither be bought nor sold; and he +pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain. + +Well, then, said the lady, Ill keep my money, Mr. Elshender, to +assist me in the chase I am to pursue. + +You will need it, replied the cynic; without it, few pursue +successfully, and fewer are themselves pursued.--Stop! he said to Miss +Vere, as her companions moved off, With you I have more to say. +You have what your companions would wish to have, or be thought to +have,--beauty, wealth, station, accomplishments. + +Forgive my following my companions, father; I am proof both to flattery +and fortune-telling. + +Stay, continued the Dwarf, with his hand on her horses rein, I am +no common soothsayer, and I am no flatterer. All the advantages I +have detailed, all and each of them have their corresponding +evils--unsuccessful love, crossed affections, the gloom of a convent, +or an odious alliance. I, who wish ill to all mankind, cannot wish more +evil to you, so much is your course of life crossed by it. + +And if it be, father, let me enjoy the readiest solace of adversity +while prosperity is in my power. You are old; you are poor; your +habitation is far from human aid, were you ill, or in want; your +situation, in many respects, exposes you to the suspicions of the +vulgar, which are too apt to break out into actions of brutality. Let +me think I have mended the lot of one human being! Accept of such +assistance as I have power to offer; do this for my sake, if not for +your own, that when these evils arise, which you prophesy perhaps too +truly, I may not have to reflect, that the hours of my happier time have +been passed altogether in vain. + +The old man answered with a broken voice, and almost without addressing +himself to the young lady,-- + +Yes, tis thus thou shouldst think--tis thus thou shouldst speak, +if ever human speech and thought kept touch with each other! They do +not--they do not--Alas! they cannot. And yet--wait here an instant--stir +not till my return. He went to his little garden, and returned with a +half-blown rose. Thou hast made me shed a tear, the first which has +wet my eyelids for many a year; for that good deed receive this token +of gratitude. It is but a common rose; preserve it, however, and do not +part with it. Come to me in your hour of adversity. Show me that rose, +or but one leaf of it, were it withered as my heart is--if it should be +in my fiercest and wildest movements of rage against a hateful world, +still it will recall gentler thoughts to my bosom, and perhaps afford +happier prospects to thine. But no message, he exclaimed, rising +into his usual mood of misanthropy,--no message--no go-between! Come +thyself; and the heart and the doors that are shut against every other +earthly being, shall open to thee and to thy sorrows. And now pass on. + +He let go the bridle-rein, and the young lady rode on, after expressing +her thanks to this singular being, as well as her surprise at the +extraordinary nature of his address would permit, often turning back to +look at the Dwarf, who still remained at the door of his habitation, +and watched her progress over the moor towards her fathers castle of +Ellieslaw, until the brow of the hill hid the party from his sight. + +The ladies, meantime, jested with Miss Vere on the strange interview +they had just had with the far-famed wizard of the Moor. Isabella has +all the luck at home and abroad! Her hawk strikes down the black-cock; +her eyes wound the gallant; no chance for her poor companions and +kinswomen; even the conjuror cannot escape the force of her charms. You +should, in compassion, cease to be such an engrosser, my dear Isabel, or +at least set up shop, and sell off all the goods you do not mean to keep +for your own use. + +You shall have them all, replied Miss Vere, and the conjuror to boot, +at a very easy rate. + +No! Nancy shall have the conjuror, said Miss Ilderton, to supply +deficiencies; shes not quite a witch herself, you know. + +Lord, sister, answered the younger Miss Ilderton, what could I do +with so frightful a monster? I kept my eyes shut, after once glancing at +him; and, I protest, I thought I saw him still, though I winked as close +as ever I could. + +Thats a pity, said her sister; ever while you live, Nancy, choose an +admirer whose faults can be hid by winking at them.--Well, then, I must +take him myself, I suppose, and put him into mammas Japan cabinet, +in order to show that Scotland can produce a specimen of mortal clay +moulded into a form ten thousand times uglier than the imaginations of +Canton and Pekin, fertile as they are in monsters, have immortalized in +porcelain. + +There is something, said Miss Vere, so melancholy in the situation of +this poor man, that I cannot enter into your mirth, Lucy, so readily as +usual. If he has no resources, how is he to exist in this waste country, +living, as he does, at such a distance from mankind? and if he has the +means of securing occasional assistance, will not the very suspicion +that he is possessed of them, expose him to plunder and assassination by +some of our unsettled neighbours? + +But you forget that they say he is a warlock, said Nancy Ilderton. + +And, if his magic diabolical should fail him, rejoined her sister, I +would have him trust to his magic natural, and thrust his enormous head, +and most preternatural visage, out at his door or window, full in view +of the assailants. The boldest robber that ever rode would hardly bide a +second glance of him. Well, I wish I had the use of that Gorgon head of +his for only one half hour. + +For what purpose, Lucy? said Miss Vere. + +O! I would frighten out of the castle that dark, stiff, and stately Sir +Frederick Langley, that is so great a favourite with your father, and so +little a favourite of yours. I protest I shall be obliged to the Wizard +as long as I live, if it were only for the half hours relief from that +mans company which we have gained by deviating from the party to visit +Elshie. + +What would you say, then, said Miss Vere, in a low tone, so as not to +be heard by the younger sister, who rode before them, the narrow path +not admitting of their moving all three abreast,--What would you say, +my dearest Lucy, if it were proposed to you to endure his company for +life? + +Say? I would say, NO, NO, NO, three times, each louder than another, +till they should hear me at Carlisle. + +And Sir Frederick would say then, nineteen nay-says are half a grant. + +That, replied Miss Lucy, depends entirely on the manner in which the +nay-says are said. Mine should have not one grain of concession in them, +I promise you. + +But if your father, said Miss Vere, were to say,--Thus do, or-- + +I would stand to the consequences of his OR, were he the most cruel +father that ever was recorded in romance, to fill up the alternative. + +And what if he threatened you with a catholic aunt, an abbess, and a +cloister? + +Then, said Miss Ilderton, I would threaten him with a protestant +son-in-law, and be glad of an opportunity to disobey him for conscience +sake. And now that Nancy is out of hearing, let me really say, I +think you would be excusable before God and man for resisting this +preposterous match by every means in your power. A proud, dark, +ambitious man; a caballer against the state; infamous for his avarice +and severity; a bad son, a bad brother, unkind and ungenerous to all his +relatives--Isabel, I would die rather than have him. + +Dont let my father hear you give me such advice, said Miss Vere, or +adieu, my dear Lucy, to Ellieslaw Castle. + +And adieu to Ellieslaw Castle, with all my heart, said her friend, if +I once saw you fairly out of it, and settled under some kinder protector +than he whom nature has given you. O, if my poor father had been in his +former health, how gladly would he have received and sheltered you, till +this ridiculous and cruel persecution were blown over! + +Would to God it had been so, my dear Lucy! answered Isabella; but +I fear, that, in your fathers weak state of health, he would be +altogether unable to protect me against the means which would be +immediately used for reclaiming the poor fugitive. + +I fear so indeed, replied Miss Ilderton; but we will consider and +devise something. Now that your father and his guests seem so deeply +engaged in some mysterious plot, to judge from the passing and returning +of messages, from the strange faces which appear and disappear without +being announced by their names, from the collecting and cleaning of +arms, and the anxious gloom and bustle which seem to agitate every male +in the castle, it may not be impossible for us (always in case matters +be driven to extremity) to shape out some little supplemental conspiracy +of our own. I hope the gentlemen have not kept all the policy to +themselves; and there is one associate that I would gladly admit to our +counsel. + +Not Nancy? + +O, no! said Miss Ilderton; Nancy, though an excellent good girl, +and fondly attached to you, would make a dull conspirator--as dull as +Renault and all the other subordinate plotters in VENICE PRESERVED. No; +this is a Jaffier, or Pierre, if you like the character better; and yet +though I know I shall please you, I am afraid to mention his name to +you, lest I vex you at the same time. Can you not guess? Something +about an eagle and a rock--it does not begin with eagle in English, but +something very like it in Scotch. + +You cannot mean young Earnscliff, Lucy? said Miss Vere, blushing +deeply. + +And whom else should I mean, said Lucy. Jaffiers and Pierres are very +scarce in this country, I take it, though one could find Renaults and +Bedamars enow. + +How call you talk so wildly, Lucy? Your plays and romances have +positively turned your brain. You know, that, independent of my fathers +consent, without which I never will marry any one, and which, in the +case you point at, would never be granted; independent, too, of our +knowing nothing of young Earnscliffs inclinations, but by your own +vivid conjectures and fancies--besides all this, there is the fatal +brawl! + +When his father was killed? said Lucy. But that was very long ago; +and I hope we have outlived the time of bloody feud, when a quarrel was +carried down between two families from father to son, like a Spanish +game at chess, and a murder or two committed in every generation, just +to keep the matter from going to sleep. We do with our quarrels nowadays +as with our clothes; cut them out for ourselves, and wear them out in +our own day, and should no more think of resenting our fathers feuds, +than of wearing their slashed doublets and trunk-hose. + +You treat this far too lightly, Lucy, answered Miss Vere. + +Not a bit, my dear Isabella, said Lucy. Consider, your father, though +present in the unhappy affray, is never supposed to have struck the +fatal blow; besides, in former times, in case of mutual slaughter +between clans, subsequent alliances were so far from being excluded, +that the hand of a daughter or a sister was the most frequent gage of +reconciliation. You laugh at my skill in romance; but, I assure you, +should your history be written, like that of many a less distressed and +less deserving heroine, the well-judging reader would set you down for +the lady and the love of Earnscliff; from the very obstacle which you +suppose so insurmountable. + +But these are not the days of romance, but of sad reality, for there +stands the castle of Ellieslaw. + +And there stands Sir Frederick Langley at the gate, waiting to assist +the ladies from their palfreys. I would as lief touch a toad; I will +disappoint him, and take old Horsington the groom for my master of the +horse. + +So saying, the lively young lady switched her palfrey forward, and +passing Sir Frederick with a familiar nod as he stood ready to take +her horses rein, she cantered on, and jumped into the arms of the old +groom. Fain would Isabella have done the same had she dared; but her +father stood near, displeasure already darkening on a countenance +peculiarly qualified to express the harsher passions, and she was +compelled to receive the unwelcome assiduities of her detested suitor. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Let not us that are squires of the nights body be called + thieves of the days booty; let us be Dianas foresters, + gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon. + --HENRY THE FOURTH, PART I. + +The Solitary had consumed the remainder of that day in which he had the +interview with the young ladies, within the precincts of his garden. +Evening again found him seated on his favourite stone. The sun setting +red, and among seas of rolling clouds, threw a gloomy lustre over the +moor, and gave a deeper purple to the broad outline of heathy mountains +which surrounded this desolate spot. The Dwarf sate watching the clouds +as they lowered above each other in masses of conglomerated vapours, +and, as a strong lurid beam of the sinking luminary darted full on his +solitary and uncouth figure, he might well have seemed the demon of +the storm which was gathering, or some gnome summoned forth from the +recesses of the earth by the subterranean signals of its approach. As he +sate thus, with his dark eye turned towards the scowling and blackening +heaven, a horseman rode rapidly up to him, and stopping, as if to +let his horse breathe for an instant, made a sort of obeisance to the +anchoret, with an air betwixt effrontery and embarrassment. + +The figure of the rider was thin, tall, and slender, but remarkably +athletic, bony, and sinewy; like one who had all his life followed those +violent exercises which prevent the human form from increasing in bulk, +while they harden and confirm by habit its muscular powers. His face, +sharp-featured, sun-burnt, and freckled, had a sinister expression of +violence, impudence, and cunning, each of which seemed alternately to +predominate over the others. Sandy-coloured hair, and reddish eyebrows, +from under which looked forth his sharp grey eyes, completed the +inauspicious outline of the horsemans physiognomy. He had pistols in +his holsters, and another pair peeped from his belt, though he had taken +some pains to conceal them by buttoning his doublet. He wore a rusted +steel head piece; a buff jacket of rather an antique cast; gloves, of +which that for the right hand was covered with small scales of iron, +like an ancient gauntlet; and a long broadsword completed his equipage. + +So, said the Dwarf, rapine and murder once more on horseback. + +On horseback? said the bandit; ay, ay, Elshie, your leech-craft has +set me on the bonny bay again. + +And all those promises of amendment which you made during your illness +forgotten? continued Elshender. + +All clear away, with the water-saps and panada, returned the unabashed +convalescent. Ye ken, Elshie, for they say ye are weel acquent wi the +gentleman, + + When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be, + When the devil was well, the devil a monk was he. + +Thou sayst true, said the Solitary; as well divide a wolf from his +appetite for carnage, or a raven from her scent of slaughter, as thee +from thy accursed propensities. + +Why, what would you have me to do? Its born with me--lies in my +very blude and bane. Why, man, the lads of Westburnflat, for ten lang +descents, have been reivers and lifters. They have all drunk hard, lived +high, taking deep revenge for light offence, and never wanted gear for +the winning. + +Right; and thou art as thorough-bred a wolf, said the Dwarf, as ever +leapt a lamb-fold at night. On what hells errand art thou bound now? + +Can your skill not guess? + +Thus far I know, said the Dwarf, that thy purpose is bad, thy deed +will be worse, and the issue worst of all. + +And you like me the better for it, Father Elshie, eh? said +Westburnflat; you always said you did. + +I have cause to like all, answered the Solitary, that are scourges to +their fellow-creatures, and thou art a bloody one. + +No--I say not guilty to that--lever bluidy unless theres resistance, +and that sets a mans bristles up, ye ken. And this is nae great matter, +after a; just to cut the comb of a young cock that has been crawing a +little ower crousely. + +Not young Earnscliff? said the Solitary, with some emotion. + +No; not young Earnscliff--not young Earnscliff YET; but his time may +come, if he will not take warning, and get him back to the burrow-town +that hes fit for, and no keep skelping about here, destroying the +few deer that are left in the country, and pretending to act as a +magistrate, and writing letters to the great folk at Auld Reekie, about +the disturbed state of the land. Let him take care o himsell. + +Then it must be Hobbie of the Heugh-foot, said Elshie. What harm has +the lad done you? + +Harm! nae great harm; but I hear he says I staid away from the Baspiel +on Fasterns Een, for fear of him; and it was only for fear of the +Country Keeper, for there was a warrant against me. Ill stand Hobbies +feud, and a his clans. But its not so much for that, as to gie him +a lesson not to let his tongue gallop ower freely about his betters. I +trow he will hae lost the best pen-feather o his wing before to-morrow +morning.--Farewell, Elshie; theres some canny boys waiting for me down +amang the shaws, owerby; I will see you as I come back, and bring ye a +blithe tale in return for your leech-craft. + +Ere the Dwarf could collect himself to reply, the Reiver of Westburnflat +set spurs to his horse. The animal, starting at one of the stones which +lay scattered about, flew from the path. The rider exercised his spurs +without moderation or mercy. The horse became furious, reared, kicked, +plunged, and bolted like a deer, with all his four feet off the ground +at once. It was in vain; the unrelenting rider sate as if he had been +a part of the horse which he bestrode; and, after a short but furious +contest, compelled the subdued animal to proceed upon the path at a rate +which soon carried him out of sight of the Solitary. + +That villain, exclaimed the Dwarf,--that cool-blooded, hardened, +unrelenting ruffian,--that wretch, whose every thought is infected with +crimes,--has thewes and sinews, limbs, strength, and activity enough, to +compel a nobler animal than himself to carry him to the place where he +is to perpetrate his wickedness; while I, had I the weakness to wish to +put his wretched victim on his guard, and to save the helpless family, +would see my good intentions frustrated by the decrepitude which chains +me to the spot.--Why should I wish it were otherwise? What have my +screech-owl voice, my hideous form, and my mis-shapen features, to +do with the fairer workmanship of nature? Do not men receive even my +benefits with shrinking horror and ill-suppressed disgust? And why +should I interest myself in a race which accounts me a prodigy and an +outcast, and which has treated me as such? No; by all the ingratitude +which I have reaped--by all the wrongs which I have sustained--by my +imprisonment, my stripes, my chains, I will wrestle down my feelings of +rebellious humanity! I will not be the fool I have been, to swerve from +my principles whenever there was an appeal, forsooth, to my feelings; as +if I, towards whom none show sympathy, ought to have sympathy with any +one. Let Destiny drive forth her scythed car through the overwhelmed and +trembling mass of humanity! Shall I be the idiot to throw this decrepit +form, this mis-shapen lump of mortality, under her wheels, that the +Dwarf, the Wizard, the Hunchback, may save from destruction some fair +form or some active frame, and all the world clap their hands at the +exchange? No, never!--And yet this Elliot--this Hobbie, so young and +gallant, so frank, so--I will think of it no longer. I cannot aid him if +I would, and I am resolved--firmly resolved, that I would not aid him, +if a wish were the pledge of his safety! + +Having thus ended his soliloquy, he retreated into his hut for shelter +from the storm which was fast approaching, and now began to burst in +large and heavy drops of rain. The last rays of the sun now disappeared +entirely, and two or three claps of distant thunder followed each other +at brief intervals, echoing and re-echoing among the range of heathy +fells like the sound of a distant engagement. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn!-- + . . . . + Return to thy dwelling; all lonely, return; + For the blackness of ashes shall mark where it stood, + And a wild mother scream oer her famishing brood.--CAMPBELL. + +The night continued sullen and stormy; but morning rose as if refreshed +by the rains. Even the Mucklestane-Moor, with its broad bleak swells of +barren grounds, interspersed with marshy pools of water, seemed to smile +under the serene influence of the sky, just as good-humour can spread +a certain inexpressible charm over the plainest human countenance. +The heath was in its thickest and deepest bloom. The bees, which the +Solitary had added to his rural establishment, were abroad and on the +wing, and filled the air with the murmurs of their industry. As the old +man crept out of his little hut, his two she-goats came to meet him, and +licked his 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 benefactor--to +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 lunatics--for +their disgraceful restraints--for their cruel privations, than for +communication with the rest of humanity. Hubert alone--and 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, Ise gang alang wi you. + +At the same moment, a large deer greyhound sprung over the hermits +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 +hermits 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, man--let 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 Elliots 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 again--not 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 deils 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 athegither neither, and I am sure it is as vexing to me as to +you, Elshie, that the mischance should hae happened; but Ill 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 goats 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 theres sae mony +deerhounds about--but Ill 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, Im wae ye suld hae cause to say sae; +Im sure it wasna wi my will. And yet, its true, I should hae minded +your goats, and coupled up the dogs. Im sure I would rather they had +worried the primest wether in my faulds.--Come, man, forget and forgie. +Im een as vexed as ye can be--But I am a bridegroom, ye see, and that +puts a things out o my head, I think. Theres the marriage-dinner, or +gude part ot, 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 brouze--the likes no been seen +sin the days of auld Martin of the Preakin-tower--I 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, Ill 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, Ill no forget wha it is that its 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 Ill just tell ye +ae thing, neighbour, that if things be otherwise than weel wi Grace +Armstrong, Ise 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 Banquos 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; theres 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, thats 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 for a blink. I am thinking it wad concern my safety if she were +to come back here, for theres mony o the Elliots, and they band weel +thegither for right or wrang. Now, what I chiefly come to ask your rede +in, is how to make her sure? + +Wouldst thou murder her, then? + +Umph! no, no; that I would not do, if I could help it. But they say +they can whiles get folk cannily away to the plantations from some of +the outports, and something to boot for them that brings a bonny wench. +Theyre wanted beyond seas thae female cattle, and theyre no that +scarce here. But I think o doing better for this lassie. Theres a +leddy, that, unless she be a the better bairn, is to be sent to foreign +parts whether she will or no; now, I think of sending Grace to wait on +her--shes a bonny lassie. Hobbie will hae a merry morning when he comes +hame, and misses baith bride and gear. + +Ay; and do you not pity him? said the Recluse. + +Wad he pity me were I gaeing up the Castle hill at Jeddart? [ The +place of execution at that ancient burgh, where many of Westburnflats +profession have made their final exit.] And yet I rue something for the +bit lassie; but hell get anither, and little skaith dune--ane is as +gude as anither. And now, you that like to hear o splores, heard ye +ever o a better ane than I hae had this morning? + +Air, ocean, and fire, said the Dwarf, speaking to himself, the +earthquake, the tempest, the volcano, are all mild and moderate, +compared to the wrath of man. And what is this fellow, but one more +skilled than others in executing the end of his existence?--Hear me, +felon, go again where I before sent thee. + +To the Steward? + +Ay; and tell him, Elshender the Recluse commands him to give thee gold. +But, hear me, let the maiden be discharged free and uninjured; return +her to her friends, and let her swear not to discover thy villainy. + +Swear, said Westburnflat; but what if she break her aith? Women are +not famous for keeping their plight. A wise man like you should ken +that.--And uninjured--wha kens what may happen were she to be left lang +at Tinning-Beck? Charlie Cheat-the-Woodie is a rough customer. But if +the gold could be made up to twenty pieces, I think I could ensure her +being wi her friends within the twenty-four hours. + +The Dwarf took his tablets from his pocket, marked a line on them, and +tore out the leaf. There, he said, giving the robber the leaf--But, +mark me; thou knowest I am not to be fooled by thy treachery; if thou +darest to disobey my directions, thy wretched life, be sure, shall +answer it. + +I know, said the fellow, looking down, that you have power on earth, +however you came by it; you can do what nae other man can do, baith by +physic and foresight; and the gold is shelled down when ye command, as +fast as I have seen the ash-keys fall in a frosty morning in October. I +will not disobey you. + +Begone, then, and relieve me of thy hateful presence. + +The robber set spurs to his horse, and rode off without reply. + +Hobbie Elliot had, in the meanwhile, pursued his journey rapidly, +harassed by those oppressive and indistinct fears that all was not +right, which men usually term a presentiment of misfortune. Ere he +reached the top of the bank from which he could look down on his own +habitation, he was met by his nurse, a person then of great consequence +in all families in Scotland, whether of the higher or middling classes. +The connexion between them and their foster-children was considered a +tie far too dearly intimate to be broken; and it usually happened, in +the course of years, that the nurse became a resident in the family +of her foster-son, assisting in the domestic duties, and receiving all +marks of attention and regard from the heads of the family. So soon +as Hobbie recognised the figure of Annaple, in her red cloak and black +hood, he could not help exclaiming to himself, What ill luck can +hae brought the auld nurse sae far frae hame, her that never stirs a +gun-shot frae the door-stane for ordinar?--Hout, it will just be to get +crane-berries, or whortle-berries, or some such stuff, out of the moss, +to make the pies and tarts for the feast on Monday.--I cannot get the +words of that cankered auld cripple deils-buckie out o my head--the +least thing makes me dread some ill news.--O, Killbuck, man! were there +nae deer and goats in the country besides, but ye behoved to gang and +worry his creature, by a other folks? + +By this time Annaple, with a brow like a tragic volume, had hobbled +towards him, and caught his horse by the bridle. The despair in her look +was so evident as to deprive even him of the power of asking the cause. +O my bairn! she cried, gang na forward--gang na forward--its a sight +to kill onybody, let alane thee. + +In Gods name, whats the matter? said the astonished horseman, +endeavouring to extricate his bridle from the grasp of the old woman; +for Heavens sake, let me go and see whats the matter. + +Ohon! that I should have lived to see the day!--The steadings a in +a low, and the bonny stack-yard lying in the red ashes, and the gear a +driven away. But gang na forward; it wad break your young heart, hinny, +to see what my auld een hae seen this morning. + +And who has dared to do this? let go my bridle, Annaple--where is my +grandmother--my sisters?--Where is Grace Armstrong?--God!--the words of +the warlock are knelling in my ears! + +He sprang from his horse to rid himself of Annaples interruption, and, +ascending the hill with great speed, soon came in view of the spectacle +with which she had threatened him. It was indeed a heart-breaking +sight. The habitation which he had left in its seclusion, beside the +mountain-stream, surrounded with every evidence of rustic plenty, was +now a wasted and blackened ruin. From amongst the shattered and sable +walls the smoke continued to rise. The turf-stack, the barn-yard, the +offices stocked with cattle, all the wealth of an upland cultivator of +the period, of which poor Elliot possessed no common share, had +been laid waste or carried off in a single night. He stood a moment +motionless, and then exclaimed, I am ruined--ruined to the ground!--But +curse on the warlds gear--Had it not been the week before the +bridal--But I am nae babe, to sit down and greet about it. If I can but +find Grace, and my grandmother, and my sisters weel, I can go to the +wars in Flanders, as my gude-sire did, under the Bellenden banner, wi +auld Buccleuch. At ony rate, I will keep up a heart, or they will lose +theirs athegither. + +Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill, resolved to suppress his +own despair, and administer consolation which he did not feel. The +neighbouring inhabitants of the dell, particularly those of his own +name, had already assembled. The younger part were in arms and clamorous +for revenge, although they knew not upon whom; the elder were taking +measures for the relief of the distressed family. Annaples cottage, +which was situated down the brook, at some distance from the scene of +mischief, had been hastily adapted for the temporary accommodation +of the old lady and her daughters, with such articles as had been +contributed by the neighbours, for very little was saved from the wreck. + +Are we to stand here a day, sirs, exclaimed one tall young man, and +look at the burnt was of our kinsmans house? Every wreath of the reek +is a blast of shame upon us! Let us to horse, and take the chase.--Who +has the nearest bloodhound? + +Its young Earnscliff, answered another; and hes been on and away +wi six horse lang syne, to see if he can track them. + +Let us follow him then, and raise the country, and mak mair help as +we ride, and then have at the Cumberland reivers! Take, burn, and +slay--they that lie nearest us shall smart first. + +Whisht! haud your tongues, daft callants, said an old man, ye dinna +ken what ye speak about. What! wad ye raise war atween two pacificated +countries? + +And what signifies deaving us wi tales about our fathers, retorted +the young; man, if were to sit and see our friends houses burnt ower +their heads, and no put out hand to revenge them? Our fathers did not do +that, I trow? + +I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbies wrang, puir chield; +but we maun take the law wi us in thae days, Simon, answered the more +prudent elder. + +And besides, said another old man, I dinna believe theres ane now +living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border. +Tam o Whittram kend a about it; but he died in the hard winter. + +Ay, said a third, he was at the great gathering, when they chased as +far as Thirlwall; it was the year after the fight of Philiphaugh. + +Hout, exclaimed another of these discording counsellors, theres nae +great skill needed; just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear, or +hayfork, or siclike, and blaw a horn, and cry the gathering-word, and +then its lawful to follow gear into England, and recover it by the +strong hand, or to take gear frae some other Englishman, providing ye +lift nae mair thans been lifted frae you. Thats the auld Border law, +made at Dundrennan, in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need +doubt it. Its as clear as the sun. + +Come away, then, lads, cried Simon, get to your geldings, and well +take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi us; he kens the value o the +stock and plenishing thats been lost. Hobbies stalls and stakes shall +be fou again or night; and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon, +wese lay an English ane as low as Heugh-foot is--and thats fair play, +a the warld ower. + +This animating proposal was received with great applause by the younger +part of the assemblage, when a whisper ran among them, Theres Hobbie +himsell, puir fallow! well be guided by him. + +The principal sufferer, having now reached the bottom of the hill, +pushed on through the crowd, unable, from the tumultuous state of his +feelings, to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly +hands by which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their +sympathy in his misfortune. While he pressed Simon of Hackburns +hand, his anxiety at length found words. Thank ye, Simon--thank ye, +neighbours--I ken what ye wad a say. But where are they?--Where are-- + He stopped, as if afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry; and +with a similar feeling, his kinsmen, without reply, pointed to the hut, +into which Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of one who +is resolved to know the worst at once. A general and powerful expression +of sympathy accompanied him. Ah, puir fallow--puir Hobbie! + +Hell learn the warst ot now! + +But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o the puir lassie. + +Such were the exclamations of the group, who, having no acknowledged +leader to direct their motions, passively awaited the return of the +sufferer, and determined to be guided by his directions. + +The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree +affecting. His sisters threw themselves upon him, and almost stifled him +with their caresses, as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish +the absence of one yet more beloved. + +God help thee, my son! He can help when worldly trust is a broken +reed.--Such was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson. +He looked eagerly round, holding two of his sisters by the hand, while +the third hung about his neck--I see you--I count you--my grandmother, +Lilias, Jean, and Annot; but where is-- (he hesitated, and then +continued, as if with an effort), Where is Grace? Surely this is not a +time to hide hersell frae me--theres nae time for daffing now. + +O, brother! and Our poor Grace! was the only answer his questions +could procure, till his grandmother rose up, and gently disengaged +him from the weeping girls, led him to a seat, and with the affecting +serenity which sincere piety, like oil sprinkled on the waves, can throw +over the most acute feelings, she said, My bairn, when thy grandfather +was killed in the wars, and left me with six orphans around me, with +scarce bread to eat, or a roof to cover us, I had strength,--not of mine +own--but I had strength given me to say, The Lords will be done!--My +son, our peaceful house was last night broken into by moss-troopers, +armed and masked; they have taken and destroyed all, and carried off our +dear Grace. Pray for strength to say, His will be done! + +Mother! mother! urge me not--I cannot--not now I am a sinful man, and +of a hardened race. Masked armed--Grace carried off! Gie me my sword, +and my fathers knapsack--I will have vengeance, if I should go to the +pit of darkness to seek it! + +O my bairn, my bairn! be patient under the rod. Who knows when He may +lift His hand off from us? Young Earnscliff, Heaven bless him, has taen +the chase, with Davie of Stenhouse, and the first comers. I cried to let +house and plenishing burn, and follow the reivers to recover Grace, and +Earnscliff and his men were ower the Fell within three hours after the +deed. God bless him! hes a real Earnscliff; hes his fathers true +son--a leal friend. + +A true friend indeed; God bless him! exclaimed Hobbie; lets on and +away, and take the chase after him. + +O, my child, before you run on danger, let me hear you but say, HIS +will be done! + +Urge me not, mother--not now. He was rushing out, when, looking back, +he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of affliction. He +returned hastily, threw himself into her arms, and said, Yes, mother, I +CAN say, HIS will be done, since it will comfort you. + +May He go forth--may He go forth with you, my dear bairn; and O, may He +give you cause to say on your return, HIS name be praised! + +Farewell, mother!--farewell, my dear sisters! exclaimed Elliot, and +rushed out of the house. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Now horse and hattock, cried the Laird,-- + Now horse and hattock, speedilie; + They that winna ride for Telfers kye, + Let them never look in the face o me.--Border Ballad. + +Horse! horse! and spear! exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen. Many a ready +foot was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastily collected arms and +accoutrements, no easy matter in such a confusion, the glen resounded +with the approbation of his younger friends. + +Ay, ay! exclaimed Simon of Hackburn, thats the gate to take it, +Hobbie. Let women sit and greet at hame, men must do as they have been +done by; its the Scripture sayst. + +Haud your tongue, sir, said one of the seniors, sternly; dinna abuse +the Word that gate, ye dinna ken what ye speak about. + +Hae ye ony tidings?--Hae ye ony speerings, Hobbie?--O, callants, dinna +be ower hasty, said old Dick of the Dingle. + +What signifies preaching to us, eenow? said Simon; if ye canna make +help yoursell, dinna keep back them that can. + +Whisht, sir; wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrangd ye? + +Dye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our fathers +before us?--All evil comes out o thereaway--its an auld saying and a +true; and well een away there, as if the devil was blawing us south. + +Well follow the track o Earnscliffs horses ower the waste, cried +one Elliot. + +Ill prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border, an there +had been a fair held there the day before, said Hugh, the blacksmith of +Ringleburn, for I aye shoe his horse wi my ain hand. + +Lay on the deer-hounds, cried another where are they? + +Hout, man, the suns been lang up, and the dew is aff the grund--the +scent will never lie. + +Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds, which were roving about the +ruins of their old habitation, and filling the air with their doleful +howls. + +Now, Killbuck, said Hobbie, try thy skill this day, and then, as if a +light had suddenly broke on him,--that ill-faurd goblin spak something +o this! He may ken mair ot, either by villains on earth, or devils +below--Ill hae it frae him, if I should cut it out o his mis-shapen +bouk wi my whinger. He then hastily gave directions to his comrades: +Four o ye, wi Simon, haud right forward to Graemes-gap. If theyre +English, theyll be for being back that way. The rest disperse +by twasome and threesome through the waste, and meet me at the +Trysting-pool. Tell my brothers, when they come up, to follow and meet +us there. Poor lads, they will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; +little think they what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venison +to! Ill ride ower Mucklestane-Moor mysell. + +And if I were you, said Dick of the Dingle, I would speak to Canny +Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, if hes sae +minded. + +He SHALL tell me, said Hobbie, who was busy putting his arms in order, +what he kens o this nights job, or I shall right weel ken wherefore +he does not. + +Ay, but speak him fair, my bonny man--speak him fair Hobbie; the +like o him will no bear thrawing. They converse sae muckle wi thae +fractious ghaists and evil spirits, that it clean spoils their temper. + +Let me alane to guide him, answered Hobbie; theres that in my breast +this day, that would ower-maister a the warlocks on earth, and a the +devils in hell. + +And being now fully equipped, he threw himself on his horse, and spurred +him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent. + +Elliot speedily surmounted the hill, rode down the other side at the +same rate, crossed a wood, and traversed a long glen, ere he at length +regained Mucklestane-Moor. As he was obliged, in the course of his +journey, to relax his speed in consideration of the labour which his +horse might still have to undergo, he had time to consider maturely in +what manner he should address the Dwarf, in order to extract from him +the knowledge which he supposed him to be in possession of concerning +the authors of his misfortunes. Hobbie, though blunt, plain of speech, +and hot of disposition, like most of his countrymen, was by no means +deficient in the shrewdness which is also their characteristic. He +reflected, that from what he had observed on the memorable night when +the Dwarf was first seen, and from the conduct of that mysterious being +ever since, he was likely to be rendered even more obstinate in his +sullenness by threats and violence. + +Ill speak him fair, he said, as auld Dickon advised me. Though folk +say he has a league wi Satan, he canna be sic an incarnate devil as no +to take some pity in a case like mine; and folk threep hell whiles do +good, charitable sort o things. Ill keep my heart doun as weel as I +can, and stroke him wi the hair; and if the warst come to the warst, +its but wringing the head o him about at last. + +In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the +Solitary. + +The old man was not upon his seat of audience, nor could Hobbie perceive +him in his garden, or enclosures. + +Hes gotten into his very keep, said Hobbie, maybe to be out o +the gate; but Ise pu it doun about his lugs, if I canna win at him +otherwise. + +Having thus communed with himself, he raised his voice, and invoked +Elshie in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting feelings would +permit. Elshie, my gude friend! No reply. Elshie, canny Father +Elshie! The Dwarf remained mute. Sorrow be in the crooked carcass of +thee! said the Borderer between his teeth; and then again attempting a +soothing tone,--Good Father Elshie, a most miserable creature desires +some counsel of your wisdom. + +The better! answered the shrill and discordant voice of the Dwarf +through a very small window, resembling an arrow slit, which he had +constructed near the door of his dwelling, and through which he could +see any one who approached it, without the possibility of their looking +in upon him. + +The better! said Hobbie impatiently; what is the better, Elshie? Do +you not hear me tell you I am the most miserable wretch living? + +And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better! and did I +not tell you this morning, when you thought yourself so happy, what an +evening was coming upon you? + +That ye did een, replied Hobbie, and that gars me come to you for +advice now; they that foresaw the trouble maun ken the cure. + +I know no cure for earthly trouble, returned the Dwarf or, if I +did, why should I help others, when none hath aided me? Have I not lost +wealth, that would have bought all thy barren hills a hundred times +over? rank, to which thine is as that of a peasant? society, where +there was an interchange of all that was amiable--of all that was +intellectual? Have I not lost all this? Am I not residing here, the +veriest outcast on the face of Nature, in the most hideous and most +solitary of her retreats, myself more hideous than all that is around +me? And why should other worms complain to me when they are trodden on, +since I am myself lying crushed and writhing under the chariot-wheel? + +Ye may have lost all this, answered Hobbie, in the bitterness of +emotion; land and friends, goods and gear; ye may hae lost them +a,--but ye neer can hae sae sair a heart as mine, for ye neer lost +nae Grace Armstrong. And now my last hopes are gane, and I shall neer +see her mair. + +This he said in the tone of deepest emotion--and there followed a long +pause, for the mention of his brides name had overcome the more angry +and irritable feelings of poor Hobbie. Ere he had again addressed the +Solitary, the bony hand and long fingers of the latter, holding a large +leathern bag, was thrust forth at the small window, and as it unclutched +the burden, and let it drop with a clang upon the ground, his harsh +voice again addressed Elliot. + +There--there lies a salve for every human ill; so, at least, each human +wretch readily thinks.--Begone; return twice as wealthy as thou wert +before yesterday, and torment me no more with questions, complaints, or +thanks; they are alike odious to me. + +It is a gowd, by Heaven! said Elliot, having glanced at the contents; +and then again addressing the Hermit, Muckle obliged for your goodwill; +and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o the siller, or a wadset +ower the lands o Wideopen. But I dinna ken, Elshie; to be free wi you, +I dinna like to use siller unless I kend it was decently come by; and +maybe it might turn into sclate-stanes, and cheat some poor man. + +Ignorant idiot! retorted the Dwarf; the trash is as genuine poison as +ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth. Take it--use it, and may it +thrive with you as it hath done with me! + +But I tell you, said Elliot, it wasna about the gear that I was +consulting you,--it was a braw barn-yard, doubtless, and thirty head of +finer cattle there werena on this side of the Catrail; but let the +gear gang,--if ye could but gie me speerings o puir Grace, I would +be content to be your slave for life, in onything that didna touch my +salvation. O, Elshie, speak, man, speak! + +Well, then, answered the Dwarf, as if worn out by his importunity, +since thou hast not enough of woes of thine own, but must needs seek to +burden thyself with those of a partner, seek her whom thou hast lost in +the WEST. + +In the WEST? Thats a wide word. + +It is the last, said the Dwarf, which I design to utter; and he drew +the shutters of his window, leaving Hobbie to make the most of the hint +he had given. + +The west! the west!--thought Elliot; the country is pretty quiet down +that way, unless it were Jock o the Todholes; and hes ower auld now +for the like o thae jobs.--West!--By My life, it must be Westburnflat. +Elshie, just tell me one word. Am I right? Is it Westburnflat? If I +am wrang, say sae. I wadna like to wyte an innocent neighbour wi +violence--No answer?--It must be the Red Reiver--I didna think he wad +hae ventured on me, neither, and sae mony kin as theres o us--I +am thinking hell hae some better backing than his Cumberland +friends.--Fareweel to you, Elshie, and mony thanks--I downa be fashed +wi the siller een now, for I maun awa to meet my friends at the +Trysting-place--Sae, if ye carena to open the window, ye can fetch it in +after Im awa. + +Still there was no reply. + +Hes deaf, or hes daft, or hes baith; but I hae nae time to stay to +claver wi him. + +And off rode Hobbie Elliot towards the place of rendezvous which he had +named to his friends. + +Four or five riders were already gathered at the Trysting pool. They +stood in close consultation together, while their horses were permitted +to graze among the poplars which overhung the broad still pool. A more +numerous party were seen coming from the southward. It proved to be +Earnscliff and his party, who had followed the track of the cattle as +far as the English border, but had halted on the information that +a considerable force was drawn together under some of the Jacobite +gentlemen in that district, and there were tidings of insurrection in +different parts of Scotland. This took away from the act which had been +perpetrated the appearance of private animosity, or love of plunder; and +Earnscliff was now disposed to regard it as a symptom of civil war. +The young gentleman greeted Hobbie with the most sincere sympathy, and +informed him of the news he had received. + +Then, may I never stir frae the bit, said Elliot, if auld Ellieslaw +is not at the bottom o the haill villainy! Ye see hes leagued wi the +Cumberland Catholics; and that agrees weel wi what Elshie hinted about +Westburnflat, for Ellieslaw aye protected him, and he will want to harry +and disarm the country about his ain hand before he breaks out. + +Some now remembered that the party of ruffians had been heard to say +they were acting for James VIII., and were charged to disarm all rebels. +Others had heard Westburnflat boast, in drinking parties, that Ellieslaw +would soon be in arms for the Jacobite cause, and that he himself was +to hold a command under him, and that they would be bad neighbours for +young Earnscliff; and all that stood out for the established government. +The result was a strong belief that Westburnflat had headed the party +under Ellieslaws orders; and they resolved to proceed instantly to the +house of the former, and, if possible, to secure his person. They were +by this time joined by so many of their dispersed friends, that their +number amounted to upwards of twenty horsemen, well mounted, and +tolerably, though variously, armed. + +A brook, which issued from a narrow glen among the hills, entered, at +Westburnflat, upon the open marshy level, which, expanding about half +a mile in every direction, gives name to the spot. In this place the +character of the stream becomes changed, and, from being a lively +brisk-running mountain-torrent, it stagnates, like a blue swollen snake, +in dull deep windings, through the swampy level. On the side of the +stream, and nearly about the centre of the plain, arose the tower of +Westburnflat, one of the few remaining strongholds formerly so numerous +upon the Borders. The ground upon which it stood was gently elevated +above the marsh for the space of about a hundred yards, affording +an esplanade of dry turf, which extended itself in the immediate +neighbourhood of the tower; but, beyond which, the surface presented to +strangers was that of an impassable and dangerous bog. The owner of the +tower and his inmates alone knew the winding and intricate paths, which, +leading over ground that was comparatively sound, admitted visitors +to his residence. But among the party which were assembled under +Earnscliffs directions, there was more than one person qualified to act +as a guide. For although the owners character and habits of life were +generally known, yet the laxity of feeling with respect to property +prevented his being looked on with the abhorrence with which he must +have been regarded in a more civilized country. He was considered, among +his more peaceable neighbours, pretty much as a gambler, cock-fighter, +or horse-jockey would be regarded at the present day; a person, of +course, whose habits were to be condemned, and his society, in general, +avoided, yet who could not be considered as marked with the indelible +infamy attached to his profession, where laws have been habitually +observed. And their indignation was awakened against him upon +this occasion, not so much on account of the general nature of the +transaction, which was just such as was to be expected from this +marauder, as that the violence had been perpetrated upon a neighbour +against whom he had no cause of quarrel,--against a friend of their +own,--above all, against one of the name of Elliot, to which clan most +of them belonged. It was not, therefore, wonderful, that there should +be several in the band pretty well acquainted with the locality of his +habitation, and capable of giving such directions and guidance as soon +placed the whole party on the open space of firm ground in front of the +Tower of Westburnflat. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + So spak the knicht; the geaunt sed, + Lend forth with the the sely maid, + And mak me quile of the and sche; + For glaunsing ee, or brow so brent, + Or cheek with rose and lilye blent, + Me lists not ficht with the.--ROMANCE OF THE FALCON. + +The tower, before which the party now stood, was a small square +building, of the most gloomy aspect. The walls were of great thickness, +and the windows, or slits which served the purpose of windows, seemed +rather calculated to afford the defenders the means of employing missile +weapons, than for admitting air or light to the apartments within. A +small battlement projected over the walls on every side, and afforded +farther advantage of defence by its niched parapet, within which arose +a steep roof, flagged with grey stones. A single turret at one angle, +defended by a door studded with huge iron nails, rose above the +battlement, and gave access to the roof from within, by the spiral +staircase which it enclosed. It seemed to the party that their motions +were watched by some one concealed within this turret; and they were +confirmed in their belief when, through a narrow loophole, a female hand +was seen to wave a handkerchief, as if by way of signal to them. Hobbie +was almost out of his senses with joy and eagerness. + +It was Graces hand and arm, he said; I can swear to it amang a +thousand. There is not the like of it on this side of the Lowdens--Well +have her out, lads, if we should carry off the Tower of Westburnflat +stane by stane. + +Earnscliff, though he doubted the possibility of recognising a fair +maidens hand at such a distance from the eye of the lover, would say +nothing to damp his friends animated hopes, and it was resolved to +summon the garrison. + +The shouts of the party, and the winding of one or two horns, at length +brought to a loophole, which flanked the entrance, the haggard face of +an old woman. + +Thats the Reivers mother, said one of the Elliots; shes ten times +waur than himsell, and is wyted for muckle of the ill he does about the +country. + +Wha are ye? what dye want here? were the queries of the respectable +progenitor. + +We are seeking William Graeme of Westburnflat, said Earnscliff. + +Hes no at hame, returned the old dame. + +When did he leave home? pursued Earnscliff. + +I canna tell, said the portress. + +When will he return? said Hobbie Elliot. + +I dinna ken naething about it, replied the inexorable guardian of the +keep. + +Is there anybody within the tower with you? again demanded Earnscliff. + +Naebody but mysell and baudrons, said the old woman. + +Then open the gate and admit us, said Earnscliff; I am a justice of +peace, and in search of the evidence of a felony. + +Deil be in their fingers that draws a bolt for ye, retorted the +portress; for mine shall never do it. Thinkna ye shame o yoursells, +to come here siccan a band o ye, wi your swords, and spears, and +steel-caps, to frighten a lone widow woman? + +Our information, said Earnscliff; is positive; we are seeking goods +which have been forcibly carried off, to a great amount. + +And a young woman, thats been cruelly made prisoner, thats worth mair +than a the gear, twice told, said Hobbie. + +And I warn you. continued Earnscliff, that your only way to prove +your sons innocence is to give us quiet admittance to search the +house. + +And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys, or draw the bolts, +or open the grate to sic a clamjamfrie? said the old dame, scoffingly. + +Force our way with the kings keys, and break the neck of every living +soul we find in the house, if ye dinna gie it ower forthwith! menaced +the incensed Hobbie. + +Threatened folks live lang, said the hag, in the same tone of irony; +theres the iron grate--try your skeel ont, lads--it has kept out as +gude men as you or now. + +So saying, she laughed, and withdrew from the aperture through which she +had held the parley. + +The besiegers now opened a serious consultation. The immense thickness +of the walls, and the small size of the windows, might, for a time, have +even resisted cannon-shot. The entrance was secured, first, by a strong +grated door, composed entirely of hammered iron, of such ponderous +strength as seemed calculated to resist any force that could be brought +against it. Pinches or forehammers will never pick upont, said +Hugh, the blacksmith of Ringleburn; ye might as weel batter at it wi +pipe-staples. + +Within the doorway, and at the distance of nine feet, which was the +solid thickness of the wall, there was a second door of oak, crossed, +both breadth and lengthways, with clenched bars of iron, and studded +full of broad-headed nails. Besides all these defences, they were by no +means confident in the truth of the old dames assertion, that she +alone composed the garrison. The more knowing of the party had observed +hoof-marks in the track by which they approached the tower, which +seemed to indicate that several persons had very lately passed in that +direction. + +To all these difficulties was added their want of means for attacking +the place. There was no hope of procuring ladders long enough to reach +the battlements, and the windows, besides being very narrow, were +secured with iron bars. Scaling was therefore out of the question; +mining was still more so, for want of tools and gunpowder; neither +were the besiegers provided with food, means of shelter, or other +conveniences, which might have enabled them to convert the siege into a +blockade; and there would, at any rate, have been a risk of relief from +some of the marauders comrades. Hobbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, +as, walking round the fastness, he could devise no means of making a +forcible entry. At length he suddenly exclaimed, And what for no do as +our fathers did lang syne?--Put hand to the wark, lads. Let us cut up +bushes and briers, pile them before the door and set fire to them, and +smoke that auld devils dam as if she were to be reested for bacon. + +All immediately closed with this proposal, and some went to work with +swords and knives to cut down the alder and hawthorn bushes which grew +by the side of the sluggish stream, many of which were sufficiently +decayed and dried for their purpose, while others began to collect +them in a large stack, properly disposed for burning, as close to the +iron-grate as they could be piled. Fire was speedily obtained from +one of their guns, and Hobbie was already advancing to the pile with a +kindled brand, when the surly face of the robber, and the muzzle of +a musquetoon, were partially shown at a shot-hole which flanked the +entrance. Mony thanks to ye, he said, scoffingly, for collecting sae +muckle winter eilding for us; but if ye step a foot nearer it wi that +lunt, its be the dearest step ye ever made in your days. + +Well sune see that, said Hobbie, advancing fearlessly with the torch. + +The marauder snapped his piece at him, which, fortunately for our honest +friend, did not go off; while Earnscliff, firing at the same moment +at the narrow aperture and slight mark afforded by the robbers face, +grazed the side of his head with a bullet. He had apparently calculated +upon his post affording him more security, for he no sooner felt +the wound, though a very slight one, than he requested a parley, +and demanded to know what they meant by attacking in this fashion a +peaceable and honest man, and shedding his blood in that lawless manner? + +We want your prisoner, said Earnscliff, to be delivered up to us in +safety. + +And what concern have you with her? replied the marauder. + +That, retorted Earnscliff, you, who are detaining her by force, have +no right to enquire. + +Aweel, I think I can gie a guess, said the robber. Weel, sirs, I am +laith to enter into deadly feud with you by spilling ony of your bluid, +though Earnscliff hasna stopped to shed mine--and he can hit a mark to a +groats breadth--so, to prevent mair skaith, I am willing to deliver up +the prisoner, since nae less will please you. + +And Hobbies gear? cried Simon of Hackburn. Dye think youre to be +free to plunder the faulds and byres of a gentle Elliot, as if they were +an auld wifes hens-cavey? + +As I live by bread, replied Willie of Westburnflat As I live by +bread, I have not a single cloot o them! Theyre a ower the march lang +syne; theres no a horn o them about the tower. But Ill see what o +them can be gotten back, and Ill take this day twa days to meet Hobbie +at the Castleton wi twa friends on ilka side, and see to make an +agreement about a the wrang he can wyte me wi. + +Ay, ay, said Elliot, that will do weel eneugh.--And then aside to +his kinsman, Murrain on the gear! Lordsake, man! say nought about them. +Let us but get puir Grace out o that auld hellicats clutches. + +Will ye gie me your word, Earnscliff, said the marauder, who still +lingered at the shot-hole, your faith and troth, with hand and glove, +that I am free to come and free to gae, with five minutes to open the +grate, and five minutes to steek it and to draw the bolts? less winna +do, for they want creishing sairly. Will ye do this? + +You shall have full time, said Earnscliff; I plight my faith and +troth, my hand and my glove. + +Wait there a moment, then, said Westburnflat; or hear ye, I wad +rather ye wad fa back a pistol-shot from the door. Its no that I +mistrust your word, Earnscliff; but its best to be sure. + +O, friend, thought Hobbie to himself, as he drew back, an I had you but +on Turners-holm, [There is a level meadow, on the very margin of the +two kingdoms, called Turners-holm, just where the brook called Crissop +joins the Liddel. It is said to have derived its name as being a place +frequently assigned for tourneys, during the ancient Border times.] and +naebody by but twa honest lads to see fair play, I wad make ye wish ye +had broken your leg ere ye had touched beast or body that belanged to +me! + +He has a white feather in his wing this same Westburnflat, after +a, said Simon of Hackburn, somewhat scandalized by his ready +surrender.--Hell neer fill his fathers boots. + +In the meanwhile, the inner door of the tower was opened, and the mother +of the freebooter appeared in the space betwixt that and the outer +grate. Willie himself was next seen, leading forth a female, and the old +woman, carefully bolting the grate behind them, remained on the post as +a sort of sentinel. + +Ony ane or twa o ye come forward, said the outlaw, and take her frae +my hand haill and sound. + +Hobbie advanced eagerly, to meet his betrothed bride. Earnscliff +followed more slowly, to guard against treachery. Suddenly Hobbie +slackened his pace in the deepest mortification, while that of +Earnscliff was hastened by impatient surprise. It was not Grace +Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, whose liberation had been effected by +their appearance before the tower. + +Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong? exclaimed Hobbie, in the +extremity of wrath and indignation. + +Not in my hands, answered Westburnflat; ye may search the tower, if +ye misdoubt me. + +You false villain, you shall account for her, or die on the spot, said +Elliot, presenting his gun. + +But his companions, who now came up, instantly disarmed him of his +weapon, exclaiming, all at once, Hand and glove! faith and troth! Haud +a care, Hobbie we maun keep our faith wi Westburnflat, were he the +greatest rogue ever rode. + +Thus protected, the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been +somewhat daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot. + +I have kept my word, sirs, he said, and I look to have nae wrang +amang ye. If this is no the prisoner ye sought, he said, addressing +Earnscliff, yell render her back to me again. I am answerable for her +to those that aught her. + +For Gods sake, Mr. Earnscliff, protect me! said Miss Vere, clinging +to her deliverer; do not you abandon one whom the whole world seems to +have abandoned. + +Fear nothing, whispered Earnscliff, I will protect you with my life. + Then turning to Westburnflat, Villain! he said, how dared you to +insult this lady? + +For that matter, Earnscliff, answered the freebooter, I can answer to +them that has better right to ask me than you have; but if you come with +an armed force, and take her awa from them that her friends lodged her +wi, how will you answer THAT--But its your ain affair--Nae single man +can keep a tower against twenty--A the men o the Mearns downa do mair +than they dow. + +He lies most falsely, said Isabella; he carried me off by violence +from my father. + +Maybe he only wanted ye to think sae, hinny, replied the robber; but +its nae business o mine, let it be as it may.--So ye winna resign her +back to me? + +Back to you, fellow? Surely no, answered Earnscliff; I will +protect Miss Vere, and escort her safely wherever she is pleased to be +conveyed. + +Ay, ay, maybe you and her hae settled that already, said Willie of +Westburnflat. + +And Grace? interrupted Hobbie, shaking himself loose from the friends +who had been preaching to him the sanctity of the safe-conduct, upon +the faith of which the freebooter had ventured from his tower,--Wheres +Grace? and he rushed on the marauder, sword in hand. + +Westburnflat, thus pressed, after calling out, Godsake, Hobbie, hear +me a gliff! fairly turned his back and fled. His mother stood ready +to open and shut the grate; but Hobbie struck at the freebooter as he +entered with so much force, that the sword made a considerable cleft in +the lintel of the vaulted door, which is still shown as a memorial of +the superior strength of those who lived in the days of yore. Ere +Hobbie could repeat the blow, the door was shut and secured, and he was +compelled to retreat to his companions, who were now preparing to break +up the siege of Westburnflat. They insisted upon his accompanying them +in their return. + +Ye hae broken truce already, said old Dick of the Dingle; an we +takena the better care, yell play mair gowks tricks, and make yoursell +the laughing-stock of the haill country, besides having your friends +charged with slaughter under trust. Bide till the meeting at Castleton, +as ye hae greed; and if he disna make ye amends, then well hae it out +o his hearts blood. But let us gang reasonably to wark and keep our +tryst, and Ise warrant we get back Grace, and the kye an a. + +This cold-blooded reasoning went ill down with the unfortunate lover; +but, as he could only obtain the assistance of his neighbours and +kinsmen on their own terms, he was compelled to acquiesce in their +notions of good faith and regular procedure. + +Earnscliff now requested the assistance of a few of the party to +convey Miss Vere to her fathers castle of Ellieslaw, to which she was +peremptory in desiring to be conducted. This was readily granted; and +five or six young men agreed to attend him as an escort. Hobbie was not +of the number. Almost heart-broken by the events of the day, and his +final disappointment, he returned moodily home to take such measures as +he could for the sustenance and protection of his family, and to arrange +with his neighbours the farther steps which should be adopted for +the recovery of Grace Armstrong. The rest of the party dispersed in +different directions, as soon as they had crossed the morass. The +outlaw and his mother watched them from the tower, until they entirely +disappeared. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + I left my ladyes bower last night-- + It was clad in wreaths of snaw,-- + Ill seek it when the sun is bright, + And sweet the roses blaw.--OLD BALLAD. + +Incensed at what he deemed the coldness of his friends, in a cause +which interested him so nearly, Hobbie had shaken himself free of their +company, and was now on his solitary road homeward. The fiend founder +thee! said he, as he spurred impatiently his over-fatigued and +stumbling horse; thou art like a the rest o them. Hae I not bred +thee, and fed thee, and dressed thee wi mine ain hand, and wouldst thou +snapper now and break my neck at my utmost need? But thourt een like +the lave--the farthest off o them a is my cousin ten times removed, +and day or night I wad hae served them wi my best blood; and now, I +think they show mair regard to the common thief of Westburnflat than to +their ain kinsman. But I should see the lights now in Heugh-foot--Waes +me! he continued, recollecting himself, there will neither coal nor +candle-light shine in the Heugh-foot ony mair! An it werena for my +mother and sisters, and poor Grace, I could find in my heart to put +spurs to the beast, and loup ower the scaur into the water to make an +end ot a.--In this disconsolate mood he turned his horses bridle +towards the cottage in which his family had found refuge. + +As he approached the door, he heard whispering and tittering amongst +his sisters. The deevils in the women, said poor Hobbie; they +would nicker, and laugh, and giggle, if their best friend was lying a +corp--and yet I am glad they can keep up their hearts sae weel, poor +silly things; but the dirdum fas on me, to be sure, and no on them. + +While he thus meditated, he was engaged in fastening up his horse in +a shed. Thou maun do without horse-sheet and surcingle now, lad, he +said, addressing the animal; you and me hae had a downcome alike; we +had better hae faen i, the deepest pool o Tarras. + +He was interrupted by the youngest of his sisters, who came running +out, and, speaking in a constrained voice, as if to stifle some emotion, +called out to him, What are ye doing there, Hobbie, fiddling about the +naig, and theres ane frae Cumberland been waiting here for ye this hour +and mair? Haste ye in, man; Ill take off the saddle. + +Ane frae Cumberland! exclaimed Elliot; and putting the bridle of his +horse into the hand of his sister, he rushed into the cottage. Where is +he? where is he! he exclaimed, glancing eagerly around, and seeing only +females; Did he bring news of Grace? + +He doughtna bide an instant langer, said the elder sister, still with +a suppressed laugh. + +Hout fie, bairns! said the old lady, with something of a good-humoured +reproof, ye shouldna vex your billy Hobbie that way.--Look round, my +bairn, and see if there isna ane here mair than ye left this morning. + +Hobbie looked eagerly round. Theres you, and the three titties. + +Theres four of us now, Hobbie, lad, said the youngest, who at this +moment entered. + +In an instant Hobbie had in his arms Grace Armstrong, who, with one +of his sisters plaids around her, had passed unnoticed at his first +entrance. How dared you do this? said Hobbie. + +It wasna my fault, said Grace, endeavouring to cover her face with her +hands to hide at once her blushes, and escape the storm of hearty kisses +with which her bridegroom punished her simple stratagem,--It wasna my +fault, Hobbie; ye should kiss Jeanie and the rest o them, for they hae +the wyte ot. + +And so I will, said Hobbie, and embraced and kissed his sisters +and grandmother a hundred times, while the whole party half-laughed, +half-cried, in the extremity of their joy. I am the happiest man, said +Hobbie, throwing himself down on a seat, almost exhausted,--I am the +happiest man in the world! + +Then, O my dear bairn, said the good old dame, who lost no opportunity +of teaching her lesson of religion at those moments when the heart +was best open to receive it,--Then, O my son, give praise to Him that +brings smiles out o tears and joy out o grief, as He brought light out +o darkness and the world out o naething. Was it not my word, that if +ye could say His will be done, ye might hae cause to say His name be +praised? + +It was--it was your word, grannie; and I do praise Him for His mercy, +and for leaving me a good parent when my ain were gane, said honest +Hobbie, taking her hand, that puts me in mind to think of Him, baith in +happiness and distress. + +There was a solemn pause of one or two minutes employed in the exercise +of mental devotion, which expressed, in purity and sincerity, the +gratitude of the affectionate family to that Providence who had +unexpectedly restored to their embraces the friend whom they had lost. + +Hobbies first enquiries were concerning the adventures which Grace +had undergone. They were told at length, but amounted in substance +to this:--That she was awaked by the noise which the ruffians made in +breaking into the house, and by the resistance made by one or two of the +servants, which was soon overpowered; that, dressing herself hastily, +she ran downstairs, and having seen, in the scuffle, Westburnflats +vizard drop off, imprudently named him by his name, and besought him for +mercy; that the ruffian instantly stopped her mouth, dragged her from +the house, and placed her on horseback, behind one of his associates. + +Ill break the accursed neck of him, said Hobbie, if there werena +another Graeme in the land but himsell! + +She proceeded to say, that she was carried southward along with the +party, and the spoil which they drove before them, until they had +crossed the Border. Suddenly a person, known to her as a kinsman of +Westburnflat, came riding very fast after the marauders, and told their +leader, that his cousin had learnt from a sure hand that no luck would +come of it, unless the lass was restored to her friends. After some +discussion, the chief of the party seemed to acquiesce. Grace was placed +behind her new guardian, who pursued in silence, and with great speed, +the least-frequented path to the Heugh-foot, and ere evening closed, set +down the fatigued and terrified damsel within a quarter of a mile of the +dwelling of her friends. Many and sincere were the congratulations which +passed on all sides. + +As these emotions subsided, less pleasing considerations began to +intrude themselves. + +This is a miserable place for ye a, said Hobbie, looking around him; +I can sleep weel eneugh mysell outby beside the naig, as I hae done +mony a lang night on the hills; but how ye are to put yoursells up, I +canna see! And whats waur, I canna mend it; and whats waur than a, +the morn may come, and the day after that, without your being a bit +better off. + +It was a cowardly cruel thing, said one of the sisters, looking round, +to harry a puir family to the bare was this gate. + +And leave us neither stirk nor stot, said the youngest brother, who +now entered, nor sheep nor lamb, nor aught that eats grass and corn. + +If they had ony quarrel wi us, said Harry, the second brother, were +we na ready to have fought it out? And that we should have been a frae +hame, too,--ane and a upon the hill--Odd, an we had been at hame, Will +Graemes stamach shouldna hae wanted its morning; but its biding him, +is it na, Hobbie? + +Our neighbours hae taen a day at the Castleton to gree wi him at the +sight o men, said Hobbie, mournfully; they behoved to have it a +their ain gate, or there was nae help to be got at their hands. + +To gree wi him! exclaimed both his brothers at once, after siccan an +act of stouthrife as hasna been heard o in the country since the auld +riding days! + +Very true, billies, and my blood was een boiling at it; but the sight +o Grace Armstrong has settled it brawly. + +But the stocking, Hobbie said John Elliot; were utterly ruined. +Harry and I hae been to gather what was on the outby land, and theres +scarce a cloot left. I kenna how were to carry on--We maun a gang +to the wars, I think. Westburnflat hasna the means, een if he had the +will, to make up our loss; theres nae mends to be got out o him, but +what ye take out o his banes. He hasna a four-footed creature but the +vicious blood thing he rides on, and thats sair trashd wi his night +wark. We are ruined stoop and roop. + +Hobbie cast a mournful glance on Grace Armstrong, who returned it with a +downcast look and a gentle sigh. + +Dinna be cast down, bairns, said the grandmother, we hae gude friends +that winna forsake us in adversity. Theres Sir Thomas Kittleloof is my +third cousin by the mothers side, and he has come by a hantle siller, +and been made a knight-baronet into the bargain, for being ane o the +commissioners at the Union. + +He wadna gie a bodle to save us frae famishing, said Hobbie; and, if +he did, the bread that I bought wit would stick in my throat, when +I thought it was part of the price of puir auld Scotlands crown and +independence. + +Theres the Laird o Dunder, ane o the auldest families in +Tiviotdale. + +Hes in the tolbooth, mother--hes in the Heart of Mid-Louden for a +thousand merk he borrowed from Saunders Wyliecoat the writer. + +Poor man! exclaimed Mrs. Elliot, can we no send him something, +Hobbie? + +Ye forget, grannie, ye forget we want help oursells, said Hobbie, +somewhat peevishly. + +Troth did I, hinny, replied the good-natured lady, just at the +instant; its sae natural to think on anes blude relations before +themsells;--But theres young Earnscliff. + +He has ower little o his ain; and siccan a name to keep up, it wad be +a shame, said Hobbie, to burden him wi our distress. And Ill tell +ye, grannie, its needless to sit rhyming ower the style of a your +kith, kin, and allies, as if there was a charm in their braw names to do +us good; the grandees hae forgotten us, and those of our ain degree hae +just little eneugh to gang on wi themsells; neer a friend hae we that +can, or will, help us to stock the farm again. + +Then, Hobbie, me maun trust in Him that can raise up friends and +fortune out o the bare moor, as they say. + +Hobbie sprung upon his feet. Ye are right, grannie! he exclaimed; ye +are right. I do ken a friend on the bare moor, that baith can and will +help us--The turns o this day hae dung my head clean hirdie-girdie. +I left as muckle gowd lying on Mucklestane-Moor this morning as would +plenish the house and stock the Heugh-foot twice ower, and I am certain +sure Elshie wadna grudge us the use of it. + +Elshie! said his grandmother in astonishment; what Elshie do you +mean? + +What Elshie should I mean, but Canny Elshie, the Wight o Mucklestane, + replied Hobbie. + +God forfend, my bairn, you should gang to fetch water out o broken +cisterns, or seek for relief frae them that deal wi the Evil One! There +was never luck in their gifts, nor grace in their paths. And the haill +country kens that body Elshies an unco man. O, if there was the law, +and the douce quiet administration of justice, that makes a kingdom +flourish in righteousness, the like o them suldna be suffered to live! +The wizard and the witch are the abomination and the evil thing in the +land. + +Troth, mother, answered Hobbie, ye may say what ye like, but I am in +the mind that witches and warlocks havena half the power they had lang +syne; at least, sure am I, that ae ill-deviser, like auld Ellieslaw, or +ae ill-doer, like that d--d villain Westburnflat, is a greater plague +and abomination in a country-side than a haill curnie o the warst +witches that ever capered on a broomstick, or played cantrips on +Fasterns Een. It wad hae been lang or Elshie had burnt down my house +and barns, and I am determined to try if he will do aught to build them +up again. Hes weel kend a skilfu man ower a the country, as far as +Brough under Stanmore. + +Bide a wee, my bairn; mind his benefits havena thriven wi abody. Jock +Howden died o the very same disorder Elshie pretended to cure him of, +about the fa o the leaf; and though he helped Lambsides cow weel out +o the moor-ill, yet the louping-ills been sairer amane; his sheep than +ony season before. And then I have heard he uses sic words abusing human +nature, thats like a fleeing in the face of Providence; and ye mind ye +said yoursell, the first time ye ever saw him, that he was mair like a +bogle than a living thing. + +Hout, mother, said Hobbie, Elshies no that bad a chield; hes a +grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a rough +talker, but his bark is waur than his bite; sae, if I had anes something +to eat, for I havena had a morsel ower my throat this day, I wad streek +mysell down for twa or three hours aside the beast, and be on and awa +to Mucklestane wi the first skreigh o morning. + +And what for no the night, Hobbie, said Harry, and I will ride wi +ye? + +My naig is tired, said Hobbie. + +Ye may take mine, then, said John. + +But I am a wee thing wearied mysell. + +You wearied? said Harry; shame on ye! I have kend ye keep the saddle +four-and-twenty hours thegither, and neer sic a word as weariness in +your wame. + +The nights very dark, said Hobbie, rising and looking through the +casement of the cottage; and, to speak truth, and shame the deil, +though Elshies a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would rather take +daylight wi me when I gang to visit him. + +This frank avowal put a stop to further argument; and Hobbie, having +thus compromised matters between the rashness of his brothers counsel, +and the timid cautions which he received from his grandmother, refreshed +himself with such food as the cottage afforded; and, after a cordial +salutation all round, retired to the shed, and stretched himself beside +his trusty palfrey. His brothers shared between them some trusses of +clean straw, disposed in the stall usually occupied by old Annaples +cow; and the females arranged themselves for repose as well as the +accommodations of the cottage would permit. + +With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed down +and saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. He avoided the +company of either of his brothers, from an idea that the Dwarf was most +propitious to those who visited him alone. + +The creature, said he to himself, as he went along, is no +neighbourly; ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can abide. +I wonder if hes looked out o the crib o him to gather up the bag +o siller. If he hasna done that, it will hae been a braw windfa for +somebody, and Ill be finely flung.--Come, Tarras, said he to his +horse, striking him at the same time with his spur, make mair fit, man; +we maun be first on the field if we can. + +He was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the beams of +the rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was descending presented +him a distinct, though distant view, of the Dwarfs dwelling. The door +opened, and Hobbie witnessed with his own eyes that phenomenon which he +had frequently heard mentioned. Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf +could be termed such) issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and +stood as if in converse together in the open air. The taller form then +stooped, as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the +hut, then both moved forward a little way, and again halted, as in deep +conference. All Hobbies superstitious terrors revived on witnessing +thisspectacle. That the Dwarf would open his dwelling to a mortal +guest, was as improbable as that any one would choose voluntarily to +be his nocturnal visitor; and, under full conviction that he beheld a +wizard holding intercourse with his familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at +once his breath and his bridle, resolved not to incur the indignation +of either by a hasty intrusion on their conference. They were probably +aware of his approach, for he had not halted for a moment before the +Dwarf returned to his cottage; and the taller figure who had accompanied +him, glided round the enclosure of the garden, and seemed to disappear +from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie. + +Saw ever mortal the like o that! said Elliot; but my case is +desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, Ise venture down the brae +on him. + +Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace, when, +nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall figure, +he discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a small black +rough-looking object, like a terrier dog. + +He has nae dog that ever I heard of, said Hobbie, but mony a deil +about his hand--lord forgie me for saying sic a word!--It keeps its +grund, be what it like--Im judging its a badger; but whae kens what +shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it will maybe start up +like a lion or a crocodile when I come nearer. Ise een drive a stage +at it, for if it change its shape when Im ower near, Tarras will never +stand it; and it will be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight +wi baith at ance. + +He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which continued +motionless. Its nae living thing, after a, said Hobbie, approaching, +but the very bag o siller he flung out o the window yesterday! and +that other queer lang creature has just brought it sae muckle farther +on the way to me. He then advanced and lifted the heavy fur pouch, +which was quite full of gold. Mercy on us! said Hobbie, whose heart +fluttered between glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects +in life, and suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was +afforded him---Mercy on us! its an awfu thing to touch what has been +sae lately in the claws of something no canny, I canna shake mysell +loose o the belief that there has been some jookery-paukery of Satans +in a this; but I am determined to conduct mysell like an honest man and +a good Christian, come ot what will. + +He advanced accordingly to the cottage door, and having knocked +repeatedly without receiving any answer, he at length elevated his voice +and addressed the inmate of the hut. Elshie! Father Elshie! I ken yere +within doors, and wauking, for I saw ye at the door-cheek as I cam ower +the bent; will ye come out and speak just a gliff to ane that has mony +thanks to gie ye?--It was a true ye telld me about Westburnflat; but +hes sent back Grace safe and skaithless, sae theres nae ill happened +yet but what may be suffered or sustained;--Wad ye but come out a gliff; +man, or but say yere listening?--Aweel, since ye winna answer, Ise +een proceed wi my tale. Ye see I hae been thinking it wad be a sair +thing on twa young folk, like Grace and me, to put aff our marriage for +mony years till I was abroad and came back again wi some gear; and they +say folk maunna take booty in the wars as they did lang syne, and the +queens pay is a sma matter; theres nae gathering gear on that--and +then my grandames auld--and my sisters wad sit peengin at the +ingle-side for want o me to ding them about--and Earnscliff, or the +neighbourhood, or maybe your ainsell, Elshie, might want some good turn +that Hob Elliot could do ye--and its a pity that the auld house o the +Heugh-foot should be wrecked athegither. Sae I was thinking--but 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 wilt--do 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, Ise +make my tale short. Since ye are sae kind as to say ye are content to +lend me 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, Ise be blithe to accept your kindness; and my +mother and me (shes 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 mans 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 Ise write it fair ower, and subscribe it before famous +witnesses. Only, Elshie, I wad wuss ye to pit naething int that may be +prejudicial to my salvation; for Ill hae the minister to read it ower, +and it wad only be exposing yoursell to nae purpose. And now Im ganging +awa, for yell be wearied o my cracks, and I am wearied wi cracking +without an answer--and Ise bring ye a bit o brides-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 een 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 Reiver of Westburnflat. + + + +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 Hobbies 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 fathers 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 Fredericks +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, +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 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 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 mans 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 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 masters 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 daughters disappearance, was, in +Dixons 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 +father--she 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 minutes 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. + +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, +until some months before the commencement of our narrative, when the +public opinion of his embarrassed circumstances was confirmed, by +the residence of Mr. Ratcliffe at Ellieslaw Castle, who, by the tacit +consent, though obviously to the great displeasure, of the lord of the +mansion, seemed, from the moment of his arrival, to assume and exercise +a predominant and unaccountable influence in the management of his +private affairs. + +Mr. Ratcliffe was a grave, steady, reserved man, in an advanced period +of life. To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon business, he +appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms. With others he held +little communication; but in any casual intercourse, or conversation, +displayed the powers of an active and well-informed mind. For some +time before taking up his final residence at the castle, he had been +an occasional visitor there, and was at such times treated by Mr. Vere +(contrary to his general practice towards those who were inferior to +him in rank) with marked attention, and even deference. Yet his arrival +always appeared to be an embarrassment to his host, and his departure a +relief; so that, when he became a constant inmate of the family, it was +impossible not to observe indications of the displeasure with which Mr. +Vere regarded his presence. Indeed, their intercourse formed a singular +mixture of confidence and constraint. Mr. Veres most important affairs +were regulated by Mr. Ratcliffe; and although he was none of those +indulgent men of fortune, who, too indolent to manage their own +business, are glad to devolve it upon another, yet, in many instances, +he was observed to give up his own judgment, and submit to the contrary +opinions which Mr. Ratcliffe did not hesitate distinctly to express. + +Nothing seemed to vex Mr. Vere more than when strangers indicated any +observation of the state of tutelage under which he appeared to labour. +When it was noticed by Sir Frederick, or any of his intimates, he +sometimes repelled their remarks haughtily and indignantly, and +sometimes endeavoured to evade them, by saying, with a forced laugh, +That Ratcliffe knew his own importance, but that he was the most honest +and skilful fellow in the world; and that it would be impossible for him +to manage his English affairs without his advice and assistance. Such +was the person who entered the room at the moment Mr. Vere was summoning +him to his presence, and who now heard with surprise, mingled with +obvious incredulity, the hasty narrative of what had befallen Isabella. + +Her father concluded, addressing Sir Frederick and the other gentlemen, +who stood around in astonishment, And now, my friends, you see the most +unhappy father in Scotland. Lend me your assistance, gentlemen--give me +your advice, Mr. Ratcliffe. I am incapable of acting, or thinking, under +the unexpected violence of such a blow. + +Let us take our horses, call our attendants, and scour the country in +pursuit of the villains, said Sir Frederick. + +Is there no one whom you can suspect, said Ratcliffe, gravely, of +having some motive for this strange crime? These are not the days of +romance, when ladies are carried off merely for their beauty. + +I fear, said Mr. Vere, I can too well account for this strange +incident. Read this letter, which Miss Lucy Ilderton thought fit to +address from my house of Ellieslaw to young Mr. Earnscliff; whom, of all +men, I have a hereditary right to call my enemy. You see she writes +to him as the confidant of a passion which he has the assurance to +entertain for my daughter; tells him she serves his cause with her +friend very ardently, but that he has a friend in the garrison who +serves him yet more effectually. Look particularly at the pencilled +passages, Mr. Ratcliffe, where this meddling girl recommends bold +measures, with an assurance that his suit would be successful anywhere +beyond the bounds of the barony of Ellieslaw. + +And you argue, from this romantic letter of a very romantic young lady, +Mr. Vere, said Ratcliffe, that young Earnscliff has carried off your +daughter, and committed a very great and criminal act of violence, on no +better advice and assurance than that of Miss Lucy Ilderton? + +What else can I think? said Ellieslaw. + +What else CAN you think? said Sir Frederick; or who else could have +any motive for committing such a crime? + +Were that the best mode of fixing the guilt, said Mr. Ratcliffe, +calmly, there might easily be pointed out persons to whom such actions +are more congenial, and who have also sufficient motives of instigation. +Supposing it were judged advisable to remove Miss Vere to some place in +which constraint might be exercised upon her inclinations to a degree +which cannot at present be attempted under the roof of Ellieslaw +Castle--What says Sir Frederick Langley to that supposition? + +I say, returned Sir Frederick, that although Mr. Vere may choose to +endure in Mr. Ratcliffe freedoms totally inconsistent with his situation +in life, I will not permit such license of innuendo, by word or look, to +be extended to me, with impunity. + +And I say, said young Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells, who was also +a guest at the castle, that you are all stark mad to be standing +wrangling here, instead of going in pursuit of the ruffians. + +I have ordered off the domestics already in the track most likely to +overtake them, said Mr. Vere if you will favour me with your company, +we will follow them, and assist in the search. + +The efforts of the party were totally unsuccessful, probably because +Ellieslaw directed the pursuit to proceed in the direction of Earnscliff +Tower, under the supposition that the owner would prove to be the +author of the violence, so that they followed a direction diametrically +opposite to that in which the ruffians had actually proceeded. In the +evening they returned, harassed and out of spirits. But other guests +had, in the meanwhile, arrived at the castle; and, after the recent loss +sustained by the owner had been related, wondered at, and lamented, the +recollection of it was, for the present, drowned in the discussion +of deep political intrigues, of which the crisis and explosion were +momentarily looked for. + +Several of the gentlemen who took part in this divan were Catholics, and +all of them stanch Jacobites, whose hopes were at present at the highest +pitch, as an invasion, in favour of the Pretender, was daily expected +from France, which Scotland, between the defenceless state of its +garrisons and fortified places, and the general disaffection of the +inhabitants, was rather prepared to welcome than to resist. Ratcliffe, +who neither sought to assist at their consultations on this subject, +nor was invited to do so, had, in the meanwhile, retired to his own +apartment. Miss Ilderton was sequestered from society in a sort of +honourable confinement, until, said Mr. Vere, she should be safely +conveyed home to her fathers house, an opportunity for which occurred +on the following day. + +The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the loss of +Miss Vere, and the strange manner in which it had happened, seemed to be +forgotten by the other guests at the castle. They knew not, that those +the most interested in her fate were well acquainted with the cause +of her being carried off, and the place of her retreat; and that the +others, in the anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking +forth of a conspiracy, were little accessible to any feelings but what +arose immediately out of their own machinations. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Some one way, some another--Do you know + Where we may apprehend her? + +The researches after Miss Vere were (for the sake of appearances, +perhaps) resumed on the succeeding day, with similar bad success, and +the party were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening. + +It is singular, said Mareschal to Ratcliffe, that four horsemen and +a female prisoner should have passed through the country without leaving +the slightest trace of their passage. One would think they had traversed +the air, or sunk through the ground. + +Men may often, answered Ratcliffe, arrive at the knowledge of that +which is, from discovering that which is not. We have now scoured every +road, path, and track leading from the castle, in all the various points +of the compass, saving only that intricate and difficult pass which +leads southward down the Westburn, and through the morasses. + +And why have we not examined that? said Mareschal. + +O, Mr. Vere can best answer that question, replied his companion, +dryly. + +Then I will ask it instantly, said Mareschal; and, addressing Mr. +Vere, I am informed, sir, said he, there is a path we have not +examined, leading by Westburnflat. + +O, said Sir Frederick, laughing, we know the owner of Westburnflat +well--a wild lad, that knows little difference between his neighbours +goods and his own; but, withal, very honest to his principles: he would +disturb nothing belonging to Ellieslaw. + +Besides, said Mr. Vere, smiling mysteriously, he had other tow on his +distaff last night. Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh-foot +has had his house burnt, and his cattle driven away, because he refused +to give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for the +king? + +The company smiled upon each other, as at hearing of an exploit which +favoured their own views. + +Yet, nevertheless, resumed Mareschal, I think we ought to ride in +this direction also, otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for our +negligence. + +No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal, and the party +turned their horses heads towards Westburnflat. + +They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling of +horses was heard, and a small body of riders were perceived advancing to +meet them. + +There comes Earnscliff, said Mareschal; I know his bright bay with +the star in his front. + +And there is my daughter along with him, exclaimed Vere, +furiously. Who shall call my suspicions false or injurious now? +Gentlemen--friends--lend me the assistance of your swords for the +recovery of my child. + +He unsheathed his weapon, and was imitated by Sir Frederick and several +of the party, who prepared to charge those that were advancing towards +them. But the greater part hesitated. + +They come to us in all peace and security, said Mareschal-Wells; let +us first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair. If +Miss Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff, +I will be first to revenge her; but let us hear what they say. + +You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal, continued Vere; you +are the last I would have expected to hear express them. + +You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the cause may +excuse it. + +He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a loud +voice,--Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere advance alone +to meet us. You are charged with having carried that lady off from her +fathers house; and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her +recovery, and for bringing to justice those who have injured her. + +And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal? said +Earnscliff, haughtily,--than I, who had the satisfaction this morning +to liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined, and who +am now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw? + +Is this so, Miss Vere? said Mareschal. + +It is, answered Isabella, eagerly,--it is so; for Heavens sake +sheathe your swords. I will swear by all that is sacred, that I was +carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were alike unknown to +me, and am now restored to freedom by means of this gentlemans gallant +interference. + +By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done? pursued +Mareschal.--Had you no knowledge of the place to which you were +conveyed?--Earnscliff, where did you find this lady? + +But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, and, +returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the conference. + +When I know, he said, exactly how much I owe to Mr. Earnscliff, he +may rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime, taking the bridle of +Miss Veres horse, thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter in +the power of her natural guardian. + +A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal +haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon the road +to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a conference so +earnest, that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude by +approaching them too nearly. In the meantime, Earnscliff, as he took +leave of the other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaws party, said aloud, +Although I am unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can +authorize such a suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seems +to believe that I have had some hand in the atrocious violence which has +been offered to his daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to take notice +of my explicit denial of a charge so dishonourable; and that, although +I can pardon the bewildering feelings of a father in such a moment, +yet, if any other gentleman, (he looked hard at Sir Frederick Langley) +thinks my word and that of Miss Vere, with the evidence of my friends +who accompany me, too slight for my exculpation, I will be happy--most +happy--to repel the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honour +dearer than his life. + +And Ill be his second, said Simon of Hackburn, and take up ony twa +o ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; its a ane to Simon. + +Who is that rough-looking fellow? said Sir Frederick Langley, and +what has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen? + +Ise be a lad frae the Hie Teiot, said Simon, and Ise quarrel wi +ony body I like, except the king, or the laird I live under. + +Come, said; Mareschal, let us have no brawls.--Mr. Earnscliff; +although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may be +opponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without losing our +respect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I believe you as innocent +of this matter as I am myself; and I will pledge myself that my cousin +Ellieslaw, as soon as the perplexity attending these sudden events has +left his judgment to its free exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge the +very important service you have this day rendered him. + +To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself--Good +evening, gentlemen, continued Earnscliff; I see most of your party are +already on their way to Ellieslaw. + +Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the party +with indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards +the Heugh-foot, to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for farther +researches after his bride, of whose restoration to her friends he was +still ignorant. + +There he goes, said Mareschal; he is a fine, gallant young fellow, +upon my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust with him on +the green turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his equal with the +foils, and I should like to try him at sharps. + +In my opinion, answered Sir Frederick Langley, we have done very +ill in having suffered him, and those men who are with him, to go off +without taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very likely to draw to +a head under such a sprightly young fellow as that. + +For shame, Sir Frederick! exclaimed Mareschal; do you think that +Ellieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being offered to +Earnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter? +or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you think that I, and the rest +of these gentlemen, would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such a +transaction? No, no, fair play and auld Scotland for ever! When the +sword is drawn, I will be as ready to use it as any man; but while it is +in the sheath, let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours. + +Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle, when Ellieslaw, who +had been arrived a few minutes before, met them in the court-yard. + +How is Miss Vere? and have you learned the cause of her being carried +off? asked Mareschal hastily. + +She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued; and I cannot expect +much light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited, + replied her father. She and I were not the less obliged to you, +Mareschal, and to my other friends, for their kind enquiries. But I must +suppress the fathers feelings for a while to give myself up to those of +the patriot. You know this is the day fixed for our final decision--time +presses--our friends are arriving, and I have opened house, not only +for the gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarily +employ. We have, therefore, little time to prepare to meet them.--Look +over these lists, Marchie (an abbreviation by which Mareschal-Wells was +known among his friends). Do you, Sir Frederick, read these letters from +Lothian and the west--all is ripe for the sickle, and we have but to +summon out the reapers. + +With all my heart, said Mareschal; the more mischief the better +sport. + +Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted. + +Walk aside with me, my good friend, said Ellieslaw to the sombre +baronet; I have something for your private ear, with which I know you +will be gratified. + +They walked into the house, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standing +together in the court. + +And so, said Ratcliffe, the gentlemen of your political persuasion +think the downfall of this government so certain, that they disdain even +to throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party? + +Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe, answered Mareschal, the actions and sentiments +YOUR friends may require to be veiled, but I am better pleased that ours +can go barefaced. + +And is it possible, continued Ratcliffe, that you, who, +notwithstanding pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper (I beg pardon, +Mr. Mareschal, I am a plain man)--that you, who, notwithstanding +these constitutional defects, possess natural good sense and acquired +information, should be infatuated enough to embroil yourself in such +desperate proceedings? How does your head feel when you are engaged in +these dangerous conferences? + +Not quite so secure on my shoulders, answered Mareschal, as if I were +talking of hunting and hawking. I am not of so indifferent a mould as +my cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as if it were a childs nursery +rhymes, and loses and recovers that sweet girl, his daughter, with a +good deal less emotion on both occasions, than would have affected me +had I lost and recovered a greyhound puppy. My temper is not quite so +inflexible, nor my hate against government so inveterate, as to blind me +to the full danger of the attempt. + +Then why involve yourself in it? said Ratcliffe. + +Why, I love this poor exiled king with all my heart; and my father was +an old Killiecrankie man, and I long to see some amends on the Unionist +courtiers, that have bought and sold old Scotland, whose crown has been +so long independent. + +And for the sake of these shadows, said his monitor, you are going to +involve your country in war and yourself in trouble? + +I involve? No!--but, trouble for trouble, I had rather it came +to-morrow than a month hence. COME, I know it will; and, as your country +folks say, better soon than syne--it will never find me younger--and as +for hanging, as Sir John Falstaff says, I can become a gallows as well +as another. You know the end of the old ballad; + + Sae dauntonly, sae wantonly, + Sae rantingly gaed he, + He playd a spring, and danced a round, + Beneath the gallows tree. + +Mr. Mareschal, I am sorry for you, said his grave adviser. + +I am obliged to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; but I would not have you judge of +our enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there are wiser heads than +mine at the work. + +Wiser heads than yours may lie as low, said Ratcliffe, in a warning +tone. + +Perhaps so; but no lighter heart shall; and, to prevent it being made +heavier by your remonstrances, I will bid you adieu, Mr. Ratcliffe, till +dinner-time, when you shall see that my apprehensions have not spoiled +my appetite. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + To face the garment of rebellion + With some fine colour, that may please the eye + Of fickle changelings, and poor discontents, + Which gape and rub the elbow at the news + Of hurlyburly innovation.--HENRY THE FOURTH, PART II. + +There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for the +entertainment on this important day, when not only the gentlemen of note +in the neighbourhood, attached to the Jacobite interest, were expected +to rendezvous, but also many subordinate malecontents, whom difficulty +of circumstances, love of change, resentment against England, or any of +the numerous causes which inflamed mens passions at the time, rendered +apt to join in perilous enterprise. The men of rank and substance were +not many in number; for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof, +and most of the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterian +persuasion, and therefore, however displeased with the Union, unwilling +to engage in a Jacobite conspiracy. But there were some gentlemen of +property, who, either from early principle, from religious motives, or +sharing the ambitious views of Ellieslaw, had given countenance to his +scheme; and there were, also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal, +desirous of signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous +enterprise, by which they hoped to vindicate the independence of their +country. The other members of the party were persons of inferior rank +and desperate fortunes, who were now ready to rise in that part of the +country, as they did afterwards in the year 1715, under Forster and +Derwentwater, when a troop, commanded by a Border gentleman, named +Douglas, consisted almost entirely of freebooters, among whom the +notorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was called, held a distinguished command. +We think it necessary to mention these particulars, applicable solely +to the province in which our scene lies; because, unquestionably, the +Jacobite party, in the other parts of the kingdom, consisted of much +more formidable, as well as much more respectable, materials. + +One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw Castle, +which was still left much in the state in which it had been one hundred +years before, stretching, that is, in gloomy length, along the whole +side of the castle, vaulted with ribbed arches of freestone, the groins +of which sprung from projecting figures, that, carved into all the +wild forms which the fantastic imagination of a Gothic architect could +devise, grinned, frowned, and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below. +Long narrow windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides, filled +up with stained glass, through which the sun emitted a dusky and +discoloured light. A banner, which tradition averred to have been taken +from the English at the battle of Sark, waved over the chair in which +Ellieslaw presided, as if to inflame the courage of the guests, by +reminding them of ancient victories over their neighbours. He himself, +a portly figure, dressed on this occasion with uncommon care, and with +features, which, though of a stern and sinister expression, might well +be termed handsome, looked the old feudal baron extremely well. Sir +Frederick Langley was placed on his right hand, and Mr. Mareschal of +Mareschal-Wells on his left. Some gentlemen of consideration, with their +sons, brothers, and nephews, were seated at the upper end of the table, +and among these Mr. Ratcliffe had his place. Beneath the salt-cellar (a +massive piece of plate which occupied the midst of the table) sate the +SINE NOMINE TURBA, men whose vanity was gratified by holding even this +subordinate space at the social board, while the distinction observed in +ranking them was a salve to the pride of their superiors. That the lower +house was not very select must be admitted, since Willie of Westburnflat +was one of the party. The unabashed audacity of this fellow, in daring +to present himself in the house of a gentleman, to whom he had just +offered so flagrant an insult, can only be accounted for by supposing +him conscious that his share in carrying off Miss Vere was a secret, +safe in her possession and that of her father. + +Before this numerous and miscellaneous party was placed a dinner, +consisting, not indeed of the delicacies of the season, as the +newspapers express it, but of viands, ample, solid, and sumptuous, under +which the very board groaned. But the mirth was not in proportion to the +good cheer. The lower end of the table were, for some time, chilled by +constraint and respect on finding themselves members of so august an +assembly; and those who were placed around it had those feelings of awe +with which P. P., clerk of the parish, describes himself oppressed, +when he first uplifted the psalm in presence of those persons of high +worship, the wise Mr. Justice Freeman, the good Lady Jones, and the +great Sir Thomas Truby. This ceremonious frost, however, soon gave way +before the incentives to merriment, which were liberally supplied, +and as liberally consumed by the guests of the lower description. They +became talkative, loud, and even clamorous in their mirth. + +But it was not in the power of wine or brandy to elevate the spirits of +those who held the higher places at the banquet. They experienced the +chilling revulsion of spirits which often takes place, when men +are called upon to take a desperate resolution, after having placed +themselves in circumstances where it is alike difficult to advance or +to recede. The precipice looked deeper and more dangerous as they +approached the brink, and each waited with an inward emotion of awe, +expecting which of his confederates would set the example by plunging +himself down. This inward sensation of fear and reluctance acted +differently, according to the various habits and characters of the +company. One looked grave; another looked silly; a third gazed with +apprehension on the empty seats at the higher end of the table, designed +for members of the conspiracy whose prudence had prevailed over their +political zeal, and who had absented themselves from their consultations +at this critical period; and some seemed to be reckoning up in their +minds the comparative rank and prospects of those who were present and +absent. Sir Frederick Langley was reserved, moody, and discontented. +Ellieslaw himself made such forced efforts to raise the spirits of the +company, as plainly marked the flagging of his own. Ratcliffe watched +the scene with the composure of a vigilant but uninterested spectator. +Mareschal alone, true to the thoughtless vivacity of his character, ate +and drank, laughed and jested, and seemed even to find amusement in the +embarrassment of the company. + +What has damped our noble courage this morning? he exclaimed. We seem +to be met at a funeral, where the chief mourners must not speak above +their breath, while the mutes and the saulies (looking to the lower end +of the table) are carousing below. Ellieslaw, when will you LIFT? +[To LIFT, meaning to lift the coffin, is the common expression for +commencing a funeral.] where sleeps your spirit, man? and what has +quelled the high hope of the Knight of Langley-dale? + +You speak like a madman, said Ellieslaw; do you not see how many are +absent? + +And what of that? said Mareschal. Did you not know before, that +one-half of the world are better talkers than doers? For my part, I am +much encouraged by seeing at least two-thirds of our friends true to the +rendezvous, though I suspect one-half of these came to secure the dinner +in case of the worst. + +There is no news from the coast which can amount to certainty of the +Kings arrival, said another of the company, in that tone of subdued +and tremulous whisper which implies a failure of resolution. + +Not a line from the Earl of D--, nor a single gentleman from the +southern side of the Border, said a third. + +Who is he that wishes for more men from England, exclaimed Mareschal, +in a theatrical tone of affected heroism, + + My cousin Ellieslaw? No, my fair cousin, + If we are doomd to die-- + +For Gods sake, said Ellieslaw, spare us your folly at present, +Mareschal. + +Well, then, said his kinsman, Ill bestow my wisdom upon you instead, +such as it is. If we have gone forward like fools, do not let us go back +like cowards. We have done enough to draw upon us both the suspicion and +vengeance of the government; do not let us give up before we have done +something to deserve it.--What, will no one speak? Then Ill leap the +ditch the first. And, starting up, he filled a beer-glass to the brim +with claret, and waving his hand, commanded all to follow his example, +and to rise up from their seats. All obeyed-the more qualified guests as +if passively, the others with enthusiasm Then, my friends, I give you +the pledge of the day--The independence of Scotland, and the health of +our lawful sovereign, King James the Eighth, now landed in Lothian, and, +as I trust and believe, in full possession of his ancient capital! + +He quaffed off the wine, and threw the glass over his head. + +It should never, he said, be profaned by a meaner toast. + +All followed his example, and, amid the crash of glasses and the shouts +of the company, pledged themselves to stand or fall with the principles +and political interest which their toast expressed. + +You have leaped the ditch with a witness, said Ellieslaw, apart to +Mareschal; but I believe it is all for the best; at all events, we +cannot now retreat from our undertaking. One man alone (looking at +Ratcliffe) has refused the pledge; but of that by and by. + +Then, rising up, he addressed the company in a style of inflammatory +invective against the government and its measures, but especially the +Union; a treaty, by means of which, he affirmed, Scotland had been at +once cheated of her independence, her commerce, and her honour, and laid +as a fettered slave at the foot of the rival against whom, through such +a length of ages, through so many dangers, and by so much blood, she had +honourably defended her rights. This was touching a theme which found a +responsive chord in the bosom of every man present. + +Our commerce is destroyed, hollowed old John Rewcastle, a Jedburgh +smuggler, from the lower end of the table. + +Our agriculture is ruined, said the Laird of Broken-girth-flow, a +territory which, since the days of Adam, had borne nothing but ling and +whortle-berries. + +Our religion is cut up, root and branch, said the pimple-nosed pastor +of the Episcopal meeting-house at Kirkwhistle. + +We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench, without +a certificate from the presbytery and kirk-treasurer, said +Mareschal-Wells. + +Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning, without license from a +commissioner of excise, said the smuggler. + +Or ride over the fell in a moonless night, said Westburnflat, without +asking leave of young Earnscliff; or some Englified justice of the +peace: thae were gude days on the Border when there was neither peace +nor justice heard of. + +Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe, continued Ellieslaw, +and take arms for the protection of our rights, our fortunes, our +lives, and our families. + +Think upon genuine episcopal ordination, without which there can be no +lawful clergy, said the divine. + +Think of the piracies committed on our East-Indian trade by Green +and the English thieves, said William Willieson, half-owner and sole +skipper of a brig that made four voyages annually between Cockpool and +Whitehaven. + +Remember your liberties, rejoined Mareschal, who seemed to take a +mischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the enthusiasm +which he had excited, like a roguish boy, who, having lifted the sluice +of a mill-dam, enjoys the clatter of the wheels which he has put +in motion, without thinking of the mischief he may have occasioned. +Remember your liberties, he exclaimed; confound cess, press, and +presbytery, and the memory of old Willie that first brought them upon +us! + +Damn the gauger! echoed old John Rewcastle; Ill cleave him wi my +ain hand. + +And confound the country-keeper and the constable! re-echoed +Westburnflat; Ill weize a brace of balls through them before morning. + +We are agreed, then, said Ellieslaw, when the shouts had somewhat +subsided, to bear this state of things no longer? + +We are agreed to a man, answered his guests. + +Not literally so, said Mr. Ratcliffe; for though I cannot hope to +assuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have seized +upon the company, yet I beg to observe, that so far as the opinion of a +single member goes, I do not entirely coincide in the list of grievances +which has been announced, and that I do utterly protest against the +frantic measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them. I +can easily suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out of +the heat of the moment, or have been said perhaps in jest. But there are +some jests of a nature very apt to transpire; and you ought to remember, +gentlemen, that stone-walls have ears. + +Stone-walls may have ears, returned Ellieslaw, eyeing him with a look +of triumphant malignity, but domestic spies, Mr. Ratcliffe, will soon +find themselves without any, if any such dares to continue his abode +in a family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion, where his +conduct has been that of a presumptuous meddler, and from which his +exit shall be that of a baffled knave, if he does not know how to take a +hint. + +Mr. Vere, returned Ratcliffe, with calm contempt, I am fully aware, +that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you, which it must +through the rash step you are about to adopt, it will immediately become +unsafe to myself, as it has always been hateful to you. But I have one +protection, and it is a strong one; for you would not willingly hear me +detail before gentlemen, and men of honour, the singular circumstances +in which our connexion took its rise. As to the rest, I rejoice at its +conclusion; and as I think that Mr. Mareschal and some other gentlemen +will guarantee the safety of my ears and of my throat (for which last I +have more reason to be apprehensive) during the course of the night, I +shall not leave your castle till to-morrow morning. + +Be it so, sir, replied Mr. Vere; you are entirely safe from my +resentment, because you are beneath it, and not because I am afraid of +your disclosing my family secrets, although, for your own sake, I warn +you to beware how you do so. Your agency and intermediation can be of +little consequence to one who will win or lose all, as lawful right or +unjust usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue. +Farewell, sir. + +Ratcliffe arose, and cast upon him a look, which Vere seemed to sustain +with difficulty, and, bowing to those around him, left the room. + +This conversation made an impression on many of the company, which +Ellieslaw hastened to dispel, by entering upon the business of the day. +Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection. +Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders, +with powers to direct their farther measures. A place of rendezvous was +appointed, at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day, with +such followers and friends to the cause as each could collect around +him. Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations; +and Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others, who, with +Westburnflat and the old smuggler, continued to ply the bottle stanchly, +for leaving the head of the table, as he must necessarily hold a +separate and sober conference with the coadjutors whom they had +associated with him in the command. The apology was the more readily +accepted, as he prayed them, at the same time, to continue to amuse +themselves with such refreshments as the cellars of the castle afforded. +Shouts of applause followed their retreat; and the names of Vere, +Langley, and, above all, of Mareschal, were thundered forth in chorus, +and bathed with copious bumpers repeatedly, during the remainder of the +evening. + +When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate apartment, +they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of embarrassment, +which, in Sir Fredericks dark features, amounted to an expression of +discontented sullenness. Mareschal was the first to break the pause, +saying, with a loud burst of laughter, + +--Well! we are fairly embarked now, gentlemen--VOGUE LA GALERE! + +We may thank you for the plunge, said Ellieslaw. + +Yes; but I dont know how far you will thank me, answered Mareschal, +when I show you this letter which I received just before we sat down. +My servant told me it was delivered by a man he had never seen before, +who went off at the gallop, after charging him to put it into my own +hand. + +Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter, and read aloud-- + +EDINBURGH,-- + +HOND. SIR, Having obligations to your family, which shall be nameless, +and learning that you are one of the company of, adventurers doing +business for the house of James and Company, late merchants in London, +now in Dunkirk, I think it right to send you this early and private +information, that the vessels you expected have been driven off the +coast, without having been able to break bulk, or to land any part +of their cargo; and that the west-country partners have resolved to +withdraw their name from the firm, as it must prove a losing concern. +Having good hope you will avail yourself of this early information, to +do what is needful for your own security, I rest your humble servant, +NIHIL NAMELESS. + +FOR RALPH MARESCHAL, OF MARESCHAL-WELLS + +--THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED. + +Sir Fredericks jaw dropped, and his countenance blackened, as the +letter was read, and Ellieslaw exclaimed,--Why, this affects the very +mainspring of our enterprise. If the French fleet, with the king on +board, has been chased off by the English, as this d--d scrawl seems to +intimate, where are we? + +Just where we were this morning, I think, said Mareschal, still +laughing. + +Pardon me, and a truce to your ill-timed mirth, Mr. Mareschal; this +morning we were not committed publicly, as we now stand committed by +your own mad act, when you had a letter in your pocket apprizing you +that our undertaking was desperate. + +Ay, ay, I expected you would say so. But, in the first place, my friend +Nihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam; and, moreover, I would +have you know that I am tired of a party that does nothing but form +bold resolutions overnight, and sleep them away with their wine before +morning. The government are now unprovided of men and ammunition; in a +few weeks they will have enough of both: the country is now in a flame +against them; in a few weeks, betwixt the effects of self-interest, of +fear, and of lukewarm indifference, which are already so visible, this +first fervour will be as cold as Christmas. So, as I was determined to +go the vole, I have taken care you shall dip as deep as I; it signifies +nothing plunging. You are fairly in the bog, and must struggle through. + +You are mistaken with respect to one of us, Mr. Mareschal, said Sir +Frederick Langley; and, applying himself to the bell, he desired the +person who entered to order his servants and horses instantly. + +You must not leave us, Sir Frederick, said Ellieslaw; if we have our +musters to go over. + +I will go to-night, Mr. Vere, said Sir Frederick, and write you my +intentions in this matter when I am at home. + +Ay, said Mareschal, and send them by a troop of horse from Carlisle +to make us prisoners? Look ye, Sir Frederick, I for one will neither be +deserted nor betrayed; and if you leave Ellieslaw Castle to-night, it +shall be by passing over my dead body. + +For shame! Mareschal, said Mr. Vere, how can you so hastily +misinterpret our friends intentions? I am sure Sir Frederick can +only be jesting with us; for, were he not too honourable to dream of +deserting the cause, he cannot but remember the full proofs we have of +his accession to it, and his eager activity in advancing it. He cannot +but be conscious, besides, that the first information will be readily +received by government, and that if the question be, which can first +lodge intelligence of the affair, we can easily save a few hours on +him. + +You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in such +a race of treachery; for my part, I wont enter my horse for such a +plate, said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, A pretty pair of +fellows to trust a mans neck with! + +I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper, said Sir +Frederick Langley; and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw. I +have no reason to keep faith with one (looking at Vere) who has kept +none with me. + +In what respect, said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of his hand, +his impetuous kinsman--how have I disappointed you, Sir Frederick? + +In the nearest and most tender point--you have trifled with me +concerning our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the gage of +our political undertaking. This carrying off and this bringing back of +Miss Vere,--the cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuses +with which you cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you may +yourself retain possession of the estates which are hers by right, +and make me, in the meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise, +by holding out hopes and expectations which you are resolved never to +realize. + +Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred-- + +I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too +long, answered Sir Frederick. + +If you leave us, said Ellieslaw, you cannot but know both your ruin +and ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together. + +Leave me to take care of myself, returned the knight; but were what +you say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther. + +Can nothing--no surety convince you of my sincerity? said Ellieslaw, +anxiously; this morning I should have repelled your unjust suspicions +as an insult; but situated as we now are-- + +You feel yourself compelled to be sincere? retorted Sir Frederick. +If you would have me think so, there is but one way to convince me of +it--let your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening. + +So soon?--impossible, answered Vere; think of her late alarm--of our +present undertaking. + +I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the altar. +You have a chapel in the castle--Doctor Hobbler is present among the +company-this proof of your good faith to-night, and we are again +joined in heart and hand. If you refuse me when it is so much for your +advantage to consent, how shall I trust you to-morrow, when I shall +stand committed in your undertaking, and unable to retract? + +And I am to understand, that, if you can be made my son-in-law +to-night, our friendship is renewed? said Ellieslaw. + +Most infallibly, and most inviolably, replied Sir Frederick. + +Then, said Vere, though what you ask is premature, indelicate, and +unjust towards my character, yet, Sir Frederick, give me your hand--my +daughter shall be your wife. + +This night? + +This very night, replied Ellieslaw, before the clock strikes twelve. + +With her own consent, I trust, said Mareschal; for I promise you +both, gentlemen, I will not stand tamely by, and see any violence put on +the will of my pretty kinswoman. + +Another pest in this hot-headed fellow, muttered Ellieslaw; and then +aloud, With her own consent? For what do you take me, Mareschal, that +you should suppose your interference necessary to protect my daughter +against her father? Depend upon it, she has no repugnance to Sir +Frederick Langley. + +Or rather to be called Lady Langley? faith, like enough--there are +many women might be of her mind; and I beg your pardon, but these sudden +demands and concessions alarmed me a little on her account. + +It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me, said +Ellieslaw; but perhaps if she is found intractable, Sir Frederick will +consider-- + +I will consider nothing, Mr. Vere--your daughters hand to-night, or I +depart, were it at midnight--there is my ultimatum. + +I embrace it, said Ellieslaw; and I will leave you to talk upon our +military preparations, while I go to prepare my daughter for so sudden a +change of condition. + +So saying, he left the company. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + He brings Earl Osmond to receive my vows. + O dreadful change! for Tancred, haughty Osmond. + --TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA. + +Mr. Vere, whom long practice of dissimulation had enabled to model his +very gait and footsteps to aid the purposes of deception, walked along +the stone passage, and up the first flight of steps towards Miss Veres +apartment, with the alert, firm, and steady pace of one who is bound, +indeed, upon important business, but who entertains no doubt he can +terminate his affairs satisfactorily. But when out of hearing of the +gentlemen whom he had left, his step became so slow and irresolute, as +to correspond with his doubts and his fears. At length he paused in an +antechamber to collect his ideas, and form his plan of argument, before +approaching his daughter. + +In what more hopeless and inextricable dilemma was ever an unfortunate +man involved! Such was the tenor of his reflections.--If we now fall +to pieces by disunion, there can be little doubt that the government +will take my life as the prime agitator of the insurrection. Or, grant I +could stoop to save myself by a hasty submission, am I not, even in that +case, utterly ruined? I have broken irreconcilably with Ratcliffe, and +can have nothing to expect from that quarter but insult and persecution. +I must wander forth an impoverished and dishonoured man, without +even the means of sustaining life, far less wealth sufficient to +counterbalance the infamy which my countrymen, both those whom I +desert and those whom I join, will attach to the name of the political +renegade. It is not to be thought of. And yet, what choice remains +between this lot and the ignominious scaffold? Nothing can save me but +reconciliation with these men; and, to accomplish this, I have promised +to Langley that Isabella shall marry him ere midnight, and to Mareschal, +that she shall do so without compulsion. I have but one remedy betwixt +me and ruin--her consent to take a suitor whom she dislikes, upon such +short notice as would disgust her, even were he a favoured lover--But +I must trust to the romantic generosity of her disposition; and let +me paint the necessity of her obedience ever so strongly, I cannot +overcharge its reality. + +Having finished this sad chain of reflections upon his perilous +condition, he entered his daughters apartment with every nerve bent up +to the support of the argument which he was about to sustain. Though a +deceitful and ambitious man, he was not so devoid of natural affection +but that he was shocked at the part he was about to act, in practising +on the feelings of a dutiful and affectionate child; but the +recollections, that, if he succeeded, his daughter would only be +trepanned into an advantageous match, and that, if he failed, he himself +was a lost man, were quite sufficient to drown all scruples. + +He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing-room, her head +reclining on her hand, and either sunk in slumber, or so deeply engaged +in meditation, that she did not hear the noise he made at his entrance. +He approached with his features composed to a deep expression of sorrow +and sympathy, and, sitting down beside her, solicited her attention by +quietly taking her hand, a motion which he did not fail to accompany +with a deep sigh. + +My father! said Isabella, with a sort of start, which expressed at +least as much fear, as joy or affection. + +Yes, Isabella, said Vere, your unhappy father, who comes now as a +penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury done to her +in the excess of his affection, and then to take leave of her for ever. + +Sir? Offence to me take leave for ever? What does all this mean? said +Miss Vere. + +Yes, Isabella, I am serious. But first let me ask you, have you no +suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance which befell +you yesterday morning? + +You, sir? answered Isabella, stammering between a consciousness that +he had guessed her thoughts justly, and the shame as well as fear which +forbade her to acknowledge a suspicion so degrading and so unnatural. + +Yes! he continued, your hesitation confesses that you entertained +such an opinion, and I have now the painful task of acknowledging that +your suspicions have done me no injustice. But listen to my motives. +In an evil hour I countenanced the addresses of Sir Frederick Langley, +conceiving it impossible that you could have any permanent objections to +a match where the advantages were, in most respects, on your side. In +a worse, I entered with him into measures calculated to restore our +banished monarch, and the independence of my country. He has taken +advantage of my unguarded confidence, and now has my life at his +disposal. + +Your life, sir? said Isabella, faintly. + +Yes, Isabella, continued her father, the life of him who gave life to +you. So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his headlong passion +(for, to do him justice, I believe his unreasonable conduct arises from +excess of attachment to you) was likely to hurry him, I endeavoured, +by finding a plausible pretext for your absence for some weeks, to +extricate myself from the dilemma in which I am placed. For this purpose +I wished, in case your objections to the match continued insurmountable, +to have sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your +maternal aunt at Paris. By a series of mistakes you have been brought +from the place of secrecy and security which I had destined for your +temporary abode. Fate has baffled my last chance of escape, and I have +only to give you my blessing, and send you from the castle with Mr. +Ratcliffe, who now leaves it; my own fate will soon be decided. + +Good Heaven, sir! can this be possible? exclaimed Isabella. O, why +was I freed from the restraint in which you placed me? or why did you +not impart your pleasure to me? + +Think an instant, Isabella. Would you have had me prejudice in your +opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving, by communicating to +you the injurious eagerness with which he pursued his object? Could I do +so honourably, having promised to assist his suit?--But it is all over, +I and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men; it only remains +to send you from hence under a safe escort. + +Great powers! and is there no remedy? said the terrified young woman. + +None, my child, answered Vere, gently, unless one which you would not +advise your father to adopt--to be the first to betray his friends. + +O, no! no! she answered, abhorrently yet hastily, as if to reject +the temptation which the alternative presented to her. But is there no +other hope--through flight--through mediation--through supplication?--I +will bend my knee to Sir Frederick! + +It would be a fruitless degradation; he is determined on his course, +and I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate. On one +condition only he will turn aside from his purpose, and that condition +my lips shall never utter to you. + +Name it, I conjure you, my dear father! exclaimed Isabella. What CAN +he ask that we ought not to grant, to prevent the hideous catastrophe +with which you are threatened? + +That, Isabella, said Vere, solemnly, you shall never know, until your +fathers head has rolled on the bloody scaffold; then, indeed, you will +learn there was one sacrifice by which he might have been saved. + +And why not speak it now? said Isabella; do you fear I would flinch +from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation? or would you +bequeath me the bitter legacy of life-long remorse, so oft as I shall +think that you perished, while there remained one mode of preventing the +dreadful misfortune that overhangs you? + +Then, my child, said Vere, since you press me to name what I would a +thousand times rather leave in silence, I must inform you that he will +accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage, and that conferred +before midnight this very evening! + +This evening, sir? said the young lady, struck with horror at the +proposal--and to such a man!--A man?--a monster, who could wish to win +the daughter by threatening the life of the father--it is impossible! + +You say right, my child, answered her father, it is indeed +impossible; nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such a +sacrifice--It is the course of nature that the old should die and be +forgot, and the young should live and be happy. + +My father die, and his child can save him!--but no--no--my dear father, +pardon me, it is impossible; you only wish to guide me to your wishes. I +know your object is what you think my happiness, and this dreadful tale +is only told to influence my conduct and subdue my scruples. + +My daughter, replied Ellieslaw, in a tone where offended authority +seemed to struggle with parental affection, my child suspects me of +inventing a false tale to work upon her feelings! Even this I must +bear, and even from this unworthy suspicion I must descend to vindicate +myself. You know the stainless honour of your cousin Mareschal--mark +what I shall write to him, and judge from his answer, if the danger in +which we stand is not real, and whether I have not used every means to +avert it. + +He sate down, wrote a few lines hastily, and handed them to Isabella, +who, after repeated and painful efforts, cleared her eyes and head +sufficiently to discern their purport. + +Dear cousin, said the billet, I find my daughter, as I expected, in +despair at the untimely and premature urgency of Sir Frederick Langley. +She cannot even comprehend the peril in which we stand, or how much we +are in his power--Use your influence with him, for Heavens sake, to +modify proposals, to the acceptance of which I cannot, and will not, +urge my child against all her own feelings, as well as those of delicacy +and propriety, and oblige your loving cousin,--R. V. + +In the agitation of the moment, when her swimming eyes and dizzy brain +could hardly comprehend the sense of what she looked upon, it is not +surprising that Miss Vere should have omitted to remark that this +letter seemed to rest her scruples rather upon the form and time of the +proposed union, than on a rooted dislike to the suitor proposed to her. +Mr. Vere rang the bell, and gave the letter to a servant to be delivered +to Mr. Mareschal, and, rising from his chair, continued to traverse +the apartment in silence and in great agitation until the answer was +returned. He glanced it over, and wrung the hand of his daughter as he +gave it to her. The tenor was as follows:-- + +My dear kinsman, I have already urged the knight on the point you +mention, and I find him as fixed as Cheviot. I am truly sorry my fair +cousin should be pressed to give up any of her maidenly rights. Sir +Frederick consents, however, to leave the castle with me the instant +the ceremony is performed, and we will raise our followers and begin the +fray. Thus there is great hope the bridegroom may be knocked on the head +before he and the bride can meet again, so Bell has a fair chance to be +Lady Langley A TRES BON MARCHE. For the rest, I can only say, that if +she can make up her mind to the alliance at all--it is no time for mere +maiden ceremony--my pretty cousin must needs consent to marry in haste, +or we shall all repent at leisure, or rather have very little leisure +to repent; which is all at present from him who rests your affectionate +kinsman,--R. M. + +P.S.--Tell Isabella that I would rather cut the knights throat after +all, and end the dilemma that way, than see her constrained to marry him +against her will. + +When Isabella had read this letter, it dropped from her hand, and she +would, at the same time, have fallen from her chair, had she not been +supported by her father. + +My God, my child will die! exclaimed Vere, the feelings of nature +overcoming, even in HIS breast, the sentiments of selfish policy; look +up, Isabella--look up, my child--come what will, you shall not be +the sacrifice--I will fall myself with the consciousness I leave you +happy--My child may weep on my grave, but she shall not--not in this +instance--reproach my memory. He called a servant.--Go, bid Ratcliffe +come hither directly. + +During this interval, Miss Vere became deadly pale, clenched her hands, +pressing the palms strongly together, closed her eyes, and drew her lips +with strong compression, as if the severe constraint which she put upon +her internal feelings extended even to her muscular organization. Then +raising her head, and drawing in her breath strongly ere she spoke, she +said, with firmness,--Father, I consent to the marriage. + +You shall not--you shall not,--my child--my dear child--you shall not +embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain danger. + +So exclaimed Ellieslaw; and, strange and inconsistent beings that we +are! he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his heart. + +Father, repeated Isabella, I will consent to this marriage. + +No, my child, no--not now at least--we will humble ourselves to obtain +delay from him; and yet, Isabella, could you overcome a dislike +which has no real foundation, think, in other respects, what a +match!--wealth--rank--importance. + +Father! reiterated Isabella, I have consented. + +It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying anything else, or even +of varying the phrase which, with such effort, she had compelled herself +to utter. + +Heaven bless thee, my child!--Heaven bless thee!--And it WILL bless +thee with riches, with pleasure, with power. + +Miss Vere faintly entreated to be left by herself for the rest of the +evening. + +But will you not receive Sir Frederick? said her father, anxiously. + +I will meet him, she replied, I will meet him--when I must, and where +I must; but spare me now. + +Be it so, my dearest; you shall know no restraint that I can save +you from. Do not think too hardly of Sir Frederick for this,--it is an +excess of passion. + +Isabella waved her hand impatiently. + +Forgive me, my child--I go--Heaven bless thee. At eleven--if you call +me not before--at eleven I come to seek you. + +When he left Isabella she dropped upon her knees--Heaven aid me +to support the resolution I have taken--Heaven only can--O, poor +Earnscliff! who shall comfort him? and with what contempt will he +pronounce her name, who listened to him to-day and gave herself to +another at night! But let him despise me--better so than that he should +know the truth--let him despise me; if it will but lessen his grief, I +should feel comfort in the loss of his esteem. + +She wept bitterly; attempting in vain, from time to time, to commence +the prayer for which she had sunk on her knees, but unable to calm her +spirits sufficiently for the exercise of devotion. As she remained in +this agony of mind, the door of her apartment was slowly opened. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + The darksome cave they enter, where they found + The woful man, low sitting on the ground, + Musing full sadly in his sullen mind.--FAERY QUEEN. + +The intruder on Miss Veres sorrows was Ratcliffe. Ellieslaw had, in the +agitation of his mind, forgotten to countermand the order he had given +to call him thither, so that he opened the door with the words, You +sent for me, Mr. Vere. Then looking around--Miss Vere, alone! on the +ground! and in tears! + +Leave me--leave me, Mr. Ratcliffe, said the unhappy young lady. + +I must not leave you, said Ratcliffe; I have been repeatedly +requesting admittance to take my leave of you, and have been refused, +until your father himself sent for me. Blame me not, if I am bold and +intrusive; I have a duty to discharge which makes me so. + +I cannot listen to you--I cannot speak to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; take my +best wishes, and for Gods sake leave me. + +Tell me only, said Ratcliffe, is it true that this monstrous match is +to go forward, and this very night? I heard the servants proclaim it as +I was on the great staircase--I heard the directions given to clear out +the chapel. + +Spare me, Mr. Ratcliffe, replied the luckless bride; and from the +state in which you see me, judge of the cruelty of these questions. + +Married? to Sir Frederick Langley? and this night? It must not +cannot--shall not be. + +It MUST be, Mr. Ratcliff, or my father is ruined. + +Ah! I understand, answered Ratcliffe; and you have sacrificed +yourself to save him who--But let the virtue of the child atone for the +faults of the father it is no time to rake them up.--What CAN be done? +Time presses--I know but one remedy--with four-and-twenty hours I might +find many--Miss Vere, you must implore the protection of the only human +being who has it in his power to control the course of events which +threatens to hurry you before it. + +And what human being, answered Miss Vere, has such power? + +Start not when I name him, said Ratcliffe, coming near her, and +speaking in a low but distinct voice. It is he who is called Elshender +the Recluse of Mucklestane-Moor. + +You are mad, Mr. Ratcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by an +ill-timed jest! + +I am as much in my senses, young lady, answered her adviser, as you +are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least of all with +your misery. I swear to you that this being (who is other far than +what he seems) actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this +hateful union. + +And of insuring my fathers safety? + +Yes! even that, said Ratcliffe, if you plead his cause with him--yet +how to obtain admittance to the Recluse! + +Fear not that, said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the incident +of the rose; I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in +my extremity, and gave me this flower as a token. Ere it faded away +entirely, I would need, he said, his assistance: is it possible his +words can have been aught but the ravings of insanity? + +Doubt it not fear it not--but above all, said Ratcliffe, let us lose +no time--are you at liberty, and unwatched? + +I believe so, said Isabella: but what would you have me to do? + +Leave the castle instantly, said Ratcliffe, and throw yourself at the +feet of this extraordinary man, who in circumstances that seem to argue +the extremity of the most contemptible poverty, possesses yet an almost +absolute influence over your fate.--Guests and servants are deep in +their carouse--the leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable +schemes--my horse stands ready in the stable--I will saddle one for you, +and meet you at the little garden-gate--O, let no doubt of my prudence +or fidelity prevent your taking the only step in your power to escape +the dreadful fate which must attend the wife of Sir Frederick Langley! + +Mr. Ratcliffe, said Miss Vere, you have always been esteemed a man +of honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always catch at the +feeblest twig,--I will trust you--I will follow your advice--I will meet +you at the garden-gate. + +She bolted the outer-door of her apartment as soon as Mr. Ratcliffe left +her, and descended to the garden by a separate stair of communication +which opened to her dressing-room. On the way she felt inclined to +retract the consent she had so hastily given to a plan so hopeless +and extravagant. But as she passed in her descent a private door which +entered into the chapel from the back-stair, she heard the voice of the +female-servants as they were employed in the task of cleaning it. + +Married! and to sae bad a man--Ewhow, sirs! onything rather than that. + +They are right--they are right, said Miss Vere, anything rather than +that! + +She hurried to the garden. Mr. Ratcliffe was true to his +appointment--the horses stood saddled at the garden-gate, and in a few +minutes they were advancing rapidly towards the hut of the Solitary. + +While the ground was favourable, the speed of their journey was such as +to prevent much communication; but when a steep ascent compelled them to +slacken their pace, a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss Veres +mind. + +Mr. Ratcliffe, she said, pulling up her horses bridle, let us +prosecute no farther a journey, which nothing but the extreme agitation +of my mind can vindicate my having undertaken--I am well aware that this +man passes among the vulgar as being possessed of supernatural powers, +and carrying on an intercourse with beings of another world; but I would +have you aware I am neither to be imposed on by such follies, nor, were +I to believe in their existence, durst I, with my feelings of religion, +apply to this being in my distress. + +I should have thought, Miss Vere, replied Ratcliffe, my character and +habits of thinking were so well known to you, that you might have held +me exculpated from crediting in such absurdity. + +But in what other mode, said Isabella, can a being, so miserable +himself in appearance, possess the power of assisting me? + +Miss Vere. said Ratcliffe, after a momentary pause, I am bound by +a solemn oath of secrecy--You must, without farther explanation, be +satisfied with my pledged assurance, that he does possess the power, if +you can inspire him with the will; and that, I doubt not, you will be +able to do. + +Mr. Ratcliffe, said Miss Vere, you may yourself be mistaken; you ask +an unlimited degree of confidence from me. + +Recollect, Miss Vere, he replied, that when, in your humanity, you +asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell and his +ruined family--when you requested me to prevail on him to do a +thing most abhorrent to his nature--to forgive an injury and remit a +penalty--I stipulated that you should ask me no questions concerning the +sources of my influence--You found no reason to distrust me then, do not +distrust me now. + +But the extraordinary mode of life of this man, said Miss Vere; his +seclusion--his figure--the deepness of mis-anthropy which he is said to +express in his language--Mr. Ratcliffe, what can I think of him if he +really possesses the powers you ascribe to him? + +This man, young lady, was bred a Catholic, a sect which affords a +thousand instances of those who have retired from power and affluence to +voluntary privations more strict even than his. + +But he avows no religious motive, replied Miss Vere. + +No, replied Ratcliffe; disgust with the world has operated his +retreat from it without assuming the veil of superstition. Thus far I +may tell you--he was born to great wealth, which his parents designed +should become greater by his union with a kinswoman, whom for that +purpose they bred up in their own house. You have seen his figure; +judge what the young lady must have thought of the lot to which she was +destined--Yet, habituated to his appearance, she showed no reluctance, +and the friends of--of the person whom I speak of, doubted not that the +excess of his attachment, the various acquisitions of his mind, his +many and amiable qualities, had overcome the natural horror which +his destined bride must have entertained at an exterior so dreadfully +inauspicious. + +And did they judge truly? said Isabella. + +You shall hear. He, at least, was fully aware of his own deficiency; +the sense of it haunted him like a phantom. I am, was his own +expression to me,--I mean to a man whom he trusted,--I am, in spite +of what you would say, a poor miserable outcast, fitter to have been +smothered in the cradle than to have been brought up to scare the world +in which I crawl. The person whom he addressed in vain endeavoured to +impress him with the indifference to external form which is the natural +result of philosophy, or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental +talents to the more attractive attributes that are merely personal. +I hear you, he would reply; but you speak the voice of cold-blooded +stoicism, or, at least, of friendly partiality. But look at every book +which we have read, those excepted of that abstract philosophy which +feels no responsive voice in our natural feelings. Is not personal form, +such as at least can be tolerated without horror and disgust, always +represented as essential to our ideas of a friend, far more a lover? +Is not such a mis-shapen monster as I am, excluded, by the very fiat +of Nature, from her fairest enjoyments? What but my wealth prevents +all--perhaps even Letitia, or you--from shunning me as something foreign +to your nature, and more odious, by bearing that distorted resemblance +to humanity which we observe in the animal tribes that are more hateful +to man because they seem his caricature? + +You repeat the sentiments of a madman, said Miss Vere. + +No, replied her conductor, unless a morbid and excessive sensibility +on such a subject can be termed insanity. Yet I will not deny that this +governing feeling and apprehension carried the person who entertained +it, to lengths which indicated a deranged imagination. He appeared +to think that it was necessary for him, by exuberant, and not always +well-chosen instances of liberality, and even profusion, to unite +himself to the human race, from which he conceived himself naturally +dissevered. The benefits which he bestowed, from a disposition naturally +philanthropical in an uncommon degree, were exaggerated by the influence +of the goading reflection, that more was necessary from him than from +others,--lavishing his treasures as if to bribe mankind to receive him +into their class. It is scarcely necessary to say, that the bounty which +flowed from a source so capricious was often abused, and his confidence +frequently betrayed. These disappointments, which occur to all, more or +less, and most to such as confer benefits without just discrimination, +his diseased fancy set down to the hatred and contempt excited by his +personal deformity.--But I fatigue you, Miss Vere? + +No, by no means; I--I could not prevent my attention from wandering an +instant; pray proceed. + +He became at length, continued Ratcliffe, the most ingenious +self-tormentor of whom I have ever heard; the scoff of the rabble, and +the sneer of the yet more brutal vulgar of his own rank, was to him +agony and breaking on the wheel. He regarded the laugh of the common +people whom he passed on the street, and the suppressed titter, or yet +more offensive terror, of the young girls to whom he was introduced in +company, as proofs of the true sense which the world entertained of +him, as a prodigy unfit to be received among them on the usual terms +of society, and as vindicating the wisdom of his purpose in withdrawing +himself from among them. On the faith and sincerity of two persons +alone, he seemed to rely implicitly--on that of his betrothed bride, and +of a friend eminently gifted in personal accomplishments, who seemed, +and indeed probably was, sincerely attached to him. He ought to have +been so at least, for he was literally loaded with benefits by him whom +you are now about to see. The parents of the subject of my story died +within a short space of each other. Their death postponed the marriage, +for which the day had been fixed. The lady did not seem greatly to +mourn this delay,--perhaps that was not to have been expected; but +she intimated no change of intention, when, after a decent interval, +a second day was named for their union. The friend of whom I spoke was +then a constant resident at the Hall. In an evil hour, at the earnest +request and entreaty of this friend, they joined a general party, where +men of different political opinions were mingled, and where they drank +deep. A quarrel ensued; the friend of the Recluse drew his sword with +others, and was thrown down and disarmed by a more powerful antagonist. +They fell in the struggle at the feet of the Recluse, who, maimed and +truncated as his form appears, possesses, nevertheless, great strength, +as well as violent passions. He caught up a sword, pierced the heart +of his friends antagonist, was tried, and his life, with difficulty, +redeemed from justice at the expense of a years close imprisonment, the +punishment of manslaughter. The incident affected him most deeply, +the more that the deceased was a man of excellent character, and had +sustained gross insult and injury ere he drew his sword. I think, from +that moment, I observed--I beg pardon--The fits of morbid sensibility +which had tormented this unfortunate gentleman, were rendered henceforth +more acute by remorse, which he, of all men, was least capable of having +incurred, or of sustaining when it became his unhappy lot. His paroxysms +of agony could not be concealed from the lady to whom he was betrothed; +and it must be confessed they were of an alarming and fearful nature. +He comforted himself, that, at the expiry of his imprisonment, he could +form with his wife and friend a society, encircled by which he might +dispense with more extensive communication with the world. He was +deceived; before that term elapsed, his friend and his betrothed bride +were man and wife. The effects of a shock so dreadful on an ardent +temperament, a disposition already soured by bitter remorse, and +loosened by the indulgence of a gloomy imagination from the rest of +mankind, I cannot describe to you; it was as if the last cable at which +the vessel rode had suddenly parted, and left her abandoned to all the +wild fury of the tempest. He was placed under medical restraint. As a +temporary measure this might have been justifiable; but his hard-hearted +friend, who, in consequence of his marriage, was now his nearest ally, +prolonged his confinement, in order to enjoy the management of his +immense estates. There was one who owed his all to the sufferer, an +humble friend, but grateful and faithful. By unceasing exertion, and +repeated invocation of justice, he at length succeeded in obtaining +his patrons freedom, and reinstatement in the management of his own +property, to which was soon added that of his intended bride, who having +died without male issue, her estates reverted to him, as heir of entail. +But freedom and wealth were unable to restore the equipoise of his mind; +to the former his grief made him indifferent--the latter only served him +as far as it afforded him the means of indulging his strange and wayward +fancy. He had renounced the Catholic religion, but perhaps some of +its doctrines continued to influence a mind, over which remorse and +misanthropy now assumed, in appearance, an unbounded authority. His life +has since been that alternately of a pilgrim and a hermit, suffering +the most severe privations, not indeed in ascetic devotion, but in +abhorrence of mankind. Yet no mans words and actions have been at +such a wide difference, nor has any hypocritical wretch ever been more +ingenious in assigning good motives for his vile actions, than this +unfortunate in reconciling to his abstract principles of misanthropy, +a conduct which flows from his natural generosity and kindness of +feeling. + +Still, Mr. Ratcliffe--still you describe the inconsistencies of a +madman. + +By no means, replied Ratcliffe. That the imagination of this +gentleman is disordered, I will not pretend to dispute; I have already +told you that it has sometimes broken out into paroxysms approaching +to real mental alienation. But it is of his common state of mind that I +speak; it is irregular, but not deranged; the shades are as gradual as +those that divide the light of noonday from midnight. The courtier who +ruins his fortune for the attainment of a title which can do him no +good, or power of which he can make no suitable or creditable use, the +miser who hoards his useless wealth, and the prodigal who squanders it, +are all marked with a certain shade of insanity. To criminals who are +guilty of enormities, when the temptation, to a sober mind, bears no +proportion to the horror of the act, or the probability of detection and +punishment, the same observation applies; and every violent passion, as +well as anger, may be termed a short madness. + +This may be all good philosophy, Mr. Ratcliffe, answered Miss Vere; +but, excuse me, it by no means emboldens me to visit, at this late +hour, a person whose extravagance of imagination you yourself can only +palliate. + +Rather, then, said Ratcliffe, receive my solemn assurances, that you +do not incur the slightest danger. But what I have been hitherto afraid +to mention for fear of alarming you is, that now when we are within +sight of his retreat, for I can discover it through the twilight, I must +go no farther with you; you must proceed alone. + +Alone?--I dare not. + +You must, continued Ratcliffe; I will remain here and wait for you. + +You will not, then, stir from this place, said Miss Vere yet +the distance is so great, you could not hear me were I to cry for +assistance. + +Fear nothing, said her guide; or observe, at least, the utmost +caution in stifling every expression of timidity. Remember that his +predominant and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness +of the hideousness of his appearance. Your path lies straight beside +yon half-fallen willow; keep the left side of it; the marsh lies on the +right. Farewell for a time. Remember the evil you are threatened with, +and let it overcome at once your fears and scruples. + +Mr. Ratcliffe, said Isabella, farewell; if you have deceived one so +unfortunate as myself, you have for ever forfeited the fair character +for probity and honour to which I have trusted. + +On my life--on my soul, continued Ratcliffe, raising his voice as the +distance between them increased, you are safe--perfectly safe. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + --Twas time and griefs + That framed him thus: Time, with his fairer hand, + Offering the fortunes of his former days, + The former man may make him.--Bring us to him, + And chance it as it may.--OLD PLAY. + +The sounds of Ratcliffes voice had died on Isabellas ear; but as she +frequently looked back, it was some encouragement to her to discern his +form now darkening in the gloom. Ere, however, she went much farther, +she lost the object in the increasing shade. The last glimmer of the +twilight placed her before the hut of the Solitary. She twice extended +her hand to the door, and twice she withdrew it; and when she did at +length make the effort, the knock did not equal in violence the throb of +her own bosom. Her next effort was louder; her third was reiterated, for +the fear of not obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe promised +so much, began to overpower the terrors of his presence from whom she +was to request it. At length, as she still received no answer, she +repeatedly called upon the Dwarf by his assumed name, and requested him +to answer and open to her. + +What miserable being is reduced, said the appalling voice of the +Solitary, to seek refuge here? Go hence; when the heath-fowl need +shelter, they seek it not in the nest of the night-raven. + +I come to you, father, said Isabella, in my hour of adversity, even +as you yourself commanded, when you promised your heart and your door +should be open to my distress; but I fear-- + +Ha! said the Solitary, then thou art Isabella Vere? Give me a token +that thou art she. + +I have brought you back the rose which you gave me; it has not had time +to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon me! + +And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge, said the Dwarf, I will not +forfeit mine. The heart and the door that are shut against every other +earthly being, shall be open to thee and to thy sorrows. + +She heard him move in his hut, and presently afterwards strike a light. +One by one, bolt and bar were then withdrawn, the heart of Isabella +throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting were successively +removed. The door opened, and the Solitary stood before her, his uncouth +form and features illuminated by the iron lamp which he held in his +hand. + +Enter, daughter of affliction, he said,--enter the house of misery. + +She entered, and observed, with a precaution which increased her +trepidation, that the Recluses first act, after setting the lamp upon +the table, was to replace the numerous bolts which secured the door +of his hut. She shrunk as she heard the noise which accompanied this +ominous operation, yet remembered Ratcliffes caution, and endeavoured +to suppress all appearance of apprehension. The light of the lamp was +weak and uncertain; but the Solitary, without taking immediate notice of +Isabella, otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small +settle beside the fireplace, made haste to kindle some dry furze, which +presently cast a blaze through the cottage. Wooden shelves, which bore +a few books, some bundles of dried herbs, and one or two wooden cups and +platters, were on one side of the fire; on the other were placed some +ordinary tools of field-labour, mingled with those used by mechanics. +Where the bed should have been, there was a wooden frame, strewed with +withered moss and rushes, the couch of the ascetic. The whole space of +the cottage did not exceed ten feet by six within the walls; and its +only furniture, besides what we have mentioned, was a table and two +stools formed of rough deals. + +Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed with +a being, whose history had nothing to reassure her, and the fearful +conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an almost +superstitious terror. He occupied the seat opposite to her, and dropping +his huge and shaggy eyebrows over his piercing black eyes, gazed at her +in silence, as if agitated by a variety of contending feelings. On the +other side sate Isabella, pale as death, her long hair uncurled by the +evening damps, and falling over her shoulders and breast, as the wet +streamers droop from the mast when the storm has passed away, and left +the vessel stranded on the beach. The Dwarf first broke the silence with +the sudden, abrupt, and alarming question,--Woman, what evil fate has +brought thee hither? + +My fathers danger, and your own command, she replied faintly, but +firmly. + +And you hope for aid from me? + +If you can bestow it, she replied, still in the same tone of mild +submission. + +And how should I possess that power? continued the Dwarf, with a +bitter sneer; Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs? Is this the +castle in which one powerful enough to be sued to by a fair suppliant +is likely to hold his residence? I but mocked thee, girl, when I said I +would relieve thee. + +Then must I depart, and face my fate as I best may! + +No! said the Dwarf, rising and interposing between her and the door, +and motioning to her sternly to resume her seat--No! you leave me +not in this way; we must have farther conference. Why should one being +desire aid of another? Why should not each be sufficient to itself? Look +round you--I, the most despised and most decrepit on Natures common, +have required sympathy and help from no one. These stones are of my own +piling; these utensils I framed with my own hands; and with this--and +he laid his hand with a fierce smile on the long dagger which he always +wore beneath his garment, and unsheathed it so far that the blade +glimmered clear in the fire-light--with this, he pursued, as he thrust +the weapon back into the scabbard, I can, if necessary, defend the +vital spark enclosed in this poor trunk, against the fairest and +strongest that shall threaten me with injury. + +It was with difficulty Isabella refrained from screaming out aloud; but +she DID refrain. + +This, continued the Recluse, is the life of nature, solitary, +self-sufficing, and independent. The wolf calls not the wolf to aid him +in forming his den; and the vulture invites not another to assist her in +striking down her prey. + +And when they are unable to procure themselves support, said Isabella, +judiciously thinking that he would be most accessible to argument +couched in his own metaphorical style, what then is to befall them? + +Let them starve, die, and be forgotten; it is the common lot of +humanity. + +It is the lot of the wild tribes of nature, said Isabella, but +chiefly of those who are destined to support themselves by rapine, which +brooks no partner; but it is not the law of nature in general; even the +lower orders have confederacies for mutual defence. But mankind--the +race would perish did they cease to aid each other.--From the time +that the mother binds the childs head, till the moment that some kind +assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot +exist without mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid, have right to +ask it of their fellow-mortals; no one who has the power of granting can +refuse it without guilt. + +And in this simple hope, poor maiden, said the Solitary, thou hast +come into the desert, to seek one whose wish it were that the league +thou hast spoken of were broken for ever, and that, in very truth, the +whole race should perish? Wert thou not frightened? + +Misery, said Isabella, firmly, is superior to fear. + +Hast thou not heard it said in thy mortal world, that I have leagued +myself with other powers, deformed to the eye and malevolent to the +human race as myself? Hast thou not heard this--And dost thou seek my +cell at midnight? + +The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears, said +Isabella; but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied the affected +courage which her words expressed. + +Ho! ho! said the Dwarf, thou vauntest thyself a philosopher? Yet, +shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrusting thyself, +young and beautiful, in the power of one so spited against humanity, as +to place his chief pleasure in defacing, destroying, and degrading her +fairest works? + +Isabella, much alarmed, continued to answer with firmness, Whatever +injuries you may have sustained in the world, you are incapable of +revenging them on one who never wronged you, nor, wilfully, any other. + +Ay, but, maiden, he continued, his dark eyes flashing with an +expression of malignity which communicated itself to his wild and +distorted features, revenge is the hungry wolf, which asks only to tear +flesh and lap blood. Think you the lambs plea of innocence would be +listened to by him? + +Man! said Isabella, rising, and expressing herself with much dignity, +I fear not the horrible ideas with which you would impress me. I cast +them from me with disdain. Be you mortal or fiend, you would not offer +injury to one who sought you as a suppliant in her utmost need. You +would not--you durst not. + +Thou sayst truly, maiden, rejoined the Solitary; I dare not--I would +not. Begone to thy dwelling. Fear nothing with which they threaten thee. +Thou hast asked my protection--thou shalt find it effectual. + +But, father, this very night I have consented to wed the man that I +abhor, or I must put the seal to my fathers ruin. + +This night?--at what hour? + +Ere midnight. + +And twilight, said the Dwarf, has already passed away. But fear +nothing, there is ample time to protect thee. + +And my father? continued Isabella, in a suppliant tone. + +Thy father, replied the Dwarf, has been, and is, my most bitter +enemy. But fear not; thy virtue shall save him. And now, begone; were +I to keep thee longer by me, I might again fall into the stupid dreams +concerning human worth from which I have been so fearfully awakened. But +fear nothing--at the very foot of the altar I will redeem thee. Adieu, +time presses, and I must act! + +He led her to the door of the hut, which he opened for her departure. +She remounted her horse, which had been feeding in the outer enclosure, +and pressed him forward by the light of the moon, which was now rising, +to the spot where she had left Ratcliffe. + +Have you succeeded? was his first eager question. + +I have obtained promises from him to whom you sent me; but how can he +possibly accomplish them? + +Thank God! said Ratcliffe; doubt not his power to fulfil his +promise. + +At this moment a shrill whistle was heard to resound along the heath. + +Hark! said Ratcliffe, he calls me--Miss Vere, return home, and leave +unbolted the postern-door of the garden; to that which opens on the +back-stairs I have a private key. + +A second whistle was heard, yet more shrill and prolonged than the +first. + +I come, I come, said Ratcliffe; and setting spurs to his horse, rode +over the heath in the direction of the Recluses hut. Miss Vere returned +to the castle, the mettle of the animal on which she rode, and her own +anxiety of mind, combining to accelerate her journey. + +She obeyed Ratcliffes directions, though without well apprehending +their purpose, and leaving her horse at large in a paddock near +the garden, hurried to her own apartment, which she reached without +observation. She now unbolted her door, and rang her bell for lights. +Her father appeared along with the servant who answered her summons. + +He had been twice, he said, listening at her door during the two +hours that had elapsed since he left her, and, not hearing her speak, +had become apprehensive that she was taken ill. + +And now, my dear father, she said, permit me to claim the promise you +so kindly gave; let the last moments of freedom which I am to enjoy be +mine without interruption; and protract to the last moment the respite +which is allowed me. + +I will, said her father; nor shall you be again interrupted. But this +disordered dress--this dishevelled hair--do not let me find you thus +when I call on you again; the sacrifice, to be beneficial, must be +voluntary. + +Must it be so? she replied; then fear not, my father! the victim +shall be adorned. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + This looks not like a nuptial.--MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. + +The chapel in the castle of Ellieslaw, destined to be the scene of this +ill-omened union, was a building of much older date than the castle +itself, though that claimed considerable antiquity. Before the wars +between England and Scotland had become so common and of such long +duration, that the buildings along both sides of the Border were chiefly +dedicated to warlike purposes, there had been a small settlement of +monks at Ellieslaw, a dependency, it is believed by antiquaries, on the +rich Abbey of Jedburgh. Their possessions had long passed away under the +changes introduced by war and mutual ravage. A feudal castle had +arisen on the ruin of their cells, and their chapel was included in its +precincts. + +The edifice, in its round arches and massive pillars, the simplicity +of which referred their date to what has been called the Saxon +architecture, presented at all times a dark and sombre appearance, and +had been frequently used as the cemetery of the family of the feudal +lords, as well as formerly of the monastic brethren. But it looked +doubly gloomy by the effect of the few and smoky torches which were used +to enlighten it on the present occasion, and which, spreading a glare +of yellow light in their immediate vicinity, were surrounded beyond by +a red and purple halo reflected from their own smoke, and beyond that +again by a zone of darkness which magnified the extent of the chapel, +while it rendered it impossible for the eye to ascertain its limits. +Some injudicious ornaments, adopted in haste for the occasion, rather +added to the dreariness of the scene. Old fragments of tapestry, torn +from the walls of other apartments, had been hastily and partially +disposed around those of the chapel, and mingled inconsistently with +scutcheons and funeral emblems of the dead, which they elsewhere +exhibited. On each side of the stone altar was a monument, the +appearance of which formed an equally strange contrast. On the one was +the figure, in stone, of some grim hermit, or monk, who had died in +the odour of sanctity; he was represented as recumbent, in his cowl and +scapulaire, with his face turned upward as in the act of devotion, and +his hands folded, from which his string of beads was dependent. On +the other side was a tomb, in the Italian taste, composed of the most +beautiful statuary marble, and accounted a model of modern art. It +was erected to the memory of Isabellas mother, the late Mrs. Vere of +Ellieslaw, who was represented as in a dying posture, while a weeping +cherub, with eyes averted, seemed in the act of extinguishing a +dying lamp as emblematic of her speedy dissolution. It was, indeed, a +masterpiece of art, but misplaced in the rude vault to which it had been +consigned. Many were surprised, and even scandalized, that Ellieslaw, +not remarkable for attention to his lady while alive, should erect after +her death such a costly mausoleum in affected sorrow; others cleared him +from the imputation of hypocrisy, and averred that the monument had +been constructed under the direction and at the sole expense of Mr. +Ratcliffe. + +Before these monuments the wedding guests were assembled. They were +few in number; for many had left the castle to prepare for the ensuing +political explosion, and Ellieslaw was, in the circumstances of the +case, far from being desirous to extend invitations farther than to +those near relations whose presence the custom of the country rendered +indispensable. Next to the altar stood Sir Frederick Langley, dark, +moody, and thoughtful, even beyond his wont, and near him, Mareschal, +who was to play the part of bridesman, as it was called. The thoughtless +humour of this young gentleman, on which he never deigned to place +the least restraint, added to the cloud which overhung the brow of the +bridegroom. + +The bride is not yet come out of her chamber, he whispered to Sir +Frederick; I trust that we must not have recourse to the violent +expedients of the Romans which I read of at College. It would be hard +upon my pretty cousin to be run away with twice in two days, though I +know none better worth such a violent compliment. + +Sir Frederick attempted to turn a deaf ear to this discourse, humming a +tune, and looking another may, but Mareschal proceeded in the same wild +manner. + +This delay is hard upon Dr. Hobbler, who was disturbed to accelerate +preparations for this joyful event when he had successfully extracted +the cork of his third bottle. I hope you will keep him free of the +censure of his superiors, for I take it this is beyond canonical +hours.--But here come Ellieslaw and my pretty cousin--prettier than +ever, I think, were it not she seems so faint and so deadly pale--Hark +ye, Sir Knight, if she says not YES with right good-will, it shall be no +wedding, for all that has come and gone yet. + +No wedding, sir? returned Sir Frederick, in a loud whisper, the +tone of which indicated that his angry feelings were suppressed with +difficulty. + +No--no marriage, replied Mareschal, theres my hand and glove ont. + +Sir Frederick Langley took his hand, and as he wrung it hard, said in +a lower whisper, Mareschal, you shall answer this, and then flung his +hand from him. + +That I will readily do, said Mareschal, for never word escaped my +lips that my hand was not ready to guarantee.-So, speak up, my pretty +cousin, and tell me if it be your free will and unbiassed resolution to +accept of this gallant knight for your lord and husband; for if you have +the tenth part of a scruple upon the subject, fall back, fall edge, he +shall not have you. + +Are you mad, Mr. Mareschal? said Ellieslaw, who, having been this +young mans guardian during his minority, often employed a tone of +authority to him. Do you suppose I would drag my daughter to the foot +of the altar, were it not her own choice? + +Tut, Ellieslaw, retorted the young gentleman, never tell me of the +contrary; her eyes are full of tears, and her cheeks are whiter than +her white dress. I must insist, in the name of common humanity, that the +ceremony be adjourned till to-morrow. + +She shall tell you herself, thou incorrigible intermeddler in what +concerns thee not, that it is her wish the ceremony should go on--Is it +not, Isabella, my dear? + +It is, said Isabella, half fainting--since there is no help, either +in God or man. + +The first word alone was distinctly audible. Mareschal shrugged up his +shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rather supported, his +daughter to the altar. Sir Frederick moved forward and placed himself by +her side. The clergyman opened his prayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere +for the signal to commence the service. + +Proceed, said the latter. + +But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife, called, +in such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in the vaulted +chapel, Forbear! + +All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the clash +of swords, or something resembling it, was heard from the remote +apartments. It ceased almost instantly. + +What new device is this? said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing +Ellieslaw and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion. + +It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest, said Ellieslaw, +though greatly confounded; we must make large allowances for the excess +of this evenings festivity. Proceed with the service. + +Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they had +before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female attendants +screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid their hands on +their swords. Ere the first moment of surprise had passed by, the Dwarf +stepped from behind the monument, and placed himself full in front of +Mr. Vere. The effect of so strange and hideous an apparition in such +a place and in such circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to +annihilate the Laird of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughters arm, +staggered against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as +if for support, laid his brow against the column. + +Who is this fellow? said Sir Frederick; and what does he mean by this +intrusion? + +It is one who comes to tell you, said the Dwarf, with the peculiar +acrimony which usually marked his manner, that, in marrying that young +lady, you wed neither the heiress of Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley Hall, +nor of Polverton, nor of one furrow of land, unless she marries with MY +consent; and to thee that consent shall never be given. Down--down +on thy knees, and thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding +qualities with which thou hast no concern--portionless truth, virtue, +and innocence--thou, base ingrate, he continued, addressing himself to +Ellieslaw, what is thy wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who wouldst sell +thy daughter to relieve thee from danger, as in famine thou wouldst have +slain and devoured her to preserve thy own vile life!--Ay, hide thy face +with thy hands; well mayst thou blush to look on him whose body thou +didst consign to chains, his hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. +Saved once more by the virtue of her who calls thee father, go hence, +and may the pardon and benefits I confer on thee prove literal coals of +fire, till thy brain is seared and scorched like mine! + +Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair. + +Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe, said the Dwarf, and inform him of his +destiny. He will rejoice--for to breathe air and to handle gold is to +him happiness. + +I understand nothing of all this, said Sir Frederick Langley; but we +are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for King James; and +whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward Mauley, who has been so long +supposed dead in confinement, or whether you be an impostor assuming +his name and title, we will use the freedom of detaining you, till your +appearance here, at this moment, is better accounted for; we will have +no spies among us--Seize on him, my friends. + +But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick himself +stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands on his person, +when his progress was suddenly stopped by the glittering point of a +partisan, which the sturdy hand of Hobbie Elliot presented against his +bosom. + +Ill gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him! said the +stout Borderer; stand back, or Ill strike ye through! Naebody shall +lay a finger on Elshie; hes a canny neighbourly man, aye ready to make +a friend help; and, though ye may think him a lamiter, yet, grippie for +grippie, friend, Ill wad a wether hell make the bluid spin frae under +your nails. Hes a teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smiths vice. + +What has brought you here, Elliot? said Mareschal; who called on you +for interference? + +Troth, Mareschal-Wells, answered Hobbie, I am just come here, wi +twenty or thretty mair o us, in my ain name and the Kings--or Queens, +ca they her? and Canny Elshies into the bargain, to keep the peace, +and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien me. A bonny breakfast the +loons gae me the ither morning, and him at the bottom ont; and trow +ye I wasna ready to supper him up?--Ye needna lay your hands on your +swords, gentlemen, the house is ours wi little din; for the doors were +open, and there had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took +their swords and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods. + +Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel. + +By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with armed +men, and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and let us fight our +way. + +Binna rash--binna rash, exclaimed Hobbie; hear me a bit, hear me a +bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King James, as +ye ca him, and the prelates, we thought it right to keep up the auld +neighbour war, and stand up for the tother ane and the Kirk; but well +no hurt a hair o your heads, if ye like to gang hame quietly. And it +will be your best way, for theres sure news come frae Loudoun, that him +they ca Bang, or Byng, or what ist, has bangd the French ships and +the new king aff the coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi +auld Nanse for want of a better Queen. + +Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts so +unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost instantly, +and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, with such of his +attendants as were able to follow him. + +And what will you do, Mr. Mareschal? said Ratcliffe. + +Why, faith, answered he, smiling, I hardly know; my spirit is too +great, and my fortune too small, for me to follow the example of the +doughty bridegroom. It is not in my nature, and it is hardly worth my +while. + +Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will be +overlooked, as there has been no overt act. + +Hout, ay, said Elliot, just let byganes be byganes, and a friends +again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I hae gien him +baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed three blows of the +broadsword wi him before he lap the window into the castle-moat, and +swattered through it like a wild-duck. Hes a clever fallow, indeed! +maun kilt awa wi ae bonny lass in the morning, and another at night, +less wadna serve him! but if he disna kilt himsell out o the country, +Ise kilt him wi a tow, for the Castleton meetings clean blawn ower; +his friends will no countenance him. + +During the general confusion, Isabella had thrown herself at the feet of +her kinsman, Sir Edward Mauley, for so we must now call the Solitary, +to express at once her gratitude, and to beseech forgiveness for her +father. The eyes of all began to be fixed on them, as soon as their own +agitation and the bustle of the attendants had somewhat abated. Miss +Vere kneeled beside the tomb of her mother, to whose statue her features +exhibited a marked resemblance. She held the hand of the Dwarf, +which she kissed repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and +motionless, excepting that his eyes glanced alternately on the marble +figure and the living suppliant. At length, the large drops which +gathered on his eye-lashes compelled him to draw his hand across them. + +I thought, he said, that tears and I had done; but we shed them at +our birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our graves. But no +melting of the heart shall dissolve my resolution. I part here, at once, +and for ever, with all of which the memory (looking to the tomb), or +the presence (he pressed Isabellas hand), is dear to me.--Speak not +to me! attempt not to thwart my determination! it will avail nothing; +you will hear of and see this lump of deformity no more. To you I shall +be dead ere I am actually in my grave, and you will think of me as of a +friend disencumbered from the toils and crimes of existence. + +He kissed Isabella on the forehead, impressed another kiss on the +brow of the statue by which she knelt, and left the chapel followed by +Ratcliffe. Isabella, almost exhausted by the emotions of the day, +was carried to her apartment by her women. Most of the other guests +dispersed, after having separately endeavoured to impress on all who +would listen to them their disapprobation of the plots formed against +the government, or their regret for having engaged in them. Hobbie +Elliot assumed the command of the castle for the night, and mounted a +regular guard. He boasted not a little of the alacrity with which his +friends and he had obeyed a hasty summons received from Elshie through +the faithful Ratcliffe. And it was a lucky chance, he said, that on that +very day they had got notice that Westburnflat did not intend to +keep his tryste at Castleton, but to hold them at defiance; so that a +considerable party had assembled at the Heugh-foot, with the intention +of paying a visit to the robbers tower on the ensuing morning, and +their course was easily directed to Ellieslaw Castle. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + --Last scene of all, + To close this strange eventful history.--AS YOU LIKE IT. + +On the next morning, Mr. Ratcliffe presented Miss Vere with a letter +from her father, of which the following is the tenor:-- + +MY DEAREST CHILD, The malice of a persecuting government will compel +me, for my own safety, to retreat abroad, and to remain for some time +in foreign parts. I do not ask you to accompany, or follow me; you will +attend to my interest and your own more effectually by remaining where +you are. It is unnecessary to enter into a minute detail concerning the +causes of the strange events which yesterday took place. I think I have +reason to complain of the usage I have received from Sir Edward Mauley, +who is your nearest kinsman by the mothers side; but as he has declared +you his heir, and is to put you in immediate possession of a large part +of his fortune, I account it a full atonement. I am aware he has never +forgiven the preference which your mother gave to my addresses, instead +of complying with the terms of a sort of family compact, which absurdly +and tyrannically destined her to wed her deformed relative. The shock +was even sufficient to unsettle his wits (which, indeed, were never +over-well arranged), and I had, as the husband of his nearest kinswoman +and heir, the delicate task of taking care of his person and property, +until he was reinstated in the management of the latter by those who, no +doubt, thought they were doing him justice; although, if some parts of +his subsequent conduct be examined, it will appear that he ought, +for his own sake, to have been left under the influence of a mild and +salutary restraint. + +In one particular, however, he showed a sense of the ties of blood, +as well as of his own frailty; for while he sequestered himself closely +from the world, under various names and disguises, and insisted on +spreading a report of his own death (in which to gratify him I willingly +acquiesced), he left at my disposal the rents of a great proportion of +his estates, and especially all those, which, having belonged to your +mother, reverted to him as a male fief. In this he may have thought +that he was acting with extreme generosity, while, in the opinion of all +impartial men, he will only be considered as having fulfilled a natural +obligation, seeing that, in justice, if not in strict law, you must +be considered as the heir of your mother, and I as your legal +administrator. Instead, therefore, of considering myself as loaded +with obligations to Sir Edward on this account, I think I had reason +to complain that these remittances were only doled out to me at the +pleasure of Mr. Ratcliffe, who, moreover, exacted from me mortgages +over my paternal estate of Ellieslaw for any sums which I required as an +extra advance; and thus may be said to have insinuated himself into the +absolute management and control of my property. Or, if all this seeming +friendship was employed by Sir Edward for the purpose of obtaining a +complete command of my affairs, and acquiring the power of ruining me +at his pleasure, I feel myself, I must repeat, still less bound by the +alleged obligation. + +About the autumn of last year, as I understand, either his own crazed +imagination, or the accomplishment of some such scheme as I have hinted, +brought him down to this country. His alleged motive, it seems, was a +desire of seeing a monument which he had directed to be raised in the +chapel over the tomb of your mother. Mr. Ratcliffe, who at this time +had done me the honour to make my house his own, had the complaisance to +introduce him secretly into the chapel. The consequence, as he informs +me, was a frenzy of several hours, during which he fled into the +neighbouring moors, in one of the wildest spots of which he chose, when +he was somewhat recovered, to fix his mansion, and set up for a sort of +country empiric, a character which, even in his best days, he was fond +of assuming. It is remarkable, that, instead of informing me of these +circumstances, that I might have had the relative of my late wife taken +such care of as his calamitous condition required, Mr. Ratcliffe seems +to have had such culpable indulgence for his irregular plans as to +promise and even swear secrecy concerning them. He visited Sir Edward +often, and assisted in the fantastic task he had taken upon him of +constructing a hermitage. Nothing they appear to have dreaded more than +a discovery of their intercourse. + +The ground was open in every direction around, and a small subterranean +cave, probably sepulchral, which their researches had detected near +the great granite pillar, served to conceal Ratcliffe, when any one +approached his master. I think you will be of opinion, my love, that +this secrecy must have had some strong motive. It is also remarkable, +that while I thought my unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of +La Trappe, he should have been actually living, for many months, in this +bizarre disguise, within five miles of my house, and obtaining regular +information of my most private movements, either by Ratcliffe, or +through Westburnflat or others, whom he had the means to bribe to any +extent. He makes it a crime against me that I endeavoured to establish +your marriage with Sir Frederick. I acted for the best; but if Sir +Edward Mauley thought otherwise, why did he not step manfully forward, +express his own purpose of becoming a party to the settlements, and take +that interest which he is entitled to claim in you as heir to his great +property? + +Even now, though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat tardy in +announcing his purpose, I am far from opposing my authority against +his wishes, although the person he desires you to regard as your future +husband be young Earnscliff; the very last whom I should have thought +likely to be acceptable to him, considering a certain fatal event. But I +give my free and hearty consent, providing the settlements are drawn in +such an irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by +that state of dependence, and that sudden and causeless revocation of +allowances, of which I have so much reason to complain. Of Sir Frederick +Langley, I augur, you will hear no more. He is not likely to claim the +hand of a dowerless maiden. I therefore commit you, my dear Isabella, to +the wisdom of Providence and to your own prudence, begging you to lose +no time in securing those advantages, which the fickleness of your +kinsman has withdrawn from me to shower upon you. + +Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edwards intention to settle a considerable +sum upon me yearly, for my maintenance in foreign parts; but this my +heart is too proud to accept from him. I told him I had a dear child, +who, while in affluence herself, would never suffer me to be in poverty. +I thought it right to intimate this to him pretty roundly, that whatever +increase be settled upon you, it may be calculated so as to cover this +necessary and natural encumbrance. I shall willingly settle upon you +the castle and manor of Ellieslaw, to show my parental affection and +disinterested zeal for promoting your settlement in life. The annual +interest of debts charged on the estate somewhat exceeds the income, +even after a reasonable rent has been put upon the mansion and mains. +But as all the debts are in the person of Mr. Ratcliffe, as your +kinsmans trustee, he will not be a troublesome creditor. And here I +must make you aware, that though I have to complain of Mr. Ratcliffes +conduct to me personally, I, nevertheless, believe him a just and +upright man, with whom you may safely consult on your affairs, not to +mention that to cherish his good opinion will be the best way to retain +that of your kinsman. Remember me to Marchie--I hope he will not be +troubled on account of late matters. I will write more fully from the +Continent. Meanwhile, I rest your loving father, RICHARD VERE. + +The above letter throws the only additional light which we have been +able to procure upon the earlier part of our story. It was Hobbies +opinion, and may be that of most of our readers, that the Recluse +of Mucklestane-Moor had but a kind of a gleaming, or twilight +understanding; and that he had neither very clear views as to what he +himself wanted, nor was apt to pursue his ends by the clearest and most +direct means; so that to seek the clew of his conduct, was likened, by +Hobbie, to looking for a straight path through a common, over which are +a hundred devious tracks, but not one distinct line of road. + +When Isabella had perused the letter, her first enquiry was after her +father. He had left the castle, she was informed, early in the morning, +after a long interview with Mr. Ratcliffe, and was already far on his +way to the next port, where he might expect to find shipping for the +Continent. + +Where was Sir Edward Mauley? + +No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the preceding +evening. + +Odd, if onything has befaen puir Elshie, said Hobbie Elliot, I wad +rather I were harried ower again. + +He immediately rode to his dwelling, and the remaining she-goat came +bleating to meet him, for her milking time was long past. The Solitary +was nowhere to be seen; his door, contrary to wont, was open, his fire +extinguished, and the whole hut was left in the state which it exhibited +on Isabellas visit to him. It was pretty clear that the means of +conveyance which had brought the Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding +evening, had removed him from it to some other place of abode. Hobbie +returned disconsolate to the castle. + +I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an a. + +You have indeed, said Ratcliffe, producing a paper, which he put into +Hobbies hands; but read that, and you will perceive you have been no +loser by having known him. + +It was a short deed of gift, by which Sir Edward Mauley, otherwise +called Elshender the Recluse, endowed Halbert or Hobbie Elliot, and +Grace Armstrong, in full property, with a considerable sum borrowed by +Elliot from him. + +Hobbies joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down his +rough cheeks. + +Its a queer thing, he said; but I canna joy in the gear, unless I +kend the puir body was happy that gave it me. + +Next to enjoying happiness ourselves, said Ratcliffe, is the +consciousness of having bestowed it on others. Had all my masters +benefits been conferred like the present, what a different return would +they have produced! But the indiscriminate profusion that would glut +avarice, or supply prodigality, neither does good, nor is rewarded by +gratitude. It is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind. + +And that wad be a light harst, said Hobbie; but, wi my young +leddies leave, I wad fain take down Eishies skeps o bees, and set +them in Graces bit flower yard at the Heugh-foot--they shall neer be +smeekit by ony o huz. And the puir goat, she would be negleckit about a +great toun like this; and she could feed bonnily on our lily lea by the +burn side, and the hounds wad ken her in a days time, and never fash +her, and Grace wad milk her ilka morning wi her ain hand, for Elshies +sake; for though he was thrawn and cankered in his converse, he likeit +dumb creatures weel. + +Hobbies requests were readily granted, not without some wonder at +the natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this mode of +displaying his gratitude. He was delighted when Ratcliffe informed him +that his benefactor should not remain ignorant of the care which he took +of his favourite. + +And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties, and, +abune a, Grace and mysell, are weel and thriving, and that its a his +doing--that canna but please him, ane wad think. + +And Elliot and the family at Heugh-foot were, and continued to be, as +fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty, tenderness, and gallantry +so well merited. + +All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now removed, +and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part of Sir Edward +Mauley, might have satisfied the cupidity of Ellieslaw himself. But Miss +Vere and Ratcliffe thought it unnecessary to mention to Earnscliff that +one great motive of Sir Edward, in thus loading the young pair with +benefits, was to expiate his having, many years before, shed the blood +of his father in a hasty brawl. If it be true, as Ratcliffe asserted, +that the Dwarfs extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat, under +the consciousness of having diffused happiness among so many, the +recollection of this circumstance might probably be one of his chief +motives for refusing obstinately ever to witness their state of +contentment. + +Mareschal hunted, shot, and drank claret--tired of the country, went +abroad, served three campaigns, came home, and married Lucy Ilderton. + +Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife, and found and left +them contented and happy. The scheming ambition of Sir Frederick +Langley engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of 1715. He was made +prisoner at Preston, in Lancashire, with the Earl of Derwentwater, +and others. His defence, and the dying speech which he made at his +execution, may be found in the State Trials. Mr. Vere, supplied by +his daughter with an ample income, continued to reside abroad, engaged +deeply in the affair of Laws bank during the regency 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 end--drank brandy with +the neighbours, whom, in his younger days, he had plundered--died 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 +Edwards 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. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Dwarf, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK DWARF *** + +***** This file should be named 1460-0.txt or 1460-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/1460/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Black Dwarf + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Release Date: February 15, 2006 [EBook #1460] +Last Updated: August 30, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK DWARF *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE BLACK DWARF + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by Sir Walter Scott + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD, INTRODUCTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> <b>III. THE BLACK DWARF</b>. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + <br /> Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the <br /> + etext in square brackets close to the place where <br /> they were + referenced by a suffix in the original text. <br /> Text in italics has + been written in capital letters. <br /> + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD + </h2> + <p> + COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, SCHOOLMASTER AND + PARISH-CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION. + </h2> + <p> + As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official description + prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the sedate and reflecting part + of mankind, to whom only I would be understood to address myself, such + attention as is due to the sedulous instructor of youth, and the careful + performer of my Sabbath duties, I will forbear to hold up a candle to the + daylight, or to point out to the judicious those recommendations of my + labours which they must necessarily anticipate from the perusal of the + title-page. Nevertheless, I am not unaware, that, as Envy always dogs + Merit at the heels, there may be those who will whisper, that albeit my + learning and good principles cannot (lauded be the heavens) be denied by + any one, yet that my situation at Gandercleugh hath been more favourable + to my acquisitions in learning than to the enlargement of my views of the + ways and works of the present generation. To the which objection, if, + peradventure, any such shall be started, my answer shall be threefold: + </p> + <p> + First, Gandercleugh is, as it were, the central part—the navel (SI + FAS SIT DICERE) of this our native realm of Scotland; so that men, from + every corner thereof, when travelling on their concernments of business, + either towards our metropolis of law, by which I mean Edinburgh, or + towards our metropolis and mart of gain, whereby I insinuate Glasgow, are + frequently led to make Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place of rest + for the night. And it must be acknowledged by the most sceptical, that I, + who have sat in the leathern armchair, on the left-hand side of the fire, + in the common room of the Wallace Inn, winter and summer, for every + evening in my life, during forty years bypast (the Christian Sabbaths only + excepted), must have seen more of the manners and customs of various + tribes and people, than if I had sought them out by my own painful travel + and bodily labour. Even so doth the tollman at the well-frequented + turn-pike on the Wellbraehead, sitting at his ease in his own dwelling, + gather more receipt of custom, than if, moving forth upon the road, he + were to require a contribution from each person whom he chanced to meet in + his journey, when, according to the vulgar adage, he might possibly be + greeted with more kicks than halfpence. + </p> + <p> + But, secondly, supposing it again urged, that Ithacus, the most wise of + the Greeks, acquired his renown, as the Roman poet hath assured us, by + visiting states and men, I reply to the Zoilus who shall adhere to this + objection, that, DE FACTO, I have seen states and men also; for I have + visited the famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the former twice, and + the latter three times, in the course of my earthly pilgrimage. And, + moreover, I had the honour to sit in the General Assembly (meaning, as an + auditor, in the galleries thereof), and have heard as much goodly speaking + on the law of patronage, as, with the fructification thereof in mine own + understanding, hath made me be considered as an oracle upon that doctrine + ever since my safe and happy return to Gandercleugh. + </p> + <p> + Again—and thirdly, If it be nevertheless pretended that my + information and knowledge of mankind, however extensive, and however + painfully acquired, by constant domestic enquiry, and by foreign travel, + is, natheless, incompetent to the task of recording the pleasant + narratives of my Landlord, I will let these critics know, to their own + eternal shame and confusion as well as to the abashment and discomfiture + of all who shall rashly take up a song against me, that I am NOT the + writer, redacter, or compiler, of the Tales of my Landlord; nor am I, in + one single iota, answerable for their contents, more or less. And now, ye + generation of critics, who raise yourselves up as if it were brazen + serpents, to hiss with your tongues, and to smite with your stings, bow + yourselves down to your native dust, and acknowledge that yours have been + the thoughts of ignorance, and the words of vain foolishness. Lo! ye are + caught in your own snare, and your own pit hath yawned for you. Turn, + then, aside from the task that is too heavy for you; destroy not your + teeth by gnawing a file; waste not your strength by spurning against a + castle wall; nor spend your breath in contending in swiftness with a fleet + steed; and let those weigh the Tales of my Landlord, who shall bring with + them the scales of candour cleansed from the rust of prejudice by the + hands of intelligent modesty. For these alone they were compiled, as will + appear from a brief narrative which my zeal for truth compelled me to make + supplementary to the present Proem. + </p> + <p> + It is well known that my Landlord was a pleasing and a facetious man, + acceptable unto all the parish of Gandercleugh, excepting only the Laird, + the Exciseman, and those for whom he refused to draw liquor upon trust. + Their causes of dislike I will touch separately, adding my own refutation + thereof. + </p> + <p> + His honour, the Laird, accused our Landlord, deceased, of having + encouraged, in various times and places, the destruction of hares, + rabbits, fowls black and grey, partridges, moor-pouts, roe-deer, and other + birds and quadrupeds, at unlawful seasons, and contrary to the laws of + this realm, which have secured, in their wisdom, the slaughter of such + animals for the great of the earth, whom I have remarked to take an + uncommon (though to me, an unintelligible) pleasure therein. Now, in + humble deference to his honour, and in justifiable defence of my friend + deceased, I reply to this charge, that howsoever the form of such animals + might appear to be similar to those so protected by the law, yet it was a + mere DECEPTIO VISUS; for what resembled hares were, in fact, HILL-KIDS, + and those partaking of the appearance of moor-fowl, were truly WOOD + PIGEONS and consumed and eaten EO NOMINE, and not otherwise. + </p> + <p> + Again, the Exciseman pretended, that my deceased Landlord did encourage + that species of manufacture called distillation, without having an + especial permission from the Great, technically called a license, for + doing so. Now, I stand up to confront this falsehood; and in defiance of + him, his gauging-stick, and pen and inkhorn, I tell him, that I never saw, + or tasted, a glass of unlawful aqua vitae in the house of my Landlord; + nay, that, on the contrary, we needed not such devices, in respect of a + pleasing and somewhat seductive liquor, which was vended and consumed at + the Wallace Inn, under the name of MOUNTAIN DEW. If there is a penalty + against manufacturing such a liquor, let him show me the statute; and when + he does, I’ll tell him if I will obey it or no. + </p> + <p> + Concerning those who came to my Landlord for liquor, and went thirsty + away, for lack of present coin, or future credit, I cannot but say it has + grieved my bowels as if the case had been mine own. Nevertheless, my + Landlord considered the necessities of a thirsty soul, and would permit + them, in extreme need, and when their soul was impoverished for lack of + moisture, to drink to the full value of their watches and wearing apparel, + exclusively of their inferior habiliments, which he was uniformly + inexorable in obliging them to retain, for the credit of the house. As to + mine own part, I may well say, that he never refused me that modicum of + refreshment with which I am wont to recruit nature after the fatigues of + my school. It is true, I taught his five sons English and Latin, writing, + book-keeping, with a tincture of mathematics, and that I instructed his + daughter in psalmody. Nor do I remember me of any fee or HONORARIUM + received from him on account of these my labours, except the compotations + aforesaid. Nevertheless this compensation suited my humour well, since it + is a hard sentence to bid a dry throat wait till quarter-day. + </p> + <p> + But, truly, were I to speak my simple conceit and belief, I think my + Landlord was chiefly moved to waive in my behalf the usual requisition of + a symbol, or reckoning, from the pleasure he was wont to take in my + conversation, which, though solid and edifying in the main, was, like a + well-built palace, decorated with facetious narratives and devices, + tending much to the enhancement and ornament thereof. And so pleased was + my Landlord of the Wallace in his replies during such colloquies, that + there was no district in Scotland, yea, and no peculiar, and, as it were, + distinctive custom therein practised, but was discussed betwixt us; + insomuch, that those who stood by were wont to say, it was worth a bottle + of ale to hear us communicate with each other. And not a few travellers, + from distant parts, as well as from the remote districts of our kingdom, + were wont to mingle in the conversation, and to tell news that had been + gathered in foreign lands, or preserved from oblivion in this our own. + </p> + <p> + Now I chanced to have contracted for teaching the lower classes with a + young person called Peter, or Patrick, Pattieson, who had been educated + for our Holy Kirk, yea, had, by the license of presbytery, his voice + opened therein as a preacher, who delighted in the collection of olden + tales and legends, and in garnishing them with the flowers of poesy, + whereof he was a vain and frivolous professor. For he followed not the + example of those strong poets whom I proposed to him as a pattern, but + formed versification of a flimsy and modern texture, to the compounding + whereof was necessary small pains and less thought. And hence I have chid + him as being one of those who bring forward the fatal revolution + prophesied by Mr. Robert Carey, in his Vaticination on the Death of the + celebrated Dr. John Donne: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Now thou art gone, and thy strict laws will be + Too hard for libertines in poetry; + Till verse (by thee refined) in this last age + Turn ballad rhyme. +</pre> + <p> + I had also disputations with him touching his indulging rather a flowing + and redundant than a concise and stately diction in his prose + exercitations. But notwithstanding these symptoms of inferior taste, and a + humour of contradicting his betters upon passages of dubious construction + in Latin authors, I did grievously lament when Peter Pattieson was removed + from me by death, even as if he had been the offspring of my own loins. + And in respect his papers had been left in my care (to answer funeral and + death-bed expenses), I conceived myself entitled to dispose of one parcel + thereof, entitled, “Tales of my Landlord,” to one cunning in the trade (as + it is called) of bookselling. He was a mirthful man, of small stature, + cunning in counterfeiting of voices, and in making facetious tales and + responses, and whom I have to laud for the truth of his dealings towards + me. + </p> + <p> + Now, therefore, the world may see the injustice that charges me with + incapacity to write these narratives, seeing, that though I have proved + that I could have written them if I would, yet, not having done so, the + censure will deservedly fall, if at all due, upon the memory of Mr. Peter + Pattieson; whereas I must be justly entitled to the praise, when any is + due, seeing that, as the Dean of St. Patrick’s wittily and logically + expresseth it, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + That without which a thing is not, + Is CAUSA SINE QUA NON. +</pre> + <p> + The work, therefore, is unto me as a child is to a parent; in the which + child, if it proveth worthy, the parent hath honour and praise; but, if + otherwise, the disgrace will deservedly attach to itself alone. + </p> + <p> + I have only further to intimate, that Mr. Peter Pattieson, in arranging + these Tales for the press, hath more consulted his own fancy than the + accuracy of the narrative; nay, that he hath sometimes blended two or + three stories together for the mere grace of his plots. Of which + infidelity, although I disapprove and enter my testimony against it, yet I + have not taken upon me to correct the same, in respect it was the will of + the deceased, that his manuscript should be submitted to the press without + diminution or alteration. A fanciful nicety it was on the part of my + deceased friend, who, if thinking wisely, ought rather to have conjured + me, by all the tender ties of our friendship and common pursuits, to have + carefully revised, altered, and augmented, at my judgment and discretion. + But the will of the dead must be scrupulously obeyed, even when we weep + over their pertinacity and self-delusion. So, gentle reader, I bid you + farewell, recommending you to such fare as the mountains of your own + country produce; and I will only farther premise, that each Tale is + preceded by a short introduction, mentioning the persons by whom, and the + circumstances under which, the materials thereof were collected. + </p> + <p> + JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM. <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. + </h2> + <p> + The ideal being who is here presented as residing in solitude, and haunted + by a consciousness of his own deformity, and a suspicion of his being + generally subjected to the scorn of his fellow-men, is not altogether + imaginary. An individual existed many years since, under the author’s + observation, which suggested such a character. This poor unfortunate man’s + name was David Ritchie, a native of Tweeddale. He was the son of a + labourer in the slate-quarries of Stobo, and must have been born in the + misshapen form which he exhibited, though he sometimes imputed it to + ill-usage when in infancy. He was bred a brush-maker at Edinburgh, and had + wandered to several places, working at his trade, from all which he was + chased by the disagreeable attention which his hideous singularity of form + and face attracted wherever he came. The author understood him to say he + had even been in Dublin. + </p> + <p> + Tired at length of being the object of shouts, laughter, and derision, + David Ritchie resolved, like a deer hunted from the herd, to retreat to + some wilderness, where he might have the least possible communication with + the world which scoffed at him. He settled himself, with this view, upon a + patch of wild moorland at the bottom of a bank on the farm of Woodhouse, + in the sequestered vale of the small river Manor, in Peeblesshire. The few + people who had occasion to pass that way were much surprised, and some + superstitious persons a little alarmed, to see so strange a figure as + Bow’d Davie (i.e. Crooked David) employed in a task, for which he seemed + so totally unfit, as that of erecting a house. The cottage which he built + was extremely small, but the walls, as well as those of a little garden + that surrounded it, were constructed with an ambitious degree of solidity, + being composed of layers of large stones and turf; and some of the corner + stones were so weighty, as to puzzle the spectators how such a person as + the architect could possibly have raised them. In fact, David received + from passengers, or those who came attracted by curiosity, a good deal of + assistance; and as no one knew how much aid had been given by others, the + wonder of each individual remained undiminished. + </p> + <p> + The proprietor of the ground, the late Sir James Naesmith, baronet, + chanced to pass this singular dwelling, which, having been placed there + without right or leave asked or given, formed an exact parallel with + Falstaff’s simile of a “fair house built on another’s ground;” so that + poor David might have lost his edifice by mistaking the property where he + had erected it. Of course, the proprietor entertained no idea of exacting + such a forfeiture, but readily sanctioned the harmless encroachment. + </p> + <p> + The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane-Moor has been + generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of + David of Manor Water. He was not quite three feet and a half high, since + he could stand upright in the door of his mansion, which was just that + height. The following particulars concerning his figure and temper occur + in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for 1817, and are now understood to have been + communicated by the ingenious Mr. Robert Chambers of Edinburgh, who has + recorded with much spirit the traditions of the Good Town, and, in other + publications, largely and agreeably added to the stock of our popular + antiquities. He is the countryman of David Ritchie, and had the best + access to collect anecdotes of him. + </p> + <p> + “His skull,” says this authority, “which was of an oblong and rather + unusual shape, was said to be of such strength, that he could strike it + with ease through the panel of a door, or the end of a barrel. His laugh + is said to have been quite horrible; and his screech-owl voice, shrill, + uncouth, and dissonant, corresponded well with his other peculiarities. + </p> + <p> + “There was nothing very uncommon about his dress. He usually wore an old + slouched hat when he went abroad; and when at home, a sort of cowl or + night-cap. He never wore shoes, being unable to adapt them to his + mis-shapen finlike feet, but always had both feet and legs quite + concealed, and wrapt up with pieces of cloth. He always walked with a sort + of pole or pike-staff, considerably taller than himself. His habits were, + in many respects, singular, and indicated a mind congenial to its uncouth + tabernacle. A jealous, misanthropical, and irritable temper, was his + prominent characteristic. The sense of his deformity haunted him like a + phantom. And the insults and scorn to which this exposed him, had poisoned + his heart with fierce and bitter feelings, which, from other points in his + character, do not appear to have been more largely infused into his + original temperament than that of his fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + “He detested children, on account of their propensity to insult and + persecute him. To strangers he was generally reserved, crabbed, and surly; + and though he by no means refused assistance or charity, he seldom either + expressed or exhibited much gratitude. Even towards persons who had been + his greatest benefactors, and who possessed the greatest share of his + good-will, he frequently displayed much caprice and jealousy. A lady who + had known him from his infancy, and who has furnished us in the most + obliging manner with some particulars respecting him, says, that although + Davie showed as much respect and attachment to her father’s family, as it + was in his nature to show to any, yet they were always obliged to be very + cautious in their deportment towards him. One day, having gone to visit + him with another lady, he took them through his garden, and was showing + them, with much pride and good-humour, all his rich and tastefully + assorted borders, when they happened to stop near a plot of cabbages which + had been somewhat injured by the caterpillars. Davie, observing one of the + ladies smile, instantly assumed his savage, scowling aspect, rushed among + the cabbages, and dashed them to pieces with his KENT, exclaiming, ‘I hate + the worms, for they mock me!’ + </p> + <p> + “Another lady, likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his, very + unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion. Throwing + back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden, he fancied + he observed her spit, and exclaimed, with great ferocity, ‘Am I a toad, + woman! that ye spit at me—that ye spit at me?’ and without listening + to any answer or excuse, drove her out of his garden with imprecations and + insult. When irritated by persons for whom he entertained little respect, + his misanthropy displayed itself in words, and sometimes in actions, of + still greater rudeness; and he used on such occasions the most unusual and + singularly savage imprecations and threats.” [SCOTS MAGAZINE, vol. lxxx. + p.207.] + </p> + <p> + Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works; and + there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate, which does not possess some + source of gratification peculiar to itself, This poor man, whose + misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural deformity, had + yet his own particular enjoyments. Driven into solitude, he became an + admirer of the beauties of nature. His garden, which he sedulously + cultivated, and from a piece of wild moorland made a very productive spot, + was his pride and his delight; but he was also an admirer of more natural + beauty: the soft sweep of the green hill, the bubbling of a clear + fountain, or the complexities of a wild thicket, were scenes on which he + often gazed for hours, and, as he said, with inexpressible delight. It was + perhaps for this reason that he was fond of Shenstone’s pastorals, and + some parts of PARADISE LOST. The author has heard his most unmusical voice + repeat the celebrated description of Paradise, which he seemed fully to + appreciate. His other studies were of a different cast, chiefly polemical. + He never went to the parish church, and was therefore suspected of + entertaining heterodox opinions, though his objection was probably to the + concourse of spectators, to whom he must have exposed his unseemly + deformity. He spoke of a future state with intense feeling, and even with + tears. He expressed disgust at the idea, of his remains being mixed with + the common rubbish, as he called it, of the churchyard, and selected with + his usual taste a beautiful and wild spot in the glen where he had his + hermitage, in which to take his last repose. He changed his mind, however, + and was finally interred in the common burial-ground of Manor parish. + </p> + <p> + The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made him + appear, in the eyes of the vulgar, a man possessed of supernatural power. + Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment, for some of the poor + and ignorant, as well as all the children, in the neighbourhood, held him + to be what is called uncanny. He himself did not altogether discourage the + idea; it enlarged his very limited circle of power, and in so far + gratified his conceit; and it soothed his misanthropy, by increasing his + means of giving terror or pain. But even in a rude Scottish glen thirty + years back, the fear of sorcery was very much out of date. + </p> + <p> + David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes, especially such as + were supposed to be haunted, and valued himself upon his courage in doing + so. To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly than + himself. At heart, he was superstitious, and planted many rowans (mountain + ashes) around his hut, as a certain defence against necromancy. For the + same reason, doubtless, he desired to have rowan-trees set above his + grave. + </p> + <p> + We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty. His + only living favourites were a dog and a cat, to which he was particularly + attached, and his bees, which he treated with great care. He took a + sister, latterly, to live in a hut adjacent to his own, but he did not + permit her to enter it. She was weak in intellect, but not deformed in + person; simple, or rather silly, but not, like her brother, sullen or + bizarre. David was never affectionate to her; it was not in his nature; + but he endured her. He maintained himself and her by the sale of the + product of their garden and bee-hives; and, latterly, they had a small + allowance from the parish. Indeed, in the simple and patriarchal state in + which the country then was, persons in the situation of David and his + sister were sure to be supported. They had only to apply to the next + gentleman or respectable farmer, and were sure to find them equally ready + and willing to supply their very moderate wants. David often received + gratuities from strangers, which he never asked, never refused, and never + seemed to consider as an obligation. He had a right, indeed, to regard + himself as one of Nature’s paupers, to whom she gave a title to be + maintained by his kind, even by that deformity which closed against him + all ordinary ways of supporting himself by his own labour. Besides, a bag + was suspended in the mill for David Ritchie’s benefit; and those who were + carrying home a melder of meal, seldom failed to add a GOWPEN [Handful] to + the alms-bag of the deformed cripple. In short, David had no occasion for + money, save to purchase snuff, his only luxury, in which he indulged + himself liberally. When he died, in the beginning of the present century, + he was found to have hoarded about twenty pounds, a habit very consistent + with his disposition; for wealth is power, and power was what David + Ritchie desired to possess, as a compensation for his exclusion from human + society. + </p> + <p> + His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which this brief + notice forms the introduction; and the author is sorry to learn that a + sort of “local sympathy,” and the curiosity then expressed concerning the + Author of WAVERLEY and the subjects of his Novels, exposed the poor woman + to enquiries which gave her pain. When pressed about her brother’s + peculiarities, she asked, in her turn, why they would not permit the dead + to rest? To others, who pressed for some account of her parents, she + answered in the same tone of feeling. + </p> + <p> + The author saw this poor, and, it may be said, unhappy man, in autumn 1797 + being then, as he has the happiness still to remain, connected by ties of + intimate friendship with the family of the venerable Dr. Adam Fergusson, + the philosopher and historian, who then resided at the mansion-house of + Halyards, in the vale of Manor, about a mile from Ritchie’s hermitage, the + author was upon a visit at Halyards, which lasted for several days, and + was made acquainted with this singular anchorite, whom Dr. Fergusson + considered as an extraordinary character, and whom he assisted in various + ways, particularly by the occasional loan of books. Though the taste of + the philosopher and the poor peasant did not, it may be supposed, always + correspond, [I remember David was particularly anxious to see a book, + which he called, I think, LETTERS TO ELECT LADIES, and which, he said, was + the best composition he had ever read; but Dr. Fergusson’s library did not + supply the volume.] Dr. Fergusson considered him as a man of a powerful + capacity and original ideas, but whose mind was thrown off its just bias + by a predominant degree of self-love and self-opinion, galled by the sense + of ridicule and contempt, and avenging itself upon society, in idea at + least, by a gloomy misanthropy. + </p> + <p> + David Ritchie, besides the utter obscurity of his life while in existence, + had been dead for many years, when it occurred to the author that such a + character might be made a powerful agent in fictitious narrative. He, + accordingly, sketched that of Elshie of the Mucklestane-Moor. The story + was intended to be longer, and the catastrophe more artificially brought + out; but a friendly critic, to whose opinion I subjected the work in its + progress, was of opinion, that the idea of the Solitary was of a kind too + revolting, and more likely to disgust than to interest the reader. As I + had good right to consider my adviser as an excellent judge of public + opinion, I got off my subject by hastening the story to an end, as fast as + it was possible; and, by huddling into one volume, a tale which was + designed to occupy two, have perhaps produced a narrative as much + disproportioned and distorted, as the Black Dwarf who is its subject. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. THE BLACK DWARF. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <h3> + PRELIMINARY. + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?—AS YOU LIKE IT. +</pre> + <p> + It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night + before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six + inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn. The first + was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat + covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and + dreadnought overalls. He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough + in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a + double-bitted military bridle. The man who accompanied him was apparently + his servant; he rode a shaggy little grey pony, had a blue bonnet on his + head, and a large check napkin folded about his neck, wore a pair of long + blue worsted hose instead of boots, had his gloveless hands much stained + with tar, and observed an air of deference and respect towards his + companion, but without any of those indications of precedence and + punctilio which are preserved between the gentry and their domestics. On + the contrary, the two travellers entered the court-yard abreast, and the + concluding sentence of the conversation which had been carrying on betwixt + them was a joint ejaculation, “Lord guide us, an this weather last, what + will come o’ the lambs!” The hint was sufficient for my Landlord, who, + advancing to take the horse of the principal person, and holding him by + the reins as he dismounted, while his ostler rendered the same service to + the attendant, welcomed the stranger to Gandercleugh, and, in the same + breath, enquired, “What news from the south hielands?” + </p> + <p> + “News?” said the farmer, “bad eneugh news, I think;—an we can carry + through the yowes, it will be a’ we can do; we maun e’en leave the lambs + to the Black Dwarfs care.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay,” subjoined the old shepherd (for such he was), shaking his head, + “he’ll be unco busy amang the morts this season.” + </p> + <p> + “The Black Dwarf!” said MY LEARNED FRIEND AND PATRON, Mr. Jedediah + Cleishbotham, “and what sort of a personage may he be?” + </p> + <p> + [We have, in this and other instances, printed in italics (CAPITALS in + this etext) some few words which the worthy editor, Mr. Jedediah + Cleishbotham, seems to have interpolated upon the text of his deceased + friend, Mr. Pattieson. We must observe, once for all, that such liberties + seem only to have been taken by the learned gentleman where his own + character and conduct are concerned; and surely he must be the best judge + of the style in which his own character and conduct should be treated of.] + </p> + <p> + “Hout awa, man,” answered the farmer, “ye’ll hae heard o’ Canny Elshie the + Black Dwarf, or I am muckle mistaen—A’ the warld tells tales about + him, but it’s but daft nonsense after a’—I dinna believe a word o’t + frae beginning to end.” + </p> + <p> + “Your father believed it unco stievely, though,” said the old man, to whom + the scepticism of his master gave obvious displeasure. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, very true, Bauldie, but that was in the time o’ the blackfaces—they + believed a hantle queer things in thae days, that naebody heeds since the + lang sheep cam in.” + </p> + <p> + “The mair’s the pity, the mair’s the pity,” said the old man. “Your + father, and sae I have aften tell’d ye, maister, wad hae been sair vexed + to hae seen the auld peel-house wa’s pu’d down to make park dykes; and the + bonny broomy knowe, where he liked sae weel to sit at e’en, wi’ his plaid + about him, and look at the kye as they cam down the loaning, ill wad he + hae liked to hae seen that braw sunny knowe a’ riven out wi’ the pleugh in + the fashion it is at this day.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, Bauldie,” replied the principal, “tak ye that dram the landlord’s + offering ye, and never fash your head about the changes o’ the warld, sae + lang as ye’re blithe and bien yoursell.” + </p> + <p> + “Wussing your health, sirs,” said the shepherd; and having taken off his + glass, and observed the whisky was the right thing, he continued, “It’s no + for the like o’ us to be judging, to be sure; but it was a bonny knowe + that broomy knowe, and an unco braw shelter for the lambs in a severe + morning like this.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said his patron, “but ye ken we maun hae turnips for the lang sheep, + billie, and muckle hard wark to get them, baith wi’ the pleugh and the + howe; and that wad sort ill wi’ sitting on the broomy knowe, and cracking + about Black Dwarfs, and siccan clavers, as was the gate lang syne, when + the short sheep were in the fashion.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, aweel, maister,” said the attendant, “short sheep had short rents, + I’m thinking.” + </p> + <p> + Here my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron again interposed, and observed, “that he + could never perceive any material difference, in point of longitude, + between one sheep and another.” + </p> + <p> + This occasioned a loud hoarse laugh on the part of the farmer, and an + astonished stare on the part of the shepherd. + </p> + <p> + “It’s the woo’, man,—it’s the woo’, and no the beasts themsells, + that makes them be ca’d lang or short. I believe if ye were to measure + their backs, the short sheep wad be rather the langer-bodied o’ the twa; + but it’s the woo’ that pays the rent in thae days, and it had muckle + need.” + </p> + <p> + “Odd, Bauldie says very true,—short sheep did make short rents—my + father paid for our steading just threescore punds, and it stands me in + three hundred, plack and bawbee.—And that’s very true—I hae + nae time to be standing here clavering—Landlord, get us our + breakfast, and see an’ get the yauds fed—I am for doun to Christy + Wilson’s, to see if him and me can gree about the luckpenny I am to gie + him for his year-aulds. We had drank sax mutchkins to the making the + bargain at St. Boswell’s fair, and some gate we canna gree upon the + particulars preceesely, for as muckle time as we took about it—I + doubt we draw to a plea—But hear ye, neighbour,” addressing my + WORTHY AND LEARNED patron, “if ye want to hear onything about lang or + short sheep, I will be back here to my kail against ane o’clock; or, if ye + want ony auld-warld stories about the Black Dwarf, and sic-like, if ye’ll + ware a half mutchkin upon Bauldie there, he’ll crack t’ye like a pen-gun. + And I’se gie ye a mutchkin mysell, man, if I can settle weel wi’ Christy + Wilson.” + </p> + <p> + The farmer returned at the hour appointed, and with him came Christy + Wilson, their difference having been fortunately settled without an appeal + to the gentlemen of the long robe. My LEARNED AND WORTHY patron failed not + to attend, both on account of the refreshment promised to the mind and to + the body, ALTHOUGH HE IS KNOWN TO PARTAKE OF THE LATTER IN A VERY MODERATE + DEGREE; and the party, with which my Landlord was associated, continued to + sit late in the evening, seasoning their liquor with many choice tales and + songs. The last incident which I recollect, was my LEARNED AND WORTHY + patron falling from his chair, just as he concluded a long lecture upon + temperance, by reciting, from the “Gentle Shepherd,” a couplet, which he + RIGHT HAPPILY transferred from the vice of avarice to that of ebriety: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + He that has just eneugh may soundly sleep, + The owercome only fashes folk to keep. +</pre> + <p> + In the course of the evening the Black Dwarf had not been forgotten, and + the old shepherd, Bauldie, told so many stories of him, that they excited + a good deal of interest. It also appeared, though not till the third + punch-bowl was emptied, that much of the farmer’s scepticism on the + subject was affected, as evincing a liberality of thinking, and a freedom + from ancient prejudices, becoming a man who paid three hundred pounds + a-year of rent, while, in fact, he had a lurking belief in the traditions + of his forefathers. After my usual manner, I made farther enquiries of + other persons connected with the wild and pastoral district in which the + scene of the following narrative is placed, and I was fortunate enough to + recover many links of the story, not generally known, and which account, + at least in some degree, for the circumstances of exaggerated marvel with + which superstition has attired it in the more vulgar traditions. + </p> + <p> + [The Black Dwarf, now almost forgotten, was once held a formidable + personage by the dalesmen of the Border, where he got the blame of + whatever mischief befell the sheep or cattle. “He was,” says Dr. Leyden, + who makes considerable use of him in the ballad called the Cowt of + Keeldar, “a fairy of the most malignant order—the genuine Northern + Duergar.” The best and most authentic account of this dangerous and + mysterious being occurs in a tale communicated to the author by that + eminent antiquary, Richard Surtees, Esq. of Mainsforth, author of the + HISTORY OF THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM. + </p> + <p> + According to this well-attested legend, two young Northumbrians were out + on a shooting party, and had plunged deep among the mountainous moorlands + which border on Cumberland. They stopped for refreshment in a little + secluded dell by the side of a rivulet. There, after they had partaken of + such food as they brought with them, one of the party fell asleep; the + other, unwilling to disturb his friend’s repose, stole silently out of the + dell with the purpose of looking around him, when he was astonished to + find himself close to a being who seemed not to belong to this world, as + he was the most hideous dwarf that the sun had ever shone on. His head was + of full human size, forming a frightful contrast with his height, which + was considerably under four feet. It was thatched with no other covering + than long matted red hair, like that of the felt of a badger in + consistence, and in colour a reddish brown, like the hue of the + heather-blossom. His limbs seemed of great strength; nor was he otherwise + deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness to his diminutive + height. The terrified sportsman stood gazing on this horrible apparition, + until, with an angry countenance, the being demanded by what right he + intruded himself on those hills, and destroyed their harmless inhabitants. + The perplexed stranger endeavoured to propitiate the incensed dwarf, by + offering to surrender his game, as he would to an earthly Lord of the + Manor. The proposal only redoubled the offence already taken by the dwarf, + who alleged that he was the lord of those mountains, and the protector of + the wild creatures who found a retreat in their solitary recesses; and + that all spoils derived from their death, or misery, were abhorrent to + him. The hunter humbled himself before the angry goblin, and by + protestations of his ignorance, and of his resolution to abstain from such + intrusion in future, at last succeeded in pacifying him. The gnome now + became more communicative, and spoke of himself as belonging to a species + of beings something between the angelic race and humanity. He added, + moreover, which could hardly have been anticipated, that he had hopes of + sharing in the redemption of the race of Adam. He pressed the sportsman to + visit his dwelling, which he said was hard by, and plighted his faith for + his safe return. But at this moment, the shout of the sportsman’s + companion was heard calling for his friend, and the dwarf, as if unwilling + that more than one person should be cognisant of his presence, disappeared + as the young man emerged from the dell to join his comrade. + </p> + <p> + It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such matters, + that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit, he would, notwithstanding + the dwarf’s fair pretences, have been either torn to pieces, or immured + for years in the recesses of some fairy hill. + </p> + <p> + Such is the last and most authentic account of the apparition of the Black + Dwarf.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Will none but Hearne the Hunter serve your turn? + —MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. +</pre> + <p> + In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland, where an + ideal line, drawn along the tops of lofty and bleak mountains, separates + that land from her sister kingdom, a young man, called Halbert, or Hobbie + Elliot, a substantial farmer, who boasted his descent from old Martin + Elliot of the Preakin-tower, noted in Border story and song, was on his + return from deer-stalking. The deer, once so numerous among these solitary + wastes, were now reduced to a very few herds, which, sheltering themselves + in the most remote and inaccessible recesses, rendered the task of + pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious. There were, however, found + many youth of the country ardently attached to this sport, with all its + dangers and fatigues. The sword had been sheathed upon the Borders for + more than a hundred years, by the peaceful union of the crowns in the + reign of James the First of Great Britain. Still the country retained + traces of what it had been in former days; the inhabitants, their more + peaceful avocations having been repeatedly interrupted by the civil wars + of the preceding century, were scarce yet broken in to the habits of + regular industry, sheep-farming had not been introduced upon any + considerable scale, and the feeding of black cattle was the chief purpose + to which the hills and valleys were applied. Near to the farmer’s house, + the tenant usually contrived to raise such a crop of oats or barley, as + afforded meal for his family; and the whole of this slovenly and imperfect + mode of cultivation left much time upon his own hands, and those of his + domestics. This was usually employed by the young men in hunting and + fishing; and the spirit of adventure, which formerly led to raids and + forays in the same districts, was still to be discovered in the eagerness + with which they pursued those rural sports. + </p> + <p> + The more high-spirited among the youth were, about the time that our + narrative begins, expecting, rather with hope than apprehension, an + opportunity of emulating their fathers in their military achievements, the + recital of which formed the chief part of their amusement within doors. + The passing of the Scottish act of security had given the alarm of + England, as it seemed to point at a separation of the two British + kingdoms, after the decease of Queen Anne, the reigning sovereign. + Godolphin, then at the head of the English administration, foresaw that + there was no other mode of avoiding the probable extremity of a civil war, + but by carrying through an incorporating union. How that treaty was + managed, and how little it seemed for some time to promise the beneficial + results which have since taken place to such extent, may be learned from + the history of the period. It is enough for our purpose to say, that all + Scotland was indignant at the terms on which their legislature had + surrendered their national independence. The general resentment led to the + strangest leagues and to the wildest plans. The Cameronians were about to + take arms for the restoration of the house of Stewart, whom they regarded, + with justice, as their oppressors; and the intrigues of the period + presented the strange picture of papists, prelatists, and presbyterians, + caballing among themselves against the English government, out of a common + feeling that their country had been treated with injustice. The + fermentation was universal; and, as the population of Scotland had been + generally trained to arms, under the act of security, they were not + indifferently prepared for war, and waited but the declaration of some of + the nobility to break out into open hostility. It was at this period of + public confusion that our story opens. + </p> + <p> + The cleugh, or wild ravine, into which Hobbie Elliot had followed the + game, was already far behind him, and he was considerably advanced on his + return homeward, when the night began to close upon him. This would have + been a circumstance of great indifference to the experienced sportsman, + who could have walked blindfold over every inch of his native heaths, had + it not happened near a spot, which, according to the traditions of the + country, was in extremely bad fame, as haunted by supernatural + appearances. To tales of this kind Hobbie had, from his childhood, lent an + attentive ear; and as no part of the country afforded such a variety of + legends, so no man was more deeply read in their fearful lore than Hobbie + of the Heugh-foot; for so our gallant was called, to distinguish him from + a round dozen of Elliots who bore the same Christian name. It cost him no + efforts, therefore, to call to memory the terrific incidents connected + with the extensive waste upon which he was now entering. In fact, they + presented themselves with a readiness which he felt to be somewhat + dismaying. + </p> + <p> + This dreary common was called Mucklestane-Moor, from a huge column of + unhewn granite, which raised its massy head on a knell near the centre of + the heath, perhaps to tell of the mighty dead who slept beneath, or to + preserve the memory of some bloody skirmish. The real cause of its + existence had, however, passed away; and tradition, which is as frequently + an inventor of fiction as a preserver of truth, had supplied its place + with a supplementary legend of her own, which now came full upon Hobbie’s + memory. The ground about the pillar was strewed, or rather encumbered, + with many large fragments of stone of the same consistence with the + column, which, from their appearance as they lay scattered on the waste, + were popularly called the Grey Geese of Mucklestane-Moor. The legend + accounted for this name and appearance by the catastrophe of a noted and + most formidable witch who frequented these hills in former days, causing + the ewes to KEB, and the kine to cast their calves, and performing all the + feats of mischief ascribed to these evil beings. On this moor she used to + hold her revels with her sister hags; and rings were still pointed out on + which no grass nor heath ever grew, the turf being, as it were, calcined + by the scorching hoofs of their diabolical partners. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time this old hag is said to have crossed the moor, driving + before her a flock of geese, which she proposed to sell to advantage at a + neighbouring fair;—for it is well known that the fiend, however + liberal in imparting his powers of doing mischief, ungenerously leaves his + allies under the necessity of performing the meanest rustic labours for + subsistence. The day was far advanced, and her chance of obtaining a good + price depended on her being first at the market. But the geese, which had + hitherto preceded her in a pretty orderly manner, when they came to this + wide common, interspersed with marshes and pools of water, scattered in + every direction, to plunge into the element in which they delighted. + Incensed at the obstinacy with which they defied all her efforts to + collect them, and not remembering the precise terms of the contract by + which the fiend was bound to obey her commands for a certain space, the + sorceress exclaimed, “Deevil, that neither I nor they ever stir from this + spot more!” The words were hardly uttered, when, by a metamorphosis as + sudden as any in Ovid, the hag and her refractory flock were converted + into stone, the angel whom she served, being a strict formalist, grasping + eagerly at an opportunity of completing the ruin of her body and soul by a + literal obedience to her orders. It is said, that when she perceived and + felt the transformation which was about to take place, she exclaimed to + the treacherous fiend, “Ah, thou false thief! lang hast thou promised me a + grey gown, and now I am getting ane that will last for ever.” The + dimensions of the pillar, and of the stones, were often appealed to, as a + proof of the superior stature and size of old women and geese in the days + of other years, by those praisers of the past who held the comfortable + opinion of the gradual degeneracy of mankind. + </p> + <p> + All particulars of this legend Hobbie called to mind as he passed along + the moor. He also remembered, that, since the catastrophe had taken place, + the scene of it had been avoided, at least after night-fall, by all human + beings, as being the ordinary resort of kelpies, spunkies, and other + demons, once the companions of the witch’s diabolical revels, and now + continuing to rendezvous upon the same spot, as if still in attendance on + their transformed mistress. Hobbie’s natural hardihood, however, manfully + combated with these intrusive sensations of awe. He summoned to his side + the brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports, and + who were wont, in his own phrase, to fear neither dog nor devil; he looked + at the priming of his piece, and, like the clown in Hallowe’en, whistled + up the warlike ditty of Jock of the Side, as a general causes his drums be + beat to inspirit the doubtful courage of his soldiers. + </p> + <p> + In this state of mind, he was very glad to hear a friendly voice shout in + his rear, and propose to him a partner on the road. He slackened his pace, + and was quickly joined by a youth well known to him, a gentleman of some + fortune in that remote country, and who had been abroad on the same errand + with himself. Young Earnscliff, “of that ilk,” had lately come of age, and + succeeded to a moderate fortune, a good deal dilapidated, from the share + his family had taken in the disturbances of the period. They were much and + generally respected in the country; a reputation which this young + gentleman seemed likely to sustain, as he was well educated, and of + excellent dispositions. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Earnscliff;” exclaimed Hobbie, “I am glad to meet your honour ony + gate, and company’s blithe on a bare moor like this—it’s an unco + bogilly bit—Where hae ye been sporting?” + </p> + <p> + “Up the Carla Cleugh, Hobbie,” answered Earnscliff, returning his + greeting. “But will our dogs keep the peace, think you?” + </p> + <p> + “Deil a fear o’ mine,” said Hobbie, “they hae scarce a leg to stand on.—Odd! + the deer’s fled the country, I think! I have been as far as + Inger-fell-foot, and deil a horn has Hobbie seen, excepting three red-wud + raes, that never let me within shot of them, though I gaed a mile round to + get up the wind to them, an’ a’. Deil o’ me wad care muckle, only I wanted + some venison to our auld gude-dame. The carline, she sits in the neuk + yonder, upbye, and cracks about the grand shooters and hunters lang syne—Odd, + I think they hae killed a’ the deer in the country, for my part.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Hobbie, I have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliff this + morning—you shall have half of him for your grandmother.” + </p> + <p> + “Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, ye’re kend to a’ the country for a kind + heart. It will do the auld wife’s heart gude—mair by token, when she + kens it comes frae you—and maist of a’ gin ye’ll come up and take + your share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now in the auld tower, and a’ + your folk at that weary Edinburgh. I wonder what they can find to do amang + a wheen ranks o’ stane-houses wi’ slate on the tap o’ them, that might + live on their ain bonny green hills.” + </p> + <p> + “My education and my sisters’ has kept my mother much in Edinburgh for + several years,” said Earnscliff; “but I promise you I propose to make up + for lost time.” + </p> + <p> + “And ye’ll rig out the auld tower a bit,” said Hobbie, “and live hearty + and neighbour-like wi’ the auld family friends, as the Laird o’ Earnscliff + should? I can tell ye, my mother—my grandmother I mean—but, + since we lost our ain mother, we ca’ her sometimes the tane, and sometimes + the tother—but, ony gate, she conceits hersell no that distant + connected wi’ you.” + </p> + <p> + “Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinner to-morrow + with all my heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Weel, that’s kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we were nae kin—and + my gude-dame’s fain to see you—she clavers about your father that + was killed lang syne.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush, Hobbie—not a word about that—it’s a story better + forgotten.” + </p> + <p> + “I dinna ken—if it had chanced amang our folk, we wad hae keepit it + in mind mony a day till we got some mends for’t—but ye ken your ain + ways best, you lairds—I have heard say that Ellieslaw’s friend + stickit your sire after the laird himsell had mastered his sword.” + </p> + <p> + “Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine and politics—many + swords were drawn—it is impossible to say who struck the blow.” + </p> + <p> + “At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I am sure if ye + were sae disposed as to take amends on him, naebody could say it was + wrang, for your father’s blood is beneath his nails—and besides + there’s naebody else left that was concerned to take amends upon, and he’s + a prelatist and a jacobite into the bargain—I can tell ye the + country folk look for something atween ye.” + </p> + <p> + “O for shame, Hobbie!” replied the young Laird; “you, that profess + religion, to stir your friend up to break the law, and take vengeance at + his own hand, and in such a bogilly bit too, where we know not what beings + may be listening to us!” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush!” said Hobbie, drawing nearer to his companion, “I was nae + thinking o’ the like o’ them—But I can guess a wee bit what keeps + your hand up, Mr. Patrick; we a’ ken it’s no lack o’ courage, but the twa + grey een of a bonny lass, Miss Isabel Vere, that keeps you sae sober.” + </p> + <p> + “I assure you, Hobbie,” said his companion, rather angrily, “I assure you + you are mistaken; and it is extremely wrong of you, either to think of, or + to utter, such an idea; I have no idea of permitting freedoms to be + carried so far as to connect my name with that of any young lady.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, there now—there now!” retorted Elliot; “did I not say it was + nae want o’ spunk that made ye sae mim?—Weel, weel, I meant nae + offence; but there’s just ae thing ye may notice frae a friend. The auld + Laird of Ellieslaw has the auld riding blood far hetter at his heart than + ye hae—troth, he kens naething about thae newfangled notions o’ + peace and quietness—he’s a’ for the auld-warld doings o’ lifting and + laying on, and he has a wheen stout lads at his back too, and keeps them + weel up in heart, and as fu’ o’ mischief as young colts. Where he gets the + gear to do’t nane can say; he lives high, and far abune his rents here; + however, he pays his way—Sae, if there’s ony out-break in the + country, he’s likely to break out wi’ the first—and weel does he + mind the auld quarrels between ye, I’m surmizing he’ll be for a touch at + the auld tower at Earnscliff.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Hobbie,” answered the young gentleman, “if he should be so ill + advised, I shall try to make the old tower good against him, as it has + been made good by my betters against his betters many a day ago.” + </p> + <p> + “Very right—very right—that’s speaking like a man now,” said + the stout yeoman; “and, if sae should be that this be sae, if ye’ll just + gar your servant jow out the great bell in the tower, there’s me, and my + twa brothers, and little Davie of the Stenhouse, will be wi’ you, wi’ a’ + the power we can make, in the snapping of a flint.” + </p> + <p> + “Many thanks, Hobbie,” answered Earnscliff; “but I hope we shall have no + war of so unnatural and unchristian a kind in our time.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, sir, hout,” replied Elliot; “it wad be but a wee bit neighbour war, + and Heaven and earth would make allowances for it in this uncultivated + place—it’s just the nature o’ the folk and the land—we canna + live quiet like Loudon folk—we haena sae muckle to do. It’s + impossible.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Hobbie,” said the Laird, “for one who believes so deeply as you do + in supernatural appearances, I must own you take Heaven in your own hand + rather audaciously, considering where we are walking.” + </p> + <p> + “What needs I care for the Mucklestane-Moor ony mair than ye do yoursell, + Earnscliff?” said Hobbie, something offended; “to be sure, they do say + there’s a sort o’ worricows and lang-nebbit things about the land, but + what need I care for them? I hae a good conscience, and little to answer + for, unless it be about a rant amang the lasses, or a splore at a fair, + and that’s no muckle to speak of. Though I say it mysell, I am as quiet a + lad and as peaceable—” + </p> + <p> + “And Dick Turnbull’s head that you broke, and Willie of Winton whom you + shot at?” said his travelling companion. + </p> + <p> + “Hout, Earnscliff, ye keep a record of a’ men’s misdoings—Dick’s + head’s healed again, and we’re to fight out the quarrel at Jeddart, on the + Rood-day, so that’s like a thing settled in a peaceable way; and then I am + friends wi’ Willie again, puir chield—it was but twa or three hail + draps after a’. I wad let onybody do the like o’t to me for a pint o’ + brandy. But Willie’s lowland bred, poor fallow, and soon frighted for + himsell—And, for the worricows, were we to meet ane on this very bit—” + </p> + <p> + “As is not unlikely,” said young Earnscliff, “for there stands your old + witch, Hobbie.” + </p> + <p> + “I say,” continued Elliot, as if indignant at this hint—“I say, if + the auld carline hersell was to get up out o’ the grund just before us + here, I would think nae mair—But, gude preserve us, Earnscliff; what + can yon, be!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Brown Dwarf, that o’er the moorland strays, + Thy name to Keeldar tell! + “The Brown Man of the Moor, that stays + Beneath the heather-bell.”—JOHN LEYDEN +</pre> + <p> + The object which alarmed the young farmer in the middle of his valorous + protestations, startled for a moment even his less prejudiced companion. + The moon, which had arisen during their conversation, was, in the phrase + of that country, wading or struggling with clouds, and shed only a + doubtful and occasional light. By one of her beams, which streamed upon + the great granite column to which they now approached, they discovered a + form, apparently human, but of a size much less than ordinary, which moved + slowly among the large grey stones, not like a person intending to journey + onward, but with the slow, irregular, flitting movement of a being who + hovers around some spot of melancholy recollection, uttering also, from + time to time, a sort of indistinct muttering sound. This so much resembled + his idea of the motions of an apparition, that Hobbie Elliot, making a + dead pause, while his hair erected itself upon his scalp, whispered to his + companion, “It’s Auld Ailie hersell! Shall I gie her a shot, in the name + of God?” + </p> + <p> + “For Heaven’s sake, no,” said his companion, holding down the weapon which + he was about to raise to the aim—“for Heaven’s sake, no; it’s some + poor distracted creature.” + </p> + <p> + “Ye’re distracted yoursell, for thinking of going so near to her,” said + Elliot, holding his companion in his turn, as he prepared to advance. + “We’ll aye hae time to pit ower a bit prayer (an I could but mind ane) + afore she comes this length—God! she’s in nae hurry,” continued he, + growing bolder from his companion’s confidence, and the little notice the + apparition seemed to take of them. “She hirples like a hen on a het + girdle. I redd ye, Earnscliff” (this he added in a gentle whisper), “let + us take a cast about, as if to draw the wind on a buck—the bog is no + abune knee-deep, and better a saft road as bad company.” [The Scots use + the epithet soft, IN MALAM PARTEM, in two cases, at least. A SOFT road is + a road through quagmire and bogs; and SOFT weather signifies that which is + very rainy.] + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff, however, in spite of his companion’s resistance and + remonstrances, continued to advance on the path they had originally + pursued, and soon confronted the object of their investigation. + </p> + <p> + The height of the figure, which appeared even to decrease as they + approached it, seemed to be under four feet, and its form, as far as the + imperfect light afforded them the means of discerning, was very nearly as + broad as long, or rather of a spherical shape, which could only be + occasioned by some strange personal deformity. The young sportsman hailed + this extraordinary appearance twice, without receiving any answer, or + attending to the pinches by which his companion endeavoured to intimate + that their best course was to walk on, without giving farther disturbance + to a being of such singular and preternatural exterior. To the third + repeated demand of “Who are you? What do you here at this hour of night?”—a + voice replied, whose shrill, uncouth, and dissonant tones made Elliot step + two paces back, and startled even his companion, “Pass on your way, and + ask nought at them that ask nought at you.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you do here so far from shelter? Are you benighted on your + journey? Will you follow us home (‘God forbid!’ ejaculated Hobbie Elliot, + involuntarily), and I will give you a lodging?” + </p> + <p> + “I would sooner lodge by mysell in the deepest of the Tarras-flow,” again + whispered Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Pass on your way,” rejoined the figure, the harsh tones of his voice + still more exalted by passion. “I want not your guidance—I want not + your lodging—it is five years since my head was under a human roof, + and I trust it was for the last time.” + </p> + <p> + “He is mad,” said Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “He has a look of auld Humphrey Ettercap, the tinkler, that perished in + this very moss about five years syne,” answered his superstitious + companion; “but Humphrey wasna that awfu’ big in the bouk.” + </p> + <p> + “Pass on your way,” reiterated the object of their curiosity, “the breath + of your human bodies poisons the air around me—the sound of pour + human voices goes through my ears like sharp bodkins.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord safe us!” whispered Hobbie, “that the dead should bear sie fearfu’ + ill-will to the living!—his saul maun be in a puir way, I’m + jealous.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, my friend,” said Earnscliff, “you seem to suffer under some strong + affliction; common humanity will not allow us to leave you here.” + </p> + <p> + “Common humanity!” exclaimed the being, with a scornful laugh that sounded + like a shriek, “where got ye that catch-word—that noose for + woodcocks—that common disguise for man-traps—that bait which + the wretched idiot who swallows, will soon find covers a hook with barbs + ten times sharper than those you lay for the animals which you murder for + your luxury!” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you, my friend,” again replied Earnscliff, “you are incapable of + judging of your own situation—you will perish in this wilderness, + and we must, in compassion, force you along with us.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ll hae neither hand nor foot in’t,” said Hobbie; “let the ghaist take + his ain way, for God’s sake!” + </p> + <p> + “My blood be on my own head, if I perish here,” said the figure; and, + observing Earnscliff meditating to lay hold on him, he added, “And your + blood be upon yours, if you touch but the skirt of my garments, to infect + me with the taint of mortality!” + </p> + <p> + The moon shone more brightly as he spoke thus, and Earnscliff observed + that he held out his right hand armed with some weapon of offence, which + glittered in the cold ray like the blade of a long knife, or the barrel of + a pistol. It would have been madness to persevere in his attempt upon a + being thus armed, and holding such desperate language, especially as it + was plain he would have little aid from his companion, who had fairly left + him to settle matters with the apparition as he could, and had proceeded a + few paces on his way homeward. Earnscliff, however, turned and followed + Hobbie, after looking back towards the supposed maniac, who, as if raised + to frenzy by the interview, roamed wildly around the great stone, + exhausting his voice in shrieks and imprecations, that thrilled wildly + along the waste heath. + </p> + <p> + The two sportsmen moved on some time in silence, until they were out of + hearing of these uncouth sounds, which was not ere they had gained a + considerable distance from the pillar that gave name to the moor. Each + made his private comments on the scene they had witnessed, until Hobbie + Elliot suddenly exclaimed, “Weel, I’ll uphaud that yon ghaist, if it be a + ghaist, has baith done and suffered muckle evil in the flesh, that gars + him rampauge in that way after he is dead and gane.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to me the very madness of misanthropy,” said Earnscliff; + following his own current of thought. + </p> + <p> + “And ye didna think it was a spiritual creature, then?” asked Hobbie at + his companion. + </p> + <p> + “Who, I?—No, surely.” + </p> + <p> + “Weel, I am partly of the mind mysell that it may be a live thing—and + yet I dinna ken, I wadna wish to see ony thing look liker a bogle.” + </p> + <p> + “At any rate,” said Earnscliff, “I will ride over to-morrow and see what + has become of the unhappy being.” + </p> + <p> + “In fair daylight?” queried the yeoman; “then, grace o’ God, I’se be wi’ + ye. But here we are nearer to Heugh-foot than to your house by twa mile,—hadna + ye better e’en gae hame wi’ me, and we’ll send the callant on the powny to + tell them that you are wi’ us, though I believe there’s naebody at hame to + wait for you but the servants and the cat.” + </p> + <p> + “Have with you then, friend Hobbie,” said the young hunter; “and as I + would not willingly have either the servants be anxious, or puss forfeit + her supper, in my absence, I’ll be obliged to you to send the boy as you + propose.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, that IS kind, I must say. And ye’ll gae hame to Heugh-foot? + They’ll be right blithe to see you, that will they.” + </p> + <p> + This affair settled, they walked briskly on a little farther, when, coming + to the ridge of a pretty steep hill, Hobbie Elliot exclaimed, “Now, + Earnscliff, I am aye glad when I come to this very bit—Ye see the + light below, that’s in the ha’ window, where grannie, the gash auld + carline, is sitting birling at her wheel—and ye see yon other light + that’s gaun whiddin’ back and forrit through amang the windows? that’s my + cousin, Grace Armstrong,—she’s twice as clever about the house as my + sisters, and sae they say themsells, for they’re good-natured lasses as + ever trode on heather; but they confess themsells, and sae does grannie, + that she has far maist action, and is the best goer about the toun, now + that grannie is off the foot hersell.—My brothers, ane o’ them’s + away to wait upon the chamberlain, and ane’s at Moss-phadraig, that’s our + led farm—he can see after the stock just as weel as I can do.” + </p> + <p> + “You are lucky, my good friend, in having so many valuable relations.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth am I—Grace make me thankful, I’se never deny it.—But + will ye tell me now, Earnscliff, you that have been at college, and the + high-school of Edinburgh, and got a’ sort o’ lair where it was to be best + gotten—will ye tell me—no that it’s ony concern of mine in + particular,—but I heard the priest of St. John’s, and our minister, + bargaining about it at the Winter fair, and troth they baith spak very + weel—Now, the priest says it’s unlawful to marry ane’s cousin; but I + cannot say I thought he brought out the Gospel authorities half sae weel + as our minister—our minister is thought the best divine and the best + preacher atween this and Edinburgh—Dinna ye think he was likely to + be right?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly marriage, by all protestant Christians, is held to be as free + as God made it by the Levitical law; so, Hobbie, there can be no bar, + legal or religious, betwixt you and Miss Armstrong.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout awa’ wi’ your joking, Earnscliff,” replied his companion,—“ye + are angry aneugh yoursell if ane touches you a bit, man, on the sooth side + of the jest—No that I was asking the question about Grace, for ye + maun ken she’s no my cousin-germain out and out, but the daughter of my + uncle’s wife by her first marriage, so she’s nae kith nor kin to me—only + a connexion like. But now we’re at the Sheeling-hill—I’ll fire off + my gun, to let them ken I’m coming, that’s aye my way; and if I hae a deer + I gie them twa shots, ane for the deer and ane for mysell.” + </p> + <p> + He fired off his piece accordingly, and the number of lights were seen to + traverse the house, and even to gleam before it. Hobbie Elliot pointed out + one of these to Earnscliff, which seemed to glide from the house towards + some of the outhouses-“That’s Grace hersell,” said Hobbie. “She’ll no meet + me at the door, I’se warrant her—but she’ll be awa’, for a’ that, to + see if my hounds’ supper be ready, poor beasts.” + </p> + <p> + “Love me, love my dog,” answered Earnscliff. “Ah, Hobbie, you are a lucky + young fellow!” + </p> + <p> + This observation was uttered with something like a sigh, which apparently + did not escape the ear of his companion. + </p> + <p> + “Hout, other folk may be as lucky as I am—O how I have seen Miss + Isabel Vere’s head turn after somebody when they passed ane another at the + Carlisle races! Wha kens but things may come round in this world?” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff muttered something like an answer; but whether in assent of the + proposition, or rebuking the application of it, could not easily be + discovered; and it seems probable that the speaker himself was willing his + meaning should rest in doubt and obscurity. They had now descended the + broad loaning, which, winding round the foot of the steep bank, or heugh, + brought them in front of the thatched, but comfortable, farm-house, which + was the dwelling of Hobbie Elliot and his family. + </p> + <p> + The doorway was thronged with joyful faces; but the appearance of a + stranger blunted many a gibe which had been prepared on Hobbie’s lack of + success in the deer-stalking. There was a little bustle among three + handsome young women, each endeavouring to devolve upon another the task + of ushering the stranger into the apartment, while probably all were + anxious to escape for the purpose of making some little personal + arrangements, before presenting themselves to a young gentleman in a + dishabille only intended for their brother. + </p> + <p> + Hobbie, in the meanwhile, bestowing some hearty and general abuse upon + them all (for Grace was not of the party), snatched the candle from the + hand of one of the rustic coquettes, as she stood playing pretty with it + in her hand, and ushered his guest into the family parlour, or rather + hall; for the place having been a house of defence in former times, the + sitting apartment was a vaulted and paved room, damp and dismal enough + compared with the lodgings of the yeomanry of our days, but which, when + well lighted up with a large sparkling fire of turf and bog-wood, seemed + to Earnscliff a most comfortable exchange for the darkness and bleak blast + of the hill. Kindly and repeatedly was he welcomed by the venerable old + dame, the mistress of the family, who, dressed in her coif and pinners, + her close and decent gown of homespun wool, but with a large gold necklace + and ear-rings, looked, what she really was, the lady as well as the + farmer’s wife, while, seated in her chair of wicker, by the corner of the + great chimney, she directed the evening occupations of the young women, + and of two or three stout serving wenches, who sate plying their distaffs + behind the backs of their young mistresses. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Earnscliff had been duly welcomed, and hasty orders issued for + some addition to the evening meal, his grand-dame and sisters opened their + battery upon Hobbie Elliot for his lack of success against the deer. + </p> + <p> + “Jenny needna have kept up her kitchen-fire for a’ that Hobbie has brought + hame,” said one sister. + </p> + <p> + “Troth no, lass,” said another; “the gathering peat, if it was weel blawn, + wad dress a’ our Hobbie’s venison.” [The gathering peat is the piece of + turf left to treasure up the secret seeds of fire, without any generous + consumption of fuel; in a word, to keep the fire alive.] + </p> + <p> + “Ay, or the low of the candle, if the wind wad let it hide steady,” said a + third; “if I were him, I would bring hame a black craw, rather than come + back three times without a buck’s horn to blaw on.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie turned from the one to the other, regarding them alternately with a + frown on his brow, the augury of which was confuted by the good-humoured + laugh on the lower part of his countenance. He then strove to propitiate + them, by mentioning the intended present of his companion. + </p> + <p> + “In my young days,” said the old lady, “a man wad hae been ashamed to come + back frae the hill without a buck hanging on each side o’ his horse, like + a cadger carrying calves.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish they had left some for us then, grannie,” retorted Hobbie; + “they’ve cleared the country o’ them, thae auld friends o’ yours, I’m + thinking.” + </p> + <p> + “We see other folk can find game, though you cannot, Hobbie,” said the + eldest sister, glancing a look at young Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “Weel, weel, woman, hasna every dog his day, begging Earnscliff’s pardon + for the auld saying—Mayna I hae his luck, and he mine, another time?—It’s + a braw thing for a man to be out a’ day, and frighted—na, I winna + say that neither but mistrysted wi’ bogles in the hame-coming, an’ then to + hae to flyte wi’ a wheen women that hae been doing naething a’ the + live-lang day, but whirling a bit stick, wi’ a thread trailing at it, or + boring at a clout.” + </p> + <p> + “Frighted wi’ bogles!” exclaimed the females, one and all,—for great + was the regard then paid, and perhaps still paid, in these glens, to all + such fantasies. + </p> + <p> + “I did not say frighted, now—I only said mis-set wi’ the thing—And + there was but ae bogle, neither—Earnscliff, ye saw it; as weel as I + did?” + </p> + <p> + And he proceeded, without very much exaggeration, to detail, in his own + way, the meeting they had with the mysterious being at Mucklestane-Moor, + concluding, he could not conjecture what on earth it could be, unless it + was either the Enemy himsell, or some of the auld Peghts that held the + country lang syne. + </p> + <p> + “Auld Peght!” exclaimed the grand-dame; “na, na—bless thee frae + scathe, my bairn, it’s been nae Peght that—it’s been the Brown Man + of the Moors! O weary fa’ thae evil days!—what can evil beings be + coming for to distract a poor country, now it’s peacefully settled, and + living in love and law—O weary on him! he ne’er brought gude to + these lands or the indwellers. My father aften tauld me he was seen in the + year o’ the bloody fight at Marston-Moor, and then again in Montrose’s + troubles, and again before the rout o’ Dunbar, and, in my ain time, he was + seen about the time o’ Bothwell-Brigg, and they said the second-sighted + Laird of Benarbuck had a communing wi’ him some time afore Argyle’s + landing, but that I cannot speak to sae preceesely—it was far in the + west.—O, bairns, he’s never permitted but in an ill time, sae mind + ilka ane o’ ye to draw to Him that can help in the day of trouble.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff now interposed, and expressed his firm conviction that the + person they had seen was some poor maniac, and had no commission from the + invisible world to announce either war or evil. But his opinion found a + very cold audience, and all joined to deprecate his purpose of returning + to the spot the next day. + </p> + <p> + “O, my bonny bairn,” said the old dame (for, in the kindness of her heart, + she extended her parental style to all in whom she was interested)—-“You + should beware mair than other folk—there’s been a heavy breach made + in your house wi’ your father’s bloodshed, and wi’ law-pleas, and losses + sinsyne;—and you are the flower of the flock, and the lad that will + build up the auld bigging again (if it be His will) to be an honour to the + country, and a safeguard to those that dwell in it—you, before + others, are called upon to put yoursell in no rash adventures—for + yours was aye ower venturesome a race, and muckle harm they have got by + it.” + </p> + <p> + “But I am sure, my good friend, you would not have me be afraid of going + to an open moor in broad daylight?” + </p> + <p> + “I dinna ken,” said the good old dame; “I wad never bid son or friend o’ + mine haud their hand back in a gude cause, whether it were a friend’s or + their ain—that should be by nae bidding of mine, or of ony body + that’s come of a gentle kindred—But it winna gang out of a grey head + like mine, that to gang to seek for evil that’s no fashing wi’ you, is + clean against law and Scripture.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of maintaining + with good effect, and the entrance of supper broke off the conversation. + Miss Grace had by this time made her appearance, and Hobbie, not without a + conscious glance at Earnscliff, placed himself by her side. Mirth and + lively conversation, in which the old lady of the house took the + good-humoured share which so well becomes old age, restored to the cheeks + of the damsels the roses which their brother’s tale of the apparition had + chased away, and they danced and sung for an hour after supper as if there + were no such things as goblins in the world. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind; + For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, + That I might love thee something.—TIMON OF ATHENS +</pre> + <p> + On the following morning, after breakfast, Earnscliff took leave of his + hospitable friends, promising to return in time to partake of the venison, + which had arrived from his house. Hobbie, who apparently took leave of him + at the door of his habitation, slunk out, however, and joined him at the + top of the hill. + </p> + <p> + “Ye’ll be gaun yonder, Mr. Patrick; feind o’ me will mistryst you for a’ + my mother says. I thought it best to slip out quietly though, in case she + should mislippen something of what we’re gaun to do—we maunna vex + her at nae rate—it was amaist the last word my father said to me on + his deathbed.” + </p> + <p> + “By no means, Hobbie,” said Earnscliff; “she well merits all your + attention.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, for that matter, she would be as sair vexed amaist for you as for + me. But d’ye really think there’s nae presumption in venturing back + yonder?—We hae nae special commission, ye ken.” + </p> + <p> + “If I thought as you do, Hobbie,” said the young gentleman, “I would not + perhaps enquire farther into this business; but as I am of opinion that + preternatural visitations are either ceased altogether, or become very + rare in our days, I am unwilling to leave a matter uninvestigated which + may concern the life of a poor distracted being.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, aweel, if ye really think that,” answered Hobbie doubtfully—“And + it’s for certain the very fairies—I mean the very good neighbours + themsells (for they say folk suldna ca’ them fairies) that used to be seen + on every green knowe at e’en, are no half sae often visible in our days. I + canna depone to having ever seen ane mysell, but, I ance heard ane whistle + ahint me in the moss, as like a whaup [Curlew] as ae thing could be like + anither. And mony ane my father saw when he used to come hame frae the + fairs at e’en, wi’ a drap drink in his head, honest man.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension of + superstition from one generation to another which was inferred In this + last observation; and they continued to reason on such subjects, until + they came in sight of the upright stone which gave name to the moor. + </p> + <p> + “As I shall answer,” says Hobbie, “yonder’s the creature creeping about + yet!—But it’s daylight, and you have your gun, and I brought out my + bit whinger—I think we may venture on him.” + </p> + <p> + “By all manner of means,” said Earnscliff; “but, in the name of wonder, + what can he be doing there?” + </p> + <p> + “Biggin a dry-stane dyke, I think, wi’ the grey geese, as they ca’ thae + great loose stanes—Odd, that passes a’ thing I e’er heard tell of!” + </p> + <p> + As they approached nearer, Earnscliff could not help agreeing with his + companion. The figure they had seen the night before seemed slowly and + toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones one upon another, as if to + form a small enclosure. Materials lay around him in great plenty, but the + labour of carrying on the work was immense, from the size of most of the + stones; and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in moving + several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his edifice. + He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the two young men + came up, and was so intent upon executing his purpose, that he did not + perceive them till they were close upon him. In straining and heaving at + the stone, in order to place it according to his wish, he displayed a + degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with his size and + apparent deformity. Indeed, to judge from the difficulties he had already + surmounted, he must have been of Herculean powers; for some of the stones + he had succeeded in raising apparently required two men’s strength to have + moved them. Hobbie’s suspicions began to revive, on seeing the + preternatural strength he exerted. + </p> + <p> + “I am amaist persuaded it’s the ghaist of a stane-mason—see siccan + band-statnes as he’s laid i—An it be a man, after a’, I wonder what + he wad take by the rood to build a march dyke. There’s ane sair wanted + between Cringlehope and the Shaws.—Honest man” (raising his voice), + “ye make good firm wark there?” + </p> + <p> + The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare, and, + getting up from his stooping posture, stood before them in all his native + and hideous deformity. His head was of uncommon size, covered with a fell + of shaggy hair, partly grizzled with age; his eyebrows, shaggy and + prominent, overhung a pair of small dark, piercing eyes, set far back in + their sockets, that rolled with a portentous wildness, indicative of a + partial insanity. The rest of his features were of the coarse, rough-hewn + stamp, with which a painter would equip a giant in romance; to which was + added the wild, irregular, and peculiar expression, so often seen in the + countenances of those whose persons are deformed. His body, thick and + square, like that of a man of middle size, was mounted upon two large + feet; but nature seemed to have forgotten the legs and the thighs, or they + were so very short as to be hidden by the dress which he wore. His arms + were long and brawny, furnished with two muscular hands, and, where + uncovered in the eagerness of his labour, were shagged with coarse black + hair. It seemed as if nature had originally intended the separate parts of + his body to be the members of a giant, but had afterwards capriciously + assigned them to the person of a dwarf, so ill did the length of his arms + and the iron strength of his frame correspond with the shortness of his + stature. His clothing was a sort of coarse brown tunic, like a monk’s + frock, girt round him with a belt of seal-skin. On his head he had a cap + made of badger’s skin, or some other rough fur, which added considerably + to the grotesque effect of his whole appearance, and overshadowed + features, whose habitual expression seemed that of sullen malignant + misanthropy. + </p> + <p> + This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence, with a dogged + and irritated look, until Earnscliff, willing to soothe him into better + temper, observed, “You are hard tasked, my friend; allow us to assist + you.” + </p> + <p> + Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone, by their joint efforts, upon + the rising wall. The Dwarf watched them with the eye of a taskmaster, and + testified, by peevish gestures, his impatience at the time which they took + in adjusting the stone. He pointed to another—they raised it also—to + a third, to a fourth—they continued to humour him, though with some + trouble, for he assigned them, as if intentionally, the heaviest fragments + which lay near. + </p> + <p> + “And now, friend,” said Elliot, as the unreasonable Dwarf indicated + another stone larger than any they had moved, “Earnscliff may do as he + likes; but be ye man or be ye waur, deil be in my fingers if I break my + back wi’ heaving thae stanes ony langer like a barrow-man, without getting + sae muckle as thanks for my pains.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks!” exclaimed the Dwarf, with a motion expressive of the utmost + contempt—“There—take them, and fatten upon them! Take them, + and may they thrive with you as they have done with me—as they have + done with every mortal worm that ever heard the word spoken by his fellow + reptile! Hence—either labour or begone!” + </p> + <p> + “This is a fine reward we have, Earnscliff, for building a tabernacle for + the devil, and prejudicing our ain souls into the bargain, for what we + ken.” + </p> + <p> + “Our presence,” answered Earnscliff, “seems only to irritate his frenzy; + we had better leave him, and send some one to provide him with food and + necessaries.” + </p> + <p> + They did so. The servant dispatched for this purpose found the Dwarf still + labouring at his wall, but could not extract a word from him. The lad, + infected with the superstitions of the country, did not long persist in an + attempt to intrude questions or advice on so singular a figure, but having + placed the articles which he had brought for his use on a stone at some + distance, he left them at the misanthrope’s disposal. + </p> + <p> + The Dwarf proceeded in his labours, day after day, with an assiduity so + incredible as to appear almost supernatural. In one day he often seemed to + have done the work of two men, and his building soon assumed the + appearance of the walls of a hut, which, though very small, and + constructed only of stones and turf, without any mortar, exhibited, from + the unusual size of the stones employed, an appearance of solidity very + uncommon for a cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction. + Earnscliff; attentive to his motions, no sooner perceived to what they + tended, than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable for forming + the roof, which he caused to be left in the neighbourhood of the spot, + resolving next day to send workmen to put them up. But his purpose was + anticipated, for in the evening, during the night, and early in the + morning, the Dwarf had laboured so hard, and with such ingenuity, that he + had nearly completed the adjustment of the rafters. His next labour was to + cut rushes and thatch his dwelling, a task which he performed with + singular dexterity. + </p> + <p> + As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional assistance of + a passenger, materials suitable to his purpose, and tools, were supplied + to him, in the use of which he proved to be skilful. He constructed the + door and window of his cot, he adjusted a rude bedstead, and a few + shelves, and appeared to become somewhat soothed in his temper as his + accommodations increased. + </p> + <p> + His next task was to form a strong enclosure, and to cultivate the land + within it to the best of his power; until, by transporting mould, and + working up what was upon the spot, he formed a patch of garden-ground. It + must be naturally supposed, that, as above hinted, this solitary being + received assistance occasionally from such travellers as crossed the moor + by chance, as well as from several who went from curiosity to visit his + works. It was, indeed, impossible to see a human creature, so unfitted, at + first sight, for hard labour, toiling with such unremitting assiduity, + without stopping a few minutes to aid him in his task; and, as no one of + his occasional assistants was acquainted with the degree of help which the + Dwarf had received from others, the celerity of his progress lost none of + its marvels in their eyes. The strong and compact appearance of the + cottage, formed in so very short a space, and by such a being, and the + superior skill which he displayed in mechanics, and in other arts, gave + suspicion to the surrounding neighbours. They insisted, that, if he was + not a phantom,—an opinion which was now abandoned, since he plainly + appeared a being of blood and bone with themselves,—yet he must be + in close league with the invisible world, and have chosen that sequestered + spot to carry on his communication with them undisturbed. They insisted, + though in a different sense from the philosopher’s application of the + phrase, that he was never less alone than when alone; and that from the + heights which commanded the moor at a distance, passengers often + discovered a person at work along with this dweller of the desert, who + regularly disappeared as soon as they approached closer to the cottage. + Such a figure was also occasionally seen sitting beside him at the door, + walking with him in the moor, or assisting him in fetching water from his + fountain. Earnscliff explained this phenomenon by supposing it to be the + Dwarf’s shadow. + </p> + <p> + “Deil a shadow has he,” replied Hobbie Elliot, who was a strenuous + defender of the general opinion; “he’s ower far in wi’ the Auld Ane to + have a shadow. Besides,” he argued more logically, “wha ever heard of a + shadow that cam between a body and the sun? and this thing, be it what it + will, is thinner and taller than the body himsell, and has been seen to + come between him and the sun mair than anes or twice either.” + </p> + <p> + These suspicions, which, in any other part of the country, might have been + attended with investigations a little inconvenient to the supposed wizard, + were here only productive of respect and awe. The recluse being seemed + somewhat gratified by the marks of timid veneration with which an + occasional passenger approached his dwelling, the look of startled + surprise with which he surveyed his person and his premises, and the + hurried step with which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful + spot. The boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty + glance at the walls of his cottage and garden, and to apologize for it by + a courteous salutation, which the inmate sometimes deigned to return by a + word or a nod. Earnscliff often passed that way, and seldom without + enquiring after the solitary inmate, who seemed now to have arranged his + establishment for life. + </p> + <p> + It was impossible to engage him in any conversation on his own personal + affairs; nor was he communicative or accessible in talking on any other + subject whatever, although he seemed to have considerably relented in the + extreme ferocity of his misanthropy, or rather to be less frequently + visited with the fits of derangement of which this was a symptom. No + argument could prevail upon him to accept anything beyond the simplest + necessaries, although much more was offered by Earnscliff out of charity, + and by his more superstitious neighbours from other motives. The benefits + of these last he repaid by advice, when consulted (as at length he slowly + was) on their diseases, or those of their cattle. He often furnished them + with medicines also, and seemed possessed, not only of such as were the + produce of the country, but of foreign drugs. He gave these persons to + understand, that his name was Elshender the Recluse; but his popular + epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie, or the Wise Wight of + Mucklestane-Moor. Some extended their queries beyond their bodily + complaints, and requested advice upon other matters, which he delivered + with an oracular shrewdness that greatly confirmed the opinion of his + possessing preternatural skill. The querists usually left some offering + upon a stone, at a distance from his dwelling; if it was money, or any + article which did not suit him to accept, he either threw it away, or + suffered it to remain where it was without making use of it. On all + occasions his manners were rude and unsocial; and his words, in number, + just sufficient to express his meaning as briefly as possible, and he + shunned all communication that went a syllable beyond the matter in hand. + When winter had passed away, and his garden began to afford him herbs and + vegetables, he confined himself almost entirely to those articles of food. + He accepted, notwithstanding, a pair of she-goats from Earnscliff, which + fed on the moor, and supplied him with milk. + </p> + <p> + When Earnscliff found his gift had been received, he soon afterwards paid + the hermit a visit. The old man was seated an a broad flat stone near his + garden door, which was the seat of science he usually occupied when + disposed to receive his patients or clients. The inside of his hut, and + that of his garden, he kept as sacred from human intrusion as the natives + of Otaheite do their Morai;—apparently he would have deemed it + polluted by the step of any human being. When he shut himself up in his + habitation, no entreaty could prevail upon him to make himself visible, or + to give audience to any one whomsoever. + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff had been fishing in a small river at some distance. He had his + rod in his hand, and his basket, filled with trout, at his shoulder. He + sate down upon a stone nearly opposite to the Dwarf who, familiarized with + his presence, took no farther notice of him than by elevating his huge + mis-shapen head for the purpose of staring at him, and then again sinking + it upon his bosom, as if in profound meditation. Earnscliff looked around + him, and observed that the hermit had increased his accommodations by the + construction of a shed for the reception of his goats. + </p> + <p> + “You labour hard, Elshie,” he said, willing to lead this singular being + into conversation. + </p> + <p> + “Labour,” re-echoed the Dwarf, “is the mildest evil of a lot so miserable + as that of mankind; better to labour like me, than sport like you.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports, Elshie, and + yet—” + </p> + <p> + “And yet,” interrupted the Dwarf, “they are better than your ordinary + business; better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on mute fishes than + on your fellow-creatures. Yet why should I say so? Why should not the + whole human herd butt, gore, and gorge upon each other, till all are + extirpated but one huge and over-fed Behemoth, and he, when he had + throttled and gnawed the bones of all his fellows—he, when his prey + failed him, to be roaring whole days for lack of food, and, finally, to + die, inch by inch, of famine—it were a consummation worthy of the + race!” + </p> + <p> + “Your deeds are better, Elshie, than your words,” answered Earnscliff; + “you labour to preserve the race whom your misanthropy slanders.” + </p> + <p> + “I do; but why?—Hearken. You are one on whom I look with the least + loathing, and I care not, if, contrary to my wont, I waste a few words in + compassion to your infatuated blindness. If I cannot send disease into + families, and murrain among the herds, can I attain the same end so well + as by prolonging the lives of those who can serve the purpose of + destruction as effectually?—If Alice of Bower had died in winter, + would young Ruthwin have been slain for her love the last spring?—Who + thought of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of + Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death-bed?—My draughts, my + skill, recovered him. And, now, who dare leave his herd upon the lea + without a watch, or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth-hound?” + </p> + <p> + “I own,” answered Earnscliff; “you did little good to society by the last + of these cures. But, to balance the evil, there is my friend Hobbie, + honest Hobbie of the Heugh-foot, your skill relieved him last winter in a + fever that might have cost him his life.” + </p> + <p> + “Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance,” said: the Dwarf, + smiling maliciously, “and thus they speak in their folly. Have you marked + the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated, how sportive, how + playful, how gentle,—but trust him with your game, your lambs, your + poultry, his inbred ferocity breaks forth; he gripes, tears, ravages, and + devours.” + </p> + <p> + “Such is the animal’s instinct,” answered Earnscliff; “but what has that + to do with Hobbie?” + </p> + <p> + “It is his emblem—it is his picture,” retorted the Recluse. “He is + at present tame, quiet, and domesticated, for lack of opportunity to + exercise his inborn propensities; but let the trumpet of war sound—let + the young blood-hound snuff blood, he will be as ferocious as the wildest + of his Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasant’s abode. Can + you deny, that even at present he often urges you to take bloody revenge + for an injury received when you were a boy?”—Earnscliff started; the + Recluse appeared not to observe his surprise, and proceeded—“The + trumpet WILL blow, the young blood-hound WILL lap blood, and I will laugh + and say, For this I have preserved thee!” He paused, and continued,—“Such + are my cures;—their object, their purpose, perpetuating the mass of + misery, and playing even in this desert my part in the general tragedy. + Were YOU on your sick bed, I might, in compassion, send you a cup of + poison.” + </p> + <p> + “I am much obliged to you, Elshie, and certainly shall not fail to consult + you, with so comfortable a hope from your assistance.” + </p> + <p> + “Do not flatter yourself too far,” replied the Hermit, “with the hope that + I will positively yield to the frailty of pity. Why should I snatch a + dupe, so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are, from the + wretchedness which his own visions, and the villainy of the world, are + preparing for him? Why should I play the compassionate Indian, and, + knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk, at once spoil the + three days’ amusement of my kindred tribe, at the very moment when the + brands were lighted, the pincers heated, the cauldrons boiling, the knives + sharpened, to tear, scorch, seethe, and scarify the intended victim?” + </p> + <p> + “A dreadful picture you present to me of life, Elshie; but I am not + daunted by it,” returned Earnscliff. “We are sent here, in one sense, to + bear and to suffer; but, in another, to do and to enjoy. The active day + has its evening of repose; even patient sufferance has its alleviations, + where there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged.” + </p> + <p> + “I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine,” said the Dwarf, his eyes + kindling with insane fury,—“I spurn at it, as worthy only of the + beasts that perish; but I will waste no more words with you.” + </p> + <p> + He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, with great + vehemence, “Yet, lest you still think my apparent benefits to mankind flow + from the stupid and servile source, called love of our fellow-creatures, + know, that were there a man who had annihilated my soul’s dearest hope—who + had torn my heart to mammocks, and seared my brain till it glowed like a + volcano, and were that man’s fortune and life in my power as completely as + this frail potsherd” (he snatched up an earthen cup which stood beside + him), “I would not dash him into atoms thus”—(he flung the vessel + with fury against the wall),—“No!” (he spoke more composedly, but + with the utmost bitterness), “I would pamper him with wealth and power to + inflame his evil passions, and to fulfil his evil designs; he should lack + no means of vice and villainy; he should be the centre of a whirlpool that + itself should know neither rest nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, + while it wrecked every goodly ship that approached its limits! he should + be an earthquake capable of shaking the very land in which he dwelt, and + rendering all its inhabitants friendless, outcast, and miserable—as + I am!” + </p> + <p> + The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words, + shutting the door with furious violence, and rapidly drawing two bolts, + one after another, as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that hated + race, who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy. Earnscliff left the moor + with mingled sensations of pity and horror, pondering what strange and + melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of mind, a man + whose language argued him to be of rank and education much superior to the + vulgar. He was also surprised to see how much particular information a + person who had lived in that country so short a time, and in so recluse a + manner, had been able to collect respecting the dispositions and private + affairs of the inhabitants. + </p> + <p> + “It is no wonder,” he said to himself, “that with such extent of + information, such a mode of life, so uncouth a figure, and sentiments so + virulently misanthropic, this unfortunate should be regarded by the vulgar + as in league with the Enemy of Mankind.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath + Feels, in its barrenness, some touch of spring; + And, in the April dew, or beam of May, + Its moss and lichen freshen and revive; + And thus the heart, most sear’d to human pleasure, + Melts at the tear, joys in the smile, of woman.—BEAUMONT +</pre> + <p> + As the season advanced, the weather became more genial, and the Recluse + was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone in the front of + his mansion. As he sate there one day, about the hour of noon, a party of + gentlemen and ladies, well mounted, and numerously attended, swept across + the heath at some distance from his dwelling. Dogs, hawks, and led-horses + swelled the retinue, and the air resounded at intervals with the cheer of + the hunters, and the sound of horns blown by the attendants. The Recluse + was about to retire into his mansion at the sight of a train so joyous, + when three young ladies, with their attendants, who had made a circuit, + and detached themselves from their party, in order to gratify their + curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight of Mucklestane-Moor, came suddenly + up, ere he could effect his purpose. The first shrieked, and put her hands + before her eyes, at sight of an object so unusually deformed. The second, + with a hysterical giggle, which she intended should disguise her terrors, + asked the Recluse, whether he could tell their fortune. The third, who was + best mounted, best dressed, and incomparably the best-looking of the + three, advanced, as if to cover the incivility of her companions. + </p> + <p> + “We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses, and our + party have gone forward without us,” said the young lady. “Seeing you, + father, at the door of your house, we have turned this way to—” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” interrupted the Dwarf; “so young, and already so artful? You came—you + know you came, to exult in the consciousness of your own youth, wealth, + and beauty, by contrasting them with age, poverty, and deformity. It is a + fit employment for the daughter of your father; but O how unlike the child + of your mother!” + </p> + <p> + “Did you, then, know my parents, and do you know me?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes, but I have + seen you in my dreams.” + </p> + <p> + “Your dreams?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Isabel Vere. What hast thou, or thine, to do with my waking + thoughts?” + </p> + <p> + “Your waking thoughts, sir,” said the second of Miss Vere’s companions, + with a sort of mock gravity, “are fixed, doubtless, upon wisdom; folly can + only intrude on your sleeping moments.” + </p> + <p> + “Over thine,” retorted the Dwarf, more splenetically than became a + philosopher or hermit, “folly exercises an unlimited empire, asleep or + awake.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord bless us!” said the lady, “he’s a prophet, sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + “As surely,” continued the Recluse, “as thou art a woman.—A woman!—I + should have said a lady—a fine lady. You asked me to tell your + fortune—it is a simple one; an endless chase through life after + follies not worth catching, and, when caught, successively thrown away—a + chase, pursued from the days of tottering infancy to those of old age upon + his crutches. Toys and merry-makings in childhood—love and its + absurdities in youth—spadille and basto in age, shall succeed each + other as objects of pursuit—flowers and butterflies in spring—butterflies + and thistle-down in summer—withered leaves in autumn and winter—all + pursued, all caught, all flung aside.—Stand apart; your fortune is + said.” + </p> + <p> + “All CAUGHT, however,” retorted the laughing fair one, who was a cousin of + Miss Vere’s; “that’s something, Nancy,” she continued, turning to the + timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf; “will you ask your + fortune?” + </p> + <p> + “Not for worlds,” said she, drawing back; “I have heard enough of yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, “I’ll pay + for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess.” + </p> + <p> + “Truth,” said the Soothsayer, “can neither be bought nor sold;” and he + pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said the lady, “I’ll keep my money, Mr. Elshender, to assist + me in the chase I am to pursue.” + </p> + <p> + “You will need it,” replied the cynic; “without it, few pursue + successfully, and fewer are themselves pursued.—Stop!” he said to + Miss Vere, as her companions moved off, “With you I have more to say. You + have what your companions would wish to have, or be thought to have,—beauty, + wealth, station, accomplishments.” + </p> + <p> + “Forgive my following my companions, father; I am proof both to flattery + and fortune-telling.” + </p> + <p> + “Stay,” continued the Dwarf, with his hand on her horse’s rein, “I am no + common soothsayer, and I am no flatterer. All the advantages I have + detailed, all and each of them have their corresponding evils—unsuccessful + love, crossed affections, the gloom of a convent, or an odious alliance. + I, who wish ill to all mankind, cannot wish more evil to you, so much is + your course of life crossed by it.” + </p> + <p> + “And if it be, father, let me enjoy the readiest solace of adversity while + prosperity is in my power. You are old; you are poor; your habitation is + far from human aid, were you ill, or in want; your situation, in many + respects, exposes you to the suspicions of the vulgar, which are too apt + to break out into actions of brutality. Let me think I have mended the lot + of one human being! Accept of such assistance as I have power to offer; do + this for my sake, if not for your own, that when these evils arise, which + you prophesy perhaps too truly, I may not have to reflect, that the hours + of my happier time have been passed altogether in vain.” + </p> + <p> + The old man answered with a broken voice, and almost without addressing + himself to the young lady,— + </p> + <p> + “Yes, ‘tis thus thou shouldst think—‘tis thus thou shouldst speak, + if ever human speech and thought kept touch with each other! They do not—they + do not—Alas! they cannot. And yet—wait here an instant—stir + not till my return.” He went to his little garden, and returned with a + half-blown rose. “Thou hast made me shed a tear, the first which has wet + my eyelids for many a year; for that good deed receive this token of + gratitude. It is but a common rose; preserve it, however, and do not part + with it. Come to me in your hour of adversity. Show me that rose, or but + one leaf of it, were it withered as my heart is—if it should be in + my fiercest and wildest movements of rage against a hateful world, still + it will recall gentler thoughts to my bosom, and perhaps afford happier + prospects to thine. But no message,” he exclaimed, rising into his usual + mood of misanthropy,—“no message—no go-between! Come thyself; + and the heart and the doors that are shut against every other earthly + being, shall open to thee and to thy sorrows. And now pass on.” + </p> + <p> + He let go the bridle-rein, and the young lady rode on, after expressing + her thanks to this singular being, as well as her surprise at the + extraordinary nature of his address would permit, often turning back to + look at the Dwarf, who still remained at the door of his habitation, and + watched her progress over the moor towards her father’s castle of + Ellieslaw, until the brow of the hill hid the party from his sight. + </p> + <p> + The ladies, meantime, jested with Miss Vere on the strange interview they + had just had with the far-famed wizard of the Moor. “Isabella has all the + luck at home and abroad! Her hawk strikes down the black-cock; her eyes + wound the gallant; no chance for her poor companions and kinswomen; even + the conjuror cannot escape the force of her charms. You should, in + compassion, cease to be such an engrosser, my dear Isabel, or at least set + up shop, and sell off all the goods you do not mean to keep for your own + use.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have them all,” replied Miss Vere, “and the conjuror to boot, + at a very easy rate.” + </p> + <p> + “No! Nancy shall have the conjuror,” said Miss Ilderton, “to supply + deficiencies; she’s not quite a witch herself, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord, sister,” answered the younger Miss Ilderton, “what could I do with + so frightful a monster? I kept my eyes shut, after once glancing at him; + and, I protest, I thought I saw him still, though I winked as close as + ever I could.” + </p> + <p> + “That’s a pity,” said her sister; “ever while you live, Nancy, choose an + admirer whose faults can be hid by winking at them.—Well, then, I + must take him myself, I suppose, and put him into mamma’s Japan cabinet, + in order to show that Scotland can produce a specimen of mortal clay + moulded into a form ten thousand times uglier than the imaginations of + Canton and Pekin, fertile as they are in monsters, have immortalized in + porcelain.” + </p> + <p> + “There is something,” said Miss Vere, “so melancholy in the situation of + this poor man, that I cannot enter into your mirth, Lucy, so readily as + usual. If he has no resources, how is he to exist in this waste country, + living, as he does, at such a distance from mankind? and if he has the + means of securing occasional assistance, will not the very suspicion that + he is possessed of them, expose him to plunder and assassination by some + of our unsettled neighbours?” + </p> + <p> + “But you forget that they say he is a warlock,” said Nancy Ilderton. + </p> + <p> + “And, if his magic diabolical should fail him,” rejoined her sister, “I + would have him trust to his magic natural, and thrust his enormous head, + and most preternatural visage, out at his door or window, full in view of + the assailants. The boldest robber that ever rode would hardly bide a + second glance of him. Well, I wish I had the use of that Gorgon head of + his for only one half hour.” + </p> + <p> + “For what purpose, Lucy?” said Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “O! I would frighten out of the castle that dark, stiff, and stately Sir + Frederick Langley, that is so great a favourite with your father, and so + little a favourite of yours. I protest I shall be obliged to the Wizard as + long as I live, if it were only for the half hour’s relief from that man’s + company which we have gained by deviating from the party to visit Elshie.” + </p> + <p> + “What would you say, then,” said Miss Vere, in a low tone, so as not to be + heard by the younger sister, who rode before them, the narrow path not + admitting of their moving all three abreast,—“What would you say, my + dearest Lucy, if it were proposed to you to endure his company for life?” + </p> + <p> + “Say? I would say, NO, NO, NO, three times, each louder than another, till + they should hear me at Carlisle.” + </p> + <p> + “And Sir Frederick would say then, nineteen nay-says are half a grant.” + </p> + <p> + “That,” replied Miss Lucy, “depends entirely on the manner in which the + nay-says are said. Mine should have not one grain of concession in them, I + promise you.” + </p> + <p> + “But if your father,” said Miss Vere, “were to say,—Thus do, or—” + </p> + <p> + “I would stand to the consequences of his OR, were he the most cruel + father that ever was recorded in romance, to fill up the alternative.” + </p> + <p> + “And what if he threatened you with a catholic aunt, an abbess, and a + cloister?” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said Miss Ilderton, “I would threaten him with a protestant + son-in-law, and be glad of an opportunity to disobey him for conscience’ + sake. And now that Nancy is out of hearing, let me really say, I think you + would be excusable before God and man for resisting this preposterous + match by every means in your power. A proud, dark, ambitious man; a + caballer against the state; infamous for his avarice and severity; a bad + son, a bad brother, unkind and ungenerous to all his relatives—Isabel, + I would die rather than have him.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t let my father hear you give me such advice,” said Miss Vere, “or + adieu, my dear Lucy, to Ellieslaw Castle.” + </p> + <p> + “And adieu to Ellieslaw Castle, with all my heart,” said her friend, “if I + once saw you fairly out of it, and settled under some kinder protector + than he whom nature has given you. O, if my poor father had been in his + former health, how gladly would he have received and sheltered you, till + this ridiculous and cruel persecution were blown over!” + </p> + <p> + “Would to God it had been so, my dear Lucy!” answered Isabella; “but I + fear, that, in your father’s weak state of health, he would be altogether + unable to protect me against the means which would be immediately used for + reclaiming the poor fugitive.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear so indeed,” replied Miss Ilderton; “but we will consider and + devise something. Now that your father and his guests seem so deeply + engaged in some mysterious plot, to judge from the passing and returning + of messages, from the strange faces which appear and disappear without + being announced by their names, from the collecting and cleaning of arms, + and the anxious gloom and bustle which seem to agitate every male in the + castle, it may not be impossible for us (always in case matters be driven + to extremity) to shape out some little supplemental conspiracy of our own. + I hope the gentlemen have not kept all the policy to themselves; and there + is one associate that I would gladly admit to our counsel.” + </p> + <p> + “Not Nancy?” + </p> + <p> + “O, no!” said Miss Ilderton; “Nancy, though an excellent good girl, and + fondly attached to you, would make a dull conspirator—as dull as + Renault and all the other subordinate plotters in VENICE PRESERVED. No; + this is a Jaffier, or Pierre, if you like the character better; and yet + though I know I shall please you, I am afraid to mention his name to you, + lest I vex you at the same time. Can you not guess? Something about an + eagle and a rock—it does not begin with eagle in English, but + something very like it in Scotch.” + </p> + <p> + “You cannot mean young Earnscliff, Lucy?” said Miss Vere, blushing deeply. + </p> + <p> + “And whom else should I mean,” said Lucy. “Jaffiers and Pierres are very + scarce in this country, I take it, though one could find Renaults and + Bedamars enow.” + </p> + <p> + “How call you talk so wildly, Lucy? Your plays and romances have + positively turned your brain. You know, that, independent of my father’s + consent, without which I never will marry any one, and which, in the case + you point at, would never be granted; independent, too, of our knowing + nothing of young Earnscliff’s inclinations, but by your own vivid + conjectures and fancies—besides all this, there is the fatal brawl!” + </p> + <p> + “When his father was killed?” said Lucy. “But that was very long ago; and + I hope we have outlived the time of bloody feud, when a quarrel was + carried down between two families from father to son, like a Spanish game + at chess, and a murder or two committed in every generation, just to keep + the matter from going to sleep. We do with our quarrels nowadays as with + our clothes; cut them out for ourselves, and wear them out in our own day, + and should no more think of resenting our fathers’ feuds, than of wearing + their slashed doublets and trunk-hose.” + </p> + <p> + “You treat this far too lightly, Lucy,” answered Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “Not a bit, my dear Isabella,” said Lucy. “Consider, your father, though + present in the unhappy affray, is never supposed to have struck the fatal + blow; besides, in former times, in case of mutual slaughter between clans, + subsequent alliances were so far from being excluded, that the hand of a + daughter or a sister was the most frequent gage of reconciliation. You + laugh at my skill in romance; but, I assure you, should your history be + written, like that of many a less distressed and less deserving heroine, + the well-judging reader would set you down for the lady and the love of + Earnscliff; from the very obstacle which you suppose so insurmountable.” + </p> + <p> + “But these are not the days of romance, but of sad reality, for there + stands the castle of Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + “And there stands Sir Frederick Langley at the gate, waiting to assist the + ladies from their palfreys. I would as lief touch a toad; I will + disappoint him, and take old Horsington the groom for my master of the + horse.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, the lively young lady switched her palfrey forward, and passing + Sir Frederick with a familiar nod as he stood ready to take her horse’s + rein, she cantered on, and jumped into the arms of the old groom. Fain + would Isabella have done the same had she dared; but her father stood + near, displeasure already darkening on a countenance peculiarly qualified + to express the harsher passions, and she was compelled to receive the + unwelcome assiduities of her detested suitor. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Let not us that are squires of the night’s body be called + thieves of the day’s booty; let us be Diana’s foresters, + gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon. + —HENRY THE FOURTH, PART I. +</pre> + <p> + The Solitary had consumed the remainder of that day in which he had the + interview with the young ladies, within the precincts of his garden. + Evening again found him seated on his favourite stone. The sun setting + red, and among seas of rolling clouds, threw a gloomy lustre over the + moor, and gave a deeper purple to the broad outline of heathy mountains + which surrounded this desolate spot. The Dwarf sate watching the clouds as + they lowered above each other in masses of conglomerated vapours, and, as + a strong lurid beam of the sinking luminary darted full on his solitary + and uncouth figure, he might well have seemed the demon of the storm which + was gathering, or some gnome summoned forth from the recesses of the earth + by the subterranean signals of its approach. As he sate thus, with his + dark eye turned towards the scowling and blackening heaven, a horseman + rode rapidly up to him, and stopping, as if to let his horse breathe for + an instant, made a sort of obeisance to the anchoret, with an air betwixt + effrontery and embarrassment. + </p> + <p> + The figure of the rider was thin, tall, and slender, but remarkably + athletic, bony, and sinewy; like one who had all his life followed those + violent exercises which prevent the human form from increasing in bulk, + while they harden and confirm by habit its muscular powers. His face, + sharp-featured, sun-burnt, and freckled, had a sinister expression of + violence, impudence, and cunning, each of which seemed alternately to + predominate over the others. Sandy-coloured hair, and reddish eyebrows, + from under which looked forth his sharp grey eyes, completed the + inauspicious outline of the horseman’s physiognomy. He had pistols in his + holsters, and another pair peeped from his belt, though he had taken some + pains to conceal them by buttoning his doublet. He wore a rusted steel + head piece; a buff jacket of rather an antique cast; gloves, of which that + for the right hand was covered with small scales of iron, like an ancient + gauntlet; and a long broadsword completed his equipage. + </p> + <p> + “So,” said the Dwarf, “rapine and murder once more on horseback.” + </p> + <p> + “On horseback?” said the bandit; “ay, ay, Elshie, your leech-craft has set + me on the bonny bay again.” + </p> + <p> + “And all those promises of amendment which you made during your illness + forgotten?” continued Elshender. + </p> + <p> + “All clear away, with the water-saps and panada,” returned the unabashed + convalescent. “Ye ken, Elshie, for they say ye are weel acquent wi’ the + gentleman, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be, + When the devil was well, the devil a monk was he.” + </pre> + <p> + “Thou say’st true,” said the Solitary; “as well divide a wolf from his + appetite for carnage, or a raven from her scent of slaughter, as thee from + thy accursed propensities.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what would you have me to do? It’s born with me—lies in my + very blude and bane. Why, man, the lads of Westburnflat, for ten lang + descents, have been reivers and lifters. They have all drunk hard, lived + high, taking deep revenge for light offence, and never wanted gear for the + winning.” + </p> + <p> + “Right; and thou art as thorough-bred a wolf,” said the Dwarf, “as ever + leapt a lamb-fold at night. On what hell’s errand art thou bound now?” + </p> + <p> + “Can your skill not guess?” + </p> + <p> + “Thus far I know,” said the Dwarf, “that thy purpose is bad, thy deed will + be worse, and the issue worst of all.” + </p> + <p> + “And you like me the better for it, Father Elshie, eh?” said Westburnflat; + “you always said you did.” + </p> + <p> + “I have cause to like all,” answered the Solitary, “that are scourges to + their fellow-creatures, and thou art a bloody one.” + </p> + <p> + “No—I say not guilty to that—lever bluidy unless there’s + resistance, and that sets a man’s bristles up, ye ken. And this is nae + great matter, after a’; just to cut the comb of a young cock that has been + crawing a little ower crousely.” + </p> + <p> + “Not young Earnscliff?” said the Solitary, with some emotion. + </p> + <p> + “No; not young Earnscliff—not young Earnscliff YET; but his time may + come, if he will not take warning, and get him back to the burrow-town + that he’s fit for, and no keep skelping about here, destroying the few + deer that are left in the country, and pretending to act as a magistrate, + and writing letters to the great folk at Auld Reekie, about the disturbed + state of the land. Let him take care o’ himsell.” + </p> + <p> + “Then it must be Hobbie of the Heugh-foot,” said Elshie. “What harm has + the lad done you?” + </p> + <p> + “Harm! nae great harm; but I hear he says I staid away from the Ba’spiel + on Fastern’s E’en, for fear of him; and it was only for fear of the + Country Keeper, for there was a warrant against me. I’ll stand Hobbie’s + feud, and a’ his clan’s. But it’s not so much for that, as to gie him a + lesson not to let his tongue gallop ower freely about his betters. I trow + he will hae lost the best pen-feather o’ his wing before to-morrow + morning.—Farewell, Elshie; there’s some canny boys waiting for me + down amang the shaws, owerby; I will see you as I come back, and bring ye + a blithe tale in return for your leech-craft.” + </p> + <p> + Ere the Dwarf could collect himself to reply, the Reiver of Westburnflat + set spurs to his horse. The animal, starting at one of the stones which + lay scattered about, flew from the path. The rider exercised his spurs + without moderation or mercy. The horse became furious, reared, kicked, + plunged, and bolted like a deer, with all his four feet off the ground at + once. It was in vain; the unrelenting rider sate as if he had been a part + of the horse which he bestrode; and, after a short but furious contest, + compelled the subdued animal to proceed upon the path at a rate which soon + carried him out of sight of the Solitary. + </p> + <p> + “That villain,” exclaimed the Dwarf,—“that cool-blooded, hardened, + unrelenting ruffian,—that wretch, whose every thought is infected + with crimes,—has thewes and sinews, limbs, strength, and activity + enough, to compel a nobler animal than himself to carry him to the place + where he is to perpetrate his wickedness; while I, had I the weakness to + wish to put his wretched victim on his guard, and to save the helpless + family, would see my good intentions frustrated by the decrepitude which + chains me to the spot.—Why should I wish it were otherwise? What + have my screech-owl voice, my hideous form, and my mis-shapen features, to + do with the fairer workmanship of nature? Do not men receive even my + benefits with shrinking horror and ill-suppressed disgust? And why should + I interest myself in a race which accounts me a prodigy and an outcast, + and which has treated me as such? No; by all the ingratitude which I have + reaped—by all the wrongs which I have sustained—by my + imprisonment, my stripes, my chains, I will wrestle down my feelings of + rebellious humanity! I will not be the fool I have been, to swerve from my + principles whenever there was an appeal, forsooth, to my feelings; as if + I, towards whom none show sympathy, ought to have sympathy with any one. + Let Destiny drive forth her scythed car through the overwhelmed and + trembling mass of humanity! Shall I be the idiot to throw this decrepit + form, this mis-shapen lump of mortality, under her wheels, that the Dwarf, + the Wizard, the Hunchback, may save from destruction some fair form or + some active frame, and all the world clap their hands at the exchange? No, + never!—And yet this Elliot—this Hobbie, so young and gallant, + so frank, so—I will think of it no longer. I cannot aid him if I + would, and I am resolved—firmly resolved, that I would not aid him, + if a wish were the pledge of his safety!” + </p> + <p> + Having thus ended his soliloquy, he retreated into his hut for shelter + from the storm which was fast approaching, and now began to burst in large + and heavy drops of rain. The last rays of the sun now disappeared + entirely, and two or three claps of distant thunder followed each other at + brief intervals, echoing and re-echoing among the range of heathy fells + like the sound of a distant engagement. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn!— + . . . . + Return to thy dwelling; all lonely, return; + For the blackness of ashes shall mark where it stood, + And a wild mother scream o’er her famishing brood.—CAMPBELL. +</pre> + <p> + The night continued sullen and stormy; but morning rose as if refreshed by + the rains. Even the Mucklestane-Moor, with its broad bleak swells of + barren grounds, interspersed with marshy pools of water, seemed to smile + under the serene influence of the sky, just as good-humour can spread a + certain inexpressible charm over the plainest human countenance. The heath + was in its thickest and deepest bloom. The bees, which the Solitary had + added to his rural establishment, were abroad and on the wing, and filled + the air with the murmurs of their industry. As the old man crept out of + his little hut, his two she-goats came to meet him, and licked his 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 benefactor—to 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 lunatics—for their + disgraceful restraints—for their cruel privations, than for + communication with the rest of humanity. Hubert alone—and 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.” + </p> + <p> + 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, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Canny Hobbie Elliot, canny Hobbie now, + Canny Hobbie Elliot, I’se gang alang wi’ you. +</pre> + <p> + 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, man—let a + be the hound!—Na, na, Killbuck maunna be guided that gate, neither.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he exclaimed, as he thus voluntarily deprived himself of the means + of gratifying his rage; “not again—not again!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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 + about—but I’ll send ye baith.” + </p> + <p> + “Wretch!” said the Hermit, “your cruelty has destroyed one of the only + creatures in existence that would look on me with kindness!” + </p> + <p> + “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 be—But 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.” + </p> + <p> + 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!” + </p> + <p> + “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 brouze—the like’s no been seen + sin’ the days of auld Martin of the Preakin-tower—I wad send the + sled for ye wi’ a canny powny.” + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Commons!” retorted Hobbie, “nae siccan commons neither; the Elliots hae + been lang kend a gentle race.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “Out, hind!” exclaimed the Dwarf; “home! home to your dwelling, and think + on me when you find what has befallen there.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “How now, ruffian!” demanded the Dwarf, “is thy job chared?” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “The bride?” + </p> + <p> + “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 + for a blink. I am thinking it wad concern my safety if she were to come + back here, for there’s mony o’ the Elliots, and they band weel thegither + for right or wrang. Now, what I chiefly come to ask your rede in, is how + to make her sure?” + </p> + <p> + “Wouldst thou murder her, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Umph! no, no; that I would not do, if I could help it. But they say they + can whiles get folk cannily away to the plantations from some of the + outports, and something to boot for them that brings a bonny wench. + They’re wanted beyond seas thae female cattle, and they’re no that scarce + here. But I think o’ doing better for this lassie. There’s a leddy, that, + unless she be a’ the better bairn, is to be sent to foreign parts whether + she will or no; now, I think of sending Grace to wait on her—she’s a + bonny lassie. Hobbie will hae a merry morning when he comes hame, and + misses baith bride and gear.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay; and do you not pity him?” said the Recluse. + </p> + <p> + “Wad he pity me were I gaeing up the Castle hill at Jeddart? [ The place + of execution at that ancient burgh, where many of Westburnflat’s + profession have made their final exit.] And yet I rue something for the + bit lassie; but he’ll get anither, and little skaith dune—ane is as + gude as anither. And now, you that like to hear o’ splores, heard ye ever + o’ a better ane than I hae had this morning?” + </p> + <p> + “Air, ocean, and fire,” said the Dwarf, speaking to himself, “the + earthquake, the tempest, the volcano, are all mild and moderate, compared + to the wrath of man. And what is this fellow, but one more skilled than + others in executing the end of his existence?—Hear me, felon, go + again where I before sent thee.” + </p> + <p> + “To the Steward?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay; and tell him, Elshender the Recluse commands him to give thee gold. + But, hear me, let the maiden be discharged free and uninjured; return her + to her friends, and let her swear not to discover thy villainy.” + </p> + <p> + “Swear,” said Westburnflat; “but what if she break her aith? Women are not + famous for keeping their plight. A wise man like you should ken that.—And + uninjured—wha kens what may happen were she to be left lang at + Tinning-Beck? Charlie Cheat-the-Woodie is a rough customer. But if the + gold could be made up to twenty pieces, I think I could ensure her being + wi’ her friends within the twenty-four hours.” + </p> + <p> + The Dwarf took his tablets from his pocket, marked a line on them, and + tore out the leaf. “There,” he said, giving the robber the leaf—“But, + mark me; thou knowest I am not to be fooled by thy treachery; if thou + darest to disobey my directions, thy wretched life, be sure, shall answer + it.” + </p> + <p> + “I know,” said the fellow, looking down, “that you have power on earth, + however you came by it; you can do what nae other man can do, baith by + physic and foresight; and the gold is shelled down when ye command, as + fast as I have seen the ash-keys fall in a frosty morning in October. I + will not disobey you.” + </p> + <p> + “Begone, then, and relieve me of thy hateful presence.” + </p> + <p> + The robber set spurs to his horse, and rode off without reply. + </p> + <p> + Hobbie Elliot had, in the meanwhile, pursued his journey rapidly, harassed + by those oppressive and indistinct fears that all was not right, which men + usually term a presentiment of misfortune. Ere he reached the top of the + bank from which he could look down on his own habitation, he was met by + his nurse, a person then of great consequence in all families in Scotland, + whether of the higher or middling classes. The connexion between them and + their foster-children was considered a tie far too dearly intimate to be + broken; and it usually happened, in the course of years, that the nurse + became a resident in the family of her foster-son, assisting in the + domestic duties, and receiving all marks of attention and regard from the + heads of the family. So soon as Hobbie recognised the figure of Annaple, + in her red cloak and black hood, he could not help exclaiming to himself, + “What ill luck can hae brought the auld nurse sae far frae hame, her that + never stirs a gun-shot frae the door-stane for ordinar?—Hout, it + will just be to get crane-berries, or whortle-berries, or some such stuff, + out of the moss, to make the pies and tarts for the feast on Monday.—I + cannot get the words of that cankered auld cripple deil’s-buckie out o’ my + head—the least thing makes me dread some ill news.—O, + Killbuck, man! were there nae deer and goats in the country besides, but + ye behoved to gang and worry his creature, by a’ other folk’s?” + </p> + <p> + By this time Annaple, with a brow like a tragic volume, had hobbled + towards him, and caught his horse by the bridle. The despair in her look + was so evident as to deprive even him of the power of asking the cause. “O + my bairn!” she cried, “gang na forward—gang na forward—it’s a + sight to kill onybody, let alane thee.” + </p> + <p> + “In God’s name, what’s the matter?” said the astonished horseman, + endeavouring to extricate his bridle from the grasp of the old woman; “for + Heaven’s sake, let me go and see what’s the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “Ohon! that I should have lived to see the day!—The steading’s a’ in + a low, and the bonny stack-yard lying in the red ashes, and the gear a’ + driven away. But gang na forward; it wad break your young heart, hinny, to + see what my auld een hae seen this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “And who has dared to do this? let go my bridle, Annaple—where is my + grandmother—my sisters?—Where is Grace Armstrong?—God!—the + words of the warlock are knelling in my ears!” + </p> + <p> + He sprang from his horse to rid himself of Annaple’s interruption, and, + ascending the hill with great speed, soon came in view of the spectacle + with which she had threatened him. It was indeed a heart-breaking sight. + The habitation which he had left in its seclusion, beside the + mountain-stream, surrounded with every evidence of rustic plenty, was now + a wasted and blackened ruin. From amongst the shattered and sable walls + the smoke continued to rise. The turf-stack, the barn-yard, the offices + stocked with cattle, all the wealth of an upland cultivator of the period, + of which poor Elliot possessed no common share, had been laid waste or + carried off in a single night. He stood a moment motionless, and then + exclaimed, “I am ruined—ruined to the ground!—But curse on the + warld’s gear—Had it not been the week before the bridal—But I + am nae babe, to sit down and greet about it. If I can but find Grace, and + my grandmother, and my sisters weel, I can go to the wars in Flanders, as + my gude-sire did, under the Bellenden banner, wi’ auld Buccleuch. At ony + rate, I will keep up a heart, or they will lose theirs a’thegither.” + </p> + <p> + Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill, resolved to suppress his own + despair, and administer consolation which he did not feel. The + neighbouring inhabitants of the dell, particularly those of his own name, + had already assembled. The younger part were in arms and clamorous for + revenge, although they knew not upon whom; the elder were taking measures + for the relief of the distressed family. Annaple’s cottage, which was + situated down the brook, at some distance from the scene of mischief, had + been hastily adapted for the temporary accommodation of the old lady and + her daughters, with such articles as had been contributed by the + neighbours, for very little was saved from the wreck. + </p> + <p> + “Are we to stand here a’ day, sirs,” exclaimed one tall young man, “and + look at the burnt wa’s of our kinsman’s house? Every wreath of the reek is + a blast of shame upon us! Let us to horse, and take the chase.—Who + has the nearest bloodhound?” + </p> + <p> + “It’s young Earnscliff,” answered another; “and he’s been on and away wi’ + six horse lang syne, to see if he can track them.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us follow him then, and raise the country, and mak mair help as we + ride, and then have at the Cumberland reivers! Take, burn, and slay—they + that lie nearest us shall smart first.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht! haud your tongues, daft callants,” said an old man, “ye dinna ken + what ye speak about. What! wad ye raise war atween two pacificated + countries?” + </p> + <p> + “And what signifies deaving us wi’ tales about our fathers,” retorted the + young; man, “if we’re to sit and see our friends’ houses burnt ower their + heads, and no put out hand to revenge them? Our fathers did not do that, I + trow?” + </p> + <p> + “I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie’s wrang, puir chield; + but we maun take the law wi’ us in thae days, Simon,” answered the more + prudent elder. + </p> + <p> + “And besides,” said another old man, “I dinna believe there’s ane now + living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border. + Tam o’ Whittram kend a’ about it; but he died in the hard winter.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said a third, “he was at the great gathering, when they chased as + far as Thirlwall; it was the year after the fight of Philiphaugh.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout,” exclaimed another of these discording counsellors, “there’s nae + great skill needed; just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear, or + hayfork, or siclike, and blaw a horn, and cry the gathering-word, and then + it’s lawful to follow gear into England, and recover it by the strong + hand, or to take gear frae some other Englishman, providing ye lift nae + mair than’s been lifted frae you. That’s the auld Border law, made at + Dundrennan, in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need doubt it. It’s + as clear as the sun.” + </p> + <p> + “Come away, then, lads,” cried Simon, “get to your geldings, and we’ll + take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi’ us; he kens the value o’ the stock + and plenishing that’s been lost. Hobbie’s stalls and stakes shall be fou + again or night; and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon, we’se lay + an English ane as low as Heugh-foot is—and that’s fair play, a’ the + warld ower.” + </p> + <p> + This animating proposal was received with great applause by the younger + part of the assemblage, when a whisper ran among them, “There’s Hobbie + himsell, puir fallow! we’ll be guided by him.” + </p> + <p> + The principal sufferer, having now reached the bottom of the hill, pushed + on through the crowd, unable, from the tumultuous state of his feelings, + to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly hands by + which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their sympathy in his + misfortune. While he pressed Simon of Hackburn’s hand, his anxiety at + length found words. “Thank ye, Simon—thank ye, neighbours—I + ken what ye wad a’ say. But where are they?—Where are—” He + stopped, as if afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry; and with a + similar feeling, his kinsmen, without reply, pointed to the hut, into + which Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of one who is + resolved to know the worst at once. A general and powerful expression of + sympathy accompanied him. “Ah, puir fallow—puir Hobbie!” + </p> + <p> + “He’ll learn the warst o’t now!” + </p> + <p> + “But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o’ the puir lassie.” + </p> + <p> + Such were the exclamations of the group, who, having no acknowledged + leader to direct their motions, passively awaited the return of the + sufferer, and determined to be guided by his directions. + </p> + <p> + The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree + affecting. His sisters threw themselves upon him, and almost stifled him + with their caresses, as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish the + absence of one yet more beloved. + </p> + <p> + “God help thee, my son! He can help when worldly trust is a broken reed.”—Such + was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson. He looked + eagerly round, holding two of his sisters by the hand, while the third + hung about his neck—“I see you—I count you—my + grandmother, Lilias, Jean, and Annot; but where is—” (he hesitated, + and then continued, as if with an effort), “Where is Grace? Surely this is + not a time to hide hersell frae me—there’s nae time for daffing + now.” + </p> + <p> + “O, brother!” and “Our poor Grace!” was the only answer his questions + could procure, till his grandmother rose up, and gently disengaged him + from the weeping girls, led him to a seat, and with the affecting serenity + which sincere piety, like oil sprinkled on the waves, can throw over the + most acute feelings, she said, “My bairn, when thy grandfather was killed + in the wars, and left me with six orphans around me, with scarce bread to + eat, or a roof to cover us, I had strength,—not of mine own—but + I had strength given me to say, The Lord’s will be done!—My son, our + peaceful house was last night broken into by moss-troopers, armed and + masked; they have taken and destroyed all, and carried off our dear Grace. + Pray for strength to say, His will be done!” + </p> + <p> + “Mother! mother! urge me not—I cannot—not now I am a sinful + man, and of a hardened race. Masked armed—Grace carried off! Gie me + my sword, and my father’s knapsack—I will have vengeance, if I + should go to the pit of darkness to seek it!” + </p> + <p> + “O my bairn, my bairn! be patient under the rod. Who knows when He may + lift His hand off from us? Young Earnscliff, Heaven bless him, has taen + the chase, with Davie of Stenhouse, and the first comers. I cried to let + house and plenishing burn, and follow the reivers to recover Grace, and + Earnscliff and his men were ower the Fell within three hours after the + deed. God bless him! he’s a real Earnscliff; he’s his father’s true son—a + leal friend.” + </p> + <p> + “A true friend indeed; God bless him!” exclaimed Hobbie; “let’s on and + away, and take the chase after him.” + </p> + <p> + “O, my child, before you run on danger, let me hear you but say, HIS will + be done!” + </p> + <p> + “Urge me not, mother—not now.” He was rushing out, when, looking + back, he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of affliction. He + returned hastily, threw himself into her arms, and said, “Yes, mother, I + CAN say, HIS will be done, since it will comfort you.” + </p> + <p> + “May He go forth—may He go forth with you, my dear bairn; and O, may + He give you cause to say on your return, HIS name be praised!” + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, mother!—farewell, my dear sisters!” exclaimed Elliot, and + rushed out of the house. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Now horse and hattock, cried the Laird,— + Now horse and hattock, speedilie; + They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye, + Let them never look in the face o’ me.—Border Ballad. +</pre> + <p> + “Horse! horse! and spear!” exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen. Many a ready + foot was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastily collected arms and + accoutrements, no easy matter in such a confusion, the glen resounded with + the approbation of his younger friends. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay!” exclaimed Simon of Hackburn, “that’s the gate to take it, + Hobbie. Let women sit and greet at hame, men must do as they have been + done by; it’s the Scripture says’t.” + </p> + <p> + “Haud your tongue, sir,” said one of the seniors, sternly; “dinna abuse + the Word that gate, ye dinna ken what ye speak about.” + </p> + <p> + “Hae ye ony tidings?—Hae ye ony speerings, Hobbie?—O, + callants, dinna be ower hasty,” said old Dick of the Dingle. + </p> + <p> + “What signifies preaching to us, e’enow?” said Simon; “if ye canna make + help yoursell, dinna keep back them that can.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht, sir; wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrang’d ye?” + </p> + <p> + “D’ye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our fathers before + us?—All evil comes out o’ thereaway—it’s an auld saying and a + true; and we’ll e’en away there, as if the devil was blawing us south.” + </p> + <p> + “We’ll follow the track o’ Earnscliff’s horses ower the waste,” cried one + Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border, an there had + been a fair held there the day before,” said Hugh, the blacksmith of + Ringleburn, “for I aye shoe his horse wi’ my ain hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Lay on the deer-hounds,” cried another “where are they?” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, man, the sun’s been lang up, and the dew is aff the grund—the + scent will never lie.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds, which were roving about the ruins + of their old habitation, and filling the air with their doleful howls. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Killbuck,” said Hobbie, “try thy skill this day,” and then, as if a + light had suddenly broke on him,—“that ill-faur’d goblin spak + something o’ this! He may ken mair o’t, either by villains on earth, or + devils below—I’ll hae it frae him, if I should cut it out o’ his + mis-shapen bouk wi’ my whinger.” He then hastily gave directions to his + comrades: “Four o’ ye, wi’ Simon, haud right forward to Graeme’s-gap. If + they’re English, they’ll be for being back that way. The rest disperse by + twasome and threesome through the waste, and meet me at the Trysting-pool. + Tell my brothers, when they come up, to follow and meet us there. Poor + lads, they will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; little think they + what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venison to! I’ll ride ower + Mucklestane-Moor mysell.” + </p> + <p> + “And if I were you,” said Dick of the Dingle, “I would speak to Canny + Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, if he’s sae + minded.” + </p> + <p> + “He SHALL tell me,” said Hobbie, who was busy putting his arms in order, + “what he kens o’ this night’s job, or I shall right weel ken wherefore he + does not.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but speak him fair, my bonny man—speak him fair Hobbie; the + like o’ him will no bear thrawing. They converse sae muckle wi’ thae + fractious ghaists and evil spirits, that it clean spoils their temper.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me alane to guide him,” answered Hobbie; “there’s that in my breast + this day, that would ower-maister a’ the warlocks on earth, and a’ the + devils in hell.” + </p> + <p> + And being now fully equipped, he threw himself on his horse, and spurred + him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent. + </p> + <p> + Elliot speedily surmounted the hill, rode down the other side at the same + rate, crossed a wood, and traversed a long glen, ere he at length regained + Mucklestane-Moor. As he was obliged, in the course of his journey, to + relax his speed in consideration of the labour which his horse might still + have to undergo, he had time to consider maturely in what manner he should + address the Dwarf, in order to extract from him the knowledge which he + supposed him to be in possession of concerning the authors of his + misfortunes. Hobbie, though blunt, plain of speech, and hot of + disposition, like most of his countrymen, was by no means deficient in the + shrewdness which is also their characteristic. He reflected, that from + what he had observed on the memorable night when the Dwarf was first seen, + and from the conduct of that mysterious being ever since, he was likely to + be rendered even more obstinate in his sullenness by threats and violence. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll speak him fair,” he said, “as auld Dickon advised me. Though folk + say he has a league wi’ Satan, he canna be sic an incarnate devil as no to + take some pity in a case like mine; and folk threep he’ll whiles do good, + charitable sort o’ things. I’ll keep my heart doun as weel as I can, and + stroke him wi’ the hair; and if the warst come to the warst, it’s but + wringing the head o’ him about at last.” + </p> + <p> + In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the + Solitary. + </p> + <p> + The old man was not upon his seat of audience, nor could Hobbie perceive + him in his garden, or enclosures. + </p> + <p> + “He’s gotten into his very keep,” said Hobbie, “maybe to be out o’ the + gate; but I’se pu’ it doun about his lugs, if I canna win at him + otherwise.” + </p> + <p> + Having thus communed with himself, he raised his voice, and invoked Elshie + in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting feelings would permit. + “Elshie, my gude friend!” No reply. “Elshie, canny Father Elshie!” The + Dwarf remained mute. “Sorrow be in the crooked carcass of thee!” said the + Borderer between his teeth; and then again attempting a soothing tone,—“Good + Father Elshie, a most miserable creature desires some counsel of your + wisdom.” + </p> + <p> + “The better!” answered the shrill and discordant voice of the Dwarf + through a very small window, resembling an arrow slit, which he had + constructed near the door of his dwelling, and through which he could see + any one who approached it, without the possibility of their looking in + upon him. + </p> + <p> + “The better!” said Hobbie impatiently; “what is the better, Elshie? Do you + not hear me tell you I am the most miserable wretch living?” + </p> + <p> + “And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better! and did I not + tell you this morning, when you thought yourself so happy, what an evening + was coming upon you?” + </p> + <p> + “That ye did e’en,” replied Hobbie, “and that gars me come to you for + advice now; they that foresaw the trouble maun ken the cure.” + </p> + <p> + “I know no cure for earthly trouble,” returned the Dwarf “or, if I did, + why should I help others, when none hath aided me? Have I not lost wealth, + that would have bought all thy barren hills a hundred times over? rank, to + which thine is as that of a peasant? society, where there was an + interchange of all that was amiable—of all that was intellectual? + Have I not lost all this? Am I not residing here, the veriest outcast on + the face of Nature, in the most hideous and most solitary of her retreats, + myself more hideous than all that is around me? And why should other worms + complain to me when they are trodden on, since I am myself lying crushed + and writhing under the chariot-wheel?” + </p> + <p> + “Ye may have lost all this,” answered Hobbie, in the bitterness of + emotion; “land and friends, goods and gear; ye may hae lost them a’,—but + ye ne’er can hae sae sair a heart as mine, for ye ne’er lost nae Grace + Armstrong. And now my last hopes are gane, and I shall ne’er see her + mair.” + </p> + <p> + This he said in the tone of deepest emotion—and there followed a + long pause, for the mention of his bride’s name had overcome the more + angry and irritable feelings of poor Hobbie. Ere he had again addressed + the Solitary, the bony hand and long fingers of the latter, holding a + large leathern bag, was thrust forth at the small window, and as it + unclutched the burden, and let it drop with a clang upon the ground, his + harsh voice again addressed Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “There—there lies a salve for every human ill; so, at least, each + human wretch readily thinks.—Begone; return twice as wealthy as thou + wert before yesterday, and torment me no more with questions, complaints, + or thanks; they are alike odious to me.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a’ gowd, by Heaven!” said Elliot, having glanced at the contents; + and then again addressing the Hermit, “Muckle obliged for your goodwill; + and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o’ the siller, or a wadset ower + the lands o’ Wideopen. But I dinna ken, Elshie; to be free wi’ you, I + dinna like to use siller unless I kend it was decently come by; and maybe + it might turn into sclate-stanes, and cheat some poor man.” + </p> + <p> + “Ignorant idiot!” retorted the Dwarf; “the trash is as genuine poison as + ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth. Take it—use it, and may + it thrive with you as it hath done with me!” + </p> + <p> + “But I tell you,” said Elliot, “it wasna about the gear that I was + consulting you,—it was a braw barn-yard, doubtless, and thirty head + of finer cattle there werena on this side of the Catrail; but let the gear + gang,—if ye could but gie me speerings o’ puir Grace, I would be + content to be your slave for life, in onything that didna touch my + salvation. O, Elshie, speak, man, speak!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” answered the Dwarf, as if worn out by his importunity, + “since thou hast not enough of woes of thine own, but must needs seek to + burden thyself with those of a partner, seek her whom thou hast lost in + the WEST.” + </p> + <p> + “In the WEST? That’s a wide word.” + </p> + <p> + “It is the last,” said the Dwarf, “which I design to utter;” and he drew + the shutters of his window, leaving Hobbie to make the most of the hint he + had given. + </p> + <p> + The west! the west!—thought Elliot; the country is pretty quiet down + that way, unless it were Jock o’ the Todholes; and he’s ower auld now for + the like o’ thae jobs.—West!—By My life, it must be + Westburnflat. “Elshie, just tell me one word. Am I right? Is it + Westburnflat? If I am wrang, say sae. I wadna like to wyte an innocent + neighbour wi’ violence—No answer?—It must be the Red Reiver—I + didna think he wad hae ventured on me, neither, and sae mony kin as + there’s o’ us—I am thinking he’ll hae some better backing than his + Cumberland friends.—Fareweel to you, Elshie, and mony thanks—I + downa be fashed wi’ the siller e’en now, for I maun awa’ to meet my + friends at the Trysting-place—Sae, if ye carena to open the window, + ye can fetch it in after I’m awa’.” + </p> + <p> + Still there was no reply. + </p> + <p> + “He’s deaf, or he’s daft, or he’s baith; but I hae nae time to stay to + claver wi’ him.” + </p> + <p> + And off rode Hobbie Elliot towards the place of rendezvous which he had + named to his friends. + </p> + <p> + Four or five riders were already gathered at the Trysting pool. They stood + in close consultation together, while their horses were permitted to graze + among the poplars which overhung the broad still pool. A more numerous + party were seen coming from the southward. It proved to be Earnscliff and + his party, who had followed the track of the cattle as far as the English + border, but had halted on the information that a considerable force was + drawn together under some of the Jacobite gentlemen in that district, and + there were tidings of insurrection in different parts of Scotland. This + took away from the act which had been perpetrated the appearance of + private animosity, or love of plunder; and Earnscliff was now disposed to + regard it as a symptom of civil war. The young gentleman greeted Hobbie + with the most sincere sympathy, and informed him of the news he had + received. + </p> + <p> + “Then, may I never stir frae the bit,” said Elliot, “if auld Ellieslaw is + not at the bottom o’ the haill villainy! Ye see he’s leagued wi’ the + Cumberland Catholics; and that agrees weel wi’ what Elshie hinted about + Westburnflat, for Ellieslaw aye protected him, and he will want to harry + and disarm the country about his ain hand before he breaks out.” + </p> + <p> + Some now remembered that the party of ruffians had been heard to say they + were acting for James VIII., and were charged to disarm all rebels. Others + had heard Westburnflat boast, in drinking parties, that Ellieslaw would + soon be in arms for the Jacobite cause, and that he himself was to hold a + command under him, and that they would be bad neighbours for young + Earnscliff; and all that stood out for the established government. The + result was a strong belief that Westburnflat had headed the party under + Ellieslaw’s orders; and they resolved to proceed instantly to the house of + the former, and, if possible, to secure his person. They were by this time + joined by so many of their dispersed friends, that their number amounted + to upwards of twenty horsemen, well mounted, and tolerably, though + variously, armed. + </p> + <p> + A brook, which issued from a narrow glen among the hills, entered, at + Westburnflat, upon the open marshy level, which, expanding about half a + mile in every direction, gives name to the spot. In this place the + character of the stream becomes changed, and, from being a lively + brisk-running mountain-torrent, it stagnates, like a blue swollen snake, + in dull deep windings, through the swampy level. On the side of the + stream, and nearly about the centre of the plain, arose the tower of + Westburnflat, one of the few remaining strongholds formerly so numerous + upon the Borders. The ground upon which it stood was gently elevated above + the marsh for the space of about a hundred yards, affording an esplanade + of dry turf, which extended itself in the immediate neighbourhood of the + tower; but, beyond which, the surface presented to strangers was that of + an impassable and dangerous bog. The owner of the tower and his inmates + alone knew the winding and intricate paths, which, leading over ground + that was comparatively sound, admitted visitors to his residence. But + among the party which were assembled under Earnscliff’s directions, there + was more than one person qualified to act as a guide. For although the + owner’s character and habits of life were generally known, yet the laxity + of feeling with respect to property prevented his being looked on with the + abhorrence with which he must have been regarded in a more civilized + country. He was considered, among his more peaceable neighbours, pretty + much as a gambler, cock-fighter, or horse-jockey would be regarded at the + present day; a person, of course, whose habits were to be condemned, and + his society, in general, avoided, yet who could not be considered as + marked with the indelible infamy attached to his profession, where laws + have been habitually observed. And their indignation was awakened against + him upon this occasion, not so much on account of the general nature of + the transaction, which was just such as was to be expected from this + marauder, as that the violence had been perpetrated upon a neighbour + against whom he had no cause of quarrel,—against a friend of their + own,—above all, against one of the name of Elliot, to which clan + most of them belonged. It was not, therefore, wonderful, that there should + be several in the band pretty well acquainted with the locality of his + habitation, and capable of giving such directions and guidance as soon + placed the whole party on the open space of firm ground in front of the + Tower of Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + So spak the knicht; the geaunt sed, + Lend forth with the the sely maid, + And mak me quile of the and sche; + For glaunsing ee, or brow so brent, + Or cheek with rose and lilye blent, + Me lists not ficht with the.—ROMANCE OF THE FALCON. +</pre> + <p> + The tower, before which the party now stood, was a small square building, + of the most gloomy aspect. The walls were of great thickness, and the + windows, or slits which served the purpose of windows, seemed rather + calculated to afford the defenders the means of employing missile weapons, + than for admitting air or light to the apartments within. A small + battlement projected over the walls on every side, and afforded farther + advantage of defence by its niched parapet, within which arose a steep + roof, flagged with grey stones. A single turret at one angle, defended by + a door studded with huge iron nails, rose above the battlement, and gave + access to the roof from within, by the spiral staircase which it enclosed. + It seemed to the party that their motions were watched by some one + concealed within this turret; and they were confirmed in their belief + when, through a narrow loophole, a female hand was seen to wave a + handkerchief, as if by way of signal to them. Hobbie was almost out of his + senses with joy and eagerness. + </p> + <p> + “It was Grace’s hand and arm,” he said; “I can swear to it amang a + thousand. There is not the like of it on this side of the Lowdens—We’ll + have her out, lads, if we should carry off the Tower of Westburnflat stane + by stane.” + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff, though he doubted the possibility of recognising a fair + maiden’s hand at such a distance from the eye of the lover, would say + nothing to damp his friend’s animated hopes, and it was resolved to summon + the garrison. + </p> + <p> + The shouts of the party, and the winding of one or two horns, at length + brought to a loophole, which flanked the entrance, the haggard face of an + old woman. + </p> + <p> + “That’s the Reiver’s mother,” said one of the Elliots; “she’s ten times + waur than himsell, and is wyted for muckle of the ill he does about the + country.” + </p> + <p> + “Wha are ye? what d’ye want here?” were the queries of the respectable + progenitor. + </p> + <p> + “We are seeking William Graeme of Westburnflat,” said Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “He’s no at hame,” returned the old dame. + </p> + <p> + “When did he leave home?” pursued Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “I canna tell,” said the portress. + </p> + <p> + “When will he return?” said Hobbie Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “I dinna ken naething about it,” replied the inexorable guardian of the + keep. + </p> + <p> + “Is there anybody within the tower with you?” again demanded Earnscliff. + </p> + <p> + “Naebody but mysell and baudrons,” said the old woman. + </p> + <p> + “Then open the gate and admit us,” said Earnscliff; “I am a justice of + peace, and in search of the evidence of a felony.” + </p> + <p> + “Deil be in their fingers that draws a bolt for ye,” retorted the + portress; “for mine shall never do it. Thinkna ye shame o’ yoursells, to + come here siccan a band o’ ye, wi’ your swords, and spears, and + steel-caps, to frighten a lone widow woman?” + </p> + <p> + “Our information,” said Earnscliff; “is positive; we are seeking goods + which have been forcibly carried off, to a great amount.” + </p> + <p> + “And a young woman, that’s been cruelly made prisoner, that’s worth mair + than a’ the gear, twice told,” said Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “And I warn you.” continued Earnscliff, “that your only way to prove your + son’s innocence is to give us quiet admittance to search the house.” + </p> + <p> + “And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys, or draw the bolts, or + open the grate to sic a clamjamfrie?” said the old dame, scoffingly. + </p> + <p> + “Force our way with the king’s keys, and break the neck of every living + soul we find in the house, if ye dinna gie it ower forthwith!” menaced the + incensed Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Threatened folks live lang,” said the hag, in the same tone of irony; + “there’s the iron grate—try your skeel on’t, lads—it has kept + out as gude men as you or now.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, she laughed, and withdrew from the aperture through which she + had held the parley. + </p> + <p> + The besiegers now opened a serious consultation. The immense thickness of + the walls, and the small size of the windows, might, for a time, have even + resisted cannon-shot. The entrance was secured, first, by a strong grated + door, composed entirely of hammered iron, of such ponderous strength as + seemed calculated to resist any force that could be brought against it. + “Pinches or forehammers will never pick upon’t,” said Hugh, the blacksmith + of Ringleburn; “ye might as weel batter at it wi’ pipe-staples.” + </p> + <p> + Within the doorway, and at the distance of nine feet, which was the solid + thickness of the wall, there was a second door of oak, crossed, both + breadth and lengthways, with clenched bars of iron, and studded full of + broad-headed nails. Besides all these defences, they were by no means + confident in the truth of the old dame’s assertion, that she alone + composed the garrison. The more knowing of the party had observed + hoof-marks in the track by which they approached the tower, which seemed + to indicate that several persons had very lately passed in that direction. + </p> + <p> + To all these difficulties was added their want of means for attacking the + place. There was no hope of procuring ladders long enough to reach the + battlements, and the windows, besides being very narrow, were secured with + iron bars. Scaling was therefore out of the question; mining was still + more so, for want of tools and gunpowder; neither were the besiegers + provided with food, means of shelter, or other conveniences, which might + have enabled them to convert the siege into a blockade; and there would, + at any rate, have been a risk of relief from some of the marauder’s + comrades. Hobbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, as, walking round the + fastness, he could devise no means of making a forcible entry. At length + he suddenly exclaimed, “And what for no do as our fathers did lang syne?—Put + hand to the wark, lads. Let us cut up bushes and briers, pile them before + the door and set fire to them, and smoke that auld devil’s dam as if she + were to be reested for bacon.” + </p> + <p> + All immediately closed with this proposal, and some went to work with + swords and knives to cut down the alder and hawthorn bushes which grew by + the side of the sluggish stream, many of which were sufficiently decayed + and dried for their purpose, while others began to collect them in a large + stack, properly disposed for burning, as close to the iron-grate as they + could be piled. Fire was speedily obtained from one of their guns, and + Hobbie was already advancing to the pile with a kindled brand, when the + surly face of the robber, and the muzzle of a musquetoon, were partially + shown at a shot-hole which flanked the entrance. “Mony thanks to ye,” he + said, scoffingly, “for collecting sae muckle winter eilding for us; but if + ye step a foot nearer it wi’ that lunt, it’s be the dearest step ye ever + made in your days.” + </p> + <p> + “We’ll sune see that,” said Hobbie, advancing fearlessly with the torch. + </p> + <p> + The marauder snapped his piece at him, which, fortunately for our honest + friend, did not go off; while Earnscliff, firing at the same moment at the + narrow aperture and slight mark afforded by the robber’s face, grazed the + side of his head with a bullet. He had apparently calculated upon his post + affording him more security, for he no sooner felt the wound, though a + very slight one, than he requested a parley, and demanded to know what + they meant by attacking in this fashion a peaceable and honest man, and + shedding his blood in that lawless manner? + </p> + <p> + “We want your prisoner,” said Earnscliff, “to be delivered up to us in + safety.” + </p> + <p> + “And what concern have you with her?” replied the marauder. + </p> + <p> + “That,” retorted Earnscliff, “you, who are detaining her by force, have no + right to enquire.” + </p> + <p> + “Aweel, I think I can gie a guess,” said the robber. “Weel, sirs, I am + laith to enter into deadly feud with you by spilling ony of your bluid, + though Earnscliff hasna stopped to shed mine—and he can hit a mark + to a groat’s breadth—so, to prevent mair skaith, I am willing to + deliver up the prisoner, since nae less will please you.” + </p> + <p> + “And Hobbie’s gear?” cried Simon of Hackburn. “D’ye think you’re to be + free to plunder the faulds and byres of a gentle Elliot, as if they were + an auld wife’s hens’-cavey?” + </p> + <p> + “As I live by bread,” replied Willie of Westburnflat “As I live by bread, + I have not a single cloot o’ them! They’re a’ ower the march lang syne; + there’s no a horn o’ them about the tower. But I’ll see what o’ them can + be gotten back, and I’ll take this day twa days to meet Hobbie at the + Castleton wi’ twa friends on ilka side, and see to make an agreement about + a’ the wrang he can wyte me wi’.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay,” said Elliot, “that will do weel eneugh.”—And then aside to + his kinsman, “Murrain on the gear! Lordsake, man! say nought about them. + Let us but get puir Grace out o’ that auld hellicat’s clutches.” + </p> + <p> + “Will ye gie me your word, Earnscliff,” said the marauder, who still + lingered at the shot-hole, “your faith and troth, with hand and glove, + that I am free to come and free to gae, with five minutes to open the + grate, and five minutes to steek it and to draw the bolts? less winna do, + for they want creishing sairly. Will ye do this?” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have full time,” said Earnscliff; “I plight my faith and troth, + my hand and my glove.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait there a moment, then,” said Westburnflat; “or hear ye, I wad rather + ye wad fa’ back a pistol-shot from the door. It’s no that I mistrust your + word, Earnscliff; but it’s best to be sure.” + </p> + <p> + O, friend, thought Hobbie to himself, as he drew back, an I had you but on + Turner’s-holm, [There is a level meadow, on the very margin of the two + kingdoms, called Turner’s-holm, just where the brook called Crissop joins + the Liddel. It is said to have derived its name as being a place + frequently assigned for tourneys, during the ancient Border times.] and + naebody by but twa honest lads to see fair play, I wad make ye wish ye had + broken your leg ere ye had touched beast or body that belanged to me! + </p> + <p> + “He has a white feather in his wing this same Westburnflat, after a’,” + said Simon of Hackburn, somewhat scandalized by his ready surrender.—“He’ll + ne’er fill his father’s boots.” + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, the inner door of the tower was opened, and the mother + of the freebooter appeared in the space betwixt that and the outer grate. + Willie himself was next seen, leading forth a female, and the old woman, + carefully bolting the grate behind them, remained on the post as a sort of + sentinel. + </p> + <p> + “Ony ane or twa o’ ye come forward,” said the outlaw, “and take her frae + my hand haill and sound.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie advanced eagerly, to meet his betrothed bride. Earnscliff followed + more slowly, to guard against treachery. Suddenly Hobbie slackened his + pace in the deepest mortification, while that of Earnscliff was hastened + by impatient surprise. It was not Grace Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, + whose liberation had been effected by their appearance before the tower. + </p> + <p> + “Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong?” exclaimed Hobbie, in the + extremity of wrath and indignation. + </p> + <p> + “Not in my hands,” answered Westburnflat; “ye may search the tower, if ye + misdoubt me.” + </p> + <p> + “You false villain, you shall account for her, or die on the spot,” said + Elliot, presenting his gun. + </p> + <p> + But his companions, who now came up, instantly disarmed him of his weapon, + exclaiming, all at once, “Hand and glove! faith and troth! Haud a care, + Hobbie we maun keep our faith wi’ Westburnflat, were he the greatest rogue + ever rode.” + </p> + <p> + Thus protected, the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been somewhat + daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot. + </p> + <p> + “I have kept my word, sirs,” he said, “and I look to have nae wrang amang + ye. If this is no the prisoner ye sought,” he said, addressing Earnscliff, + “ye’ll render her back to me again. I am answerable for her to those that + aught her.” + </p> + <p> + “For God’s sake, Mr. Earnscliff, protect me!” said Miss Vere, clinging to + her deliverer; “do not you abandon one whom the whole world seems to have + abandoned.” + </p> + <p> + “Fear nothing,” whispered Earnscliff, “I will protect you with my life.” + Then turning to Westburnflat, “Villain!” he said, “how dared you to insult + this lady?” + </p> + <p> + “For that matter, Earnscliff,” answered the freebooter, “I can answer to + them that has better right to ask me than you have; but if you come with + an armed force, and take her awa’ from them that her friends lodged her + wi’, how will you answer THAT—But it’s your ain affair—Nae + single man can keep a tower against twenty—A’ the men o’ the Mearns + downa do mair than they dow.” + </p> + <p> + “He lies most falsely,” said Isabella; “he carried me off by violence from + my father.” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe he only wanted ye to think sae, hinny,” replied the robber; “but + it’s nae business o’ mine, let it be as it may.—So ye winna resign + her back to me?” + </p> + <p> + “Back to you, fellow? Surely no,” answered Earnscliff; “I will protect + Miss Vere, and escort her safely wherever she is pleased to be conveyed.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, maybe you and her hae settled that already,” said Willie of + Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + “And Grace?” interrupted Hobbie, shaking himself loose from the friends + who had been preaching to him the sanctity of the safe-conduct, upon the + faith of which the freebooter had ventured from his tower,—“Where’s + Grace?” and he rushed on the marauder, sword in hand. + </p> + <p> + Westburnflat, thus pressed, after calling out, “Godsake, Hobbie, hear me a + gliff!” fairly turned his back and fled. His mother stood ready to open + and shut the grate; but Hobbie struck at the freebooter as he entered with + so much force, that the sword made a considerable cleft in the lintel of + the vaulted door, which is still shown as a memorial of the superior + strength of those who lived in the days of yore. Ere Hobbie could repeat + the blow, the door was shut and secured, and he was compelled to retreat + to his companions, who were now preparing to break up the siege of + Westburnflat. They insisted upon his accompanying them in their return. + </p> + <p> + “Ye hae broken truce already,” said old Dick of the Dingle; “an we takena + the better care, ye’ll play mair gowk’s tricks, and make yoursell the + laughing-stock of the haill country, besides having your friends charged + with slaughter under trust. Bide till the meeting at Castleton, as ye hae + greed; and if he disna make ye amends, then we’ll hae it out o’ his + heart’s blood. But let us gang reasonably to wark and keep our tryst, and + I’se warrant we get back Grace, and the kye an’ a’.” + </p> + <p> + This cold-blooded reasoning went ill down with the unfortunate lover; but, + as he could only obtain the assistance of his neighbours and kinsmen on + their own terms, he was compelled to acquiesce in their notions of good + faith and regular procedure. + </p> + <p> + Earnscliff now requested the assistance of a few of the party to convey + Miss Vere to her father’s castle of Ellieslaw, to which she was peremptory + in desiring to be conducted. This was readily granted; and five or six + young men agreed to attend him as an escort. Hobbie was not of the number. + Almost heart-broken by the events of the day, and his final + disappointment, he returned moodily home to take such measures as he could + for the sustenance and protection of his family, and to arrange with his + neighbours the farther steps which should be adopted for the recovery of + Grace Armstrong. The rest of the party dispersed in different directions, + as soon as they had crossed the morass. The outlaw and his mother watched + them from the tower, until they entirely disappeared. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + I left my ladye’s bower last night— + It was clad in wreaths of snaw,— + I’ll seek it when the sun is bright, + And sweet the roses blaw.—OLD BALLAD. +</pre> + <p> + Incensed at what he deemed the coldness of his friends, in a cause which + interested him so nearly, Hobbie had shaken himself free of their company, + and was now on his solitary road homeward. “The fiend founder thee!” said + he, as he spurred impatiently his over-fatigued and stumbling horse; “thou + art like a’ the rest o’ them. Hae I not bred thee, and fed thee, and + dressed thee wi’ mine ain hand, and wouldst thou snapper now and break my + neck at my utmost need? But thou’rt e’en like the lave—the farthest + off o’ them a’ is my cousin ten times removed, and day or night I wad hae + served them wi’ my best blood; and now, I think they show mair regard to + the common thief of Westburnflat than to their ain kinsman. But I should + see the lights now in Heugh-foot—Wae’s me!” he continued, + recollecting himself, “there will neither coal nor candle-light shine in + the Heugh-foot ony mair! An it werena for my mother and sisters, and poor + Grace, I could find in my heart to put spurs to the beast, and loup ower + the scaur into the water to make an end o’t a’.”—In this + disconsolate mood he turned his horse’s bridle towards the cottage in + which his family had found refuge. + </p> + <p> + As he approached the door, he heard whispering and tittering amongst his + sisters. “The deevil’s in the women,” said poor Hobbie; “they would + nicker, and laugh, and giggle, if their best friend was lying a corp—and + yet I am glad they can keep up their hearts sae weel, poor silly things; + but the dirdum fa’s on me, to be sure, and no on them.” + </p> + <p> + While he thus meditated, he was engaged in fastening up his horse in a + shed. “Thou maun do without horse-sheet and surcingle now, lad,” he said, + addressing the animal; “you and me hae had a downcome alike; we had better + hae fa’en i, the deepest pool o’ Tarras.” + </p> + <p> + He was interrupted by the youngest of his sisters, who came running out, + and, speaking in a constrained voice, as if to stifle some emotion, called + out to him, “What are ye doing there, Hobbie, fiddling about the naig, and + there’s ane frae Cumberland been waiting here for ye this hour and mair? + Haste ye in, man; I’ll take off the saddle.” + </p> + <p> + “Ane frae Cumberland!” exclaimed Elliot; and putting the bridle of his + horse into the hand of his sister, he rushed into the cottage. “Where is + he? where is he!” he exclaimed, glancing eagerly around, and seeing only + females; “Did he bring news of Grace?” + </p> + <p> + “He doughtna bide an instant langer,” said the elder sister, still with a + suppressed laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Hout fie, bairns!” said the old lady, with something of a good-humoured + reproof, “ye shouldna vex your billy Hobbie that way.—Look round, my + bairn, and see if there isna ane here mair than ye left this morning.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie looked eagerly round. “There’s you, and the three titties.” + </p> + <p> + “There’s four of us now, Hobbie, lad,” said the youngest, who at this + moment entered. + </p> + <p> + In an instant Hobbie had in his arms Grace Armstrong, who, with one of his + sister’s plaids around her, had passed unnoticed at his first entrance. + “How dared you do this?” said Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “It wasna my fault,” said Grace, endeavouring to cover her face with her + hands to hide at once her blushes, and escape the storm of hearty kisses + with which her bridegroom punished her simple stratagem,—“It wasna + my fault, Hobbie; ye should kiss Jeanie and the rest o’ them, for they hae + the wyte o’t.” + </p> + <p> + “And so I will,” said Hobbie, and embraced and kissed his sisters and + grandmother a hundred times, while the whole party half-laughed, + half-cried, in the extremity of their joy. “I am the happiest man,” said + Hobbie, throwing himself down on a seat, almost exhausted,—“I am the + happiest man in the world!” + </p> + <p> + “Then, O my dear bairn,” said the good old dame, who lost no opportunity + of teaching her lesson of religion at those moments when the heart was + best open to receive it,—“Then, O my son, give praise to Him that + brings smiles out o’ tears and joy out o’ grief, as He brought light out + o’ darkness and the world out o’ naething. Was it not my word, that if ye + could say His will be done, ye might hae cause to say His name be + praised?” + </p> + <p> + “It was—it was your word, grannie; and I do praise Him for His + mercy, and for leaving me a good parent when my ain were gane,” said + honest Hobbie, taking her hand, “that puts me in mind to think of Him, + baith in happiness and distress.” + </p> + <p> + There was a solemn pause of one or two minutes employed in the exercise of + mental devotion, which expressed, in purity and sincerity, the gratitude + of the affectionate family to that Providence who had unexpectedly + restored to their embraces the friend whom they had lost. + </p> + <p> + Hobbie’s first enquiries were concerning the adventures which Grace had + undergone. They were told at length, but amounted in substance to this:—That + she was awaked by the noise which the ruffians made in breaking into the + house, and by the resistance made by one or two of the servants, which was + soon overpowered; that, dressing herself hastily, she ran downstairs, and + having seen, in the scuffle, Westburnflat’s vizard drop off, imprudently + named him by his name, and besought him for mercy; that the ruffian + instantly stopped her mouth, dragged her from the house, and placed her on + horseback, behind one of his associates. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll break the accursed neck of him,” said Hobbie, “if there werena + another Graeme in the land but himsell!” + </p> + <p> + She proceeded to say, that she was carried southward along with the party, + and the spoil which they drove before them, until they had crossed the + Border. Suddenly a person, known to her as a kinsman of Westburnflat, came + riding very fast after the marauders, and told their leader, that his + cousin had learnt from a sure hand that no luck would come of it, unless + the lass was restored to her friends. After some discussion, the chief of + the party seemed to acquiesce. Grace was placed behind her new guardian, + who pursued in silence, and with great speed, the least-frequented path to + the Heugh-foot, and ere evening closed, set down the fatigued and + terrified damsel within a quarter of a mile of the dwelling of her + friends. Many and sincere were the congratulations which passed on all + sides. + </p> + <p> + As these emotions subsided, less pleasing considerations began to intrude + themselves. + </p> + <p> + “This is a miserable place for ye a’,” said Hobbie, looking around him; “I + can sleep weel eneugh mysell outby beside the naig, as I hae done mony a + lang night on the hills; but how ye are to put yoursells up, I canna see! + And what’s waur, I canna mend it; and what’s waur than a’, the morn may + come, and the day after that, without your being a bit better off.” + </p> + <p> + “It was a cowardly cruel thing,” said one of the sisters, looking round, + “to harry a puir family to the bare wa’s this gate.” + </p> + <p> + “And leave us neither stirk nor stot,” said the youngest brother, who now + entered, “nor sheep nor lamb, nor aught that eats grass and corn.” + </p> + <p> + “If they had ony quarrel wi’ us,” said Harry, the second brother, “were we + na ready to have fought it out? And that we should have been a’ frae hame, + too,—ane and a’ upon the hill—Odd, an we had been at hame, + Will Graeme’s stamach shouldna hae wanted its morning; but it’s biding + him, is it na, Hobbie?” + </p> + <p> + “Our neighbours hae taen a day at the Castleton to gree wi’ him at the + sight o’ men,” said Hobbie, mournfully; “they behoved to have it a’ their + ain gate, or there was nae help to be got at their hands.” + </p> + <p> + “To gree wi’ him!” exclaimed both his brothers at once, “after siccan an + act of stouthrife as hasna been heard o’ in the country since the auld + riding days!” + </p> + <p> + “Very true, billies, and my blood was e’en boiling at it; but the sight o’ + Grace Armstrong has settled it brawly.” + </p> + <p> + “But the stocking, Hobbie’” said John Elliot; “we’re utterly ruined. Harry + and I hae been to gather what was on the outby land, and there’s scarce a + cloot left. I kenna how we’re to carry on—We maun a’ gang to the + wars, I think. Westburnflat hasna the means, e’en if he had the will, to + make up our loss; there’s nae mends to be got out o’ him, but what ye take + out o’ his banes. He hasna a four-footed creature but the vicious blood + thing he rides on, and that’s sair trash’d wi’ his night wark. We are + ruined stoop and roop.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie cast a mournful glance on Grace Armstrong, who returned it with a + downcast look and a gentle sigh. + </p> + <p> + “Dinna be cast down, bairns,” said the grandmother, “we hae gude friends + that winna forsake us in adversity. There’s Sir Thomas Kittleloof is my + third cousin by the mother’s side, and he has come by a hantle siller, and + been made a knight-baronet into the bargain, for being ane o’ the + commissioners at the Union.” + </p> + <p> + “He wadna gie a bodle to save us frae famishing,” said Hobbie; “and, if he + did, the bread that I bought wi’t would stick in my throat, when I thought + it was part of the price of puir auld Scotland’s crown and independence.” + </p> + <p> + “There’s the Laird o’ Dunder, ane o’ the auldest families in Tiviotdale.” + </p> + <p> + “He’s in the tolbooth, mother—he’s in the Heart of Mid-Louden for a + thousand merk he borrowed from Saunders Wyliecoat the writer.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor man!” exclaimed Mrs. Elliot, “can we no send him something, Hobbie?” + </p> + <p> + “Ye forget, grannie, ye forget we want help oursells,” said Hobbie, + somewhat peevishly. + </p> + <p> + “Troth did I, hinny,” replied the good-natured lady, “just at the instant; + it’s sae natural to think on ane’s blude relations before themsells;—But + there’s young Earnscliff.” + </p> + <p> + “He has ower little o’ his ain; and siccan a name to keep up, it wad be a + shame,” said Hobbie, “to burden him wi’ our distress. And I’ll tell ye, + grannie, it’s needless to sit rhyming ower the style of a’ your kith, kin, + and allies, as if there was a charm in their braw names to do us good; the + grandees hae forgotten us, and those of our ain degree hae just little + eneugh to gang on wi’ themsells; ne’er a friend hae we that can, or will, + help us to stock the farm again.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, Hobbie, me maun trust in Him that can raise up friends and fortune + out o’ the bare moor, as they say.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie sprung upon his feet. “Ye are right, grannie!” he exclaimed; “ye + are right. I do ken a friend on the bare moor, that baith can and will + help us—The turns o’ this day hae dung my head clean hirdie-girdie. + I left as muckle gowd lying on Mucklestane-Moor this morning as would + plenish the house and stock the Heugh-foot twice ower, and I am certain + sure Elshie wadna grudge us the use of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Elshie!” said his grandmother in astonishment; “what Elshie do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “What Elshie should I mean, but Canny Elshie, the Wight o’ Mucklestane,” + replied Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “God forfend, my bairn, you should gang to fetch water out o’ broken + cisterns, or seek for relief frae them that deal wi’ the Evil One! There + was never luck in their gifts, nor grace in their paths. And the haill + country kens that body Elshie’s an unco man. O, if there was the law, and + the douce quiet administration of justice, that makes a kingdom flourish + in righteousness, the like o’ them suldna be suffered to live! The wizard + and the witch are the abomination and the evil thing in the land.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, mother,” answered Hobbie, “ye may say what ye like, but I am in + the mind that witches and warlocks havena half the power they had lang + syne; at least, sure am I, that ae ill-deviser, like auld Ellieslaw, or ae + ill-doer, like that d—d villain Westburnflat, is a greater plague + and abomination in a country-side than a haill curnie o’ the warst witches + that ever capered on a broomstick, or played cantrips on Fastern’s E’en. + It wad hae been lang or Elshie had burnt down my house and barns, and I am + determined to try if he will do aught to build them up again. He’s weel + kend a skilfu’ man ower a’ the country, as far as Brough under Stanmore.” + </p> + <p> + “Bide a wee, my bairn; mind his benefits havena thriven wi’ a’body. Jock + Howden died o’ the very same disorder Elshie pretended to cure him of, + about the fa’ o’ the leaf; and though he helped Lambside’s cow weel out o’ + the moor-ill, yet the louping-ill’s been sairer amane; his sheep than ony + season before. And then I have heard he uses sic words abusing human + nature, that’s like a fleeing in the face of Providence; and ye mind ye + said yoursell, the first time ye ever saw him, that he was mair like a + bogle than a living thing.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, mother,” said Hobbie, “Elshie’s no that bad a chield; he’s a + grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a rough talker, + but his bark is waur than his bite; sae, if I had anes something to eat, + for I havena had a morsel ower my throat this day, I wad streek mysell + down for twa or three hours aside the beast, and be on and awa’ to + Mucklestane wi’ the first skreigh o’ morning.” + </p> + <p> + “And what for no the night, Hobbie,” said Harry, “and I will ride wi’ ye?” + </p> + <p> + “My naig is tired,” said Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Ye may take mine, then,” said John. + </p> + <p> + “But I am a wee thing wearied mysell.” + </p> + <p> + “You wearied?” said Harry; “shame on ye! I have kend ye keep the saddle + four-and-twenty hours thegither, and ne’er sic a word as weariness in your + wame.” + </p> + <p> + “The night’s very dark,” said Hobbie, rising and looking through the + casement of the cottage; “and, to speak truth, and shame the deil, though + Elshie’s a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would rather take daylight + wi’ me when I gang to visit him.” + </p> + <p> + This frank avowal put a stop to further argument; and Hobbie, having thus + compromised matters between the rashness of his brother’s counsel, and the + timid cautions which he received from his grandmother, refreshed himself + with such food as the cottage afforded; and, after a cordial salutation + all round, retired to the shed, and stretched himself beside his trusty + palfrey. His brothers shared between them some trusses of clean straw, + disposed in the stall usually occupied by old Annaple’s cow; and the + females arranged themselves for repose as well as the accommodations of + the cottage would permit. + </p> + <p> + With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed down and + saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. He avoided the + company of either of his brothers, from an idea that the Dwarf was most + propitious to those who visited him alone. + </p> + <p> + “The creature,” said he to himself, as he went along, “is no neighbourly; + ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can abide. I wonder if he’s + looked out o’ the crib o’ him to gather up the bag o’ siller. If he hasna + done that, it will hae been a braw windfa’ for somebody, and I’ll be + finely flung.—Come, Tarras,” said he to his horse, striking him at + the same time with his spur, “make mair fit, man; we maun be first on the + field if we can.” + </p> + <p> + He was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the beams of the + rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was descending presented him a + distinct, though distant view, of the Dwarf’s dwelling. The door opened, + and Hobbie witnessed with his own eyes that phenomenon which he had + frequently heard mentioned. Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf could + be termed such) issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and stood + as if in converse together in the open air. The taller form then stooped, + as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the hut, then both + moved forward a little way, and again halted, as in deep conference. All + Hobbie’s superstitious terrors revived on witnessing this’spectacle. That + the Dwarf would open his dwelling to a mortal guest, was as improbable as + that any one would choose voluntarily to be his nocturnal visitor; and, + under full conviction that he beheld a wizard holding intercourse with his + familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at once his breath and his bridle, + resolved not to incur the indignation of either by a hasty intrusion on + their conference. They were probably aware of his approach, for he had not + halted for a moment before the Dwarf returned to his cottage; and the + taller figure who had accompanied him, glided round the enclosure of the + garden, and seemed to disappear from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie. + </p> + <p> + “Saw ever mortal the like o’ that!” said Elliot; “but my case is + desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I’se venture down the brae + on him.” + </p> + <p> + Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace, when, + nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall figure, he + discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a small black + rough-looking object, like a terrier dog. + </p> + <p> + “He has nae dog that ever I heard of,” said Hobbie, “but mony a deil about + his hand—lord forgie me for saying sic a word!—It keeps its + grund, be what it like—I’m judging it’s a badger; but whae kens what + shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it will maybe start up like + a lion or a crocodile when I come nearer. I’se e’en drive a stage at it, + for if it change its shape when I’m ower near, Tarras will never stand it; + and it will be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight wi’ baith at + ance.” + </p> + <p> + He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which continued + motionless. “It’s nae living thing, after a’,” said Hobbie, approaching, + “but the very bag o’ siller he flung out o’ the window yesterday! and that + other queer lang creature has just brought it sae muckle farther on the + way to me.” He then advanced and lifted the heavy fur pouch, which was + quite full of gold. “Mercy on us!” said Hobbie, whose heart fluttered + between glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects in life, and + suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was afforded him—-“Mercy + on us! it’s an awfu’ thing to touch what has been sae lately in the claws + of something no canny, I canna shake mysell loose o’ the belief that there + has been some jookery-paukery of Satan’s in a’ this; but I am determined + to conduct mysell like an honest man and a good Christian, come o’t what + will.” + </p> + <p> + He advanced accordingly to the cottage door, and having knocked repeatedly + without receiving any answer, he at length elevated his voice and + addressed the inmate of the hut. “Elshie! Father Elshie! I ken ye’re + within doors, and wauking, for I saw ye at the door-cheek as I cam ower + the bent; will ye come out and speak just a gliff to ane that has mony + thanks to gie ye?—It was a’ true ye tell’d me about Westburnflat; + but he’s sent back Grace safe and skaithless, sae there’s nae ill happened + yet but what may be suffered or sustained;—Wad ye but come out a + gliff; man, or but say ye’re listening?—Aweel, since ye winna + answer, I’se e’en proceed wi’ my tale. Ye see I hae been thinking it wad + be a sair thing on twa young folk, like Grace and me, to put aff our + marriage for mony years till I was abroad and came back again wi’ some + gear; and they say folk maunna take booty in the wars as they did lang + syne, and the queen’s pay is a sma’ matter; there’s nae gathering gear on + that—and then my grandame’s auld—and my sisters wad sit + peengin’ at the ingle-side for want o’ me to ding them about—and + Earnscliff, or the neighbourhood, or maybe your ainsell, Elshie, might + want some good turn that Hob Elliot could do ye—and it’s a pity that + the auld house o’ the Heugh-foot should be wrecked a’thegither. Sae I was + thinking—but 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.” + </p> + <p> + “Say what thou wilt—do what thou wilt,” answered the Dwarf from his + cabin, “but begone, and leave me at peace.” + </p> + <p> + “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 + 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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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 + Reiver of Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 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. +</pre> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + Sustaining with mutual difficulty a desultory conversation, they at length + gained the centre of a small wood, composed of large oaks, 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “To Friendship, sir!” said Miss Vere; “and why on this gloomy and + sequestered spot, rather than elsewhere?” + </p> + <p> + “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 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.” + </p> + <p> + “You are severe, sir,” said Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “If I have been unfortunate enough to offend, sir, I can conscientiously + excuse Miss Ilderton from being either my counsellor or confidante.” + </p> + <p> + “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?” + </p> + <p> + “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 + 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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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 consequences compelled + him to deliver up his prisoner in the manner we have already related. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + All his conduct and gestures were those of a desperate man. + </p> + <p> + “Speak not to me, Sir Frederick,” he said impatiently; “You are no father—she + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + 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, until some months before the commencement of + our narrative, when the public opinion of his embarrassed circumstances + was confirmed, by the residence of Mr. Ratcliffe at Ellieslaw Castle, who, + by the tacit consent, though obviously to the great displeasure, of the + lord of the mansion, seemed, from the moment of his arrival, to assume and + exercise a predominant and unaccountable influence in the management of + his private affairs. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ratcliffe was a grave, steady, reserved man, in an advanced period of + life. To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon business, he + appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms. With others he held + little communication; but in any casual intercourse, or conversation, + displayed the powers of an active and well-informed mind. For some time + before taking up his final residence at the castle, he had been an + occasional visitor there, and was at such times treated by Mr. Vere + (contrary to his general practice towards those who were inferior to him + in rank) with marked attention, and even deference. Yet his arrival always + appeared to be an embarrassment to his host, and his departure a relief; + so that, when he became a constant inmate of the family, it was impossible + not to observe indications of the displeasure with which Mr. Vere regarded + his presence. Indeed, their intercourse formed a singular mixture of + confidence and constraint. Mr. Vere’s most important affairs were + regulated by Mr. Ratcliffe; and although he was none of those indulgent + men of fortune, who, too indolent to manage their own business, are glad + to devolve it upon another, yet, in many instances, he was observed to + give up his own judgment, and submit to the contrary opinions which Mr. + Ratcliffe did not hesitate distinctly to express. + </p> + <p> + Nothing seemed to vex Mr. Vere more than when strangers indicated any + observation of the state of tutelage under which he appeared to labour. + When it was noticed by Sir Frederick, or any of his intimates, he + sometimes repelled their remarks haughtily and indignantly, and sometimes + endeavoured to evade them, by saying, with a forced laugh, “That Ratcliffe + knew his own importance, but that he was the most honest and skilful + fellow in the world; and that it would be impossible for him to manage his + English affairs without his advice and assistance.” Such was the person + who entered the room at the moment Mr. Vere was summoning him to his + presence, and who now heard with surprise, mingled with obvious + incredulity, the hasty narrative of what had befallen Isabella. + </p> + <p> + Her father concluded, addressing Sir Frederick and the other gentlemen, + who stood around in astonishment, “And now, my friends, you see the most + unhappy father in Scotland. Lend me your assistance, gentlemen—give + me your advice, Mr. Ratcliffe. I am incapable of acting, or thinking, + under the unexpected violence of such a blow.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us take our horses, call our attendants, and scour the country in + pursuit of the villains,” said Sir Frederick. + </p> + <p> + “Is there no one whom you can suspect,” said Ratcliffe, gravely, “of + having some motive for this strange crime? These are not the days of + romance, when ladies are carried off merely for their beauty.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear,” said Mr. Vere, “I can too well account for this strange + incident. Read this letter, which Miss Lucy Ilderton thought fit to + address from my house of Ellieslaw to young Mr. Earnscliff; whom, of all + men, I have a hereditary right to call my enemy. You see she writes to him + as the confidant of a passion which he has the assurance to entertain for + my daughter; tells him she serves his cause with her friend very ardently, + but that he has a friend in the garrison who serves him yet more + effectually. Look particularly at the pencilled passages, Mr. Ratcliffe, + where this meddling girl recommends bold measures, with an assurance that + his suit would be successful anywhere beyond the bounds of the barony of + Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + “And you argue, from this romantic letter of a very romantic young lady, + Mr. Vere,” said Ratcliffe, “that young Earnscliff has carried off your + daughter, and committed a very great and criminal act of violence, on no + better advice and assurance than that of Miss Lucy Ilderton?” + </p> + <p> + “What else can I think?” said Ellieslaw. + </p> + <p> + “What else CAN you think?” said Sir Frederick; “or who else could have any + motive for committing such a crime?” + </p> + <p> + “Were that the best mode of fixing the guilt,” said Mr. Ratcliffe, calmly, + “there might easily be pointed out persons to whom such actions are more + congenial, and who have also sufficient motives of instigation. Supposing + it were judged advisable to remove Miss Vere to some place in which + constraint might be exercised upon her inclinations to a degree which + cannot at present be attempted under the roof of Ellieslaw Castle—What + says Sir Frederick Langley to that supposition?” + </p> + <p> + “I say,” returned Sir Frederick, “that although Mr. Vere may choose to + endure in Mr. Ratcliffe freedoms totally inconsistent with his situation + in life, I will not permit such license of innuendo, by word or look, to + be extended to me, with impunity.” + </p> + <p> + “And I say,” said young Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells, who was also a guest + at the castle, “that you are all stark mad to be standing wrangling here, + instead of going in pursuit of the ruffians.” + </p> + <p> + “I have ordered off the domestics already in the track most likely to + overtake them,” said Mr. Vere “if you will favour me with your company, we + will follow them, and assist in the search.” + </p> + <p> + The efforts of the party were totally unsuccessful, probably because + Ellieslaw directed the pursuit to proceed in the direction of Earnscliff + Tower, under the supposition that the owner would prove to be the author + of the violence, so that they followed a direction diametrically opposite + to that in which the ruffians had actually proceeded. In the evening they + returned, harassed and out of spirits. But other guests had, in the + meanwhile, arrived at the castle; and, after the recent loss sustained by + the owner had been related, wondered at, and lamented, the recollection of + it was, for the present, drowned in the discussion of deep political + intrigues, of which the crisis and explosion were momentarily looked for. + </p> + <p> + Several of the gentlemen who took part in this divan were Catholics, and + all of them stanch Jacobites, whose hopes were at present at the highest + pitch, as an invasion, in favour of the Pretender, was daily expected from + France, which Scotland, between the defenceless state of its garrisons and + fortified places, and the general disaffection of the inhabitants, was + rather prepared to welcome than to resist. Ratcliffe, who neither sought + to assist at their consultations on this subject, nor was invited to do + so, had, in the meanwhile, retired to his own apartment. Miss Ilderton was + sequestered from society in a sort of honourable confinement, “until,” + said Mr. Vere, “she should be safely conveyed home to her father’s house,” + an opportunity for which occurred on the following day. + </p> + <p> + The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the loss of + Miss Vere, and the strange manner in which it had happened, seemed to be + forgotten by the other guests at the castle. They knew not, that those the + most interested in her fate were well acquainted with the cause of her + being carried off, and the place of her retreat; and that the others, in + the anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking forth of a + conspiracy, were little accessible to any feelings but what arose + immediately out of their own machinations. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Some one way, some another—Do you know + Where we may apprehend her? +</pre> + <p> + The researches after Miss Vere were (for the sake of appearances, perhaps) + resumed on the succeeding day, with similar bad success, and the party + were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening. + </p> + <p> + “It is singular,” said Mareschal to Ratcliffe, “that four horsemen and a + female prisoner should have passed through the country without leaving the + slightest trace of their passage. One would think they had traversed the + air, or sunk through the ground.” + </p> + <p> + “Men may often,” answered Ratcliffe, “arrive at the knowledge of that + which is, from discovering that which is not. We have now scoured every + road, path, and track leading from the castle, in all the various points + of the compass, saving only that intricate and difficult pass which leads + southward down the Westburn, and through the morasses.” + </p> + <p> + “And why have we not examined that?” said Mareschal. + </p> + <p> + “O, Mr. Vere can best answer that question,” replied his companion, dryly. + </p> + <p> + “Then I will ask it instantly,” said Mareschal; and, addressing Mr. Vere, + “I am informed, sir,” said he, “there is a path we have not examined, + leading by Westburnflat.” + </p> + <p> + “O,” said Sir Frederick, laughing, “we know the owner of Westburnflat well—a + wild lad, that knows little difference between his neighbour’s goods and + his own; but, withal, very honest to his principles: he would disturb + nothing belonging to Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + “Besides,” said Mr. Vere, smiling mysteriously, “he had other tow on his + distaff last night. Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh-foot has + had his house burnt, and his cattle driven away, because he refused to + give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for the king?” + </p> + <p> + The company smiled upon each other, as at hearing of an exploit which + favoured their own views. + </p> + <p> + “Yet, nevertheless,” resumed Mareschal, “I think we ought to ride in this + direction also, otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for our + negligence.” + </p> + <p> + No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal, and the party + turned their horses’ heads towards Westburnflat. + </p> + <p> + They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling of + horses was heard, and a small body of riders were perceived advancing to + meet them. + </p> + <p> + “There comes Earnscliff,” said Mareschal; “I know his bright bay with the + star in his front.” + </p> + <p> + “And there is my daughter along with him,” exclaimed Vere, furiously. “Who + shall call my suspicions false or injurious now? Gentlemen—friends—lend + me the assistance of your swords for the recovery of my child.” + </p> + <p> + He unsheathed his weapon, and was imitated by Sir Frederick and several of + the party, who prepared to charge those that were advancing towards them. + But the greater part hesitated. + </p> + <p> + “They come to us in all peace and security,” said Mareschal-Wells; “let us + first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair. If Miss + Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff, I will + be first to revenge her; but let us hear what they say.” + </p> + <p> + “You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal,” continued Vere; “you are + the last I would have expected to hear express them.” + </p> + <p> + “You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the cause may + excuse it.” + </p> + <p> + He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a loud + voice,—“Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere advance alone + to meet us. You are charged with having carried that lady off from her + father’s house; and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her + recovery, and for bringing to justice those who have injured her.” + </p> + <p> + “And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal?” said + Earnscliff, haughtily,—“than I, who had the satisfaction this + morning to liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined, + and who am now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw?” + </p> + <p> + “Is this so, Miss Vere?” said Mareschal. + </p> + <p> + “It is,” answered Isabella, eagerly,—“it is so; for Heaven’s sake + sheathe your swords. I will swear by all that is sacred, that I was + carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were alike unknown to + me, and am now restored to freedom by means of this gentleman’s gallant + interference.” + </p> + <p> + “By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done?” pursued Mareschal.—“Had + you no knowledge of the place to which you were conveyed?—Earnscliff, + where did you find this lady?” + </p> + <p> + But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, and, + returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the conference. + </p> + <p> + “When I know,” he said, “exactly how much I owe to Mr. Earnscliff, he may + rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime,” taking the bridle of Miss + Vere’s horse, “thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter in the power + of her natural guardian.” + </p> + <p> + A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal + haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon the road + to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a conference so earnest, + that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude by approaching + them too nearly. In the meantime, Earnscliff, as he took leave of the + other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaw’s party, said aloud, “Although I am + unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can authorize such a + suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seems to believe that I + have had some hand in the atrocious violence which has been offered to his + daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to take notice of my explicit denial + of a charge so dishonourable; and that, although I can pardon the + bewildering feelings of a father in such a moment, yet, if any other + gentleman,” (he looked hard at Sir Frederick Langley) “thinks my word and + that of Miss Vere, with the evidence of my friends who accompany me, too + slight for my exculpation, I will be happy—most happy—to repel + the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honour dearer than his life.” + </p> + <p> + “And I’ll be his second,” said Simon of Hackburn, “and take up ony twa o’ + ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; it’s a’ ane to Simon.” + </p> + <p> + “Who is that rough-looking fellow?” said Sir Frederick Langley, “and what + has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen?” + </p> + <p> + “I’se be a lad frae the Hie Te’iot,” said Simon, “and I’se quarrel wi’ ony + body I like, except the king, or the laird I live under.” + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said; Mareschal, “let us have no brawls.—Mr. Earnscliff; + although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may be + opponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without losing our + respect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I believe you as innocent of + this matter as I am myself; and I will pledge myself that my cousin + Ellieslaw, as soon as the perplexity attending these sudden events has + left his judgment to its free exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge the + very important service you have this day rendered him.” + </p> + <p> + “To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself—Good + evening, gentlemen,” continued Earnscliff; “I see most of your party are + already on their way to Ellieslaw.” + </p> + <p> + Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the party with + indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards the Heugh-foot, + to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for farther researches after his + bride, of whose restoration to her friends he was still ignorant. + </p> + <p> + “There he goes,” said Mareschal; “he is a fine, gallant young fellow, upon + my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust with him on the green + turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his equal with the foils, and I + should like to try him at sharps.” + </p> + <p> + “In my opinion,” answered Sir Frederick Langley, “we have done very ill in + having suffered him, and those men who are with him, to go off without + taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very likely to draw to a head + under such a sprightly young fellow as that.” + </p> + <p> + “For shame, Sir Frederick!” exclaimed Mareschal; “do you think that + Ellieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being offered to + Earnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter? + or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you think that I, and the rest of + these gentlemen, would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such a + transaction? No, no, fair play and auld Scotland for ever! When the sword + is drawn, I will be as ready to use it as any man; but while it is in the + sheath, let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours.” + </p> + <p> + Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle, when Ellieslaw, who had + been arrived a few minutes before, met them in the court-yard. + </p> + <p> + “How is Miss Vere? and have you learned the cause of her being carried + off?” asked Mareschal hastily. + </p> + <p> + “She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued; and I cannot expect + much light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited,” + replied her father. “She and I were not the less obliged to you, + Mareschal, and to my other friends, for their kind enquiries. But I must + suppress the father’s feelings for a while to give myself up to those of + the patriot. You know this is the day fixed for our final decision—time + presses—our friends are arriving, and I have opened house, not only + for the gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarily + employ. We have, therefore, little time to prepare to meet them.—Look + over these lists, Marchie (an abbreviation by which Mareschal-Wells was + known among his friends). Do you, Sir Frederick, read these letters from + Lothian and the west—all is ripe for the sickle, and we have but to + summon out the reapers.” + </p> + <p> + “With all my heart,” said Mareschal; “the more mischief the better sport.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted. + </p> + <p> + “Walk aside with me, my good friend,” said Ellieslaw to the sombre + baronet; “I have something for your private ear, with which I know you + will be gratified.” + </p> + <p> + They walked into the house, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standing + together in the court. + </p> + <p> + “And so,” said Ratcliffe, “the gentlemen of your political persuasion + think the downfall of this government so certain, that they disdain even + to throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe,” answered Mareschal, “the actions and sentiments + YOUR friends may require to be veiled, but I am better pleased that ours + can go barefaced.” + </p> + <p> + “And is it possible,” continued Ratcliffe, “that you, who, notwithstanding + pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper (I beg pardon, Mr. Mareschal, I am + a plain man)—that you, who, notwithstanding these constitutional + defects, possess natural good sense and acquired information, should be + infatuated enough to embroil yourself in such desperate proceedings? How + does your head feel when you are engaged in these dangerous conferences?” + </p> + <p> + “Not quite so secure on my shoulders,” answered Mareschal, “as if I were + talking of hunting and hawking. I am not of so indifferent a mould as my + cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as if it were a child’s nursery + rhymes, and loses and recovers that sweet girl, his daughter, with a good + deal less emotion on both occasions, than would have affected me had I + lost and recovered a greyhound puppy. My temper is not quite so + inflexible, nor my hate against government so inveterate, as to blind me + to the full danger of the attempt.” + </p> + <p> + “Then why involve yourself in it?” said Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I love this poor exiled king with all my heart; and my father was an + old Killiecrankie man, and I long to see some amends on the Unionist + courtiers, that have bought and sold old Scotland, whose crown has been so + long independent.” + </p> + <p> + “And for the sake of these shadows,” said his monitor, “you are going to + involve your country in war and yourself in trouble?” + </p> + <p> + “I involve? No!—but, trouble for trouble, I had rather it came + to-morrow than a month hence. COME, I know it will; and, as your country + folks say, better soon than syne—it will never find me younger—and + as for hanging, as Sir John Falstaff says, I can become a gallows as well + as another. You know the end of the old ballad; + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Sae dauntonly, sae wantonly, + Sae rantingly gaed he, + He play’d a spring, and danced a round, + Beneath the gallows tree.” + </pre> + <p> + “Mr. Mareschal, I am sorry for you,” said his grave adviser. + </p> + <p> + “I am obliged to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; but I would not have you judge of our + enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there are wiser heads than mine at + the work.” + </p> + <p> + “Wiser heads than yours may lie as low,” said Ratcliffe, in a warning + tone. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps so; but no lighter heart shall; and, to prevent it being made + heavier by your remonstrances, I will bid you adieu, Mr. Ratcliffe, till + dinner-time, when you shall see that my apprehensions have not spoiled my + appetite.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + To face the garment of rebellion + With some fine colour, that may please the eye + Of fickle changelings, and poor discontents, + Which gape and rub the elbow at the news + Of hurlyburly innovation.—HENRY THE FOURTH, PART II. +</pre> + <p> + There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for the + entertainment on this important day, when not only the gentlemen of note + in the neighbourhood, attached to the Jacobite interest, were expected to + rendezvous, but also many subordinate malecontents, whom difficulty of + circumstances, love of change, resentment against England, or any of the + numerous causes which inflamed men’s passions at the time, rendered apt to + join in perilous enterprise. The men of rank and substance were not many + in number; for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof, and most of + the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterian persuasion, and + therefore, however displeased with the Union, unwilling to engage in a + Jacobite conspiracy. But there were some gentlemen of property, who, + either from early principle, from religious motives, or sharing the + ambitious views of Ellieslaw, had given countenance to his scheme; and + there were, also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal, desirous of + signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous enterprise, by which + they hoped to vindicate the independence of their country. The other + members of the party were persons of inferior rank and desperate fortunes, + who were now ready to rise in that part of the country, as they did + afterwards in the year 1715, under Forster and Derwentwater, when a troop, + commanded by a Border gentleman, named Douglas, consisted almost entirely + of freebooters, among whom the notorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was called, + held a distinguished command. We think it necessary to mention these + particulars, applicable solely to the province in which our scene lies; + because, unquestionably, the Jacobite party, in the other parts of the + kingdom, consisted of much more formidable, as well as much more + respectable, materials. + </p> + <p> + One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw Castle, + which was still left much in the state in which it had been one hundred + years before, stretching, that is, in gloomy length, along the whole side + of the castle, vaulted with ribbed arches of freestone, the groins of + which sprung from projecting figures, that, carved into all the wild forms + which the fantastic imagination of a Gothic architect could devise, + grinned, frowned, and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below. Long + narrow windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides, filled up with + stained glass, through which the sun emitted a dusky and discoloured + light. A banner, which tradition averred to have been taken from the + English at the battle of Sark, waved over the chair in which Ellieslaw + presided, as if to inflame the courage of the guests, by reminding them of + ancient victories over their neighbours. He himself, a portly figure, + dressed on this occasion with uncommon care, and with features, which, + though of a stern and sinister expression, might well be termed handsome, + looked the old feudal baron extremely well. Sir Frederick Langley was + placed on his right hand, and Mr. Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells on his + left. Some gentlemen of consideration, with their sons, brothers, and + nephews, were seated at the upper end of the table, and among these Mr. + Ratcliffe had his place. Beneath the salt-cellar (a massive piece of plate + which occupied the midst of the table) sate the SINE NOMINE TURBA, men + whose vanity was gratified by holding even this subordinate space at the + social board, while the distinction observed in ranking them was a salve + to the pride of their superiors. That the lower house was not very select + must be admitted, since Willie of Westburnflat was one of the party. The + unabashed audacity of this fellow, in daring to present himself in the + house of a gentleman, to whom he had just offered so flagrant an insult, + can only be accounted for by supposing him conscious that his share in + carrying off Miss Vere was a secret, safe in her possession and that of + her father. + </p> + <p> + Before this numerous and miscellaneous party was placed a dinner, + consisting, not indeed of the delicacies of the season, as the newspapers + express it, but of viands, ample, solid, and sumptuous, under which the + very board groaned. But the mirth was not in proportion to the good cheer. + The lower end of the table were, for some time, chilled by constraint and + respect on finding themselves members of so august an assembly; and those + who were placed around it had those feelings of awe with which P. P., + clerk of the parish, describes himself oppressed, when he first uplifted + the psalm in presence of those persons of high worship, the wise Mr. + Justice Freeman, the good Lady Jones, and the great Sir Thomas Truby. This + ceremonious frost, however, soon gave way before the incentives to + merriment, which were liberally supplied, and as liberally consumed by the + guests of the lower description. They became talkative, loud, and even + clamorous in their mirth. + </p> + <p> + But it was not in the power of wine or brandy to elevate the spirits of + those who held the higher places at the banquet. They experienced the + chilling revulsion of spirits which often takes place, when men are called + upon to take a desperate resolution, after having placed themselves in + circumstances where it is alike difficult to advance or to recede. The + precipice looked deeper and more dangerous as they approached the brink, + and each waited with an inward emotion of awe, expecting which of his + confederates would set the example by plunging himself down. This inward + sensation of fear and reluctance acted differently, according to the + various habits and characters of the company. One looked grave; another + looked silly; a third gazed with apprehension on the empty seats at the + higher end of the table, designed for members of the conspiracy whose + prudence had prevailed over their political zeal, and who had absented + themselves from their consultations at this critical period; and some + seemed to be reckoning up in their minds the comparative rank and + prospects of those who were present and absent. Sir Frederick Langley was + reserved, moody, and discontented. Ellieslaw himself made such forced + efforts to raise the spirits of the company, as plainly marked the + flagging of his own. Ratcliffe watched the scene with the composure of a + vigilant but uninterested spectator. Mareschal alone, true to the + thoughtless vivacity of his character, ate and drank, laughed and jested, + and seemed even to find amusement in the embarrassment of the company. + </p> + <p> + “What has damped our noble courage this morning?” he exclaimed. “We seem + to be met at a funeral, where the chief mourners must not speak above + their breath, while the mutes and the saulies (looking to the lower end of + the table) are carousing below. Ellieslaw, when will you LIFT? [To LIFT, + meaning to lift the coffin, is the common expression for commencing a + funeral.] where sleeps your spirit, man? and what has quelled the high + hope of the Knight of Langley-dale?” + </p> + <p> + “You speak like a madman,” said Ellieslaw; “do you not see how many are + absent?” + </p> + <p> + “And what of that?” said Mareschal. “Did you not know before, that + one-half of the world are better talkers than doers? For my part, I am + much encouraged by seeing at least two-thirds of our friends true to the + rendezvous, though I suspect one-half of these came to secure the dinner + in case of the worst.” + </p> + <p> + “There is no news from the coast which can amount to certainty of the + King’s arrival,” said another of the company, in that tone of subdued and + tremulous whisper which implies a failure of resolution. + </p> + <p> + “Not a line from the Earl of D—, nor a single gentleman from the + southern side of the Border,” said a third. + </p> + <p> + “Who is he that wishes for more men from England,” exclaimed Mareschal, in + a theatrical tone of affected heroism, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “My cousin Ellieslaw? No, my fair cousin, + If we are doom’d to die—” + </pre> + <p> + “For God’s sake,” said Ellieslaw, “spare us your folly at present, + Mareschal.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said his kinsman, “I’ll bestow my wisdom upon you instead, + such as it is. If we have gone forward like fools, do not let us go back + like cowards. We have done enough to draw upon us both the suspicion and + vengeance of the government; do not let us give up before we have done + something to deserve it.—What, will no one speak? Then I’ll leap the + ditch the first.” And, starting up, he filled a beer-glass to the brim + with claret, and waving his hand, commanded all to follow his example, and + to rise up from their seats. All obeyed-the more qualified guests as if + passively, the others with enthusiasm “Then, my friends, I give you the + pledge of the day—The independence of Scotland, and the health of + our lawful sovereign, King James the Eighth, now landed in Lothian, and, + as I trust and believe, in full possession of his ancient capital!” + </p> + <p> + He quaffed off the wine, and threw the glass over his head. + </p> + <p> + “It should never,” he said, “be profaned by a meaner toast.” + </p> + <p> + All followed his example, and, amid the crash of glasses and the shouts of + the company, pledged themselves to stand or fall with the principles and + political interest which their toast expressed. + </p> + <p> + “You have leaped the ditch with a witness,” said Ellieslaw, apart to + Mareschal; “but I believe it is all for the best; at all events, we cannot + now retreat from our undertaking. One man alone” (looking at Ratcliffe) + “has refused the pledge; but of that by and by.” + </p> + <p> + Then, rising up, he addressed the company in a style of inflammatory + invective against the government and its measures, but especially the + Union; a treaty, by means of which, he affirmed, Scotland had been at once + cheated of her independence, her commerce, and her honour, and laid as a + fettered slave at the foot of the rival against whom, through such a + length of ages, through so many dangers, and by so much blood, she had + honourably defended her rights. This was touching a theme which found a + responsive chord in the bosom of every man present. + </p> + <p> + “Our commerce is destroyed,” hollowed old John Rewcastle, a Jedburgh + smuggler, from the lower end of the table. + </p> + <p> + “Our agriculture is ruined,” said the Laird of Broken-girth-flow, a + territory which, since the days of Adam, had borne nothing but ling and + whortle-berries. + </p> + <p> + “Our religion is cut up, root and branch,” said the pimple-nosed pastor of + the Episcopal meeting-house at Kirkwhistle. + </p> + <p> + “We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench, without a + certificate from the presbytery and kirk-treasurer,” said Mareschal-Wells. + </p> + <p> + “Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning, without license from a + commissioner of excise,” said the smuggler. + </p> + <p> + “Or ride over the fell in a moonless night,” said Westburnflat, “without + asking leave of young Earnscliff; or some Englified justice of the peace: + thae were gude days on the Border when there was neither peace nor justice + heard of.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe,” continued Ellieslaw, + “and take arms for the protection of our rights, our fortunes, our lives, + and our families.” + </p> + <p> + “Think upon genuine episcopal ordination, without which there can be no + lawful clergy,” said the divine. + </p> + <p> + “Think of the piracies committed on our East-Indian trade by Green and the + English thieves,” said William Willieson, half-owner and sole skipper of a + brig that made four voyages annually between Cockpool and Whitehaven. + </p> + <p> + “Remember your liberties,” rejoined Mareschal, who seemed to take a + mischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the enthusiasm which + he had excited, like a roguish boy, who, having lifted the sluice of a + mill-dam, enjoys the clatter of the wheels which he has put in motion, + without thinking of the mischief he may have occasioned. “Remember your + liberties,” he exclaimed; “confound cess, press, and presbytery, and the + memory of old Willie that first brought them upon us!” + </p> + <p> + “Damn the gauger!” echoed old John Rewcastle; “I’ll cleave him wi’ my ain + hand.” + </p> + <p> + “And confound the country-keeper and the constable!” re-echoed + Westburnflat; “I’ll weize a brace of balls through them before morning.” + </p> + <p> + “We are agreed, then,” said Ellieslaw, when the shouts had somewhat + subsided, “to bear this state of things no longer?” + </p> + <p> + “We are agreed to a man,” answered his guests. + </p> + <p> + “Not literally so,” said Mr. Ratcliffe; “for though I cannot hope to + assuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have seized upon + the company, yet I beg to observe, that so far as the opinion of a single + member goes, I do not entirely coincide in the list of grievances which + has been announced, and that I do utterly protest against the frantic + measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them. I can easily + suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out of the heat of + the moment, or have been said perhaps in jest. But there are some jests of + a nature very apt to transpire; and you ought to remember, gentlemen, that + stone-walls have ears.” + </p> + <p> + “Stone-walls may have ears,” returned Ellieslaw, eyeing him with a look of + triumphant malignity, “but domestic spies, Mr. Ratcliffe, will soon find + themselves without any, if any such dares to continue his abode in a + family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion, where his conduct + has been that of a presumptuous meddler, and from which his exit shall be + that of a baffled knave, if he does not know how to take a hint.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Vere,” returned Ratcliffe, with calm contempt, “I am fully aware, + that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you, which it must through + the rash step you are about to adopt, it will immediately become unsafe to + myself, as it has always been hateful to you. But I have one protection, + and it is a strong one; for you would not willingly hear me detail before + gentlemen, and men of honour, the singular circumstances in which our + connexion took its rise. As to the rest, I rejoice at its conclusion; and + as I think that Mr. Mareschal and some other gentlemen will guarantee the + safety of my ears and of my throat (for which last I have more reason to + be apprehensive) during the course of the night, I shall not leave your + castle till to-morrow morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Be it so, sir,” replied Mr. Vere; “you are entirely safe from my + resentment, because you are beneath it, and not because I am afraid of + your disclosing my family secrets, although, for your own sake, I warn you + to beware how you do so. Your agency and intermediation can be of little + consequence to one who will win or lose all, as lawful right or unjust + usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue. Farewell, + sir.” + </p> + <p> + Ratcliffe arose, and cast upon him a look, which Vere seemed to sustain + with difficulty, and, bowing to those around him, left the room. + </p> + <p> + This conversation made an impression on many of the company, which + Ellieslaw hastened to dispel, by entering upon the business of the day. + Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection. + Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders, with + powers to direct their farther measures. A place of rendezvous was + appointed, at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day, with such + followers and friends to the cause as each could collect around him. + Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations; and + Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others, who, with Westburnflat and + the old smuggler, continued to ply the bottle stanchly, for leaving the + head of the table, as he must necessarily hold a separate and sober + conference with the coadjutors whom they had associated with him in the + command. The apology was the more readily accepted, as he prayed them, at + the same time, to continue to amuse themselves with such refreshments as + the cellars of the castle afforded. Shouts of applause followed their + retreat; and the names of Vere, Langley, and, above all, of Mareschal, + were thundered forth in chorus, and bathed with copious bumpers + repeatedly, during the remainder of the evening. + </p> + <p> + When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate apartment, + they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of embarrassment, which, + in Sir Frederick’s dark features, amounted to an expression of + discontented sullenness. Mareschal was the first to break the pause, + saying, with a loud burst of laughter, + </p> + <p> + —“Well! we are fairly embarked now, gentlemen—VOGUE LA + GALERE!” + </p> + <p> + “We may thank you for the plunge,” said Ellieslaw. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but I don’t know how far you will thank me,” answered Mareschal, + “when I show you this letter which I received just before we sat down. My + servant told me it was delivered by a man he had never seen before, who + went off at the gallop, after charging him to put it into my own hand.” + </p> + <p> + Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter, and read aloud— + </p> + <p> + EDINBURGH,— + </p> + <p> + HOND. SIR, Having obligations to your family, which shall be nameless, and + learning that you are one of the company of, adventurers doing business + for the house of James and Company, late merchants in London, now in + Dunkirk, I think it right to send you this early and private information, + that the vessels you expected have been driven off the coast, without + having been able to break bulk, or to land any part of their cargo; and + that the west-country partners have resolved to withdraw their name from + the firm, as it must prove a losing concern. Having good hope you will + avail yourself of this early information, to do what is needful for your + own security, I rest your humble servant, NIHIL NAMELESS. + </p> + <p> + FOR RALPH MARESCHAL, OF MARESCHAL-WELLS —THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED. + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick’s jaw dropped, and his countenance blackened, as the letter + was read, and Ellieslaw exclaimed,—“Why, this affects the very + mainspring of our enterprise. If the French fleet, with the king on board, + has been chased off by the English, as this d—d scrawl seems to + intimate, where are we?” + </p> + <p> + “Just where we were this morning, I think,” said Mareschal, still + laughing. + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, and a truce to your ill-timed mirth, Mr. Mareschal; this + morning we were not committed publicly, as we now stand committed by your + own mad act, when you had a letter in your pocket apprizing you that our + undertaking was desperate.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, I expected you would say so. But, in the first place, my friend + Nihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam; and, moreover, I would + have you know that I am tired of a party that does nothing but form bold + resolutions overnight, and sleep them away with their wine before morning. + The government are now unprovided of men and ammunition; in a few weeks + they will have enough of both: the country is now in a flame against them; + in a few weeks, betwixt the effects of self-interest, of fear, and of + lukewarm indifference, which are already so visible, this first fervour + will be as cold as Christmas. So, as I was determined to go the vole, I + have taken care you shall dip as deep as I; it signifies nothing plunging. + You are fairly in the bog, and must struggle through.” + </p> + <p> + “You are mistaken with respect to one of us, Mr. Mareschal,” said Sir + Frederick Langley; and, applying himself to the bell, he desired the + person who entered to order his servants and horses instantly. + </p> + <p> + “You must not leave us, Sir Frederick,” said Ellieslaw; “if we have our + musters to go over.” + </p> + <p> + “I will go to-night, Mr. Vere,” said Sir Frederick, “and write you my + intentions in this matter when I am at home.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Mareschal, “and send them by a troop of horse from Carlisle to + make us prisoners? Look ye, Sir Frederick, I for one will neither be + deserted nor betrayed; and if you leave Ellieslaw Castle to-night, it + shall be by passing over my dead body.” + </p> + <p> + “For shame! Mareschal,” said Mr. Vere, “how can you so hastily + misinterpret our friend’s intentions? I am sure Sir Frederick can only be + jesting with us; for, were he not too honourable to dream of deserting the + cause, he cannot but remember the full proofs we have of his accession to + it, and his eager activity in advancing it. He cannot but be conscious, + besides, that the first information will be readily received by + government, and that if the question be, which can first lodge + intelligence of the affair, we can easily save a few hours on him.” + </p> + <p> + “You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in such a + race of treachery; for my part, I won’t enter my horse for such a plate,” + said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, “A pretty pair of fellows to + trust a man’s neck with!” + </p> + <p> + “I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper,” said Sir + Frederick Langley; “and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw. I have + no reason to keep faith with one” (looking at Vere) “who has kept none + with me.” + </p> + <p> + “In what respect,” said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of his hand, + his impetuous kinsman—“how have I disappointed you, Sir Frederick?” + </p> + <p> + “In the nearest and most tender point—you have trifled with me concerning + our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the gage of our political + undertaking. This carrying off and this bringing back of Miss Vere,—the + cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuses with which you + cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you may yourself retain + possession of the estates which are hers by right, and make me, in the + meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise, by holding out hopes and + expectations which you are resolved never to realize.” + </p> + <p> + “Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred—” + </p> + <p> + “I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too + long,” answered Sir Frederick. + </p> + <p> + “If you leave us,” said Ellieslaw, “you cannot but know both your ruin and + ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together.” + </p> + <p> + “Leave me to take care of myself,” returned the knight; “but were what you + say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther.” + </p> + <p> + “Can nothing—no surety convince you of my sincerity?” said + Ellieslaw, anxiously; “this morning I should have repelled your unjust + suspicions as an insult; but situated as we now are—” + </p> + <p> + “You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?” retorted Sir Frederick. “If + you would have me think so, there is but one way to convince me of it—let + your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening.” + </p> + <p> + “So soon?—impossible,” answered Vere; “think of her late alarm—of + our present undertaking.” + </p> + <p> + “I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the altar. You + have a chapel in the castle—Doctor Hobbler is present among the + company-this proof of your good faith to-night, and we are again joined in + heart and hand. If you refuse me when it is so much for your advantage to + consent, how shall I trust you to-morrow, when I shall stand committed in + your undertaking, and unable to retract?” + </p> + <p> + “And I am to understand, that, if you can be made my son-in-law to-night, + our friendship is renewed?” said Ellieslaw. + </p> + <p> + “Most infallibly, and most inviolably,” replied Sir Frederick. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said Vere, “though what you ask is premature, indelicate, and + unjust towards my character, yet, Sir Frederick, give me your hand—my + daughter shall be your wife.” + </p> + <p> + “This night?” + </p> + <p> + “This very night,” replied Ellieslaw, “before the clock strikes twelve.” + </p> + <p> + “With her own consent, I trust,” said Mareschal; “for I promise you both, + gentlemen, I will not stand tamely by, and see any violence put on the + will of my pretty kinswoman.” + </p> + <p> + “Another pest in this hot-headed fellow,” muttered Ellieslaw; and then + aloud, “With her own consent? For what do you take me, Mareschal, that you + should suppose your interference necessary to protect my daughter against + her father? Depend upon it, she has no repugnance to Sir Frederick + Langley.” + </p> + <p> + “Or rather to be called Lady Langley? faith, like enough—there are + many women might be of her mind; and I beg your pardon, but these sudden + demands and concessions alarmed me a little on her account.” + </p> + <p> + “It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me,” said + Ellieslaw; “but perhaps if she is found intractable, Sir Frederick will + consider—” + </p> + <p> + “I will consider nothing, Mr. Vere—your daughter’s hand to-night, or + I depart, were it at midnight—there is my ultimatum.” + </p> + <p> + “I embrace it,” said Ellieslaw; “and I will leave you to talk upon our + military preparations, while I go to prepare my daughter for so sudden a + change of condition.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he left the company. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + He brings Earl Osmond to receive my vows. + O dreadful change! for Tancred, haughty Osmond. + —TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA. +</pre> + <p> + Mr. Vere, whom long practice of dissimulation had enabled to model his + very gait and footsteps to aid the purposes of deception, walked along the + stone passage, and up the first flight of steps towards Miss Vere’s + apartment, with the alert, firm, and steady pace of one who is bound, + indeed, upon important business, but who entertains no doubt he can + terminate his affairs satisfactorily. But when out of hearing of the + gentlemen whom he had left, his step became so slow and irresolute, as to + correspond with his doubts and his fears. At length he paused in an + antechamber to collect his ideas, and form his plan of argument, before + approaching his daughter. + </p> + <p> + “In what more hopeless and inextricable dilemma was ever an unfortunate + man involved!” Such was the tenor of his reflections.—“If we now + fall to pieces by disunion, there can be little doubt that the government + will take my life as the prime agitator of the insurrection. Or, grant I + could stoop to save myself by a hasty submission, am I not, even in that + case, utterly ruined? I have broken irreconcilably with Ratcliffe, and can + have nothing to expect from that quarter but insult and persecution. I + must wander forth an impoverished and dishonoured man, without even the + means of sustaining life, far less wealth sufficient to counterbalance the + infamy which my countrymen, both those whom I desert and those whom I + join, will attach to the name of the political renegade. It is not to be + thought of. And yet, what choice remains between this lot and the + ignominious scaffold? Nothing can save me but reconciliation with these + men; and, to accomplish this, I have promised to Langley that Isabella + shall marry him ere midnight, and to Mareschal, that she shall do so + without compulsion. I have but one remedy betwixt me and ruin—her + consent to take a suitor whom she dislikes, upon such short notice as + would disgust her, even were he a favoured lover—But I must trust to + the romantic generosity of her disposition; and let me paint the necessity + of her obedience ever so strongly, I cannot overcharge its reality.” + </p> + <p> + Having finished this sad chain of reflections upon his perilous condition, + he entered his daughter’s apartment with every nerve bent up to the + support of the argument which he was about to sustain. Though a deceitful + and ambitious man, he was not so devoid of natural affection but that he + was shocked at the part he was about to act, in practising on the feelings + of a dutiful and affectionate child; but the recollections, that, if he + succeeded, his daughter would only be trepanned into an advantageous + match, and that, if he failed, he himself was a lost man, were quite + sufficient to drown all scruples. + </p> + <p> + He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing-room, her head + reclining on her hand, and either sunk in slumber, or so deeply engaged in + meditation, that she did not hear the noise he made at his entrance. He + approached with his features composed to a deep expression of sorrow and + sympathy, and, sitting down beside her, solicited her attention by quietly + taking her hand, a motion which he did not fail to accompany with a deep + sigh. + </p> + <p> + “My father!” said Isabella, with a sort of start, which expressed at least + as much fear, as joy or affection. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Isabella,” said Vere, “your unhappy father, who comes now as a + penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury done to her in + the excess of his affection, and then to take leave of her for ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Sir? Offence to me take leave for ever? What does all this mean?” said + Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Isabella, I am serious. But first let me ask you, have you no + suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance which befell + you yesterday morning?” + </p> + <p> + “You, sir?” answered Isabella, stammering between a consciousness that he + had guessed her thoughts justly, and the shame as well as fear which + forbade her to acknowledge a suspicion so degrading and so unnatural. + </p> + <p> + “Yes!” he continued, “your hesitation confesses that you entertained such + an opinion, and I have now the painful task of acknowledging that your + suspicions have done me no injustice. But listen to my motives. In an evil + hour I countenanced the addresses of Sir Frederick Langley, conceiving it + impossible that you could have any permanent objections to a match where + the advantages were, in most respects, on your side. In a worse, I entered + with him into measures calculated to restore our banished monarch, and the + independence of my country. He has taken advantage of my unguarded + confidence, and now has my life at his disposal.” + </p> + <p> + “Your life, sir?” said Isabella, faintly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Isabella,” continued her father, “the life of him who gave life to + you. So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his headlong passion + (for, to do him justice, I believe his unreasonable conduct arises from + excess of attachment to you) was likely to hurry him, I endeavoured, by + finding a plausible pretext for your absence for some weeks, to extricate + myself from the dilemma in which I am placed. For this purpose I wished, + in case your objections to the match continued insurmountable, to have + sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your maternal aunt + at Paris. By a series of mistakes you have been brought from the place of + secrecy and security which I had destined for your temporary abode. Fate + has baffled my last chance of escape, and I have only to give you my + blessing, and send you from the castle with Mr. Ratcliffe, who now leaves + it; my own fate will soon be decided.” + </p> + <p> + “Good Heaven, sir! can this be possible?” exclaimed Isabella. “O, why was + I freed from the restraint in which you placed me? or why did you not + impart your pleasure to me?” + </p> + <p> + “Think an instant, Isabella. Would you have had me prejudice in your + opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving, by communicating to you + the injurious eagerness with which he pursued his object? Could I do so + honourably, having promised to assist his suit?—But it is all over, + I and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men; it only remains to + send you from hence under a safe escort.” + </p> + <p> + “Great powers! and is there no remedy?” said the terrified young woman. + </p> + <p> + “None, my child,” answered Vere, gently, “unless one which you would not + advise your father to adopt—to be the first to betray his friends.” + </p> + <p> + “O, no! no!” she answered, abhorrently yet hastily, as if to reject the + temptation which the alternative presented to her. “But is there no other + hope—through flight—through mediation—through + supplication?—I will bend my knee to Sir Frederick!” + </p> + <p> + “It would be a fruitless degradation; he is determined on his course, and + I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate. On one condition + only he will turn aside from his purpose, and that condition my lips shall + never utter to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Name it, I conjure you, my dear father!” exclaimed Isabella. “What CAN he + ask that we ought not to grant, to prevent the hideous catastrophe with + which you are threatened?” + </p> + <p> + “That, Isabella,” said Vere, solemnly, “you shall never know, until your + father’s head has rolled on the bloody scaffold; then, indeed, you will + learn there was one sacrifice by which he might have been saved.” + </p> + <p> + “And why not speak it now?” said Isabella; “do you fear I would flinch + from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation? or would you bequeath + me the bitter legacy of life-long remorse, so oft as I shall think that + you perished, while there remained one mode of preventing the dreadful + misfortune that overhangs you?” + </p> + <p> + “Then, my child,” said Vere, “since you press me to name what I would a + thousand times rather leave in silence, I must inform you that he will + accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage, and that conferred + before midnight this very evening!” + </p> + <p> + “This evening, sir?” said the young lady, struck with horror at the + proposal—“and to such a man!—A man?—a monster, who could + wish to win the daughter by threatening the life of the father—it is + impossible!” + </p> + <p> + “You say right, my child,” answered her father, “it is indeed impossible; + nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such a sacrifice—It + is the course of nature that the old should die and be forgot, and the + young should live and be happy.” + </p> + <p> + “My father die, and his child can save him!—but no—no—my + dear father, pardon me, it is impossible; you only wish to guide me to + your wishes. I know your object is what you think my happiness, and this + dreadful tale is only told to influence my conduct and subdue my + scruples.” + </p> + <p> + “My daughter,” replied Ellieslaw, in a tone where offended authority + seemed to struggle with parental affection, “my child suspects me of + inventing a false tale to work upon her feelings! Even this I must bear, + and even from this unworthy suspicion I must descend to vindicate myself. + You know the stainless honour of your cousin Mareschal—mark what I + shall write to him, and judge from his answer, if the danger in which we + stand is not real, and whether I have not used every means to avert it.” + </p> + <p> + He sate down, wrote a few lines hastily, and handed them to Isabella, who, + after repeated and painful efforts, cleared her eyes and head sufficiently + to discern their purport. + </p> + <p> + “Dear cousin,” said the billet, “I find my daughter, as I expected, in + despair at the untimely and premature urgency of Sir Frederick Langley. + She cannot even comprehend the peril in which we stand, or how much we are + in his power—Use your influence with him, for Heaven’s sake, to + modify proposals, to the acceptance of which I cannot, and will not, urge + my child against all her own feelings, as well as those of delicacy and + propriety, and oblige your loving cousin,—R. V.” + </p> + <p> + In the agitation of the moment, when her swimming eyes and dizzy brain + could hardly comprehend the sense of what she looked upon, it is not + surprising that Miss Vere should have omitted to remark that this letter + seemed to rest her scruples rather upon the form and time of the proposed + union, than on a rooted dislike to the suitor proposed to her. Mr. Vere + rang the bell, and gave the letter to a servant to be delivered to Mr. + Mareschal, and, rising from his chair, continued to traverse the apartment + in silence and in great agitation until the answer was returned. He + glanced it over, and wrung the hand of his daughter as he gave it to her. + The tenor was as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “My dear kinsman, I have already urged the knight on the point you + mention, and I find him as fixed as Cheviot. I am truly sorry my fair + cousin should be pressed to give up any of her maidenly rights. Sir + Frederick consents, however, to leave the castle with me the instant the + ceremony is performed, and we will raise our followers and begin the fray. + Thus there is great hope the bridegroom may be knocked on the head before + he and the bride can meet again, so Bell has a fair chance to be Lady + Langley A TRES BON MARCHE. For the rest, I can only say, that if she can + make up her mind to the alliance at all—it is no time for mere + maiden ceremony—my pretty cousin must needs consent to marry in + haste, or we shall all repent at leisure, or rather have very little + leisure to repent; which is all at present from him who rests your + affectionate kinsman,—R. M.” + </p> + <p> + “P.S.—Tell Isabella that I would rather cut the knight’s throat + after all, and end the dilemma that way, than see her constrained to marry + him against her will.” + </p> + <p> + When Isabella had read this letter, it dropped from her hand, and she + would, at the same time, have fallen from her chair, had she not been + supported by her father. + </p> + <p> + “My God, my child will die!” exclaimed Vere, the feelings of nature + overcoming, even in HIS breast, the sentiments of selfish policy; “look + up, Isabella—look up, my child—come what will, you shall not + be the sacrifice—I will fall myself with the consciousness I leave + you happy—My child may weep on my grave, but she shall not—not + in this instance—reproach my memory.” He called a servant.—“Go, + bid Ratcliffe come hither directly.” + </p> + <p> + During this interval, Miss Vere became deadly pale, clenched her hands, + pressing the palms strongly together, closed her eyes, and drew her lips + with strong compression, as if the severe constraint which she put upon + her internal feelings extended even to her muscular organization. Then + raising her head, and drawing in her breath strongly ere she spoke, she + said, with firmness,—“Father, I consent to the marriage.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall not—you shall not,—my child—my dear child—you + shall not embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain danger.” + </p> + <p> + So exclaimed Ellieslaw; and, strange and inconsistent beings that we are! + he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his heart. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” repeated Isabella, “I will consent to this marriage.” + </p> + <p> + “No, my child, no—not now at least—we will humble ourselves to + obtain delay from him; and yet, Isabella, could you overcome a dislike + which has no real foundation, think, in other respects, what a match!—wealth—rank—importance.” + </p> + <p> + “Father!” reiterated Isabella, “I have consented.” + </p> + <p> + It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying anything else, or even of + varying the phrase which, with such effort, she had compelled herself to + utter. + </p> + <p> + “Heaven bless thee, my child!—Heaven bless thee!—And it WILL + bless thee with riches, with pleasure, with power.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Vere faintly entreated to be left by herself for the rest of the + evening. + </p> + <p> + “But will you not receive Sir Frederick?” said her father, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + “I will meet him,” she replied, “I will meet him—when I must, and + where I must; but spare me now.” + </p> + <p> + “Be it so, my dearest; you shall know no restraint that I can save you + from. Do not think too hardly of Sir Frederick for this,—it is an + excess of passion.” + </p> + <p> + Isabella waved her hand impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Forgive me, my child—I go—Heaven bless thee. At eleven—if + you call me not before—at eleven I come to seek you.” + </p> + <p> + When he left Isabella she dropped upon her knees—“Heaven aid me to + support the resolution I have taken—Heaven only can—O, poor + Earnscliff! who shall comfort him? and with what contempt will he + pronounce her name, who listened to him to-day and gave herself to another + at night! But let him despise me—better so than that he should know + the truth—let him despise me; if it will but lessen his grief, I + should feel comfort in the loss of his esteem.” + </p> + <p> + She wept bitterly; attempting in vain, from time to time, to commence the + prayer for which she had sunk on her knees, but unable to calm her spirits + sufficiently for the exercise of devotion. As she remained in this agony + of mind, the door of her apartment was slowly opened. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The darksome cave they enter, where they found + The woful man, low sitting on the ground, + Musing full sadly in his sullen mind.—FAERY QUEEN. +</pre> + <p> + The intruder on Miss Vere’s sorrows was Ratcliffe. Ellieslaw had, in the + agitation of his mind, forgotten to countermand the order he had given to + call him thither, so that he opened the door with the words, “You sent for + me, Mr. Vere.” Then looking around—“Miss Vere, alone! on the ground! + and in tears!” + </p> + <p> + “Leave me—leave me, Mr. Ratcliffe,” said the unhappy young lady. + </p> + <p> + “I must not leave you,” said Ratcliffe; “I have been repeatedly requesting + admittance to take my leave of you, and have been refused, until your + father himself sent for me. Blame me not, if I am bold and intrusive; I + have a duty to discharge which makes me so.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot listen to you—I cannot speak to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; take + my best wishes, and for God’s sake leave me.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me only,” said Ratcliffe, “is it true that this monstrous match is + to go forward, and this very night? I heard the servants proclaim it as I + was on the great staircase—I heard the directions given to clear out + the chapel.” + </p> + <p> + “Spare me, Mr. Ratcliffe,” replied the luckless bride; “and from the state + in which you see me, judge of the cruelty of these questions.” + </p> + <p> + “Married? to Sir Frederick Langley? and this night? It must not cannot—shall + not be.” + </p> + <p> + “It MUST be, Mr. Ratcliff, or my father is ruined.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I understand,” answered Ratcliffe; “and you have sacrificed yourself + to save him who—But let the virtue of the child atone for the faults + of the father it is no time to rake them up.—What CAN be done? Time + presses—I know but one remedy—with four-and-twenty hours I + might find many—Miss Vere, you must implore the protection of the + only human being who has it in his power to control the course of events + which threatens to hurry you before it.” + </p> + <p> + “And what human being,” answered Miss Vere, “has such power?” + </p> + <p> + “Start not when I name him,” said Ratcliffe, coming near her, and speaking + in a low but distinct voice. “It is he who is called Elshender the Recluse + of Mucklestane-Moor.” + </p> + <p> + “You are mad, Mr. Ratcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by an + ill-timed jest!” + </p> + <p> + “I am as much in my senses, young lady,” answered her adviser, “as you + are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least of all with your + misery. I swear to you that this being (who is other far than what he + seems) actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this hateful + union.” + </p> + <p> + “And of insuring my father’s safety?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes! even that,” said Ratcliffe, “if you plead his cause with him—yet + how to obtain admittance to the Recluse!” + </p> + <p> + “Fear not that,” said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the incident of the + rose; “I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in my extremity, + and gave me this flower as a token. Ere it faded away entirely, I would + need, he said, his assistance: is it possible his words can have been + aught but the ravings of insanity?” + </p> + <p> + “Doubt it not fear it not—but above all,” said Ratcliffe, “let us + lose no time—are you at liberty, and unwatched?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe so,” said Isabella: “but what would you have me to do?” + </p> + <p> + “Leave the castle instantly,” said Ratcliffe, “and throw yourself at the + feet of this extraordinary man, who in circumstances that seem to argue + the extremity of the most contemptible poverty, possesses yet an almost + absolute influence over your fate.—Guests and servants are deep in + their carouse—the leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable + schemes—my horse stands ready in the stable—I will saddle one + for you, and meet you at the little garden-gate—O, let no doubt of + my prudence or fidelity prevent your taking the only step in your power to + escape the dreadful fate which must attend the wife of Sir Frederick + Langley!” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Miss Vere, “you have always been esteemed a man of + honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always catch at the + feeblest twig,—I will trust you—I will follow your advice—I + will meet you at the garden-gate.” + </p> + <p> + She bolted the outer-door of her apartment as soon as Mr. Ratcliffe left + her, and descended to the garden by a separate stair of communication + which opened to her dressing-room. On the way she felt inclined to retract + the consent she had so hastily given to a plan so hopeless and + extravagant. But as she passed in her descent a private door which entered + into the chapel from the back-stair, she heard the voice of the + female-servants as they were employed in the task of cleaning it. + </p> + <p> + “Married! and to sae bad a man—Ewhow, sirs! onything rather than + that.” + </p> + <p> + “They are right—they are right,” said Miss Vere, “anything rather + than that!” + </p> + <p> + She hurried to the garden. Mr. Ratcliffe was true to his appointment—the + horses stood saddled at the garden-gate, and in a few minutes they were + advancing rapidly towards the hut of the Solitary. + </p> + <p> + While the ground was favourable, the speed of their journey was such as to + prevent much communication; but when a steep ascent compelled them to + slacken their pace, a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss Vere’s + mind. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” she said, pulling up her horse’s bridle, “let us + prosecute no farther a journey, which nothing but the extreme agitation of + my mind can vindicate my having undertaken—I am well aware that this + man passes among the vulgar as being possessed of supernatural powers, and + carrying on an intercourse with beings of another world; but I would have + you aware I am neither to be imposed on by such follies, nor, were I to + believe in their existence, durst I, with my feelings of religion, apply + to this being in my distress.” + </p> + <p> + “I should have thought, Miss Vere,” replied Ratcliffe, “my character and + habits of thinking were so well known to you, that you might have held me + exculpated from crediting in such absurdity.” + </p> + <p> + “But in what other mode,” said Isabella, “can a being, so miserable + himself in appearance, possess the power of assisting me?” + </p> + <p> + “Miss Vere.” said Ratcliffe, after a momentary pause, “I am bound by a + solemn oath of secrecy—You must, without farther explanation, be + satisfied with my pledged assurance, that he does possess the power, if + you can inspire him with the will; and that, I doubt not, you will be able + to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Miss Vere, “you may yourself be mistaken; you ask an + unlimited degree of confidence from me.” + </p> + <p> + “Recollect, Miss Vere,” he replied, “that when, in your humanity, you + asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell and his ruined + family—when you requested me to prevail on him to do a thing most + abhorrent to his nature—to forgive an injury and remit a penalty—I + stipulated that you should ask me no questions concerning the sources of + my influence—You found no reason to distrust me then, do not + distrust me now.” + </p> + <p> + “But the extraordinary mode of life of this man,” said Miss Vere; “his + seclusion—his figure—the deepness of mis-anthropy which he is + said to express in his language—Mr. Ratcliffe, what can I think of + him if he really possesses the powers you ascribe to him?” + </p> + <p> + “This man, young lady, was bred a Catholic, a sect which affords a + thousand instances of those who have retired from power and affluence to + voluntary privations more strict even than his.” + </p> + <p> + “But he avows no religious motive,” replied Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Ratcliffe; “disgust with the world has operated his retreat + from it without assuming the veil of superstition. Thus far I may tell you—he + was born to great wealth, which his parents designed should become greater + by his union with a kinswoman, whom for that purpose they bred up in their + own house. You have seen his figure; judge what the young lady must have + thought of the lot to which she was destined—Yet, habituated to his + appearance, she showed no reluctance, and the friends of—of the + person whom I speak of, doubted not that the excess of his attachment, the + various acquisitions of his mind, his many and amiable qualities, had + overcome the natural horror which his destined bride must have entertained + at an exterior so dreadfully inauspicious.” + </p> + <p> + “And did they judge truly?” said Isabella. + </p> + <p> + “You shall hear. He, at least, was fully aware of his own deficiency; the + sense of it haunted him like a phantom. ‘I am,’ was his own expression to + me,—I mean to a man whom he trusted,—‘I am, in spite of what + you would say, a poor miserable outcast, fitter to have been smothered in + the cradle than to have been brought up to scare the world in which I + crawl.’ The person whom he addressed in vain endeavoured to impress him + with the indifference to external form which is the natural result of + philosophy, or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental talents to + the more attractive attributes that are merely personal. ‘I hear you,’ he + would reply; ‘but you speak the voice of cold-blooded stoicism, or, at + least, of friendly partiality. But look at every book which we have read, + those excepted of that abstract philosophy which feels no responsive voice + in our natural feelings. Is not personal form, such as at least can be + tolerated without horror and disgust, always represented as essential to + our ideas of a friend, far more a lover? Is not such a mis-shapen monster + as I am, excluded, by the very fiat of Nature, from her fairest + enjoyments? What but my wealth prevents all—perhaps even Letitia, or + you—from shunning me as something foreign to your nature, and more + odious, by bearing that distorted resemblance to humanity which we observe + in the animal tribes that are more hateful to man because they seem his + caricature?’” + </p> + <p> + “You repeat the sentiments of a madman,” said Miss Vere. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied her conductor, “unless a morbid and excessive sensibility on + such a subject can be termed insanity. Yet I will not deny that this + governing feeling and apprehension carried the person who entertained it, + to lengths which indicated a deranged imagination. He appeared to think + that it was necessary for him, by exuberant, and not always well-chosen + instances of liberality, and even profusion, to unite himself to the human + race, from which he conceived himself naturally dissevered. The benefits + which he bestowed, from a disposition naturally philanthropical in an + uncommon degree, were exaggerated by the influence of the goading + reflection, that more was necessary from him than from others,—lavishing + his treasures as if to bribe mankind to receive him into their class. It + is scarcely necessary to say, that the bounty which flowed from a source + so capricious was often abused, and his confidence frequently betrayed. + These disappointments, which occur to all, more or less, and most to such + as confer benefits without just discrimination, his diseased fancy set + down to the hatred and contempt excited by his personal deformity.—But + I fatigue you, Miss Vere?” + </p> + <p> + “No, by no means; I—I could not prevent my attention from wandering + an instant; pray proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “He became at length,” continued Ratcliffe, “the most ingenious + self-tormentor of whom I have ever heard; the scoff of the rabble, and the + sneer of the yet more brutal vulgar of his own rank, was to him agony and + breaking on the wheel. He regarded the laugh of the common people whom he + passed on the street, and the suppressed titter, or yet more offensive + terror, of the young girls to whom he was introduced in company, as proofs + of the true sense which the world entertained of him, as a prodigy unfit + to be received among them on the usual terms of society, and as + vindicating the wisdom of his purpose in withdrawing himself from among + them. On the faith and sincerity of two persons alone, he seemed to rely + implicitly—on that of his betrothed bride, and of a friend eminently + gifted in personal accomplishments, who seemed, and indeed probably was, + sincerely attached to him. He ought to have been so at least, for he was + literally loaded with benefits by him whom you are now about to see. The + parents of the subject of my story died within a short space of each + other. Their death postponed the marriage, for which the day had been + fixed. The lady did not seem greatly to mourn this delay,—perhaps + that was not to have been expected; but she intimated no change of + intention, when, after a decent interval, a second day was named for their + union. The friend of whom I spoke was then a constant resident at the + Hall. In an evil hour, at the earnest request and entreaty of this friend, + they joined a general party, where men of different political opinions + were mingled, and where they drank deep. A quarrel ensued; the friend of + the Recluse drew his sword with others, and was thrown down and disarmed + by a more powerful antagonist. They fell in the struggle at the feet of + the Recluse, who, maimed and truncated as his form appears, possesses, + nevertheless, great strength, as well as violent passions. He caught up a + sword, pierced the heart of his friend’s antagonist, was tried, and his + life, with difficulty, redeemed from justice at the expense of a year’s + close imprisonment, the punishment of manslaughter. The incident affected + him most deeply, the more that the deceased was a man of excellent + character, and had sustained gross insult and injury ere he drew his + sword. I think, from that moment, I observed—I beg pardon—The + fits of morbid sensibility which had tormented this unfortunate gentleman, + were rendered henceforth more acute by remorse, which he, of all men, was + least capable of having incurred, or of sustaining when it became his + unhappy lot. His paroxysms of agony could not be concealed from the lady + to whom he was betrothed; and it must be confessed they were of an + alarming and fearful nature. He comforted himself, that, at the expiry of + his imprisonment, he could form with his wife and friend a society, + encircled by which he might dispense with more extensive communication + with the world. He was deceived; before that term elapsed, his friend and + his betrothed bride were man and wife. The effects of a shock so dreadful + on an ardent temperament, a disposition already soured by bitter remorse, + and loosened by the indulgence of a gloomy imagination from the rest of + mankind, I cannot describe to you; it was as if the last cable at which + the vessel rode had suddenly parted, and left her abandoned to all the + wild fury of the tempest. He was placed under medical restraint. As a + temporary measure this might have been justifiable; but his hard-hearted + friend, who, in consequence of his marriage, was now his nearest ally, + prolonged his confinement, in order to enjoy the management of his immense + estates. There was one who owed his all to the sufferer, an humble friend, + but grateful and faithful. By unceasing exertion, and repeated invocation + of justice, he at length succeeded in obtaining his patron’s freedom, and + reinstatement in the management of his own property, to which was soon + added that of his intended bride, who having died without male issue, her + estates reverted to him, as heir of entail. But freedom and wealth were + unable to restore the equipoise of his mind; to the former his grief made + him indifferent—the latter only served him as far as it afforded him + the means of indulging his strange and wayward fancy. He had renounced the + Catholic religion, but perhaps some of its doctrines continued to + influence a mind, over which remorse and misanthropy now assumed, in + appearance, an unbounded authority. His life has since been that + alternately of a pilgrim and a hermit, suffering the most severe + privations, not indeed in ascetic devotion, but in abhorrence of mankind. + Yet no man’s words and actions have been at such a wide difference, nor + has any hypocritical wretch ever been more ingenious in assigning good + motives for his vile actions, than this unfortunate in reconciling to his + abstract principles of misanthropy, a conduct which flows from his natural + generosity and kindness of feeling.” + </p> + <p> + “Still, Mr. Ratcliffe—still you describe the inconsistencies of a + madman.” + </p> + <p> + “By no means,” replied Ratcliffe. “That the imagination of this gentleman + is disordered, I will not pretend to dispute; I have already told you that + it has sometimes broken out into paroxysms approaching to real mental + alienation. But it is of his common state of mind that I speak; it is + irregular, but not deranged; the shades are as gradual as those that + divide the light of noonday from midnight. The courtier who ruins his + fortune for the attainment of a title which can do him no good, or power + of which he can make no suitable or creditable use, the miser who hoards + his useless wealth, and the prodigal who squanders it, are all marked with + a certain shade of insanity. To criminals who are guilty of enormities, + when the temptation, to a sober mind, bears no proportion to the horror of + the act, or the probability of detection and punishment, the same + observation applies; and every violent passion, as well as anger, may be + termed a short madness.” + </p> + <p> + “This may be all good philosophy, Mr. Ratcliffe,” answered Miss Vere; + “but, excuse me, it by no means emboldens me to visit, at this late hour, + a person whose extravagance of imagination you yourself can only + palliate.” + </p> + <p> + “Rather, then,” said Ratcliffe, “receive my solemn assurances, that you do + not incur the slightest danger. But what I have been hitherto afraid to + mention for fear of alarming you is, that now when we are within sight of + his retreat, for I can discover it through the twilight, I must go no + farther with you; you must proceed alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Alone?—I dare not.” + </p> + <p> + “You must,” continued Ratcliffe; “I will remain here and wait for you.” + </p> + <p> + “You will not, then, stir from this place,” said Miss Vere “yet the + distance is so great, you could not hear me were I to cry for assistance.” + </p> + <p> + “Fear nothing,” said her guide; “or observe, at least, the utmost caution + in stifling every expression of timidity. Remember that his predominant + and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness of the + hideousness of his appearance. Your path lies straight beside yon + half-fallen willow; keep the left side of it; the marsh lies on the right. + Farewell for a time. Remember the evil you are threatened with, and let it + overcome at once your fears and scruples.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe,” said Isabella, “farewell; if you have deceived one so + unfortunate as myself, you have for ever forfeited the fair character for + probity and honour to which I have trusted.” + </p> + <p> + “On my life—on my soul,” continued Ratcliffe, raising his voice as + the distance between them increased, “you are safe—perfectly safe.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + —‘Twas time and griefs + That framed him thus: Time, with his fairer hand, + Offering the fortunes of his former days, + The former man may make him.—Bring us to him, + And chance it as it may.—OLD PLAY. +</pre> + <p> + The sounds of Ratcliffe’s voice had died on Isabella’s ear; but as she + frequently looked back, it was some encouragement to her to discern his + form now darkening in the gloom. Ere, however, she went much farther, she + lost the object in the increasing shade. The last glimmer of the twilight + placed her before the hut of the Solitary. She twice extended her hand to + the door, and twice she withdrew it; and when she did at length make the + effort, the knock did not equal in violence the throb of her own bosom. + Her next effort was louder; her third was reiterated, for the fear of not + obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe promised so much, began to + overpower the terrors of his presence from whom she was to request it. At + length, as she still received no answer, she repeatedly called upon the + Dwarf by his assumed name, and requested him to answer and open to her. + </p> + <p> + “What miserable being is reduced,” said the appalling voice of the + Solitary, “to seek refuge here? Go hence; when the heath-fowl need + shelter, they seek it not in the nest of the night-raven.” + </p> + <p> + “I come to you, father,” said Isabella, “in my hour of adversity, even as + you yourself commanded, when you promised your heart and your door should + be open to my distress; but I fear—” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” said the Solitary, “then thou art Isabella Vere? Give me a token + that thou art she.” + </p> + <p> + “I have brought you back the rose which you gave me; it has not had time + to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon me!” + </p> + <p> + “And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge,” said the Dwarf, “I will not + forfeit mine. The heart and the door that are shut against every other + earthly being, shall be open to thee and to thy sorrows.” + </p> + <p> + She heard him move in his hut, and presently afterwards strike a light. + One by one, bolt and bar were then withdrawn, the heart of Isabella + throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting were successively + removed. The door opened, and the Solitary stood before her, his uncouth + form and features illuminated by the iron lamp which he held in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Enter, daughter of affliction,” he said,—“enter the house of + misery.” + </p> + <p> + She entered, and observed, with a precaution which increased her + trepidation, that the Recluse’s first act, after setting the lamp upon the + table, was to replace the numerous bolts which secured the door of his + hut. She shrunk as she heard the noise which accompanied this ominous + operation, yet remembered Ratcliffe’s caution, and endeavoured to suppress + all appearance of apprehension. The light of the lamp was weak and + uncertain; but the Solitary, without taking immediate notice of Isabella, + otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small settle beside the + fireplace, made haste to kindle some dry furze, which presently cast a + blaze through the cottage. Wooden shelves, which bore a few books, some + bundles of dried herbs, and one or two wooden cups and platters, were on + one side of the fire; on the other were placed some ordinary tools of + field-labour, mingled with those used by mechanics. Where the bed should + have been, there was a wooden frame, strewed with withered moss and + rushes, the couch of the ascetic. The whole space of the cottage did not + exceed ten feet by six within the walls; and its only furniture, besides + what we have mentioned, was a table and two stools formed of rough deals. + </p> + <p> + Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed with a + being, whose history had nothing to reassure her, and the fearful + conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an almost superstitious + terror. He occupied the seat opposite to her, and dropping his huge and + shaggy eyebrows over his piercing black eyes, gazed at her in silence, as + if agitated by a variety of contending feelings. On the other side sate + Isabella, pale as death, her long hair uncurled by the evening damps, and + falling over her shoulders and breast, as the wet streamers droop from the + mast when the storm has passed away, and left the vessel stranded on the + beach. The Dwarf first broke the silence with the sudden, abrupt, and + alarming question,—“Woman, what evil fate has brought thee hither?” + </p> + <p> + “My father’s danger, and your own command,” she replied faintly, but + firmly. + </p> + <p> + “And you hope for aid from me?” + </p> + <p> + “If you can bestow it,” she replied, still in the same tone of mild + submission. + </p> + <p> + “And how should I possess that power?” continued the Dwarf, with a bitter + sneer; “Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs? Is this the castle in + which one powerful enough to be sued to by a fair suppliant is likely to + hold his residence? I but mocked thee, girl, when I said I would relieve + thee.” + </p> + <p> + “Then must I depart, and face my fate as I best may!” + </p> + <p> + “No!” said the Dwarf, rising and interposing between her and the door, and + motioning to her sternly to resume her seat—“No! you leave me not in + this way; we must have farther conference. Why should one being desire aid + of another? Why should not each be sufficient to itself? Look round you—I, + the most despised and most decrepit on Nature’s common, have required + sympathy and help from no one. These stones are of my own piling; these + utensils I framed with my own hands; and with this”—and he laid his + hand with a fierce smile on the long dagger which he always wore beneath + his garment, and unsheathed it so far that the blade glimmered clear in + the fire-light—“with this,” he pursued, as he thrust the weapon back + into the scabbard, “I can, if necessary, defend the vital spark enclosed + in this poor trunk, against the fairest and strongest that shall threaten + me with injury.” + </p> + <p> + It was with difficulty Isabella refrained from screaming out aloud; but + she DID refrain. + </p> + <p> + “This,” continued the Recluse, “is the life of nature, solitary, + self-sufficing, and independent. The wolf calls not the wolf to aid him in + forming his den; and the vulture invites not another to assist her in + striking down her prey.” + </p> + <p> + “And when they are unable to procure themselves support,” said Isabella, + judiciously thinking that he would be most accessible to argument couched + in his own metaphorical style, “what then is to befall them?” + </p> + <p> + “Let them starve, die, and be forgotten; it is the common lot of + humanity.” + </p> + <p> + “It is the lot of the wild tribes of nature,” said Isabella, “but chiefly + of those who are destined to support themselves by rapine, which brooks no + partner; but it is not the law of nature in general; even the lower orders + have confederacies for mutual defence. But mankind—the race would + perish did they cease to aid each other.—From the time that the + mother binds the child’s head, till the moment that some kind assistant + wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot exist without + mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid, have right to ask it of their + fellow-mortals; no one who has the power of granting can refuse it without + guilt.” + </p> + <p> + “And in this simple hope, poor maiden,” said the Solitary, “thou hast come + into the desert, to seek one whose wish it were that the league thou hast + spoken of were broken for ever, and that, in very truth, the whole race + should perish? Wert thou not frightened?” + </p> + <p> + “Misery,” said Isabella, firmly, “is superior to fear.” + </p> + <p> + “Hast thou not heard it said in thy mortal world, that I have leagued + myself with other powers, deformed to the eye and malevolent to the human + race as myself? Hast thou not heard this—And dost thou seek my cell + at midnight?” + </p> + <p> + “The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears,” said Isabella; + but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied the affected courage + which her words expressed. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! ho!” said the Dwarf, “thou vauntest thyself a philosopher? Yet, + shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrusting thyself, young + and beautiful, in the power of one so spited against humanity, as to place + his chief pleasure in defacing, destroying, and degrading her fairest + works?” + </p> + <p> + Isabella, much alarmed, continued to answer with firmness, “Whatever + injuries you may have sustained in the world, you are incapable of + revenging them on one who never wronged you, nor, wilfully, any other.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but, maiden,” he continued, his dark eyes flashing with an expression + of malignity which communicated itself to his wild and distorted features, + “revenge is the hungry wolf, which asks only to tear flesh and lap blood. + Think you the lamb’s plea of innocence would be listened to by him?” + </p> + <p> + “Man!” said Isabella, rising, and expressing herself with much dignity, “I + fear not the horrible ideas with which you would impress me. I cast them + from me with disdain. Be you mortal or fiend, you would not offer injury + to one who sought you as a suppliant in her utmost need. You would not—you + durst not.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou say’st truly, maiden,” rejoined the Solitary; “I dare not—I + would not. Begone to thy dwelling. Fear nothing with which they threaten + thee. Thou hast asked my protection—thou shalt find it effectual.” + </p> + <p> + “But, father, this very night I have consented to wed the man that I + abhor, or I must put the seal to my father’s ruin.” + </p> + <p> + “This night?—at what hour?” + </p> + <p> + “Ere midnight.” + </p> + <p> + “And twilight,” said the Dwarf, “has already passed away. But fear + nothing, there is ample time to protect thee.” + </p> + <p> + “And my father?” continued Isabella, in a suppliant tone. + </p> + <p> + “Thy father,” replied the Dwarf, “has been, and is, my most bitter enemy. + But fear not; thy virtue shall save him. And now, begone; were I to keep + thee longer by me, I might again fall into the stupid dreams concerning + human worth from which I have been so fearfully awakened. But fear nothing—at + the very foot of the altar I will redeem thee. Adieu, time presses, and I + must act!” + </p> + <p> + He led her to the door of the hut, which he opened for her departure. She + remounted her horse, which had been feeding in the outer enclosure, and + pressed him forward by the light of the moon, which was now rising, to the + spot where she had left Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + “Have you succeeded?” was his first eager question. + </p> + <p> + “I have obtained promises from him to whom you sent me; but how can he + possibly accomplish them?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God!” said Ratcliffe; “doubt not his power to fulfil his promise.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment a shrill whistle was heard to resound along the heath. + </p> + <p> + “Hark!” said Ratcliffe, “he calls me—Miss Vere, return home, and + leave unbolted the postern-door of the garden; to that which opens on the + back-stairs I have a private key.” + </p> + <p> + A second whistle was heard, yet more shrill and prolonged than the first. + </p> + <p> + “I come, I come,” said Ratcliffe; and setting spurs to his horse, rode + over the heath in the direction of the Recluse’s hut. Miss Vere returned + to the castle, the mettle of the animal on which she rode, and her own + anxiety of mind, combining to accelerate her journey. + </p> + <p> + She obeyed Ratcliffe’s directions, though without well apprehending their + purpose, and leaving her horse at large in a paddock near the garden, + hurried to her own apartment, which she reached without observation. She + now unbolted her door, and rang her bell for lights. Her father appeared + along with the servant who answered her summons. + </p> + <p> + “He had been twice,” he said, “listening at her door during the two hours + that had elapsed since he left her, and, not hearing her speak, had become + apprehensive that she was taken ill.” + </p> + <p> + “And now, my dear father,” she said, “permit me to claim the promise you + so kindly gave; let the last moments of freedom which I am to enjoy be + mine without interruption; and protract to the last moment the respite + which is allowed me.” + </p> + <p> + “I will,” said her father; “nor shall you be again interrupted. But this + disordered dress—this dishevelled hair—do not let me find you + thus when I call on you again; the sacrifice, to be beneficial, must be + voluntary.” + </p> + <p> + “Must it be so?” she replied; “then fear not, my father! the victim shall + be adorned.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + This looks not like a nuptial.—MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. +</pre> + <p> + The chapel in the castle of Ellieslaw, destined to be the scene of this + ill-omened union, was a building of much older date than the castle + itself, though that claimed considerable antiquity. Before the wars + between England and Scotland had become so common and of such long + duration, that the buildings along both sides of the Border were chiefly + dedicated to warlike purposes, there had been a small settlement of monks + at Ellieslaw, a dependency, it is believed by antiquaries, on the rich + Abbey of Jedburgh. Their possessions had long passed away under the + changes introduced by war and mutual ravage. A feudal castle had arisen on + the ruin of their cells, and their chapel was included in its precincts. + </p> + <p> + The edifice, in its round arches and massive pillars, the simplicity of + which referred their date to what has been called the Saxon architecture, + presented at all times a dark and sombre appearance, and had been + frequently used as the cemetery of the family of the feudal lords, as well + as formerly of the monastic brethren. But it looked doubly gloomy by the + effect of the few and smoky torches which were used to enlighten it on the + present occasion, and which, spreading a glare of yellow light in their + immediate vicinity, were surrounded beyond by a red and purple halo + reflected from their own smoke, and beyond that again by a zone of + darkness which magnified the extent of the chapel, while it rendered it + impossible for the eye to ascertain its limits. Some injudicious + ornaments, adopted in haste for the occasion, rather added to the + dreariness of the scene. Old fragments of tapestry, torn from the walls of + other apartments, had been hastily and partially disposed around those of + the chapel, and mingled inconsistently with scutcheons and funeral emblems + of the dead, which they elsewhere exhibited. On each side of the stone + altar was a monument, the appearance of which formed an equally strange + contrast. On the one was the figure, in stone, of some grim hermit, or + monk, who had died in the odour of sanctity; he was represented as + recumbent, in his cowl and scapulaire, with his face turned upward as in + the act of devotion, and his hands folded, from which his string of beads + was dependent. On the other side was a tomb, in the Italian taste, + composed of the most beautiful statuary marble, and accounted a model of + modern art. It was erected to the memory of Isabella’s mother, the late + Mrs. Vere of Ellieslaw, who was represented as in a dying posture, while a + weeping cherub, with eyes averted, seemed in the act of extinguishing a + dying lamp as emblematic of her speedy dissolution. It was, indeed, a + masterpiece of art, but misplaced in the rude vault to which it had been + consigned. Many were surprised, and even scandalized, that Ellieslaw, not + remarkable for attention to his lady while alive, should erect after her + death such a costly mausoleum in affected sorrow; others cleared him from + the imputation of hypocrisy, and averred that the monument had been + constructed under the direction and at the sole expense of Mr. Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + Before these monuments the wedding guests were assembled. They were few in + number; for many had left the castle to prepare for the ensuing political + explosion, and Ellieslaw was, in the circumstances of the case, far from + being desirous to extend invitations farther than to those near relations + whose presence the custom of the country rendered indispensable. Next to + the altar stood Sir Frederick Langley, dark, moody, and thoughtful, even + beyond his wont, and near him, Mareschal, who was to play the part of + bridesman, as it was called. The thoughtless humour of this young + gentleman, on which he never deigned to place the least restraint, added + to the cloud which overhung the brow of the bridegroom. + </p> + <p> + “The bride is not yet come out of her chamber,” he whispered to Sir + Frederick; “I trust that we must not have recourse to the violent + expedients of the Romans which I read of at College. It would be hard upon + my pretty cousin to be run away with twice in two days, though I know none + better worth such a violent compliment.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick attempted to turn a deaf ear to this discourse, humming a + tune, and looking another may, but Mareschal proceeded in the same wild + manner. + </p> + <p> + “This delay is hard upon Dr. Hobbler, who was disturbed to accelerate + preparations for this joyful event when he had successfully extracted the + cork of his third bottle. I hope you will keep him free of the censure of + his superiors, for I take it this is beyond canonical hours.—But + here come Ellieslaw and my pretty cousin—prettier than ever, I + think, were it not she seems so faint and so deadly pale—Hark ye, + Sir Knight, if she says not YES with right good-will, it shall be no + wedding, for all that has come and gone yet.” + </p> + <p> + “No wedding, sir?” returned Sir Frederick, in a loud whisper, the tone of + which indicated that his angry feelings were suppressed with difficulty. + </p> + <p> + “No—no marriage,” replied Mareschal, “there’s my hand and glove + on’t.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick Langley took his hand, and as he wrung it hard, said in a + lower whisper, “Mareschal, you shall answer this,” and then flung his hand + from him. + </p> + <p> + “That I will readily do,” said Mareschal, “for never word escaped my lips + that my hand was not ready to guarantee.-So, speak up, my pretty cousin, + and tell me if it be your free will and unbiassed resolution to accept of + this gallant knight for your lord and husband; for if you have the tenth + part of a scruple upon the subject, fall back, fall edge, he shall not + have you.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you mad, Mr. Mareschal?” said Ellieslaw, who, having been this young + man’s guardian during his minority, often employed a tone of authority to + him. “Do you suppose I would drag my daughter to the foot of the altar, + were it not her own choice?” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, Ellieslaw,” retorted the young gentleman, “never tell me of the + contrary; her eyes are full of tears, and her cheeks are whiter than her + white dress. I must insist, in the name of common humanity, that the + ceremony be adjourned till to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “She shall tell you herself, thou incorrigible intermeddler in what + concerns thee not, that it is her wish the ceremony should go on—Is + it not, Isabella, my dear?” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” said Isabella, half fainting—“since there is no help, + either in God or man.” + </p> + <p> + The first word alone was distinctly audible. Mareschal shrugged up his + shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rather supported, his + daughter to the altar. Sir Frederick moved forward and placed himself by + her side. The clergyman opened his prayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere for + the signal to commence the service. + </p> + <p> + “Proceed,” said the latter. + </p> + <p> + But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife, called, in + such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in the vaulted chapel, + “Forbear!” + </p> + <p> + All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the clash of + swords, or something resembling it, was heard from the remote apartments. + It ceased almost instantly. + </p> + <p> + “What new device is this?” said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing Ellieslaw + and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion. + </p> + <p> + “It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest,” said Ellieslaw, + though greatly confounded; “we must make large allowances for the excess + of this evening’s festivity. Proceed with the service.” + </p> + <p> + Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they had + before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female attendants + screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid their hands on + their swords. Ere the first moment of surprise had passed by, the Dwarf + stepped from behind the monument, and placed himself full in front of Mr. + Vere. The effect of so strange and hideous an apparition in such a place + and in such circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to annihilate + the Laird of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughter’s arm, staggered + against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as if for + support, laid his brow against the column. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this fellow?” said Sir Frederick; “and what does he mean by this + intrusion?” + </p> + <p> + “It is one who comes to tell you,” said the Dwarf, with the peculiar + acrimony which usually marked his manner, “that, in marrying that young + lady, you wed neither the heiress of Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley Hall, nor of + Polverton, nor of one furrow of land, unless she marries with MY consent; + and to thee that consent shall never be given. Down—down on thy + knees, and thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding qualities + with which thou hast no concern—portionless truth, virtue, and + innocence—thou, base ingrate,” he continued, addressing himself to + Ellieslaw, “what is thy wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who wouldst sell + thy daughter to relieve thee from danger, as in famine thou wouldst have + slain and devoured her to preserve thy own vile life!—Ay, hide thy + face with thy hands; well mayst thou blush to look on him whose body thou + didst consign to chains, his hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. Saved + once more by the virtue of her who calls thee father, go hence, and may + the pardon and benefits I confer on thee prove literal coals of fire, till + thy brain is seared and scorched like mine!” + </p> + <p> + Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair. + </p> + <p> + “Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe,” said the Dwarf, “and inform him of his + destiny. He will rejoice—for to breathe air and to handle gold is to + him happiness.” + </p> + <p> + “I understand nothing of all this,” said Sir Frederick Langley; “but we + are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for King James; and + whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward Mauley, who has been so long + supposed dead in confinement, or whether you be an impostor assuming his + name and title, we will use the freedom of detaining you, till your + appearance here, at this moment, is better accounted for; we will have no + spies among us—Seize on him, my friends.” + </p> + <p> + But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick himself + stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands on his person, + when his progress was suddenly stopped by the glittering point of a + partisan, which the sturdy hand of Hobbie Elliot presented against his + bosom. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him!” said the + stout Borderer; “stand back, or I’ll strike ye through! Naebody shall lay + a finger on Elshie; he’s a canny neighbourly man, aye ready to make a + friend help; and, though ye may think him a lamiter, yet, grippie for + grippie, friend, I’ll wad a wether he’ll make the bluid spin frae under + your nails. He’s a teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smith’s vice.” + </p> + <p> + “What has brought you here, Elliot?” said Mareschal; “who called on you + for interference?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, Mareschal-Wells,” answered Hobbie, “I am just come here, wi’ + twenty or thretty mair o’ us, in my ain name and the King’s—or + Queen’s, ca’ they her? and Canny Elshie’s into the bargain, to keep the + peace, and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien me. A bonny + breakfast the loons gae me the ither morning, and him at the bottom on’t; + and trow ye I wasna ready to supper him up?—Ye needna lay your hands + on your swords, gentlemen, the house is ours wi’ little din; for the doors + were open, and there had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took + their swords and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods.” + </p> + <p> + Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel. + </p> + <p> + “By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with armed men, + and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and let us fight our way.” + </p> + <p> + “Binna rash—binna rash,” exclaimed Hobbie; “hear me a bit, hear me a + bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King James, as ye ca’ + him, and the prelates, we thought it right to keep up the auld neighbour + war, and stand up for the t’other ane and the Kirk; but we’ll no hurt a + hair o’ your heads, if ye like to gang hame quietly. And it will be your + best way, for there’s sure news come frae Loudoun, that him they ca’ Bang, + or Byng, or what is’t, has bang’d the French ships and the new king aff + the coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi’ auld Nanse for want of + a better Queen.” + </p> + <p> + Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts so + unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost instantly, + and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, with such of his + attendants as were able to follow him. + </p> + <p> + “And what will you do, Mr. Mareschal?” said Ratcliffe. + </p> + <p> + “Why, faith,” answered he, smiling, “I hardly know; my spirit is too + great, and my fortune too small, for me to follow the example of the + doughty bridegroom. It is not in my nature, and it is hardly worth my + while.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will be + overlooked, as there has been no overt act.” + </p> + <p> + “Hout, ay,” said Elliot, “just let byganes be byganes, and a’ friends + again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I hae gien him + baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed three blows of the + broadsword wi’ him before he lap the window into the castle-moat, and + swattered through it like a wild-duck. He’s a clever fallow, indeed! maun + kilt awa wi’ ae bonny lass in the morning, and another at night, less + wadna serve him! but if he disna kilt himsell out o’ the country, I’se + kilt him wi’ a tow, for the Castleton meeting’s clean blawn ower; his + friends will no countenance him.” + </p> + <p> + During the general confusion, Isabella had thrown herself at the feet of + her kinsman, Sir Edward Mauley, for so we must now call the Solitary, to + express at once her gratitude, and to beseech forgiveness for her father. + The eyes of all began to be fixed on them, as soon as their own agitation + and the bustle of the attendants had somewhat abated. Miss Vere kneeled + beside the tomb of her mother, to whose statue her features exhibited a + marked resemblance. She held the hand of the Dwarf, which she kissed + repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and motionless, excepting + that his eyes glanced alternately on the marble figure and the living + suppliant. At length, the large drops which gathered on his eye-lashes + compelled him to draw his hand across them. + </p> + <p> + “I thought,” he said, “that tears and I had done; but we shed them at our + birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our graves. But no + melting of the heart shall dissolve my resolution. I part here, at once, + and for ever, with all of which the memory” (looking to the tomb), “or the + presence” (he pressed Isabella’s hand), “is dear to me.—Speak not to + me! attempt not to thwart my determination! it will avail nothing; you + will hear of and see this lump of deformity no more. To you I shall be + dead ere I am actually in my grave, and you will think of me as of a + friend disencumbered from the toils and crimes of existence.” + </p> + <p> + He kissed Isabella on the forehead, impressed another kiss on the brow of + the statue by which she knelt, and left the chapel followed by Ratcliffe. + Isabella, almost exhausted by the emotions of the day, was carried to her + apartment by her women. Most of the other guests dispersed, after having + separately endeavoured to impress on all who would listen to them their + disapprobation of the plots formed against the government, or their regret + for having engaged in them. Hobbie Elliot assumed the command of the + castle for the night, and mounted a regular guard. He boasted not a little + of the alacrity with which his friends and he had obeyed a hasty summons + received from Elshie through the faithful Ratcliffe. And it was a lucky + chance, he said, that on that very day they had got notice that + Westburnflat did not intend to keep his tryste at Castleton, but to hold + them at defiance; so that a considerable party had assembled at the + Heugh-foot, with the intention of paying a visit to the robber’s tower on + the ensuing morning, and their course was easily directed to Ellieslaw + Castle. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + —Last scene of all, + To close this strange eventful history.—AS YOU LIKE IT. +</pre> + <p> + On the next morning, Mr. Ratcliffe presented Miss Vere with a letter from + her father, of which the following is the tenor:— + </p> + <p> + “MY DEAREST CHILD, The malice of a persecuting government will compel me, + for my own safety, to retreat abroad, and to remain for some time in + foreign parts. I do not ask you to accompany, or follow me; you will + attend to my interest and your own more effectually by remaining where you + are. It is unnecessary to enter into a minute detail concerning the causes + of the strange events which yesterday took place. I think I have reason to + complain of the usage I have received from Sir Edward Mauley, who is your + nearest kinsman by the mother’s side; but as he has declared you his heir, + and is to put you in immediate possession of a large part of his fortune, + I account it a full atonement. I am aware he has never forgiven the + preference which your mother gave to my addresses, instead of complying + with the terms of a sort of family compact, which absurdly and + tyrannically destined her to wed her deformed relative. The shock was even + sufficient to unsettle his wits (which, indeed, were never over-well + arranged), and I had, as the husband of his nearest kinswoman and heir, + the delicate task of taking care of his person and property, until he was + reinstated in the management of the latter by those who, no doubt, thought + they were doing him justice; although, if some parts of his subsequent + conduct be examined, it will appear that he ought, for his own sake, to + have been left under the influence of a mild and salutary restraint. + </p> + <p> + “In one particular, however, he showed a sense of the ties of blood, as + well as of his own frailty; for while he sequestered himself closely from + the world, under various names and disguises, and insisted on spreading a + report of his own death (in which to gratify him I willingly acquiesced), + he left at my disposal the rents of a great proportion of his estates, and + especially all those, which, having belonged to your mother, reverted to + him as a male fief. In this he may have thought that he was acting with + extreme generosity, while, in the opinion of all impartial men, he will + only be considered as having fulfilled a natural obligation, seeing that, + in justice, if not in strict law, you must be considered as the heir of + your mother, and I as your legal administrator. Instead, therefore, of + considering myself as loaded with obligations to Sir Edward on this + account, I think I had reason to complain that these remittances were only + doled out to me at the pleasure of Mr. Ratcliffe, who, moreover, exacted + from me mortgages over my paternal estate of Ellieslaw for any sums which + I required as an extra advance; and thus may be said to have insinuated + himself into the absolute management and control of my property. Or, if + all this seeming friendship was employed by Sir Edward for the purpose of + obtaining a complete command of my affairs, and acquiring the power of + ruining me at his pleasure, I feel myself, I must repeat, still less bound + by the alleged obligation. + </p> + <p> + “About the autumn of last year, as I understand, either his own crazed + imagination, or the accomplishment of some such scheme as I have hinted, + brought him down to this country. His alleged motive, it seems, was a + desire of seeing a monument which he had directed to be raised in the + chapel over the tomb of your mother. Mr. Ratcliffe, who at this time had + done me the honour to make my house his own, had the complaisance to + introduce him secretly into the chapel. The consequence, as he informs me, + was a frenzy of several hours, during which he fled into the neighbouring + moors, in one of the wildest spots of which he chose, when he was somewhat + recovered, to fix his mansion, and set up for a sort of country empiric, a + character which, even in his best days, he was fond of assuming. It is + remarkable, that, instead of informing me of these circumstances, that I + might have had the relative of my late wife taken such care of as his + calamitous condition required, Mr. Ratcliffe seems to have had such + culpable indulgence for his irregular plans as to promise and even swear + secrecy concerning them. He visited Sir Edward often, and assisted in the + fantastic task he had taken upon him of constructing a hermitage. Nothing + they appear to have dreaded more than a discovery of their intercourse. + </p> + <p> + “The ground was open in every direction around, and a small subterranean + cave, probably sepulchral, which their researches had detected near the + great granite pillar, served to conceal Ratcliffe, when any one approached + his master. I think you will be of opinion, my love, that this secrecy + must have had some strong motive. It is also remarkable, that while I + thought my unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of La Trappe, he + should have been actually living, for many months, in this bizarre + disguise, within five miles of my house, and obtaining regular information + of my most private movements, either by Ratcliffe, or through Westburnflat + or others, whom he had the means to bribe to any extent. He makes it a + crime against me that I endeavoured to establish your marriage with Sir + Frederick. I acted for the best; but if Sir Edward Mauley thought + otherwise, why did he not step manfully forward, express his own purpose + of becoming a party to the settlements, and take that interest which he is + entitled to claim in you as heir to his great property? + </p> + <p> + “Even now, though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat tardy in + announcing his purpose, I am far from opposing my authority against his + wishes, although the person he desires you to regard as your future + husband be young Earnscliff; the very last whom I should have thought + likely to be acceptable to him, considering a certain fatal event. But I + give my free and hearty consent, providing the settlements are drawn in + such an irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by that + state of dependence, and that sudden and causeless revocation of + allowances, of which I have so much reason to complain. Of Sir Frederick + Langley, I augur, you will hear no more. He is not likely to claim the + hand of a dowerless maiden. I therefore commit you, my dear Isabella, to + the wisdom of Providence and to your own prudence, begging you to lose no + time in securing those advantages, which the fickleness of your kinsman + has withdrawn from me to shower upon you. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edward’s intention to settle a considerable + sum upon me yearly, for my maintenance in foreign parts; but this my heart + is too proud to accept from him. I told him I had a dear child, who, while + in affluence herself, would never suffer me to be in poverty. I thought it + right to intimate this to him pretty roundly, that whatever increase be + settled upon you, it may be calculated so as to cover this necessary and + natural encumbrance. I shall willingly settle upon you the castle and + manor of Ellieslaw, to show my parental affection and disinterested zeal + for promoting your settlement in life. The annual interest of debts + charged on the estate somewhat exceeds the income, even after a reasonable + rent has been put upon the mansion and mains. But as all the debts are in + the person of Mr. Ratcliffe, as your kinsman’s trustee, he will not be a + troublesome creditor. And here I must make you aware, that though I have + to complain of Mr. Ratcliffe’s conduct to me personally, I, nevertheless, + believe him a just and upright man, with whom you may safely consult on + your affairs, not to mention that to cherish his good opinion will be the + best way to retain that of your kinsman. Remember me to Marchie—I + hope he will not be troubled on account of late matters. I will write more + fully from the Continent. Meanwhile, I rest your loving father, RICHARD + VERE.” + </p> + <p> + The above letter throws the only additional light which we have been able + to procure upon the earlier part of our story. It was Hobbie’s opinion, + and may be that of most of our readers, that the Recluse of + Mucklestane-Moor had but a kind of a gleaming, or twilight understanding; + and that he had neither very clear views as to what he himself wanted, nor + was apt to pursue his ends by the clearest and most direct means; so that + to seek the clew of his conduct, was likened, by Hobbie, to looking for a + straight path through a common, over which are a hundred devious tracks, + but not one distinct line of road. + </p> + <p> + When Isabella had perused the letter, her first enquiry was after her + father. He had left the castle, she was informed, early in the morning, + after a long interview with Mr. Ratcliffe, and was already far on his way + to the next port, where he might expect to find shipping for the + Continent. + </p> + <p> + “Where was Sir Edward Mauley?” + </p> + <p> + No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the preceding + evening. + </p> + <p> + “Odd, if onything has befa’en puir Elshie,” said Hobbie Elliot, “I wad + rather I were harried ower again.” + </p> + <p> + He immediately rode to his dwelling, and the remaining she-goat came + bleating to meet him, for her milking time was long past. The Solitary was + nowhere to be seen; his door, contrary to wont, was open, his fire + extinguished, and the whole hut was left in the state which it exhibited + on Isabella’s visit to him. It was pretty clear that the means of + conveyance which had brought the Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding + evening, had removed him from it to some other place of abode. Hobbie + returned disconsolate to the castle. + </p> + <p> + “I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an’ a’.” + </p> + <p> + “You have indeed,” said Ratcliffe, producing a paper, which he put into + Hobbie’s hands; “but read that, and you will perceive you have been no + loser by having known him.” + </p> + <p> + It was a short deed of gift, by which “Sir Edward Mauley, otherwise called + Elshender the Recluse, endowed Halbert or Hobbie Elliot, and Grace + Armstrong, in full property, with a considerable sum borrowed by Elliot + from him.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie’s joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down his rough + cheeks. + </p> + <p> + “It’s a queer thing,” he said; “but I canna joy in the gear, unless I kend + the puir body was happy that gave it me.” + </p> + <p> + “Next to enjoying happiness ourselves,” said Ratcliffe, “is the + consciousness of having bestowed it on others. Had all my master’s + benefits been conferred like the present, what a different return would + they have produced! But the indiscriminate profusion that would glut + avarice, or supply prodigality, neither does good, nor is rewarded by + gratitude. It is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind.” + </p> + <p> + “And that wad be a light har’st,” said Hobbie; “but, wi’ my young leddie’s + leave, I wad fain take down Eishie’s skeps o’ bees, and set them in + Grace’s bit flower yard at the Heugh-foot—they shall ne’er be + smeekit by ony o’ huz. And the puir goat, she would be negleckit about a + great toun like this; and she could feed bonnily on our lily lea by the + burn side, and the hounds wad ken her in a day’s time, and never fash her, + and Grace wad milk her ilka morning wi’ her ain hand, for Elshie’s sake; + for though he was thrawn and cankered in his converse, he likeit dumb + creatures weel.” + </p> + <p> + Hobbie’s requests were readily granted, not without some wonder at the + natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this mode of + displaying his gratitude. He was delighted when Ratcliffe informed him + that his benefactor should not remain ignorant of the care which he took + of his favourite. + </p> + <p> + “And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties, and, abune + a’, Grace and mysell, are weel and thriving, and that it’s a’ his doing—that + canna but please him, ane wad think.” + </p> + <p> + And Elliot and the family at Heugh-foot were, and continued to be, as + fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty, tenderness, and gallantry so + well merited. + </p> + <p> + All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now removed, + and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part of Sir Edward + Mauley, might have satisfied the cupidity of Ellieslaw himself. But Miss + Vere and Ratcliffe thought it unnecessary to mention to Earnscliff that + one great motive of Sir Edward, in thus loading the young pair with + benefits, was to expiate his having, many years before, shed the blood of + his father in a hasty brawl. If it be true, as Ratcliffe asserted, that + the Dwarf’s extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat, under the + consciousness of having diffused happiness among so many, the recollection + of this circumstance might probably be one of his chief motives for + refusing obstinately ever to witness their state of contentment. + </p> + <p> + Mareschal hunted, shot, and drank claret—tired of the country, went + abroad, served three campaigns, came home, and married Lucy Ilderton. + </p> + <p> + Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife, and found and left + them contented and happy. The scheming ambition of Sir Frederick Langley + engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of 1715. He was made prisoner + at Preston, in Lancashire, with the Earl of Derwentwater, and others. His + defence, and the dying speech which he made at his execution, may be found + in the State Trials. Mr. Vere, supplied by his daughter with an ample + income, continued to reside abroad, engaged deeply in the affair of Law’s + bank during the regency 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 end—drank brandy with the neighbours, whom, in his + younger days, he had plundered—died 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Dwarf, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK DWARF *** + +***** This file should be named 1460-h.htm or 1460-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/1460/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Black Dwarf + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Release Date: February 15, 2006 [EBook #1460] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK DWARF *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + + + + + +THE BLACK DWARF + +by Sir Walter Scott + + + + +CONTENTS. + + I. Tales of my Landlord + Introduction by "Jedediah Cleishbotham" + II. Introduction to THE BLACK DWARF + III. Main text of THE BLACK DWARF + + + Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the + etext in square brackets ("[]") close to the place where + they were referenced by a suffix in the original text. + Text in italics has been written in capital letters. + + + + +I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD + +COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, SCHOOLMASTER AND +PARISH-CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official description +prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the sedate and reflecting +part of mankind, to whom only I would be understood to address myself, +such attention as is due to the sedulous instructor of youth, and the +careful performer of my Sabbath duties, I will forbear to hold up +a candle to the daylight, or to point out to the judicious those +recommendations of my labours which they must necessarily anticipate +from the perusal of the title-page. Nevertheless, I am not unaware, +that, as Envy always dogs Merit at the heels, there may be those who +will whisper, that albeit my learning and good principles cannot +(lauded be the heavens) be denied by any one, yet that my situation at +Gandercleugh hath been more favourable to my acquisitions in learning +than to the enlargement of my views of the ways and works of the present +generation. To the which objection, if, peradventure, any such shall be +started, my answer shall be threefold: + +First, Gandercleugh is, as it were, the central part--the navel (SI +FAS SIT DICERE) of this our native realm of Scotland; so that men, from +every corner thereof, when travelling on their concernments of business, +either towards our metropolis of law, by which I mean Edinburgh, or +towards our metropolis and mart of gain, whereby I insinuate Glasgow, +are frequently led to make Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place of +rest for the night. And it must be acknowledged by the most sceptical, +that I, who have sat in the leathern armchair, on the left-hand side of +the fire, in the common room of the Wallace Inn, winter and summer, +for every evening in my life, during forty years bypast (the Christian +Sabbaths only excepted), must have seen more of the manners and customs +of various tribes and people, than if I had sought them out by my +own painful travel and bodily labour. Even so doth the tollman at the +well-frequented turn-pike on the Wellbraehead, sitting at his ease in +his own dwelling, gather more receipt of custom, than if, moving forth +upon the road, he were to require a contribution from each person whom +he chanced to meet in his journey, when, according to the vulgar adage, +he might possibly be greeted with more kicks than halfpence. + +But, secondly, supposing it again urged, that Ithacus, the most wise of +the Greeks, acquired his renown, as the Roman poet hath assured us, by +visiting states and men, I reply to the Zoilus who shall adhere to this +objection, that, DE FACTO, I have seen states and men also; for I have +visited the famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the former twice, +and the latter three times, in the course of my earthly pilgrimage. And, +moreover, I had the honour to sit in the General Assembly (meaning, as +an auditor, in the galleries thereof), and have heard as much goodly +speaking on the law of patronage, as, with the fructification thereof +in mine own understanding, hath made me be considered as an oracle upon +that doctrine ever since my safe and happy return to Gandercleugh. + +Again--and thirdly, If it be nevertheless pretended that my information +and knowledge of mankind, however extensive, and however painfully +acquired, by constant domestic enquiry, and by foreign travel, is, +natheless, incompetent to the task of recording the pleasant narratives +of my Landlord, I will let these critics know, to their own eternal +shame and confusion as well as to the abashment and discomfiture of all +who shall rashly take up a song against me, that I am NOT the writer, +redacter, or compiler, of the Tales of my Landlord; nor am I, in one +single iota, answerable for their contents, more or less. And now, ye +generation of critics, who raise yourselves up as if it were brazen +serpents, to hiss with your tongues, and to smite with your stings, bow +yourselves down to your native dust, and acknowledge that yours have +been the thoughts of ignorance, and the words of vain foolishness. Lo! +ye are caught in your own snare, and your own pit hath yawned for you. +Turn, then, aside from the task that is too heavy for you; destroy +not your teeth by gnawing a file; waste not your strength by spurning +against a castle wall; nor spend your breath in contending in swiftness +with a fleet steed; and let those weigh the Tales of my Landlord, who +shall bring with them the scales of candour cleansed from the rust of +prejudice by the hands of intelligent modesty. For these alone they were +compiled, as will appear from a brief narrative which my zeal for truth +compelled me to make supplementary to the present Proem. + +It is well known that my Landlord was a pleasing and a facetious man, +acceptable unto all the parish of Gandercleugh, excepting only the +Laird, the Exciseman, and those for whom he refused to draw liquor upon +trust. Their causes of dislike I will touch separately, adding my own +refutation thereof. + +His honour, the Laird, accused our Landlord, deceased, of having +encouraged, in various times and places, the destruction of hares, +rabbits, fowls black and grey, partridges, moor-pouts, roe-deer, and +other birds and quadrupeds, at unlawful seasons, and contrary to the +laws of this realm, which have secured, in their wisdom, the slaughter +of such animals for the great of the earth, whom I have remarked to take +an uncommon (though to me, an unintelligible) pleasure therein. Now, in +humble deference to his honour, and in justifiable defence of my friend +deceased, I reply to this charge, that howsoever the form of such +animals might appear to be similar to those so protected by the law, yet +it was a mere DECEPTIO VISUS; for what resembled hares were, in fact, +HILL-KIDS, and those partaking of the appearance of moor-fowl, were +truly WOOD PIGEONS and consumed and eaten EO NOMINE, and not otherwise. + +Again, the Exciseman pretended, that my deceased Landlord did encourage +that species of manufacture called distillation, without having an +especial permission from the Great, technically called a license, for +doing so. Now, I stand up to confront this falsehood; and in defiance +of him, his gauging-stick, and pen and inkhorn, I tell him, that I +never saw, or tasted, a glass of unlawful aqua vitae in the house of +my Landlord; nay, that, on the contrary, we needed not such devices, in +respect of a pleasing and somewhat seductive liquor, which was vended +and consumed at the Wallace Inn, under the name of MOUNTAIN DEW. If +there is a penalty against manufacturing such a liquor, let him show me +the statute; and when he does, I'll tell him if I will obey it or no. + +Concerning those who came to my Landlord for liquor, and went thirsty +away, for lack of present coin, or future credit, I cannot but say it +has grieved my bowels as if the case had been mine own. Nevertheless, my +Landlord considered the necessities of a thirsty soul, and would permit +them, in extreme need, and when their soul was impoverished for lack +of moisture, to drink to the full value of their watches and wearing +apparel, exclusively of their inferior habiliments, which he was +uniformly inexorable in obliging them to retain, for the credit of the +house. As to mine own part, I may well say, that he never refused me +that modicum of refreshment with which I am wont to recruit nature after +the fatigues of my school. It is true, I taught his five sons English +and Latin, writing, book-keeping, with a tincture of mathematics, and +that I instructed his daughter in psalmody. Nor do I remember me of +any fee or HONORARIUM received from him on account of these my labours, +except the compotations aforesaid. Nevertheless this compensation suited +my humour well, since it is a hard sentence to bid a dry throat wait +till quarter-day. + +But, truly, were I to speak my simple conceit and belief, I think my +Landlord was chiefly moved to waive in my behalf the usual requisition +of a symbol, or reckoning, from the pleasure he was wont to take in my +conversation, which, though solid and edifying in the main, was, like +a well-built palace, decorated with facetious narratives and devices, +tending much to the enhancement and ornament thereof. And so pleased was +my Landlord of the Wallace in his replies during such colloquies, that +there was no district in Scotland, yea, and no peculiar, and, as it +were, distinctive custom therein practised, but was discussed betwixt +us; insomuch, that those who stood by were wont to say, it was worth +a bottle of ale to hear us communicate with each other. And not a few +travellers, from distant parts, as well as from the remote districts of +our kingdom, were wont to mingle in the conversation, and to tell news +that had been gathered in foreign lands, or preserved from oblivion in +this our own. + +Now I chanced to have contracted for teaching the lower classes with a +young person called Peter, or Patrick, Pattieson, who had been educated +for our Holy Kirk, yea, had, by the license of presbytery, his voice +opened therein as a preacher, who delighted in the collection of olden +tales and legends, and in garnishing them with the flowers of poesy, +whereof he was a vain and frivolous professor. For he followed not the +example of those strong poets whom I proposed to him as a pattern, but +formed versification of a flimsy and modern texture, to the compounding +whereof was necessary small pains and less thought. And hence I have +chid him as being one of those who bring forward the fatal revolution +prophesied by Mr. Robert Carey, in his Vaticination on the Death of the +celebrated Dr. John Donne: + + Now thou art gone, and thy strict laws will be + Too hard for libertines in poetry; + Till verse (by thee refined) in this last age + Turn ballad rhyme. + +I had also disputations with him touching his indulging rather a +flowing and redundant than a concise and stately diction in his prose +exercitations. But notwithstanding these symptoms of inferior taste, +and a humour of contradicting his betters upon passages of dubious +construction in Latin authors, I did grievously lament when Peter +Pattieson was removed from me by death, even as if he had been the +offspring of my own loins. And in respect his papers had been left in +my care (to answer funeral and death-bed expenses), I conceived myself +entitled to dispose of one parcel thereof, entitled, "Tales of my +Landlord," to one cunning in the trade (as it is called) of bookselling. +He was a mirthful man, of small stature, cunning in counterfeiting of +voices, and in making facetious tales and responses, and whom I have to +laud for the truth of his dealings towards me. + +Now, therefore, the world may see the injustice that charges me with +incapacity to write these narratives, seeing, that though I have proved +that I could have written them if I would, yet, not having done so, +the censure will deservedly fall, if at all due, upon the memory of Mr. +Peter Pattieson; whereas I must be justly entitled to the praise, +when any is due, seeing that, as the Dean of St. Patrick's wittily and +logically expresseth it, + + That without which a thing is not, + Is CAUSA SINE QUA NON. + +The work, therefore, is unto me as a child is to a parent; in the which +child, if it proveth worthy, the parent hath honour and praise; but, if +otherwise, the disgrace will deservedly attach to itself alone. + +I have only further to intimate, that Mr. Peter Pattieson, in arranging +these Tales for the press, hath more consulted his own fancy than the +accuracy of the narrative; nay, that he hath sometimes blended two +or three stories together for the mere grace of his plots. Of which +infidelity, although I disapprove and enter my testimony against it, yet +I have not taken upon me to correct the same, in respect it was the will +of the deceased, that his manuscript should be submitted to the press +without diminution or alteration. A fanciful nicety it was on the part +of my deceased friend, who, if thinking wisely, ought rather to have +conjured me, by all the tender ties of our friendship and common +pursuits, to have carefully revised, altered, and augmented, at my +judgment and discretion. But the will of the dead must be scrupulously +obeyed, even when we weep over their pertinacity and self-delusion. So, +gentle reader, I bid you farewell, recommending you to such fare as the +mountains of your own country produce; and I will only farther premise, +that each Tale is preceded by a short introduction, mentioning the +persons by whom, and the circumstances under which, the materials +thereof were collected. + +JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM. + + + + +II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. + +The ideal being who is here presented as residing in solitude, and +haunted by a consciousness of his own deformity, and a suspicion of +his being generally subjected to the scorn of his fellow-men, is not +altogether imaginary. An individual existed many years since, under +the author's observation, which suggested such a character. This poor +unfortunate man's name was David Ritchie, a native of Tweeddale. He was +the son of a labourer in the slate-quarries of Stobo, and must have +been born in the misshapen form which he exhibited, though he sometimes +imputed it to ill-usage when in infancy. He was bred a brush-maker at +Edinburgh, and had wandered to several places, working at his trade, +from all which he was chased by the disagreeable attention which his +hideous singularity of form and face attracted wherever he came. The +author understood him to say he had even been in Dublin. + +Tired at length of being the object of shouts, laughter, and derision, +David Ritchie resolved, like a deer hunted from the herd, to retreat to +some wilderness, where he might have the least possible communication +with the world which scoffed at him. He settled himself, with this view, +upon a patch of wild moorland at the bottom of a bank on the farm +of Woodhouse, in the sequestered vale of the small river Manor, in +Peeblesshire. The few people who had occasion to pass that way were much +surprised, and some superstitious persons a little alarmed, to see so +strange a figure as Bow'd Davie (i.e. Crooked David) employed in a task, +for which he seemed so totally unfit, as that of erecting a house. The +cottage which he built was extremely small, but the walls, as well as +those of a little garden that surrounded it, were constructed with an +ambitious degree of solidity, being composed of layers of large stones +and turf; and some of the corner stones were so weighty, as to puzzle +the spectators how such a person as the architect could possibly have +raised them. In fact, David received from passengers, or those who came +attracted by curiosity, a good deal of assistance; and as no one knew +how much aid had been given by others, the wonder of each individual +remained undiminished. + +The proprietor of the ground, the late Sir James Naesmith, baronet, +chanced to pass this singular dwelling, which, having been placed there +without right or leave asked or given, formed an exact parallel with +Falstaff's simile of a "fair house built on another's ground;" so that +poor David might have lost his edifice by mistaking the property where +he had erected it. Of course, the proprietor entertained no idea +of exacting such a forfeiture, but readily sanctioned the harmless +encroachment. + +The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane-Moor has been +generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of +David of Manor Water. He was not quite three feet and a half high, since +he could stand upright in the door of his mansion, which was just that +height. The following particulars concerning his figure and temper occur +in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for 1817, and are now understood to have been +communicated by the ingenious Mr. Robert Chambers of Edinburgh, who has +recorded with much spirit the traditions of the Good Town, and, in other +publications, largely and agreeably added to the stock of our popular +antiquities. He is the countryman of David Ritchie, and had the best +access to collect anecdotes of him. + +"His skull," says this authority, "which was of an oblong and rather +unusual shape, was said to be of such strength, that he could strike it +with ease through the panel of a door, or the end of a barrel. His laugh +is said to have been quite horrible; and his screech-owl voice, shrill, +uncouth, and dissonant, corresponded well with his other peculiarities. + +"There was nothing very uncommon about his dress. He usually wore an old +slouched hat when he went abroad; and when at home, a sort of cowl +or night-cap. He never wore shoes, being unable to adapt them to +his mis-shapen finlike feet, but always had both feet and legs quite +concealed, and wrapt up with pieces of cloth. He always walked with a +sort of pole or pike-staff, considerably taller than himself. His habits +were, in many respects, singular, and indicated a mind congenial to its +uncouth tabernacle. A jealous, misanthropical, and irritable temper, +was his prominent characteristic. The sense of his deformity haunted him +like a phantom. And the insults and scorn to which this exposed him, had +poisoned his heart with fierce and bitter feelings, which, from other +points in his character, do not appear to have been more largely infused +into his original temperament than that of his fellow-men. + +"He detested children, on account of their propensity to insult and +persecute him. To strangers he was generally reserved, crabbed, and +surly; and though he by no means refused assistance or charity, he +seldom either expressed or exhibited much gratitude. Even towards +persons who had been his greatest benefactors, and who possessed the +greatest share of his good-will, he frequently displayed much caprice +and jealousy. A lady who had known him from his infancy, and who +has furnished us in the most obliging manner with some particulars +respecting him, says, that although Davie showed as much respect and +attachment to her father's family, as it was in his nature to show +to any, yet they were always obliged to be very cautious in their +deportment towards him. One day, having gone to visit him with another +lady, he took them through his garden, and was showing them, with much +pride and good-humour, all his rich and tastefully assorted borders, +when they happened to stop near a plot of cabbages which had been +somewhat injured by the caterpillars. Davie, observing one of the ladies +smile, instantly assumed his savage, scowling aspect, rushed among the +cabbages, and dashed them to pieces with his KENT, exclaiming, 'I hate +the worms, for they mock me!' + +"Another lady, likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his, very +unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion. +Throwing back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden, +he fancied he observed her spit, and exclaimed, with great ferocity, 'Am +I a toad, woman! that ye spit at me--that ye spit at me?' and without +listening to any answer or excuse, drove her out of his garden +with imprecations and insult. When irritated by persons for whom he +entertained little respect, his misanthropy displayed itself in words, +and sometimes in actions, of still greater rudeness; and he used on +such occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and +threats." [SCOTS MAGAZINE, vol. lxxx. p.207.] + +Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works; +and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate, which does not +possess some source of gratification peculiar to itself, This poor +man, whose misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural +deformity, had yet his own particular enjoyments. Driven into solitude, +he became an admirer of the beauties of nature. His garden, which he +sedulously cultivated, and from a piece of wild moorland made a very +productive spot, was his pride and his delight; but he was also an +admirer of more natural beauty: the soft sweep of the green hill, the +bubbling of a clear fountain, or the complexities of a wild thicket, +were scenes on which he often gazed for hours, and, as he said, with +inexpressible delight. It was perhaps for this reason that he was fond +of Shenstone's pastorals, and some parts of PARADISE LOST. The author +has heard his most unmusical voice repeat the celebrated description of +Paradise, which he seemed fully to appreciate. His other studies were of +a different cast, chiefly polemical. He never went to the parish church, +and was therefore suspected of entertaining heterodox opinions, though +his objection was probably to the concourse of spectators, to whom he +must have exposed his unseemly deformity. He spoke of a future state +with intense feeling, and even with tears. He expressed disgust at the +idea, of his remains being mixed with the common rubbish, as he called +it, of the churchyard, and selected with his usual taste a beautiful and +wild spot in the glen where he had his hermitage, in which to take his +last repose. He changed his mind, however, and was finally interred in +the common burial-ground of Manor parish. + +The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made +him appear, in the eyes of the vulgar, a man possessed of supernatural +power. Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment, for some +of the poor and ignorant, as well as all the children, in the +neighbourhood, held him to be what is called uncanny. He himself did not +altogether discourage the idea; it enlarged his very limited circle +of power, and in so far gratified his conceit; and it soothed his +misanthropy, by increasing his means of giving terror or pain. But even +in a rude Scottish glen thirty years back, the fear of sorcery was very +much out of date. + +David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes, especially such +as were supposed to be haunted, and valued himself upon his courage in +doing so. To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly +than himself. At heart, he was superstitious, and planted many +rowans (mountain ashes) around his hut, as a certain defence against +necromancy. For the same reason, doubtless, he desired to have +rowan-trees set above his grave. + +We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty. +His only living favourites were a dog and a cat, to which he was +particularly attached, and his bees, which he treated with great care. +He took a sister, latterly, to live in a hut adjacent to his own, but +he did not permit her to enter it. She was weak in intellect, but not +deformed in person; simple, or rather silly, but not, like her brother, +sullen or bizarre. David was never affectionate to her; it was not in +his nature; but he endured her. He maintained himself and her by the +sale of the product of their garden and bee-hives; and, latterly, +they had a small allowance from the parish. Indeed, in the simple +and patriarchal state in which the country then was, persons in the +situation of David and his sister were sure to be supported. They had +only to apply to the next gentleman or respectable farmer, and were sure +to find them equally ready and willing to supply their very moderate +wants. David often received gratuities from strangers, which he never +asked, never refused, and never seemed to consider as an obligation. He +had a right, indeed, to regard himself as one of Nature's paupers, +to whom she gave a title to be maintained by his kind, even by that +deformity which closed against him all ordinary ways of supporting +himself by his own labour. Besides, a bag was suspended in the mill for +David Ritchie's benefit; and those who were carrying home a melder of +meal, seldom failed to add a GOWPEN [Handful] to the alms-bag of the +deformed cripple. In short, David had no occasion for money, save to +purchase snuff, his only luxury, in which he indulged himself liberally. +When he died, in the beginning of the present century, he was found +to have hoarded about twenty pounds, a habit very consistent with his +disposition; for wealth is power, and power was what David Ritchie +desired to possess, as a compensation for his exclusion from human +society. + +His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which this brief +notice forms the introduction; and the author is sorry to learn that a +sort of "local sympathy," and the curiosity then expressed concerning +the Author of WAVERLEY and the subjects of his Novels, exposed the poor +woman to enquiries which gave her pain. When pressed about her brother's +peculiarities, she asked, in her turn, why they would not permit the +dead to rest? To others, who pressed for some account of her parents, +she answered in the same tone of feeling. + +The author saw this poor, and, it may be said, unhappy man, in autumn +1797 being then, as he has the happiness still to remain, connected by +ties of intimate friendship with the family of the venerable Dr. Adam +Fergusson, the philosopher and historian, who then resided at the +mansion-house of Halyards, in the vale of Manor, about a mile from +Ritchie's hermitage, the author was upon a visit at Halyards, which +lasted for several days, and was made acquainted with this singular +anchorite, whom Dr. Fergusson considered as an extraordinary character, +and whom he assisted in various ways, particularly by the occasional +loan of books. Though the taste of the philosopher and the poor peasant +did not, it may be supposed, always correspond, [I remember David was +particularly anxious to see a book, which he called, I think, LETTERS TO +ELECT LADIES, and which, he said, was the best composition he had +ever read; but Dr. Fergusson's library did not supply the volume.] Dr. +Fergusson considered him as a man of a powerful capacity and original +ideas, but whose mind was thrown off its just bias by a predominant +degree of self-love and self-opinion, galled by the sense of ridicule +and contempt, and avenging itself upon society, in idea at least, by a +gloomy misanthropy. + +David Ritchie, besides the utter obscurity of his life while in +existence, had been dead for many years, when it occurred to the author +that such a character might be made a powerful agent in fictitious +narrative. He, accordingly, sketched that of Elshie of the +Mucklestane-Moor. The story was intended to be longer, and the +catastrophe more artificially brought out; but a friendly critic, to +whose opinion I subjected the work in its progress, was of opinion, that +the idea of the Solitary was of a kind too revolting, and more likely to +disgust than to interest the reader. As I had good right to consider my +adviser as an excellent judge of public opinion, I got off my subject +by hastening the story to an end, as fast as it was possible; and, by +huddling into one volume, a tale which was designed to occupy two, have +perhaps produced a narrative as much disproportioned and distorted, as +the Black Dwarf who is its subject. + + + + +III. THE BLACK DWARF. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PRELIMINARY. + + Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT. + +It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night +before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six +inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn. The first +was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat +covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and +dreadnought overalls. He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough +in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and +a double-bitted military bridle. The man who accompanied him was +apparently his servant; he rode a shaggy little grey pony, had a blue +bonnet on his head, and a large check napkin folded about his neck, wore +a pair of long blue worsted hose instead of boots, had his gloveless +hands much stained with tar, and observed an air of deference and +respect towards his companion, but without any of those indications +of precedence and punctilio which are preserved between the gentry +and their domestics. On the contrary, the two travellers entered the +court-yard abreast, and the concluding sentence of the conversation +which had been carrying on betwixt them was a joint ejaculation, "Lord +guide us, an this weather last, what will come o' the lambs!" The hint +was sufficient for my Landlord, who, advancing to take the horse of the +principal person, and holding him by the reins as he dismounted, while +his ostler rendered the same service to the attendant, welcomed the +stranger to Gandercleugh, and, in the same breath, enquired, "What news +from the south hielands?" + +"News?" said the farmer, "bad eneugh news, I think;--an we can carry +through the yowes, it will be a' we can do; we maun e'en leave the lambs +to the Black Dwarfs care." + +"Ay, ay," subjoined the old shepherd (for such he was), shaking his +head, "he'll be unco busy amang the morts this season." + +"The Black Dwarf!" said MY LEARNED FRIEND AND PATRON, Mr. Jedediah +Cleishbotham, "and what sort of a personage may he be?" + +[We have, in this and other instances, printed in italics (CAPITALS +in this etext) some few words which the worthy editor, Mr. Jedediah +Cleishbotham, seems to have interpolated upon the text of his deceased +friend, Mr. Pattieson. We must observe, once for all, that such +liberties seem only to have been taken by the learned gentleman where +his own character and conduct are concerned; and surely he must be the +best judge of the style in which his own character and conduct should be +treated of.] + +"Hout awa, man," answered the farmer, "ye'll hae heard o' Canny Elshie +the Black Dwarf, or I am muckle mistaen--A' the warld tells tales about +him, but it's but daft nonsense after a'--I dinna believe a word o't +frae beginning to end." + +"Your father believed it unco stievely, though," said the old man, to +whom the scepticism of his master gave obvious displeasure. + +"Ay, very true, Bauldie, but that was in the time o' the +blackfaces--they believed a hantle queer things in thae days, that +naebody heeds since the lang sheep cam in." + +"The mair's the pity, the mair's the pity," said the old man. "Your +father, and sae I have aften tell'd ye, maister, wad hae been sair vexed +to hae seen the auld peel-house wa's pu'd down to make park dykes; and +the bonny broomy knowe, where he liked sae weel to sit at e'en, wi' his +plaid about him, and look at the kye as they cam down the loaning, ill +wad he hae liked to hae seen that braw sunny knowe a' riven out wi' the +pleugh in the fashion it is at this day." + +"Hout, Bauldie," replied the principal, "tak ye that dram the landlord's +offering ye, and never fash your head about the changes o' the warld, +sae lang as ye're blithe and bien yoursell." + +"Wussing your health, sirs," said the shepherd; and having taken off his +glass, and observed the whisky was the right thing, he continued, "It's +no for the like o' us to be judging, to be sure; but it was a bonny +knowe that broomy knowe, and an unco braw shelter for the lambs in a +severe morning like this." + +"Ay," said his patron, "but ye ken we maun hae turnips for the lang +sheep, billie, and muckle hard wark to get them, baith wi' the pleugh +and the howe; and that wad sort ill wi' sitting on the broomy knowe, and +cracking about Black Dwarfs, and siccan clavers, as was the gate lang +syne, when the short sheep were in the fashion." + +"Aweel, aweel, maister," said the attendant, "short sheep had short +rents, I'm thinking." + +Here my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron again interposed, and observed, "that +he could never perceive any material difference, in point of longitude, +between one sheep and another." + +This occasioned a loud hoarse laugh on the part of the farmer, and an +astonished stare on the part of the shepherd. + +"It's the woo', man,--it's the woo', and no the beasts themsells, that +makes them be ca'd lang or short. I believe if ye were to measure their +backs, the short sheep wad be rather the langer-bodied o' the twa; but +it's the woo' that pays the rent in thae days, and it had muckle need." + +"Odd, Bauldie says very true,--short sheep did make short rents--my +father paid for our steading just threescore punds, and it stands me in +three hundred, plack and bawbee.--And that's very true--I hae nae time +to be standing here clavering--Landlord, get us our breakfast, and see +an' get the yauds fed--I am for doun to Christy Wilson's, to see if him +and me can gree about the luckpenny I am to gie him for his year-aulds. +We had drank sax mutchkins to the making the bargain at St. Boswell's +fair, and some gate we canna gree upon the particulars preceesely, for +as muckle time as we took about it--I doubt we draw to a plea--But hear +ye, neighbour," addressing my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron, "if ye want to +hear onything about lang or short sheep, I will be back here to my kail +against ane o'clock; or, if ye want ony auld-warld stories about the +Black Dwarf, and sic-like, if ye'll ware a half mutchkin upon Bauldie +there, he'll crack t'ye like a pen-gun. And I'se gie ye a mutchkin +mysell, man, if I can settle weel wi' Christy Wilson." + +The farmer returned at the hour appointed, and with him came Christy +Wilson, their difference having been fortunately settled without an +appeal to the gentlemen of the long robe. My LEARNED AND WORTHY patron +failed not to attend, both on account of the refreshment promised to the +mind and to the body, ALTHOUGH HE IS KNOWN TO PARTAKE OF THE LATTER IN +A VERY MODERATE DEGREE; and the party, with which my Landlord was +associated, continued to sit late in the evening, seasoning their liquor +with many choice tales and songs. The last incident which I recollect, +was my LEARNED AND WORTHY patron falling from his chair, just as he +concluded a long lecture upon temperance, by reciting, from the "Gentle +Shepherd," a couplet, which he RIGHT HAPPILY transferred from the vice +of avarice to that of ebriety: + + He that has just eneugh may soundly sleep, + The owercome only fashes folk to keep. + +In the course of the evening the Black Dwarf had not been forgotten, +and the old shepherd, Bauldie, told so many stories of him, that they +excited a good deal of interest. It also appeared, though not till the +third punch-bowl was emptied, that much of the farmer's scepticism on +the subject was affected, as evincing a liberality of thinking, and a +freedom from ancient prejudices, becoming a man who paid three hundred +pounds a-year of rent, while, in fact, he had a lurking belief in the +traditions of his forefathers. After my usual manner, I made farther +enquiries of other persons connected with the wild and pastoral district +in which the scene of the following narrative is placed, and I was +fortunate enough to recover many links of the story, not generally +known, and which account, at least in some degree, for the circumstances +of exaggerated marvel with which superstition has attired it in the more +vulgar traditions. + +[The Black Dwarf, now almost forgotten, was once held a formidable +personage by the dalesmen of the Border, where he got the blame of +whatever mischief befell the sheep or cattle. "He was," says Dr. Leyden, +who makes considerable use of him in the ballad called the Cowt of +Keeldar, "a fairy of the most malignant order--the genuine Northern +Duergar." The best and most authentic account of this dangerous and +mysterious being occurs in a tale communicated to the author by that +eminent antiquary, Richard Surtees, Esq. of Mainsforth, author of the +HISTORY OF THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM. + +According to this well-attested legend, two young Northumbrians were +out on a shooting party, and had plunged deep among the mountainous +moorlands which border on Cumberland. They stopped for refreshment in +a little secluded dell by the side of a rivulet. There, after they had +partaken of such food as they brought with them, one of the party fell +asleep; the other, unwilling to disturb his friend's repose, stole +silently out of the dell with the purpose of looking around him, when he +was astonished to find himself close to a being who seemed not to belong +to this world, as he was the most hideous dwarf that the sun had ever +shone on. His head was of full human size, forming a frightful contrast +with his height, which was considerably under four feet. It was thatched +with no other covering than long matted red hair, like that of the felt +of a badger in consistence, and in colour a reddish brown, like the hue +of the heather-blossom. His limbs seemed of great strength; nor was he +otherwise deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness to his +diminutive height. The terrified sportsman stood gazing on this horrible +apparition, until, with an angry countenance, the being demanded by what +right he intruded himself on those hills, and destroyed their harmless +inhabitants. The perplexed stranger endeavoured to propitiate the +incensed dwarf, by offering to surrender his game, as he would to an +earthly Lord of the Manor. The proposal only redoubled the offence +already taken by the dwarf, who alleged that he was the lord of those +mountains, and the protector of the wild creatures who found a retreat +in their solitary recesses; and that all spoils derived from their +death, or misery, were abhorrent to him. The hunter humbled himself +before the angry goblin, and by protestations of his ignorance, and +of his resolution to abstain from such intrusion in future, at last +succeeded in pacifying him. The gnome now became more communicative, and +spoke of himself as belonging to a species of beings something between +the angelic race and humanity. He added, moreover, which could hardly +have been anticipated, that he had hopes of sharing in the redemption of +the race of Adam. He pressed the sportsman to visit his dwelling, which +he said was hard by, and plighted his faith for his safe return. But at +this moment, the shout of the sportsman's companion was heard calling +for his friend, and the dwarf, as if unwilling that more than one +person should be cognisant of his presence, disappeared as the young man +emerged from the dell to join his comrade. + +It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such +matters, that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit, he would, +notwithstanding the dwarf's fair pretences, have been either torn to +pieces, or immured for years in the recesses of some fairy hill. + +Such is the last and most authentic account of the apparition of the +Black Dwarf.] + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Will none but Hearne the Hunter serve your turn? + --MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. + +In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland, where an +ideal line, drawn along the tops of lofty and bleak mountains, separates +that land from her sister kingdom, a young man, called Halbert, or +Hobbie Elliot, a substantial farmer, who boasted his descent from old +Martin Elliot of the Preakin-tower, noted in Border story and song, was +on his return from deer-stalking. The deer, once so numerous among these +solitary wastes, were now reduced to a very few herds, which, sheltering +themselves in the most remote and inaccessible recesses, rendered the +task of pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious. There were, +however, found many youth of the country ardently attached to this +sport, with all its dangers and fatigues. The sword had been sheathed +upon the Borders for more than a hundred years, by the peaceful union of +the crowns in the reign of James the First of Great Britain. Still +the country retained traces of what it had been in former days; the +inhabitants, their more peaceful avocations having been repeatedly +interrupted by the civil wars of the preceding century, were scarce yet +broken in to the habits of regular industry, sheep-farming had not been +introduced upon any considerable scale, and the feeding of black cattle +was the chief purpose to which the hills and valleys were applied. Near +to the farmer's house, the tenant usually contrived to raise such a crop +of oats or barley, as afforded meal for his family; and the whole of +this slovenly and imperfect mode of cultivation left much time upon his +own hands, and those of his domestics. This was usually employed by the +young men in hunting and fishing; and the spirit of adventure, which +formerly led to raids and forays in the same districts, was still to be +discovered in the eagerness with which they pursued those rural sports. + +The more high-spirited among the youth were, about the time that our +narrative begins, expecting, rather with hope than apprehension, an +opportunity of emulating their fathers in their military achievements, +the recital of which formed the chief part of their amusement within +doors. The passing of the Scottish act of security had given the alarm +of England, as it seemed to point at a separation of the two British +kingdoms, after the decease of Queen Anne, the reigning sovereign. +Godolphin, then at the head of the English administration, foresaw that +there was no other mode of avoiding the probable extremity of a civil +war, but by carrying through an incorporating union. How that treaty +was managed, and how little it seemed for some time to promise the +beneficial results which have since taken place to such extent, may be +learned from the history of the period. It is enough for our purpose +to say, that all Scotland was indignant at the terms on which their +legislature had surrendered their national independence. The general +resentment led to the strangest leagues and to the wildest plans. The +Cameronians were about to take arms for the restoration of the house of +Stewart, whom they regarded, with justice, as their oppressors; and +the intrigues of the period presented the strange picture of papists, +prelatists, and presbyterians, caballing among themselves against the +English government, out of a common feeling that their country had been +treated with injustice. The fermentation was universal; and, as the +population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms, under the act +of security, they were not indifferently prepared for war, and waited +but the declaration of some of the nobility to break out into open +hostility. It was at this period of public confusion that our story +opens. + +The cleugh, or wild ravine, into which Hobbie Elliot had followed the +game, was already far behind him, and he was considerably advanced on +his return homeward, when the night began to close upon him. This +would have been a circumstance of great indifference to the experienced +sportsman, who could have walked blindfold over every inch of his +native heaths, had it not happened near a spot, which, according to +the traditions of the country, was in extremely bad fame, as haunted +by supernatural appearances. To tales of this kind Hobbie had, from his +childhood, lent an attentive ear; and as no part of the country afforded +such a variety of legends, so no man was more deeply read in their +fearful lore than Hobbie of the Heugh-foot; for so our gallant was +called, to distinguish him from a round dozen of Elliots who bore the +same Christian name. It cost him no efforts, therefore, to call to +memory the terrific incidents connected with the extensive waste upon +which he was now entering. In fact, they presented themselves with a +readiness which he felt to be somewhat dismaying. + +This dreary common was called Mucklestane-Moor, from a huge column of +unhewn granite, which raised its massy head on a knell near the centre +of the heath, perhaps to tell of the mighty dead who slept beneath, or +to preserve the memory of some bloody skirmish. The real cause of +its existence had, however, passed away; and tradition, which is as +frequently an inventor of fiction as a preserver of truth, had supplied +its place with a supplementary legend of her own, which now came full +upon Hobbie's memory. The ground about the pillar was strewed, or rather +encumbered, with many large fragments of stone of the same consistence +with the column, which, from their appearance as they lay scattered on +the waste, were popularly called the Grey Geese of Mucklestane-Moor. The +legend accounted for this name and appearance by the catastrophe of a +noted and most formidable witch who frequented these hills in former +days, causing the ewes to KEB, and the kine to cast their calves, and +performing all the feats of mischief ascribed to these evil beings. On +this moor she used to hold her revels with her sister hags; and rings +were still pointed out on which no grass nor heath ever grew, the turf +being, as it were, calcined by the scorching hoofs of their diabolical +partners. + +Once upon a time this old hag is said to have crossed the moor, driving +before her a flock of geese, which she proposed to sell to advantage +at a neighbouring fair;--for it is well known that the fiend, however +liberal in imparting his powers of doing mischief, ungenerously leaves +his allies under the necessity of performing the meanest rustic labours +for subsistence. The day was far advanced, and her chance of obtaining +a good price depended on her being first at the market. But the geese, +which had hitherto preceded her in a pretty orderly manner, when they +came to this wide common, interspersed with marshes and pools of water, +scattered in every direction, to plunge into the element in which they +delighted. Incensed at the obstinacy with which they defied all her +efforts to collect them, and not remembering the precise terms of the +contract by which the fiend was bound to obey her commands for a certain +space, the sorceress exclaimed, "Deevil, that neither I nor they ever +stir from this spot more!" The words were hardly uttered, when, by a +metamorphosis as sudden as any in Ovid, the hag and her refractory flock +were converted into stone, the angel whom she served, being a strict +formalist, grasping eagerly at an opportunity of completing the ruin of +her body and soul by a literal obedience to her orders. It is said, that +when she perceived and felt the transformation which was about to take +place, she exclaimed to the treacherous fiend, "Ah, thou false thief! +lang hast thou promised me a grey gown, and now I am getting ane that +will last for ever." The dimensions of the pillar, and of the stones, +were often appealed to, as a proof of the superior stature and size of +old women and geese in the days of other years, by those praisers of +the past who held the comfortable opinion of the gradual degeneracy of +mankind. + +All particulars of this legend Hobbie called to mind as he passed along +the moor. He also remembered, that, since the catastrophe had taken +place, the scene of it had been avoided, at least after night-fall, by +all human beings, as being the ordinary resort of kelpies, spunkies, and +other demons, once the companions of the witch's diabolical revels, +and now continuing to rendezvous upon the same spot, as if still in +attendance on their transformed mistress. Hobbie's natural hardihood, +however, manfully combated with these intrusive sensations of awe. +He summoned to his side the brace of large greyhounds, who were the +companions of his sports, and who were wont, in his own phrase, to fear +neither dog nor devil; he looked at the priming of his piece, and, like +the clown in Hallowe'en, whistled up the warlike ditty of Jock of the +Side, as a general causes his drums be beat to inspirit the doubtful +courage of his soldiers. + +In this state of mind, he was very glad to hear a friendly voice shout +in his rear, and propose to him a partner on the road. He slackened his +pace, and was quickly joined by a youth well known to him, a gentleman +of some fortune in that remote country, and who had been abroad on the +same errand with himself. Young Earnscliff, "of that ilk," had +lately come of age, and succeeded to a moderate fortune, a good deal +dilapidated, from the share his family had taken in the disturbances +of the period. They were much and generally respected in the country; +a reputation which this young gentleman seemed likely to sustain, as he +was well educated, and of excellent dispositions. + +"Now, Earnscliff;" exclaimed Hobbie, "I am glad to meet your honour +ony gate, and company's blithe on a bare moor like this--it's an unco +bogilly bit--Where hae ye been sporting?" + +"Up the Carla Cleugh, Hobbie," answered Earnscliff, returning his +greeting. "But will our dogs keep the peace, think you?" + +"Deil a fear o' mine," said Hobbie, "they hae scarce a leg to stand +on.--Odd! the deer's fled the country, I think! I have been as far +as Inger-fell-foot, and deil a horn has Hobbie seen, excepting three +red-wud raes, that never let me within shot of them, though I gaed +a mile round to get up the wind to them, an' a'. Deil o' me wad care +muckle, only I wanted some venison to our auld gude-dame. The carline, +she sits in the neuk yonder, upbye, and cracks about the grand shooters +and hunters lang syne--Odd, I think they hae killed a' the deer in the +country, for my part." + +"Well, Hobbie, I have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliff this +morning--you shall have half of him for your grandmother." + +"Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, ye're kend to a' the country for a kind +heart. It will do the auld wife's heart gude--mair by token, when she +kens it comes frae you--and maist of a' gin ye'll come up and take your +share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now in the auld tower, and a' your +folk at that weary Edinburgh. I wonder what they can find to do amang +a wheen ranks o' stane-houses wi' slate on the tap o' them, that might +live on their ain bonny green hills." + +"My education and my sisters' has kept my mother much in Edinburgh for +several years," said Earnscliff; "but I promise you I propose to make up +for lost time." + +"And ye'll rig out the auld tower a bit," said Hobbie, "and live +hearty and neighbour-like wi' the auld family friends, as the Laird o' +Earnscliff should? I can tell ye, my mother--my grandmother I mean--but, +since we lost our ain mother, we ca' her sometimes the tane, and +sometimes the tother--but, ony gate, she conceits hersell no that +distant connected wi' you." + +"Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinner +to-morrow with all my heart." + +"Weel, that's kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we were nae +kin--and my gude-dame's fain to see you--she clavers about your father +that was killed lang syne." + +"Hush, hush, Hobbie--not a word about that--it's a story better +forgotten." + +"I dinna ken--if it had chanced amang our folk, we wad hae keepit it in +mind mony a day till we got some mends for't--but ye ken your ain ways +best, you lairds--I have heard say that Ellieslaw's friend stickit your +sire after the laird himsell had mastered his sword." + +"Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine and +politics--many swords were drawn--it is impossible to say who struck the +blow." + +"At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I am sure if +ye were sae disposed as to take amends on him, naebody could say it was +wrang, for your father's blood is beneath his nails--and besides there's +naebody else left that was concerned to take amends upon, and he's a +prelatist and a jacobite into the bargain--I can tell ye the country +folk look for something atween ye." + +"O for shame, Hobbie!" replied the young Laird; "you, that profess +religion, to stir your friend up to break the law, and take vengeance +at his own hand, and in such a bogilly bit too, where we know not what +beings may be listening to us!" + +"Hush, hush!" said Hobbie, drawing nearer to his companion, "I was nae +thinking o' the like o' them--But I can guess a wee bit what keeps your +hand up, Mr. Patrick; we a' ken it's no lack o' courage, but the twa +grey een of a bonny lass, Miss Isabel Vere, that keeps you sae sober." + +"I assure you, Hobbie," said his companion, rather angrily, "I assure +you you are mistaken; and it is extremely wrong of you, either to think +of, or to utter, such an idea; I have no idea of permitting freedoms to +be carried so far as to connect my name with that of any young lady." + +"Why, there now--there now!" retorted Elliot; "did I not say it was nae +want o' spunk that made ye sae mim?--Weel, weel, I meant nae offence; +but there's just ae thing ye may notice frae a friend. The auld Laird +of Ellieslaw has the auld riding blood far hetter at his heart than ye +hae--troth, he kens naething about thae newfangled notions o' peace and +quietness--he's a' for the auld-warld doings o' lifting and laying on, +and he has a wheen stout lads at his back too, and keeps them weel up in +heart, and as fu' o' mischief as young colts. Where he gets the gear to +do't nane can say; he lives high, and far abune his rents here; however, +he pays his way--Sae, if there's ony out-break in the country, he's +likely to break out wi' the first--and weel does he mind the auld +quarrels between ye, I'm surmizing he'll be for a touch at the auld +tower at Earnscliff." + +"Well, Hobbie," answered the young gentleman, "if he should be so ill +advised, I shall try to make the old tower good against him, as it has +been made good by my betters against his betters many a day ago." + +"Very right--very right--that's speaking like a man now," said the stout +yeoman; "and, if sae should be that this be sae, if ye'll just gar your +servant jow out the great bell in the tower, there's me, and my twa +brothers, and little Davie of the Stenhouse, will be wi' you, wi' a' the +power we can make, in the snapping of a flint." + +"Many thanks, Hobbie," answered Earnscliff; "but I hope we shall have no +war of so unnatural and unchristian a kind in our time." + +"Hout, sir, hout," replied Elliot; "it wad be but a wee bit neighbour +war, and Heaven and earth would make allowances for it in this +uncultivated place--it's just the nature o' the folk and the land--we +canna live quiet like Loudon folk--we haena sae muckle to do. It's +impossible." + +"Well, Hobbie," said the Laird, "for one who believes so deeply as you +do in supernatural appearances, I must own you take Heaven in your own +hand rather audaciously, considering where we are walking." + +"What needs I care for the Mucklestane-Moor ony mair than ye do +yoursell, Earnscliff?" said Hobbie, something offended; "to be sure, +they do say there's a sort o' worricows and lang-nebbit things about the +land, but what need I care for them? I hae a good conscience, and little +to answer for, unless it be about a rant amang the lasses, or a splore +at a fair, and that's no muckle to speak of. Though I say it mysell, I +am as quiet a lad and as peaceable--" + +"And Dick Turnbull's head that you broke, and Willie of Winton whom you +shot at?" said his travelling companion. + +"Hout, Earnscliff, ye keep a record of a' men's misdoings--Dick's head's +healed again, and we're to fight out the quarrel at Jeddart, on the +Rood-day, so that's like a thing settled in a peaceable way; and then I +am friends wi' Willie again, puir chield--it was but twa or three hail +draps after a'. I wad let onybody do the like o't to me for a pint o' +brandy. But Willie's lowland bred, poor fallow, and soon frighted for +himsell--And, for the worricows, were we to meet ane on this very bit--" + +"As is not unlikely," said young Earnscliff, "for there stands your old +witch, Hobbie." + +"I say," continued Elliot, as if indignant at this hint--"I say, if the +auld carline hersell was to get up out o' the grund just before us here, +I would think nae mair--But, gude preserve us, Earnscliff; what can yon, +be!" + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Brown Dwarf, that o'er the moorland strays, + Thy name to Keeldar tell! + "The Brown Man of the Moor, that stays + Beneath the heather-bell."--JOHN LEYDEN + +The object which alarmed the young farmer in the middle of his valorous +protestations, startled for a moment even his less prejudiced companion. +The moon, which had arisen during their conversation, was, in the phrase +of that country, wading or struggling with clouds, and shed only a +doubtful and occasional light. By one of her beams, which streamed upon +the great granite column to which they now approached, they discovered +a form, apparently human, but of a size much less than ordinary, which +moved slowly among the large grey stones, not like a person intending +to journey onward, but with the slow, irregular, flitting movement of a +being who hovers around some spot of melancholy recollection, uttering +also, from time to time, a sort of indistinct muttering sound. This so +much resembled his idea of the motions of an apparition, that Hobbie +Elliot, making a dead pause, while his hair erected itself upon his +scalp, whispered to his companion, "It's Auld Ailie hersell! Shall I gie +her a shot, in the name of God?" + +"For Heaven's sake, no," said his companion, holding down the weapon +which he was about to raise to the aim--"for Heaven's sake, no; it's +some poor distracted creature." + +"Ye're distracted yoursell, for thinking of going so near to her," said +Elliot, holding his companion in his turn, as he prepared to advance. +"We'll aye hae time to pit ower a bit prayer (an I could but mind ane) +afore she comes this length--God! she's in nae hurry," continued he, +growing bolder from his companion's confidence, and the little notice +the apparition seemed to take of them. "She hirples like a hen on a het +girdle. I redd ye, Earnscliff" (this he added in a gentle whisper), "let +us take a cast about, as if to draw the wind on a buck--the bog is no +abune knee-deep, and better a saft road as bad company." [The Scots use +the epithet soft, IN MALAM PARTEM, in two cases, at least. A SOFT road +is a road through quagmire and bogs; and SOFT weather signifies that +which is very rainy.] + +Earnscliff, however, in spite of his companion's resistance and +remonstrances, continued to advance on the path they had originally +pursued, and soon confronted the object of their investigation. + +The height of the figure, which appeared even to decrease as they +approached it, seemed to be under four feet, and its form, as far as the +imperfect light afforded them the means of discerning, was very nearly +as broad as long, or rather of a spherical shape, which could only +be occasioned by some strange personal deformity. The young sportsman +hailed this extraordinary appearance twice, without receiving any +answer, or attending to the pinches by which his companion endeavoured +to intimate that their best course was to walk on, without giving +farther disturbance to a being of such singular and preternatural +exterior. To the third repeated demand of "Who are you? What do you here +at this hour of night?"--a voice replied, whose shrill, uncouth, and +dissonant tones made Elliot step two paces back, and startled even his +companion, "Pass on your way, and ask nought at them that ask nought at +you." + +"What do you do here so far from shelter? Are you benighted on your +journey? Will you follow us home ('God forbid!' ejaculated Hobbie +Elliot, involuntarily), and I will give you a lodging?" + +"I would sooner lodge by mysell in the deepest of the Tarras-flow," +again whispered Hobbie. + +"Pass on your way," rejoined the figure, the harsh tones of his voice +still more exalted by passion. "I want not your guidance--I want not +your lodging--it is five years since my head was under a human roof, and +I trust it was for the last time." + +"He is mad," said Earnscliff. + +"He has a look of auld Humphrey Ettercap, the tinkler, that perished +in this very moss about five years syne," answered his superstitious +companion; "but Humphrey wasna that awfu' big in the bouk." + +"Pass on your way," reiterated the object of their curiosity, "the +breath of your human bodies poisons the air around me--the sound of pour +human voices goes through my ears like sharp bodkins." + +"Lord safe us!" whispered Hobbie, "that the dead should bear sie fearfu' +ill-will to the living!--his saul maun be in a puir way, I'm jealous." + +"Come, my friend," said Earnscliff, "you seem to suffer under some +strong affliction; common humanity will not allow us to leave you here." + +"Common humanity!" exclaimed the being, with a scornful laugh that +sounded like a shriek, "where got ye that catch-word--that noose for +woodcocks--that common disguise for man-traps--that bait which the +wretched idiot who swallows, will soon find covers a hook with barbs ten +times sharper than those you lay for the animals which you murder for +your luxury!" + +"I tell you, my friend," again replied Earnscliff, "you are incapable of +judging of your own situation--you will perish in this wilderness, and +we must, in compassion, force you along with us." + +"I'll hae neither hand nor foot in't," said Hobbie; "let the ghaist take +his ain way, for God's sake!" + +"My blood be on my own head, if I perish here," said the figure; and, +observing Earnscliff meditating to lay hold on him, he added, "And +your blood be upon yours, if you touch but the skirt of my garments, to +infect me with the taint of mortality!" + +The moon shone more brightly as he spoke thus, and Earnscliff observed +that he held out his right hand armed with some weapon of offence, which +glittered in the cold ray like the blade of a long knife, or the barrel +of a pistol. It would have been madness to persevere in his attempt upon +a being thus armed, and holding such desperate language, especially as +it was plain he would have little aid from his companion, who had fairly +left him to settle matters with the apparition as he could, and had +proceeded a few paces on his way homeward. Earnscliff, however, turned +and followed Hobbie, after looking back towards the supposed maniac, +who, as if raised to frenzy by the interview, roamed wildly around the +great stone, exhausting his voice in shrieks and imprecations, that +thrilled wildly along the waste heath. + +The two sportsmen moved on some time in silence, until they were out +of hearing of these uncouth sounds, which was not ere they had gained a +considerable distance from the pillar that gave name to the moor. Each +made his private comments on the scene they had witnessed, until Hobbie +Elliot suddenly exclaimed, "Weel, I'll uphaud that yon ghaist, if it +be a ghaist, has baith done and suffered muckle evil in the flesh, that +gars him rampauge in that way after he is dead and gane." + +"It seems to me the very madness of misanthropy," said Earnscliff; +following his own current of thought. + +"And ye didna think it was a spiritual creature, then?" asked Hobbie at +his companion. + +"Who, I?--No, surely." + +"Weel, I am partly of the mind mysell that it may be a live thing--and +yet I dinna ken, I wadna wish to see ony thing look liker a bogle." + +"At any rate," said Earnscliff, "I will ride over to-morrow and see what +has become of the unhappy being." + +"In fair daylight?" queried the yeoman; "then, grace o' God, I'se be +wi' ye. But here we are nearer to Heugh-foot than to your house by twa +mile,--hadna ye better e'en gae hame wi' me, and we'll send the callant +on the powny to tell them that you are wi' us, though I believe there's +naebody at hame to wait for you but the servants and the cat." + +"Have with you then, friend Hobbie," said the young hunter; "and as I +would not willingly have either the servants be anxious, or puss forfeit +her supper, in my absence, I'll be obliged to you to send the boy as you +propose." + +"Aweel, that IS kind, I must say. And ye'll gae hame to Heugh-foot? +They'll be right blithe to see you, that will they." + +This affair settled, they walked briskly on a little farther, when, +coming to the ridge of a pretty steep hill, Hobbie Elliot exclaimed, +"Now, Earnscliff, I am aye glad when I come to this very bit--Ye see +the light below, that's in the ha' window, where grannie, the gash auld +carline, is sitting birling at her wheel--and ye see yon other light +that's gaun whiddin' back and forrit through amang the windows? that's +my cousin, Grace Armstrong,--she's twice as clever about the house as my +sisters, and sae they say themsells, for they're good-natured lasses as +ever trode on heather; but they confess themsells, and sae does grannie, +that she has far maist action, and is the best goer about the toun, now +that grannie is off the foot hersell.--My brothers, ane o' them's away +to wait upon the chamberlain, and ane's at Moss-phadraig, that's our led +farm--he can see after the stock just as weel as I can do." + +"You are lucky, my good friend, in having so many valuable relations." + +"Troth am I--Grace make me thankful, I'se never deny it.--But will +ye tell me now, Earnscliff, you that have been at college, and the +high-school of Edinburgh, and got a' sort o' lair where it was to +be best gotten--will ye tell me--no that it's ony concern of mine in +particular,--but I heard the priest of St. John's, and our minister, +bargaining about it at the Winter fair, and troth they baith spak very +weel--Now, the priest says it's unlawful to marry ane's cousin; but I +cannot say I thought he brought out the Gospel authorities half sae weel +as our minister--our minister is thought the best divine and the best +preacher atween this and Edinburgh--Dinna ye think he was likely to be +right?" + +"Certainly marriage, by all protestant Christians, is held to be as free +as God made it by the Levitical law; so, Hobbie, there can be no bar, +legal or religious, betwixt you and Miss Armstrong." + +"Hout awa' wi' your joking, Earnscliff," replied his companion,--"ye +are angry aneugh yoursell if ane touches you a bit, man, on the sooth +side of the jest--No that I was asking the question about Grace, for ye +maun ken she's no my cousin-germain out and out, but the daughter of +my uncle's wife by her first marriage, so she's nae kith nor kin to +me--only a connexion like. But now we're at the Sheeling-hill--I'll fire +off my gun, to let them ken I'm coming, that's aye my way; and if I hae +a deer I gie them twa shots, ane for the deer and ane for mysell." + +He fired off his piece accordingly, and the number of lights were +seen to traverse the house, and even to gleam before it. Hobbie Elliot +pointed out one of these to Earnscliff, which seemed to glide from the +house towards some of the outhouses-"That's Grace hersell," said Hobbie. +"She'll no meet me at the door, I'se warrant her--but she'll be awa', +for a' that, to see if my hounds' supper be ready, poor beasts." + +"Love me, love my dog," answered Earnscliff. "Ah, Hobbie, you are a +lucky young fellow!" + +This observation was uttered with something like a sigh, which +apparently did not escape the ear of his companion. + +"Hout, other folk may be as lucky as I am--O how I have seen Miss Isabel +Vere's head turn after somebody when they passed ane another at the +Carlisle races! Wha kens but things may come round in this world?" + +Earnscliff muttered something like an answer; but whether in assent of +the proposition, or rebuking the application of it, could not easily be +discovered; and it seems probable that the speaker himself was willing +his meaning should rest in doubt and obscurity. They had now descended +the broad loaning, which, winding round the foot of the steep bank, +or heugh, brought them in front of the thatched, but comfortable, +farm-house, which was the dwelling of Hobbie Elliot and his family. + +The doorway was thronged with joyful faces; but the appearance of a +stranger blunted many a gibe which had been prepared on Hobbie's lack +of success in the deer-stalking. There was a little bustle among three +handsome young women, each endeavouring to devolve upon another the task +of ushering the stranger into the apartment, while probably all were +anxious to escape for the purpose of making some little personal +arrangements, before presenting themselves to a young gentleman in a +dishabille only intended for their brother. + +Hobbie, in the meanwhile, bestowing some hearty and general abuse upon +them all (for Grace was not of the party), snatched the candle from the +hand of one of the rustic coquettes, as she stood playing pretty with +it in her hand, and ushered his guest into the family parlour, or rather +hall; for the place having been a house of defence in former times, the +sitting apartment was a vaulted and paved room, damp and dismal enough +compared with the lodgings of the yeomanry of our days, but which, when +well lighted up with a large sparkling fire of turf and bog-wood, seemed +to Earnscliff a most comfortable exchange for the darkness and bleak +blast of the hill. Kindly and repeatedly was he welcomed by the +venerable old dame, the mistress of the family, who, dressed in her +coif and pinners, her close and decent gown of homespun wool, but with a +large gold necklace and ear-rings, looked, what she really was, the lady +as well as the farmer's wife, while, seated in her chair of wicker, by +the corner of the great chimney, she directed the evening occupations +of the young women, and of two or three stout serving wenches, who sate +plying their distaffs behind the backs of their young mistresses. + +As soon as Earnscliff had been duly welcomed, and hasty orders issued +for some addition to the evening meal, his grand-dame and sisters opened +their battery upon Hobbie Elliot for his lack of success against the +deer. + +"Jenny needna have kept up her kitchen-fire for a' that Hobbie has +brought hame," said one sister. + +"Troth no, lass," said another; "the gathering peat, if it was weel +blawn, wad dress a' our Hobbie's venison." [The gathering peat is the +piece of turf left to treasure up the secret seeds of fire, without any +generous consumption of fuel; in a word, to keep the fire alive.] + +"Ay, or the low of the candle, if the wind wad let it hide steady," said +a third; "if I were him, I would bring hame a black craw, rather than +come back three times without a buck's horn to blaw on." + +Hobbie turned from the one to the other, regarding them alternately +with a frown on his brow, the augury of which was confuted by the +good-humoured laugh on the lower part of his countenance. He then strove +to propitiate them, by mentioning the intended present of his companion. + +"In my young days," said the old lady, "a man wad hae been ashamed +to come back frae the hill without a buck hanging on each side o' his +horse, like a cadger carrying calves." + +"I wish they had left some for us then, grannie," retorted Hobbie; +"they've cleared the country o' them, thae auld friends o' yours, I'm +thinking." + +"We see other folk can find game, though you cannot, Hobbie," said the +eldest sister, glancing a look at young Earnscliff. + +"Weel, weel, woman, hasna every dog his day, begging Earnscliff's +pardon for the auld saying--Mayna I hae his luck, and he mine, another +time?--It's a braw thing for a man to be out a' day, and frighted--na, I +winna say that neither but mistrysted wi' bogles in the hame-coming, an' +then to hae to flyte wi' a wheen women that hae been doing naething a' +the live-lang day, but whirling a bit stick, wi' a thread trailing at +it, or boring at a clout." + +"Frighted wi' bogles!" exclaimed the females, one and all,--for great +was the regard then paid, and perhaps still paid, in these glens, to all +such fantasies. + +"I did not say frighted, now--I only said mis-set wi' the thing--And +there was but ae bogle, neither--Earnscliff, ye saw it; as weel as I +did?" + +And he proceeded, without very much exaggeration, to detail, in his own +way, the meeting they had with the mysterious being at Mucklestane-Moor, +concluding, he could not conjecture what on earth it could be, unless it +was either the Enemy himsell, or some of the auld Peghts that held the +country lang syne. + +"Auld Peght!" exclaimed the grand-dame; "na, na--bless thee frae scathe, +my bairn, it's been nae Peght that--it's been the Brown Man of the +Moors! O weary fa' thae evil days!--what can evil beings be coming for +to distract a poor country, now it's peacefully settled, and living in +love and law--O weary on him! he ne'er brought gude to these lands or +the indwellers. My father aften tauld me he was seen in the year o' the +bloody fight at Marston-Moor, and then again in Montrose's troubles, and +again before the rout o' Dunbar, and, in my ain time, he was seen about +the time o' Bothwell-Brigg, and they said the second-sighted Laird of +Benarbuck had a communing wi' him some time afore Argyle's landing, +but that I cannot speak to sae preceesely--it was far in the west.--O, +bairns, he's never permitted but in an ill time, sae mind ilka ane o' ye +to draw to Him that can help in the day of trouble." + +Earnscliff now interposed, and expressed his firm conviction that the +person they had seen was some poor maniac, and had no commission from +the invisible world to announce either war or evil. But his opinion +found a very cold audience, and all joined to deprecate his purpose of +returning to the spot the next day. + +"O, my bonny bairn," said the old dame (for, in the kindness of +her heart, she extended her parental style to all in whom she was +interested)---"You should beware mair than other folk--there's been a +heavy breach made in your house wi' your father's bloodshed, and wi' +law-pleas, and losses sinsyne;--and you are the flower of the flock, and +the lad that will build up the auld bigging again (if it be His will) +to be an honour to the country, and a safeguard to those that dwell +in it--you, before others, are called upon to put yoursell in no rash +adventures--for yours was aye ower venturesome a race, and muckle harm +they have got by it." + +"But I am sure, my good friend, you would not have me be afraid of going +to an open moor in broad daylight?" + +"I dinna ken," said the good old dame; "I wad never bid son or friend o' +mine haud their hand back in a gude cause, whether it were a friend's or +their ain--that should be by nae bidding of mine, or of ony body that's +come of a gentle kindred--But it winna gang out of a grey head like +mine, that to gang to seek for evil that's no fashing wi' you, is clean +against law and Scripture." + +Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of maintaining +with good effect, and the entrance of supper broke off the conversation. +Miss Grace had by this time made her appearance, and Hobbie, not without +a conscious glance at Earnscliff, placed himself by her side. Mirth +and lively conversation, in which the old lady of the house took the +good-humoured share which so well becomes old age, restored to the +cheeks of the damsels the roses which their brother's tale of the +apparition had chased away, and they danced and sung for an hour after +supper as if there were no such things as goblins in the world. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind; + For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, + That I might love thee something.--TIMON OF ATHENS + +On the following morning, after breakfast, Earnscliff took leave of +his hospitable friends, promising to return in time to partake of the +venison, which had arrived from his house. Hobbie, who apparently took +leave of him at the door of his habitation, slunk out, however, and +joined him at the top of the hill. + +"Ye'll be gaun yonder, Mr. Patrick; feind o' me will mistryst you for +a' my mother says. I thought it best to slip out quietly though, in case +she should mislippen something of what we're gaun to do--we maunna vex +her at nae rate--it was amaist the last word my father said to me on his +deathbed." + +"By no means, Hobbie," said Earnscliff; "she well merits all your +attention." + +"Troth, for that matter, she would be as sair vexed amaist for you as +for me. But d'ye really think there's nae presumption in venturing back +yonder?--We hae nae special commission, ye ken." + +"If I thought as you do, Hobbie," said the young gentleman, "I would not +perhaps enquire farther into this business; but as I am of opinion that +preternatural visitations are either ceased altogether, or become very +rare in our days, I am unwilling to leave a matter uninvestigated which +may concern the life of a poor distracted being." + +"Aweel, aweel, if ye really think that," answered Hobbie +doubtfully--"And it's for certain the very fairies--I mean the very good +neighbours themsells (for they say folk suldna ca' them fairies) that +used to be seen on every green knowe at e'en, are no half sae often +visible in our days. I canna depone to having ever seen ane mysell, but, +I ance heard ane whistle ahint me in the moss, as like a whaup [Curlew] +as ae thing could be like anither. And mony ane my father saw when he +used to come hame frae the fairs at e'en, wi' a drap drink in his head, +honest man." + +Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension of +superstition from one generation to another which was inferred In this +last observation; and they continued to reason on such subjects, until +they came in sight of the upright stone which gave name to the moor. + +"As I shall answer," says Hobbie, "yonder's the creature creeping about +yet!--But it's daylight, and you have your gun, and I brought out my bit +whinger--I think we may venture on him." + +"By all manner of means," said Earnscliff; "but, in the name of wonder, +what can he be doing there?" + +"Biggin a dry-stane dyke, I think, wi' the grey geese, as they ca' thae +great loose stanes--Odd, that passes a' thing I e'er heard tell of!" + +As they approached nearer, Earnscliff could not help agreeing with his +companion. The figure they had seen the night before seemed slowly and +toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones one upon another, as if +to form a small enclosure. Materials lay around him in great plenty, but +the labour of carrying on the work was immense, from the size of most of +the stones; and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in +moving several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his +edifice. He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the two +young men came up, and was so intent upon executing his purpose, that +he did not perceive them till they were close upon him. In straining +and heaving at the stone, in order to place it according to his wish, +he displayed a degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with +his size and apparent deformity. Indeed, to judge from the difficulties +he had already surmounted, he must have been of Herculean powers; for +some of the stones he had succeeded in raising apparently required two +men's strength to have moved them. Hobbie's suspicions began to revive, +on seeing the preternatural strength he exerted. + +"I am amaist persuaded it's the ghaist of a stane-mason--see siccan +band-statnes as he's laid i--An it be a man, after a', I wonder what +he wad take by the rood to build a march dyke. There's ane sair wanted +between Cringlehope and the Shaws.--Honest man" (raising his voice), "ye +make good firm wark there?" + +The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare, and, +getting up from his stooping posture, stood before them in all his +native and hideous deformity. His head was of uncommon size, covered +with a fell of shaggy hair, partly grizzled with age; his eyebrows, +shaggy and prominent, overhung a pair of small dark, piercing eyes, +set far back in their sockets, that rolled with a portentous wildness, +indicative of a partial insanity. The rest of his features were of the +coarse, rough-hewn stamp, with which a painter would equip a giant +in romance; to which was added the wild, irregular, and peculiar +expression, so often seen in the countenances of those whose persons are +deformed. His body, thick and square, like that of a man of middle size, +was mounted upon two large feet; but nature seemed to have forgotten the +legs and the thighs, or they were so very short as to be hidden by the +dress which he wore. His arms were long and brawny, furnished with two +muscular hands, and, where uncovered in the eagerness of his labour, +were shagged with coarse black hair. It seemed as if nature had +originally intended the separate parts of his body to be the members of +a giant, but had afterwards capriciously assigned them to the person of +a dwarf, so ill did the length of his arms and the iron strength of his +frame correspond with the shortness of his stature. His clothing was a +sort of coarse brown tunic, like a monk's frock, girt round him with a +belt of seal-skin. On his head he had a cap made of badger's skin, or +some other rough fur, which added considerably to the grotesque effect +of his whole appearance, and overshadowed features, whose habitual +expression seemed that of sullen malignant misanthropy. + +This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence, with a dogged +and irritated look, until Earnscliff, willing to soothe him into better +temper, observed, "You are hard tasked, my friend; allow us to assist +you." + +Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone, by their joint efforts, upon +the rising wall. The Dwarf watched them with the eye of a taskmaster, +and testified, by peevish gestures, his impatience at the time which +they took in adjusting the stone. He pointed to another--they raised it +also--to a third, to a fourth--they continued to humour him, though with +some trouble, for he assigned them, as if intentionally, the heaviest +fragments which lay near. + +"And now, friend," said Elliot, as the unreasonable Dwarf indicated +another stone larger than any they had moved, "Earnscliff may do as he +likes; but be ye man or be ye waur, deil be in my fingers if I break +my back wi' heaving thae stanes ony langer like a barrow-man, without +getting sae muckle as thanks for my pains." + +"Thanks!" exclaimed the Dwarf, with a motion expressive of the utmost +contempt--"There--take them, and fatten upon them! Take them, and may +they thrive with you as they have done with me--as they have done with +every mortal worm that ever heard the word spoken by his fellow reptile! +Hence--either labour or begone!" + +"This is a fine reward we have, Earnscliff, for building a tabernacle +for the devil, and prejudicing our ain souls into the bargain, for what +we ken." + +"Our presence," answered Earnscliff, "seems only to irritate his frenzy; +we had better leave him, and send some one to provide him with food and +necessaries." + +They did so. The servant dispatched for this purpose found the Dwarf +still labouring at his wall, but could not extract a word from him. +The lad, infected with the superstitions of the country, did not long +persist in an attempt to intrude questions or advice on so singular a +figure, but having placed the articles which he had brought for his use +on a stone at some distance, he left them at the misanthrope's disposal. + +The Dwarf proceeded in his labours, day after day, with an assiduity so +incredible as to appear almost supernatural. In one day he often seemed +to have done the work of two men, and his building soon assumed +the appearance of the walls of a hut, which, though very small, and +constructed only of stones and turf, without any mortar, exhibited, from +the unusual size of the stones employed, an appearance of solidity very +uncommon for a cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction. +Earnscliff; attentive to his motions, no sooner perceived to what they +tended, than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable for forming +the roof, which he caused to be left in the neighbourhood of the spot, +resolving next day to send workmen to put them up. But his purpose was +anticipated, for in the evening, during the night, and early in the +morning, the Dwarf had laboured so hard, and with such ingenuity, that +he had nearly completed the adjustment of the rafters. His next labour +was to cut rushes and thatch his dwelling, a task which he performed +with singular dexterity. + +As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional assistance +of a passenger, materials suitable to his purpose, and tools, were +supplied to him, in the use of which he proved to be skilful. He +constructed the door and window of his cot, he adjusted a rude bedstead, +and a few shelves, and appeared to become somewhat soothed in his temper +as his accommodations increased. + +His next task was to form a strong enclosure, and to cultivate the land +within it to the best of his power; until, by transporting mould, and +working up what was upon the spot, he formed a patch of garden-ground. +It must be naturally supposed, that, as above hinted, this solitary +being received assistance occasionally from such travellers as crossed +the moor by chance, as well as from several who went from curiosity to +visit his works. It was, indeed, impossible to see a human creature, so +unfitted, at first sight, for hard labour, toiling with such unremitting +assiduity, without stopping a few minutes to aid him in his task; and, +as no one of his occasional assistants was acquainted with the degree +of help which the Dwarf had received from others, the celerity of his +progress lost none of its marvels in their eyes. The strong and compact +appearance of the cottage, formed in so very short a space, and by such +a being, and the superior skill which he displayed in mechanics, and in +other arts, gave suspicion to the surrounding neighbours. They insisted, +that, if he was not a phantom,--an opinion which was now +abandoned, since he plainly appeared a being of blood and bone with +themselves,--yet he must be in close league with the invisible world, +and have chosen that sequestered spot to carry on his communication with +them undisturbed. They insisted, though in a different sense from the +philosopher's application of the phrase, that he was never less alone +than when alone; and that from the heights which commanded the moor at +a distance, passengers often discovered a person at work along with +this dweller of the desert, who regularly disappeared as soon as they +approached closer to the cottage. Such a figure was also occasionally +seen sitting beside him at the door, walking with him in the moor, or +assisting him in fetching water from his fountain. Earnscliff explained +this phenomenon by supposing it to be the Dwarf's shadow. + +"Deil a shadow has he," replied Hobbie Elliot, who was a strenuous +defender of the general opinion; "he's ower far in wi' the Auld Ane to +have a shadow. Besides," he argued more logically, "wha ever heard of a +shadow that cam between a body and the sun? and this thing, be it what +it will, is thinner and taller than the body himsell, and has been seen +to come between him and the sun mair than anes or twice either." + +These suspicions, which, in any other part of the country, might have +been attended with investigations a little inconvenient to the supposed +wizard, were here only productive of respect and awe. The recluse being +seemed somewhat gratified by the marks of timid veneration with which +an occasional passenger approached his dwelling, the look of startled +surprise with which he surveyed his person and his premises, and the +hurried step with which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful +spot. The boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty +glance at the walls of his cottage and garden, and to apologize for it +by a courteous salutation, which the inmate sometimes deigned to return +by a word or a nod. Earnscliff often passed that way, and seldom without +enquiring after the solitary inmate, who seemed now to have arranged his +establishment for life. + +It was impossible to engage him in any conversation on his own personal +affairs; nor was he communicative or accessible in talking on any other +subject whatever, although he seemed to have considerably relented in +the extreme ferocity of his misanthropy, or rather to be less frequently +visited with the fits of derangement of which this was a symptom. No +argument could prevail upon him to accept anything beyond the simplest +necessaries, although much more was offered by Earnscliff out of +charity, and by his more superstitious neighbours from other motives. +The benefits of these last he repaid by advice, when consulted (as at +length he slowly was) on their diseases, or those of their cattle. He +often furnished them with medicines also, and seemed possessed, not only +of such as were the produce of the country, but of foreign drugs. +He gave these persons to understand, that his name was Elshender the +Recluse; but his popular epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie, or the +Wise Wight of Mucklestane-Moor. Some extended their queries beyond their +bodily complaints, and requested advice upon other matters, which he +delivered with an oracular shrewdness that greatly confirmed the opinion +of his possessing preternatural skill. The querists usually left some +offering upon a stone, at a distance from his dwelling; if it was money, +or any article which did not suit him to accept, he either threw it +away, or suffered it to remain where it was without making use of it. +On all occasions his manners were rude and unsocial; and his words, in +number, just sufficient to express his meaning as briefly as possible, +and he shunned all communication that went a syllable beyond the matter +in hand. When winter had passed away, and his garden began to afford +him herbs and vegetables, he confined himself almost entirely to those +articles of food. He accepted, notwithstanding, a pair of she-goats from +Earnscliff, which fed on the moor, and supplied him with milk. + +When Earnscliff found his gift had been received, he soon afterwards +paid the hermit a visit. The old man was seated an a broad flat stone +near his garden door, which was the seat of science he usually occupied +when disposed to receive his patients or clients. The inside of his hut, +and that of his garden, he kept as sacred from human intrusion as the +natives of Otaheite do their Morai;--apparently he would have deemed it +polluted by the step of any human being. When he shut himself up in his +habitation, no entreaty could prevail upon him to make himself visible, +or to give audience to any one whomsoever. + +Earnscliff had been fishing in a small river at some distance. He had +his rod in his hand, and his basket, filled with trout, at his shoulder. +He sate down upon a stone nearly opposite to the Dwarf who, familiarized +with his presence, took no farther notice of him than by elevating his +huge mis-shapen head for the purpose of staring at him, and then again +sinking it upon his bosom, as if in profound meditation. Earnscliff +looked around him, and observed that the hermit had increased his +accommodations by the construction of a shed for the reception of his +goats. + +"You labour hard, Elshie," he said, willing to lead this singular being +into conversation. + +"Labour," re-echoed the Dwarf, "is the mildest evil of a lot so +miserable as that of mankind; better to labour like me, than sport like +you." + +"I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports, Elshie, and +yet--" + +"And yet," interrupted the Dwarf, "they are better than your ordinary +business; better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on mute fishes than +on your fellow-creatures. Yet why should I say so? Why should not the +whole human herd butt, gore, and gorge upon each other, till all are +extirpated but one huge and over-fed Behemoth, and he, when he had +throttled and gnawed the bones of all his fellows--he, when his prey +failed him, to be roaring whole days for lack of food, and, finally, +to die, inch by inch, of famine--it were a consummation worthy of the +race!" + +"Your deeds are better, Elshie, than your words," answered Earnscliff; +"you labour to preserve the race whom your misanthropy slanders." + +"I do; but why?--Hearken. You are one on whom I look with the least +loathing, and I care not, if, contrary to my wont, I waste a few words +in compassion to your infatuated blindness. If I cannot send disease +into families, and murrain among the herds, can I attain the same end +so well as by prolonging the lives of those who can serve the purpose of +destruction as effectually?--If Alice of Bower had died in winter, would +young Ruthwin have been slain for her love the last spring?--Who +thought of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of +Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death-bed?--My draughts, my skill, +recovered him. And, now, who dare leave his herd upon the lea without a +watch, or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth-hound?" + +"I own," answered Earnscliff; "you did little good to society by the +last of these cures. But, to balance the evil, there is my friend +Hobbie, honest Hobbie of the Heugh-foot, your skill relieved him last +winter in a fever that might have cost him his life." + +"Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance," said: the Dwarf, +smiling maliciously, "and thus they speak in their folly. Have you +marked the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated, how +sportive, how playful, how gentle,--but trust him with your game, your +lambs, your poultry, his inbred ferocity breaks forth; he gripes, tears, +ravages, and devours." + +"Such is the animal's instinct," answered Earnscliff; "but what has that +to do with Hobbie?" + +"It is his emblem--it is his picture," retorted the Recluse. "He is +at present tame, quiet, and domesticated, for lack of opportunity to +exercise his inborn propensities; but let the trumpet of war sound--let +the young blood-hound snuff blood, he will be as ferocious as the +wildest of his Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasant's +abode. Can you deny, that even at present he often urges you to take +bloody revenge for an injury received when you were a boy?"--Earnscliff +started; the Recluse appeared not to observe his surprise, and +proceeded--"The trumpet WILL blow, the young blood-hound WILL lap blood, +and I will laugh and say, For this I have preserved thee!" He paused, +and continued,--"Such are my cures;--their object, their purpose, +perpetuating the mass of misery, and playing even in this desert my +part in the general tragedy. Were YOU on your sick bed, I might, in +compassion, send you a cup of poison." + +"I am much obliged to you, Elshie, and certainly shall not fail to +consult you, with so comfortable a hope from your assistance." + +"Do not flatter yourself too far," replied the Hermit, "with the hope +that I will positively yield to the frailty of pity. Why should I snatch +a dupe, so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are, from +the wretchedness which his own visions, and the villainy of the world, +are preparing for him? Why should I play the compassionate Indian, and, +knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk, at once spoil +the three days' amusement of my kindred tribe, at the very moment when +the brands were lighted, the pincers heated, the cauldrons boiling, +the knives sharpened, to tear, scorch, seethe, and scarify the intended +victim?" + +"A dreadful picture you present to me of life, Elshie; but I am not +daunted by it," returned Earnscliff. "We are sent here, in one sense, to +bear and to suffer; but, in another, to do and to enjoy. The active day +has its evening of repose; even patient sufferance has its alleviations, +where there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged." + +"I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine," said the Dwarf, his eyes +kindling with insane fury,--"I spurn at it, as worthy only of the beasts +that perish; but I will waste no more words with you." + +He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, with great +vehemence, "Yet, lest you still think my apparent benefits to +mankind flow from the stupid and servile source, called love of our +fellow-creatures, know, that were there a man who had annihilated my +soul's dearest hope--who had torn my heart to mammocks, and seared my +brain till it glowed like a volcano, and were that man's fortune and +life in my power as completely as this frail potsherd" (he snatched up +an earthen cup which stood beside him), "I would not dash him into atoms +thus"--(he flung the vessel with fury against the wall),--"No!" (he +spoke more composedly, but with the utmost bitterness), "I would pamper +him with wealth and power to inflame his evil passions, and to fulfil +his evil designs; he should lack no means of vice and villainy; he +should be the centre of a whirlpool that itself should know neither rest +nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, while it wrecked every goodly +ship that approached its limits! he should be an earthquake capable +of shaking the very land in which he dwelt, and rendering all its +inhabitants friendless, outcast, and miserable--as I am!" + +The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words, +shutting the door with furious violence, and rapidly drawing two bolts, +one after another, as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that +hated race, who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy. Earnscliff left the +moor with mingled sensations of pity and horror, pondering what strange +and melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of +mind, a man whose language argued him to be of rank and education much +superior to the vulgar. He was also surprised to see how much particular +information a person who had lived in that country so short a time, +and in so recluse a manner, had been able to collect respecting the +dispositions and private affairs of the inhabitants. + +"It is no wonder," he said to himself, "that with such extent of +information, such a mode of life, so uncouth a figure, and sentiments +so virulently misanthropic, this unfortunate should be regarded by the +vulgar as in league with the Enemy of Mankind." + + + +CHAPTER V. + + The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath + Feels, in its barrenness, some touch of spring; + And, in the April dew, or beam of May, + Its moss and lichen freshen and revive; + And thus the heart, most sear'd to human pleasure, + Melts at the tear, joys in the smile, of woman.--BEAUMONT + +As the season advanced, the weather became more genial, and the Recluse +was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone in the front of +his mansion. As he sate there one day, about the hour of noon, a party +of gentlemen and ladies, well mounted, and numerously attended, swept +across the heath at some distance from his dwelling. Dogs, hawks, and +led-horses swelled the retinue, and the air resounded at intervals +with the cheer of the hunters, and the sound of horns blown by the +attendants. The Recluse was about to retire into his mansion at +the sight of a train so joyous, when three young ladies, with their +attendants, who had made a circuit, and detached themselves from their +party, in order to gratify their curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight +of Mucklestane-Moor, came suddenly up, ere he could effect his purpose. +The first shrieked, and put her hands before her eyes, at sight of an +object so unusually deformed. The second, with a hysterical giggle, +which she intended should disguise her terrors, asked the Recluse, +whether he could tell their fortune. The third, who was best mounted, +best dressed, and incomparably the best-looking of the three, advanced, +as if to cover the incivility of her companions. + +"We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses, and our +party have gone forward without us," said the young lady. "Seeing you, +father, at the door of your house, we have turned this way to--" + +"Hush!" interrupted the Dwarf; "so young, and already so artful? You +came--you know you came, to exult in the consciousness of your own +youth, wealth, and beauty, by contrasting them with age, poverty, and +deformity. It is a fit employment for the daughter of your father; but O +how unlike the child of your mother!" + +"Did you, then, know my parents, and do you know me?" + +"Yes; this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes, but I have +seen you in my dreams." + +"Your dreams?" + +"Ay, Isabel Vere. What hast thou, or thine, to do with my waking +thoughts?" + +"Your waking thoughts, sir," said the second of Miss Vere's companions, +with a sort of mock gravity, "are fixed, doubtless, upon wisdom; folly +can only intrude on your sleeping moments." + +"Over thine," retorted the Dwarf, more splenetically than became a +philosopher or hermit, "folly exercises an unlimited empire, asleep or +awake." + +"Lord bless us!" said the lady, "he's a prophet, sure enough." + +"As surely," continued the Recluse, "as thou art a woman.--A woman!--I +should have said a lady--a fine lady. You asked me to tell your +fortune--it is a simple one; an endless chase through life after follies +not worth catching, and, when caught, successively thrown away--a chase, +pursued from the days of tottering infancy to those of old age upon his +crutches. Toys and merry-makings in childhood--love and its absurdities +in youth--spadille and basto in age, shall succeed each other as +objects of pursuit--flowers and butterflies in spring--butterflies +and thistle-down in summer--withered leaves in autumn and winter--all +pursued, all caught, all flung aside.--Stand apart; your fortune is +said." + +"All CAUGHT, however," retorted the laughing fair one, who was a cousin +of Miss Vere's; "that's something, Nancy," she continued, turning to +the timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf; "will you ask your +fortune?" + +"Not for worlds," said she, drawing back; "I have heard enough of +yours." + +"Well, then," said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, "I'll pay +for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess." + +"Truth," said the Soothsayer, "can neither be bought nor sold;" and he +pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain. + +"Well, then," said the lady, "I'll keep my money, Mr. Elshender, to +assist me in the chase I am to pursue." + +"You will need it," replied the cynic; "without it, few pursue +successfully, and fewer are themselves pursued.--Stop!" he said to Miss +Vere, as her companions moved off, "With you I have more to say. +You have what your companions would wish to have, or be thought to +have,--beauty, wealth, station, accomplishments." + +"Forgive my following my companions, father; I am proof both to flattery +and fortune-telling." + +"Stay," continued the Dwarf, with his hand on her horse's rein, "I am +no common soothsayer, and I am no flatterer. All the advantages I +have detailed, all and each of them have their corresponding +evils--unsuccessful love, crossed affections, the gloom of a convent, +or an odious alliance. I, who wish ill to all mankind, cannot wish more +evil to you, so much is your course of life crossed by it." + +"And if it be, father, let me enjoy the readiest solace of adversity +while prosperity is in my power. You are old; you are poor; your +habitation is far from human aid, were you ill, or in want; your +situation, in many respects, exposes you to the suspicions of the +vulgar, which are too apt to break out into actions of brutality. Let +me think I have mended the lot of one human being! Accept of such +assistance as I have power to offer; do this for my sake, if not for +your own, that when these evils arise, which you prophesy perhaps too +truly, I may not have to reflect, that the hours of my happier time have +been passed altogether in vain." + +The old man answered with a broken voice, and almost without addressing +himself to the young lady,-- + +"Yes, 'tis thus thou shouldst think--'tis thus thou shouldst speak, +if ever human speech and thought kept touch with each other! They do +not--they do not--Alas! they cannot. And yet--wait here an instant--stir +not till my return." He went to his little garden, and returned with a +half-blown rose. "Thou hast made me shed a tear, the first which has +wet my eyelids for many a year; for that good deed receive this token +of gratitude. It is but a common rose; preserve it, however, and do not +part with it. Come to me in your hour of adversity. Show me that rose, +or but one leaf of it, were it withered as my heart is--if it should be +in my fiercest and wildest movements of rage against a hateful world, +still it will recall gentler thoughts to my bosom, and perhaps afford +happier prospects to thine. But no message," he exclaimed, rising +into his usual mood of misanthropy,--"no message--no go-between! Come +thyself; and the heart and the doors that are shut against every other +earthly being, shall open to thee and to thy sorrows. And now pass on." + +He let go the bridle-rein, and the young lady rode on, after expressing +her thanks to this singular being, as well as her surprise at the +extraordinary nature of his address would permit, often turning back to +look at the Dwarf, who still remained at the door of his habitation, +and watched her progress over the moor towards her father's castle of +Ellieslaw, until the brow of the hill hid the party from his sight. + +The ladies, meantime, jested with Miss Vere on the strange interview +they had just had with the far-famed wizard of the Moor. "Isabella has +all the luck at home and abroad! Her hawk strikes down the black-cock; +her eyes wound the gallant; no chance for her poor companions and +kinswomen; even the conjuror cannot escape the force of her charms. You +should, in compassion, cease to be such an engrosser, my dear Isabel, or +at least set up shop, and sell off all the goods you do not mean to keep +for your own use." + +"You shall have them all," replied Miss Vere, "and the conjuror to boot, +at a very easy rate." + +"No! Nancy shall have the conjuror," said Miss Ilderton, "to supply +deficiencies; she's not quite a witch herself, you know." + +"Lord, sister," answered the younger Miss Ilderton, "what could I do +with so frightful a monster? I kept my eyes shut, after once glancing at +him; and, I protest, I thought I saw him still, though I winked as close +as ever I could." + +"That's a pity," said her sister; "ever while you live, Nancy, choose an +admirer whose faults can be hid by winking at them.--Well, then, I must +take him myself, I suppose, and put him into mamma's Japan cabinet, +in order to show that Scotland can produce a specimen of mortal clay +moulded into a form ten thousand times uglier than the imaginations of +Canton and Pekin, fertile as they are in monsters, have immortalized in +porcelain." + +"There is something," said Miss Vere, "so melancholy in the situation of +this poor man, that I cannot enter into your mirth, Lucy, so readily as +usual. If he has no resources, how is he to exist in this waste country, +living, as he does, at such a distance from mankind? and if he has the +means of securing occasional assistance, will not the very suspicion +that he is possessed of them, expose him to plunder and assassination by +some of our unsettled neighbours?" + +"But you forget that they say he is a warlock," said Nancy Ilderton. + +"And, if his magic diabolical should fail him," rejoined her sister, "I +would have him trust to his magic natural, and thrust his enormous head, +and most preternatural visage, out at his door or window, full in view +of the assailants. The boldest robber that ever rode would hardly bide a +second glance of him. Well, I wish I had the use of that Gorgon head of +his for only one half hour." + +"For what purpose, Lucy?" said Miss Vere. + +"O! I would frighten out of the castle that dark, stiff, and stately Sir +Frederick Langley, that is so great a favourite with your father, and so +little a favourite of yours. I protest I shall be obliged to the Wizard +as long as I live, if it were only for the half hour's relief from that +man's company which we have gained by deviating from the party to visit +Elshie." + +"What would you say, then," said Miss Vere, in a low tone, so as not to +be heard by the younger sister, who rode before them, the narrow path +not admitting of their moving all three abreast,--"What would you say, +my dearest Lucy, if it were proposed to you to endure his company for +life?" + +"Say? I would say, NO, NO, NO, three times, each louder than another, +till they should hear me at Carlisle." + +"And Sir Frederick would say then, nineteen nay-says are half a grant." + +"That," replied Miss Lucy, "depends entirely on the manner in which the +nay-says are said. Mine should have not one grain of concession in them, +I promise you." + +"But if your father," said Miss Vere, "were to say,--Thus do, or--" + +"I would stand to the consequences of his OR, were he the most cruel +father that ever was recorded in romance, to fill up the alternative." + +"And what if he threatened you with a catholic aunt, an abbess, and a +cloister?" + +"Then," said Miss Ilderton, "I would threaten him with a protestant +son-in-law, and be glad of an opportunity to disobey him for conscience' +sake. And now that Nancy is out of hearing, let me really say, I +think you would be excusable before God and man for resisting this +preposterous match by every means in your power. A proud, dark, +ambitious man; a caballer against the state; infamous for his avarice +and severity; a bad son, a bad brother, unkind and ungenerous to all his +relatives--Isabel, I would die rather than have him." + +"Don't let my father hear you give me such advice," said Miss Vere, "or +adieu, my dear Lucy, to Ellieslaw Castle." + +"And adieu to Ellieslaw Castle, with all my heart," said her friend, "if +I once saw you fairly out of it, and settled under some kinder protector +than he whom nature has given you. O, if my poor father had been in his +former health, how gladly would he have received and sheltered you, till +this ridiculous and cruel persecution were blown over!" + +"Would to God it had been so, my dear Lucy!" answered Isabella; "but +I fear, that, in your father's weak state of health, he would be +altogether unable to protect me against the means which would be +immediately used for reclaiming the poor fugitive." + +"I fear so indeed," replied Miss Ilderton; "but we will consider and +devise something. Now that your father and his guests seem so deeply +engaged in some mysterious plot, to judge from the passing and returning +of messages, from the strange faces which appear and disappear without +being announced by their names, from the collecting and cleaning of +arms, and the anxious gloom and bustle which seem to agitate every male +in the castle, it may not be impossible for us (always in case matters +be driven to extremity) to shape out some little supplemental conspiracy +of our own. I hope the gentlemen have not kept all the policy to +themselves; and there is one associate that I would gladly admit to our +counsel." + +"Not Nancy?" + +"O, no!" said Miss Ilderton; "Nancy, though an excellent good girl, +and fondly attached to you, would make a dull conspirator--as dull as +Renault and all the other subordinate plotters in VENICE PRESERVED. No; +this is a Jaffier, or Pierre, if you like the character better; and yet +though I know I shall please you, I am afraid to mention his name to +you, lest I vex you at the same time. Can you not guess? Something +about an eagle and a rock--it does not begin with eagle in English, but +something very like it in Scotch." + +"You cannot mean young Earnscliff, Lucy?" said Miss Vere, blushing +deeply. + +"And whom else should I mean," said Lucy. "Jaffiers and Pierres are very +scarce in this country, I take it, though one could find Renaults and +Bedamars enow." + +"How call you talk so wildly, Lucy? Your plays and romances have +positively turned your brain. You know, that, independent of my father's +consent, without which I never will marry any one, and which, in the +case you point at, would never be granted; independent, too, of our +knowing nothing of young Earnscliff's inclinations, but by your own +vivid conjectures and fancies--besides all this, there is the fatal +brawl!" + +"When his father was killed?" said Lucy. "But that was very long ago; +and I hope we have outlived the time of bloody feud, when a quarrel was +carried down between two families from father to son, like a Spanish +game at chess, and a murder or two committed in every generation, just +to keep the matter from going to sleep. We do with our quarrels nowadays +as with our clothes; cut them out for ourselves, and wear them out in +our own day, and should no more think of resenting our fathers' feuds, +than of wearing their slashed doublets and trunk-hose." + +"You treat this far too lightly, Lucy," answered Miss Vere. + +"Not a bit, my dear Isabella," said Lucy. "Consider, your father, though +present in the unhappy affray, is never supposed to have struck the +fatal blow; besides, in former times, in case of mutual slaughter +between clans, subsequent alliances were so far from being excluded, +that the hand of a daughter or a sister was the most frequent gage of +reconciliation. You laugh at my skill in romance; but, I assure you, +should your history be written, like that of many a less distressed and +less deserving heroine, the well-judging reader would set you down for +the lady and the love of Earnscliff; from the very obstacle which you +suppose so insurmountable." + +"But these are not the days of romance, but of sad reality, for there +stands the castle of Ellieslaw." + +"And there stands Sir Frederick Langley at the gate, waiting to assist +the ladies from their palfreys. I would as lief touch a toad; I will +disappoint him, and take old Horsington the groom for my master of the +horse." + +So saying, the lively young lady switched her palfrey forward, and +passing Sir Frederick with a familiar nod as he stood ready to take +her horse's rein, she cantered on, and jumped into the arms of the old +groom. Fain would Isabella have done the same had she dared; but her +father stood near, displeasure already darkening on a countenance +peculiarly qualified to express the harsher passions, and she was +compelled to receive the unwelcome assiduities of her detested suitor. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Let not us that are squires of the night's body be called + thieves of the day's booty; let us be Diana's foresters, + gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon. + --HENRY THE FOURTH, PART I. + +The Solitary had consumed the remainder of that day in which he had the +interview with the young ladies, within the precincts of his garden. +Evening again found him seated on his favourite stone. The sun setting +red, and among seas of rolling clouds, threw a gloomy lustre over the +moor, and gave a deeper purple to the broad outline of heathy mountains +which surrounded this desolate spot. The Dwarf sate watching the clouds +as they lowered above each other in masses of conglomerated vapours, +and, as a strong lurid beam of the sinking luminary darted full on his +solitary and uncouth figure, he might well have seemed the demon of +the storm which was gathering, or some gnome summoned forth from the +recesses of the earth by the subterranean signals of its approach. As he +sate thus, with his dark eye turned towards the scowling and blackening +heaven, a horseman rode rapidly up to him, and stopping, as if to +let his horse breathe for an instant, made a sort of obeisance to the +anchoret, with an air betwixt effrontery and embarrassment. + +The figure of the rider was thin, tall, and slender, but remarkably +athletic, bony, and sinewy; like one who had all his life followed those +violent exercises which prevent the human form from increasing in bulk, +while they harden and confirm by habit its muscular powers. His face, +sharp-featured, sun-burnt, and freckled, had a sinister expression of +violence, impudence, and cunning, each of which seemed alternately to +predominate over the others. Sandy-coloured hair, and reddish eyebrows, +from under which looked forth his sharp grey eyes, completed the +inauspicious outline of the horseman's physiognomy. He had pistols in +his holsters, and another pair peeped from his belt, though he had taken +some pains to conceal them by buttoning his doublet. He wore a rusted +steel head piece; a buff jacket of rather an antique cast; gloves, of +which that for the right hand was covered with small scales of iron, +like an ancient gauntlet; and a long broadsword completed his equipage. + +"So," said the Dwarf, "rapine and murder once more on horseback." + +"On horseback?" said the bandit; "ay, ay, Elshie, your leech-craft has +set me on the bonny bay again." + +"And all those promises of amendment which you made during your illness +forgotten?" continued Elshender. + +"All clear away, with the water-saps and panada," returned the unabashed +convalescent. "Ye ken, Elshie, for they say ye are weel acquent wi' the +gentleman, + + "When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be, + When the devil was well, the devil a monk was he." + +"Thou say'st true," said the Solitary; "as well divide a wolf from his +appetite for carnage, or a raven from her scent of slaughter, as thee +from thy accursed propensities." + +"Why, what would you have me to do? It's born with me--lies in my +very blude and bane. Why, man, the lads of Westburnflat, for ten lang +descents, have been reivers and lifters. They have all drunk hard, lived +high, taking deep revenge for light offence, and never wanted gear for +the winning." + +"Right; and thou art as thorough-bred a wolf," said the Dwarf, "as ever +leapt a lamb-fold at night. On what hell's errand art thou bound now?" + +"Can your skill not guess?" + +"Thus far I know," said the Dwarf, "that thy purpose is bad, thy deed +will be worse, and the issue worst of all." + +"And you like me the better for it, Father Elshie, eh?" said +Westburnflat; "you always said you did." + +"I have cause to like all," answered the Solitary, "that are scourges to +their fellow-creatures, and thou art a bloody one." + +"No--I say not guilty to that--lever bluidy unless there's resistance, +and that sets a man's bristles up, ye ken. And this is nae great matter, +after a'; just to cut the comb of a young cock that has been crawing a +little ower crousely." + +"Not young Earnscliff?" said the Solitary, with some emotion. + +"No; not young Earnscliff--not young Earnscliff YET; but his time may +come, if he will not take warning, and get him back to the burrow-town +that he's fit for, and no keep skelping about here, destroying the +few deer that are left in the country, and pretending to act as a +magistrate, and writing letters to the great folk at Auld Reekie, about +the disturbed state of the land. Let him take care o' himsell." + +"Then it must be Hobbie of the Heugh-foot," said Elshie. "What harm has +the lad done you?" + +"Harm! nae great harm; but I hear he says I staid away from the Ba'spiel +on Fastern's E'en, for fear of him; and it was only for fear of the +Country Keeper, for there was a warrant against me. I'll stand Hobbie's +feud, and a' his clan's. But it's not so much for that, as to gie him +a lesson not to let his tongue gallop ower freely about his betters. I +trow he will hae lost the best pen-feather o' his wing before to-morrow +morning.--Farewell, Elshie; there's some canny boys waiting for me down +amang the shaws, owerby; I will see you as I come back, and bring ye a +blithe tale in return for your leech-craft." + +Ere the Dwarf could collect himself to reply, the Reiver of Westburnflat +set spurs to his horse. The animal, starting at one of the stones which +lay scattered about, flew from the path. The rider exercised his spurs +without moderation or mercy. The horse became furious, reared, kicked, +plunged, and bolted like a deer, with all his four feet off the ground +at once. It was in vain; the unrelenting rider sate as if he had been +a part of the horse which he bestrode; and, after a short but furious +contest, compelled the subdued animal to proceed upon the path at a rate +which soon carried him out of sight of the Solitary. + +"That villain," exclaimed the Dwarf,--"that cool-blooded, hardened, +unrelenting ruffian,--that wretch, whose every thought is infected with +crimes,--has thewes and sinews, limbs, strength, and activity enough, to +compel a nobler animal than himself to carry him to the place where he +is to perpetrate his wickedness; while I, had I the weakness to wish to +put his wretched victim on his guard, and to save the helpless family, +would see my good intentions frustrated by the decrepitude which chains +me to the spot.--Why should I wish it were otherwise? What have my +screech-owl voice, my hideous form, and my mis-shapen features, to +do with the fairer workmanship of nature? Do not men receive even my +benefits with shrinking horror and ill-suppressed disgust? And why +should I interest myself in a race which accounts me a prodigy and an +outcast, and which has treated me as such? No; by all the ingratitude +which I have reaped--by all the wrongs which I have sustained--by my +imprisonment, my stripes, my chains, I will wrestle down my feelings of +rebellious humanity! I will not be the fool I have been, to swerve from +my principles whenever there was an appeal, forsooth, to my feelings; as +if I, towards whom none show sympathy, ought to have sympathy with any +one. Let Destiny drive forth her scythed car through the overwhelmed and +trembling mass of humanity! Shall I be the idiot to throw this decrepit +form, this mis-shapen lump of mortality, under her wheels, that the +Dwarf, the Wizard, the Hunchback, may save from destruction some fair +form or some active frame, and all the world clap their hands at the +exchange? No, never!--And yet this Elliot--this Hobbie, so young and +gallant, so frank, so--I will think of it no longer. I cannot aid him if +I would, and I am resolved--firmly resolved, that I would not aid him, +if a wish were the pledge of his safety!" + +Having thus ended his soliloquy, he retreated into his hut for shelter +from the storm which was fast approaching, and now began to burst in +large and heavy drops of rain. The last rays of the sun now disappeared +entirely, and two or three claps of distant thunder followed each other +at brief intervals, echoing and re-echoing among the range of heathy +fells like the sound of a distant engagement. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn!-- + . . . . + Return to thy dwelling; all lonely, return; + For the blackness of ashes shall mark where it stood, + And a wild mother scream o'er her famishing brood.--CAMPBELL. + +The night continued sullen and stormy; but morning rose as if refreshed +by the rains. Even the Mucklestane-Moor, with its broad bleak swells of +barren grounds, interspersed with marshy pools of water, seemed to smile +under the serene influence of the sky, just as good-humour can spread +a certain inexpressible charm over the plainest human countenance. +The heath was in its thickest and deepest bloom. The bees, which the +Solitary had added to his rural establishment, were abroad and on the +wing, and filled the air with the murmurs of their industry. As the old +man crept out of his little hut, his two she-goats came to meet him, and +licked his 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 benefactor--to +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 lunatics--for +their disgraceful restraints--for their cruel privations, than for +communication with the rest of humanity. Hubert alone--and 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, man--let 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 again--not 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 about--but 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 be--But 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 brouze--the like's no been seen +sin' the days of auld Martin of the Preakin-tower--I 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 for a blink. I am thinking it wad concern my safety if she were +to come back here, for there's mony o' the Elliots, and they band weel +thegither for right or wrang. Now, what I chiefly come to ask your rede +in, is how to make her sure?" + +"Wouldst thou murder her, then?" + +"Umph! no, no; that I would not do, if I could help it. But they say +they can whiles get folk cannily away to the plantations from some of +the outports, and something to boot for them that brings a bonny wench. +They're wanted beyond seas thae female cattle, and they're no that +scarce here. But I think o' doing better for this lassie. There's a +leddy, that, unless she be a' the better bairn, is to be sent to foreign +parts whether she will or no; now, I think of sending Grace to wait on +her--she's a bonny lassie. Hobbie will hae a merry morning when he comes +hame, and misses baith bride and gear." + +"Ay; and do you not pity him?" said the Recluse. + +"Wad he pity me were I gaeing up the Castle hill at Jeddart? [ The +place of execution at that ancient burgh, where many of Westburnflat's +profession have made their final exit.] And yet I rue something for the +bit lassie; but he'll get anither, and little skaith dune--ane is as +gude as anither. And now, you that like to hear o' splores, heard ye +ever o' a better ane than I hae had this morning?" + +"Air, ocean, and fire," said the Dwarf, speaking to himself, "the +earthquake, the tempest, the volcano, are all mild and moderate, +compared to the wrath of man. And what is this fellow, but one more +skilled than others in executing the end of his existence?--Hear me, +felon, go again where I before sent thee." + +"To the Steward?" + +"Ay; and tell him, Elshender the Recluse commands him to give thee gold. +But, hear me, let the maiden be discharged free and uninjured; return +her to her friends, and let her swear not to discover thy villainy." + +"Swear," said Westburnflat; "but what if she break her aith? Women are +not famous for keeping their plight. A wise man like you should ken +that.--And uninjured--wha kens what may happen were she to be left lang +at Tinning-Beck? Charlie Cheat-the-Woodie is a rough customer. But if +the gold could be made up to twenty pieces, I think I could ensure her +being wi' her friends within the twenty-four hours." + +The Dwarf took his tablets from his pocket, marked a line on them, and +tore out the leaf. "There," he said, giving the robber the leaf--"But, +mark me; thou knowest I am not to be fooled by thy treachery; if thou +darest to disobey my directions, thy wretched life, be sure, shall +answer it." + +"I know," said the fellow, looking down, "that you have power on earth, +however you came by it; you can do what nae other man can do, baith by +physic and foresight; and the gold is shelled down when ye command, as +fast as I have seen the ash-keys fall in a frosty morning in October. I +will not disobey you." + +"Begone, then, and relieve me of thy hateful presence." + +The robber set spurs to his horse, and rode off without reply. + +Hobbie Elliot had, in the meanwhile, pursued his journey rapidly, +harassed by those oppressive and indistinct fears that all was not +right, which men usually term a presentiment of misfortune. Ere he +reached the top of the bank from which he could look down on his own +habitation, he was met by his nurse, a person then of great consequence +in all families in Scotland, whether of the higher or middling classes. +The connexion between them and their foster-children was considered a +tie far too dearly intimate to be broken; and it usually happened, in +the course of years, that the nurse became a resident in the family +of her foster-son, assisting in the domestic duties, and receiving all +marks of attention and regard from the heads of the family. So soon +as Hobbie recognised the figure of Annaple, in her red cloak and black +hood, he could not help exclaiming to himself, "What ill luck can +hae brought the auld nurse sae far frae hame, her that never stirs a +gun-shot frae the door-stane for ordinar?--Hout, it will just be to get +crane-berries, or whortle-berries, or some such stuff, out of the moss, +to make the pies and tarts for the feast on Monday.--I cannot get the +words of that cankered auld cripple deil's-buckie out o' my head--the +least thing makes me dread some ill news.--O, Killbuck, man! were there +nae deer and goats in the country besides, but ye behoved to gang and +worry his creature, by a' other folk's?" + +By this time Annaple, with a brow like a tragic volume, had hobbled +towards him, and caught his horse by the bridle. The despair in her look +was so evident as to deprive even him of the power of asking the cause. +"O my bairn!" she cried, "gang na forward--gang na forward--it's a sight +to kill onybody, let alane thee." + +"In God's name, what's the matter?" said the astonished horseman, +endeavouring to extricate his bridle from the grasp of the old woman; +"for Heaven's sake, let me go and see what's the matter." + +"Ohon! that I should have lived to see the day!--The steading's a' in +a low, and the bonny stack-yard lying in the red ashes, and the gear a' +driven away. But gang na forward; it wad break your young heart, hinny, +to see what my auld een hae seen this morning." + +"And who has dared to do this? let go my bridle, Annaple--where is my +grandmother--my sisters?--Where is Grace Armstrong?--God!--the words of +the warlock are knelling in my ears!" + +He sprang from his horse to rid himself of Annaple's interruption, and, +ascending the hill with great speed, soon came in view of the spectacle +with which she had threatened him. It was indeed a heart-breaking +sight. The habitation which he had left in its seclusion, beside the +mountain-stream, surrounded with every evidence of rustic plenty, was +now a wasted and blackened ruin. From amongst the shattered and sable +walls the smoke continued to rise. The turf-stack, the barn-yard, the +offices stocked with cattle, all the wealth of an upland cultivator of +the period, of which poor Elliot possessed no common share, had +been laid waste or carried off in a single night. He stood a moment +motionless, and then exclaimed, "I am ruined--ruined to the ground!--But +curse on the warld's gear--Had it not been the week before the +bridal--But I am nae babe, to sit down and greet about it. If I can but +find Grace, and my grandmother, and my sisters weel, I can go to the +wars in Flanders, as my gude-sire did, under the Bellenden banner, wi' +auld Buccleuch. At ony rate, I will keep up a heart, or they will lose +theirs a'thegither." + +Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill, resolved to suppress his +own despair, and administer consolation which he did not feel. The +neighbouring inhabitants of the dell, particularly those of his own +name, had already assembled. The younger part were in arms and clamorous +for revenge, although they knew not upon whom; the elder were taking +measures for the relief of the distressed family. Annaple's cottage, +which was situated down the brook, at some distance from the scene of +mischief, had been hastily adapted for the temporary accommodation +of the old lady and her daughters, with such articles as had been +contributed by the neighbours, for very little was saved from the wreck. + +"Are we to stand here a' day, sirs," exclaimed one tall young man, "and +look at the burnt wa's of our kinsman's house? Every wreath of the reek +is a blast of shame upon us! Let us to horse, and take the chase.--Who +has the nearest bloodhound?" + +"It's young Earnscliff," answered another; "and he's been on and away +wi' six horse lang syne, to see if he can track them." + +"Let us follow him then, and raise the country, and mak mair help as +we ride, and then have at the Cumberland reivers! Take, burn, and +slay--they that lie nearest us shall smart first." + +"Whisht! haud your tongues, daft callants," said an old man, "ye dinna +ken what ye speak about. What! wad ye raise war atween two pacificated +countries?" + +"And what signifies deaving us wi' tales about our fathers," retorted +the young; man, "if we're to sit and see our friends' houses burnt ower +their heads, and no put out hand to revenge them? Our fathers did not do +that, I trow?" + +"I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie's wrang, puir chield; +but we maun take the law wi' us in thae days, Simon," answered the more +prudent elder. + +"And besides," said another old man, "I dinna believe there's ane now +living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border. +Tam o' Whittram kend a' about it; but he died in the hard winter." + +"Ay," said a third, "he was at the great gathering, when they chased as +far as Thirlwall; it was the year after the fight of Philiphaugh." + +"Hout," exclaimed another of these discording counsellors, "there's nae +great skill needed; just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear, or +hayfork, or siclike, and blaw a horn, and cry the gathering-word, and +then it's lawful to follow gear into England, and recover it by the +strong hand, or to take gear frae some other Englishman, providing ye +lift nae mair than's been lifted frae you. That's the auld Border law, +made at Dundrennan, in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need +doubt it. It's as clear as the sun." + +"Come away, then, lads," cried Simon, "get to your geldings, and we'll +take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi' us; he kens the value o' the +stock and plenishing that's been lost. Hobbie's stalls and stakes shall +be fou again or night; and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon, +we'se lay an English ane as low as Heugh-foot is--and that's fair play, +a' the warld ower." + +This animating proposal was received with great applause by the younger +part of the assemblage, when a whisper ran among them, "There's Hobbie +himsell, puir fallow! we'll be guided by him." + +The principal sufferer, having now reached the bottom of the hill, +pushed on through the crowd, unable, from the tumultuous state of his +feelings, to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly +hands by which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their +sympathy in his misfortune. While he pressed Simon of Hackburn's +hand, his anxiety at length found words. "Thank ye, Simon--thank ye, +neighbours--I ken what ye wad a' say. But where are they?--Where are--" +He stopped, as if afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry; and +with a similar feeling, his kinsmen, without reply, pointed to the hut, +into which Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of one who +is resolved to know the worst at once. A general and powerful expression +of sympathy accompanied him. "Ah, puir fallow--puir Hobbie!" + +"He'll learn the warst o't now!" + +"But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o' the puir lassie." + +Such were the exclamations of the group, who, having no acknowledged +leader to direct their motions, passively awaited the return of the +sufferer, and determined to be guided by his directions. + +The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree +affecting. His sisters threw themselves upon him, and almost stifled him +with their caresses, as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish +the absence of one yet more beloved. + +"God help thee, my son! He can help when worldly trust is a broken +reed."--Such was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson. +He looked eagerly round, holding two of his sisters by the hand, while +the third hung about his neck--"I see you--I count you--my grandmother, +Lilias, Jean, and Annot; but where is--" (he hesitated, and then +continued, as if with an effort), "Where is Grace? Surely this is not a +time to hide hersell frae me--there's nae time for daffing now." + +"O, brother!" and "Our poor Grace!" was the only answer his questions +could procure, till his grandmother rose up, and gently disengaged +him from the weeping girls, led him to a seat, and with the affecting +serenity which sincere piety, like oil sprinkled on the waves, can throw +over the most acute feelings, she said, "My bairn, when thy grandfather +was killed in the wars, and left me with six orphans around me, with +scarce bread to eat, or a roof to cover us, I had strength,--not of mine +own--but I had strength given me to say, The Lord's will be done!--My +son, our peaceful house was last night broken into by moss-troopers, +armed and masked; they have taken and destroyed all, and carried off our +dear Grace. Pray for strength to say, His will be done!" + +"Mother! mother! urge me not--I cannot--not now I am a sinful man, and +of a hardened race. Masked armed--Grace carried off! Gie me my sword, +and my father's knapsack--I will have vengeance, if I should go to the +pit of darkness to seek it!" + +"O my bairn, my bairn! be patient under the rod. Who knows when He may +lift His hand off from us? Young Earnscliff, Heaven bless him, has taen +the chase, with Davie of Stenhouse, and the first comers. I cried to let +house and plenishing burn, and follow the reivers to recover Grace, and +Earnscliff and his men were ower the Fell within three hours after the +deed. God bless him! he's a real Earnscliff; he's his father's true +son--a leal friend." + +"A true friend indeed; God bless him!" exclaimed Hobbie; "let's on and +away, and take the chase after him." + +"O, my child, before you run on danger, let me hear you but say, HIS +will be done!" + +"Urge me not, mother--not now." He was rushing out, when, looking back, +he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of affliction. He +returned hastily, threw himself into her arms, and said, "Yes, mother, I +CAN say, HIS will be done, since it will comfort you." + +"May He go forth--may He go forth with you, my dear bairn; and O, may He +give you cause to say on your return, HIS name be praised!" + +"Farewell, mother!--farewell, my dear sisters!" exclaimed Elliot, and +rushed out of the house. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Now horse and hattock, cried the Laird,-- + Now horse and hattock, speedilie; + They that winna ride for Telfer's kye, + Let them never look in the face o' me.--Border Ballad. + +"Horse! horse! and spear!" exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen. Many a ready +foot was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastily collected arms and +accoutrements, no easy matter in such a confusion, the glen resounded +with the approbation of his younger friends. + +"Ay, ay!" exclaimed Simon of Hackburn, "that's the gate to take it, +Hobbie. Let women sit and greet at hame, men must do as they have been +done by; it's the Scripture says't." + +"Haud your tongue, sir," said one of the seniors, sternly; "dinna abuse +the Word that gate, ye dinna ken what ye speak about." + +"Hae ye ony tidings?--Hae ye ony speerings, Hobbie?--O, callants, dinna +be ower hasty," said old Dick of the Dingle. + +"What signifies preaching to us, e'enow?" said Simon; "if ye canna make +help yoursell, dinna keep back them that can." + +"Whisht, sir; wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrang'd ye?" + +"D'ye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our fathers +before us?--All evil comes out o' thereaway--it's an auld saying and a +true; and we'll e'en away there, as if the devil was blawing us south." + +"We'll follow the track o' Earnscliff's horses ower the waste," cried +one Elliot. + +"I'll prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border, an there +had been a fair held there the day before," said Hugh, the blacksmith of +Ringleburn, "for I aye shoe his horse wi' my ain hand." + +"Lay on the deer-hounds," cried another "where are they?" + +"Hout, man, the sun's been lang up, and the dew is aff the grund--the +scent will never lie." + +Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds, which were roving about the +ruins of their old habitation, and filling the air with their doleful +howls. + +"Now, Killbuck," said Hobbie, "try thy skill this day," and then, as if a +light had suddenly broke on him,--"that ill-faur'd goblin spak something +o' this! He may ken mair o't, either by villains on earth, or devils +below--I'll hae it frae him, if I should cut it out o' his mis-shapen +bouk wi' my whinger." He then hastily gave directions to his comrades: +"Four o' ye, wi' Simon, haud right forward to Graeme's-gap. If they're +English, they'll be for being back that way. The rest disperse +by twasome and threesome through the waste, and meet me at the +Trysting-pool. Tell my brothers, when they come up, to follow and meet +us there. Poor lads, they will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; +little think they what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venison +to! I'll ride ower Mucklestane-Moor mysell." + +"And if I were you," said Dick of the Dingle, "I would speak to Canny +Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, if he's sae +minded." + +"He SHALL tell me," said Hobbie, who was busy putting his arms in order, +"what he kens o' this night's job, or I shall right weel ken wherefore +he does not." + +"Ay, but speak him fair, my bonny man--speak him fair Hobbie; the +like o' him will no bear thrawing. They converse sae muckle wi' thae +fractious ghaists and evil spirits, that it clean spoils their temper." + +"Let me alane to guide him," answered Hobbie; "there's that in my breast +this day, that would ower-maister a' the warlocks on earth, and a' the +devils in hell." + +And being now fully equipped, he threw himself on his horse, and spurred +him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent. + +Elliot speedily surmounted the hill, rode down the other side at the +same rate, crossed a wood, and traversed a long glen, ere he at length +regained Mucklestane-Moor. As he was obliged, in the course of his +journey, to relax his speed in consideration of the labour which his +horse might still have to undergo, he had time to consider maturely in +what manner he should address the Dwarf, in order to extract from him +the knowledge which he supposed him to be in possession of concerning +the authors of his misfortunes. Hobbie, though blunt, plain of speech, +and hot of disposition, like most of his countrymen, was by no means +deficient in the shrewdness which is also their characteristic. He +reflected, that from what he had observed on the memorable night when +the Dwarf was first seen, and from the conduct of that mysterious being +ever since, he was likely to be rendered even more obstinate in his +sullenness by threats and violence. + +"I'll speak him fair," he said, "as auld Dickon advised me. Though folk +say he has a league wi' Satan, he canna be sic an incarnate devil as no +to take some pity in a case like mine; and folk threep he'll whiles do +good, charitable sort o' things. I'll keep my heart doun as weel as I +can, and stroke him wi' the hair; and if the warst come to the warst, +it's but wringing the head o' him about at last." + +In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the +Solitary. + +The old man was not upon his seat of audience, nor could Hobbie perceive +him in his garden, or enclosures. + +"He's gotten into his very keep," said Hobbie, "maybe to be out o' +the gate; but I'se pu' it doun about his lugs, if I canna win at him +otherwise." + +Having thus communed with himself, he raised his voice, and invoked +Elshie in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting feelings would +permit. "Elshie, my gude friend!" No reply. "Elshie, canny Father +Elshie!" The Dwarf remained mute. "Sorrow be in the crooked carcass of +thee!" said the Borderer between his teeth; and then again attempting a +soothing tone,--"Good Father Elshie, a most miserable creature desires +some counsel of your wisdom." + +"The better!" answered the shrill and discordant voice of the Dwarf +through a very small window, resembling an arrow slit, which he had +constructed near the door of his dwelling, and through which he could +see any one who approached it, without the possibility of their looking +in upon him. + +"The better!" said Hobbie impatiently; "what is the better, Elshie? Do +you not hear me tell you I am the most miserable wretch living?" + +"And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better! and did I +not tell you this morning, when you thought yourself so happy, what an +evening was coming upon you?" + +"That ye did e'en," replied Hobbie, "and that gars me come to you for +advice now; they that foresaw the trouble maun ken the cure." + +"I know no cure for earthly trouble," returned the Dwarf "or, if I +did, why should I help others, when none hath aided me? Have I not lost +wealth, that would have bought all thy barren hills a hundred times +over? rank, to which thine is as that of a peasant? society, where +there was an interchange of all that was amiable--of all that was +intellectual? Have I not lost all this? Am I not residing here, the +veriest outcast on the face of Nature, in the most hideous and most +solitary of her retreats, myself more hideous than all that is around +me? And why should other worms complain to me when they are trodden on, +since I am myself lying crushed and writhing under the chariot-wheel?" + +"Ye may have lost all this," answered Hobbie, in the bitterness of +emotion; "land and friends, goods and gear; ye may hae lost them +a',--but ye ne'er can hae sae sair a heart as mine, for ye ne'er lost +nae Grace Armstrong. And now my last hopes are gane, and I shall ne'er +see her mair." + +This he said in the tone of deepest emotion--and there followed a long +pause, for the mention of his bride's name had overcome the more angry +and irritable feelings of poor Hobbie. Ere he had again addressed the +Solitary, the bony hand and long fingers of the latter, holding a large +leathern bag, was thrust forth at the small window, and as it unclutched +the burden, and let it drop with a clang upon the ground, his harsh +voice again addressed Elliot. + +"There--there lies a salve for every human ill; so, at least, each human +wretch readily thinks.--Begone; return twice as wealthy as thou wert +before yesterday, and torment me no more with questions, complaints, or +thanks; they are alike odious to me." + +"It is a' gowd, by Heaven!" said Elliot, having glanced at the contents; +and then again addressing the Hermit, "Muckle obliged for your goodwill; +and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o' the siller, or a wadset +ower the lands o' Wideopen. But I dinna ken, Elshie; to be free wi' you, +I dinna like to use siller unless I kend it was decently come by; and +maybe it might turn into sclate-stanes, and cheat some poor man." + +"Ignorant idiot!" retorted the Dwarf; "the trash is as genuine poison as +ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth. Take it--use it, and may it +thrive with you as it hath done with me!" + +"But I tell you," said Elliot, "it wasna about the gear that I was +consulting you,--it was a braw barn-yard, doubtless, and thirty head of +finer cattle there werena on this side of the Catrail; but let the +gear gang,--if ye could but gie me speerings o' puir Grace, I would +be content to be your slave for life, in onything that didna touch my +salvation. O, Elshie, speak, man, speak!" + +"Well, then," answered the Dwarf, as if worn out by his importunity, +"since thou hast not enough of woes of thine own, but must needs seek to +burden thyself with those of a partner, seek her whom thou hast lost in +the WEST." + +"In the WEST? That's a wide word." + +"It is the last," said the Dwarf, "which I design to utter;" and he drew +the shutters of his window, leaving Hobbie to make the most of the hint +he had given. + +The west! the west!--thought Elliot; the country is pretty quiet down +that way, unless it were Jock o' the Todholes; and he's ower auld now +for the like o' thae jobs.--West!--By My life, it must be Westburnflat. +"Elshie, just tell me one word. Am I right? Is it Westburnflat? If I +am wrang, say sae. I wadna like to wyte an innocent neighbour wi' +violence--No answer?--It must be the Red Reiver--I didna think he wad +hae ventured on me, neither, and sae mony kin as there's o' us--I +am thinking he'll hae some better backing than his Cumberland +friends.--Fareweel to you, Elshie, and mony thanks--I downa be fashed +wi' the siller e'en now, for I maun awa' to meet my friends at the +Trysting-place--Sae, if ye carena to open the window, ye can fetch it in +after I'm awa'." + +Still there was no reply. + +"He's deaf, or he's daft, or he's baith; but I hae nae time to stay to +claver wi' him." + +And off rode Hobbie Elliot towards the place of rendezvous which he had +named to his friends. + +Four or five riders were already gathered at the Trysting pool. They +stood in close consultation together, while their horses were permitted +to graze among the poplars which overhung the broad still pool. A more +numerous party were seen coming from the southward. It proved to be +Earnscliff and his party, who had followed the track of the cattle as +far as the English border, but had halted on the information that +a considerable force was drawn together under some of the Jacobite +gentlemen in that district, and there were tidings of insurrection in +different parts of Scotland. This took away from the act which had been +perpetrated the appearance of private animosity, or love of plunder; and +Earnscliff was now disposed to regard it as a symptom of civil war. +The young gentleman greeted Hobbie with the most sincere sympathy, and +informed him of the news he had received. + +"Then, may I never stir frae the bit," said Elliot, "if auld Ellieslaw +is not at the bottom o' the haill villainy! Ye see he's leagued wi' the +Cumberland Catholics; and that agrees weel wi' what Elshie hinted about +Westburnflat, for Ellieslaw aye protected him, and he will want to harry +and disarm the country about his ain hand before he breaks out." + +Some now remembered that the party of ruffians had been heard to say +they were acting for James VIII., and were charged to disarm all rebels. +Others had heard Westburnflat boast, in drinking parties, that Ellieslaw +would soon be in arms for the Jacobite cause, and that he himself was +to hold a command under him, and that they would be bad neighbours for +young Earnscliff; and all that stood out for the established government. +The result was a strong belief that Westburnflat had headed the party +under Ellieslaw's orders; and they resolved to proceed instantly to the +house of the former, and, if possible, to secure his person. They were +by this time joined by so many of their dispersed friends, that their +number amounted to upwards of twenty horsemen, well mounted, and +tolerably, though variously, armed. + +A brook, which issued from a narrow glen among the hills, entered, at +Westburnflat, upon the open marshy level, which, expanding about half +a mile in every direction, gives name to the spot. In this place the +character of the stream becomes changed, and, from being a lively +brisk-running mountain-torrent, it stagnates, like a blue swollen snake, +in dull deep windings, through the swampy level. On the side of the +stream, and nearly about the centre of the plain, arose the tower of +Westburnflat, one of the few remaining strongholds formerly so numerous +upon the Borders. The ground upon which it stood was gently elevated +above the marsh for the space of about a hundred yards, affording +an esplanade of dry turf, which extended itself in the immediate +neighbourhood of the tower; but, beyond which, the surface presented to +strangers was that of an impassable and dangerous bog. The owner of the +tower and his inmates alone knew the winding and intricate paths, which, +leading over ground that was comparatively sound, admitted visitors +to his residence. But among the party which were assembled under +Earnscliff's directions, there was more than one person qualified to act +as a guide. For although the owner's character and habits of life were +generally known, yet the laxity of feeling with respect to property +prevented his being looked on with the abhorrence with which he must +have been regarded in a more civilized country. He was considered, among +his more peaceable neighbours, pretty much as a gambler, cock-fighter, +or horse-jockey would be regarded at the present day; a person, of +course, whose habits were to be condemned, and his society, in general, +avoided, yet who could not be considered as marked with the indelible +infamy attached to his profession, where laws have been habitually +observed. And their indignation was awakened against him upon +this occasion, not so much on account of the general nature of the +transaction, which was just such as was to be expected from this +marauder, as that the violence had been perpetrated upon a neighbour +against whom he had no cause of quarrel,--against a friend of their +own,--above all, against one of the name of Elliot, to which clan most +of them belonged. It was not, therefore, wonderful, that there should +be several in the band pretty well acquainted with the locality of his +habitation, and capable of giving such directions and guidance as soon +placed the whole party on the open space of firm ground in front of the +Tower of Westburnflat. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + So spak the knicht; the geaunt sed, + Lend forth with the the sely maid, + And mak me quile of the and sche; + For glaunsing ee, or brow so brent, + Or cheek with rose and lilye blent, + Me lists not ficht with the.--ROMANCE OF THE FALCON. + +The tower, before which the party now stood, was a small square +building, of the most gloomy aspect. The walls were of great thickness, +and the windows, or slits which served the purpose of windows, seemed +rather calculated to afford the defenders the means of employing missile +weapons, than for admitting air or light to the apartments within. A +small battlement projected over the walls on every side, and afforded +farther advantage of defence by its niched parapet, within which arose +a steep roof, flagged with grey stones. A single turret at one angle, +defended by a door studded with huge iron nails, rose above the +battlement, and gave access to the roof from within, by the spiral +staircase which it enclosed. It seemed to the party that their motions +were watched by some one concealed within this turret; and they were +confirmed in their belief when, through a narrow loophole, a female hand +was seen to wave a handkerchief, as if by way of signal to them. Hobbie +was almost out of his senses with joy and eagerness. + +"It was Grace's hand and arm," he said; "I can swear to it amang a +thousand. There is not the like of it on this side of the Lowdens--We'll +have her out, lads, if we should carry off the Tower of Westburnflat +stane by stane." + +Earnscliff, though he doubted the possibility of recognising a fair +maiden's hand at such a distance from the eye of the lover, would say +nothing to damp his friend's animated hopes, and it was resolved to +summon the garrison. + +The shouts of the party, and the winding of one or two horns, at length +brought to a loophole, which flanked the entrance, the haggard face of +an old woman. + +"That's the Reiver's mother," said one of the Elliots; "she's ten times +waur than himsell, and is wyted for muckle of the ill he does about the +country." + +"Wha are ye? what d'ye want here?" were the queries of the respectable +progenitor. + +"We are seeking William Graeme of Westburnflat," said Earnscliff. + +"He's no at hame," returned the old dame. + +"When did he leave home?" pursued Earnscliff. + +"I canna tell," said the portress. + +"When will he return?" said Hobbie Elliot. + +"I dinna ken naething about it," replied the inexorable guardian of the +keep. + +"Is there anybody within the tower with you?" again demanded Earnscliff. + +"Naebody but mysell and baudrons," said the old woman. + +"Then open the gate and admit us," said Earnscliff; "I am a justice of +peace, and in search of the evidence of a felony." + +"Deil be in their fingers that draws a bolt for ye," retorted the +portress; "for mine shall never do it. Thinkna ye shame o' yoursells, +to come here siccan a band o' ye, wi' your swords, and spears, and +steel-caps, to frighten a lone widow woman?" + +"Our information," said Earnscliff; "is positive; we are seeking goods +which have been forcibly carried off, to a great amount." + +"And a young woman, that's been cruelly made prisoner, that's worth mair +than a' the gear, twice told," said Hobbie. + +"And I warn you." continued Earnscliff, "that your only way to prove +your son's innocence is to give us quiet admittance to search the +house." + +"And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys, or draw the bolts, +or open the grate to sic a clamjamfrie?" said the old dame, scoffingly. + +"Force our way with the king's keys, and break the neck of every living +soul we find in the house, if ye dinna gie it ower forthwith!" menaced +the incensed Hobbie. + +"Threatened folks live lang," said the hag, in the same tone of irony; +"there's the iron grate--try your skeel on't, lads--it has kept out as +gude men as you or now." + +So saying, she laughed, and withdrew from the aperture through which she +had held the parley. + +The besiegers now opened a serious consultation. The immense thickness +of the walls, and the small size of the windows, might, for a time, have +even resisted cannon-shot. The entrance was secured, first, by a strong +grated door, composed entirely of hammered iron, of such ponderous +strength as seemed calculated to resist any force that could be brought +against it. "Pinches or forehammers will never pick upon't," said +Hugh, the blacksmith of Ringleburn; "ye might as weel batter at it wi' +pipe-staples." + +Within the doorway, and at the distance of nine feet, which was the +solid thickness of the wall, there was a second door of oak, crossed, +both breadth and lengthways, with clenched bars of iron, and studded +full of broad-headed nails. Besides all these defences, they were by no +means confident in the truth of the old dame's assertion, that she +alone composed the garrison. The more knowing of the party had observed +hoof-marks in the track by which they approached the tower, which +seemed to indicate that several persons had very lately passed in that +direction. + +To all these difficulties was added their want of means for attacking +the place. There was no hope of procuring ladders long enough to reach +the battlements, and the windows, besides being very narrow, were +secured with iron bars. Scaling was therefore out of the question; +mining was still more so, for want of tools and gunpowder; neither +were the besiegers provided with food, means of shelter, or other +conveniences, which might have enabled them to convert the siege into a +blockade; and there would, at any rate, have been a risk of relief from +some of the marauder's comrades. Hobbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, +as, walking round the fastness, he could devise no means of making a +forcible entry. At length he suddenly exclaimed, "And what for no do as +our fathers did lang syne?--Put hand to the wark, lads. Let us cut up +bushes and briers, pile them before the door and set fire to them, and +smoke that auld devil's dam as if she were to be reested for bacon." + +All immediately closed with this proposal, and some went to work with +swords and knives to cut down the alder and hawthorn bushes which grew +by the side of the sluggish stream, many of which were sufficiently +decayed and dried for their purpose, while others began to collect +them in a large stack, properly disposed for burning, as close to the +iron-grate as they could be piled. Fire was speedily obtained from +one of their guns, and Hobbie was already advancing to the pile with a +kindled brand, when the surly face of the robber, and the muzzle of +a musquetoon, were partially shown at a shot-hole which flanked the +entrance. "Mony thanks to ye," he said, scoffingly, "for collecting sae +muckle winter eilding for us; but if ye step a foot nearer it wi' that +lunt, it's be the dearest step ye ever made in your days." + +"We'll sune see that," said Hobbie, advancing fearlessly with the torch. + +The marauder snapped his piece at him, which, fortunately for our honest +friend, did not go off; while Earnscliff, firing at the same moment +at the narrow aperture and slight mark afforded by the robber's face, +grazed the side of his head with a bullet. He had apparently calculated +upon his post affording him more security, for he no sooner felt +the wound, though a very slight one, than he requested a parley, +and demanded to know what they meant by attacking in this fashion a +peaceable and honest man, and shedding his blood in that lawless manner? + +"We want your prisoner," said Earnscliff, "to be delivered up to us in +safety." + +"And what concern have you with her?" replied the marauder. + +"That," retorted Earnscliff, "you, who are detaining her by force, have +no right to enquire." + +"Aweel, I think I can gie a guess," said the robber. "Weel, sirs, I am +laith to enter into deadly feud with you by spilling ony of your bluid, +though Earnscliff hasna stopped to shed mine--and he can hit a mark to a +groat's breadth--so, to prevent mair skaith, I am willing to deliver up +the prisoner, since nae less will please you." + +"And Hobbie's gear?" cried Simon of Hackburn. "D'ye think you're to be +free to plunder the faulds and byres of a gentle Elliot, as if they were +an auld wife's hens'-cavey?" + +"As I live by bread," replied Willie of Westburnflat "As I live by +bread, I have not a single cloot o' them! They're a' ower the march lang +syne; there's no a horn o' them about the tower. But I'll see what o' +them can be gotten back, and I'll take this day twa days to meet Hobbie +at the Castleton wi' twa friends on ilka side, and see to make an +agreement about a' the wrang he can wyte me wi'." + +"Ay, ay," said Elliot, "that will do weel eneugh."--And then aside to +his kinsman, "Murrain on the gear! Lordsake, man! say nought about them. +Let us but get puir Grace out o' that auld hellicat's clutches." + +"Will ye gie me your word, Earnscliff," said the marauder, who still +lingered at the shot-hole, "your faith and troth, with hand and glove, +that I am free to come and free to gae, with five minutes to open the +grate, and five minutes to steek it and to draw the bolts? less winna +do, for they want creishing sairly. Will ye do this?" + +"You shall have full time," said Earnscliff; "I plight my faith and +troth, my hand and my glove." + +"Wait there a moment, then," said Westburnflat; "or hear ye, I wad +rather ye wad fa' back a pistol-shot from the door. It's no that I +mistrust your word, Earnscliff; but it's best to be sure." + +O, friend, thought Hobbie to himself, as he drew back, an I had you but +on Turner's-holm, [There is a level meadow, on the very margin of the +two kingdoms, called Turner's-holm, just where the brook called Crissop +joins the Liddel. It is said to have derived its name as being a place +frequently assigned for tourneys, during the ancient Border times.] and +naebody by but twa honest lads to see fair play, I wad make ye wish ye +had broken your leg ere ye had touched beast or body that belanged to +me! + +"He has a white feather in his wing this same Westburnflat, after +a'," said Simon of Hackburn, somewhat scandalized by his ready +surrender.--"He'll ne'er fill his father's boots." + +In the meanwhile, the inner door of the tower was opened, and the mother +of the freebooter appeared in the space betwixt that and the outer +grate. Willie himself was next seen, leading forth a female, and the old +woman, carefully bolting the grate behind them, remained on the post as +a sort of sentinel. + +"Ony ane or twa o' ye come forward," said the outlaw, "and take her frae +my hand haill and sound." + +Hobbie advanced eagerly, to meet his betrothed bride. Earnscliff +followed more slowly, to guard against treachery. Suddenly Hobbie +slackened his pace in the deepest mortification, while that of +Earnscliff was hastened by impatient surprise. It was not Grace +Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, whose liberation had been effected by +their appearance before the tower. + +"Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong?" exclaimed Hobbie, in the +extremity of wrath and indignation. + +"Not in my hands," answered Westburnflat; "ye may search the tower, if +ye misdoubt me." + +"You false villain, you shall account for her, or die on the spot," said +Elliot, presenting his gun. + +But his companions, who now came up, instantly disarmed him of his +weapon, exclaiming, all at once, "Hand and glove! faith and troth! Haud +a care, Hobbie we maun keep our faith wi' Westburnflat, were he the +greatest rogue ever rode." + +Thus protected, the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been +somewhat daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot. + +"I have kept my word, sirs," he said, "and I look to have nae wrang +amang ye. If this is no the prisoner ye sought," he said, addressing +Earnscliff, "ye'll render her back to me again. I am answerable for her +to those that aught her." + +"For God's sake, Mr. Earnscliff, protect me!" said Miss Vere, clinging +to her deliverer; "do not you abandon one whom the whole world seems to +have abandoned." + +"Fear nothing," whispered Earnscliff, "I will protect you with my life." +Then turning to Westburnflat, "Villain!" he said, "how dared you to +insult this lady?" + +"For that matter, Earnscliff," answered the freebooter, "I can answer to +them that has better right to ask me than you have; but if you come with +an armed force, and take her awa' from them that her friends lodged her +wi', how will you answer THAT--But it's your ain affair--Nae single man +can keep a tower against twenty--A' the men o' the Mearns downa do mair +than they dow." + +"He lies most falsely," said Isabella; "he carried me off by violence +from my father." + +"Maybe he only wanted ye to think sae, hinny," replied the robber; "but +it's nae business o' mine, let it be as it may.--So ye winna resign her +back to me?" + +"Back to you, fellow? Surely no," answered Earnscliff; "I will +protect Miss Vere, and escort her safely wherever she is pleased to be +conveyed." + +"Ay, ay, maybe you and her hae settled that already," said Willie of +Westburnflat. + +"And Grace?" interrupted Hobbie, shaking himself loose from the friends +who had been preaching to him the sanctity of the safe-conduct, upon +the faith of which the freebooter had ventured from his tower,--"Where's +Grace?" and he rushed on the marauder, sword in hand. + +Westburnflat, thus pressed, after calling out, "Godsake, Hobbie, hear +me a gliff!" fairly turned his back and fled. His mother stood ready +to open and shut the grate; but Hobbie struck at the freebooter as he +entered with so much force, that the sword made a considerable cleft in +the lintel of the vaulted door, which is still shown as a memorial of +the superior strength of those who lived in the days of yore. Ere +Hobbie could repeat the blow, the door was shut and secured, and he was +compelled to retreat to his companions, who were now preparing to break +up the siege of Westburnflat. They insisted upon his accompanying them +in their return. + +"Ye hae broken truce already," said old Dick of the Dingle; "an we +takena the better care, ye'll play mair gowk's tricks, and make yoursell +the laughing-stock of the haill country, besides having your friends +charged with slaughter under trust. Bide till the meeting at Castleton, +as ye hae greed; and if he disna make ye amends, then we'll hae it out +o' his heart's blood. But let us gang reasonably to wark and keep our +tryst, and I'se warrant we get back Grace, and the kye an' a'." + +This cold-blooded reasoning went ill down with the unfortunate lover; +but, as he could only obtain the assistance of his neighbours and +kinsmen on their own terms, he was compelled to acquiesce in their +notions of good faith and regular procedure. + +Earnscliff now requested the assistance of a few of the party to +convey Miss Vere to her father's castle of Ellieslaw, to which she was +peremptory in desiring to be conducted. This was readily granted; and +five or six young men agreed to attend him as an escort. Hobbie was not +of the number. Almost heart-broken by the events of the day, and his +final disappointment, he returned moodily home to take such measures as +he could for the sustenance and protection of his family, and to arrange +with his neighbours the farther steps which should be adopted for +the recovery of Grace Armstrong. The rest of the party dispersed in +different directions, as soon as they had crossed the morass. The +outlaw and his mother watched them from the tower, until they entirely +disappeared. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + I left my ladye's bower last night-- + It was clad in wreaths of snaw,-- + I'll seek it when the sun is bright, + And sweet the roses blaw.--OLD BALLAD. + +Incensed at what he deemed the coldness of his friends, in a cause +which interested him so nearly, Hobbie had shaken himself free of their +company, and was now on his solitary road homeward. "The fiend founder +thee!" said he, as he spurred impatiently his over-fatigued and +stumbling horse; "thou art like a' the rest o' them. Hae I not bred +thee, and fed thee, and dressed thee wi' mine ain hand, and wouldst thou +snapper now and break my neck at my utmost need? But thou'rt e'en like +the lave--the farthest off o' them a' is my cousin ten times removed, +and day or night I wad hae served them wi' my best blood; and now, I +think they show mair regard to the common thief of Westburnflat than to +their ain kinsman. But I should see the lights now in Heugh-foot--Wae's +me!" he continued, recollecting himself, "there will neither coal nor +candle-light shine in the Heugh-foot ony mair! An it werena for my +mother and sisters, and poor Grace, I could find in my heart to put +spurs to the beast, and loup ower the scaur into the water to make an +end o't a'."--In this disconsolate mood he turned his horse's bridle +towards the cottage in which his family had found refuge. + +As he approached the door, he heard whispering and tittering amongst +his sisters. "The deevil's in the women," said poor Hobbie; "they +would nicker, and laugh, and giggle, if their best friend was lying a +corp--and yet I am glad they can keep up their hearts sae weel, poor +silly things; but the dirdum fa's on me, to be sure, and no on them." + +While he thus meditated, he was engaged in fastening up his horse in +a shed. "Thou maun do without horse-sheet and surcingle now, lad," he +said, addressing the animal; "you and me hae had a downcome alike; we +had better hae fa'en i, the deepest pool o' Tarras." + +He was interrupted by the youngest of his sisters, who came running +out, and, speaking in a constrained voice, as if to stifle some emotion, +called out to him, "What are ye doing there, Hobbie, fiddling about the +naig, and there's ane frae Cumberland been waiting here for ye this hour +and mair? Haste ye in, man; I'll take off the saddle." + +"Ane frae Cumberland!" exclaimed Elliot; and putting the bridle of his +horse into the hand of his sister, he rushed into the cottage. "Where is +he? where is he!" he exclaimed, glancing eagerly around, and seeing only +females; "Did he bring news of Grace?" + +"He doughtna bide an instant langer," said the elder sister, still with +a suppressed laugh. + +"Hout fie, bairns!" said the old lady, with something of a good-humoured +reproof, "ye shouldna vex your billy Hobbie that way.--Look round, my +bairn, and see if there isna ane here mair than ye left this morning." + +Hobbie looked eagerly round. "There's you, and the three titties." + +"There's four of us now, Hobbie, lad," said the youngest, who at this +moment entered. + +In an instant Hobbie had in his arms Grace Armstrong, who, with one +of his sister's plaids around her, had passed unnoticed at his first +entrance. "How dared you do this?" said Hobbie. + +"It wasna my fault," said Grace, endeavouring to cover her face with her +hands to hide at once her blushes, and escape the storm of hearty kisses +with which her bridegroom punished her simple stratagem,--"It wasna my +fault, Hobbie; ye should kiss Jeanie and the rest o' them, for they hae +the wyte o't." + +"And so I will," said Hobbie, and embraced and kissed his sisters +and grandmother a hundred times, while the whole party half-laughed, +half-cried, in the extremity of their joy. "I am the happiest man," said +Hobbie, throwing himself down on a seat, almost exhausted,--"I am the +happiest man in the world!" + +"Then, O my dear bairn," said the good old dame, who lost no opportunity +of teaching her lesson of religion at those moments when the heart +was best open to receive it,--"Then, O my son, give praise to Him that +brings smiles out o' tears and joy out o' grief, as He brought light out +o' darkness and the world out o' naething. Was it not my word, that if +ye could say His will be done, ye might hae cause to say His name be +praised?" + +"It was--it was your word, grannie; and I do praise Him for His mercy, +and for leaving me a good parent when my ain were gane," said honest +Hobbie, taking her hand, "that puts me in mind to think of Him, baith in +happiness and distress." + +There was a solemn pause of one or two minutes employed in the exercise +of mental devotion, which expressed, in purity and sincerity, the +gratitude of the affectionate family to that Providence who had +unexpectedly restored to their embraces the friend whom they had lost. + +Hobbie's first enquiries were concerning the adventures which Grace +had undergone. They were told at length, but amounted in substance +to this:--That she was awaked by the noise which the ruffians made in +breaking into the house, and by the resistance made by one or two of the +servants, which was soon overpowered; that, dressing herself hastily, +she ran downstairs, and having seen, in the scuffle, Westburnflat's +vizard drop off, imprudently named him by his name, and besought him for +mercy; that the ruffian instantly stopped her mouth, dragged her from +the house, and placed her on horseback, behind one of his associates. + +"I'll break the accursed neck of him," said Hobbie, "if there werena +another Graeme in the land but himsell!" + +She proceeded to say, that she was carried southward along with the +party, and the spoil which they drove before them, until they had +crossed the Border. Suddenly a person, known to her as a kinsman of +Westburnflat, came riding very fast after the marauders, and told their +leader, that his cousin had learnt from a sure hand that no luck would +come of it, unless the lass was restored to her friends. After some +discussion, the chief of the party seemed to acquiesce. Grace was placed +behind her new guardian, who pursued in silence, and with great speed, +the least-frequented path to the Heugh-foot, and ere evening closed, set +down the fatigued and terrified damsel within a quarter of a mile of the +dwelling of her friends. Many and sincere were the congratulations which +passed on all sides. + +As these emotions subsided, less pleasing considerations began to +intrude themselves. + +"This is a miserable place for ye a'," said Hobbie, looking around him; +"I can sleep weel eneugh mysell outby beside the naig, as I hae done +mony a lang night on the hills; but how ye are to put yoursells up, I +canna see! And what's waur, I canna mend it; and what's waur than a', +the morn may come, and the day after that, without your being a bit +better off." + +"It was a cowardly cruel thing," said one of the sisters, looking round, +"to harry a puir family to the bare wa's this gate." + +"And leave us neither stirk nor stot," said the youngest brother, who +now entered, "nor sheep nor lamb, nor aught that eats grass and corn." + +"If they had ony quarrel wi' us," said Harry, the second brother, "were +we na ready to have fought it out? And that we should have been a' frae +hame, too,--ane and a' upon the hill--Odd, an we had been at hame, Will +Graeme's stamach shouldna hae wanted its morning; but it's biding him, +is it na, Hobbie?" + +"Our neighbours hae taen a day at the Castleton to gree wi' him at the +sight o' men," said Hobbie, mournfully; "they behoved to have it a' +their ain gate, or there was nae help to be got at their hands." + +"To gree wi' him!" exclaimed both his brothers at once, "after siccan an +act of stouthrife as hasna been heard o' in the country since the auld +riding days!" + +"Very true, billies, and my blood was e'en boiling at it; but the sight +o' Grace Armstrong has settled it brawly." + +"But the stocking, Hobbie'" said John Elliot; "we're utterly ruined. +Harry and I hae been to gather what was on the outby land, and there's +scarce a cloot left. I kenna how we're to carry on--We maun a' gang +to the wars, I think. Westburnflat hasna the means, e'en if he had the +will, to make up our loss; there's nae mends to be got out o' him, but +what ye take out o' his banes. He hasna a four-footed creature but the +vicious blood thing he rides on, and that's sair trash'd wi' his night +wark. We are ruined stoop and roop." + +Hobbie cast a mournful glance on Grace Armstrong, who returned it with a +downcast look and a gentle sigh. + +"Dinna be cast down, bairns," said the grandmother, "we hae gude friends +that winna forsake us in adversity. There's Sir Thomas Kittleloof is my +third cousin by the mother's side, and he has come by a hantle siller, +and been made a knight-baronet into the bargain, for being ane o' the +commissioners at the Union." + +"He wadna gie a bodle to save us frae famishing," said Hobbie; "and, if +he did, the bread that I bought wi't would stick in my throat, when +I thought it was part of the price of puir auld Scotland's crown and +independence." + +"There's the Laird o' Dunder, ane o' the auldest families in +Tiviotdale." + +"He's in the tolbooth, mother--he's in the Heart of Mid-Louden for a +thousand merk he borrowed from Saunders Wyliecoat the writer." + +"Poor man!" exclaimed Mrs. Elliot, "can we no send him something, +Hobbie?" + +"Ye forget, grannie, ye forget we want help oursells," said Hobbie, +somewhat peevishly. + +"Troth did I, hinny," replied the good-natured lady, "just at the +instant; it's sae natural to think on ane's blude relations before +themsells;--But there's young Earnscliff." + +"He has ower little o' his ain; and siccan a name to keep up, it wad be +a shame," said Hobbie, "to burden him wi' our distress. And I'll tell +ye, grannie, it's needless to sit rhyming ower the style of a' your +kith, kin, and allies, as if there was a charm in their braw names to do +us good; the grandees hae forgotten us, and those of our ain degree hae +just little eneugh to gang on wi' themsells; ne'er a friend hae we that +can, or will, help us to stock the farm again." + +"Then, Hobbie, me maun trust in Him that can raise up friends and +fortune out o' the bare moor, as they say." + +Hobbie sprung upon his feet. "Ye are right, grannie!" he exclaimed; "ye +are right. I do ken a friend on the bare moor, that baith can and will +help us--The turns o' this day hae dung my head clean hirdie-girdie. +I left as muckle gowd lying on Mucklestane-Moor this morning as would +plenish the house and stock the Heugh-foot twice ower, and I am certain +sure Elshie wadna grudge us the use of it." + +"Elshie!" said his grandmother in astonishment; "what Elshie do you +mean?" + +"What Elshie should I mean, but Canny Elshie, the Wight o' Mucklestane," +replied Hobbie. + +"God forfend, my bairn, you should gang to fetch water out o' broken +cisterns, or seek for relief frae them that deal wi' the Evil One! There +was never luck in their gifts, nor grace in their paths. And the haill +country kens that body Elshie's an unco man. O, if there was the law, +and the douce quiet administration of justice, that makes a kingdom +flourish in righteousness, the like o' them suldna be suffered to live! +The wizard and the witch are the abomination and the evil thing in the +land." + +"Troth, mother," answered Hobbie, "ye may say what ye like, but I am in +the mind that witches and warlocks havena half the power they had lang +syne; at least, sure am I, that ae ill-deviser, like auld Ellieslaw, or +ae ill-doer, like that d--d villain Westburnflat, is a greater plague +and abomination in a country-side than a haill curnie o' the warst +witches that ever capered on a broomstick, or played cantrips on +Fastern's E'en. It wad hae been lang or Elshie had burnt down my house +and barns, and I am determined to try if he will do aught to build them +up again. He's weel kend a skilfu' man ower a' the country, as far as +Brough under Stanmore." + +"Bide a wee, my bairn; mind his benefits havena thriven wi' a'body. Jock +Howden died o' the very same disorder Elshie pretended to cure him of, +about the fa' o' the leaf; and though he helped Lambside's cow weel out +o' the moor-ill, yet the louping-ill's been sairer amane; his sheep than +ony season before. And then I have heard he uses sic words abusing human +nature, that's like a fleeing in the face of Providence; and ye mind ye +said yoursell, the first time ye ever saw him, that he was mair like a +bogle than a living thing." + +"Hout, mother," said Hobbie, "Elshie's no that bad a chield; he's a +grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a rough +talker, but his bark is waur than his bite; sae, if I had anes something +to eat, for I havena had a morsel ower my throat this day, I wad streek +mysell down for twa or three hours aside the beast, and be on and awa' +to Mucklestane wi' the first skreigh o' morning." + +"And what for no the night, Hobbie," said Harry, "and I will ride wi' +ye?" + +"My naig is tired," said Hobbie. + +"Ye may take mine, then," said John. + +"But I am a wee thing wearied mysell." + +"You wearied?" said Harry; "shame on ye! I have kend ye keep the saddle +four-and-twenty hours thegither, and ne'er sic a word as weariness in +your wame." + +"The night's very dark," said Hobbie, rising and looking through the +casement of the cottage; "and, to speak truth, and shame the deil, +though Elshie's a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would rather take +daylight wi' me when I gang to visit him." + +This frank avowal put a stop to further argument; and Hobbie, having +thus compromised matters between the rashness of his brother's counsel, +and the timid cautions which he received from his grandmother, refreshed +himself with such food as the cottage afforded; and, after a cordial +salutation all round, retired to the shed, and stretched himself beside +his trusty palfrey. His brothers shared between them some trusses of +clean straw, disposed in the stall usually occupied by old Annaple's +cow; and the females arranged themselves for repose as well as the +accommodations of the cottage would permit. + +With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed down +and saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. He avoided the +company of either of his brothers, from an idea that the Dwarf was most +propitious to those who visited him alone. + +"The creature," said he to himself, as he went along, "is no +neighbourly; ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can abide. +I wonder if he's looked out o' the crib o' him to gather up the bag +o' siller. If he hasna done that, it will hae been a braw windfa' for +somebody, and I'll be finely flung.--Come, Tarras," said he to his +horse, striking him at the same time with his spur, "make mair fit, man; +we maun be first on the field if we can." + +He was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the beams of +the rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was descending presented +him a distinct, though distant view, of the Dwarf's dwelling. The door +opened, and Hobbie witnessed with his own eyes that phenomenon which he +had frequently heard mentioned. Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf +could be termed such) issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and +stood as if in converse together in the open air. The taller form then +stooped, as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the +hut, then both moved forward a little way, and again halted, as in deep +conference. All Hobbie's superstitious terrors revived on witnessing +this'spectacle. That the Dwarf would open his dwelling to a mortal +guest, was as improbable as that any one would choose voluntarily to +be his nocturnal visitor; and, under full conviction that he beheld a +wizard holding intercourse with his familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at +once his breath and his bridle, resolved not to incur the indignation +of either by a hasty intrusion on their conference. They were probably +aware of his approach, for he had not halted for a moment before the +Dwarf returned to his cottage; and the taller figure who had accompanied +him, glided round the enclosure of the garden, and seemed to disappear +from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie. + +"Saw ever mortal the like o' that!" said Elliot; "but my case is +desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I'se venture down the brae +on him." + +Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace, when, +nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall figure, +he discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a small black +rough-looking object, like a terrier dog. + +"He has nae dog that ever I heard of," said Hobbie, "but mony a deil +about his hand--lord forgie me for saying sic a word!--It keeps its +grund, be what it like--I'm judging it's a badger; but whae kens what +shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it will maybe start up +like a lion or a crocodile when I come nearer. I'se e'en drive a stage +at it, for if it change its shape when I'm ower near, Tarras will never +stand it; and it will be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight +wi' baith at ance." + +He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which continued +motionless. "It's nae living thing, after a'," said Hobbie, approaching, +"but the very bag o' siller he flung out o' the window yesterday! and +that other queer lang creature has just brought it sae muckle farther +on the way to me." He then advanced and lifted the heavy fur pouch, +which was quite full of gold. "Mercy on us!" said Hobbie, whose heart +fluttered between glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects +in life, and suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was +afforded him---"Mercy on us! it's an awfu' thing to touch what has been +sae lately in the claws of something no canny, I canna shake mysell +loose o' the belief that there has been some jookery-paukery of Satan's +in a' this; but I am determined to conduct mysell like an honest man and +a good Christian, come o't what will." + +He advanced accordingly to the cottage door, and having knocked +repeatedly without receiving any answer, he at length elevated his voice +and addressed the inmate of the hut. "Elshie! Father Elshie! I ken ye're +within doors, and wauking, for I saw ye at the door-cheek as I cam ower +the bent; will ye come out and speak just a gliff to ane that has mony +thanks to gie ye?--It was a' true ye tell'd me about Westburnflat; but +he's sent back Grace safe and skaithless, sae there's nae ill happened +yet but what may be suffered or sustained;--Wad ye but come out a gliff; +man, or but say ye're listening?--Aweel, since ye winna answer, I'se +e'en proceed wi' my tale. Ye see I hae been thinking it wad be a sair +thing on twa young folk, like Grace and me, to put aff our marriage for +mony years till I was abroad and came back again wi' some gear; and they +say folk maunna take booty in the wars as they did lang syne, and the +queen's pay is a sma' matter; there's nae gathering gear on that--and +then my grandame's auld--and my sisters wad sit peengin' at the +ingle-side for want o' me to ding them about--and Earnscliff, or the +neighbourhood, or maybe your ainsell, Elshie, might want some good turn +that Hob Elliot could do ye--and it's a pity that the auld house o' the +Heugh-foot should be wrecked a'thegither. Sae I was thinking--but 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 wilt--do 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 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 Reiver of Westburnflat. + + + +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, +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 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 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 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 +father--she 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. + +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, +until some months before the commencement of our narrative, when the +public opinion of his embarrassed circumstances was confirmed, by +the residence of Mr. Ratcliffe at Ellieslaw Castle, who, by the tacit +consent, though obviously to the great displeasure, of the lord of the +mansion, seemed, from the moment of his arrival, to assume and exercise +a predominant and unaccountable influence in the management of his +private affairs. + +Mr. Ratcliffe was a grave, steady, reserved man, in an advanced period +of life. To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon business, he +appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms. With others he held +little communication; but in any casual intercourse, or conversation, +displayed the powers of an active and well-informed mind. For some +time before taking up his final residence at the castle, he had been +an occasional visitor there, and was at such times treated by Mr. Vere +(contrary to his general practice towards those who were inferior to +him in rank) with marked attention, and even deference. Yet his arrival +always appeared to be an embarrassment to his host, and his departure a +relief; so that, when he became a constant inmate of the family, it was +impossible not to observe indications of the displeasure with which Mr. +Vere regarded his presence. Indeed, their intercourse formed a singular +mixture of confidence and constraint. Mr. Vere's most important affairs +were regulated by Mr. Ratcliffe; and although he was none of those +indulgent men of fortune, who, too indolent to manage their own +business, are glad to devolve it upon another, yet, in many instances, +he was observed to give up his own judgment, and submit to the contrary +opinions which Mr. Ratcliffe did not hesitate distinctly to express. + +Nothing seemed to vex Mr. Vere more than when strangers indicated any +observation of the state of tutelage under which he appeared to labour. +When it was noticed by Sir Frederick, or any of his intimates, he +sometimes repelled their remarks haughtily and indignantly, and +sometimes endeavoured to evade them, by saying, with a forced laugh, +"That Ratcliffe knew his own importance, but that he was the most honest +and skilful fellow in the world; and that it would be impossible for him +to manage his English affairs without his advice and assistance." Such +was the person who entered the room at the moment Mr. Vere was summoning +him to his presence, and who now heard with surprise, mingled with +obvious incredulity, the hasty narrative of what had befallen Isabella. + +Her father concluded, addressing Sir Frederick and the other gentlemen, +who stood around in astonishment, "And now, my friends, you see the most +unhappy father in Scotland. Lend me your assistance, gentlemen--give me +your advice, Mr. Ratcliffe. I am incapable of acting, or thinking, under +the unexpected violence of such a blow." + +"Let us take our horses, call our attendants, and scour the country in +pursuit of the villains," said Sir Frederick. + +"Is there no one whom you can suspect," said Ratcliffe, gravely, "of +having some motive for this strange crime? These are not the days of +romance, when ladies are carried off merely for their beauty." + +"I fear," said Mr. Vere, "I can too well account for this strange +incident. Read this letter, which Miss Lucy Ilderton thought fit to +address from my house of Ellieslaw to young Mr. Earnscliff; whom, of all +men, I have a hereditary right to call my enemy. You see she writes +to him as the confidant of a passion which he has the assurance to +entertain for my daughter; tells him she serves his cause with her +friend very ardently, but that he has a friend in the garrison who +serves him yet more effectually. Look particularly at the pencilled +passages, Mr. Ratcliffe, where this meddling girl recommends bold +measures, with an assurance that his suit would be successful anywhere +beyond the bounds of the barony of Ellieslaw." + +"And you argue, from this romantic letter of a very romantic young lady, +Mr. Vere," said Ratcliffe, "that young Earnscliff has carried off your +daughter, and committed a very great and criminal act of violence, on no +better advice and assurance than that of Miss Lucy Ilderton?" + +"What else can I think?" said Ellieslaw. + +"What else CAN you think?" said Sir Frederick; "or who else could have +any motive for committing such a crime?" + +"Were that the best mode of fixing the guilt," said Mr. Ratcliffe, +calmly, "there might easily be pointed out persons to whom such actions +are more congenial, and who have also sufficient motives of instigation. +Supposing it were judged advisable to remove Miss Vere to some place in +which constraint might be exercised upon her inclinations to a degree +which cannot at present be attempted under the roof of Ellieslaw +Castle--What says Sir Frederick Langley to that supposition?" + +"I say," returned Sir Frederick, "that although Mr. Vere may choose to +endure in Mr. Ratcliffe freedoms totally inconsistent with his situation +in life, I will not permit such license of innuendo, by word or look, to +be extended to me, with impunity." + +"And I say," said young Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells, who was also +a guest at the castle, "that you are all stark mad to be standing +wrangling here, instead of going in pursuit of the ruffians." + +"I have ordered off the domestics already in the track most likely to +overtake them," said Mr. Vere "if you will favour me with your company, +we will follow them, and assist in the search." + +The efforts of the party were totally unsuccessful, probably because +Ellieslaw directed the pursuit to proceed in the direction of Earnscliff +Tower, under the supposition that the owner would prove to be the +author of the violence, so that they followed a direction diametrically +opposite to that in which the ruffians had actually proceeded. In the +evening they returned, harassed and out of spirits. But other guests +had, in the meanwhile, arrived at the castle; and, after the recent loss +sustained by the owner had been related, wondered at, and lamented, the +recollection of it was, for the present, drowned in the discussion +of deep political intrigues, of which the crisis and explosion were +momentarily looked for. + +Several of the gentlemen who took part in this divan were Catholics, and +all of them stanch Jacobites, whose hopes were at present at the highest +pitch, as an invasion, in favour of the Pretender, was daily expected +from France, which Scotland, between the defenceless state of its +garrisons and fortified places, and the general disaffection of the +inhabitants, was rather prepared to welcome than to resist. Ratcliffe, +who neither sought to assist at their consultations on this subject, +nor was invited to do so, had, in the meanwhile, retired to his own +apartment. Miss Ilderton was sequestered from society in a sort of +honourable confinement, "until," said Mr. Vere, "she should be safely +conveyed home to her father's house," an opportunity for which occurred +on the following day. + +The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the loss of +Miss Vere, and the strange manner in which it had happened, seemed to be +forgotten by the other guests at the castle. They knew not, that those +the most interested in her fate were well acquainted with the cause +of her being carried off, and the place of her retreat; and that the +others, in the anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking +forth of a conspiracy, were little accessible to any feelings but what +arose immediately out of their own machinations. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Some one way, some another--Do you know + Where we may apprehend her? + +The researches after Miss Vere were (for the sake of appearances, +perhaps) resumed on the succeeding day, with similar bad success, and +the party were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening. + +"It is singular," said Mareschal to Ratcliffe, "that four horsemen and +a female prisoner should have passed through the country without leaving +the slightest trace of their passage. One would think they had traversed +the air, or sunk through the ground." + +"Men may often," answered Ratcliffe, "arrive at the knowledge of that +which is, from discovering that which is not. We have now scoured every +road, path, and track leading from the castle, in all the various points +of the compass, saving only that intricate and difficult pass which +leads southward down the Westburn, and through the morasses." + +"And why have we not examined that?" said Mareschal. + +"O, Mr. Vere can best answer that question," replied his companion, +dryly. + +"Then I will ask it instantly," said Mareschal; and, addressing Mr. +Vere, "I am informed, sir," said he, "there is a path we have not +examined, leading by Westburnflat." + +"O," said Sir Frederick, laughing, "we know the owner of Westburnflat +well--a wild lad, that knows little difference between his neighbour's +goods and his own; but, withal, very honest to his principles: he would +disturb nothing belonging to Ellieslaw." + +"Besides," said Mr. Vere, smiling mysteriously, "he had other tow on his +distaff last night. Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh-foot +has had his house burnt, and his cattle driven away, because he refused +to give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for the +king?" + +The company smiled upon each other, as at hearing of an exploit which +favoured their own views. + +"Yet, nevertheless," resumed Mareschal, "I think we ought to ride in +this direction also, otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for our +negligence." + +No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal, and the party +turned their horses' heads towards Westburnflat. + +They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling of +horses was heard, and a small body of riders were perceived advancing to +meet them. + +"There comes Earnscliff," said Mareschal; "I know his bright bay with +the star in his front." + +"And there is my daughter along with him," exclaimed Vere, +furiously. "Who shall call my suspicions false or injurious now? +Gentlemen--friends--lend me the assistance of your swords for the +recovery of my child." + +He unsheathed his weapon, and was imitated by Sir Frederick and several +of the party, who prepared to charge those that were advancing towards +them. But the greater part hesitated. + +"They come to us in all peace and security," said Mareschal-Wells; "let +us first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair. If +Miss Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff, +I will be first to revenge her; but let us hear what they say." + +"You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal," continued Vere; "you +are the last I would have expected to hear express them." + +"You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the cause may +excuse it." + +He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a loud +voice,--"Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere advance alone +to meet us. You are charged with having carried that lady off from her +father's house; and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her +recovery, and for bringing to justice those who have injured her." + +"And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal?" said +Earnscliff, haughtily,--"than I, who had the satisfaction this morning +to liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined, and who +am now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw?" + +"Is this so, Miss Vere?" said Mareschal. + +"It is," answered Isabella, eagerly,--"it is so; for Heaven's sake +sheathe your swords. I will swear by all that is sacred, that I was +carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were alike unknown to +me, and am now restored to freedom by means of this gentleman's gallant +interference." + +"By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done?" pursued +Mareschal.--"Had you no knowledge of the place to which you were +conveyed?--Earnscliff, where did you find this lady?" + +But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, and, +returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the conference. + +"When I know," he said, "exactly how much I owe to Mr. Earnscliff, he +may rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime," taking the bridle of +Miss Vere's horse, "thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter in +the power of her natural guardian." + +A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal +haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon the road +to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a conference so +earnest, that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude by +approaching them too nearly. In the meantime, Earnscliff, as he took +leave of the other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaw's party, said aloud, +"Although I am unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can +authorize such a suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seems +to believe that I have had some hand in the atrocious violence which has +been offered to his daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to take notice +of my explicit denial of a charge so dishonourable; and that, although +I can pardon the bewildering feelings of a father in such a moment, +yet, if any other gentleman," (he looked hard at Sir Frederick Langley) +"thinks my word and that of Miss Vere, with the evidence of my friends +who accompany me, too slight for my exculpation, I will be happy--most +happy--to repel the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honour +dearer than his life." + +"And I'll be his second," said Simon of Hackburn, "and take up ony twa +o' ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; it's a' ane to Simon." + +"Who is that rough-looking fellow?" said Sir Frederick Langley, "and +what has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen?" + +"I'se be a lad frae the Hie Te'iot," said Simon, "and I'se quarrel wi' +ony body I like, except the king, or the laird I live under." + +"Come," said; Mareschal, "let us have no brawls.--Mr. Earnscliff; +although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may be +opponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without losing our +respect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I believe you as innocent +of this matter as I am myself; and I will pledge myself that my cousin +Ellieslaw, as soon as the perplexity attending these sudden events has +left his judgment to its free exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge the +very important service you have this day rendered him." + +"To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself--Good +evening, gentlemen," continued Earnscliff; "I see most of your party are +already on their way to Ellieslaw." + +Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the party +with indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards +the Heugh-foot, to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for farther +researches after his bride, of whose restoration to her friends he was +still ignorant. + +"There he goes," said Mareschal; "he is a fine, gallant young fellow, +upon my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust with him on +the green turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his equal with the +foils, and I should like to try him at sharps." + +"In my opinion," answered Sir Frederick Langley, "we have done very +ill in having suffered him, and those men who are with him, to go off +without taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very likely to draw to +a head under such a sprightly young fellow as that." + +"For shame, Sir Frederick!" exclaimed Mareschal; "do you think that +Ellieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being offered to +Earnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter? +or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you think that I, and the rest +of these gentlemen, would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such a +transaction? No, no, fair play and auld Scotland for ever! When the +sword is drawn, I will be as ready to use it as any man; but while it is +in the sheath, let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours." + +Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle, when Ellieslaw, who +had been arrived a few minutes before, met them in the court-yard. + +"How is Miss Vere? and have you learned the cause of her being carried +off?" asked Mareschal hastily. + +"She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued; and I cannot expect +much light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited," +replied her father. "She and I were not the less obliged to you, +Mareschal, and to my other friends, for their kind enquiries. But I must +suppress the father's feelings for a while to give myself up to those of +the patriot. You know this is the day fixed for our final decision--time +presses--our friends are arriving, and I have opened house, not only +for the gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarily +employ. We have, therefore, little time to prepare to meet them.--Look +over these lists, Marchie (an abbreviation by which Mareschal-Wells was +known among his friends). Do you, Sir Frederick, read these letters from +Lothian and the west--all is ripe for the sickle, and we have but to +summon out the reapers." + +"With all my heart," said Mareschal; "the more mischief the better +sport." + +Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted. + +"Walk aside with me, my good friend," said Ellieslaw to the sombre +baronet; "I have something for your private ear, with which I know you +will be gratified." + +They walked into the house, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standing +together in the court. + +"And so," said Ratcliffe, "the gentlemen of your political persuasion +think the downfall of this government so certain, that they disdain even +to throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party?" + +"Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe," answered Mareschal, "the actions and sentiments +YOUR friends may require to be veiled, but I am better pleased that ours +can go barefaced." + +"And is it possible," continued Ratcliffe, "that you, who, +notwithstanding pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper (I beg pardon, +Mr. Mareschal, I am a plain man)--that you, who, notwithstanding +these constitutional defects, possess natural good sense and acquired +information, should be infatuated enough to embroil yourself in such +desperate proceedings? How does your head feel when you are engaged in +these dangerous conferences?" + +"Not quite so secure on my shoulders," answered Mareschal, "as if I were +talking of hunting and hawking. I am not of so indifferent a mould as +my cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as if it were a child's nursery +rhymes, and loses and recovers that sweet girl, his daughter, with a +good deal less emotion on both occasions, than would have affected me +had I lost and recovered a greyhound puppy. My temper is not quite so +inflexible, nor my hate against government so inveterate, as to blind me +to the full danger of the attempt." + +"Then why involve yourself in it?" said Ratcliffe. + +"Why, I love this poor exiled king with all my heart; and my father was +an old Killiecrankie man, and I long to see some amends on the Unionist +courtiers, that have bought and sold old Scotland, whose crown has been +so long independent." + +"And for the sake of these shadows," said his monitor, "you are going to +involve your country in war and yourself in trouble?" + +"I involve? No!--but, trouble for trouble, I had rather it came +to-morrow than a month hence. COME, I know it will; and, as your country +folks say, better soon than syne--it will never find me younger--and as +for hanging, as Sir John Falstaff says, I can become a gallows as well +as another. You know the end of the old ballad; + + "Sae dauntonly, sae wantonly, + Sae rantingly gaed he, + He play'd a spring, and danced a round, + Beneath the gallows tree." + +"Mr. Mareschal, I am sorry for you," said his grave adviser. + +"I am obliged to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; but I would not have you judge of +our enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there are wiser heads than +mine at the work." + +"Wiser heads than yours may lie as low," said Ratcliffe, in a warning +tone. + +"Perhaps so; but no lighter heart shall; and, to prevent it being made +heavier by your remonstrances, I will bid you adieu, Mr. Ratcliffe, till +dinner-time, when you shall see that my apprehensions have not spoiled +my appetite." + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + To face the garment of rebellion + With some fine colour, that may please the eye + Of fickle changelings, and poor discontents, + Which gape and rub the elbow at the news + Of hurlyburly innovation.--HENRY THE FOURTH, PART II. + +There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for the +entertainment on this important day, when not only the gentlemen of note +in the neighbourhood, attached to the Jacobite interest, were expected +to rendezvous, but also many subordinate malecontents, whom difficulty +of circumstances, love of change, resentment against England, or any of +the numerous causes which inflamed men's passions at the time, rendered +apt to join in perilous enterprise. The men of rank and substance were +not many in number; for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof, +and most of the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterian +persuasion, and therefore, however displeased with the Union, unwilling +to engage in a Jacobite conspiracy. But there were some gentlemen of +property, who, either from early principle, from religious motives, or +sharing the ambitious views of Ellieslaw, had given countenance to his +scheme; and there were, also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal, +desirous of signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous +enterprise, by which they hoped to vindicate the independence of their +country. The other members of the party were persons of inferior rank +and desperate fortunes, who were now ready to rise in that part of the +country, as they did afterwards in the year 1715, under Forster and +Derwentwater, when a troop, commanded by a Border gentleman, named +Douglas, consisted almost entirely of freebooters, among whom the +notorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was called, held a distinguished command. +We think it necessary to mention these particulars, applicable solely +to the province in which our scene lies; because, unquestionably, the +Jacobite party, in the other parts of the kingdom, consisted of much +more formidable, as well as much more respectable, materials. + +One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw Castle, +which was still left much in the state in which it had been one hundred +years before, stretching, that is, in gloomy length, along the whole +side of the castle, vaulted with ribbed arches of freestone, the groins +of which sprung from projecting figures, that, carved into all the +wild forms which the fantastic imagination of a Gothic architect could +devise, grinned, frowned, and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below. +Long narrow windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides, filled +up with stained glass, through which the sun emitted a dusky and +discoloured light. A banner, which tradition averred to have been taken +from the English at the battle of Sark, waved over the chair in which +Ellieslaw presided, as if to inflame the courage of the guests, by +reminding them of ancient victories over their neighbours. He himself, +a portly figure, dressed on this occasion with uncommon care, and with +features, which, though of a stern and sinister expression, might well +be termed handsome, looked the old feudal baron extremely well. Sir +Frederick Langley was placed on his right hand, and Mr. Mareschal of +Mareschal-Wells on his left. Some gentlemen of consideration, with their +sons, brothers, and nephews, were seated at the upper end of the table, +and among these Mr. Ratcliffe had his place. Beneath the salt-cellar (a +massive piece of plate which occupied the midst of the table) sate the +SINE NOMINE TURBA, men whose vanity was gratified by holding even this +subordinate space at the social board, while the distinction observed in +ranking them was a salve to the pride of their superiors. That the lower +house was not very select must be admitted, since Willie of Westburnflat +was one of the party. The unabashed audacity of this fellow, in daring +to present himself in the house of a gentleman, to whom he had just +offered so flagrant an insult, can only be accounted for by supposing +him conscious that his share in carrying off Miss Vere was a secret, +safe in her possession and that of her father. + +Before this numerous and miscellaneous party was placed a dinner, +consisting, not indeed of the delicacies of the season, as the +newspapers express it, but of viands, ample, solid, and sumptuous, under +which the very board groaned. But the mirth was not in proportion to the +good cheer. The lower end of the table were, for some time, chilled by +constraint and respect on finding themselves members of so august an +assembly; and those who were placed around it had those feelings of awe +with which P. P., clerk of the parish, describes himself oppressed, +when he first uplifted the psalm in presence of those persons of high +worship, the wise Mr. Justice Freeman, the good Lady Jones, and the +great Sir Thomas Truby. This ceremonious frost, however, soon gave way +before the incentives to merriment, which were liberally supplied, +and as liberally consumed by the guests of the lower description. They +became talkative, loud, and even clamorous in their mirth. + +But it was not in the power of wine or brandy to elevate the spirits of +those who held the higher places at the banquet. They experienced the +chilling revulsion of spirits which often takes place, when men +are called upon to take a desperate resolution, after having placed +themselves in circumstances where it is alike difficult to advance or +to recede. The precipice looked deeper and more dangerous as they +approached the brink, and each waited with an inward emotion of awe, +expecting which of his confederates would set the example by plunging +himself down. This inward sensation of fear and reluctance acted +differently, according to the various habits and characters of the +company. One looked grave; another looked silly; a third gazed with +apprehension on the empty seats at the higher end of the table, designed +for members of the conspiracy whose prudence had prevailed over their +political zeal, and who had absented themselves from their consultations +at this critical period; and some seemed to be reckoning up in their +minds the comparative rank and prospects of those who were present and +absent. Sir Frederick Langley was reserved, moody, and discontented. +Ellieslaw himself made such forced efforts to raise the spirits of the +company, as plainly marked the flagging of his own. Ratcliffe watched +the scene with the composure of a vigilant but uninterested spectator. +Mareschal alone, true to the thoughtless vivacity of his character, ate +and drank, laughed and jested, and seemed even to find amusement in the +embarrassment of the company. + +"What has damped our noble courage this morning?" he exclaimed. "We seem +to be met at a funeral, where the chief mourners must not speak above +their breath, while the mutes and the saulies (looking to the lower end +of the table) are carousing below. Ellieslaw, when will you LIFT? +[To LIFT, meaning to lift the coffin, is the common expression for +commencing a funeral.] where sleeps your spirit, man? and what has +quelled the high hope of the Knight of Langley-dale?" + +"You speak like a madman," said Ellieslaw; "do you not see how many are +absent?" + +"And what of that?" said Mareschal. "Did you not know before, that +one-half of the world are better talkers than doers? For my part, I am +much encouraged by seeing at least two-thirds of our friends true to the +rendezvous, though I suspect one-half of these came to secure the dinner +in case of the worst." + +"There is no news from the coast which can amount to certainty of the +King's arrival," said another of the company, in that tone of subdued +and tremulous whisper which implies a failure of resolution. + +"Not a line from the Earl of D--, nor a single gentleman from the +southern side of the Border," said a third. + +"Who is he that wishes for more men from England," exclaimed Mareschal, +in a theatrical tone of affected heroism, + + "My cousin Ellieslaw? No, my fair cousin, + If we are doom'd to die--" + +"For God's sake," said Ellieslaw, "spare us your folly at present, +Mareschal." + +"Well, then," said his kinsman, "I'll bestow my wisdom upon you instead, +such as it is. If we have gone forward like fools, do not let us go back +like cowards. We have done enough to draw upon us both the suspicion and +vengeance of the government; do not let us give up before we have done +something to deserve it.--What, will no one speak? Then I'll leap the +ditch the first." And, starting up, he filled a beer-glass to the brim +with claret, and waving his hand, commanded all to follow his example, +and to rise up from their seats. All obeyed-the more qualified guests as +if passively, the others with enthusiasm "Then, my friends, I give you +the pledge of the day--The independence of Scotland, and the health of +our lawful sovereign, King James the Eighth, now landed in Lothian, and, +as I trust and believe, in full possession of his ancient capital!" + +He quaffed off the wine, and threw the glass over his head. + +"It should never," he said, "be profaned by a meaner toast." + +All followed his example, and, amid the crash of glasses and the shouts +of the company, pledged themselves to stand or fall with the principles +and political interest which their toast expressed. + +"You have leaped the ditch with a witness," said Ellieslaw, apart to +Mareschal; "but I believe it is all for the best; at all events, we +cannot now retreat from our undertaking. One man alone" (looking at +Ratcliffe) "has refused the pledge; but of that by and by." + +Then, rising up, he addressed the company in a style of inflammatory +invective against the government and its measures, but especially the +Union; a treaty, by means of which, he affirmed, Scotland had been at +once cheated of her independence, her commerce, and her honour, and laid +as a fettered slave at the foot of the rival against whom, through such +a length of ages, through so many dangers, and by so much blood, she had +honourably defended her rights. This was touching a theme which found a +responsive chord in the bosom of every man present. + +"Our commerce is destroyed," hollowed old John Rewcastle, a Jedburgh +smuggler, from the lower end of the table. + +"Our agriculture is ruined," said the Laird of Broken-girth-flow, a +territory which, since the days of Adam, had borne nothing but ling and +whortle-berries. + +"Our religion is cut up, root and branch," said the pimple-nosed pastor +of the Episcopal meeting-house at Kirkwhistle. + +"We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench, without +a certificate from the presbytery and kirk-treasurer," said +Mareschal-Wells. + +"Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning, without license from a +commissioner of excise," said the smuggler. + +"Or ride over the fell in a moonless night," said Westburnflat, "without +asking leave of young Earnscliff; or some Englified justice of the +peace: thae were gude days on the Border when there was neither peace +nor justice heard of." + +"Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe," continued Ellieslaw, +"and take arms for the protection of our rights, our fortunes, our +lives, and our families." + +"Think upon genuine episcopal ordination, without which there can be no +lawful clergy," said the divine. + +"Think of the piracies committed on our East-Indian trade by Green +and the English thieves," said William Willieson, half-owner and sole +skipper of a brig that made four voyages annually between Cockpool and +Whitehaven. + +"Remember your liberties," rejoined Mareschal, who seemed to take a +mischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the enthusiasm +which he had excited, like a roguish boy, who, having lifted the sluice +of a mill-dam, enjoys the clatter of the wheels which he has put +in motion, without thinking of the mischief he may have occasioned. +"Remember your liberties," he exclaimed; "confound cess, press, and +presbytery, and the memory of old Willie that first brought them upon +us!" + +"Damn the gauger!" echoed old John Rewcastle; "I'll cleave him wi' my +ain hand." + +"And confound the country-keeper and the constable!" re-echoed +Westburnflat; "I'll weize a brace of balls through them before morning." + +"We are agreed, then," said Ellieslaw, when the shouts had somewhat +subsided, "to bear this state of things no longer?" + +"We are agreed to a man," answered his guests. + +"Not literally so," said Mr. Ratcliffe; "for though I cannot hope to +assuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have seized +upon the company, yet I beg to observe, that so far as the opinion of a +single member goes, I do not entirely coincide in the list of grievances +which has been announced, and that I do utterly protest against the +frantic measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them. I +can easily suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out of +the heat of the moment, or have been said perhaps in jest. But there are +some jests of a nature very apt to transpire; and you ought to remember, +gentlemen, that stone-walls have ears." + +"Stone-walls may have ears," returned Ellieslaw, eyeing him with a look +of triumphant malignity, "but domestic spies, Mr. Ratcliffe, will soon +find themselves without any, if any such dares to continue his abode +in a family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion, where his +conduct has been that of a presumptuous meddler, and from which his +exit shall be that of a baffled knave, if he does not know how to take a +hint." + +"Mr. Vere," returned Ratcliffe, with calm contempt, "I am fully aware, +that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you, which it must +through the rash step you are about to adopt, it will immediately become +unsafe to myself, as it has always been hateful to you. But I have one +protection, and it is a strong one; for you would not willingly hear me +detail before gentlemen, and men of honour, the singular circumstances +in which our connexion took its rise. As to the rest, I rejoice at its +conclusion; and as I think that Mr. Mareschal and some other gentlemen +will guarantee the safety of my ears and of my throat (for which last I +have more reason to be apprehensive) during the course of the night, I +shall not leave your castle till to-morrow morning." + +"Be it so, sir," replied Mr. Vere; "you are entirely safe from my +resentment, because you are beneath it, and not because I am afraid of +your disclosing my family secrets, although, for your own sake, I warn +you to beware how you do so. Your agency and intermediation can be of +little consequence to one who will win or lose all, as lawful right or +unjust usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue. +Farewell, sir." + +Ratcliffe arose, and cast upon him a look, which Vere seemed to sustain +with difficulty, and, bowing to those around him, left the room. + +This conversation made an impression on many of the company, which +Ellieslaw hastened to dispel, by entering upon the business of the day. +Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection. +Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders, +with powers to direct their farther measures. A place of rendezvous was +appointed, at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day, with +such followers and friends to the cause as each could collect around +him. Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations; +and Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others, who, with +Westburnflat and the old smuggler, continued to ply the bottle stanchly, +for leaving the head of the table, as he must necessarily hold a +separate and sober conference with the coadjutors whom they had +associated with him in the command. The apology was the more readily +accepted, as he prayed them, at the same time, to continue to amuse +themselves with such refreshments as the cellars of the castle afforded. +Shouts of applause followed their retreat; and the names of Vere, +Langley, and, above all, of Mareschal, were thundered forth in chorus, +and bathed with copious bumpers repeatedly, during the remainder of the +evening. + +When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate apartment, +they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of embarrassment, +which, in Sir Frederick's dark features, amounted to an expression of +discontented sullenness. Mareschal was the first to break the pause, +saying, with a loud burst of laughter, + +--"Well! we are fairly embarked now, gentlemen--VOGUE LA GALERE!" + +"We may thank you for the plunge," said Ellieslaw. + +"Yes; but I don't know how far you will thank me," answered Mareschal, +"when I show you this letter which I received just before we sat down. +My servant told me it was delivered by a man he had never seen before, +who went off at the gallop, after charging him to put it into my own +hand." + +Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter, and read aloud-- + +EDINBURGH,-- + +HOND. SIR, Having obligations to your family, which shall be nameless, +and learning that you are one of the company of, adventurers doing +business for the house of James and Company, late merchants in London, +now in Dunkirk, I think it right to send you this early and private +information, that the vessels you expected have been driven off the +coast, without having been able to break bulk, or to land any part +of their cargo; and that the west-country partners have resolved to +withdraw their name from the firm, as it must prove a losing concern. +Having good hope you will avail yourself of this early information, to +do what is needful for your own security, I rest your humble servant, +NIHIL NAMELESS. + +FOR RALPH MARESCHAL, OF MARESCHAL-WELLS + +--THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED. + +Sir Frederick's jaw dropped, and his countenance blackened, as the +letter was read, and Ellieslaw exclaimed,--"Why, this affects the very +mainspring of our enterprise. If the French fleet, with the king on +board, has been chased off by the English, as this d--d scrawl seems to +intimate, where are we?" + +"Just where we were this morning, I think," said Mareschal, still +laughing. + +"Pardon me, and a truce to your ill-timed mirth, Mr. Mareschal; this +morning we were not committed publicly, as we now stand committed by +your own mad act, when you had a letter in your pocket apprizing you +that our undertaking was desperate." + +"Ay, ay, I expected you would say so. But, in the first place, my friend +Nihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam; and, moreover, I would +have you know that I am tired of a party that does nothing but form +bold resolutions overnight, and sleep them away with their wine before +morning. The government are now unprovided of men and ammunition; in a +few weeks they will have enough of both: the country is now in a flame +against them; in a few weeks, betwixt the effects of self-interest, of +fear, and of lukewarm indifference, which are already so visible, this +first fervour will be as cold as Christmas. So, as I was determined to +go the vole, I have taken care you shall dip as deep as I; it signifies +nothing plunging. You are fairly in the bog, and must struggle through." + +"You are mistaken with respect to one of us, Mr. Mareschal," said Sir +Frederick Langley; and, applying himself to the bell, he desired the +person who entered to order his servants and horses instantly. + +"You must not leave us, Sir Frederick," said Ellieslaw; "if we have our +musters to go over." + +"I will go to-night, Mr. Vere," said Sir Frederick, "and write you my +intentions in this matter when I am at home." + +"Ay," said Mareschal, "and send them by a troop of horse from Carlisle +to make us prisoners? Look ye, Sir Frederick, I for one will neither be +deserted nor betrayed; and if you leave Ellieslaw Castle to-night, it +shall be by passing over my dead body." + +"For shame! Mareschal," said Mr. Vere, "how can you so hastily +misinterpret our friend's intentions? I am sure Sir Frederick can +only be jesting with us; for, were he not too honourable to dream of +deserting the cause, he cannot but remember the full proofs we have of +his accession to it, and his eager activity in advancing it. He cannot +but be conscious, besides, that the first information will be readily +received by government, and that if the question be, which can first +lodge intelligence of the affair, we can easily save a few hours on +him." + +"You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in such +a race of treachery; for my part, I won't enter my horse for such a +plate," said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, "A pretty pair of +fellows to trust a man's neck with!" + +"I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper," said Sir +Frederick Langley; "and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw. I +have no reason to keep faith with one" (looking at Vere) "who has kept +none with me." + +"In what respect," said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of his hand, +his impetuous kinsman--"how have I disappointed you, Sir Frederick?" + +"In the nearest and most tender point--you have trifled with me +concerning our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the gage of +our political undertaking. This carrying off and this bringing back of +Miss Vere,--the cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuses +with which you cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you may +yourself retain possession of the estates which are hers by right, +and make me, in the meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise, +by holding out hopes and expectations which you are resolved never to +realize." + +"Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred--" + +"I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too +long," answered Sir Frederick. + +"If you leave us," said Ellieslaw, "you cannot but know both your ruin +and ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together." + +"Leave me to take care of myself," returned the knight; "but were what +you say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther." + +"Can nothing--no surety convince you of my sincerity?" said Ellieslaw, +anxiously; "this morning I should have repelled your unjust suspicions +as an insult; but situated as we now are--" + +"You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?" retorted Sir Frederick. +"If you would have me think so, there is but one way to convince me of +it--let your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening." + +"So soon?--impossible," answered Vere; "think of her late alarm--of our +present undertaking." + +"I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the altar. +You have a chapel in the castle--Doctor Hobbler is present among the +company-this proof of your good faith to-night, and we are again +joined in heart and hand. If you refuse me when it is so much for your +advantage to consent, how shall I trust you to-morrow, when I shall +stand committed in your undertaking, and unable to retract?" + +"And I am to understand, that, if you can be made my son-in-law +to-night, our friendship is renewed?" said Ellieslaw. + +"Most infallibly, and most inviolably," replied Sir Frederick. + +"Then," said Vere, "though what you ask is premature, indelicate, and +unjust towards my character, yet, Sir Frederick, give me your hand--my +daughter shall be your wife." + +"This night?" + +"This very night," replied Ellieslaw, "before the clock strikes twelve." + +"With her own consent, I trust," said Mareschal; "for I promise you +both, gentlemen, I will not stand tamely by, and see any violence put on +the will of my pretty kinswoman." + +"Another pest in this hot-headed fellow," muttered Ellieslaw; and then +aloud, "With her own consent? For what do you take me, Mareschal, that +you should suppose your interference necessary to protect my daughter +against her father? Depend upon it, she has no repugnance to Sir +Frederick Langley." + +"Or rather to be called Lady Langley? faith, like enough--there are +many women might be of her mind; and I beg your pardon, but these sudden +demands and concessions alarmed me a little on her account." + +"It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me," said +Ellieslaw; "but perhaps if she is found intractable, Sir Frederick will +consider--" + +"I will consider nothing, Mr. Vere--your daughter's hand to-night, or I +depart, were it at midnight--there is my ultimatum." + +"I embrace it," said Ellieslaw; "and I will leave you to talk upon our +military preparations, while I go to prepare my daughter for so sudden a +change of condition." + +So saying, he left the company. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + He brings Earl Osmond to receive my vows. + O dreadful change! for Tancred, haughty Osmond. + --TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA. + +Mr. Vere, whom long practice of dissimulation had enabled to model his +very gait and footsteps to aid the purposes of deception, walked along +the stone passage, and up the first flight of steps towards Miss Vere's +apartment, with the alert, firm, and steady pace of one who is bound, +indeed, upon important business, but who entertains no doubt he can +terminate his affairs satisfactorily. But when out of hearing of the +gentlemen whom he had left, his step became so slow and irresolute, as +to correspond with his doubts and his fears. At length he paused in an +antechamber to collect his ideas, and form his plan of argument, before +approaching his daughter. + +"In what more hopeless and inextricable dilemma was ever an unfortunate +man involved!" Such was the tenor of his reflections.--"If we now fall +to pieces by disunion, there can be little doubt that the government +will take my life as the prime agitator of the insurrection. Or, grant I +could stoop to save myself by a hasty submission, am I not, even in that +case, utterly ruined? I have broken irreconcilably with Ratcliffe, and +can have nothing to expect from that quarter but insult and persecution. +I must wander forth an impoverished and dishonoured man, without +even the means of sustaining life, far less wealth sufficient to +counterbalance the infamy which my countrymen, both those whom I +desert and those whom I join, will attach to the name of the political +renegade. It is not to be thought of. And yet, what choice remains +between this lot and the ignominious scaffold? Nothing can save me but +reconciliation with these men; and, to accomplish this, I have promised +to Langley that Isabella shall marry him ere midnight, and to Mareschal, +that she shall do so without compulsion. I have but one remedy betwixt +me and ruin--her consent to take a suitor whom she dislikes, upon such +short notice as would disgust her, even were he a favoured lover--But +I must trust to the romantic generosity of her disposition; and let +me paint the necessity of her obedience ever so strongly, I cannot +overcharge its reality." + +Having finished this sad chain of reflections upon his perilous +condition, he entered his daughter's apartment with every nerve bent up +to the support of the argument which he was about to sustain. Though a +deceitful and ambitious man, he was not so devoid of natural affection +but that he was shocked at the part he was about to act, in practising +on the feelings of a dutiful and affectionate child; but the +recollections, that, if he succeeded, his daughter would only be +trepanned into an advantageous match, and that, if he failed, he himself +was a lost man, were quite sufficient to drown all scruples. + +He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing-room, her head +reclining on her hand, and either sunk in slumber, or so deeply engaged +in meditation, that she did not hear the noise he made at his entrance. +He approached with his features composed to a deep expression of sorrow +and sympathy, and, sitting down beside her, solicited her attention by +quietly taking her hand, a motion which he did not fail to accompany +with a deep sigh. + +"My father!" said Isabella, with a sort of start, which expressed at +least as much fear, as joy or affection. + +"Yes, Isabella," said Vere, "your unhappy father, who comes now as a +penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury done to her +in the excess of his affection, and then to take leave of her for ever." + +"Sir? Offence to me take leave for ever? What does all this mean?" said +Miss Vere. + +"Yes, Isabella, I am serious. But first let me ask you, have you no +suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance which befell +you yesterday morning?" + +"You, sir?" answered Isabella, stammering between a consciousness that +he had guessed her thoughts justly, and the shame as well as fear which +forbade her to acknowledge a suspicion so degrading and so unnatural. + +"Yes!" he continued, "your hesitation confesses that you entertained +such an opinion, and I have now the painful task of acknowledging that +your suspicions have done me no injustice. But listen to my motives. +In an evil hour I countenanced the addresses of Sir Frederick Langley, +conceiving it impossible that you could have any permanent objections to +a match where the advantages were, in most respects, on your side. In +a worse, I entered with him into measures calculated to restore our +banished monarch, and the independence of my country. He has taken +advantage of my unguarded confidence, and now has my life at his +disposal." + +"Your life, sir?" said Isabella, faintly. + +"Yes, Isabella," continued her father, "the life of him who gave life to +you. So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his headlong passion +(for, to do him justice, I believe his unreasonable conduct arises from +excess of attachment to you) was likely to hurry him, I endeavoured, +by finding a plausible pretext for your absence for some weeks, to +extricate myself from the dilemma in which I am placed. For this purpose +I wished, in case your objections to the match continued insurmountable, +to have sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your +maternal aunt at Paris. By a series of mistakes you have been brought +from the place of secrecy and security which I had destined for your +temporary abode. Fate has baffled my last chance of escape, and I have +only to give you my blessing, and send you from the castle with Mr. +Ratcliffe, who now leaves it; my own fate will soon be decided." + +"Good Heaven, sir! can this be possible?" exclaimed Isabella. "O, why +was I freed from the restraint in which you placed me? or why did you +not impart your pleasure to me?" + +"Think an instant, Isabella. Would you have had me prejudice in your +opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving, by communicating to +you the injurious eagerness with which he pursued his object? Could I do +so honourably, having promised to assist his suit?--But it is all over, +I and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men; it only remains +to send you from hence under a safe escort." + +"Great powers! and is there no remedy?" said the terrified young woman. + +"None, my child," answered Vere, gently, "unless one which you would not +advise your father to adopt--to be the first to betray his friends." + +"O, no! no!" she answered, abhorrently yet hastily, as if to reject +the temptation which the alternative presented to her. "But is there no +other hope--through flight--through mediation--through supplication?--I +will bend my knee to Sir Frederick!" + +"It would be a fruitless degradation; he is determined on his course, +and I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate. On one +condition only he will turn aside from his purpose, and that condition +my lips shall never utter to you." + +"Name it, I conjure you, my dear father!" exclaimed Isabella. "What CAN +he ask that we ought not to grant, to prevent the hideous catastrophe +with which you are threatened?" + +"That, Isabella," said Vere, solemnly, "you shall never know, until your +father's head has rolled on the bloody scaffold; then, indeed, you will +learn there was one sacrifice by which he might have been saved." + +"And why not speak it now?" said Isabella; "do you fear I would flinch +from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation? or would you +bequeath me the bitter legacy of life-long remorse, so oft as I shall +think that you perished, while there remained one mode of preventing the +dreadful misfortune that overhangs you?" + +"Then, my child," said Vere, "since you press me to name what I would a +thousand times rather leave in silence, I must inform you that he will +accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage, and that conferred +before midnight this very evening!" + +"This evening, sir?" said the young lady, struck with horror at the +proposal--"and to such a man!--A man?--a monster, who could wish to win +the daughter by threatening the life of the father--it is impossible!" + +"You say right, my child," answered her father, "it is indeed +impossible; nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such a +sacrifice--It is the course of nature that the old should die and be +forgot, and the young should live and be happy." + +"My father die, and his child can save him!--but no--no--my dear father, +pardon me, it is impossible; you only wish to guide me to your wishes. I +know your object is what you think my happiness, and this dreadful tale +is only told to influence my conduct and subdue my scruples." + +"My daughter," replied Ellieslaw, in a tone where offended authority +seemed to struggle with parental affection, "my child suspects me of +inventing a false tale to work upon her feelings! Even this I must +bear, and even from this unworthy suspicion I must descend to vindicate +myself. You know the stainless honour of your cousin Mareschal--mark +what I shall write to him, and judge from his answer, if the danger in +which we stand is not real, and whether I have not used every means to +avert it." + +He sate down, wrote a few lines hastily, and handed them to Isabella, +who, after repeated and painful efforts, cleared her eyes and head +sufficiently to discern their purport. + +"Dear cousin," said the billet, "I find my daughter, as I expected, in +despair at the untimely and premature urgency of Sir Frederick Langley. +She cannot even comprehend the peril in which we stand, or how much we +are in his power--Use your influence with him, for Heaven's sake, to +modify proposals, to the acceptance of which I cannot, and will not, +urge my child against all her own feelings, as well as those of delicacy +and propriety, and oblige your loving cousin,--R. V." + +In the agitation of the moment, when her swimming eyes and dizzy brain +could hardly comprehend the sense of what she looked upon, it is not +surprising that Miss Vere should have omitted to remark that this +letter seemed to rest her scruples rather upon the form and time of the +proposed union, than on a rooted dislike to the suitor proposed to her. +Mr. Vere rang the bell, and gave the letter to a servant to be delivered +to Mr. Mareschal, and, rising from his chair, continued to traverse +the apartment in silence and in great agitation until the answer was +returned. He glanced it over, and wrung the hand of his daughter as he +gave it to her. The tenor was as follows:-- + +"My dear kinsman, I have already urged the knight on the point you +mention, and I find him as fixed as Cheviot. I am truly sorry my fair +cousin should be pressed to give up any of her maidenly rights. Sir +Frederick consents, however, to leave the castle with me the instant +the ceremony is performed, and we will raise our followers and begin the +fray. Thus there is great hope the bridegroom may be knocked on the head +before he and the bride can meet again, so Bell has a fair chance to be +Lady Langley A TRES BON MARCHE. For the rest, I can only say, that if +she can make up her mind to the alliance at all--it is no time for mere +maiden ceremony--my pretty cousin must needs consent to marry in haste, +or we shall all repent at leisure, or rather have very little leisure +to repent; which is all at present from him who rests your affectionate +kinsman,--R. M." + +"P.S.--Tell Isabella that I would rather cut the knight's throat after +all, and end the dilemma that way, than see her constrained to marry him +against her will." + +When Isabella had read this letter, it dropped from her hand, and she +would, at the same time, have fallen from her chair, had she not been +supported by her father. + +"My God, my child will die!" exclaimed Vere, the feelings of nature +overcoming, even in HIS breast, the sentiments of selfish policy; "look +up, Isabella--look up, my child--come what will, you shall not be +the sacrifice--I will fall myself with the consciousness I leave you +happy--My child may weep on my grave, but she shall not--not in this +instance--reproach my memory." He called a servant.--"Go, bid Ratcliffe +come hither directly." + +During this interval, Miss Vere became deadly pale, clenched her hands, +pressing the palms strongly together, closed her eyes, and drew her lips +with strong compression, as if the severe constraint which she put upon +her internal feelings extended even to her muscular organization. Then +raising her head, and drawing in her breath strongly ere she spoke, she +said, with firmness,--"Father, I consent to the marriage." + +"You shall not--you shall not,--my child--my dear child--you shall not +embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain danger." + +So exclaimed Ellieslaw; and, strange and inconsistent beings that we +are! he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his heart. + +"Father," repeated Isabella, "I will consent to this marriage." + +"No, my child, no--not now at least--we will humble ourselves to obtain +delay from him; and yet, Isabella, could you overcome a dislike +which has no real foundation, think, in other respects, what a +match!--wealth--rank--importance." + +"Father!" reiterated Isabella, "I have consented." + +It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying anything else, or even +of varying the phrase which, with such effort, she had compelled herself +to utter. + +"Heaven bless thee, my child!--Heaven bless thee!--And it WILL bless +thee with riches, with pleasure, with power." + +Miss Vere faintly entreated to be left by herself for the rest of the +evening. + +"But will you not receive Sir Frederick?" said her father, anxiously. + +"I will meet him," she replied, "I will meet him--when I must, and where +I must; but spare me now." + +"Be it so, my dearest; you shall know no restraint that I can save +you from. Do not think too hardly of Sir Frederick for this,--it is an +excess of passion." + +Isabella waved her hand impatiently. + +"Forgive me, my child--I go--Heaven bless thee. At eleven--if you call +me not before--at eleven I come to seek you." + +When he left Isabella she dropped upon her knees--"Heaven aid me +to support the resolution I have taken--Heaven only can--O, poor +Earnscliff! who shall comfort him? and with what contempt will he +pronounce her name, who listened to him to-day and gave herself to +another at night! But let him despise me--better so than that he should +know the truth--let him despise me; if it will but lessen his grief, I +should feel comfort in the loss of his esteem." + +She wept bitterly; attempting in vain, from time to time, to commence +the prayer for which she had sunk on her knees, but unable to calm her +spirits sufficiently for the exercise of devotion. As she remained in +this agony of mind, the door of her apartment was slowly opened. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + The darksome cave they enter, where they found + The woful man, low sitting on the ground, + Musing full sadly in his sullen mind.--FAERY QUEEN. + +The intruder on Miss Vere's sorrows was Ratcliffe. Ellieslaw had, in the +agitation of his mind, forgotten to countermand the order he had given +to call him thither, so that he opened the door with the words, "You +sent for me, Mr. Vere." Then looking around--"Miss Vere, alone! on the +ground! and in tears!" + +"Leave me--leave me, Mr. Ratcliffe," said the unhappy young lady. + +"I must not leave you," said Ratcliffe; "I have been repeatedly +requesting admittance to take my leave of you, and have been refused, +until your father himself sent for me. Blame me not, if I am bold and +intrusive; I have a duty to discharge which makes me so." + +"I cannot listen to you--I cannot speak to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; take my +best wishes, and for God's sake leave me." + +"Tell me only," said Ratcliffe, "is it true that this monstrous match is +to go forward, and this very night? I heard the servants proclaim it as +I was on the great staircase--I heard the directions given to clear out +the chapel." + +"Spare me, Mr. Ratcliffe," replied the luckless bride; "and from the +state in which you see me, judge of the cruelty of these questions." + +"Married? to Sir Frederick Langley? and this night? It must not +cannot--shall not be." + +"It MUST be, Mr. Ratcliff, or my father is ruined." + +"Ah! I understand," answered Ratcliffe; "and you have sacrificed +yourself to save him who--But let the virtue of the child atone for the +faults of the father it is no time to rake them up.--What CAN be done? +Time presses--I know but one remedy--with four-and-twenty hours I might +find many--Miss Vere, you must implore the protection of the only human +being who has it in his power to control the course of events which +threatens to hurry you before it." + +"And what human being," answered Miss Vere, "has such power?" + +"Start not when I name him," said Ratcliffe, coming near her, and +speaking in a low but distinct voice. "It is he who is called Elshender +the Recluse of Mucklestane-Moor." + +"You are mad, Mr. Ratcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by an +ill-timed jest!" + +"I am as much in my senses, young lady," answered her adviser, "as you +are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least of all with +your misery. I swear to you that this being (who is other far than +what he seems) actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this +hateful union." + +"And of insuring my father's safety?" + +"Yes! even that," said Ratcliffe, "if you plead his cause with him--yet +how to obtain admittance to the Recluse!" + +"Fear not that," said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the incident +of the rose; "I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in +my extremity, and gave me this flower as a token. Ere it faded away +entirely, I would need, he said, his assistance: is it possible his +words can have been aught but the ravings of insanity?" + +"Doubt it not fear it not--but above all," said Ratcliffe, "let us lose +no time--are you at liberty, and unwatched?" + +"I believe so," said Isabella: "but what would you have me to do?" + +"Leave the castle instantly," said Ratcliffe, "and throw yourself at the +feet of this extraordinary man, who in circumstances that seem to argue +the extremity of the most contemptible poverty, possesses yet an almost +absolute influence over your fate.--Guests and servants are deep in +their carouse--the leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable +schemes--my horse stands ready in the stable--I will saddle one for you, +and meet you at the little garden-gate--O, let no doubt of my prudence +or fidelity prevent your taking the only step in your power to escape +the dreadful fate which must attend the wife of Sir Frederick Langley!" + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, "you have always been esteemed a man +of honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always catch at the +feeblest twig,--I will trust you--I will follow your advice--I will meet +you at the garden-gate." + +She bolted the outer-door of her apartment as soon as Mr. Ratcliffe left +her, and descended to the garden by a separate stair of communication +which opened to her dressing-room. On the way she felt inclined to +retract the consent she had so hastily given to a plan so hopeless +and extravagant. But as she passed in her descent a private door which +entered into the chapel from the back-stair, she heard the voice of the +female-servants as they were employed in the task of cleaning it. + +"Married! and to sae bad a man--Ewhow, sirs! onything rather than that." + +"They are right--they are right," said Miss Vere, "anything rather than +that!" + +She hurried to the garden. Mr. Ratcliffe was true to his +appointment--the horses stood saddled at the garden-gate, and in a few +minutes they were advancing rapidly towards the hut of the Solitary. + +While the ground was favourable, the speed of their journey was such as +to prevent much communication; but when a steep ascent compelled them to +slacken their pace, a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss Vere's +mind. + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," she said, pulling up her horse's bridle, "let us +prosecute no farther a journey, which nothing but the extreme agitation +of my mind can vindicate my having undertaken--I am well aware that this +man passes among the vulgar as being possessed of supernatural powers, +and carrying on an intercourse with beings of another world; but I would +have you aware I am neither to be imposed on by such follies, nor, were +I to believe in their existence, durst I, with my feelings of religion, +apply to this being in my distress." + +"I should have thought, Miss Vere," replied Ratcliffe, "my character and +habits of thinking were so well known to you, that you might have held +me exculpated from crediting in such absurdity." + +"But in what other mode," said Isabella, "can a being, so miserable +himself in appearance, possess the power of assisting me?" + +"Miss Vere." said Ratcliffe, after a momentary pause, "I am bound by +a solemn oath of secrecy--You must, without farther explanation, be +satisfied with my pledged assurance, that he does possess the power, if +you can inspire him with the will; and that, I doubt not, you will be +able to do." + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, "you may yourself be mistaken; you ask +an unlimited degree of confidence from me." + +"Recollect, Miss Vere," he replied, "that when, in your humanity, you +asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell and his +ruined family--when you requested me to prevail on him to do a +thing most abhorrent to his nature--to forgive an injury and remit a +penalty--I stipulated that you should ask me no questions concerning the +sources of my influence--You found no reason to distrust me then, do not +distrust me now." + +"But the extraordinary mode of life of this man," said Miss Vere; "his +seclusion--his figure--the deepness of mis-anthropy which he is said to +express in his language--Mr. Ratcliffe, what can I think of him if he +really possesses the powers you ascribe to him?" + +"This man, young lady, was bred a Catholic, a sect which affords a +thousand instances of those who have retired from power and affluence to +voluntary privations more strict even than his." + +"But he avows no religious motive," replied Miss Vere. + +"No," replied Ratcliffe; "disgust with the world has operated his +retreat from it without assuming the veil of superstition. Thus far I +may tell you--he was born to great wealth, which his parents designed +should become greater by his union with a kinswoman, whom for that +purpose they bred up in their own house. You have seen his figure; +judge what the young lady must have thought of the lot to which she was +destined--Yet, habituated to his appearance, she showed no reluctance, +and the friends of--of the person whom I speak of, doubted not that the +excess of his attachment, the various acquisitions of his mind, his +many and amiable qualities, had overcome the natural horror which +his destined bride must have entertained at an exterior so dreadfully +inauspicious." + +"And did they judge truly?" said Isabella. + +"You shall hear. He, at least, was fully aware of his own deficiency; +the sense of it haunted him like a phantom. 'I am,' was his own +expression to me,--I mean to a man whom he trusted,--'I am, in spite +of what you would say, a poor miserable outcast, fitter to have been +smothered in the cradle than to have been brought up to scare the world +in which I crawl.' The person whom he addressed in vain endeavoured to +impress him with the indifference to external form which is the natural +result of philosophy, or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental +talents to the more attractive attributes that are merely personal. +'I hear you,' he would reply; 'but you speak the voice of cold-blooded +stoicism, or, at least, of friendly partiality. But look at every book +which we have read, those excepted of that abstract philosophy which +feels no responsive voice in our natural feelings. Is not personal form, +such as at least can be tolerated without horror and disgust, always +represented as essential to our ideas of a friend, far more a lover? +Is not such a mis-shapen monster as I am, excluded, by the very fiat +of Nature, from her fairest enjoyments? What but my wealth prevents +all--perhaps even Letitia, or you--from shunning me as something foreign +to your nature, and more odious, by bearing that distorted resemblance +to humanity which we observe in the animal tribes that are more hateful +to man because they seem his caricature?'" + +"You repeat the sentiments of a madman," said Miss Vere. + +"No," replied her conductor, "unless a morbid and excessive sensibility +on such a subject can be termed insanity. Yet I will not deny that this +governing feeling and apprehension carried the person who entertained +it, to lengths which indicated a deranged imagination. He appeared +to think that it was necessary for him, by exuberant, and not always +well-chosen instances of liberality, and even profusion, to unite +himself to the human race, from which he conceived himself naturally +dissevered. The benefits which he bestowed, from a disposition naturally +philanthropical in an uncommon degree, were exaggerated by the influence +of the goading reflection, that more was necessary from him than from +others,--lavishing his treasures as if to bribe mankind to receive him +into their class. It is scarcely necessary to say, that the bounty which +flowed from a source so capricious was often abused, and his confidence +frequently betrayed. These disappointments, which occur to all, more or +less, and most to such as confer benefits without just discrimination, +his diseased fancy set down to the hatred and contempt excited by his +personal deformity.--But I fatigue you, Miss Vere?" + +"No, by no means; I--I could not prevent my attention from wandering an +instant; pray proceed." + +"He became at length," continued Ratcliffe, "the most ingenious +self-tormentor of whom I have ever heard; the scoff of the rabble, and +the sneer of the yet more brutal vulgar of his own rank, was to him +agony and breaking on the wheel. He regarded the laugh of the common +people whom he passed on the street, and the suppressed titter, or yet +more offensive terror, of the young girls to whom he was introduced in +company, as proofs of the true sense which the world entertained of +him, as a prodigy unfit to be received among them on the usual terms +of society, and as vindicating the wisdom of his purpose in withdrawing +himself from among them. On the faith and sincerity of two persons +alone, he seemed to rely implicitly--on that of his betrothed bride, and +of a friend eminently gifted in personal accomplishments, who seemed, +and indeed probably was, sincerely attached to him. He ought to have +been so at least, for he was literally loaded with benefits by him whom +you are now about to see. The parents of the subject of my story died +within a short space of each other. Their death postponed the marriage, +for which the day had been fixed. The lady did not seem greatly to +mourn this delay,--perhaps that was not to have been expected; but +she intimated no change of intention, when, after a decent interval, +a second day was named for their union. The friend of whom I spoke was +then a constant resident at the Hall. In an evil hour, at the earnest +request and entreaty of this friend, they joined a general party, where +men of different political opinions were mingled, and where they drank +deep. A quarrel ensued; the friend of the Recluse drew his sword with +others, and was thrown down and disarmed by a more powerful antagonist. +They fell in the struggle at the feet of the Recluse, who, maimed and +truncated as his form appears, possesses, nevertheless, great strength, +as well as violent passions. He caught up a sword, pierced the heart +of his friend's antagonist, was tried, and his life, with difficulty, +redeemed from justice at the expense of a year's close imprisonment, the +punishment of manslaughter. The incident affected him most deeply, +the more that the deceased was a man of excellent character, and had +sustained gross insult and injury ere he drew his sword. I think, from +that moment, I observed--I beg pardon--The fits of morbid sensibility +which had tormented this unfortunate gentleman, were rendered henceforth +more acute by remorse, which he, of all men, was least capable of having +incurred, or of sustaining when it became his unhappy lot. His paroxysms +of agony could not be concealed from the lady to whom he was betrothed; +and it must be confessed they were of an alarming and fearful nature. +He comforted himself, that, at the expiry of his imprisonment, he could +form with his wife and friend a society, encircled by which he might +dispense with more extensive communication with the world. He was +deceived; before that term elapsed, his friend and his betrothed bride +were man and wife. The effects of a shock so dreadful on an ardent +temperament, a disposition already soured by bitter remorse, and +loosened by the indulgence of a gloomy imagination from the rest of +mankind, I cannot describe to you; it was as if the last cable at which +the vessel rode had suddenly parted, and left her abandoned to all the +wild fury of the tempest. He was placed under medical restraint. As a +temporary measure this might have been justifiable; but his hard-hearted +friend, who, in consequence of his marriage, was now his nearest ally, +prolonged his confinement, in order to enjoy the management of his +immense estates. There was one who owed his all to the sufferer, an +humble friend, but grateful and faithful. By unceasing exertion, and +repeated invocation of justice, he at length succeeded in obtaining +his patron's freedom, and reinstatement in the management of his own +property, to which was soon added that of his intended bride, who having +died without male issue, her estates reverted to him, as heir of entail. +But freedom and wealth were unable to restore the equipoise of his mind; +to the former his grief made him indifferent--the latter only served him +as far as it afforded him the means of indulging his strange and wayward +fancy. He had renounced the Catholic religion, but perhaps some of +its doctrines continued to influence a mind, over which remorse and +misanthropy now assumed, in appearance, an unbounded authority. His life +has since been that alternately of a pilgrim and a hermit, suffering +the most severe privations, not indeed in ascetic devotion, but in +abhorrence of mankind. Yet no man's words and actions have been at +such a wide difference, nor has any hypocritical wretch ever been more +ingenious in assigning good motives for his vile actions, than this +unfortunate in reconciling to his abstract principles of misanthropy, +a conduct which flows from his natural generosity and kindness of +feeling." + +"Still, Mr. Ratcliffe--still you describe the inconsistencies of a +madman." + +"By no means," replied Ratcliffe. "That the imagination of this +gentleman is disordered, I will not pretend to dispute; I have already +told you that it has sometimes broken out into paroxysms approaching +to real mental alienation. But it is of his common state of mind that I +speak; it is irregular, but not deranged; the shades are as gradual as +those that divide the light of noonday from midnight. The courtier who +ruins his fortune for the attainment of a title which can do him no +good, or power of which he can make no suitable or creditable use, the +miser who hoards his useless wealth, and the prodigal who squanders it, +are all marked with a certain shade of insanity. To criminals who are +guilty of enormities, when the temptation, to a sober mind, bears no +proportion to the horror of the act, or the probability of detection and +punishment, the same observation applies; and every violent passion, as +well as anger, may be termed a short madness." + +"This may be all good philosophy, Mr. Ratcliffe," answered Miss Vere; +"but, excuse me, it by no means emboldens me to visit, at this late +hour, a person whose extravagance of imagination you yourself can only +palliate." + +"Rather, then," said Ratcliffe, "receive my solemn assurances, that you +do not incur the slightest danger. But what I have been hitherto afraid +to mention for fear of alarming you is, that now when we are within +sight of his retreat, for I can discover it through the twilight, I must +go no farther with you; you must proceed alone." + +"Alone?--I dare not." + +"You must," continued Ratcliffe; "I will remain here and wait for you." + +"You will not, then, stir from this place," said Miss Vere "yet +the distance is so great, you could not hear me were I to cry for +assistance." + +"Fear nothing," said her guide; "or observe, at least, the utmost +caution in stifling every expression of timidity. Remember that his +predominant and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness +of the hideousness of his appearance. Your path lies straight beside +yon half-fallen willow; keep the left side of it; the marsh lies on the +right. Farewell for a time. Remember the evil you are threatened with, +and let it overcome at once your fears and scruples." + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Isabella, "farewell; if you have deceived one so +unfortunate as myself, you have for ever forfeited the fair character +for probity and honour to which I have trusted." + +"On my life--on my soul," continued Ratcliffe, raising his voice as the +distance between them increased, "you are safe--perfectly safe." + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + --'Twas time and griefs + That framed him thus: Time, with his fairer hand, + Offering the fortunes of his former days, + The former man may make him.--Bring us to him, + And chance it as it may.--OLD PLAY. + +The sounds of Ratcliffe's voice had died on Isabella's ear; but as she +frequently looked back, it was some encouragement to her to discern his +form now darkening in the gloom. Ere, however, she went much farther, +she lost the object in the increasing shade. The last glimmer of the +twilight placed her before the hut of the Solitary. She twice extended +her hand to the door, and twice she withdrew it; and when she did at +length make the effort, the knock did not equal in violence the throb of +her own bosom. Her next effort was louder; her third was reiterated, for +the fear of not obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe promised +so much, began to overpower the terrors of his presence from whom she +was to request it. At length, as she still received no answer, she +repeatedly called upon the Dwarf by his assumed name, and requested him +to answer and open to her. + +"What miserable being is reduced," said the appalling voice of the +Solitary, "to seek refuge here? Go hence; when the heath-fowl need +shelter, they seek it not in the nest of the night-raven." + +"I come to you, father," said Isabella, "in my hour of adversity, even +as you yourself commanded, when you promised your heart and your door +should be open to my distress; but I fear--" + +"Ha!" said the Solitary, "then thou art Isabella Vere? Give me a token +that thou art she." + +"I have brought you back the rose which you gave me; it has not had time +to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon me!" + +"And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge," said the Dwarf, "I will not +forfeit mine. The heart and the door that are shut against every other +earthly being, shall be open to thee and to thy sorrows." + +She heard him move in his hut, and presently afterwards strike a light. +One by one, bolt and bar were then withdrawn, the heart of Isabella +throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting were successively +removed. The door opened, and the Solitary stood before her, his uncouth +form and features illuminated by the iron lamp which he held in his +hand. + +"Enter, daughter of affliction," he said,--"enter the house of misery." + +She entered, and observed, with a precaution which increased her +trepidation, that the Recluse's first act, after setting the lamp upon +the table, was to replace the numerous bolts which secured the door +of his hut. She shrunk as she heard the noise which accompanied this +ominous operation, yet remembered Ratcliffe's caution, and endeavoured +to suppress all appearance of apprehension. The light of the lamp was +weak and uncertain; but the Solitary, without taking immediate notice of +Isabella, otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small +settle beside the fireplace, made haste to kindle some dry furze, which +presently cast a blaze through the cottage. Wooden shelves, which bore +a few books, some bundles of dried herbs, and one or two wooden cups and +platters, were on one side of the fire; on the other were placed some +ordinary tools of field-labour, mingled with those used by mechanics. +Where the bed should have been, there was a wooden frame, strewed with +withered moss and rushes, the couch of the ascetic. The whole space of +the cottage did not exceed ten feet by six within the walls; and its +only furniture, besides what we have mentioned, was a table and two +stools formed of rough deals. + +Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed with +a being, whose history had nothing to reassure her, and the fearful +conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an almost +superstitious terror. He occupied the seat opposite to her, and dropping +his huge and shaggy eyebrows over his piercing black eyes, gazed at her +in silence, as if agitated by a variety of contending feelings. On the +other side sate Isabella, pale as death, her long hair uncurled by the +evening damps, and falling over her shoulders and breast, as the wet +streamers droop from the mast when the storm has passed away, and left +the vessel stranded on the beach. The Dwarf first broke the silence with +the sudden, abrupt, and alarming question,--"Woman, what evil fate has +brought thee hither?" + +"My father's danger, and your own command," she replied faintly, but +firmly. + +"And you hope for aid from me?" + +"If you can bestow it," she replied, still in the same tone of mild +submission. + +"And how should I possess that power?" continued the Dwarf, with a +bitter sneer; "Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs? Is this the +castle in which one powerful enough to be sued to by a fair suppliant +is likely to hold his residence? I but mocked thee, girl, when I said I +would relieve thee." + +"Then must I depart, and face my fate as I best may!" + +"No!" said the Dwarf, rising and interposing between her and the door, +and motioning to her sternly to resume her seat--"No! you leave me +not in this way; we must have farther conference. Why should one being +desire aid of another? Why should not each be sufficient to itself? Look +round you--I, the most despised and most decrepit on Nature's common, +have required sympathy and help from no one. These stones are of my own +piling; these utensils I framed with my own hands; and with this"--and +he laid his hand with a fierce smile on the long dagger which he always +wore beneath his garment, and unsheathed it so far that the blade +glimmered clear in the fire-light--"with this," he pursued, as he thrust +the weapon back into the scabbard, "I can, if necessary, defend the +vital spark enclosed in this poor trunk, against the fairest and +strongest that shall threaten me with injury." + +It was with difficulty Isabella refrained from screaming out aloud; but +she DID refrain. + +"This," continued the Recluse, "is the life of nature, solitary, +self-sufficing, and independent. The wolf calls not the wolf to aid him +in forming his den; and the vulture invites not another to assist her in +striking down her prey." + +"And when they are unable to procure themselves support," said Isabella, +judiciously thinking that he would be most accessible to argument +couched in his own metaphorical style, "what then is to befall them?" + +"Let them starve, die, and be forgotten; it is the common lot of +humanity." + +"It is the lot of the wild tribes of nature," said Isabella, "but +chiefly of those who are destined to support themselves by rapine, which +brooks no partner; but it is not the law of nature in general; even the +lower orders have confederacies for mutual defence. But mankind--the +race would perish did they cease to aid each other.--From the time +that the mother binds the child's head, till the moment that some kind +assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot +exist without mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid, have right to +ask it of their fellow-mortals; no one who has the power of granting can +refuse it without guilt." + +"And in this simple hope, poor maiden," said the Solitary, "thou hast +come into the desert, to seek one whose wish it were that the league +thou hast spoken of were broken for ever, and that, in very truth, the +whole race should perish? Wert thou not frightened?" + +"Misery," said Isabella, firmly, "is superior to fear." + +"Hast thou not heard it said in thy mortal world, that I have leagued +myself with other powers, deformed to the eye and malevolent to the +human race as myself? Hast thou not heard this--And dost thou seek my +cell at midnight?" + +"The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears," said +Isabella; but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied the affected +courage which her words expressed. + +"Ho! ho!" said the Dwarf, "thou vauntest thyself a philosopher? Yet, +shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrusting thyself, +young and beautiful, in the power of one so spited against humanity, as +to place his chief pleasure in defacing, destroying, and degrading her +fairest works?" + +Isabella, much alarmed, continued to answer with firmness, "Whatever +injuries you may have sustained in the world, you are incapable of +revenging them on one who never wronged you, nor, wilfully, any other." + +"Ay, but, maiden," he continued, his dark eyes flashing with an +expression of malignity which communicated itself to his wild and +distorted features, "revenge is the hungry wolf, which asks only to tear +flesh and lap blood. Think you the lamb's plea of innocence would be +listened to by him?" + +"Man!" said Isabella, rising, and expressing herself with much dignity, +"I fear not the horrible ideas with which you would impress me. I cast +them from me with disdain. Be you mortal or fiend, you would not offer +injury to one who sought you as a suppliant in her utmost need. You +would not--you durst not." + +"Thou say'st truly, maiden," rejoined the Solitary; "I dare not--I would +not. Begone to thy dwelling. Fear nothing with which they threaten thee. +Thou hast asked my protection--thou shalt find it effectual." + +"But, father, this very night I have consented to wed the man that I +abhor, or I must put the seal to my father's ruin." + +"This night?--at what hour?" + +"Ere midnight." + +"And twilight," said the Dwarf, "has already passed away. But fear +nothing, there is ample time to protect thee." + +"And my father?" continued Isabella, in a suppliant tone. + +"Thy father," replied the Dwarf, "has been, and is, my most bitter +enemy. But fear not; thy virtue shall save him. And now, begone; were +I to keep thee longer by me, I might again fall into the stupid dreams +concerning human worth from which I have been so fearfully awakened. But +fear nothing--at the very foot of the altar I will redeem thee. Adieu, +time presses, and I must act!" + +He led her to the door of the hut, which he opened for her departure. +She remounted her horse, which had been feeding in the outer enclosure, +and pressed him forward by the light of the moon, which was now rising, +to the spot where she had left Ratcliffe. + +"Have you succeeded?" was his first eager question. + +"I have obtained promises from him to whom you sent me; but how can he +possibly accomplish them?" + +"Thank God!" said Ratcliffe; "doubt not his power to fulfil his +promise." + +At this moment a shrill whistle was heard to resound along the heath. + +"Hark!" said Ratcliffe, "he calls me--Miss Vere, return home, and leave +unbolted the postern-door of the garden; to that which opens on the +back-stairs I have a private key." + +A second whistle was heard, yet more shrill and prolonged than the +first. + +"I come, I come," said Ratcliffe; and setting spurs to his horse, rode +over the heath in the direction of the Recluse's hut. Miss Vere returned +to the castle, the mettle of the animal on which she rode, and her own +anxiety of mind, combining to accelerate her journey. + +She obeyed Ratcliffe's directions, though without well apprehending +their purpose, and leaving her horse at large in a paddock near +the garden, hurried to her own apartment, which she reached without +observation. She now unbolted her door, and rang her bell for lights. +Her father appeared along with the servant who answered her summons. + +"He had been twice," he said, "listening at her door during the two +hours that had elapsed since he left her, and, not hearing her speak, +had become apprehensive that she was taken ill." + +"And now, my dear father," she said, "permit me to claim the promise you +so kindly gave; let the last moments of freedom which I am to enjoy be +mine without interruption; and protract to the last moment the respite +which is allowed me." + +"I will," said her father; "nor shall you be again interrupted. But this +disordered dress--this dishevelled hair--do not let me find you thus +when I call on you again; the sacrifice, to be beneficial, must be +voluntary." + +"Must it be so?" she replied; "then fear not, my father! the victim +shall be adorned." + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + This looks not like a nuptial.--MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. + +The chapel in the castle of Ellieslaw, destined to be the scene of this +ill-omened union, was a building of much older date than the castle +itself, though that claimed considerable antiquity. Before the wars +between England and Scotland had become so common and of such long +duration, that the buildings along both sides of the Border were chiefly +dedicated to warlike purposes, there had been a small settlement of +monks at Ellieslaw, a dependency, it is believed by antiquaries, on the +rich Abbey of Jedburgh. Their possessions had long passed away under the +changes introduced by war and mutual ravage. A feudal castle had +arisen on the ruin of their cells, and their chapel was included in its +precincts. + +The edifice, in its round arches and massive pillars, the simplicity +of which referred their date to what has been called the Saxon +architecture, presented at all times a dark and sombre appearance, and +had been frequently used as the cemetery of the family of the feudal +lords, as well as formerly of the monastic brethren. But it looked +doubly gloomy by the effect of the few and smoky torches which were used +to enlighten it on the present occasion, and which, spreading a glare +of yellow light in their immediate vicinity, were surrounded beyond by +a red and purple halo reflected from their own smoke, and beyond that +again by a zone of darkness which magnified the extent of the chapel, +while it rendered it impossible for the eye to ascertain its limits. +Some injudicious ornaments, adopted in haste for the occasion, rather +added to the dreariness of the scene. Old fragments of tapestry, torn +from the walls of other apartments, had been hastily and partially +disposed around those of the chapel, and mingled inconsistently with +scutcheons and funeral emblems of the dead, which they elsewhere +exhibited. On each side of the stone altar was a monument, the +appearance of which formed an equally strange contrast. On the one was +the figure, in stone, of some grim hermit, or monk, who had died in +the odour of sanctity; he was represented as recumbent, in his cowl and +scapulaire, with his face turned upward as in the act of devotion, and +his hands folded, from which his string of beads was dependent. On +the other side was a tomb, in the Italian taste, composed of the most +beautiful statuary marble, and accounted a model of modern art. It +was erected to the memory of Isabella's mother, the late Mrs. Vere of +Ellieslaw, who was represented as in a dying posture, while a weeping +cherub, with eyes averted, seemed in the act of extinguishing a +dying lamp as emblematic of her speedy dissolution. It was, indeed, a +masterpiece of art, but misplaced in the rude vault to which it had been +consigned. Many were surprised, and even scandalized, that Ellieslaw, +not remarkable for attention to his lady while alive, should erect after +her death such a costly mausoleum in affected sorrow; others cleared him +from the imputation of hypocrisy, and averred that the monument had +been constructed under the direction and at the sole expense of Mr. +Ratcliffe. + +Before these monuments the wedding guests were assembled. They were +few in number; for many had left the castle to prepare for the ensuing +political explosion, and Ellieslaw was, in the circumstances of the +case, far from being desirous to extend invitations farther than to +those near relations whose presence the custom of the country rendered +indispensable. Next to the altar stood Sir Frederick Langley, dark, +moody, and thoughtful, even beyond his wont, and near him, Mareschal, +who was to play the part of bridesman, as it was called. The thoughtless +humour of this young gentleman, on which he never deigned to place +the least restraint, added to the cloud which overhung the brow of the +bridegroom. + +"The bride is not yet come out of her chamber," he whispered to Sir +Frederick; "I trust that we must not have recourse to the violent +expedients of the Romans which I read of at College. It would be hard +upon my pretty cousin to be run away with twice in two days, though I +know none better worth such a violent compliment." + +Sir Frederick attempted to turn a deaf ear to this discourse, humming a +tune, and looking another may, but Mareschal proceeded in the same wild +manner. + +"This delay is hard upon Dr. Hobbler, who was disturbed to accelerate +preparations for this joyful event when he had successfully extracted +the cork of his third bottle. I hope you will keep him free of the +censure of his superiors, for I take it this is beyond canonical +hours.--But here come Ellieslaw and my pretty cousin--prettier than +ever, I think, were it not she seems so faint and so deadly pale--Hark +ye, Sir Knight, if she says not YES with right good-will, it shall be no +wedding, for all that has come and gone yet." + +"No wedding, sir?" returned Sir Frederick, in a loud whisper, the +tone of which indicated that his angry feelings were suppressed with +difficulty. + +"No--no marriage," replied Mareschal, "there's my hand and glove on't." + +Sir Frederick Langley took his hand, and as he wrung it hard, said in +a lower whisper, "Mareschal, you shall answer this," and then flung his +hand from him. + +"That I will readily do," said Mareschal, "for never word escaped my +lips that my hand was not ready to guarantee.-So, speak up, my pretty +cousin, and tell me if it be your free will and unbiassed resolution to +accept of this gallant knight for your lord and husband; for if you have +the tenth part of a scruple upon the subject, fall back, fall edge, he +shall not have you." + +"Are you mad, Mr. Mareschal?" said Ellieslaw, who, having been this +young man's guardian during his minority, often employed a tone of +authority to him. "Do you suppose I would drag my daughter to the foot +of the altar, were it not her own choice?" + +"Tut, Ellieslaw," retorted the young gentleman, "never tell me of the +contrary; her eyes are full of tears, and her cheeks are whiter than +her white dress. I must insist, in the name of common humanity, that the +ceremony be adjourned till to-morrow." + +"She shall tell you herself, thou incorrigible intermeddler in what +concerns thee not, that it is her wish the ceremony should go on--Is it +not, Isabella, my dear?" + +"It is," said Isabella, half fainting--"since there is no help, either +in God or man." + +The first word alone was distinctly audible. Mareschal shrugged up his +shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rather supported, his +daughter to the altar. Sir Frederick moved forward and placed himself by +her side. The clergyman opened his prayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere +for the signal to commence the service. + +"Proceed," said the latter. + +But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife, called, +in such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in the vaulted +chapel, "Forbear!" + +All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the clash +of swords, or something resembling it, was heard from the remote +apartments. It ceased almost instantly. + +"What new device is this?" said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing +Ellieslaw and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion. + +"It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest," said Ellieslaw, +though greatly confounded; "we must make large allowances for the excess +of this evening's festivity. Proceed with the service." + +Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they had +before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female attendants +screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid their hands on +their swords. Ere the first moment of surprise had passed by, the Dwarf +stepped from behind the monument, and placed himself full in front of +Mr. Vere. The effect of so strange and hideous an apparition in such +a place and in such circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to +annihilate the Laird of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughter's arm, +staggered against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as +if for support, laid his brow against the column. + +"Who is this fellow?" said Sir Frederick; "and what does he mean by this +intrusion?" + +"It is one who comes to tell you," said the Dwarf, with the peculiar +acrimony which usually marked his manner, "that, in marrying that young +lady, you wed neither the heiress of Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley Hall, +nor of Polverton, nor of one furrow of land, unless she marries with MY +consent; and to thee that consent shall never be given. Down--down +on thy knees, and thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding +qualities with which thou hast no concern--portionless truth, virtue, +and innocence--thou, base ingrate," he continued, addressing himself to +Ellieslaw, "what is thy wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who wouldst sell +thy daughter to relieve thee from danger, as in famine thou wouldst have +slain and devoured her to preserve thy own vile life!--Ay, hide thy face +with thy hands; well mayst thou blush to look on him whose body thou +didst consign to chains, his hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. +Saved once more by the virtue of her who calls thee father, go hence, +and may the pardon and benefits I confer on thee prove literal coals of +fire, till thy brain is seared and scorched like mine!" + +Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair. + +"Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe," said the Dwarf, "and inform him of his +destiny. He will rejoice--for to breathe air and to handle gold is to +him happiness." + +"I understand nothing of all this," said Sir Frederick Langley; "but we +are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for King James; and +whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward Mauley, who has been so long +supposed dead in confinement, or whether you be an impostor assuming +his name and title, we will use the freedom of detaining you, till your +appearance here, at this moment, is better accounted for; we will have +no spies among us--Seize on him, my friends." + +But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick himself +stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands on his person, +when his progress was suddenly stopped by the glittering point of a +partisan, which the sturdy hand of Hobbie Elliot presented against his +bosom. + +"I'll gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him!" said the +stout Borderer; "stand back, or I'll strike ye through! Naebody shall +lay a finger on Elshie; he's a canny neighbourly man, aye ready to make +a friend help; and, though ye may think him a lamiter, yet, grippie for +grippie, friend, I'll wad a wether he'll make the bluid spin frae under +your nails. He's a teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smith's vice." + +"What has brought you here, Elliot?" said Mareschal; "who called on you +for interference?" + +"Troth, Mareschal-Wells," answered Hobbie, "I am just come here, wi' +twenty or thretty mair o' us, in my ain name and the King's--or Queen's, +ca' they her? and Canny Elshie's into the bargain, to keep the peace, +and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien me. A bonny breakfast the +loons gae me the ither morning, and him at the bottom on't; and trow +ye I wasna ready to supper him up?--Ye needna lay your hands on your +swords, gentlemen, the house is ours wi' little din; for the doors were +open, and there had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took +their swords and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods." + +Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel. + +"By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with armed +men, and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and let us fight our +way." + +"Binna rash--binna rash," exclaimed Hobbie; "hear me a bit, hear me a +bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King James, as +ye ca' him, and the prelates, we thought it right to keep up the auld +neighbour war, and stand up for the t'other ane and the Kirk; but we'll +no hurt a hair o' your heads, if ye like to gang hame quietly. And it +will be your best way, for there's sure news come frae Loudoun, that him +they ca' Bang, or Byng, or what is't, has bang'd the French ships and +the new king aff the coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi' +auld Nanse for want of a better Queen." + +Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts so +unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost instantly, +and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, with such of his +attendants as were able to follow him. + +"And what will you do, Mr. Mareschal?" said Ratcliffe. + +"Why, faith," answered he, smiling, "I hardly know; my spirit is too +great, and my fortune too small, for me to follow the example of the +doughty bridegroom. It is not in my nature, and it is hardly worth my +while." + +"Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will be +overlooked, as there has been no overt act." + +"Hout, ay," said Elliot, "just let byganes be byganes, and a' friends +again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I hae gien him +baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed three blows of the +broadsword wi' him before he lap the window into the castle-moat, and +swattered through it like a wild-duck. He's a clever fallow, indeed! +maun kilt awa wi' ae bonny lass in the morning, and another at night, +less wadna serve him! but if he disna kilt himsell out o' the country, +I'se kilt him wi' a tow, for the Castleton meeting's clean blawn ower; +his friends will no countenance him." + +During the general confusion, Isabella had thrown herself at the feet of +her kinsman, Sir Edward Mauley, for so we must now call the Solitary, +to express at once her gratitude, and to beseech forgiveness for her +father. The eyes of all began to be fixed on them, as soon as their own +agitation and the bustle of the attendants had somewhat abated. Miss +Vere kneeled beside the tomb of her mother, to whose statue her features +exhibited a marked resemblance. She held the hand of the Dwarf, +which she kissed repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and +motionless, excepting that his eyes glanced alternately on the marble +figure and the living suppliant. At length, the large drops which +gathered on his eye-lashes compelled him to draw his hand across them. + +"I thought," he said, "that tears and I had done; but we shed them at +our birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our graves. But no +melting of the heart shall dissolve my resolution. I part here, at once, +and for ever, with all of which the memory" (looking to the tomb), "or +the presence" (he pressed Isabella's hand), "is dear to me.--Speak not +to me! attempt not to thwart my determination! it will avail nothing; +you will hear of and see this lump of deformity no more. To you I shall +be dead ere I am actually in my grave, and you will think of me as of a +friend disencumbered from the toils and crimes of existence." + +He kissed Isabella on the forehead, impressed another kiss on the +brow of the statue by which she knelt, and left the chapel followed by +Ratcliffe. Isabella, almost exhausted by the emotions of the day, +was carried to her apartment by her women. Most of the other guests +dispersed, after having separately endeavoured to impress on all who +would listen to them their disapprobation of the plots formed against +the government, or their regret for having engaged in them. Hobbie +Elliot assumed the command of the castle for the night, and mounted a +regular guard. He boasted not a little of the alacrity with which his +friends and he had obeyed a hasty summons received from Elshie through +the faithful Ratcliffe. And it was a lucky chance, he said, that on that +very day they had got notice that Westburnflat did not intend to +keep his tryste at Castleton, but to hold them at defiance; so that a +considerable party had assembled at the Heugh-foot, with the intention +of paying a visit to the robber's tower on the ensuing morning, and +their course was easily directed to Ellieslaw Castle. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + --Last scene of all, + To close this strange eventful history.--AS YOU LIKE IT. + +On the next morning, Mr. Ratcliffe presented Miss Vere with a letter +from her father, of which the following is the tenor:-- + +"MY DEAREST CHILD, The malice of a persecuting government will compel +me, for my own safety, to retreat abroad, and to remain for some time +in foreign parts. I do not ask you to accompany, or follow me; you will +attend to my interest and your own more effectually by remaining where +you are. It is unnecessary to enter into a minute detail concerning the +causes of the strange events which yesterday took place. I think I have +reason to complain of the usage I have received from Sir Edward Mauley, +who is your nearest kinsman by the mother's side; but as he has declared +you his heir, and is to put you in immediate possession of a large part +of his fortune, I account it a full atonement. I am aware he has never +forgiven the preference which your mother gave to my addresses, instead +of complying with the terms of a sort of family compact, which absurdly +and tyrannically destined her to wed her deformed relative. The shock +was even sufficient to unsettle his wits (which, indeed, were never +over-well arranged), and I had, as the husband of his nearest kinswoman +and heir, the delicate task of taking care of his person and property, +until he was reinstated in the management of the latter by those who, no +doubt, thought they were doing him justice; although, if some parts of +his subsequent conduct be examined, it will appear that he ought, +for his own sake, to have been left under the influence of a mild and +salutary restraint. + +"In one particular, however, he showed a sense of the ties of blood, +as well as of his own frailty; for while he sequestered himself closely +from the world, under various names and disguises, and insisted on +spreading a report of his own death (in which to gratify him I willingly +acquiesced), he left at my disposal the rents of a great proportion of +his estates, and especially all those, which, having belonged to your +mother, reverted to him as a male fief. In this he may have thought +that he was acting with extreme generosity, while, in the opinion of all +impartial men, he will only be considered as having fulfilled a natural +obligation, seeing that, in justice, if not in strict law, you must +be considered as the heir of your mother, and I as your legal +administrator. Instead, therefore, of considering myself as loaded +with obligations to Sir Edward on this account, I think I had reason +to complain that these remittances were only doled out to me at the +pleasure of Mr. Ratcliffe, who, moreover, exacted from me mortgages +over my paternal estate of Ellieslaw for any sums which I required as an +extra advance; and thus may be said to have insinuated himself into the +absolute management and control of my property. Or, if all this seeming +friendship was employed by Sir Edward for the purpose of obtaining a +complete command of my affairs, and acquiring the power of ruining me +at his pleasure, I feel myself, I must repeat, still less bound by the +alleged obligation. + +"About the autumn of last year, as I understand, either his own crazed +imagination, or the accomplishment of some such scheme as I have hinted, +brought him down to this country. His alleged motive, it seems, was a +desire of seeing a monument which he had directed to be raised in the +chapel over the tomb of your mother. Mr. Ratcliffe, who at this time +had done me the honour to make my house his own, had the complaisance to +introduce him secretly into the chapel. The consequence, as he informs +me, was a frenzy of several hours, during which he fled into the +neighbouring moors, in one of the wildest spots of which he chose, when +he was somewhat recovered, to fix his mansion, and set up for a sort of +country empiric, a character which, even in his best days, he was fond +of assuming. It is remarkable, that, instead of informing me of these +circumstances, that I might have had the relative of my late wife taken +such care of as his calamitous condition required, Mr. Ratcliffe seems +to have had such culpable indulgence for his irregular plans as to +promise and even swear secrecy concerning them. He visited Sir Edward +often, and assisted in the fantastic task he had taken upon him of +constructing a hermitage. Nothing they appear to have dreaded more than +a discovery of their intercourse. + +"The ground was open in every direction around, and a small subterranean +cave, probably sepulchral, which their researches had detected near +the great granite pillar, served to conceal Ratcliffe, when any one +approached his master. I think you will be of opinion, my love, that +this secrecy must have had some strong motive. It is also remarkable, +that while I thought my unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of +La Trappe, he should have been actually living, for many months, in this +bizarre disguise, within five miles of my house, and obtaining regular +information of my most private movements, either by Ratcliffe, or +through Westburnflat or others, whom he had the means to bribe to any +extent. He makes it a crime against me that I endeavoured to establish +your marriage with Sir Frederick. I acted for the best; but if Sir +Edward Mauley thought otherwise, why did he not step manfully forward, +express his own purpose of becoming a party to the settlements, and take +that interest which he is entitled to claim in you as heir to his great +property? + +"Even now, though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat tardy in +announcing his purpose, I am far from opposing my authority against +his wishes, although the person he desires you to regard as your future +husband be young Earnscliff; the very last whom I should have thought +likely to be acceptable to him, considering a certain fatal event. But I +give my free and hearty consent, providing the settlements are drawn in +such an irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by +that state of dependence, and that sudden and causeless revocation of +allowances, of which I have so much reason to complain. Of Sir Frederick +Langley, I augur, you will hear no more. He is not likely to claim the +hand of a dowerless maiden. I therefore commit you, my dear Isabella, to +the wisdom of Providence and to your own prudence, begging you to lose +no time in securing those advantages, which the fickleness of your +kinsman has withdrawn from me to shower upon you. + +"Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edward's intention to settle a considerable +sum upon me yearly, for my maintenance in foreign parts; but this my +heart is too proud to accept from him. I told him I had a dear child, +who, while in affluence herself, would never suffer me to be in poverty. +I thought it right to intimate this to him pretty roundly, that whatever +increase be settled upon you, it may be calculated so as to cover this +necessary and natural encumbrance. I shall willingly settle upon you +the castle and manor of Ellieslaw, to show my parental affection and +disinterested zeal for promoting your settlement in life. The annual +interest of debts charged on the estate somewhat exceeds the income, +even after a reasonable rent has been put upon the mansion and mains. +But as all the debts are in the person of Mr. Ratcliffe, as your +kinsman's trustee, he will not be a troublesome creditor. And here I +must make you aware, that though I have to complain of Mr. Ratcliffe's +conduct to me personally, I, nevertheless, believe him a just and +upright man, with whom you may safely consult on your affairs, not to +mention that to cherish his good opinion will be the best way to retain +that of your kinsman. Remember me to Marchie--I hope he will not be +troubled on account of late matters. I will write more fully from the +Continent. Meanwhile, I rest your loving father, RICHARD VERE." + +The above letter throws the only additional light which we have been +able to procure upon the earlier part of our story. It was Hobbie's +opinion, and may be that of most of our readers, that the Recluse +of Mucklestane-Moor had but a kind of a gleaming, or twilight +understanding; and that he had neither very clear views as to what he +himself wanted, nor was apt to pursue his ends by the clearest and most +direct means; so that to seek the clew of his conduct, was likened, by +Hobbie, to looking for a straight path through a common, over which are +a hundred devious tracks, but not one distinct line of road. + +When Isabella had perused the letter, her first enquiry was after her +father. He had left the castle, she was informed, early in the morning, +after a long interview with Mr. Ratcliffe, and was already far on his +way to the next port, where he might expect to find shipping for the +Continent. + +"Where was Sir Edward Mauley?" + +No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the preceding +evening. + +"Odd, if onything has befa'en puir Elshie," said Hobbie Elliot, "I wad +rather I were harried ower again." + +He immediately rode to his dwelling, and the remaining she-goat came +bleating to meet him, for her milking time was long past. The Solitary +was nowhere to be seen; his door, contrary to wont, was open, his fire +extinguished, and the whole hut was left in the state which it exhibited +on Isabella's visit to him. It was pretty clear that the means of +conveyance which had brought the Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding +evening, had removed him from it to some other place of abode. Hobbie +returned disconsolate to the castle. + +"I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an' a'." + +"You have indeed," said Ratcliffe, producing a paper, which he put into +Hobbie's hands; "but read that, and you will perceive you have been no +loser by having known him." + +It was a short deed of gift, by which "Sir Edward Mauley, otherwise +called Elshender the Recluse, endowed Halbert or Hobbie Elliot, and +Grace Armstrong, in full property, with a considerable sum borrowed by +Elliot from him." + +Hobbie's joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down his +rough cheeks. + +"It's a queer thing," he said; "but I canna joy in the gear, unless I +kend the puir body was happy that gave it me." + +"Next to enjoying happiness ourselves," said Ratcliffe, "is the +consciousness of having bestowed it on others. Had all my master's +benefits been conferred like the present, what a different return would +they have produced! But the indiscriminate profusion that would glut +avarice, or supply prodigality, neither does good, nor is rewarded by +gratitude. It is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind." + +"And that wad be a light har'st," said Hobbie; "but, wi' my young +leddie's leave, I wad fain take down Eishie's skeps o' bees, and set +them in Grace's bit flower yard at the Heugh-foot--they shall ne'er be +smeekit by ony o' huz. And the puir goat, she would be negleckit about a +great toun like this; and she could feed bonnily on our lily lea by the +burn side, and the hounds wad ken her in a day's time, and never fash +her, and Grace wad milk her ilka morning wi' her ain hand, for Elshie's +sake; for though he was thrawn and cankered in his converse, he likeit +dumb creatures weel." + +Hobbie's requests were readily granted, not without some wonder at +the natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this mode of +displaying his gratitude. He was delighted when Ratcliffe informed him +that his benefactor should not remain ignorant of the care which he took +of his favourite. + +"And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties, and, +abune a', Grace and mysell, are weel and thriving, and that it's a' his +doing--that canna but please him, ane wad think." + +And Elliot and the family at Heugh-foot were, and continued to be, as +fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty, tenderness, and gallantry +so well merited. + +All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now removed, +and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part of Sir Edward +Mauley, might have satisfied the cupidity of Ellieslaw himself. But Miss +Vere and Ratcliffe thought it unnecessary to mention to Earnscliff that +one great motive of Sir Edward, in thus loading the young pair with +benefits, was to expiate his having, many years before, shed the blood +of his father in a hasty brawl. If it be true, as Ratcliffe asserted, +that the Dwarf's extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat, under +the consciousness of having diffused happiness among so many, the +recollection of this circumstance might probably be one of his chief +motives for refusing obstinately ever to witness their state of +contentment. + +Mareschal hunted, shot, and drank claret--tired of the country, went +abroad, served three campaigns, came home, and married Lucy Ilderton. + +Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife, and found and left +them contented and happy. The scheming ambition of Sir Frederick +Langley engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of 1715. He was made +prisoner at Preston, in Lancashire, with the Earl of Derwentwater, +and others. His defence, and the dying speech which he made at his +execution, may be found in the State Trials. Mr. Vere, supplied by +his daughter with an ample income, continued to reside abroad, engaged +deeply in the affair of Law's bank during the regency 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 end--drank brandy with +the neighbours, whom, in his younger days, he had plundered--died 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. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Dwarf, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK DWARF *** + +***** This file should be named 1460.txt or 1460.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/1460/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +THE BLACK DWARF +by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. Tales of my Landlord + - Introduction by "Jedediah Cleishbotham" +II. Introduction to THE BLACK DWARF +III. Main text of THE BLACK DWARF + + +Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the + etext in square brackets ("[]") close to the place where + they were referenced by a suffix in the original text. + Text in italics has been written in capital letters. + +* + + +I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD + +COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, +SCHOOLMASTER AND PARISH-CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official +description prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the +sedate and reflecting part of mankind, to whom only I would be +understood to address myself, such attention as is due to the +sedulous instructor of youth, and the careful performer of my +Sabbath duties, I will forbear to hold up a candle to the +daylight, or to point out to the judicious those recommendations +of my labours which they must necessarily anticipate from the +perusal of the title-page. Nevertheless, I am not unaware, that, +as Envy always dogs Merit at the heels, there may be those who +will whisper, that albeit my learning and good principles cannot +(lauded be the heavens) be denied by any one, yet that my +situation at Gandercleugh hath been more favourable to my +acquisitions in learning than to the enlargement of my views of +the ways and works of the present generation. To the which +objection, if, peradventure, any such shall be started, my answer +shall be threefold: + +First, Gandercleugh is, as it were, the central part--the navel +(SI FAS SIT DICERE) of this our native realm of Scotland; so that +men, from every corner thereof, when travelling on their +concernments of business, either towards our metropolis of law, +by which I mean Edinburgh, or towards our metropolis and mart of +gain, whereby I insinuate Glasgow, are frequently led to make +Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place of rest for the night. +And it must be acknowledged by the most sceptical, that I, who +have sat in the leathern armchair, on the left-hand side of the +fire, in the common room of the Wallace Inn, winter and summer, +for every evening in my life, during forty years bypast (the +Christian Sabbaths only excepted), must have seen more of the +manners and customs of various tribes and people, than if I had +sought them out by my own painful travel and bodily labour. Even +so doth the tollman at the well-frequented turn-pike on the +Wellbraehead, sitting at his ease in his own dwelling, gather +more receipt of custom, than if, moving forth upon the road, he +were to require a contribution from each person whom he chanced +to meet in his journey, when, according to the vulgar adage, he +might possibly be greeted with more kicks than halfpence. + +But, secondly, supposing it again urged, that Ithacus, the most +wise of the Greeks, acquired his renown, as the Roman poet hath +assured us, by visiting states and men, I reply to the Zoilus who +shall adhere to this objection, that, DE FACTO, I have seen +states and men also; for I have visited the famous cities of +Edinburgh and Glasgow, the former twice, and the latter three +times, in the course of my earthly pilgrimage. And, moreover, I +had the honour to sit in the General Assembly (meaning, as an +auditor, in the galleries thereof), and have heard as much goodly +speaking on the law of patronage, as, with the fructification +thereof in mine own understanding, hath made me be considered as +an oracle upon that doctrine ever since my safe and happy return +to Gandercleugh. + +Again--and thirdly, If it be nevertheless pretended that my +information and knowledge of mankind, however extensive, and +however painfully acquired, by constant domestic enquiry, and by +foreign travel, is, natheless, incompetent to the task of +recording the pleasant narratives of my Landlord, I will let +these critics know, to their own eternal shame and confusion as +well as to the abashment and discomfiture of all who shall rashly +take up a song against me, that I am NOT the writer, redacter, or +compiler, of the Tales of my Landlord; nor am I, in one single +iota, answerable for their contents, more or less. And now, ye +generation of critics, who raise yourselves up as if it were +brazen serpents, to hiss with your tongues, and to smite with +your stings, bow yourselves down to your native dust, and +acknowledge that yours have been the thoughts of ignorance, and +the words of vain foolishness. Lo! ye are caught in your own +snare, and your own pit hath yawned for you. Turn, then, aside +from the task that is too heavy for you; destroy not your teeth +by gnawing a file; waste not your strength by spurning against a +castle wall; nor spend your breath in contending in swiftness +with a fleet steed; and let those weigh the Tales of my Landlord, +who shall bring with them the scales of candour cleansed from the +rust of prejudice by the hands of intelligent modesty. For these +alone they were compiled, as will appear from a brief narrative +which my zeal for truth compelled me to make supplementary to the +present Proem. + +It is well known that my Landlord was a pleasing and a facetious +man, acceptable unto all the parish of Gandercleugh, excepting +only the Laird, the Exciseman, and those for whom he refused to +draw liquor upon trust. Their causes of dislike I will touch +separately, adding my own refutation thereof. + +His honour, the Laird, accused our Landlord, deceased, of having +encouraged, in various times and places, the destruction of +hares, rabbits, fowls black and grey, partridges, moor-pouts, +roe-deer, and other birds and quadrupeds, at unlawful seasons, +and contrary to the laws of this realm, which have secured, in +their wisdom, the slaughter of such animals for the great of the +earth, whom I have remarked to take an uncommon (though to me, an +unintelligible) pleasure therein. Now, in humble deference to +his honour, and in justifiable defence of my friend deceased, I +reply to this charge, that howsoever the form of such animals +might appear to be similar to those so protected by the law, yet +it was a mere DECEPTIO VISUS; for what resembled hares were, in +fact, HILL-KIDS, and those partaking of the appearance of moor- +fowl, were truly WOOD PIGEONS and consumed and eaten EO NOMINE, +and not otherwise. + +Again, the Exciseman pretended, that my deceased Landlord did +encourage that species of manufacture called distillation, +without having an especial permission from the Great, technically +called a license, for doing so. Now, I stand up to confront this +falsehood; and in defiance of him, his gauging-stick, and pen and +inkhorn, I tell him, that I never saw, or tasted, a glass of +unlawful aqua vitae in the house of my Landlord; nay, that, on +the contrary, we needed not such devices, in respect of a +pleasing and somewhat seductive liquor, which was vended and +consumed at the Wallace Inn, under the name of MOUNTAIN DEW. If +there is a penalty against manufacturing such a liquor, let him +show me the statute; and when he does, I'll tell him if I will +obey it or no. + +Concerning those who came to my Landlord for liquor, and went +thirsty away, for lack of present coin, or future credit, I +cannot but say it has grieved my bowels as if the case had been +mine own. Nevertheless, my Landlord considered the necessities +of a thirsty soul, and would permit them, in extreme need, and +when their soul was impoverished for lack of moisture, to drink +to the full value of their watches and wearing apparel, +exclusively of their inferior habiliments, which he was uniformly +inexorable in obliging them to retain, for the credit of the +house. As to mine own part, I may well say, that he never +refused me that modicum of refreshment with which I am wont to +recruit nature after the fatigues of my school. It is true, I +taught his five sons English and Latin, writing, book-keeping, +with a tincture of mathematics, and that I instructed his +daughter in psalmody. Nor do I remember me of any fee or +HONORARIUM received from him on account of these my labours, +except the compotations aforesaid. Nevertheless this +compensation suited my humour well, since it is a hard sentence +to bid a dry throat wait till quarter-day. + +But, truly, were I to speak my simple conceit and belief, I think +my Landlord was chiefly moved to waive in my behalf the usual +requisition of a symbol, or reckoning, from the pleasure he was +wont to take in my conversation, which, though solid and edifying +in the main, was, like a well-built palace, decorated with +facetious narratives and devices, tending much to the enhancement +and ornament thereof. And so pleased was my Landlord of the +Wallace in his replies during such colloquies, that there was no +district in Scotland, yea, and no peculiar, and, as it were, +distinctive custom therein practised, but was discussed betwixt +us; insomuch, that those who stood by were wont to say, it was +worth a bottle of ale to hear us communicate with each other. +And not a few travellers, from distant parts, as well as from the +remote districts of our kingdom, were wont to mingle in the +conversation, and to tell news that had been gathered in foreign +lands, or preserved from oblivion in this our own. + +Now I chanced to have contracted for teaching the lower classes +with a young person called Peter, or Patrick, Pattieson, who had +been educated for our Holy Kirk, yea, had, by the license of +presbytery, his voice opened therein as a preacher, who delighted +in the collection of olden tales and legends, and in garnishing +them with the flowers of poesy, whereof he was a vain and +frivolous professor. For he followed not the example of those +strong poets whom I preposed to him as a pattern, but formed +versification of a flimsy and modern texture, to the compounding +whereof was necessary small pains and less thought. And hence I +have chid him as being one of those who bring forward the fatal +revolution prophesied by Mr. Robert Carey, in his Vaticination on +the Death of the celebrated Dr. John Donne: + + Now thou art gone, and thy strict laws will be + Too hard for libertines in poetry; + Till verse (by thee refined) in this last age + Turn ballad rhyme. + +I had also disputations with him touching his indulging rather a +flowing and redundant than a concise and stately diction in his +prose exercitations. But notwithstanding these symptoms of +inferior taste, and a humour of contradicting his betters upon +passages of dubious construction in Latin authors, I did +grievously lament when Peter Pattieson was removed from me by +death, even as if he had been the offspring of my own loins. And +in respect his papers had been left in my care (to answer funeral +and death-bed expenses), I conceived myself entitled to dispose +of one parcel thereof, entitled, "Tales of my Landlord," to one +cunning in the trade (as it is called) of bookselling. He was a +mirthful man, of small stature, cunning in counterfeiting of +voices, and in making facetious tales and responses, and whom I +have to laud for the truth of his dealings towards me. + +Now, therefore, the world may see the injustice that charges me +with incapacity to write these narratives, seeing, that though I +have proved that I could have written them if I would, yet, not +having done so, the censure will deservedly fall, if at all due, +upon the memory of Mr. Peter Pattieson; whereas I must be justly +entitled to the praise, when any is due, seeing that, as the Dean +of St. Patrick's wittily and logically expresseth it, + + That without which a thing is not, + Is CAUSA SINE QUA NON. + +The work, therefore, is unto me as a child is to a parent; in the +which child, if it proveth worthy, the parent hath honour and +praise; but, if otherwise, the disgrace will deservedly attach to +itself alone. + +I have only further to intimate, that Mr. Peter Pattieson, in +arranging these Tales for the press, hath more consulted his own +fancy than the accuracy of the narrative; nay, that he hath +sometimes blended two or three stories together for the mere +grace of his plots. Of which infidelity, although I disapprove +and enter my testimony against it, yet I have not taken upon me +to correct the same, in respect it was the will of the deceased, +that his manuscript should be submitted to the press without +diminution or alteration. A fanciful nicety it was on the part +of my deceased friend, who, if thinking wisely, ought rather to +have conjured me, by all the tender ties of our friendship and +common pursuits, to have carefully revised, altered, and +augmented, at my judgment and discretion. But the will of the +dead must be scrupulously obeyed, even when we weep over their +pertinacity and self-delusion. So, gentle reader, I bid you +farewell, recommending you to such fare as the mountains of your +own country produce; and I will only farther premise, that each +Tale is preceded by a short introduction, mentioning the persons +by whom, and the circumstances under which, the materials thereof +were collected. + +JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM. + + +* + + +II. INTRODUCTION to THE BLACK DWARF. + +The ideal being who is here presented as residing in solitude, +and haunted by a consciousness of his own deformity, and a +suspicion of his being generally subjected to the scorn of his +fellow-men, is not altogether imaginary. An individual existed +many years since, under the author's observation, which suggested +such a character. This poor unfortunate man's name was David +Ritchie, a native of Tweeddale. He was the son of a labourer in +the slate-quarries of Stobo, and must have been born in the +misshapen form which he exhibited, though he sometimes imputed it +to ill-usage when in infancy. He was bred a brush-maker at +Edinburgh, and had wandered to several places, working at his +trade, from all which he was chased by the disagreeable attention +which his hideous singularity of form and face attracted wherever +he came. The author understood him to say he had even been in +Dublin. + +Tired at length of being the object of shouts, laughter, and +derision, David Ritchie resolved, like a deer hunted from the +herd, to retreat to some wilderness, where he might have the +least possible communication with the world which scoffed at him. +He settled himself, with this view, upon a patch of wild moorland +at the bottom of a bank on the farm of Woodhouse, in the +sequestered vale of the small river Manor, in Peeblesshire. The +few people who had occasion to pass that way were much surprised, +and some superstitious persons a little alarmed, to see so +strange a figure as Bow'd Davie (i.e. Crooked David) employed in +a task, for which he seemed so totally unfit, as that of erecting +a house. The cottage which he built was extremely small, but the +walls, as well as those of a little garden that surrounded it, +were constructed with an ambitious degree of solidity, being +composed of layers of large stones and turf; and some of the +corner stones were so weighty, as to puzzle the spectators how +such a person as the architect could possibly have raised them. +In fact, David received from passengers, or those who came +attracted by curiosity, a good deal of assistance; and as no one +knew how much aid had been given by others, the wonder of each +individual remained undiminished. + +The proprietor of the ground, the late Sir James Naesmith, +baronet, chanced to pass this singular dwelling, which, having +been placed there without right or leave asked or given, formed +an exact parallel with Falstaff's simile of a "fair house built +on another's ground;" so that poor David might have lost his +edifice by mistaking the property where he had erected it. Of +course, the proprietor entertained no idea of exacting such a +forfeiture, but readily sanctioned the harmless encroachment. + +The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane-Moor has +been generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated +portrait of David of Manor Water. He was not quite three feet +and a half high, since he could stand upright in the door of his +mansion, which was just that height. The following particulars +concerning his figure and temper occur in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for +1817, and are now understood to have been communicated by the +ingenious Mr. Robert Chambers of Edinburgh, who has recorded with +much spirit the traditions of the Good Town, and, in other +publications, largely and agreeably added to the stock of our +popular antiquities. He is the countryman of David Ritchie, and +had the best access to collect anecdotes of him. + +"His skull," says this authority, "which was of an oblong and +rather unusual shape, was said to be of such strength, that he +could strike it with ease through the panel of a door, or the end +of a barrel. His laugh is said to have been quite horrible; and +his screech-owl voice, shrill, uncouth, and dissonant, +corresponded well with his other peculiarities. + +"There was nothing very uncommon about his dress. He usually +wore an old slouched hat when he went abroad; and when at home, a +sort of cowl or night-cap. He never wore shoes, being unable to +adapt them to his mis-shapen finlike feet, but always had both +feet and legs quite concealed, and wrapt up with pieces of cloth. +He always walked with a sort of pole or pike-staff, considerably +taller than himself. His habits were, in many respects, +singular, and indicated a mind congenial to its uncouth +tabernacle. A jealous, misanthropical, and irritable temper, was +his prominent characteristic. The sense of his deformity haunted +him like a phantom. And the insults and scorn to which this +exposed him, had poisoned his heart with fierce and bitter +feelings, which, from other points in his character, do not +appear to have been more largely infused into his original +temperament than that of his fellow-men. + +"He detested children, on account of their propensity to insult +and persecute him. To strangers he was generally reserved, +crabbed, and surly; and though he by no means refused assistance +or charity, he seldom either expressed or exhibited much +gratitude. Even towards persons who had been his greatest +benefactors, and who possessed the greatest share of his good- +will, he frequently displayed much caprice and jealousy. A lady +who had known him from his infancy, and who has furnished us in +the most obliging manner with some particulars respecting him, +says, that although Davie showed as much respect and attachment +to her father's family, as it was in his nature to show to any, +yet they were always obliged to be very cautious in their +deportment towards him. One day, having gone to visit him with +another lady, he took them through his garden, and was showing +them, with much pride and good-humour, all his rich and +tastefully assorted borders, when they happened to stop near a +plot of cabbages which had been somewhat injured by the +caterpillars. Davie, observing one of the ladies smile, +instantly assumed his savage, scowling aspect, rushed among the +cabbages, and dashed them to pieces with his KENT, exclaiming, 'I +hate the worms, for they mock me!' + +"Another lady, likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his, +very unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar +occasion. Throwing back his jealous glance as he was ushering +her into his garden, he fancied he observed her spit, and +exclaimed, with great ferocity, 'Am I a toad, woman! that ye spit +at me--that ye spit at me?' and without listening to any answer +or excuse, drove her out of his garden with imprecations and +insult. When irritated by persons for whom he entertained little +respect, his misanthropy displayed itself in words, and sometimes +in actions, of still greater rudeness; and he used on such +occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and +threats." [SCOTS MAGAZINE, vol. lxxx. p.207.] + +Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her +works; and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate, which +does not possess some source of gratification peculiar to itself, +This poor man, whose misanthropy was founded in a sense on his +own preternatural deformity, had yet his own particular +enjoyments. Driven into solitude, he became an admirer of the +beauties of nature. His garden, which he sedulously cultivated, +and from a piece of wild moorland made a very productive spot, +was his pride and his delight; but he was also an admirer of more +natural beauty: the soft sweep of the green hill, the bubbling +of a clear fountain, or the complexities of a wild thicket, were +scenes on which he often gazed for hours, and, as he said, with +inexpressible delight. It was perhaps for this reason that he +was fond of Shenstone's pastorals, and some parts of PARADISE +LOST. The author has heard his most unmusical voice repeat the +celebrated description of Paradise, which he seemed fully to +appreciate. His other studies were of a different cast, chiefly +polemical. He never went to the parish church, and was therefore +suspected of entertaining heterodox opinions, though his +objection was probably to the concourse of spectators, to whom he +must have exposed his unseemly deformity. He spoke of a future +state with intense feeling, and even with tears. He expressed +disgust at the idea, of his remains being mixed with the common +rubbish, as he called it, of the churchyard, and selected with +his usual taste a beautiful and wild spot in the glen where he +had his hermitage, in which to take his last repose. He changed +his mind, however, and was finally interred in the common burial- +ground of Manor parish. + +The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which +made him appear, in the eyes of the vulgar, a man possessed of +supernatural power. Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar +compliment, for some of the poor and ignorant, as well as all the +children, in the neighbourhood, held him to be what is called +uncanny. He himself did not altogether discourage the idea; it +enlarged his very limited circle of power, and in so far +gratified his conceit; and it soothed his misanthropy, by +increasing his means of giving terror or pain. But even in a +rude Scottish glen thirty years back, the fear of sorcery was +very much out of date. + +David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes, especially +such as were supposed to be haunted, and valued himself upon his +courage in doing so. To be sure he had little chance of meeting +anything more ugly than himself. At heart, he was superstitious, +and planted many rowans (mountain ashes) around his hut, as a +certain defence against necromancy. For the same reason, +doubtless, he desired to have rowan-trees set above his grave. + +We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural +beauty. His only living favourites were a dog and a cat, to +which he was particularly attached, and his bees, which he +treated with great care. He took a sister, latterly, to live in +a hut adjacent to his own, but he did not permit her to enter it. +She was weak in intellect, but not deformed in person; simple, or +rather silly, but not, like her brother, sullen or bizarre. +David was never affectionate to her; it was not in his nature; +but he endured her. He maintained himself and her by the sale of +the product of their garden and bee-hives; and, latterly, they +had a small allowance from the parish. Indeed, in the simple and +patriarchal state in which the country then was, persons in the +situation of David and his sister were sure to be supported. +They had only to apply to the next gentleman or respectable +farmer, and were sure to find them equally ready and willing to +supply their very moderate wants. David often received +gratuities from strangers, which he never asked, never refused, +and never seemed to consider as an obligation. He had a right, +indeed, to regard himself as one of Nature's paupers, to whom she +gave a title to be maintained by his kind, even by that deformity +which closed against him all ordinary ways of supporting himself +by his own labour. Besides, a bag was suspended in the mill for +David Ritchie's benefit; and those who were carrying home a +melder of meal, seldom failed to add a GOWPEN [Handful] to the +alms-bag of the deformed cripple. In short, David had no +occasion for money, save to purchase snuff, his only luxury, in +which he indulged himself liberally. When he died, in the +beginning of the present century, he was found to have hoarded +about twenty pounds, a habit very consistent with his +disposition; for wealth is power, and power was what David +Ritchie desired to possess, as a compensation for his exclusion +from human society. + +His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which +this brief notice forms the introduction; and the author is sorry +to learn that a sort of "local sympathy," and the curiosity then +expressed concerning the Author of WAVERLEY and the subjects of +his Novels, exposed the poor woman to enquiries which gave her +pain. When pressed about her brother's peculiarities, she asked, +in her turn, why they would not permit the dead to rest? To +others, who pressed for some account of her parents, she answered +in the same tone of feeling. + +The author saw this poor, and, it may be said, unhappy man, in +autumn 1797 being then, as he has the happiness still to remain, +connected by ties of intimate friendship with the family of the +venerable Dr. Adam Fergusson, the philosopher and historian, who +then resided at the mansion-house of Halyards, in the vale of +Manor, about a mile from Ritchie's hermitage, the author was upon +a visit at Halyards, which lasted for several days, and was made +acquainted with this singular anchorite, whom Dr. Fergusson +considered as an extraordinary character, and whom he assisted in +various ways, particularly by the occasional loan of books. +Though the taste of the philosopher and the poor peasant did not, +it may be supposed, always correspond, [I remember David was +particularly anxious to see a book, which he called, I think, +LETTERS TO ELECT LADIES, and which, he said, was the best +composition he had ever read; but Dr. Fergusson's library did not +supply the volume.] Dr. Fergusson considered him as a man of a +powerful capacity and original ideas, but whose mind was thrown +off its just bias by a predominant degree of self-love and self- +opinion, galled by the sense of ridicule and contempt, and +avenging itself upon society, in idea at least, by a gloomy +misanthropy. + +David Ritchie, besides the utter obscurity of his life while in +existence, had been dead for many years, when it occurred to the +author that such a character might be made a powerful agent in +fictitious narrative. He, accordingly, sketched that of Elshie +of the Mucklestane-Moor. The story was intended to be longer, +and the catastrophe more artificially brought out; but a friendly +critic, to whose opinion I subjected the work in its progress, +was of opinion, that the idea of the Solitary was of a kind too +revolting, and more likely to disgust than to interest the +reader. As I had good right to consider my adviser as an +excellent judge of public opinion, I got off my subject by +hastening the story to an end, as fast as it was possible; and, +by huddling into one volume, a tale which was designed to occupy +two, have perhaps produced a narrative as much disproportioned +and distorted, as the Black Dwarf who is its subject. + + +* + + +III. THE BLACK DWARF. + + +CHAPTER I. + +PRELIMINARY. + + Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd? AS YOU LIKE IT. + +It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard +the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling +mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the +Wallace Inn. The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a +grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge +silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls. He +was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well +in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double- +bitted military bridle. The man who accompanied him was +apparently his servant; he rode a shaggy little grey pony, had a +blue bonnet on his head, and a large check napkin folded about +his neck, wore a pair of long blue worsted hose instead of boots, +had his gloveless hands much stained with tar, and observed an +air of deference and respect towards his companion, but without +any of those indications of precedence and punctilio which are +preserved between the gentry and their domestics. On the +contrary, the two travellers entered the court-yard abreast, and +the concluding sentence of the conversation which had been +carrying on betwixt them was a joint ejaculation, "Lord guide us, +an this weather last, what will come o' the lambs!" The hint was +sufficient for my Landlord, who, advancing to take the horse of +the principal person, and holding him by the reins as he +dismounted, while his ostler rendered the same service to the +attendant, welcomed the stranger to Gandercleugh, and, in the +same breath, enquired, "What news from the south hielands?" + +"News?" said the farmer, "bad eneugh news, I think;--an we can +carry through the yowes, it will be a' we can do; we maun e'en +leave the lambs to the Black Dwarfs care." + +"Ay, ay," subjoined the old shepherd (for such he was), shaking +his head, "he'll be unco busy amang the morts this season." + +"The Black Dwarf!" said MY LEARNED FRIEND AND PATRON, Mr. +Jedediah Cleishbotham, "and what sort of a personage may he be?" + +[We have, in this and other instances, printed in italics +(CAPITALS in this etext) some few words which the worthy editor, +Mr. Jedediah Cleishbotham, seems to have interpolated upon the +text of his deceased friend, Mr. Pattieson. We must observe, +once for all, that such liberties seem only to have been taken by +the learned gentleman where his own character and conduct are +concerned; and surely he must be the best judge of the style in +which his own character and conduct should be treated of.] + +"Hout awa, man," answered the farmer, "ye'll hae heard o' Canny +Elshie the Black Dwarf, or I am muckle mistaen--A' the warld +tells tales about him, but it's but daft nonsense after a'--I +dinna believe a word o't frae beginning to end." + +"Your father believed it unco stievely, though," said the old +man, to whom the scepticism of his master gave obvious +displeasure. + +"Ay, very true, Bauldie, but that was in the time o' the +blackfaces--they believed a hantle queer things in thae days, +that naebody heeds since the lang sheep cam in." + +"The mair's the pity, the mair's the pity," said the old man. +"Your father, and sae I have aften tell'd ye, maister, wad hae +been sair vexed to hae seen the auld peel-house wa's pu'd down to +make park dykes; and the bonny broomy knowe, where he liked sae +weel to sit at e'en, wi' his plaid about him, and look at the kye +as they cam down the loaning, ill wad he hae liked to hae seen +that braw sunny knowe a' riven out wi' the pleugh in the fashion +it is at this day." + +"Hout, Bauldie," replied the principal, "tak ye that dram the +landlord's offering ye, and never fash your head about the +changes o' the warld, sae lang as ye're blithe and bien +yoursell." + +"Wussing your health, sirs," said the shepherd; and having taken +off his glass, and observed the whisky was the right thing, he +continued, "It's no for the like o' us to be judging, to be sure; +but it was a bonny knowe that broomy knowe, and an unco braw +shelter for the lambs in a severe morning like this." + +"Ay," said his patron, "but ye ken we maun hae turnips for the +lang sheep, billie, and muckle hard wark to get them, baith wi' +the pleugh and the howe; and that wad sort ill wi' sitting on the +broomy knowe, and cracking about Black Dwarfs, and siccan +clavers, as was the gate lang syne, when the short sheep were in +the fashion." + +"Aweel, aweel, maister," said the attendant, "short sheep had +short rents, I'm thinking." + +Here my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron again interposed, and observed, +"that he could never perceive any material difference, in point +of longitude, between one sheep and another." + +This occasioned a loud hoarse laugh on the part of the farmer, +and an astonished stare on the part of the shepherd. + +"It's the woo', man,--it's the woo', and no the beasts themsells, +that makes them be ca'd lang or short. I believe if ye were to +measure their backs, the short sheep wad be rather the langer- +bodied o' the twa; but it's the woo' that pays the rent in thae +days, and it had muckle need." + +"Odd, Bauldie says very true,--short sheep did make short rents-- +my father paid for our steading just threescore punds, and it +stands me in three hundred, plack and bawbee.--And that's very +true--I hae nae time to be standing here clavering--Landlord, +get us our breakfast, and see an' get the yauds fed--I am for +doun to Christy Wilson's, to see if him and me can gree about the +luckpenny I am to gie him for his year-aulds. We had drank sax +mutchkins to the making the bargain at St. Boswell's fair, and +some gate we canna gree upon the particulars preceesely, for as +muckle time as we took about it--I doubt we draw to a plea--But +hear ye, neighbour," addressing my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron, "if +ye want to hear onything about lang or short sheep, I will be +back here to my kail against ane o'clock; or, if ye want ony +auld-warld stories about the Black Dwarf, and sic-like, if ye'll +ware a half mutchkin upon Bauldie there, he'll crack t'ye like a +pen-gun. And I'se gie ye a mutchkin mysell, man, if I can settle +weel wi' Christy Wilson." + +The farmer returned at the hour appointed, and with him came +Christy Wilson, their difference having been fortunately settled +without an appeal to the gentlemen of the long robe. My LEARNED +AND WORTHY patron failed not to attend, both on account of the +refreshment promised to the mind and to the body, ALTHOUGH HE IS +KNOWN TO PARTAKE OF THE LATTER IN A VERY MODERATE DEGREE; and the +party, with which my Landlord was associated, continued to sit +late in the evening, seasoning their liquor with many choice +tales and songs. The last incident which I recollect, was my +LEARNED AND WORTHY patron falling from his chair, just as he +concluded a long lecture upon temperance, by reciting, from the +"Gentle Shepherd," a couplet, which he RIGHT HAPPILY transferred +from the vice of avarice to that of ebriety: + + He that has just eneugh may soundly sleep, + The owercome only fashes folk to keep. + +In the course of the evening the Black Dwarf had not been +forgotten, and the old shepherd, Bauldie, told so many stories of +him, that they excited a good deal of interest. It also +appeared, though not till the third punch-bowl was emptied, that +much of the farmer's scepticism on the subject was affected, as +evincing a liberality of thinking, and a freedom from ancient +prejudices, becoming a man who paid three hundred pounds a-year +of rent, while, in fact, he had a lurking belief in the +traditions of his forefathers. After my usual manner, I made +farther enquiries of other persons connected with the wild and +pastoral district in which the scene of the following narrative +is placed, and I was fortunate enough to recover many links of +the story, not generally known, and which account, at least in +some degree, for the circumstances of exaggerated marvel with +which superstition has attired it in the more vulgar traditions. + +[The Black Dwarf, now almost forgotten, was once held a +formidable personage by the dalesmen of the Border, where he got +the blame of whatever mischief befell the sheep or cattle. "He +was," says Dr. Leyden, who makes considerable use of him in the +ballad called the Cowt of Keeldar, "a fairy of the most malignant +order--the genuine Northern Duergar." The best and most +authentic account of this dangerous and mysterious being occurs +in a tale communicated to the author by that eminent antiquary, +Richard Surtees, Esq. of Mainsforth, author of the HISTORY OF THE +BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM. + +According to this well-attested legend, two young Northumbrians +were out on a shooting party, and had plunged deep among the +mountainous moorlands which border on Cumberland. They stopped +for refreshment in a little secluded dell by the side of a +rivulet. There, after they had partaken of such food as they +brought with them, one of the party fell asleep; the other, +unwilling to disturb his friend's repose, stole silently out of +the dell with the purpose of looking around him, when he was +astonished to find himself close to a being who seemed not to +belong to this world, as he was the most hideous dwarf that the +sun had ever shone on. His head was of full human size, forming +a frightful contrast with his height, which was considerably +under four feet. It was thatched with no other covering than +long matted red hair, like that of the felt of a badger in +consistence, and in colour a reddish brown, like the hue of the +heather-blossom. His limbs seemed of great strength; nor was he +otherwise deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness +to his diminutive height. The terrified sportsman stood gazing +on this horrible apparition, until, with an angry countenance, +the being demanded by what right he intruded himself on those +hills, and destroyed their harmless inhabitants. The perplexed +stranger endeavoured to propitiate the incensed dwarf, by +offering to surrender his game, as he would to an earthly Lord of +the Manor. The proposal only redoubled the offence already taken +by the dwarf, who alleged that he was the lord of those +mountains, and the protector of the wild creatures who found a +retreat in their solitary recesses; and that all spoils derived +from their death, or misery, were abhorrent to him. The hunter +humbled himself before the angry goblin, and by protestations of +his ignorance, and of his resolution to abstain from such +intrusion in future, at last succeeded in pacifying him. The +gnome now became more communicative, and spoke of himself as +belonging to a species of beings something between the angelic +race and humanity. He added, moreover, which could hardly have +been anticipated, that he had hopes of sharing in the redemption +of the race of Adam. He pressed the sportsman to visit his +dwelling, which he said was hard by, and plighted his faith for +his safe return. But at this moment, the shout of the +sportsman's companion was heard calling for his friend, and the +dwarf, as if unwilling that more than one person should be +cognisant of his presence, disappeared as the young man emerged +from the dell to join his comrade. + +It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such +matters, that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit, he +would, notwithstanding the dwarf's fair pretences, have been +either torn to pieces, or immured for years in the recesses of +some fairy hill. + +Such is the last and most authentic account of the apparition of +the Black Dwarf.] + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Will none but Hearne the Hunter serve your turn? + MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. + +In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland, +where an ideal line, drawn along the tops of lofty and bleak +mountains, separates that land from her sister kingdom, a young +man, called Halbert, or Hobbie Elliot, a substantial farmer, who +boasted his descent from old Martin Elliot of the Preakin-tower, +noted in Border story and song, was on his return from deer- +stalking. The deer, once so numerous among these solitary +wastes, were now reduced to a very few herds, which, sheltering +themselves in the most remote and inaccessible recesses, rendered +the task of pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious. There +were, however, found many youth of the country ardently attached +to this sport, with all its dangers and fatigues. The sword had +been sheathed upon the Borders for more than a hundred years, by +the peaceful union of the crowns in the reign of James the First +of Great Britain. Still the country retained traces of what it +had been in former days; the inhabitants, their more peaceful +avocations having been repeatedly interrupted by the civil wars +of the preceding century, were scarce yet broken in to the habits +of regular industry, sheep-farming had not been introduced upon +any considerable scale, and the feeding of black cattle was the +chief purpose to which the hills and valleys were applied. Near +to the farmer's house, the tenant usually contrived to raise such +a crop of oats or barley, as afforded meal for his family; and +the whole of this slovenly and imperfect mode of cultivation left +much time upon his own hands, and those of his domestics. This +was usually employed by the young men in hunting and fishing; and +the spirit of adventure, which formerly led to raids and forays +in the same districts, was still to be discovered in the +eagerness with which they pursued those rural sports. + +The more high-spirited among the youth were, about the time that +our narrative begins, expecting, rather with hope than +apprehension, an opportunity of emulating their fathers in their +military achievements, the recital of which formed the chief part +of their amusement within doors. The passing of the Scottish act +of security had given the alarm of England, as it seemed to point +at a separation of the two British kingdoms, after the decease of +Queen Anne, the reigning sovereign. Godolphin, then at the head +of the English administration, foresaw that there was no other +mode of avoiding the probable extremity of a civil war, but by +carrying through an incorporating union. How that treaty was +managed, and how little it seemed for some time to promise the +beneficial results which have since taken place to such extent, +may be learned from the history of the period. It is enough for +our purpose to say, that all Scotland was indignant at the terms +on which their legislature had surrendered their national +independence. The general resentment led to the strangest +leagues and to the wildest plans. The Cameronians were about to +take arms for the restoration of the house of Stewart, whom they +regarded, with justice, as their oppressors; and the intrigues of +the period presented the strange picture of papists, prelatists, +and presbyterians, caballing among themselves against the English +government, out of a common feeling that their country had been +treated with injustice. The fermentation was universal; and, as +the population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms, +under the act of security, they were not indifferently prepared +for war, and waited but the declaration of some of the nobility +to break out into open hostility. It was at this period of +public confusion that our story opens. + +The cleugh, or wild ravine, into which Hobbie Elliot had followed +the game, was already far behind him, and he was considerably +advanced on his return homeward, when the night began to close +upon him. This would have been a circumstance of great +indifference to the experienced sportsman, who could have walked +blindfold over every inch of his native heaths, had it not +happened near a spot, which, according to the traditions of the +country, was in extremely bad fame, as haunted by supernatural +appearances. To tales of this kind Hobbie had, from his +childhood, lent an attentive ear; and as no part of the country +afforded such a variety of legends, so no man was more deeply +read in their fearful lore than Hobbie of the Heugh-foot; for so +our gallant was called, to distinguish him from a round dozen of +Elliots who bore the same Christian name. It cost him no +efforts, therefore, to call to memory the terrific incidents +connected with the extensive waste upon which he was now +entering. In fact, they presented themselves with a readiness +which he felt to be somewhat dismaying. + +This dreary common was called Mucklestane-Moor, from a huge +column of unhewn granite, which raised its massy head on a knell +near the centre of the heath, perhaps to tell of the mighty dead +who slept beneath, or to preserve the memory of some bloody +skirmish. The real cause of its existence had, however, passed +away; and tradition, which is as frequently an inventor of +fiction as a preserver of truth, had supplied its place with a +supplementary legend of her own, which now came full upon +Hobbie's memory. The ground about the pillar was strewed, or +rather encumbered, with many large fragments of stone of the same +consistence with the column, which, from their appearance as they +lay scattered on the waste, were popularly called the Grey Geese +of Mucklestane-Moor. The legend accounted for this name and +appearance by the catastrophe of a noted and most formidable +witch who frequented these hills in former days, causing the ewes +to KEB, and the kine to cast their calves, and performing all the +feats of mischief ascribed to these evil beings. On this moor +she used to hold her revels with her sister hags; and rings were +still pointed out on which no grass nor heath ever grew, the turf +being, as it were, calcined by the scorching hoofs of their +diabolical partners. + +Once upon a time this old hag is said to have crossed the moor, +driving before her a flock of geese, which she proposed to sell +to advantage at a neighbouring fair;--for it is well known that +the fiend, however liberal in imparting his powers of doing +mischief, ungenerously leaves his allies under the necessity of +performing the meanest rustic labours for subsistence. The day +was far advanced, and her chance of obtaining a good price +depended on her being first at the market. But the geese, which +had hitherto preceded her in a pretty orderly manner, when they +came to this wide common, interspersed with marshes and pools of +water, scattered in every direction, to plunge into the element +in which they delighted. Incensed at the obstinacy with which +they defied all her efforts to collect them, and not remembering +the precise terms of the contract by which the fiend was bound to +obey her commands for a certain space, the sorceress exclaimed, +"Deevil, that neither I nor they ever stir from this spot more!" +The words were hardly uttered, when, by a metamorphosis as sudden +as any in Ovid, the hag and her refractory flock were converted +into stone, the angel whom she served, being a strict formalist, +grasping eagerly at an opportunity of completing the ruin of her +body and soul by a literal obedience to her orders. It is said, +that when she perceived and felt the transformation which was +about to take place, she exclaimed to the treacherous fiend, "Ah, +thou false thief! lang hast thou promised me a grey gown, and +now I am getting ane that will last for ever." The dimensions of +the pillar, and of the stones, were often appealed to, as a proof +of the superior stature and size of old women and geese in the +days of other years, by those praisers of the past who held the +comfortable opinion of the gradual degeneracy of mankind. + +All particulars of this legend Hobbie called to mind as he passed +along the moor. He also remembered, that, since the catastrophe +had taken place, the scene of it had been avoided, at least after +night-fall, by all human beings, as being the ordinary resort of +kelpies, spunkies, and other demons, once the companions of the +witch's diabolical revels, and now continuing to rendezvous upon +the same spot, as if still in attendance on their transformed +mistress. Hobbie's natural hardihood, however, manfully combated +with these intrusive sensations of awe. He summoned to his side +the brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his +sports, and who were wont, in his own phrase, to fear neither dog +nor devil; he looked at the priming of his piece, and, like the +clown in Hallowe'en, whistled up the warlike ditty of Jock of the +Side, as a general causes his drums be beat to inspirit the +doubtful courage of his soldiers. + +In this state of mind, he was very glad to hear a friendly voice +shout in his rear, and propose to him a partner on the road. He +slackened his pace, and was quickly joined by a youth well known +to him, a gentleman of some fortune in that remote country, and +who had been abroad on the same errand with himself. Young +Earnscliff, "of that ilk," had lately come of age, and succeeded +to a moderate fortune, a good deal dilapidated, from the share +his family had taken in the disturbances of the period. They +were much and generally respected in the country; a reputation +which this young gentleman seemed likely to sustain, as he was +well educated, and of excellent dispositions. + +"Now, Earnscliff;" exclaimed Hobbie, "I am glad to meet your +honour ony gate, and company's blithe on a bare moor like this +--it's an unco bogilly bit--Where hae ye been sporting?" + +"Up the Carla Cleugh, Hobbie," answered Earnscliff, returning his +greeting. "But will our dogs keep the peace, think you?" + +"Deil a fear o' mine," said Hobbie, "they hae scarce a leg to +stand on.--Odd! the deer's fled the country, I think! I have +been as far as Inger-fell-foot, and deil a horn has Hobbie seen, +excepting three red-wud raes, that never let me within shot of +them, though I gaed a mile round to get up the wind to them, an' +a'. Deil o' me wad care muckle, only I wanted some venison to +our auld gude-dame. The carline, she sits in the neuk yonder, +upbye, and cracks about the grand shooters and hunters lang syne +--Odd, I think they hae killed a' the deer in the country, for my +part." + +"Well, Hobbie, I have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliff +this morning--you shall have half of him for your grandmother." + +"Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, ye're kend to a' the country for +a kind heart. It will do the auld wife's heart gude--mair by +token, when she kens it comes frae you--and maist of a' gin ye'll +come up and take your share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now in +the auld tower, and a' your folk at that weary Edinburgh. I +wonder what they can find to do amang a wheen ranks o' stane- +houses wi' slate on the tap o' them, that might live on their ain +bonny green hills." + +"My education and my sisters' has kept my mother much in +Edinburgh for several years," said Earnscliff; "but I promise you +I propose to make up for lost time." + +"And ye'll rig out the auld tower a bit," said Hobbie, "and live +hearty and neighbour-like wi' the auld family friends, as the +Laird o' Earnscliff should? I can tell ye, my mother--my +grandmother I mean--but, since we lost our ain mother, we ca' her +sometimes the tane, and sometimes the tother--but, ony gate, she +conceits hersell no that distant connected wi' you." + +"Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinner +to-morrow with all my heart." + +"Weel, that's kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we were +nae kin--and my gude-dame's fain to see you--she clavers about +your father that was killed lang syne." + +"Hush, hush, Hobbie--not a word about that--it's a story better +forgotten." + +"I dinna ken--if it had chanced amang our folk, we wad hae keepit +it in mind mony a day till we got some mends for't--but ye ken +your ain ways best, you lairds--I have heard say that Ellieslaw's +friend stickit your sire after the laird himsell had mastered his +sword." + +"Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine and +politics--many swords were drawn--it is impossible to say who +struck the blow." + +"At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I am +sure if ye were sae disposed as to take amends on him, naebody +could say it was wrang, for your father's blood is beneath his +nails--and besides there's naebody else left that was concerned +to take amends upon, and he's a prelatist and a jacobite into the +bargain--I can tell ye the country folk look for something atween +ye." + +"O for shame, Hobbie!" replied the young Laird; "you, that +profess religion, to stir your friend up to break the law, and +take vengeance at his own hand, and in such a bogilly bit too, +where we know not what beings may be listening to us!" + +"Hush, hush!" said Hobbie, drawing nearer to his companion, "I +was nae thinking o' the like o' them--But I can guess a wee bit +what keeps your hand up, Mr. Patrick; we a' ken it's no lack o' +courage, but the twa grey een of a bonny lass, Miss Isabel Vere, +that keeps you sae sober." + +"I assure you, Hobbie," said his companion, rather angrily, "I +assure you you are mistaken; and it is extremely wrong of you, +either to think of, or to utter, such an idea; I have no idea of +permitting freedoms to be carried so far as to connect my name +with that of any young lady." + +"Why, there now--there now!" retorted Elliot; "did I not say it +was nae want o' spunk that made ye sae mim?--Weel, weel, I meant +nae offence; but there's just ae thing ye may notice frae a +friend. The auld Laird of Ellieslaw has the auld riding blood +far hetter at his heart than ye hae--troth, he kens naething +about thae newfangled notions o' peace and quietness--he's a' for +the auld-warld doings o' lifting and laying on, and he has a +wheen stout lads at his back too, and keeps them weel up in +heart, and as fu' o' mischief as young colts. Where he gets the +gear to do't nane can say; he lives high, and far abune his rents +here; however, he pays his way--Sae, if there's ony out-break in +the country, he's likely to break out wi' the first--and weel +does he mind the auld quarrels between ye, I'm surmizing he'll be +for a touch at the auld tower at Earnscliff." + +"Well, Hobbie," answered the young gentleman, "if he should be so +ill advised, I shall try to make the old tower good against him, +as it has been made good by my betters against his betters many a +day ago." + +"Very right--very right--that's speaking like a man now," said +the stout yeoman; "and, if sae should be that this be sae, if +ye'll just gar your servant jow out the great bell in the tower, +there's me, and my twa brothers, and little Davie of the +Stenhouse, will be wi' you, wi' a' the power we can make, in the +snapping of a flint." + +"Many thanks, Hobbie," answered Earnscliff; "but I hope we shall +have no war of so unnatural and unchristian a kind in our time." + +"Hout, sir, hout," replied Elliot; "it wad be but a wee bit +neighbour war, and Heaven and earth would make allowances for it +in this uncuItivated place--it's just the nature o' the folk and +the land--we canna live quiet like Loudon folk--we haena sae +muckle to do. It's impossible." + +"Well, Hobbie," said the Laird, "for one who believes so deeply +as you do in supernatural appearances, I must own you take Heaven +in your own hand rather audaciously, considering where we are +walking." + +"What needs I care for the Mucklestane-Moor ony mair than ye do +yoursell, Earnscliff?" said Hobbie, something offended; "to be +sure, they do say there's a sort o' worricows and lang-nebbit +things about the land, but what need I care for them? I hae a +good conscience, and little to answer for, unless it be about a +rant amang the lasses, or a splore at a fair, and that's no +muckle to speak of. Though I say it mysell, I am as quiet a lad +and as peaceable--" + +"And Dick Turnbull's head that you broke, and Willie of Winton +whom you shot at?" said his travelling companion. + +"Hout, Earnscliff, ye keep a record of a' men's misdoings +--Dick's head's healed again, and we're to fight out the quarrel +at Jeddart, on the Rood-day, so that's like a thing settled in a +peaceable way; and then I am friends wi' Willie again, puir +chield--it was but twa or three hail draps after a'. I wad let +onybody do the like o't to me for a pint o' brandy. But Willie's +lowland bred, poor fallow, and soon frighted for himsell--And, +for the worricows, were we to meet ane on this very bit--" + +"As is not unlikely," said young Earnscliff, "for there stands +your old witch, Hobbie." + +"I say," continued Elliot, as if indignant at this hint--"I say, +if the auld carline hersell was to get up out o' the grund just +before us here, I would think nae mair--But, gude preserve us, +Earnscliff; what can yon, be!" + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Brown Dwarf, that o'er the moorland strays, + Thy name to Keeldar tell! + "The Brown Man of the Moor, that stays + Beneath the heather-bell." JOHN LEYDEN + +The object which alarmed the young farmer in the middle of his +valorous protestations, startled for a moment even his less +prejudiced companion. The moon, which had arisen during their +conversation, was, in the phrase of that country, wading or +struggling with clouds, and shed only a doubtful and occasional +light. By one of her beams, which streamed upon the great +granite column to which they now approached, they discovered a +form, apparently human, but of a size much less than ordinary, +which moved slowly among the large grey stones, not like a person +intending to journey onward, but with the slow, irregular, +flitting movement of a being who hovers around some spot of +melancholy recollection, uttering also, from time to time, a sort +of indistinct muttering sound. This so much resembled his idea +of the motions of an apparition, that Hobbie Elliot, making a +dead pause, while his hair erected itself upon his scalp, +whispered to his companion, "It's Auld Ailie hersell! Shall I +gie her a shot, in the name of God?" + +"For Heaven's sake, no," said his companion, holding down the +weapon which he was about to raise to the aim--"for Heaven's +sake, no; it's some poor distracted creature." + +"Ye're distracted yoursell, for thinking of going so near to +her," said Elliot, holding his companion in his turn, as he +prepared to advance. "We'll aye hae time to pit ower a bit +prayer (an I could but mind ane) afore she comes this length +--God! she's in nae hurry," continued he, growing bolder from +his companion's confidence, and the little notice the apparition +seemed to take of them. "She hirples like a hen on a het girdle. +I redd ye, Earnscliff" (this he added in a gentle whisper), "let +us take a cast about, as if to draw the wind on a buck--the bog +is no abune knee-deep, and better a saft road as bad company." +[The Scots use the epithet soft, IN MALAM PARTEM, in two cases, +at least. A SOFT road is a road through quagmire and bogs; and +SOFT weather signifies that which is very rainy.] + +Earnscliff, however, in spite of his companion's resistance and +remonstrances, continued to advance on the path they had +originally pursued, and soon confronted the object of their +investigation. + +The height of the figure, which appeared even to decrease as they +approached it, seemed to be under four feet, and its form, as far +as the imperfect light afforded them the means of discerning, was +very nearly as broad as long, or rather of a spherical shape, +which could only be occasioned by some strange personal +deformity. The young sportsman hailed this extraordinary +appearance twice, without receiving any answer, or attending to +the pinches by which his companion endeavoured to intimate that +their best course was to walk on, without giving farther +disturbance to a being of such singular and preternatural +exterior. To the third repeated demand of "Who are you? What do +you here at this hour of night?"--a voice replied, whose shrill, +uncouth, and dissonant tones made Elliot step two paces back, and +startled even his companion, "Pass on your way, and ask nought at +them that ask nought at you." + +"What do you do here so far from shelter? Are you benighted on +your journey? Will you follow us home ('God forbid!' ejaculated +Hobbie Elliot, involuntarily), and I will give you a lodging?" + +"I would sooner lodge by mysell in the deepest of the Tarras- +flow," again whispered Hobbie. + +"Pass on your way," rejoined the figure, the harsh tones of his +voice still more exalted by passion. "I want not your guidance +--I want not your lodging--it is five years since my head was +under a human roof, and I trust it was for the last time." + +"He is mad," said Earnscliff. + +"He has a look of auld Humphrey Ettercap, the tinkler, that +perished in this very moss about five years syne," answered his +superstitious companion; "but Humphrey wasna that awfu' big in +the bouk." + +"Pass on your way," reiterated the object of their curiosity, +"the breath of your human bodies poisons the air around me--the +sound of pour human voices goes through my ears like sharp +bodkins" + +"Lord safe us!" whispered Hobbie, "that the dead should bear sie +fearfu' ill-will to the living!--his saul maun be in a puir way, +I'm jealous." + +"Come, my friend," said Earnscliff, "you seem to suffer under +some strong affliction; common humanity will not allow us to +leave you here." + +"Common humanity!" exclaimed the being, with a scornful laugh +that sounded like a shriek, "where got ye that catch-word--that +noose for woodcocks--that common disguise for man-traps--that +bait which the wretched idiot who swallows, will soon find covers +a hook with barbs ten times sharper than those you lay for the +animals which you murder for your luxury!" + +"I tell you, my friend," again replied Earnscliff, "you are +incapable of judging of your own situation--you will perish in +this wilderness, and we must, in compassion, force you along with +us." + +"I'll hae neither hand nor foot in't," said Hobbie; "let the +ghaist take his ain way, for God's sake!" + +"My blood be on my own head, if I perish here," said the figure; +and, observing Earnscliff meditating to lay hold on him, he +added, "And your blood be upon yours, if you touch but the skirt +of my garments, to infect me with the taint of mortality!" + +The moon shone more brightly as he spoke thus, and Earnscliff +observed that he held out his right hand armed with some weapon +of offence, which glittered in the cold ray like the blade of a +long knife, or the barrel of a pistol. It would have been +madness to persevere in his attempt upon a being thus armed, and +holding such desperate language, especially as it was plain he +would have little aid from his companion, who had fairly left him +to settle matters with the apparition as he could, and had +proceeded a few paces on his way homeward. Earnscliff, however, +turned and followed Hobbie, after looking back towards the +supposed maniac, who, as if raised to frenzy by the interview, +roamed wildly around the great stone, exhausting his voice in +shrieks and imprecations, that thrilled wildly along the waste +heath. + +The two sportsmen moved on some time in silence, until they were +out of hearing of these uncouth sounds, which was not ere they +had gained a considerable distance from the pillar that gave name +to the moor. Each made his private comments on the scene they +had witnessed, until Hobbie Elliot suddenly exclaimed, "Weel, +I'll uphaud that yon ghaist, if it be a ghaist, has baith done +and suffered muckle evil in the flesh, that gars him rampauge in +that way after he is dead and gane." + +"It seems to me the very madness of misanthropy," said +Earnscliff; following his own current of thought. + +"And ye didna think it was a spiritual creature, then?" asked +Hobbie at his companion. + +"Who, I?--No, surely." + +"Weel, I am partly of the mind mysell that it may be a live +thing--and yet I dinna ken, I wadna wish to see ony thing look +liker a bogle." + +"At any rate," said Earnscliff, "I will ride over to-morrow and +see what has become of the unhappy being." + +"In fair daylight?" queried the yeoman; "then, grace o' God, +I'se be wi' ye. But here we are nearer to Heugh-foot than to +your house by twa mile,--hadna ye better e'en gae hame wi' me, +and we'll send the callant on the powny to tell them that you are +wi' us, though I believe there's naebody at hame to wait for you +but the servants and the cat." + +"Have with you then, friend Hobbie," said the young hunter; "and +as I would not willingly have either the servants be anxious, or +puss forfeit her supper, in my absence, I'll be obliged to you to +send the boy as you propose." + +"Aweel, that IS kind, I must say. And ye'll gae hame to Heugh- +foot? They'll be right blithe to see you, that will they." + +This affair settled, they walked briskly on a little farther, +when, coming to the ridge of a pretty steep hill, Hobbie Elliot +exclaimed, "Now, Earnscliff, I am aye glad when I come to this +very bit--Ye see the light below, that's in the ha' window, where +grannie, the gash auld carline, is sitting birling at her wheel +--and ye see yon other light that's gaun whiddin' back and forrit +through amang the windows? that's my cousin, Grace Armstrong, +--she's twice as clever about the house as my sisters, and sae +they say themsells, for they're good-natured lasses as ever trode +on heather; but they confess themsells, and sae does grannie, +that she has far maist action, and is the best goer about the +toun, now that grannie is off the foot hersell.--My brothers, ane +o' them's away to wait upon the chamberlain, and ane's at Moss- +phadraig, that's our led farm--he can see after the stock just as +weel as I can do." + +"You are lucky, my good friend, in having so many valuable +relations." + +"Troth am I--Grace make me thankful, I'se never deny it.--But +will ye tell me now, Earnscliff, you that have been at college, +and the high-school of Edinburgh, and got a' sort o' lair where +it was to be best gotten--will ye tell me--no that it's ony +concern of mine in particular,--but I heard the priest of St. +John's, and our minister, bargaining about it at the Winter fair, +and troth they baith spak very weel--Now, the priest says it's +unlawful to marry ane's cousin; but I cannot say I thought he +brought out the Gospel authorities half sae weel as our minister- +-our minister is thought the best divine and the best preacher +atween this and Edinburgh--Dinna ye think he was likely to be +right?" + +"Certainly marriage, by all protestant Christians, is held to be +as free as God made it by the Levitical law; so, Hobbie, there +can be no bar, legal or religious, betwixt you and Miss +Armstrong." + +"Hout awa' wi' your joking, Earnscliff," replied his companion, +--" ye are angry aneugh yoursell if ane touches you a bit, man, +on the sooth side of the jest--No that I was asking the question +about Grace, for ye maun ken she's no my cousin-germain out and +out, but the daughter of my uncle;s wife by her first marriage, +so she's nae kith nor kin to me--only a connexion like. But now +we're at the Sheeling-hill--I'll fire off my gun, to let them ken +I'm coming, that's aye my way; and if I hae a deer I gie them twa +shots, ane for the deer and ane for mysell." + +He fired off his piece accordingly, and the number of lights were +seen to traverse the house, and even to gleam before it. Hobbie +Elliot pointed out one of these to Earnscliff, which seemed to +glide from the house towards some of the outhouses-"That's Grace +hersell," said Hobbie. "She'll no meet me at the door, I'se +warrant her--but she'll be awa', for a' that, to see if my +hounds' supper be ready, poor beasts." + +"Love me, love my dog," answered Earnscliff. "Ah, Hobbie, you +are a lucky young fellow!" + +This observation was uttered with something like a sigh, which +apparently did not escape the ear of his companion. + +"Hout, other folk may be as lucky as I am--O how I have seen Miss +Isabel Vere's head turn after somebody when they passed ane +another at the Carlisle races! Wha kens but things may come +round in this world?" + +Earnscliff muttered something like an answer; but whether in +assent of the proposition, or rebuking the application of it, +could not easily be discovered; and it seems probable that the +speaker himself was willing his meaning should rest in doubt and +obscurity. They had now descended the broad loaning, which, +winding round the foot of the steep bank, or heugh, brought them +in front of the thatched, but comfortable, farm-house, which was +the dwelling of Hobbie Elliot and his family. + +The doorway was thronged with joyful faces; but the appearance of +a stranger blunted many a gibe which had been prepared on +Hobbie's lack of success in the deer-stalking. There was a +little bustle among three handsome young women, each endeavouring +to devolve upon another the task of ushering the stranger into +the apartment, while probably all were anxious to escape for the +purpose of making some little personal arrangements, before +presenting themselves to a young gentleman in a dishabille only +intended for their brother. + +Hobbie, in the meanwhile, bestowing some hearty and general abuse +upon them all (for Grace was not of the party), snatched the +candle from the hand of one of the rustic coquettes, as she stood +playing pretty with it in her hand, and ushered his guest into +the family parlour, or rather hall; for the place having been a +house of defence in former times, the sitting apartment was a +vaulted and paved room, damp and dismal enough compared with the +lodgings of the yeomanry of our days, but which, when well +lighted up with a large sparkling fire of turf and bog-wood, +seemed to Earnscliff a most comfortable exchange for the darkness +and bleak blast of the hill. Kindly and repeatedly was he +welcomed by the venerable old dame, the mistress of the family, +who, dressed in her coif and pinners, her close and decent gown +of homespun wool, but with a large gold necklace and ear-rings, +looked, what she really was, the lady as well as the farmer's +wife, while, seated in her chair of wicker, by the corner of the +great chimney, she directed the evening occupations of the young +women, and of two or three stout serving wenches, who sate plying +their distaffs behind the backs of their young mistresses. + +As soon as Earnscliff had been duly welcomed, and hasty orders +issued for some addition to the evening meal, his grand-dame and +sisters opened their battery upon Hobbie Elliot for his lack of +success against the deer. + +"Jenny needna have kept up her kitchen-fire for a' that Hobbie +has brought hame," said one sister. + +"Troth no, lass," said another; "the gathering peat, if it was +weel blawn, wad dress a' our Hobbie's venison." [The gathering +peat is the piece of turf left to treasure up the secret seeds of +fire, without any generous consumption of fuel; in a word, to +keep the fire alive.] + +"Ay, or the low of the candle, if the wind wad let it hide +steady," said a third; "if I were him, I would bring hame a black +craw, rather than come back three times without a buck's horn to +blaw on." + +Hobbie turned from the one to the other, regarding them +alternately with a frown on his brow, the augury of which was +confuted by the good-humoured laugh on the lower part of his +countenance. He then strove to propitiate them, by mentioning +the intended present of his companion. + +"In my young days," said the old lady, "a man wad hae been +ashamed to come back frae the hill without a buck hanging on each +side o' his horse, like a cadger carrying calves." + +"I wish they had left some for us then, grannie," retorted +Hobbie; "they've cleared the country o' them, thae auld friends +o' yours, I'm thinking." + +"We see other folk can find game, though you cannot, Hobbie," +said the eldest sister, glancing a look at young Earnscliff. + +"Weel, weel, woman, hasna every dog his day, begging Earnscliff's +pardon for the auld saying--Mayna I hae his luck, and he mine, +another time?--It's a braw thing for a man to be out a' day, and +frighted--na, I winna say that neither but mistrysted wi' bogles +in the hame-coming, an' then to hae to flyte wi' a wheen women +that hae been doing naething a' the live-lang day, but whirling a +bit stick, wi' a thread trailing at it, or boring at a clout." + +"Frighted wi' bogles!" exclaimed the females, one and all,--for +great was the regard then paid, and perhaps still paid, in these +glens, to all such fantasies. + +"I did not say frighted, now--I only said mis-set wi' the thing +--And there was but ae bogle, neither--Earnscliff, ye saw it; as +weel as I did?" + +And he proceeded, without very much exaggeration, to detail, in +his own way, the meeting they had with the mysterious being at +Mucklestane-Moor, concluding, he could not conjecture what on +earth it could be, unless it was either the Enemy himsell, or +some of the auld Peghts that held the country lang syne. + +"Auld Peght!" exclaimed the grand-dame; "na, na--bless thee frae +scathe, my bairn, it's been nae Peght that--it's been the Brown +Man of the Moors! O weary fa' thae evil days!--what can evil +beings be coming for to distract a poor country, now it's +peacefully settled, and living in love and law--O weary on him! +he ne'er brought gude to these lands or the indwellers. My +father aften tauld me he was seen in the year o' the bloody fight +at Marston-Moor, and then again in Montrose's troubles, and again +before the rout o' Dunbar, and, in my ain time, he was seen about +the time o' Bothwell-Brigg, and they said the second-sighted +Laird of Benarbuck had a communing wi' him some time afore +Argyle's landing, but that I cannot speak to sae preceesely--it +was far in the west.--O, bairns, he's never permitted but in an +ill time, sae mind ilka ane o' ye to draw to Him that can help in +the day of trouble." + +Earnscliff now interposed, and expressed his firm conviction that +the person they had seen was some poor maniac, and had no +commission from the invisible world to announce either war or +evil. But his opinion found a very cold audience, and all joined +to deprecate his purpose of returning to the spot the next day. + +"O, my bonny bairn," said the old dame (for, in the kindness of +her heart, she extended her parental style to all in whom she was +interested)---"You should beware mair than other folk--there's +been a heavy breach made in your house wi' your father's +bloodshed, and wi' law-pleas, and losses sinsyne;--and you are +the flower of the flock, and the lad that will build up the auld +bigging again (if it be His will) to be an honour to the country, +and a safeguard to those that dwell in it--you, before others, +are called upon to put yoursell in no rash adventures--for yours +was aye ower venturesome a race, and muckle harm they have got by +it." + +"But I am sure, my good friend, you would not have me be afraid +of going to an open moor in broad daylight?" + +"I dinna ken," said the good old dame; "I wad never bid son or +friend o' mine haud their hand back in a gude cause, whether it +were a friend's or their ain--that should be by nae bidding of +mine, or of ony body that's come of a gentle kindred--But it +winna gang out of a grey head like mine, that to gang to seek for +evil that's no fashing wi' you, is clean against law and +Scripture." + +Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of +maintaining with good effect, and the entrance of supper broke +off the conversation. Miss Grace had by this time made her +appearance, and Hobbie, not without a conscious glance at +Earnscliff, placed himself by her side. Mirth and lively +conversation, in which the old lady of the house took the good- +humoured share which so well becomes old age, restored to the +cheeks of the damsels the roses which their brother's tale of the +apparition had chased away, and they danced and sung for an hour +after supper as if there were no such things as goblins in the +world. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind; + For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, + That I might love thee something. TIMON OF ATHENS + +On the following morning, after breakfast, Earnscliff took leave +of his hospitable friends, promising to return in time to partake +of the venison, which had arrived from his house. Hobbie, who +apparently took leave of him at the door of his habitation, slunk +out, however, and joined him at the top of the hill. + +"Ye'll be gaun yonder, Mr. Patrick; feind o' me will mistryst you +for a' my mother says. I thought it best to slip out quietly +though, in case she should mislippen something of what we're gaun +to do--we maunna vex her at nae rate--it was amaist the last word +my father said to me on his deathbed." + +"By no means, Hobbie," said Earnscliff; "she well merits all your +attention." + +"Troth, for that matter, she would be as sair vexed amaist for +you as for me. But d'ye really think there's nae presumption in +venturing back yonder?--We hae nae special commission, ye ken." + +"If I thought as you do, Hobbie," said the young gentleman, "I +would not perhaps enquire farther into this business; but as I am +of opinion that preternatural visitations are either ceased +altogether, or become very rare in our days, I am unwilling to +leave a matter uninvestigated which may concern the life of a +poor distracted being." + +"Aweel, aweel, if ye really think that," answered Hobbie +doubtfully--"And it's for certain the very fairies--I mean the +very good neighbours themsells (for they say folk suldna ca' them +fairies) that used to be seen on every green knowe at e'en, are +no half sae often visible in our days. I canna depone to having +ever seen ane mysell, but, I ance heard ane whistle ahint me in +the moss, as like a whaup [Curlew] as ae thing could be like +anither. And mony ane my father saw when he used to come hame +frae the fairs at e'en, wi' a drap drink in his head, honest +man." + +Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension +of superstition from one generation to another which was inferred +In this last observation; and they continued to reason on such +subjects, until they came in sight of the upright stone which +gave name to the moor. + +"As I shall answer," says Hobbie, "yonder's the creature creeping +about yet!--But it's daylight, and you have your gun, and I +brought out my bit whinger--I think we may venture on him." + +"By all manner of means," said Earnscliff; "but, in the name of +wonder, what can he be doing there?" + +"Biggin a dry-stane dyke, I think, wi' the grey geese, as they +ca' thae great loose stanes--Odd, that passes a' thing I e'er +heard tell of!" + +As they approached nearer, Earnscliff could not help agreeing +with his companion. The figure they had seen the night before +seemed slowly and toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones +one upon another, as if to form a small enclosure. Materials lay +around him in great plenty, but the labour of carrying on the +work was immense, from the size of most of the stones; and it +seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in moving +several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his +edifice. He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when +the two young men came up, and was so intent upon executing his +purpose, that he did not perceive them till they were close upon +him. In straining and heaving at the stone, in order to place it +according to his wish, he displayed a degree of strength which +seemed utterly inconsistent with his size and apparent deformity. +Indeed, to judge from the difficulties he had already surmounted, +he must have been of Herculean powers; for some of the stones he +had succeeded in raising apparently required two men's strength +to have moved them. Hobbie's suspicions began to revive, on +seeing the preternatural strength he exerted. + +"I am amaist persuaded it's the ghaist of a stane-mason--see +siccan band-statnes as he's laid i--An it be a man, after a', I +wonder what he wad take by the rood to build a march dyke. +There's ane sair wanted between Cringlehope and the Shaws.-- +Honest man" (raising his voice), "ye make good firm wark there?" + +The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare, +and, getting up from his stooping posture, stood before them in +all his native and hideous deformity. His head was of uncommon +size, covered with a fell of shaggy hair, partly grizzled with +age; his eyebrows, shaggy and prominent, overhung a pair of small +dark, piercing eyes, set far back in their sockets, that rolled +with a portentous wildness, indicative of a partial insanity. +The rest of his features were of the coarse, rough-hewn stamp, +with which a painter would equip a giant in romance; to which was +added the wild, irregular, and peculiar expression, so often seen +in the countenances of those whose persons are deformed. His +body, thick and square, like that of a man of middle size, was +mounted upon two large feet; but nature seemed to have forgotten +the legs and the thighs, or they were so very short as to be +hidden by the dress which he wore. His arms were long and +brawny, furnished with two muscular hands, and, where uncovered +in the eagerness of his labour, were shagged with coarse black +hair. It seemed as if nature had originally intended the +separate parts of his body to be the members of a giant, but had +afterwards capriciously assigned them to the person of a dwarf, +so ill did the length of his arms and the iron strength of his +frame correspond with the shortness of his stature. His clothing +was a sort of coarse brown tunic, like a monk's frock, girt round +him with a belt of seal-skin. On his head he had a cap made of +badger's skin, or some other rough fur, which added considerably +to the grotesque effect of his whole appearance, and overshadowed +features, whose habitual expression seemed that of sullen +malignant misanthropy. + +This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence, with a +dogged and irritated look, until Earnscliff, willing to soothe +him into better temper, observed, "You are hard tasked, my +friend; allow us to assist you." + +Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone, by their joint +efforts, upon the rising wall. The Dwarf watched them with the +eye of a taskmaster, and testified, by peevish gestures, his +impatience at the time which they took in adjusting the stone. +He pointed to another--they raised it also--to a third, to a +fourth--they continued to humour him, though with some trouble, +for he assigned them, as if intentionally, the heaviest fragments +which lay near. + +"And now, friend," said Elliot, as the unreasonable Dwarf +indicated another stone larger than any they had moved, +"Earnscliff may do as he likes; but be ye man or be ye waur, deil +be in my fingers if I break my back wi' heaving thae stanes ony +langer like a barrow-man, without getting sae muckle as thanks +for my pains." + +"Thanks!" exclaimed the Dwarf, with a motion expressive of the +utmost contempt--"There--take them, and fatten upon them! Take +them, and may they thrive with you as they have done with me--as +they have done with every mortal worm that ever heard the word +spoken by his fellow reptile! Hence--either labour or begone!" + +"This is a fine reward we have, Earnscliff, for building a +tabernacle for the devil, and prejudicing our ain souls into the +bargain, for what we ken." + +"Our presence," answered Earnscliff, "seems only to irritate his +frenzy; we had better leave him, and send some one to provide him +with food and necessaries." + +They did so. The servant dispatched for this purpose found the +Dwarf still labouring at his wall, but could not extract a word +from him. The lad, infected with the superstitions of the +country, did not long persist in an attempt to intrude questions +or advice on so singular a figure, but having placed the articles +which he had brought for his use on a stone at some distance, he +left them at the misanthrope's disposal. + +The Dwarf proceeded in his labours, day after day, with an +assiduity so incredible as to appear almost supernatural. In one +day he often seemed to have done the work of two men, and his +building soon assumed the appearance of the walls of a hut, +which, though very small, and constructed only of stones and +turf, without any mortar, exhibited, from the unusual size of the +stones employed, an appearance of solidity very uncommon for a +cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction. +Earnscliff; attentive to his motions, no sooner perceived to what +they tended, than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable +for forming the roof, which he caused to be left in the +neighbourhood of the spot, resolving next day to send workmen to +put them up. But his purpose was anticipated, for in the +evening, during the night, and early in the morning, the Dwarf +had laboured so hard, and with such ingenuity, that he had nearly +completed the adjustment of the rafters. His next labour was to +cut rushes and thatch his dwelling, a task which he performed +with singular dexterity. + +As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional +assistance of a passenger, materials suitable to his purpose, and +tools, were supplied to him, in the use of which he proved to be +skilful. He constructed the door and window of his cot, he +adjusted a rude bedstead, and a few shelves, and appeared to +become somewhat soothed in his temper as his accommodations +increased. + +His next task was to form a strong enclosure, and to cultivate +the land within it to the best of his power; until, by +transporting mould, and working up what was upon the spot, he +formed a patch of garden-ground. It must be naturally supposed, +that, as above hinted, this solitary being received assistance +occasionally from such travellers as crossed the moor by chance, +as well as from several who went from curiosity to visit his +works. It was, indeed, impossible to see a human creature, so +unfitted, at first sight, for hard labour, toiling with such +unremitting assiduity, without stopping a few minutes to aid him +in his task; and, as no one of his occasional assistants was +acquainted with the degree of help which the Dwarf had received +from others, the celerity of his progress lost none of its +marvels in their eyes. The strong and compact appearance of the +cottage, formed in so very short a space, and by such a being, +and the superior skill which he displayed in mechanics, and in +other arts, gave suspicion to the surrounding neighbours. They +insisted, that, if he was not a phantom,--an opinion which was +now abandoned, since he plainly appeared a being of blood and +bone with themselves,--yet he must be in close league with the +invisible world, and have chosen that sequestered spot to carry +on his communication with them undisturbed. They insisted, +though in a different sense from the philosopher's application of +the phrase, that he was never less alone than when alone; and +that from the heights which commanded the moor at a distance, +passengers often discovered a person at work along with this +dweller of the desert, who regularly disappeared as soon as they +approached closer to the cottage. Such a figure was also +occasionally seen sitting beside him at the door, walking with +him in the moor, or assisting him in fetching water from his +fountain. Earnscliff explained this phenomenon by supposing it +to be the Dwarf's shadow. + +"Deil a shadow has he," replied Hobbie Elliot, who was a +strenuous defender of the general opinion; "he's ower far in wi' +the Auld Ane to have a shadow. Besides," he argued more +logically, "wha ever heard of a shadow that cam between a body +and the sun? and this thing, be it what it will, is thinner +and taller than the body himsell, and has been seen to come +between him and the sun mair than anes or twice either." + +These suspicions, which, in any other part of the country, might +have been attended with investigations a little inconvenient to +the supposed wizard, were here only productive of respect and +awe. The recluse being seemed somewhat gratified by the marks of +timid veneration with which an occasional passenger approached +his dwelling, the look of startled surprise with which he +surveyed his person and his premises, and the hurried step with +which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful spot. The +boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty glance +at the walls of his cottage and garden, and to apologize for it +by a courteous salutation, which the inmate sometimes deigned to +return by a word or a nod. Earnscliff often passed that way, and +seldom without enquiring after the solitary inmate, who seemed +now to have arranged his establishment for life. + +It was impossible to engage him in any conversation on his own +personal affairs; nor was he communicative or accessible in +talking on any other subject whatever, although he seemed to have +considerably relented in the extreme ferocity of his misanthropy, +or rather to be less frequently visited with the fits of +derangement of which this was a symptom. No argument could +prevail upon him to accept anything beyond the simplest +necessaries, although much more was offered by Earnscliff out of +charity, and by his more superstitious neighbours from other +motives. The benefits of these last he repaid by advice, when +consulted (as at length he slowly was) on their diseases, or +those of their cattle. He often furnished them with medicines +also, and seemed possessed, not only of such as were the produce +of the country, but of foreign drugs. He gave these persons to +understand, that his name was Elshender the Recluse; but his +popular epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie, or the Wise Wight +of Mucklestane-Moor. Some extended their queries beyond their +bodily complaints, and requested advice upon other matters, which +he delivered with an oracular shrewdness that greatly confirmed +the opinion of his possessing preternatural skill. The querists +usually left some offering upon a stone, at a distance from his +dwelling; if it was money, or any article which did not suit him +to accept, he either threw it away, or suffered it to remain +where it was without making use of it. On all occasions his +manners were rude and unsocial; and his words, in number, just +sufficient to express his meaning as briefly as possible, and he +shunned all communication that went a syllable beyond the matter +in hand. When winter had passed away, and his garden began to +afford him herbs and vegetables, he confined himself almost +entirely to those articles of food. He accepted, +notwithstanding, a pair of she-goats from Earnscliff, which fed +on the moor, and supplied him with milk. + +When Earnscliff found his gift had been received, he soon +afterwards paid the hermit a visit. The old man was seated an a +broad flat stone near his garden door, which was the seat of +science he usually occupied when disposed to receive his patients +or clients. The inside of his hut, and that of his garden, he +kept as sacred from human intrusion as the natives of Otaheite do +their Morai;--apparently he would have deemed it polluted by the +step of any human being. When he shut himself up in his +habitation, no entreaty could prevail upon him to make himself +visible, or to give audience to any one whomsoever. + +Earnscliff had been fishing in a small river at some distance. +He had his rod in his hand, and his basket, filled with trout, at +his shoulder. He sate down upon a stone nearly opposite to the +Dwarf who, familiarized with his presence, took no farther notice +of him than by elevating his huge mis-shapen head for the purpose +of staring at him, and then again sinking it upon his bosom, as +if in profound meditation. Earnscliff looked around him, and +observed that the hermit had increased his accommodations by the +construction of a shed for the reception of his goats. + +You labour hard, Elshie," he said, willing to lead this singular +being into conversation. + +"Labour," re-echoed the Dwarf, "is the mildest evil of a lot so +miserable as that of mankind; better to labour like me, than +sport like you." + +"I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports, +Elshie, and yet--" + +"And yet," interrupted the Dwarf" they are better than your +ordinary business; better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on +mute fishes than on your fellow-creatures. Yet why should I say +so? Why should not the whole human herd butt, gore, and gorge +upon each other, till all are extirpated but one huge and over- +fed Behemoth, and he, when he had throttled and gnawed the bones +of all his fellows--he, when his prey failed him, to be roaring +whole days for lack of food, and, finally, to die, inch by inch, +of famine--it were a consummation worthy of the race!" + +"Your deeds are better, Elshie, than your words," answered +Earnscliff; "you labour to preserve the race whom your +misanthropy slanders." + +"I do; but why?--Hearken. You are one on whom I look with the +least loathing, and I care not, if, contrary to my wont, I waste +a few words in compassion to your infatuated blindness. If I +cannot send disease into families, and murrain among the herds, +can I attain the same end so well as by prolonging the lives of +those who can serve the purpose of destruction as effectually?-- +If Alice of Bower had died in winter, would young Ruthwin have +been slain for her love the last spring?--Who thought of penning +their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of +Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death-bed?--My draughts, my +skill, recovered him. And, now, who dare leave his herd upon the +lea without a watch, or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth- +hound?" + +"I own," answered Earnscliff; "you did little good to society by +the last of these cures. But, to balance the evil, there is my +friend Hobbie, honest Hobbie of the Heugh-foot, your skill +relieved him last winter in a fever that might have cost him his +life." + +"Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance," said: the +Dwarf, smiling maliciously, "and thus they speak in their folly. +Have you marked the young cub of a wild cat that has been +domesticated, how sportive, how playful, how gentle,--but trust +him with your game, your lambs, your poultry, his inbred ferocity +breaks forth; he gripes, tears, ravages, and devours." + +"Such is the animal's instinct," answered Earnscliff; "but what +has that to do with Hobbie?" + +"It is his emblem--it is his picture," retorted the Recluse. "He +is at present tame, quiet, and domesticated, for lack of +opportunity to exercise his inborn propensities; but let the +trumpet of war sound--let the young blood-hound snuff blood, he +will be as ferocious as the wildest of his Border ancestors that +ever fired a helpless peasant's abode. Can you deny, that even +at present he often urges you to take bloody revenge for an +injury received when you were a boy?"--Earnscliff started; the +Recluse appeared not to observe his surprise, and proceeded--"The +trumpet WILL blow, the young blood-hound WILL lap blood, and I +will laugh and say, For this I have preserved thee!" He paused, +and continued,--"Such are my cures;--their object, their purpose, +perpetuating the mass of misery, and playing even in this desert +my part in the general tragedy. Were YOU on your sick bed, I +might, in compassion, send you a cup of poison." + +"I am much obliged to you, Elshie, and certainly shall not fail +to consult you, with so comfortable a hope from your assistance." + +"Do not flatter yourself too far," replied the Hermit, "with the +hope that I will positively yield to the frailty of pity. Why +should I snatch a dupe, so well fitted to endure the miseries of +life as you are, from the wretchedness which his own visions, and +the villainy of the world, are preparing for him? Why should I +play the compassionate Indian, and, knocking out the brains of +the captive with my tomahawk, at once spoil the three days' +amusement of my kindred tribe, at the very moment when the brands +were lighted, the pincers heated, the cauldrons boiling, the +knives sharpened, to tear, scorch, seethe, and scarify the +intended victim?" + +"A dreadful picture you present to me of life, Elshie; but I am +not daunted by it," returned Earnscliff. "We are sent here, in +one sense, to bear and to suffer; but, in another, to do and to +enjoy. The active day has its evening of repose; even patient +sufferance has its alleviations, where there is a consolatory +sense of duty discharged." + +"I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine," said the Dwarf, +his eyes kindling with insane fury,--"I spurn at it, as worthy +only of the beasts that perish; but I will waste no more words +with you." + +He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, +with great vehemence, "Yet, lest you still think my apparent +benefits to mankind flow from the stupid and servile source, +called love of our fellow-creatures, know, that were there a man +who had annihilated my soul's dearest hope--who had torn my heart +to mammocks, and seared mp brain till it glowed like a volcano, +and were that man's fortune and life in my power as completely as +this frail potsherd" (he snatched up an earthen cup which stood +beside him), "I would not dash him into atoms thus"--(he flung +the vessel with fury against the wall),--"No!" (he spoke more +composedly, but with the utmost bitterness), "I would pamper him +with wealth and power to inflame his evil passions, and to fulfil +his evil designs; he should lack no means of vice and villainy; +he should be the centre of a whirlpool that itself should know +neither rest nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, while it +wrecked every goodly ship that approached its limits! he should +be an earthquake capable of shaking the very land in which he +dwelt, and rendering all its inhabitants friendless, outcast, and +miserable--as I am!" + +The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last +words, shutting the door with furious violence, and rapidly +drawing two bolts, one after another, as if to exclude the +intrusion of any one of that hated race, who had thus lashed his +soul to frenzy. Earnscliff left the moor with mingled sensations +of pity and horror, pondering what strange and melancholy cause +could have reduced to so miserable a state of mind, a man whose +language argued him to be of rank and education much superior to +the vulgar. He was also surprised to see how much particular +information a person who had lived in that country so short a +time, and in so recluse a manner, had been able to collect +respecting the dispositions and private affairs of the +inhabitants. + +"It is no wonder," he said to himself, "that with such extent of +information, such a mode of life, so uncouth a figure, and +sentiments so virulently misanthropic, this unfortunate should be +regarded by the vulgar as in league with the Enemy of Mankind." + + + +CHAPTER V. + + The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath + Feels, in its barrenness, some touch of spring; + And, in the April dew, or beam of May, + Its moss and lichen freshen and revive; + And thus the heart, most sear'd to human pleasure, + Melts at the tear, joys in the smile, of woman. BEAUMONT + +As the season advanced, the weather became more genial, and the +Recluse was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone +in the front of his mansion. As he sate there one day, about the +hour of noon, a party of gentlemen and ladies, well mounted, and +numerously attended, swept across the heath at some distance from +his dwelling. Dogs, hawks, and led-horses swelled the retinue, +and the air resounded at intervals with the cheer of the hunters, +and the sound of horns blown by the attendants. The Recluse was +about to retire into his mansion at the sight of a train so +joyous, when three young ladies, with their attendants, who had +made a circuit, and detached themselves from their party, in +order to gratify their curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight of +Mucklestane-Moor, came suddenly up, ere he could effect his +purpose. The first shrieked, and put her hands before her eyes, +at sight of an object so unusually deformed. The second, with a +hysterical giggle, which she intended should disguise her +terrors, asked the Recluse, whether he could tell their fortune. +The third, who was best mounted, best dressed, and incomparably +the best-looking of the three, advanced, as if to cover the +incivility of her companions. + +"We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses, +and our party have gone forward without us," said the young lady. +"Seeing you, father, at the door of your house, we have turned +this way to--" + +"Hush!" interrupted the Dwarf; "so young, and already so artful? +You came--you know you came, to exult in the consciousness of +your own youth, wealth, and beauty, by contrasting them with age, +poverty, and deformity. It is a fit employment for the daughter +of your father; but O how unlike the child of your mother!" + +"Did you, then, know my parents, and do you know me?" + +"Yes; this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes, but +I have seen you in my dreams." + +"Your dreams?" + +"Ay, Isabel Vere. What hast thou, or thine, to do with my waking +thoughts?" + +"Your waking thoughts, sir," said the second of Miss Vere's +companions, with a sort of mock gravity, "are fixed, doubtless, +upon wisdom; folly can only intrude on your sleeping moments." + +"Over thine," retorted the Dwarf, more splenetically than became +a philosopher or hermit, "folly exercises an unlimited empire, +asleep or awake." + +"Lord bless us!" said the lady, "he's a prophet, sure enough." + +"As surely," continued the Recluse," as thou art a woman.--A +woman!--I should have said a lady--a fine lady. You asked me to +tell your fortune--it is a simple one; an endless chase through +life after follies not worth catching, and, when caught, +successively thrown away--a chase, pursued from the days of +tottering infancy to those of old age upon his crutches. Toys +and merry-makings in childhood--love and its absurdities in +youth--spadille and basto in age, shall succeed each other as +objects of pursuit--flowers and butterflies in spring-- +butterflies and thistle-down in summer--withered leaves in autumn +and winter--all pursued, all caught, all flung aside. +--Stand apart; your fortune is said." + +"All CAUGHT, however," retorted the laughing fair one, who was a +cousin of Miss Vere's; "that's something, Nancy," she continued, +turning to the timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf; +"will you ask your fortune?" + +"Not for worlds," said she, drawing back; "I have heard enough of +yours." + +"Well, then," said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, +"I'll pay for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a +princess." + +"Truth," said the Soothsayer, "can neither be bought nor sold;" +and he pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain. + +"Well, then," said the lady, "I'll keep my money, Mr. Elshender, +to assist me in the chase I am to pursue." + +"You will need it," replied the cynic; "without it, few pursue +successfully, and fewer are themselves pursued.--Stop!" he said +to Miss Vere, as her companions moved off, "With you I have more +to say. You have what your companions would wish to have, or be +thought to have,--beauty, wealth, station, accomplishments." + +"Forgive my following my companions, father; I am proof both to +flattery and fortune-telling." + +"Stay," continued the Dwarf, with his hand on her horse's rein, +"I am no common soothsayer, and I am no flatterer. All the +advantages I have detailed, all and each of them have their +corresponding evils--unsuccessful love, crossed affections, the +gloom of a convent, or an odious alliance. I, who wish ill to +all mankind, cannot wish more evil to you, so much is your course +of life crossed by it." + +"And if it be, father, let me enjoy the readiest solace of +adversity while prosperity is in my power. You are old; you are +poor; your habitation is far from human aid, were you ill, or in +want; your situation, in many respects, exposes you to the +suspicions of the vulgar, which are too apt to break out into +actions of brutality. Let me think I have mended the lot of one +human being! Accept of such assistance as I have power to offer; +do this for my sake, if not for your own, that when these evils +arise, which you prophesy perhaps too truly, I may not have to +reflect, that the hours of my happier time have been passed +altogether in vain." + +The old man answered with a broken voice, and almost without +addressing himself to the young lady,-- + +"Yes, 'tis thus thou shouldst think--'tis thus thou shouldst +speak, if ever human speech and thought kept touch with each +other! They do not--they do not--Alas! they cannot. And yet-- +wait here an instant--stir not till my return." He went to his +little garden, and returned with a half-blown rose. "Thou hast +made me shed a tear, the first which has wet my eyelids for many +a year; for that good deed receive this token of gratitude. It +is but a common rose; preserve it, however, and do not part with +it. Come to me in your hour of adversity. Show me that rose, or +but one leaf of it, were it withered as my heart is--if it should +be in my fiercest and wildest movements of rage against a hateful +world, still it will recall gentler thoughts to my bosom, and +perhaps afford happier prospects to thine. But no message," he +exclaimed, rising into his usual mood of misanthropy,--"no +message--no go-between! Come thyself; and the heart and the +doors that are shut against every other earthly being, shall open +to thee and to thy sorrows. And now pass on." + +He let go the bridle-rein, and the young lady rode on, after +expressing her thanks to this singular being, as well as her +surprise at the extraordinary nature of his address would permit, +often turning back to look at the Dwarf, who still remained at +the door of his habitation, and watched her progress over the +moor towards her father's castle of Ellieslaw, until the brow of +the hill hid the party from his sight. + +The ladies, meantime, jested with Miss Vere on the strange +interview they had just had with the far-famed wizard of the +Moor. "Isabella has all the luck at home and abroad! Her hawk +strikes down the black-cock; her eyes wound the gallant; no +chance for her poor companions and kinswomen; even the conjuror +cannot escape the force of her charms. You should, in +compassion, cease to be such an engrosser, my dear Isabel, or at +least set up shop, and sell off all the goods you do not mean to +keep for your own use." + +"You shall have them all," replied Miss Vere, "and the conjuror +to boot, at a very easy rate." + +"No! Nancy shall have the conjuror," said Miss Ilderton, "to +supply deficiencies; she's not quite a witch herself, you know." + +"Lord, sister," answered the younger Miss Ilderton, "what could I +do with so frightful a monster? I kept my eyes shut, after once +glancing at him; and, I protest, I thought I saw him still, +though I winked as close as ever I could." + +"That's a pity," said her sister; "ever while you live, Nancy, +choose an admirer whose faults can be hid by winking at them.-- +Well, then, I must take him myself, I suppose, and put him into +mamma's Japan cabinet, in order to show that Scotland can produce +a specimen of mortal clay moulded into a form ten thousand times +uglier than the imaginations of Canton and Pekin, fertile as they +are in monsters, have immortalized in porcelain." + +"There is something," said Miss Vere, "so melancholy in the +situation of this poor man, that I cannot enter into your mirth, +Lucy, so readily as usual. If he has no resources, how is he to +exist in this waste country, living, as he does, at such a +distance from mankind? and if he has the means of securing +occasional assistance, will not the very suspicion that he is +possessed of them, expose him to plunder and assassination by +some of our unsettled neighbours?" + +"But you forget that they say he is a warlock," said Nancy +Ilderton. + +"And, if his magic diabolical should fail him," rejoined her +sister, "I would have him trust to his magic natural, and thrust +his enormous head, and most preternatural visage, out at his door +or window, full in view of the assailants. The boldest robber +that ever rode would hardly bide a second glance of him. Well, I +wish I had the use of that Gorgon head of his for only one half +hour." + +"For what purpose, Lucy?" said Miss Vere. + +"O! I would frighten out of the castle that dark, stiff, and +stately Sir Frederick Langley, that is so great a favourite with +your father, and so little a favourite of yours. I protest I +shall be obliged to the Wizard as long as I live, if it were only +for the half hour's relief from that man's company which we have +gained by deviating from the party to visit Elshie." + +"What would you say, then," said Miss Vere, in a low tone, so as +not to be heard by the younger sister, who rode before them, the +narrow path not admitting of their moving all three abreast,--" +What would you say, my dearest Lucy, if it were proposed to you +to endure his company for life?" + +"Say? I would say, NO, NO, NO, three times, each louder than +another, till they should hear me at Carlisle." + +"And Sir Frederick would say then, nineteen nay-says are half a +grant." + +"That," replied Miss Lucy, "depends entirely on the manner in +which the nay-says are said. Mine should have not one grain of +concession in them, I promise you." + +"But if your father," said Miss Vere, "were to say,--Thus do, or +--" + +"I would stand to the consequences of his OR, were he the most +cruel father that ever was recorded in romance, to fill up the +alternative." + +"And what if he threatened you with a catholic aunt, an abbess, +and a cloister?" + +"Then," said Miss Ilderton, "I would threaten him with a +protestant son-in-law, and be glad of an opportunity to disobey +him for conscience' sake. And now that Nancy is out of hearing, +let me really say, I think you would be excusable before God and +man for resisting this preposterous match by every means in your +power. A proud, dark, ambitious man; a caballer against the +state; infamous for his avarice and severity; a bad son, a bad +brother, unkind and ungenerous to all his relatives--Isabel, I +would die rather than have him." + +"Don't let my father hear you give me such advice," said Miss +Vere, "or adieu, my dear Lucy, to Ellieslaw Castle." + +"And adieu to Ellieslaw Castle, with all my heart," said her +friend, "if I once saw you fairly out of it, and settled under +some kinder protector than he whom nature has given you. O, if +my poor father had been in his former health, how gladly would he +have received and sheltered you, till this ridiculous and cruel +persecution were blown over!" + +"Would to God it had been so, my dear Lucy!" answered Isabella; +"but I fear, that, in your father's weak state of health, he +would be altogether unable to protect me against the means which +would be immediately used for reclaiming the poor fugitive." + +"I fear so indeed," replied Miss Ilderton; "but we will consider +and devise something. Now that your father and his guests seem +so deeply engaged in some mysterious plot, to judge from the +passing and returning of messages, from the strange faces which +appear and disappear without being announced by their names, from +the collecting and cleaning of arms, and the anxious gloom and +bustle which seem to agitate every male in the castle, it may not +be impossible for us (always in case matters be driven to +extremity) to shape out some little supplemental conspiracy of +our own. I hope the gentlemen have not kept all the policy to +themselves; and there is one associate that I would gladly admit +to our counsel." + +"Not Nancy?" + +"O, no!" said Miss Ilderton; "Nancy, though an excellent good +girl, and fondly attached to you, would make a dull conspirator +--as dull as Renault and all the other subordinate plotters in +VENICE PRESERVED. No; this is a Jaffier, or Pierre, if you like +the character better; and yet though I know I shall please you, I +am afraid to mention his name to you, lest I vex you at the same +time. Can you not guess? Something about an eagle and a rock-- +it does not begin with eagle in English, but something very like +it in Scotch." + +"You cannot mean young Earnscliff, Lucy?" said Miss Vere, +blushing deeply. + +"And whom else should I mean" said Lucy. "Jaffiers and Pierres +are very scarce in this country, I take it, though one could find +Renaults and Bedamars enow." + +"How call you talk so wildly, Lucy? Your plays and romances have +positively turned your brain. You know, that, independent of my +father's consent, without which I never will marry any one, and +which, in the case you point at, would never be granted; +independent, too, of our knowing nothing of young Earnscliff's +inclinations, but by your own vivid conjectures and fancies-- +besides all this, there is the fatal brawl!" + +"When his father was killed?" said Lucy. "But that was very +long ago; and I hope we have outlived the time of bloody feud, +when a quarrel was carried down between two families from father +to son, like a Spanish game at chess, and a murder or two +committed in every generation, just to keep the matter from going +to sleep. We do with our quarrels nowadays as with our clothes; +cut them out for ourselves, and wear them out in our own day, and +should no more think of resenting our fathers' feuds, than of +wearing their slashed doublets and trunk-hose." + +"You treat this far too lightly, Lucy," answered Miss Vere. + +"Not a bit, my dear Isabella," said Lucy. "Consider, your +father, though present in the unhappy affray, is never supposed +to have struck the fatal blow; besides, in former times, in case +of mutual slaughter between clans, subsequent alliances were so +far from being excluded, that the hand of a daughter or a sister +was the most frequent gage of reconciliation. You laugh at my +skill in romance; but, I assure you, should your history be +written, like that of many a less distressed and less deserving +heroine, the well-judging reader would set you down for the lady +and the love of Earnscliff; from the very obstacle which you +suppose so insurmountable." + +"But these are not the days of romance, but of sad reality, for +there stands the castle of Ellieslaw." + +"And there stands Sir Frederick Langley at the gate, waiting to +assist the ladies from their palfreys. I would as lief touch a +toad; I will disappoint him, and take old Horsington the groom +for my master of the horse." + +So saying, the lively young lady switched her palfrey forward, +and passing Sir Frederick with a familiar nod as he stood ready +to take her horse's rein, she cantered on, and jumped into the +arms of the old groom. Fain would Isabella have done the same +had she dared; but her father stood near, displeasure already +darkening on a countenance peculiarly qualified to express the +harsher passions, and she was compelled to receive the unwelcome +assiduities of her detested suitor. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Let not us that are squires of the night's body be called + thieves of the day's booty; let us be Diana's foresters, + gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon. + HENRY THE FOURTH, PART I. + +The Solitary had consumed the remainder of that day in which he +had the interview with the young ladies, within the precincts of +his garden. Evening again found him seated on his favourite +stone. The sun setting red, and among seas of rolling clouds, +threw a gloomy lustre over the moor, and gave a deeper purple to +the broad outline of heathy mountains which surrounded this +desolate spot. The Dwarf sate watching the clouds as they +lowered above each other in masses of conglomerated vapours, and, +as a strong lurid beam of the sinking luminary darted full on his +solitary and uncouth figure, he might well have seemed the demon +of the storm which was gathering, or some gnome summoned forth +from the recesses of the earth by the subterranean signals of its +approach. As he sate thus, with his dark eye turned towards the +scowling and blackening heaven, a horseman rode rapidly up to +him, and stopping, as if to let his horse breathe for an instant, +made a sort of obeisance to the anchoret, with an air betwixt +effrontery and embarrassment. + +The figure of the rider was thin, tall, and slender, but +remarkably athletic, bony, and sinewy; like one who had all his +life followed those violent exercises which prevent the human +form from increasing in bulk, while they harden and confirm by +habit its muscular powers. His face, sharp-featured, sun-burnt, +and freckled, had a sinister expression of violence, impudence, +and cunning, each of which seemed alternately to predominate over +the others. Sandy-coloured hair, and reddish eyebrows, from +under which looked forth his sharp grey eyes, completed the +inauspicious outline of the horseman's physiognomy. He had +pistols in his holsters, and another pair peeped from his belt, +though he had taken some pains to conceal them by buttoning his +doublet. He wore a rusted steel head piece; a buff jacket of +rather an antique cast; gloves, of which that for the right hand +was covered with small scales of iron, like an ancient gauntlet; +and a long broadsword completed his equipage. + +"So," said the Dwarf," rapine and murder once more on horseback." + +"On horseback?" said the bandit; "ay, ay, Elshie, your leech- +craft has set me on the bonny bay again." + +"And all those promises of amendment which you made during your +illness forgotten?" continued Elshender. + +"All clear away, with the water-saps and panada," returned the +unabashed convalescent. "Ye ken, Elshie, for they say ye are +weel acquent wi' the gentleman, + + "When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be, + When the devil was well, the devil a monk was he." + +"Thou say'st true," said the Solitary; "as well divide a wolf +from his appetite for carnage, or a raven from her scent of +slaughter, as thee from thy accursed propensities." + +"Why, what would you have me to do? It's born with me--lies in +my very blude and bane. Why, man, the lads of Westburnflat, for +ten lang descents, have been reivers and lifters. They have all +drunk hard, lived high, taking deep revenge for light offence, +and never wanted gear for the winning." + +"Right; and thou art as thorough-bred a wolf," said the Dwarf, +"as ever leapt a lamb-fold at night. On what hell's errand art +thou bound now?" + +"Can your skill not guess?" + +"Thus far I know," said the Dwarf, "that thy purpose is bad, thy +deed will be worse,, and the issue worst of all." + +"And you like me the better for it, Father Elshie, eh?" said +Westburnflat; "you always said you did." + +"I have cause to like all," answered the Solitary, "that are +scourges to their fellow-creatures, and thou art a bloody one." + +"No--I say not guilty to that--lever bluidy unless there's +resistance, and that sets a man's bristles up, ye ken. And this +is nae great matter, after a'; just to cut the comb of a young +cock that has been crawing a little ower crousely." + +"Not young Earnscliff?" said the Solitary, with some emotion. + +"No; not young Earnscliff--not young Earnscliff YET; but his time +may come, if he will not take warning, and get him back to the +burrow-town that he's fit for, and no keep skelping about here, +destroying the few deer that are left in the country, and +pretending to act as a magistrate, and writing letters to the +great folk at Auld Reekie, about the disturbed state of the land. +Let him take care o' himsell." + +"Then it must be Hobbie of the Heugh-foot," said Elshie. +"What harm has the lad done you?" + +"Harm! nae great harm; but I hear he says I staid away from the +Ba'spiel on Fastern's E'en, for fear of him; and it was only for +fear of the Country Keeper, for there was a warrant against me. +I'll stand Hobbie's feud, and a' his clan's. But it's not so +much for that, as to gie him a lesson not to let his tongue +gallop ower freely about his betters. I trow he will hae lost +the best pen-feather o' his wing before to-morrow morning.-- +Farewell, Elshie; there's some canny boys waiting for me down +amang the shaws, owerby; I will see you as I come back, and bring +ye a blithe tale in return for your leech-craft." + +Ere the Dwarf could collect himself to reply, the Reiver of +Westburnflat set spurs to his horse. The animal, starting at one +of the stones which lay scattered about, flew from the path. The +rider exercised his spurs without moderation or mercy. The horse +became furious, reared, kicked, plunged, and bolted like a deer, +with all his four feet off the ground at once. It was in vain; +the unrelenting rider sate as if he had been a part of the horse +which he bestrode; and, after a short but furious contest, +compelled the subdued animal to proceed upon the path at a rate +which soon carried him out of sight of the Solitary. + +"That villain," exclaimed the Dwarf,--"that cool-blooded, +hardened, unrelenting ruffian,--that wretch, whose every thought +is infected with crimes,--has thewes and sinews, limbs, strength, +and activity enough, to compel a nobler animal than himself to +carry him to the place where he is to perpetrate his wickedness; +while I, had I the weakness to wish to put his wretched victim on +his guard, and to save the helpless family, would see my good +intentions frustrated by the decrepitude which chains me to the +spot.--Why should I wish it were otherwise? What have my +screech-owl voice, my hideous form, and my mis-shapen features, +to do with the fairer workmanship of nature? Do not men receive +even my benefits with shrinking horror and ill-suppressed +disgust? And why should I interest myself in a race which +accounts me a prodigy and an outcast, and which has treated me as +such? No; by all the ingratitude which I have reaped--by all the +wrongs which I have sustained--by my imprisonment, my stripes, my +chains, I will wrestle down my feelings of rebellious humanity! +I will not be the fool I have been, to swerve from my principles +whenever there was an appeal, forsooth, to my feelings; as if I, +towards whom none show sympathy, ought to have sympathy with any +one. Let Destiny drive forth her scythed car through the +overwhelmed and trembling mass of humanity! Shall I be the idiot +to throw this decrepit form, this mis-shapen lump of mortality, +under her wheels, that the Dwarf, the Wizard, the Hunchback, may +save from destruction some fair form or some active frame, and +all the world clap their hands at the exchange? No, never!--And +yet this Elliot--this Hobbie, so young and gallant, so frank, so +--I will think of it no longer. I cannot aid him if I would, and +I am resolved--firmly resolved, that I would not aid him, if a +wish were the pledge of his safety!" + +Having thus ended his soliloquy, he retreated into his hut for +shelter from the storm which was fast approaching, and now began +to burst in large and heavy drops of rain. The last rays of the +sun now disappeared entirely, and two or three claps of distant +thunder followed each other at brief intervals, echoing and +re-echoing among the range of heathy fells like the sound of a +distant engagement. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn!-- + . . . . + Return to thy dwelling; all lonely, return; + For the blackness of ashes shall mark where it stood, + And a wild mother scream o'er her famishing brood. CAMPBELL. + +The night continued sullen and stormy; but morning rose as if +refreshed by the rains. Even the Mucklestane-Moor, with its +broad bleak swells of barren grounds, interspersed with marshy +pools of water, seemed to smile under the serene influence of the +sky, just as good-humour can spread a certain inexpressible charm +over the plainest human countenance. The heath was in its +thickest and deepest bloom. The bees, which the Solitary had +added to his rural establishment, were abroad and on the wing, +and filled the air with the murmurs of their industry. As the +old man crept out of his little hut, his two she-goats came to +meet him, and licked his 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 benefactor--to 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 lunatics--for their disgraceful restraints--for their cruel +privations, than for communication with the rest of humanity. +Hubert alone--and 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, man--let 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 again--not 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 about--but 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 be--But 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 brouze--the +like's no been seen sin' the days of auld Martin of the Preakin- +tower--I 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 for a blink. I am thinking it wad +concern my safety if she were to come back here, for there's mony +o' the Elliots, and they band weel thegither for right or wrang. +Now, what I chiefly come to ask your rede in, is how to make her +sure?" + +"Wouldst thou murder her, then?" + +"Umph! no, no; that I would not do, if I could help it. But they +say they can whiles get folk cannily away to the plantations from +some of the outports, and something to boot for them that brings +a bonny wench. They're wanted beyond seas thae female cattle, +and they're no that scarce here. But I think o' doing better for +this lassie. There's a leddy, that, unless she be a' the better +bairn, is to be sent to foreign parts whether she will or no; +now, I think of sending Grace to wait on her--she's a bonny +lassie. Hobbie will hae a merry morning when he comes hame, and +misses baith bride and gear." + +"Ay; and do you not pity him?" said the Recluse. + +"Wad he pity me were I gaeing up the Castle hill at Jeddart? [ +The place of execution at that ancient burgh, where many of +Westburnflat's profession have made their final exit.] And yet I +rue something for the bit lassie; but he'll get anither, and +little skaith dune--ane is as gude as anither. And now, you that +like to hear o' splores, heard ye ever o' a better ane than I hae +had this morning?" + +"Air, ocean, and fire," said the Dwarf, speaking to himself, "the +earthquake, the tempest, the volcano, are all mild and moderate, +compared to the wrath of man. And what is this fellow, but one +more skilled than others in executing the end of his existence? +--Hear me, felon, go again where I before sent thee." + +"To the Steward?" + +"Ay; and tell him, Elshender the Recluse commands him to give +thee gold. But, hear me, let the maiden be discharged free and +uninjured; return her to her friends, and let her swear not to +discover thy villainy." + +"Swear" said Westburnflat; "but what if she break her aith? Women +are not famous for keeping their plight. A wise man like you +should ken that.--And uninjured--wha kens what may happen were +she to be left lang at Tinning-Beck? Charlie Cheat-the-Woodie is +a rough customer. But if the gold could be made up to twenty +pieces, I think I could ensure her being wi' her friends within +the twenty-four hours." + +The Dwarf took his tablets from his pocket, marked a line on +them, and tore out the leaf. "There," he said, giving the robber +the leaf--"But, mark me; thou knowest I am not to be fooled by +thy treachery; if thou darest to disobey my directions, thy +wretched life, be sure, shall answer it." + +"I know," said the fellow, looking down, "that you have power on +earth, however you came by it; you can do what nae other man can +do, baith by physic and foresight; and the gold is shelled down +when ye command, as fast as I have seen the ash-keys fall in a +frosty morning in October. I will not disobey you." + +"Begone, then, and relieve me of thy hateful presence." + +The robber set spurs to his horse, and rode off without reply. + +Hobbie Elliot had, in the meanwhile, pursued his journey rapidly, +harassed by those oppressive and indistinct fears that all was +not right, which men usually term a presentiment of misfortune. +Ere he reached the top of the bank from which he could look down +on his own habitation, he was met by his nurse, a person then of +great consequence in all families in Scotland, whether of the +higher or middling classes. The connexion between them and their +foster-children was considered a tie far too dearly intimate to +be broken; and it usually happened, in the course of years, that +the nurse became a resident in the family of her foster-son, +assisting in the domestic duties, and receiving all marks of +attention and regard from the heads of the family. So soon as +Hobbie recognised the figure of Annaple, in her red cloak and +black hood, he could not help exclaiming to himself, "What ill +luck can hae brought the auld nurse sae far frae hame, her that +never stirs a gun-shot frae the door-stane for ordinar?--Hout, it +will just be to get crane-berries, or whortle-berries, or some +such stuff, out of the moss, to make the pies and tarts for the +feast on Monday.--I cannot get the words of that cankered auld +cripple deil's-buckie out o' my head--the least thing makes me +dread some ill news.--O, Killbuck, man! were there nae deer and +goats in the country besides, but ye behoved to gang and worry +his creature, by a' other folk's?" + +By this time Annaple, with a brow like a tragic volume, had +hobbled towards him, and caught his horse by the bridle. The +despair in her look was so evident as to deprive even him of the +power of asking the cause. "O my bairn!" she cried, "gang na +forward--gang na forward--it's a sight to kill onybody, let alane +thee." + +"In God's name, what's the matter?" said the astonished +horseman, endeavouring to extricate his bridle from the grasp of +the old woman; "for Heaven's sake, let me go and see what's the +matter." + +"Ohon! that I should have lived to see the day!--The steading's +a' in a low, and the bonny stack-yard lying in the red ashes, and +the gear a' driven away. But gang na forward ; it wad break your +young heart, hinny, to see what my auld een hae seen this +morning." + +"And who has dared to do this? let go my bridle, Annaple--where +is my grandmother--my sisters?--Where is Grace Armstrong?--God!-- +the words of the warlock are knelling in my ears!" + +He sprang from his horse to rid himself of Annaple's +interruption, and, ascending the hill with great speed, soon came +in view of the spectacle with which she had threatened him. It +was indeed a heart-breaking sight. The habitation which he had +left in its seclusion, beside the mountain-stream, surrounded +with every evidence of rustic plenty, was now a wasted and +blackened ruin. From amongst the shattered and sable walls the +smoke continued to rise. The turf-stack, the barn-yard, the +offices stocked with cattle, all the wealth of an upland +cultivator of the period, of which poor Elliot possessed no +common share, had been laid waste or carried off in a single +night. He stood a moment motionless, and then exclaimed, "I am +ruined--ruined to the ground!--But curse on the warld's gear--Had +it not been the week before the bridal--But I am nae babe, to sit +down and greet about it. If I can but find Grace, and my +grandmother, and my sisters weel, I can go to the wars in +Flanders, as my gude-sire did, under the Bellenden banner, wi' +auld Buccleuch. At ony rate, I will keep up a heart, or they +will lose theirs a'thegither." + +Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill, resolved to suppress his +own despair, and administer consolation which he did not feel. +The neighbouring inhabitants of the dell, particularly those of +his own name, had already assembled. The younger part were in +arms and clamorous for revenge, although they knew not upon whom; +the elder were taking measures for the relief of the distressed +family. Annaple's cottage, which was situated down the brook, at +some distance from the scene of mischief, had been hastily +adapted for the temporary accommodation of the old lady and her +daughters, with such articles as had been contributed by the +neighbours, for very little was saved from the wreck. + +"Are we to stand here a' day, sirs," exclaimed one tall young +man, "and look at the burnt wa's of our kinsman's house? Every +wreath of the reek is a blast of shame upon us! Let us to horse, +and take the chase.--Who has the nearest bloodhound?" + +"It's young Earnscliff," answered another; "and he's been on and +away wi' six horse lang syne, to see if he can track them." + +"Let us follow him then, and raise the country, and mak mair help +as we ride, and then have at the Cumberland reivers! Take, burn, +and slay--they that lie nearest us shall smart first." + +"Whisht! haud your tongues, daft callants," said an old man, "ye +dinna ken what ye speak about. What! wad ye raise war atween two +pacificated countries?" + +"And what signifies deaving us wi' tales about our fathers," +retorted the young; man, "if we're to sit and see our friends' +houses burnt ower their heads, and no put out hand to revenge +them? Our fathers did not do that, I trow?" + +"I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie's wrang, puir +chield; but we maun take the law wi' us in thae days, Simon," +answered the more prudent elder. + +"And besides," said another old man, "I dinna believe there's ane +now living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across +the Border. Tam o' Whittram kend a' about it; but he died in the +hard winter." + +"Ay," said a third, "he was at the great gathering, when they +chased as far as Thirlwall; it was the year after the fight of +Philiphaugh." + +"Hout," exclaimed another of these discording counsellors, +"there's nae great skill needed; just put a lighted peat on the +end of a spear, or hayfork, or siclike, and blaw a horn, and cry +the gathering-word, and then it's lawful to follow gear into +England, and recover it by the strong hand, or to take gear frae +some other Englishman, providing ye lift nae mair than's been +lifted frae you. That's the auld Border law, made at Dundrennan, +in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need doubt it. It's +as clear as the sun." + +"Come away, then, lads," cried Simon, "get to your geldings, and +we'll take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi' us; he kens the +value o' the stock and plenishing that's been lost. Hobbie's +stalls and stakes shall be fou again or night; and if we canna +big up the auld house sae soon, we'se lay an English ane as low +as Heugh-foot is--and that's fair play, a' the warld ower." + +This animating proposal was received with great applause by the +younger part of the assemblage, when a whisper ran among them, +"There's Hobbie himsell, puir fallow! we'll be guided by him." + +The principal sufferer, having now reached the bottom of the +hill, pushed on through the crowd, unable, from the tumultuous +state of his feelings, to do more than receive and return the +grasps of the friendly hands by which his neighbours and kinsmen +mutely expressed their sympathy in his misfortune. While he +pressed Simon of Hackburn's hand, his anxiety at length found +words. "Thank ye, Simon--thank ye, neighbours--I ken what ye wad +a' say. But where are they?--Where are--" He stopped, as if +afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry; and with a +similar feeling, his kinsmen, without reply, pointed to the hut, +into which Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of +one who is resolved to know the worst at once. A general and +powerful expression of sympathy accompanied him. "Ah, puir +fallow--puir Hobbie!" + +"He'll learn the warst o't now!" + +"But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o' the puir +lassie." + +Such were the exclamations of the group, who, having no +acknowledged leader to direct their motions, passively awaited +the return of the sufferer, and determined to be guided by his +directions. + +The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest +degree affecting. His sisters threw themselves upon him, and +almost stifled him with their caresses, as if to prevent his +looking round to distinguish the absence of one yet more beloved. + +"God help thee, my son! He can help when worldly trust is a +broken reed."--Such was the welcome of the matron to her +unfortunate grandson. He looked eagerly round, holding two of +his sisters by the hand, while the third hung about his neck--"I +see you--I count you--my grandmother, Lilias, Jean, and Annot; +but where is--" (he hesitated, and then continued, as if with an +effort), "Where is Grace? Surely this is not a time to hide +hersell frae me--there's nae time for daffing now." + +"O, brother!" and "Our poor Grace!" was the only answer his +questions could procure, till his grandmother rose up, and gently +disengaged him from the weeping girls, led him to a seat, and +with the affecting serenity which sincere piety, like oil +sprinkled on the waves, can throw over the most acute feelings, +she said, "My bairn, when thy grandfather was killed in the wars, +and left me with six orphans around me, with scarce bread to eat, +or a roof to cover us, I had strength,--not of mine own--but I +had strength given me to say, The Lord's will be done!--My son, +our peaceful house was last night broken into by moss-troopers, +armed and masked; they have taken and destroyed all, and carried +off our dear Grace. Pray for strength to say, His will be done!" + +"Mother! mother! urge me not--I cannot--not now I am a sinful +man, and of a hardened race. Masked armed--Grace carried off! +Gie me my sword, and my father's knapsack--I will have vengeance, +if I should go to the pit of darkness to seek it!" + +"O my bairn, my bairn! be patient under the rod. Who knows when +He may lift His hand off from us? Young Earnscliff, Heaven bless +him, has taen the chase, with Davie of Stenhouse, and the first +comers. I cried to let house and plenishing burn, and follow the +reivers to recover Grace, and Earnscliff and his men were ower +the Fell within three hours after the deed. God bless him! he's +a real Earnscliff; he's his father's true son--a leal friend." + +"A true friend indeed; God bless him!" exclaimed Hobbie; "let's +on and away, and take the chase after him." + +"O, my child, before you run on danger, let me hear you but say, +HIS will be done!" + +"Urge me not, mother--not now." He was rushing out, when, +looking back, he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of +affliction. He returned hastily, threw himself into her arms, +and said, "Yes, mother, I CAN say, HIS will be done, since it +will comfort you." + +"May He go forth--may He go forth with you, my dear bairn; and O, +may He give you cause to say on your return, HIS name be +praised!" + +"Farewell, mother!--farewell, my dear sisters!" exclaimed +Elliot, and rushed out of the house. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Now horse and hattock, cried the Laird,-- + Now horse and hattock, speedilie; + They that winna ride for Telfer's kye, + Let them never look in the face o' me. Border Ballad. + +"Horse! horse! and spear!" exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen. +Many a ready foot was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastily +collected arms and accoutrements, no easy matter in such a +confusion, the glen resounded with the approbation of his younger +friends. + +"Ay, ay!" exclaimed Simon of Hackburn, "that's the gate to take +it, Hobbie. Let women sit and greet at hame, men must do as they +have been done by; it's the Scripture says't." + +"Haud your tongue, sir," said one of the seniors, sternly; "dinna +abuse the Word that gate, ye dinna ken what ye speak about." + +"Hae ye ony tidings?--Hae ye ony speerings, Hobbie?--O, callants, +dinna be ower hasty," said old Dick of the Dingle. + +"What signifies preaching to us, e'enow?" said Simon; "if ye +canna make help yoursell, dinna keep back them that can." + +"Whisht, sir; wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrang'd +ye?" + +"D'ye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our +fathers before us?--All evil comes out o' thereaway--it's an auld +saying and a true; and we'll e'en away there, as if the devil was +blawing us south." + +"We'll follow the track o' Earnscliff's horses ower the waste," +cried one Elliot. + +"I'll prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border, an +there had been a fair held there the day before," said Hugh, the +blacksmith of Ringleburn, "for I aye shoe his horse wi' my ain +hand." + +"Lay on the deer-hounds," cried another "where are they?" + +"Hout, man, the sun's been lang up, and the dew is aff the grund +--the scent will never lie." + +Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds, which were roving about +the ruins of their old habitation, and filling the air with their +doleful howls. + +"Now, Killbuck," said Hobbie, "try thy skill this day" and then, +as if a light had suddenly broke on him,--"that ill-faur'd goblin +spak something o' this! He may ken mair o't, either by villains +on earth, or devils below--I'll hae it frae him, if I should cut +it out o' his mis-shapen bouk wi' my whinger." He then hastily +gave directions to his comrades: "Four o' ye, wi' Simon, haud +right forward to Graeme's-gap. If they're English, they'll be +for being back that way. The rest disperse by twasome and +threesome through the waste, and meet me at the Trysting-pool. +Tell my brothers, when they come up, to follow and meet us there. +Poor lads, they will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; little +think they what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venison +to! I'll ride ower Mucklestane-Moor mysell." + +"And if I were you," said Dick of the Dingle, "I would speak to +Canny Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, if +he's sae minded." + +"He SHALL tell me," said Hobbie, who was busy putting his arms in +order, "what he kens o' this night's job, or I shall right weel +ken wherefore he does not." + +"Ay, but speak him fair, my bonny man--speak him fair Hobbie; the +like o' him will no bear thrawing. They converse sae muckle wi' +thae fractious ghaists and evil spirits, that it clean spoils +their temper." + +"Let me alane to guide him," answered Hobbie; "there's that in my +breast this day, that would ower-maister a' the warlocks on +earth, and a' the devils in hell." + +And being now fully equipped, he threw himself on his horse, and +spurred him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent. + +Elliot speedily surmounted the hill, rode down the other side at +the same rate, crossed a wood, and traversed a long glen, ere he +at length regained Mucklestane-Moor. As he was obliged, in the +course of his journey, to relax his speed in consideration of the +labour which his horse might still have to undergo, he had time +to consider maturely in what manner he should address the Dwarf, +in order to extract from him the knowledge which he supposed him +to be in possession of concerning the authors of his misfortunes. +Hobbie, though blunt, plain of speech, and hot of disposition, +like most of his countrymen, was by no means deficient in the +shrewdness which is also their characteristic. He reflected, +that from what he had observed on the memorable night when the +Dwarf was first seen, and from the conduct of that mysterious +being ever since, he was likely to be rendered even more +obstinate in his sullenness by threats and violence. + +"I'll speak him fair," he said, "as auld Dickon advised me. +Though folk say he has a league wi' Satan, he canna be sic an +incarnate devil as no to take some pity in a case like mine; and +folk threep he'll whiles do good, charitable sort o' things. +I'll keep my heart doun as weel as I can, and stroke him wi' the +hair; and if the warst come to the warst, it's but wringing the +head o' him about at last." + +In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the +Solitary. + +The old man was not upon his seat of audience, nor could Hobbie +perceive him in his garden, or enclosures. + +"He's gotten into his very keep," said Hobbie, "maybe to be out +o' the gate; but I'se pu' it doun about his lugs, if I canna win +at him otherwise." + +Having thus communed with himself, he raised his voice, and +invoked Elshie in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting +feelings would permit. "Elshie, my gude friend!" No reply. +"Elshie, canny Father Elshie!" The Dwarf remained mute. "Sorrow +be in the crooked carcass of thee!" said the Borderer between +his teeth; and then again attempting a soothing tone,--"Good +Father Elshie, a most miserable creature desires some counsel of +your wisdom." + +"The better!" answered the shrill and discordant voice of the +Dwarf through a very small window, resembling an arrow slit, +which he had constructed near the door of his dwelling, and +through which he could see any one who approached it, without the +possibility of their looking in upon him. + +"The better!" said Hobbie impatiently; "what is the better, +Elshie? Do you not hear me tell you I am the most miserable +wretch living?" + +"And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better! and +did I not tell you this morning, when you thought yourself so +happy, what an evening was coming upon you?" + +"That ye did e'en," replied Hobbie, "and that gars me come to you +for advice now; they that foresaw the trouble maun ken the cure." + +"I know no cure for earthly trouble," returned the Dwarf "or, if +I did, why should I help others, when none hath aided me? Have I +not lost wealth, that would have bought all thy barren hills a +hundred times over? rank, to which thine is as that of a +peasant? society, where there was an interchange of all that was +amiable--of all that was intellectual? Have I not lost all this? +Am I not residing here, the veriest outcast on the face of +Nature, in the most hideous and most solitary of her retreats, +myself more hideous than all that is around me? And why should +other worms complain to me when they are trodden on, since I am +myself lying crushed and writhing under the chariot-wheel?" + +"Ye may have lost all this," answered Hobbie, in the bitterness +of emotion; "land and friends, goods and gear; ye may hae lost +them a',--but ye ne'er can hae sae sair a heart as mine, for ye +ne'er lost nae Grace Armstrong. And now my last hopes are gane, +and I shall ne'er see her mair." + +This he said in the tone of deepest emotion--and there followed a +long pause, for the mention of his bride's name had overcome the +more angry and irritable feelings of poor Hobbie. Ere he had +again addressed the Solitary, the bony hand and long fingers of +the latter, holding a large leathern bag, was thrust forth at the +small window, and as it unclutched the burden, and let it drop +with a clang upon the ground, his harsh voice again addressed +Elliot. + +"There--there lies a salve for every human ill; so, at least, +each human wretch readily thinks.--Begone; return twice as +wealthy as thou wert before yesterday, and torment me no more +with questions, complaints, or thanks; they are alike odious to +me." + +"It is a' gowd, by Heaven!" said Elliot, having glanced at the +contents; and then again addressing the Hermit, "Muckle obliged +for your goodwill; and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o' +the siller, or a wadset ower the lands o' Wideopen. But I dinna +ken, Elshie; to be free wi' you, I dinna like to use siller +unless I kend it was decently come by; and maybe it might turn +into sclate-stanes, and cheat some poor man." + +"Ignorant idiot!" retorted the Dwarf; "the trash is as genuine +poison as ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth. Take it +--use it, and may it thrive with you as it hath done with me!" + +"But I tell you," said Elliot, "it wasna about the gear that I +was consulting you,--it was a braw barn-yard, doubtless, and +thirty head of finer cattle there werena on this side of the +Catrail; but let the gear gang,--if ye could but gie me speerings +o' puir Grace, I would be content to be your slave for life, in +onything that didna touch my salvation. O, Elshie, speak, man, +speak!" + +"Well, then," answered the Dwarf, as if worn out by his +importunity, "since thou hast not enough of woes of thine own, +but must needs seek to burden thyself with those of a partner, +seek her whom thou hast lost in the WEST." + +"In the WEST? That's a wide word." + +"It is the last," said the Dwarf, which I design to utter;" and +he drew the shutters of his window, leaving Hobbie to make the +most of the hint he had given. + +The west! the west!--thought Elliot; the country is pretty quiet +down that way, unless it were Jock o' the Todholes; and he's ower +auld now for the like o' thae jobs.--West!--By My life, it must +be Westburnflat. "Elshie, just tell me one word. Am I right? +Is it Westburnflat? If I am wrang, say sae. I wadna like to +wyte an innocent neighbour wi' violence--No answer?--It must be +the Red Reiver--I didna think he wad hae ventured on me, neither, +and sae mony kin as there's o' us--I am thinking he'll hae some +better backing than his Cumberland friends.--Fareweel to you, +Elshie, and mony thanks--I downa be fashed wi' the siller e'en +now, for I maun awa' to meet my friends at the Trysting-place-- +Sae, if ye carena to open the window, ye can fetch it in after +I'm awa'." + +Still there was no reply. + +"He's deaf, or he's daft, or he's baith; but I hae nae time to +stay to claver wi' him." + +And off rode Hobbie Elliot towards the place of rendezvous which +he had named to his friends. + +Four or five riders were already gathered at the Trysting pool. +They stood in close consultation together, while their horses +were permitted to graze among the poplars which overhung the +broad still pool. A more numerous party were seen coming from +the southward. It proved to be Earnscliff and his party, who had +followed the track of the cattle as far as the English border, +but had halted on the information that a considerable force was +drawn together under some of the Jacobite gentlemen in that +district, and there were tidings of insurrection in different +parts of Scotland. This took away from the act which had been +perpetrated the appearance of private animosity, or love of +plunder; and Earnscliff was now disposed to regard it as a +symptom of civil war. The young gentleman greeted Hobbie with +the most sincere sympathy, and informed him of the news he had +received. + +"Then, may I never stir frae the bit," said Elliot, "if auld +Ellieslaw is not at the bottom o' the haill villainy! Ye see +he's leagued wi' the Cumberland Catholics; and that agrees weel +wi' what Elshie hinted about Westburnflat, for Ellieslaw aye +protected him, and he will want to harry and disarm the country +about his ain hand before he breaks out." + +Some now remembered that the party of ruffians had been heard to +say they were acting for James VIII., and were charged to disarm +all rebels. Others had heard Westburnflat boast, in drinking +parties, that Ellieslaw would soon be in arms for the Jacobite +cause, and that he himself was to hold a command under him, and +that they would be bad neighbours for young Earnscliff; and all +that stood out for the established government. The result was a +strong belief that Westburnflat had headed the party under +Ellieslaw's orders; and they resolved to proceed instantly to the +house of the former, and, if possible, to secure his person. +They were by this time joined by so many of their dispersed +friends, that their number amounted to upwards of twenty +horsemen, well mounted, and tolerably, though variously, armed. + +A brook, which issued from a narrow glen among the hills, +entered, at Westburnflat, upon the open marshy level, which, +expanding about half a mile in every direction, gives name to the +spot. In this place the character of the stream becomes changed, +and, from being a lively brisk-running mountain-torrent, it +stagnates, like a blue swollen snake, in dull deep windings, +through the swampy level. On the side of the stream, and nearly +about the centre of the plain, arose the tower of Westburnflat, +one of the few remaining strongholds formerly so numerous upon +the Borders. The ground upon which it stood was gently elevated +above the marsh for the space of about a hundred yards, affording +an esplanade of dry turf, which extended itself in the immediate +neighbourhood of the tower; but, beyond which, the surface +presented to strangers was that of an impassable and dangerous +bog. The owner of the tower and his inmates alone knew the +winding and intricate paths, which, leading over ground that was +comparatively sound, admitted visitors to his residence. But +among the party which were assembled under Earnscliff's +directions, there was more than one person qualified to act as a +guide. For although the owner's character and habits of life +were generally known, yet the laxity of feeling with respect to +property prevented his being looked on with the abhorrence with +which he must have been regarded in a more civilized country. He +was considered, among his more peaceable neighbours, pretty much +as a gambler, cock-fighter, or horse-jockey would be regarded at +the present day; a person, of course, whose habits were to be +condemned, and his society, in general, avoided, yet who could +not be considered as marked with the indelible infamy attached to +his profession, where laws have been habitually observed. And +their indignation was awakened against him upon this occasion, +not so much on account of the general nature of the transaction, +which was just such as was to be expected from this marauder, as +that the violence had been perpetrated upon a neighbour against +whom he had no cause of quarrel,--against a friend of their own, +--above all, against one of the name of Elliot, to which clan +most of them belonged. It was not, therefore, wonderful, that +there should be several in the band pretty well acquainted with +the locality of his habitation, and capable of giving such +directions and guidance as soon placed the whole party on the +open space of firm ground in front of the Tower of Westburnflat. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + So spak the knicht; the geaunt sed, + Lend forth with the, the sely maid, + And mak me quile of the and sche; + For glaunsing ee, or brow so brent, + Or cheek with rose and lilye blent, + Me lists not ficht with the. ROMANCE OF THE FALCON. + +The tower, before which the party now stood, was a small square +building, of the most gloomy aspect. The walls were of great +thickness, and the windows, or slits which served the purpose of +windows, seemed rather calculated to afford the defenders the +means of employing missile weapons, than for admitting air or +light to the apartments within. A small battlement projected +over the walls on every side, and afforded farther advantage of +defence by its niched parapet, within which arose a steep roof, +flagged with grey stones. A single turret at one angle, defended +by a door studded with huge iron nails, rose above the +battlement, and gave access to the roof from within, by the +spiral staircase which it enclosed. It seemed to the party that +their motions were watched by some one concealed within this +turret; and they were confirmed in their belief when, through a +narrow loophole, a female hand was seen to wave a handkerchief, +as if by way of signal to them. Hobbie was almost out of his +senses with joy and eagerness. + +"It was Grace's hand and arm," he said; "I can swear to it amang +a thousand. There is not the like of it on this side of the +Lowdens--We'll have her out, lads, if we should carry off the +Tower of Westburnflat stane by stane." + +Earnscliff, though he doubted the possibility of recognising a +fair maiden's hand at such a distance from the eye of the lover, +would say nothing to damp his friend's animated hopes, and it was +resolved to summon the garrison. + +The shouts of the party, and the winding of one or two horns, at +length brought to a loophole, which flanked the entrance, the +haggard face of an old woman. + +"That's the Reiver's mother," said one of the Elliots; "she's ten +times waur than himsell, and is wyted for muckle of the ill he +does about the country." + +"Wha are ye? what d'ye want here?" were the queries of the +respectable progenitor. + +"We are seeking William Graeme of Westburnflat," said Earnscliff. + +"He's no at hame," returned the old dame. + +"When did he leave home?" pursued Earnscliff. + +"I canna tell," said the portress. + +"When will he return?" said Hobbie Elliot. + +"I dinna ken naething about it," replied the inexorable guardian +of the keep. + +"Is there anybody within the tower with you?" again demanded +Earnscliff. + +"Naebody but mysell and baudrons," said the old woman. + +"Then open the gate and admit us," said Earnscliff; "I am a +justice of peace, and in search of the evidence of a felony." + +"Deil be in their fingers that draws a bolt for ye," retorted the +portress; "for mine shall never do it. Thinkna ye shame o' +yoursells, to come here siccan a band o' ye, wi' your swords, and +spears, and steel-caps, to frighten a lone widow woman?" + +"Our information," said Earnscliff; "is positive; we are seeking +goods which have been forcibly carried off, to a great amount." + +"And a young woman, that's been cruelly made prisoner, that's +worth mair than a' the gear, twice told," said Hobbie. + +"And I warn you." continued Earnscliff, "that your only way to +prove your son's innocence is to give us quiet admittance to +search the house." + +"And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys, or draw the +bolts, or open the grate to sic a clamjamfrie?" said the old +dame, scoffingly. + +"Force our way with the king's keys, and break the neck of every +living soul we find in the house, if ye dinna gie it ower +forthwith!" menaced the incensed Hobbie. + +"Threatened folks live lang," said the hag, in the same tone of +irony; "there's the iron grate--try your skeel on't, lads--it has +kept out as gude men as you or now." + +So saying, she laughed, and withdrew from the aperture through +which she had held the parley. + +The besiegers now opened a serious consultation. The immense +thickness of the walls, and the small size of the windows, might, +for a time, have even resisted cannon-shot. The entrance was +secured, first, by a strong grated door, composed entirely of +hammered iron, of such ponderous strength as seemed calculated to +resist any force that could be brought against it. "Pinches or +forehammers will never pick upon't," said Hugh, the blacksmith of +Ringleburn; "ye might as weel batter at it wi' pipe-staples." + +Within the doorway, and at the distance of nine feet, which was +the solid thickness of the wall, there was a second door of oak, +crossed, both breadth and lengthways, with clenched bars of iron, +and studded full of broad-headed nails. Besides all these +defences, they were by no means confident in the truth of the old +dame's assertion, that she alone composed the garrison. The more +knowing of the party had observed hoof-marks in the track by +which they approached the tower, which seemed to indicate that +several persons had very lately passed in that direction. + +To all these difficulties was added their want of means for +attacking the place. There was no hope of procuring ladders long +enough to reach the battlements, and the windows, besides being +very narrow, were secured with iron bars. Scaling was therefore +out of the question; mining was still more so, for want of tools +and gunpowder; neither were the besiegers provided with food, +means of shelter, or other conveniences, which might have enabled +them to convert the siege into a blockade; and there would, at +any rate, have been a risk of relief from some of the marauder's +comrades. Hobbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, as, walking +round the fastness, he could devise no means of making a forcible +entry. At length he suddenly exclaimed, "And what for no do as +our fathers did lang syne?--Put hand to the wark, lads. Let us +cut up bushes and briers, pile them before the door and set fire +to them, and smoke that auld devil's dam as if she were to be +reested for bacon." + +All immediately closed with this proposal, and some went to work +with swords and knives to cut down the alder and hawthorn bushes +which grew by the side of the sluggish stream, many of which were +sufficiently decayed and dried for their purpose, while others +began to collect them in a large stack, properly disposed for +burning, as close to the iron-grate as they could be piled. Fire +was speedily obtained from one of their guns, and Hobbie was +already advancing to the pile with a kindled brand, when the +surly face of the robber, and the muzzle of a musquetoon, were +partially shown at a shot-hole which flanked the entrance. "Mony +thanks to ye," he said, scoffingly, "for collecting sae muckle +winter eilding for us; but if ye step a foot nearer it wi' that +lunt, it's be the dearest step ye ever made in your days." + +"We'll sune see that," said Hobbie, advancing fearlessly with the +torch. + +The marauder snapped his piece at him, which, fortunately for our +honest friend, did not go off; while Earnscliff, firing at the +same moment at the narrow aperture and slight mark afforded by +the robber's face, grazed the side of his head with a bullet. He +had apparently calculated upon his post affording him more +security, for he no sooner felt the wound, though a very slight +one, than he requested a parley, and demanded to know what they +meant by attacking in this fashion a peaceable and honest man, +and shedding his blood in that lawless manner? + +"We want your prisoner," said Earnscliff, "to be delivered up to +us in safety," + +"And what concern have you with her?" replied the marauder. + +"That," retorted Earnscliff, "you, who are detaining her by +force, have no right to enquire." + +"Aweel, I think I can gie a guess," said the robber. "Weel, +sirs, I am laith to enter into deadly feud with you by spilling +ony of your bluid, though Earnscliff hasna stopped to shed mine +--and he can hit a mark to a groat's breadth--so, to prevent mair +skaith, I am willing to deliver up the prisoner, since nae less +will please you." + +"And Hobbie's gear?" cried Simon of Hackburn. "D'ye think +you're to be free to plunder the faulds and byres of a gentle +Elliot, as if they were an auld wife's hens'-cavey?" + +"As I live by bread," replied Willie of Westburnflat "As I live +by bread, I have not a single cloot o' them! They're a' ower the +march lang syne; there's no a horn o' them about the tower. But +I'll see what o' them can be gotten back, and I'll take this day +twa days to meet Hobbie at the Castleton wi' twa friends on ilka +side, and see to make an agreement about a' the wrang he can wyte +me wi'." + +"Ay, ay," said Elliot, "that will do weel eneugh."--And then +aside to his kinsman, "Murrain on the gear! Lordsake, man! say +nought about them. Let us but get puir Grace out o' that auld +hellicat's clutches." + +"Will ye gie me your word, Earnscliff," said the marauder, who +still lingered at the shot-hole, "your faith and troth, with hand +and glove, that I am free to come and free to gae, with five +minutes to open the grate, and five minutes to steek it and to +draw the bolts? less winna do, for they want creishing sairly. +Will ye do this?" + +"You shall have full time," said Earnscliff; "I plight my faith +and troth, my hand and my glove." + +"Wait there a moment, then," said Westburnflat; "or hear ye, I +wad rather ye wad fa' back a pistol-shot from the door. It's no +that I mistrust your word, Earnscliff; but it's best to be sure." + +O, friend, thought Hobbie to himself, as he drew back, an I had +you but on Turner's-holm, [There is a level meadow, on the very +margin of the two kingdoms, called Turner's-holm, just where the +brook called Crissop joins the Liddel. It is said to have +derived its name as being a place frequently assigned for +tourneys, during the ancient Border times.] and naebody by but +twa honest lads to see fair play, I wad make ye wish ye had +broken your leg ere ye had touched beast or body that belanged to +me! + +"He has a white feather in his wing this same Westburnflat, after +a'," said Simon of Hackburn, somewhat scandalized by his ready +surrender.--"He'll ne'er fill his father's boots." + +In the meanwhile, the inner door of the tower was opened, and the +mother of the freebooter appeared in the space betwixt that and +the outer grate. Willie himself was next seen, leading forth a +female, and the old woman, carefully bolting the grate behind +them, remained on the post as a sort of sentinel. + +"Ony ane or twa o' ye come forward," said the outlaw, "and take +her frae my hand haill and sound." + +Hobbie advanced eagerly, to meet his betrothed bride. Earnscliff +followed more slowly, to guard against treachery. Suddenly +Hobbie slackened his pace in the deepest mortification, while +that of Earnscliff was hastened by impatient surprise. It was +not Grace Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, whose liberation had +been effected by their appearance before the tower. + +"Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong?" exclaimed Hobbie, +in the extremity of wrath and indignation. + +"Not in my hands," answered Westburnflat; "ye may search the +tower, if ye misdoubt me." + +"You false villain, you shall account for her, or die on the +spot," said Elliot, presenting his gun. + +But his companions, who now came up, instantly disarmed him of +his weapon, exclaiming, all at once, "Hand and glove! faith and +troth! Haud a care, Hobbie we maun keep our faith wi' +Westburnflat, were he the greatest rogue ever rode." + +Thus protected, the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been +somewhat daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot. + +"I have kept my word, sirs," he said, "and I look to have nae +wrang amang ye. If this is no the prisoner ye sought," he said, +addressing Earnscliff, "ye'll render her back to me again. I am +answerable for her to those that aught her." + +"For God's sake, Mr. Earnscliff, protect me!" said Miss Vere, +clinging to her deliverer; "do not you abandon one whom the whole +world seems to have abandoned." + +"Fear nothing," whispered Earnscliff, "I will protect you with my +life." Then turning to Westburnflat, "Villain!" he said, "how +dared you to insult this lady?" + +"For that matter, Earnscliff," answered the freebooter, "I can +answer to them that has better right to ask me than you have; but +if you come with an armed force, and take her awa' from them that +her friends lodged her wi', how will you answer THAT--But it's +your ain affair--Nae single man can keep a tower against twenty +--A' the men o' the Mearns downa do mair than they dow." + +"He lies most falsely," said Isabella; "he carried me off by +violence from my father." + +"Maybe he only wanted ye to think sae, hinny," replied the +robber; "but it's nae business o' mine, let it be as it may.--So +ye winna resign her back to me?" + +"Back to you, fellow? Surely no," answered Earnscliff; "I will +protect Miss Vere, and escort her safely wherever she is pleased +to be conveyed." + +"Ay, ay, maybe you and her hae settled that already," said Willie +of Westburnflat. + +"And Grace?" interrupted Hobbie, shaking himself loose from the +friends who had been preaching to him the sanctity of the safe- +conduct, upon the faith of which the freebooter had ventured from +his tower,--"Where's Grace" and he rushed on the marauder, sword +in hand. + +Westburnflat, thus pressed, after calling out, "Godsake, Hobbie, +hear me a gliff!" fairly turned his back and fled. His mother +stood ready to open and shut the grate; but Hobbie struck at the +freebooter as he entered with so much force, that the sword made +a considerable cleft in the lintel of the vaulted door, which is +still shown as a memorial of the superior strength of those who +lived in the days of yore. Ere Hobbie could repeat the blow, the +door was shut and secured, and he was compelled to retreat to his +companions, who were now preparing to break up the siege of +Westburnflat. They insisted upon his accompanying them in their +return. + +"Ye hae broken truce already," said old Dick of the Dingle; "an +we takena the better care, ye'll play mair gowk's tricks, and +make yoursell the laughing-stock of the haill country, besides +having your friends charged with slaughter under trust. Bide +till the meeting at Castleton, as ye hae greed; and if he disna +make ye amends, then we'll hae it out o' his heart's blood. But +let us gang reasonably to wark and keep our tryst, and I'se +warrant we get back Grace, and the kye an' a'." + +This cold-blooded reasoning went ill down with the unfortunate +lover; but, as he could only obtain the assistance of his +neighbours and kinsmen on their own terms, he was compelled to +acquiesce in their notions of good faith and regular procedure. + +Earnscliff now requested the assistance of a few of the party to +convey Miss Vere to her father's castle of Ellieslaw, to which +she was peremptory in desiring to be conducted. This was readily +granted; and five or six young men agreed to attend him as an +escort. Hobbie was not of the number. Almost heart-broken by +the events of the day, and his final disappointment, he returned +moodily home to take such measures as he could for the sustenance +and protection of his family, and to arrange with his neighbours +the farther steps which should be adopted for the recovery of +Grace Armstrong. The rest of the party dispersed in different +directions, as soon as they had crossed the morass. The outlaw +and his mother watched them from the tower, until they entirely +disappeared. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + I left my ladye's bower last night-- + It was clad in wreaths of snaw,-- + I'll seek it when the sun is bright, + And sweet the roses blaw. OLD BALLAD. + +Incensed at what he deemed the coldness of his friends, in a +cause which interested him so nearly, Hobbie had shaken himself +free of their company, and was now on his solitary road homeward. +"The fiend founder thee!" said he, as he spurred impatiently his +over-fatigued and stumbling horse; "thou art like a' the rest o' +them. Hae I not bred thee, and fed thee, and dressed thee wi' +mine ain hand, and wouldst thou snapper now and break my neck at +my utmost need? But thou'rt e'en like the lave--the farthest off +o' them a' is my cousin ten times removed, and day or night I wad +hae served them wi' my best blood; and now, I think they show +mair regard to the common thief of Westburnflat than to their ain +kinsman. But I should see the lights now in Heugh-foot--Wae's +me!" he continued, recollecting himself, "there will neither +coal nor candle-light shine in the Heugh-foot ony mair! An it +werena for my mother and sisters, and poor Grace, I could find in +my heart to put spurs to the beast, and loup ower the scaur into +the water to make an end o't a'."--In this disconsolate mood he +turned his horse's bridle towards the cottage in which his family +had found refuge. + +As he approached the door, he heard whispering and tittering +amongst his sisters. "The deevil's in the women," said poor +Hobbie; "they would nicker, and laugh, and giggle, if their best +friend was lying a corp--and yet I am glad they can keep up their +hearts sae weel, poor silly things; but the dirdum fa's on me, to +be sure, and no on them." + +While he thus meditated, he was engaged in fastening up his horse +in a shed. "Thou maun do without horse-sheet and surcingle now, +lad," he said, addressing the animal; "you and me hae had a +downcome alike; we had better hae fa'en i, the deepest pool o' +Tarras." + +He was interrupted by the youngest of his sisters, who came +running out, and, speaking in a constrained voice, as if to +stifle some emotion, called out to him, "What are ye doing there, +Hobbie, fiddling about the naig, and there's ane frae Cumberland +been waiting here for ye this hour and mair? Haste ye in, man; +I'll take off the saddle." + +"Ane frae Cumberland!" exclaimed Elliot; and putting the bridle +of his horse into the hand of his sister, he rushed into the +cottage. "Where is he? where is he!" he exclaimed, glancing +eagerly around, and seeing only females; "Did he bring news of +Grace?" + +"He doughtna bide an instant langer," said the elder sister, +still with a suppressed laugh. + +"Hout fie, bairns!" said the old lady, with something of a good- +humoured reproof, "ye shouldna vex your billy Hobbie that way.-- +Look round, my bairn, and see if there isna ane here mair than ye +left this morning." + +Hobbie looked eagerly round. "There's you, and the three +titties." + +"There's four of us now, Hobbie, lad," said the youngest, who at +this moment entered. + +In an instant Hobbie had in his arms Grace Armstrong, who, with +one of his sister's plaids around her, had passed unnoticed at +his first entrance. "How dared you do this?" said Hobbie. + +"It wasna my fault," said Grace, endeavouring to cover her face +with her hands to hide at once her blushes, and escape the storm +of hearty kisses with which her bridegroom punished her simple +stratagem,--"It wasna my fault, Hobbie; ye should kiss Jeanie and +the rest o' them, for they hae the wyte o't." + +"And so I will," said Hobbie, and embraced and kissed his sisters +and grandmother a hundred times, while the whole party half- +laughed, half-cried, in the extremity of their joy. "I am the +happiest man," said Hobbie, throwing himself down on a seat, +almost exhausted,--"I am the happiest man in the world!" + +"Then, O my dear bairn," said the good old dame, who lost no +opportunity of teaching her lesson of religion at those moments +when the heart was best open to receive it,--"Then, O my son, +give praise to Him that brings smiles out o' tears and joy out o' +grief, as He brought light out o' darkness and the world out o' +naething. Was it not my word, that if ye could say His will be +done, ye might hae cause to say His name be praised?" + +"It was--it was your word, grannie; and I do praise Him for His +mercy, and for leaving me a good parent when my ain were gane," +said honest Hobbie, taking her hand, "that puts me in mind to +think of Him, baith in happiness and distress." + +There was a solemn pause of one or two minutes employed in the +exercise of mental devotion, which expressed, in purity and +sincerity, the gratitude of the affectionate family to that +Providence who had unexpectedly restored to their embraces the +friend whom they had lost. + +Hobbie's first enquiries were concerning the adventures which +Grace had undergone. They were told at length, but amounted in +substance to this:--That she was awaked by the noise which the +ruffians made in breaking into the house, and by the resistance +made by one or two of the servants, which was soon overpowered; +that, dressing herself hastily, she ran downstairs, and having +seen, in the scuffle, Westburnflat's vizard drop off, imprudently +named him by his name, and besought him for mercy; that the +ruffian instantly stopped her mouth, dragged her from the house, +and placed her on horseback, behind one of his associates. + +"I'll break the accursed neck of him," said Hobbie, "if there +werena another Graeme in the land but himsell!" + +She proceeded to say, that she was carried southward along with +the party, and the spoil which they drove before them, until they +had crossed the Border. Suddenly a person, known to her as a +kinsman of Westburnflat, came riding very fast after the +marauders, and told their leader, that his cousin had learnt from +a sure hand that no luck would come of it, unless the lass was +restored to her friends. After some discussion, the chief of the +party seemed to acquiesce. Grace was placed behind her new +guardian, who pursued in silence, and with great speed, the +least-frequented path to the Heugh-foot, and ere evening closed, +set down the fatigued and terrified damsel within a quarter of a +mile of the dwelling of her friends. Many and sincere were the +congratulations which passed on all sides. + +As these emotions subsided, less pleasing considerations began to +intrude themselves. + +"This is a miserable place for ye a'," said Hobbie, looking +around him; "I can sleep weel eneugh mysell outby beside the +naig, as I hae done mony a lang night on the hills; but how ye +are to put yoursells up, I canna see! And what's waur, I canna +mend it; and what's waur than a', the morn may come, and the day +after that, without your being a bit better off." + +"It was a cowardly cruel thing," said one of the sisters, looking +round, "to harry a puir family to the bare wa's this gate." + +"And leave us neither stirk nor stot," said the youngest brother, +who now entered, "nor sheep nor lamb, nor aught that eats grass +and corn." + +"If they had ony quarrel wi' us," said Harry, the second brother, +"were we na ready to have fought it out? And that we should have +been a' frae hame, too,--ane and a' upon the hill--Odd, an we had +been at hame, Will Graeme's stamach shouldna hae wanted its +morning; but it's biding him, is it na, Hobbie?" + +"Our neighbours hae taen a day at the Castleton to gree wi' him +at the sight o' men," said Hobbie, mournfully; "they behoved to +have it a' their ain gate, or there was nae help to be got at +their hands." + +"To gree wi' him!" exclaimed both his brothers at once, "after +siccan an act of stouthrife as hasna been heard o' in the country +since the auld riding days!" + +"Very true, billies, and my blood was e'en boiling at it; but the +sight o' Grace Armstrong has settled it brawly." + +"But the stocking, Hobbie'" said John Elliot; "we're utterly +ruined. Harry and I hae been to gather what was on the outby +land, and there's scarce a cloot left. I kenna how we're to +carry on--We maun a' gang to the wars, I think. Westburnflat +hasna the means, e'en if he had the will, to make up our loss; +there's nae mends to be got out o' him, but what ye take out o' +his banes. He hasna a four-footed creature but the vicious blood +thing he rides on, and that's sair trash'd wi' his night wark. +We are ruined stoop and roop." + +Hobbie cast a mournful glance on Grace Armstrong, who returned it +with a downcast look and a gentle sigh. + +"Dinna be cast down, bairns," said the grandmother, "we hae gude +friends that winna forsake us in adversity. There's Sir Thomas +Kittleloof is my third cousin by the mother's side, and he has +come by a hantle siller, and been made a knight-baronet into the +bargain, for being ane o' the commissioners at the Union." + +"He wadna gie a bodle to save us frae famishing," said Hobbie; +"and, if he did, the bread that I bought wi't would stick in my +throat, when I thought it was part of the price of puir auld +Scotland's crown and independence." + +"There's the Laird o' Dunder, ane o' the auldest families in +Tiviotdale." + +"He's in the tolbooth, mother--he's in the Heart of Mid-Louden +for a thousand merk he borrowed from Saunders Wyliecoat the +writer." + +"Poor man!" exclaimed Mrs. Elliot, "can we no send him +something, Hobbie?" + +"Ye forget, grannie, ye forget we want help oursells," said +Hobbie, somewhat peevishly. + +"Troth did I, hinny," replied the good-natured lady, "just at the +instant; it's sae natural to think on ane's blude relations +before themsells;--But there's young Earnscliff." + +"He has ower little o' his ain; and siccan a name to keep up, it +wad be a shame," said Hobbie, "to burden him wi' our distress. +And I'll tell ye, grannie, it's needless to sit rhyming ower the +style of a' your kith, kin, and allies, as if there was a charm +in their braw names to do us good; the grandees hae forgotten us, +and those of our ain degree hae just little eneugh to gang on wi' +themsells; ne'er a friend hae we that can, or will, help us to +stock the farm again." + +"Then, Hobbie, me maun trust in Him that can raise up friends and +fortune out o' the bare moor, as they say." + +Hobbie sprung upon his feet. "Ye are right, grannie!" he +exclaimed; "ye are right. I do ken a friend on the bare moor, +that baith can and will help us--The turns o' this day hae dung +my head clean hirdie-girdie. I left as muckle gowd lying on +Mucklestane-Moor this morning as would plenish the house and +stock the Heugh-foot twice ower, and I am certain sure Elshie +wadna grudge us the use of it." + +"Elshie!" said his grandmother in astonishment; "what Elshie do +you mean?" + +"What Elshie should I mean, but Canny Elshie, the Wight o' +Mucklestane," replied Hobbie. + +"God forfend, my bairn, you should gang to fetch water out o' +broken cisterns, or seek for relief frae them that deal wi' the +Evil One! There was never luck in their gifts, nor grace in +their paths. And the haill country kens that body Elshie's an +unco man. O, if there was the law, and the douce quiet +administration of justice, that makes a kingdom flourish in +righteousness, the like o' them suldna be suffered to live! The +wizard and the witch are the abomination and the evil thing in +the land." + +"Troth, mother," answered Hobbie, "ye may say what ye like, but I +am in the mind that witches and warlocks havena half the power +they had lang syne; at least, sure am I, that ae ill-deviser, +like auld Ellieslaw, or ae ill-doer, like that d--d villain +Westburnflat, is a greater plague and abomination in a country- +side than a haill curnie o' the warst witches that ever capered +on a broomstick, or played cantrips on Fastern's E'en. It wad +hae been lang or Elshie had burnt down my house and barns, and I +am determined to try if he will do aught to build them up again. +He's weel kend a skilfu' man ower a' the country, as far as +Brough under Stanmore." + +"Bide a wee, my bairn; mind his benefits havena thriven wi' +a'body. Jock Howden died o' the very same disorder Elshie +pretended to cure him of, about the fa' o' the leaf; and though +he helped Lambside's cow weel out o' the moor-ill, yet the +louping-ill's been sairer amane; his sheep than ony season +before. And then I have heard he uses sic words abusing human +nature, that's like a fleeing in the face of Providence; and ye +mind ye said yoursell, the first time ye ever saw him, that he +was mair like a bogle than a living thing." + +"Hout, mother," said Hobbie, "Elshie's no that bad a chield; he's +a grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a +rough talker, but his bark is waur than his bite; sae, if I had +anes something to eat, for I havena had a morsel ower my throat +this day, I wad streek mysell down for twa or three hours aside +the beast, and be on and awa' to Mucklestane wi' the first +skreigh o' morning." + +"And what for no the night, Hobbie," said Harry, "and I will ride +wi' ye?" + +"My naig is tired," said Hobbie. + +"Ye may take mine, then," said John. + +"But I am a wee thing wearied mysell." + +"You wearied?" said Harry; "shame on ye! I have kend ye keep +the saddle four-and-twenty hours thegither, and ne'er sic a word +as weariness in your wame." + +"The night's very dark," said Hobbie, rising and looking through +the casement of the cottage; "and, to speak truth, and shame the +deil, though Elshie's a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would +rather take daylight wi' me when I gang to visit him." + +This frank avowal put a stop to further argument; and Hobbie, +having thus compromised matters between the rashness of his +brother's counsel, and the timid cautions which he received from +his grandmother, refreshed himself with such food as the cottage +afforded; and, after a cordial salutation all round, retired to +the shed, and stretched himself beside his trusty palfrey. His +brothers shared between them some trusses of clean straw, +disposed in the stall usually occupied by old Annaple's cow; and +the females arranged themselves for repose as well as the +accommodations of the cottage would permit. + +With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed +down and saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. He +avoided the company of either of his brothers, from an idea that +the Dwarf was most propitious to those who visited him alone. + +"The creature," said he to himself, as he went along, "is no +neighbourly; ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can +abide. I wonder if he's looked out o' the crib o' him to gather +up the bag o' siller. If he hasna done that, it will hae been a +braw windfa' for somebody, and I'll be finely flung.--Come, +Tarras," said he to his horse, striking him at the same time with +his spur, "make mair fit, man; we maun be first on the field if +we can." + +He was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the +beams of the rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was +descending presented him a distinct, though distant view, of the +Dwarf's dwelling. The door opened, and Hobbie witnessed with his +own eyes that phenomenon which he had frequently heard mentioned. +Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf could be termed such) +issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and stood as if in +converse together in the open air. The taller form then stooped, +as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the hut, +then both moved forward a little way, and again halted, as in +deep conference. All Hobbie's superstitious terrors revived on +witnessing this'spectacle. That the Dwarf would open his +dwelling to a mortal guest, was as improbable as that any one +would choose voluntarily to be his nocturnal visitor; and, under +full conviction that he beheld a wizard holding intercourse with +his familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at once his breath and his +bridle, resolved not to incur the indignation of either by a +hasty intrusion on their conference. They were probably aware of +his approach, for he had not halted for a moment before the Dwarf +returned to his cottage; and the taller figure who had +accompanied him, glided round the enclosure of the garden, and +seemed to disappear from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie. + +"Saw ever mortal the like o' that!" said Elliot; "but my case is +desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I'se venture down +the brae on him." + +Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace, +when, nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall +figure, he discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a +small black rough-looking object, like a terrier dog. + +"He has nae dog that ever I heard of," said Hobbie, "but mony a +deil about his hand--lord forgie me for saying sic a word!--It +keeps its grund, be what it like--I'm judging it's a badger; but +whae kens what shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it +will maybe start up like a lion or a crocodile when I come +nearer. I'se e'en drive a stage at it, for if it change its +shape when I'm ower near, Tarras will never stand it; and it will +be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight wi' baith at +ance." + +He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which +continued motionless. "It's nae living thing, after a'," said +Hobbie, approaching, "but the very bag o' siller he flung out o' +the window yesterday! and that other queer lang creature has +just brought it sae muckle farther on the way to me. He then +advanced and lifted the heavy fur pouch, which was quite full of +gold. "Mercy on us!" said Hobbie, whose heart fluttered between +glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects in life, and +suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was afforded +him---"Mercy on us! it's an awfu' thing to touch what has been +sae lately in the claws of something no canny, I canna shake +mysell loose o' the belief that there has been some jookery- +paukery of Satan's in a' this; but I am determined to conduct +mysell like an honest man and a good Christian, come o't what +will." + +He advanced accordingly to the cottage door, and having knocked +repeatedly without receiving any answer, he at length elevated +his voice and addressed the inmate of the hut. "Elshie! Father +Elshie! I ken ye're within doors, and wauking, for I saw ye at +the door-cheek as I cam ower the bent; will ye come out and speak +just a gliff to ane that has mony thanks to gie ye?--It was a' +true ye tell'd me about Westburnflat; but he's sent back Grace +safe and skaithless, sae there's nae ill happened yet but what +may be suffered or sustained;--Wad ye but come out a gliff; man, +or but say ye're listening?--Aweel, since ye winna answer, I'se +e'en proceed wi' my tale. Ye see I hae been thinking it wad be a +sair thing on twa young folk, like Grace and me, to put aff our +marriage for mony years till I was abroad and came back again wi' +some gear; and they say folk maunna take booty in the wars as +they did lang syne, and the queen's pay is a sma' matter; there's +nae gathering gear on that--and then my grandame's auld--and my +sisters wad sit peengin' at the ingle-side for want o' me to ding +them about--and Earnscliff, or the neighbourhood, or maybe your +ainsell, Elshie, might want some good turn that Hob Elliot could +do ye--and it's a pity that the auld house o' the Heugh-foot +should be wrecked a'thegither. Sae I was thinking--but 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 wilt--do 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 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 Reiver of Westburnflat. + + + +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, 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 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 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 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 father--she 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. + +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, until some +months before the commencement of our narrative, when the public +opinion of his embarrassed circumstances was confirmed, by the +residence of Mr. Ratcliffe at Ellieslaw Castle, who, by the tacit +consent, though obviously to the great displeasure, of the lord +of the mansion, seemed, from the moment of his arrival, to assume +and exercise a predominant and unaccountable influence in the +management of his private affairs. + +Mr. Ratcliffe was a grave, steady, reserved man, in an advanced +period of life. To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon +business, he appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms. +With others he held little communication; but in any casual +intercourse, or conversation, displayed the powers of an active +and well-informed mind. For some time before taking up his final +residence at the castle, he had been an occasional visitor there, +and was at such times treated by Mr. Vere (contrary to his +general practice towards those who were inferior to him in rank) +with marked attention, and even deference. Yet his arrival +always appeared to be an embarrassment to his host, and his +departure a relief; so that, when he became a constant inmate of +the family, it was impossible not to observe indications of the +displeasure with which Mr. Vere regarded his presence. Indeed, +their intercourse formed a singular mixture of confidence and +constraint. Mr. Vere's most important affairs were regulated by +Mr. Ratcliffe; and although he was none of those indulgent men of +fortune, who, too indolent to manage their own business, are glad +to devolve it upon another, yet, in many instances, he was +observed to give up his own judgment, and submit to the contrary +opinions which Mr. Ratcliffe did not hesitate distinctly to +express. + +Nothing seemed to vex Mr. Vere more than when strangers indicated +any observation of the state of tutelage under which he appeared +to labour. When it was noticed by Sir Frederick, or any of his +intimates, he sometimes repelled their remarks haughtily and +indignantly, and sometimes endeavoured to evade them, by saying, +with a forced laugh, "That Ratcliffe knew his own importance, but +that he was the most honest and skilful fellow in the world; and +that it would be impossible for him to manage his English affairs +without his advice and assistance." Such was the person who +entered the room at the moment Mr. Vere was summoning him to his +presence, and who now heard with surprise, mingled with obvious +incredulity, the hasty narrative of what had befallen Isabella. + +Her father concluded, addressing Sir Frederick and the other +gentlemen, who stood around in astonishment, "And now, my +friends, you see the most unhappy father in Scotland. Lend me +your assistance, gentlemen--give me your advice, Mr. Ratcliffe. +I am incapable of acting, or thinking, under the unexpected +violence of such a blow." + +"Let us take our horses, call our attendants, and scour the +country in pursuit of the villains," said Sir Frederick. + +"Is there no one whom you can suspect," said Ratcliffe, gravely, +"of having some motive for this strange crime? These are not the +days of romance, when ladies are carried off merely for their +beauty." + +"I fear," said Mr. Vere, "I can too well account for this strange +incident. Read this letter, which Miss Lucy Ilderton thought fit +to address from my house of Ellieslaw to young Mr. Earnscliff; +whom, of all men, I have a hereditary right to call my enemy. +You see she writes to him as the confidant of a passion which he +has the assurance to entertain for my daughter; tells him she +serves his cause with her friend very ardently, but that he has a +friend in the garrison who serves him yet more effectually. Look +particularly at the pencilled passages, Mr. Ratcliffe, where this +meddling girl recommends bold measures, with an assurance that +his suit would be successful anywhere beyond the bounds of the +barony of Ellieslaw." + +"And you argue, from this romantic letter of a very romantic +young lady, Mr. Vere," said Ratcliffe, "that young Earnscliff has +carried off your daughter, and committed a very great and +criminal act of violence, on no better advice and assurance than +that of Miss Lucy Ilderton?" + +"What else can I think?" said Ellieslaw. + +"What else CAN you think?" said Sir Frederick; "or who else +could have any motive for committing such a crime?" + +"Were that the best mode of fixing the guilt," said Mr. +Ratcliffe, calmly, "there might easily be pointed out persons to +whom such actions are more congenial, and who have also +sufficient motives of instigation. Supposing it were judged +advisable to remove Miss Vere to some place in which constraint +might be exercised upon her inclinations to a degree which cannot +at present be attempted under the roof of Ellieslaw Castle--What +says Sir Frederick Langley to that supposition?" + +"I say," returned Sir Frederick, "that although Mr. Vere may +choose to endure in Mr. Ratcliffe freedoms totally inconsistent +with his situation in life, I will not permit such license of +innuendo, by word or look, to be extended to me, with impunity." + +"And I say," said young Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells, who was +also a guest at the castle, "that you are all stark mad to be +standing wrangling here, instead of going in pursuit of the +ruffians." + +"I have ordered off the domestics already in the track most +likely to overtake them," said Mr. Vere "if you will favour me +with your company, we will follow them, and assist in the +search." + +The efforts of the party were totally unsuccessful, probably +because Ellieslaw directed the pursuit to proceed in the +direction of Earnscliff Tower, under the supposition that the +owner would prove to be the author of the violence, so that they +followed a direction diametrically opposite to that in which the +ruffians had actually proceeded. In the evening they returned, +harassed and out of spirits. But other guests had, in the +meanwhile, arrived at the castle; and, after the recent loss +sustained by the owner had been related, wondered at, and +lamented, the recollection of it was, for the present, drowned in +the discussion of deep political intrigues, of which the crisis +and explosion were momentarily looked for. + +Several of the gentlemen who took part in this divan were +Catholics, and all of them stanch Jacobites, whose hopes were at +present at the highest pitch, as an invasion, in favour of the +Pretender, was daily expected from France, which Scotland, +between the defenceless state of its garrisons and fortified +places, and the general disaffection of the inhabitants, was +rather prepared to welcome than to resist. Ratcliffe, who +neither sought to assist at their consultations on this subject, +nor was invited to do so, had, in the meanwhile, retired to his +own apartment. Miss Ilderton was sequestered from society in a +sort of honourable confinement, "until," said Mr. Vere, "she +should be safely conveyed home to her father's house," an +opportunity for which occurred on the following day. + +The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the +loss of Miss Vere, and the strange manner in which it had +happened, seemed to be forgotten by the other guests at the +castle. They knew not, that those the most interested in her +fate were well acquainted with the cause of her being carried +off, and the place of her retreat; and that the others, in the +anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking forth of +a conspiracy, were little accessible to any feelings but what +arose immediately out of their own machinations. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Some one way, some another--Do you know + Where we may apprehend her? + +The researches after Miss Vere were (for the sake of appearances, +perhaps) resumed on the succeeding day, with similar bad success, +and the party were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening. + +"It is singular," said Mareschal to Ratcliffe, "that four +horsemen and a female prisoner should have passed through the +country without leaving the slightest trace of their passage. +One would think they had traversed the air, or sunk through the +ground." + +"Men may often," answered Ratcliffe, "arrive at the knowledge of +that which is, from discovering that which is not. We have now +scoured every road, path, and track leading from the castle, in +all the various points of the compass, saving only that intricate +and difficult pass which leads southward down the Westburn, and +through the morasses." + +"And why have we not examined that?" said Mareschal. + +"O, Mr. Vere can best answer that question," replied his +companion, dryly. + +"Then I will ask it instantly," said Mareschal; and, addressing +Mr. Vere, "I am informed, sir," said he, "there is a path we have +not examined, leading by Westburnflat." + +"O," said Sir Frederick, laughing, "we know the owner of +Westburnflat well--a wild lad, that knows little difference +between his neighbour's goods and his own; but, withal, very +honest to his principles: he would disturb nothing belonging to +Ellieslaw." + +"Besides," said Mr. Vere, smiling mysteriously, "he had other tow +on his distaff last night. Have you not heard young Elliot of +the Heugh-foot has had his house burnt, and his cattle driven +away, because he refused to give up his arms to some honest men +that think of starting for the king?" + +The company smiled upon each other, as at hearing of an exploit +which favoured their own views. + +"Yet, nevertheless," resumed Mareschal, "I think we ought to ride +in this direction also, otherwise we shall certainly be blamed +for our negligence." + +No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal, and +the party turned their horses' heads towards Westburnflat. + +They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the +trampling of horses was heard, and a small body of riders were +perceived advancing to meet them. + +"There comes Earnscliff," said Mareschal; "I know his bright bay +with the star in his front." + +"And there is my daughter along with him," exclaimed Vere, +furiously. "Who shall call my suspicions false or injurious now? +Gentlemen--friends--lend me the assistance of your swords for the +recovery of my child." + +He unsheathed his weapon, and was imitated by Sir Frederick and +several of the party, who prepared to charge those that were +advancing towards them. But the greater part hesitated. + +"They come to us in all peace and security," said Mareschal- +Wells; "let us first hear what account they give us of this +mysterious affair. If Miss Vere has sustained the slightest +insult or injury from Earnscliff, I will be first to revenge her; +but let us hear what they say." + +"You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal," continued Vere; +"you are the last I would have expected to hear express them." + +"You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the +cause may excuse it." + +He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a +loud voice,--"Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere +advance alone to meet us. You are charged with having carried +that lady off from her father's house; and we are here in arms to +shed our best blood for her recovery, and for bringing to justice +those who have injured her." + +"And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal?" +said Earnscliff, haughtily,--"than I, who had the satisfaction +this morning to liberate her from the dungeon in which I found +her confined, and who am now escorting her back to the Castle of +Ellieslaw?" + +"Is this so, Miss Vere?" said Mareschal. + + "It is," answered Isabella, eagerly,--"it is so; for Heaven's +sake sheathe your swords. I will swear by all that is sacred, +that I was carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were +alike unknown to me, and am now restored to freedom by means of +this gentleman's gallant interference." + +"By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done?" pursued +Mareschal.--"Had you no knowledge of the place to which you were +conveyed?--Earnscliff, where did you find this lady?" + +But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, +and, returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the +conference. + +"When I know," he said, "exactly how much I owe to Mr. +Earnscliff, he may rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime," +taking the bridle of Miss Vere's horse, "thus far I thank him for +replacing my daughter in the power of her natural guardian." + +A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal +haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon +the road to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a +conference so earnest, that the rest of the company judged it +improper to intrude by approaching them too nearly. In the +meantime, Earnscliff, as he took leave of the other gentlemen +belonging to Ellieslaw's party, said aloud, "Although I am +unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can authorize +such a suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seems to +believe that I have had some hand in the atrocious violence which +has been offered to his daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to +take notice of my explicit denial of a charge so dishonourable; +and that, although I can pardon the bewildering feelings of a +father in such a moment, yet, if any other gentleman" (he looked +hard at Sir Frederick Langley) "thinks my word and that of Miss +Vere, with the evidence of my friends who accompany me, too +slight for my exculpation, I will be happy--most happy--to repel +the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honour dearer than +his life." + +"And I'll be his second," said Simon of Hackburn, "and take up +ony twa o' ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; it's a' ane to +Simon." + +"Who is that rough-looking fellow?" said Sir Frederick Langley, +"and what has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen?" + +"I'se be a lad frae the Hie Te'iot," said Simon, "and I'se +quarrel wi' ony body I like, except the king, or the laird I live +under." + +"Come," said; Mareschal, "let us have no brawls.--Mr. Earnscliff; +although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may be +opponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without +losing our respect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I +believe you as innocent of this matter as I am myself; and I will +pledge myself that my cousin Ellieslaw, as soon as the perplexity +attending these sudden events has left his judgment to its free +exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge the very important service +you have this day rendered him." + +"To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself-- +Good evening, gentlemen," continued Earnscliff; "I see most of +your party are already on their way to Ellieslaw." + +Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the party +with indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards +the Heugh-foot, to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for +farther researches after his bride, of whose restoration to her +friends he was still ignorant. + +"There he goes," said Mareschal; "he is a fine, gallant young +fellow, upon my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust +with him on the green turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his +equal with the foils, and I should like to try him at sharps." + +"In my opinion," answered Sir Frederick Langley, "we have done +very ill in having suffered him, and those men who are with him, +to go off without taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very +likely to draw to a head under such a sprightly young fellow as +that." + +"For shame, Sir Frederick!" exclaimed Mareschal; "do you think +that Ellieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being +offered to Earnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring +back his daughter? or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you +think that I, and the rest of these gentlemen, would disgrace +ourselves by assisting in such a transaction? No, no, fair play +and auld Scotland for ever! When the sword is drawn, I will be +as ready to use it as any man; but while it is in the sheath, let +us behave like gentlemen and neighbours." + +Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle, when Ellieslaw, +who had been arrived a few minutes before, met them in the court- +yard. + +"How is Miss Vere? and have you learned the cause of her being +carried off?" asked Mareschal hastily. + +"She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued; and I cannot +expect much light upon her adventure till her spirits are +somewhat recruited," replied her father. "She and I were not the +less obliged to you, Mareschal, and to my other friends, for +their kind enquiries. But I must suppress the father's feelings +for a while to give myself up to those of the patriot. You know +this is the day fixed for our final decision--time presses--our +friends are arriving, and I have opened house, not only for the +gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarily +employ. We have, therefore, little time to prepare to meet +them.--Look over these lists, Marchie (an abbreviation by which +Mareschal-Wells was known among his friends). Do you, Sir +Frederick, read these letters from Lothian and the west--all is +ripe for the sickle, and we have but to summon out the reapers." + +"With all my heart," said Mareschal; "the more mischief the +better sport." + +Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted. + +"Walk aside with me, my good friend," said Ellieslaw to the +sombre baronet; "I have something for your private ear, with +which I know you will be gratified." + +They walked into the house, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal +standing together in the court. + +"And so," said Ratcliffe, "the gentlemen of your political +persuasion think the downfall of this government so certain, that +they disdain even to throw a decent disguise over the +machinations of their party?" + +"Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe," answered Mareschal, "the actions and +sentiments YOUR friends may require to be veiled, but I am better +pleased that ours can go barefaced." + +"And is it possible," continued Ratcliffe, "that you, who, +notwithstanding pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper (I beg +pardon, Mr. Mareschal, I am a plain man)--that you, who, +notwithstanding these constitutional defects, possess natural +good sense and acquired information, should be infatuated enough +to embroil yourself in such desperate proceedings? How does your +head feel when you are engaged in these dangerous conferences?" + +"Not quite so secure on my shoulders," answered Mareschal, "as if +I were talking of hunting and hawking. I am not of so +indifferent a mould as my cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as +if it were a child's nursery rhymes, and loses and recovers that +sweet girl, his daughter, with a good deal less emotion on both +occasions, than would have affected me had I lost and recovered a +greyhound puppy. My temper is not quite so inflexible, nor my +hate against government so inveterate, as to blind me to the full +danger of the attempt." + +"Then why involve yourself in it?" said Ratcliffe. + +"Why, I love this poor exiled king with all my heart; and my +father was an old Killiecrankie man, and I long to see some +amends on the Unionist courtiers, that have bought and sold old +Scotland, whose crown has been so long independent." + +"And for the sake of these shadows," said his monitor, "you are +going to involve your country in war and yourself in trouble?" + +"I involve? No!--but, trouble for trouble, I had rather it came +to-morrow than a month hence. COME, I know it will; and, as your +country folks say, better soon than syne--it will never find me +younger--and as for hanging, as Sir John Falstaff says, I can +become a gallows as well as another. You know the end of the old +ballad; + + "Sae dauntonly, sae wantonly, + Sae rantingly gaed he, + He play'd a spring, and danced a round, + Beneath the gallows tree." + +"Mr. Mareschal, I am sorry for you," said his grave adviser. + +"I am obliged to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; but I would not have you +judge of our enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there are +wiser heads than mine at the work." + +"Wiser heads than yours may lie as low," said Ratcliffe, in a +warning tone. + +"Perhaps so; but no lighter heart shall; and, to prevent it being +made heavier by your remonstrances, I will bid you adieu, Mr. +Ratcliffe, till dinner-time, when you shall see that my +apprehensions have not spoiled my appetite." + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + To face the garment of rebellion + With some fine colour, that may please the eye + Of fickle changelings, and poor discontents, + Which gape and rub the elbow at the news + Of hurlyburly innovation. HENRY THE FOURTH, PART II. + +There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for +the entertainment on this important day, when not only the +gentlemen of note in the neighbourhood, attached to the Jacobite +interest, were expected to rendezvous, but also many subordinate +malecontents, whom difficulty of circumstances, love of change, +resentment against England, or any of the numerous causes which +inflamed men's passions at the time, rendered apt to join in +perilous enterprise. The men of rank and substance were not many +in number; for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof, and +most of the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterian +persuasion, and therefore, however displeased with the Union, +unwilling to engage in a Jacobite conspiracy. But there were +some gentlemen of property, who, either from early principle, +from religious motives, or sharing the ambitious views of +Ellieslaw, had given countenance to his scheme; and there were, +also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal, desirous of +signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous enterprise, by +which they hoped to vindicate the independence of their country. +The other members of the party were persons of inferior rank and +desperate fortunes, who were now ready to rise in that part of +the country, as they did afterwards in the year 1715, under +Forster and Derwentwater, when a troop, commanded by a Border +gentleman, named Douglas, consisted almost entirely of +freebooters, among whom the notorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was +called, held a distinguished command. We think it necessary to +mention these particulars, applicable solely to the province in +which our scene lies; because, unquestionably, the Jacobite +party, in the other parts of the kingdom, consisted of much more +formidable, as well as much more respectable, materials. + +One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw +Castle, which was still left much in the state in which it had +been one hundred years before, stretching, that is, in gloomy +length, along the whole side of the castle, vaulted with ribbed +arches of freestone, the groins of which sprung from projecting +figures, that, carved into all the wild forms which the fantastic +imagination of a Gothic architect could devise, grinned, frowned, +and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below. Long narrow +windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides, filled up with +stained glass, through which the sun emitted a dusky and +discoloured light. A banner, which tradition averred to have been +taken from the English at the battle of Sark, waved over the +chair in which Ellieslaw presided, as if to inflame the courage +of the guests, by reminding them of ancient victories over their +neighbours. He himself, a portly figure, dressed on this occasion +with uncommon care, and with features, which, though of a stern +and sinister expression, might well be termed handsome, looked +the old feudal baron extremely well. Sir Frederick Langley was +placed on his right hand, and Mr. Mareschal of Mareschal-Wells on +his left. Some gentlemen of consideration, with their sons, +brothers, and nephews, were seated at the upper end of the table, +and among these Mr. Ratcliffe had his place. Beneath the salt- +cellar (a massive piece of plate which occupied the midst of the +table) sate the SINE NOMINE TURBA, men whose vanity was gratified +by holding even this subordinate space at the social board, while +the distinction observed in ranking them was a salve to the pride +of their superiors. That the lower house was not very select +must be admitted, since Willie of Westburnflat was one of the +party. The unabashed audacity of this fellow, in daring to +present himself in the house of a gentleman, to whom he had just +offered so flagrant an insult, can only be accounted for by +supposing him conscious that his share in carrying off Miss Vere +was a secret, safe in her possession and that of her father. + +Before this numerous and miscellaneous party was placed a dinner, +consisting, not indeed of the delicacies of the season, as the +newspapers express it, but of viands, ample, solid, and +sumptuous, under which the very board groaned. But the mirth was +not in proportion to the good cheer. The lower end of the table +were, for some time, chilled by constraint and respect on finding +themselves members of so august an assembly; and those who were +placed around it had those feelings of awe with which P. P., +clerk of the parish, describes himself oppressed, when he first +uplifted the psalm in presence of those persons of high worship, +the wise Mr. Justice Freeman, the good Lady Jones, and the great +Sir Thomas Truby. This ceremonious frost, however, soon gave way +before the incentives to merriment, which were liberally +supplied, and as liberally consumed by the guests of the lower +description. They became talkative, loud, and even clamorous in +their mirth. + +But it was not in the power of wine or brandy to elevate the +spirits of those who held the higher places at the banquet. They +experienced the chilling revulsion of spirits which often takes +place, when men are called upon to take a desperate resolution, +after having placed themselves in circumstances where it is alike +difficult to advance or to recede. The precipice looked deeper +and more dangerous as they approached the brink, and each waited +with an inward emotion of awe, expecting which of his +confederates would set the example by plunging himself down. +This inward sensation of fear and reluctance acted differently, +according to the various habits and characters of the company. +One looked grave; another looked silly; a third gazed with +apprehension on the empty seats at the higher end of the table, +designed for members of the conspiracy whose prudence had +prevailed over their political zeal, and who had absented +themselves from their consultations at this critical period; and +some seemed to be reckoning up in their minds the comparative +rank and prospects of those who were present and absent. Sir +Frederick Langley was reserved, moody, and discontented. +Ellieslaw himself made such forced efforts to raise the spirits +of the company, as plainly marked the flagging of his own. +Ratcliffe watched the scene with the composure of a vigilant but +uninterested spectator. Mareschal alone, true to the thoughtless +vivacity of his character, ate and drank, laughed and jested, and +seemed even to find amusement in the embarrassment of the +company. + +"What has damped our noble courage this morning?" he exclaimed. +"We seem to be met at a funeral, where the chief mourners must +not speak above their breath, while the mutes and the saulies +(looking to the lower end of the table) are carousing below. +Ellieslaw, when will you LIFT? [To LIFT, meaning to lift the +coffin, is the common expression for commencing a funeral.] +where sleeps your spirit, man? and what has quelled the high +hope of the Knight of Langley-dale?" + +"You speak like a madman," said Ellieslaw; "do you not see how +many are absent?" + +"And what of that?" said Mareschal. "Did you not know before, +that one-half of the world are better talkers than doers? For my +part, I am much encouraged by seeing at least two-thirds of our +friends true to the rendezvous, though I suspect one-half of +these came to secure the dinner in case of the worst." + +"There is no news from the coast which can amount to certainty of +the King's arrival," said another of the company, in that tone of +subdued and tremulous whisper which implies a failure of +resolution. + +"Not a line from the Earl of D--, nor a single gentleman from the +southern side of the Border," said a third. + +"Who is he that wishes for more men from England," exclaimed +Mareschal, in a theatrical tone of affected heroism, + + "My cousin Ellieslaw? No, my fair cousin, + If we are doom'd to die--" + +"For God's sake," said Ellieslaw, "spare us your folly at +present, Mareschal." + +"Well, then," said his kinsman, "I'll bestow my wisdom upon you +instead, such as it is. If we have gone forward like fools, do +not let us go back like cowards. We have done enough to draw +upon us both the suspicion and vengeance of the government; do +not let us give up before we have done something to deserve it. +--What, will no one speak? Then I'll leap the ditch the first." +And, starting up, he filled a beer-glass to the brim with claret, +and waving his hand, commanded all to follow his example, and to +rise up from their seats. All obeyed-the more qualified guests +as if passively, the others with enthusiasm "Then, my friends, I +give you the pledge of the day--The independence of Scotland, and +the health of our lawful sovereign, King James the Eighth, now +landed in Lothian, and, as I trust and believe, in full +possession of his ancient capital!" + +He quaffed off the wine, and threw the glass over his head. + +"It should never," he said, "be profaned by a meaner toast." + +All followed his example, and, amid the crash of glasses and the +shouts of the company, pledged themselves to stand or fall with +the principles and political interest which their toast +expressed. + +"You have leaped the ditch with a witness," said Ellieslaw, apart +to Mareschal; "but I believe it is all for the best; at all +events, we cannot now retreat from our undertaking. One man +alone" (looking at Ratcliffe) "has refused the pledge; but of +that by and by." + +Then, rising up, he addressed the company in a style of +inflammatory invective against the government and its measures, +but especially the Union; a treaty, by means of which, he +affirmed, Scotland had been at once cheated of her independence, +her commerce, and her honour, and laid as a fettered slave at the +foot of the rival against whom, through such a length of ages, +through so many dangers, and by so much blood, she had honourably +defended her rights. This was touching a theme which found a +responsive chord in the bosom of every man present. + +"Our commerce is destroyed," hollowed old John Rewcastle, a +Jedburgh smuggler, from the lower end of the table. + +"Our agriculture is ruined," said the Laird of Broken-girth-flow, +a territory which, since the days of Adam, had borne nothing but +ling and whortle-berries. + +"Our religion is cut up, root and branch," said the pimple-nosed +pastor of the Episcopal meeting-house at Kirkwhistle. + +"We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench, +without a certificate from the presbytery and kirk-treasurer," +said Mareschal-Wells. + +"Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning, without license +from a commissioner of excise," said the smuggler. + +"Or ride over the fell in a moonless night," said Westburnflat, +"without asking leave of young Earnscliff; or some Englified +justice of the peace: thae were gude days on the Border when +there was neither peace nor justice heard of." + +"Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe," continued +Ellieslaw, "and take arms for the protection of our rights, our +fortunes, our lives, and our families." + +"Think upon genuine episcopal ordination, without which there can +be no lawful clergy," said the divine. + +"Think of the piracies committed on our East-Indian trade by +Green and the English thieves," said William Willieson, half- +owner and sole skipper of a brig that made four voyages annually +between Cockpool and Whitehaven. + +"Remember your liberties," rejoined Mareschal, who seemed to take +a mischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the +enthusiasm which he had excited, like a roguish boy, who, having +lifted the sluice of a mill-dam, enjoys the clatter of the wheels +which he has put in motion, without thinking of the mischief he +may have occasioned. "Remember your liberties," he exclaimed; +"confound cess, press, and presbytery, and the memory of old +Willie that first brought them upon us!" + +"Damn the gauger!" echoed old John Rewcastle; "I'll cleave him +wi' my ain hand." + +"And confound the country-keeper and the constable!" re-echoed +Westburnflat; "I'll weize a brace of balls through them before +morning." + +"We are agreed, then," said Ellieslaw, when the shouts had +somewhat subsided, "to bear this state of things no longer?" + +"We are agreed to a man," answered his guests. + +"Not literally so," said Mr. Ratcliffe; "for though I cannot hope +to assuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have +seized upon the company, yet I beg to observe, that so far as the +opinion of a single member goes, I do not entirely coincide in +the list of grievances which has been announced, and that I do +utterly protest against the frantic measures which you seem +disposed to adopt for removing them. I can easily suppose much +of what has been spoken may have arisen out of the heat of the +moment, or have been said perhaps in jest. But there are some +jests of a nature very apt to transpire; and you ought to +remember, gentlemen, that stone-walls have ears." + +"Stone-walls may have ears," returned Ellieslaw, eyeing him with +a look of triumphant malignity, "but domestic spies, Mr. +Ratcliffe, will soon find themselves without any, if any such +dares to continue his abode in a family where his coming was an +unauthorized intrusion, where his conduct has been that of a +presumptuous meddler, and from which his exit shall be that of a +baffled knave, if he does not know how to take a hint." + +"Mr. Vere," returned Ratcliffe, with calm contempt, "I am fully +aware, that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you, which +it must through the rash step you are about to adopt, it will +immediately become unsafe to myself, as it has always been +hateful to you. But I have one protection, and it is a strong +one; for you would not willingly hear me detail before gentlemen, +and men of honour, the singular circumstances in which our +connexion took its rise. As to the rest, I rejoice at its +conclusion; and as I think that Mr. Mareschal and some other +gentlemen will guarantee the safety of my ears and of my throat +(for which last I have more reason to be apprehensive) during the +course of the night, I shall not leave your castle till to-morrow +morning." + +"Be it so, sir," replied Mr. Vere; "you are entirely safe from my +resentment, because you are beneath it, and not because I am +afraid of your disclosing my family secrets, although, for your +own sake, I warn you to beware how you do so. Your agency and +intermediation can be of little consequence to one who will win +or lose all, as lawful right or unjust usurpation shall succeed +in the struggle that is about to ensue. Farewell, sir." + +Ratcliffe arose, and cast upon him a look, which Vere seemed to +sustain with difficulty, and, bowing to those around him, left +the room. + +This conversation made an impression on many of the company, +which Ellieslaw hastened to dispel, by entering upon the business +of the day. Their hasty deliberations went to organize an +immediate insurrection. Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir Frederick +Langley were chosen leaders, with powers to direct their farther +measures. A place of rendezvous was appointed, at which all +agreed to meet early on the ensuing day, with such followers and +friends to the cause as each could collect around him. Several +of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations; and +Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others, who, with +Westburnflat and the old smuggler, continued to ply the bottle +stanchly, for leaving the head of the table, as he must +necessarily hold a separate and sober conference with the +coadjutors whom they had associated with him in the command. The +apology was the more readily accepted, as he prayed them, at the +same time, to continue to amuse themselves with such refreshments +as the cellars of the castle afforded. Shouts of applause +followed their retreat; and the names of Vere, Langley, and, +above all, of Mareschal, were thundered forth in chorus, and +bathed with copious bumpers repeatedly, during the remainder of +the evening. + +When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate +apartment, they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of +embarrassment, which, in Sir Frederick's dark features, amounted +to an expression of discontented sullenness. Mareschal was the +first to break the pause, saying, with a loud burst of laughter, +--"Well! we are fairly embarked now, gentlemen--VOGUE LA +GALERE!" + +"We may thank you for the plunge," said Ellieslaw. + +"Yes; but I don't know how far you will thank me," answered +Mareschal, "when I show you this letter which I received just +before we sat down. My servant told me it was delivered by a man +he had never seen before, who went off at the gallop, after +charging him to put it into my own hand." + +Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter, and read aloud-- + +EDINBURGH,-- + +HOND. SIR, +Having obligations to your family, which shall be nameless, and +learning that you are one of the company of, adventurers doing +business for the house of James and Company, late merchants in +London, now in Dunkirk, I think it right to send you this early +and private information, that the vessels you expected have been +driven off the coast, without having been able to break bulk, or +to land any part of their cargo; and that the west-country +partners have resolved to withdraw their name from the firm, as +it must prove a losing concern. Having good hope you will avail +yourself of this early information, to do what is needful for +your own security, I rest your humble servant, +NIHIL NAMELESS. + +FOR RALPH MARESCHAL, OF MARESCHAL-WELLS +--THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED. + +Sir Frederick's jaw dropped, and his countenance blackened, as +the letter was read, and Ellieslaw exclaimed,--"Why, this +affects the very mainspring of our enterprise. If the French +fleet, with the king on board, has been chased off by the +English, as this d--d scrawl seems to intimate, where are we?" + +"Just where we were this morning, I think," said Mareschal, still +laughing. + +"Pardon me, and a truce to your ill-timed mirth, Mr. Mareschal; +this morning we were not committed publicly, as we now stand +committed by your own mad act, when you had a letter in your +pocket apprizing you that our undertaking was desperate." + +"Ay, ay, I expected you would say so. But, in the first place, +my friend Nihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam; and, +moreover, I would have you know that I am tired of a party that +does nothing but form bold resolutions overnight, and sleep them +away with their wine before morning. The government are now +unprovided of men and ammunition; in a few weeks they will have +enough of both: the country is now in a flame against them; in a +few weeks, betwixt the effects of self-interest, of fear, and of +lukewarm indifference, which are already so visible, this first +fervour will be as cold as Christmas. So, as I was determined to +go the vole, I have taken care you shall dip as deep as I; it +signifies nothing plunging. You are fairly in the bog, and must +struggle through." + +"You are mistaken with respect to one of us, Mr. Mareschal," said +Sir Frederick Langley; and, applying himself to the bell, he +desired the person who entered to order his servants and horses +instantly. + +"You must not leave us, Sir Frederick," said Ellieslaw; it we +have our musters to go over." + +"I will go to-night, Mr. Vere," said Sir Frederick, "and write +you my intentions in this matter when I am at home." + +"Ay," said Mareschal, "and send them by a troop of horse from +Carlisle to make us prisoners? Look ye, Sir Frederick, I for one +will neither be deserted nor betrayed; and if you leave Ellieslaw +Castle to-night, it shall be by passing over my dead body." + +"For shame! Mareschal," said Mr. Vere, "how can you so hastily +misinterpret our friend's intentions? I am sure Sir Frederick +can only be jesting with us; for, were he not too honourable to +dream of deserting the cause, he cannot but remember the full +proofs we have of his accession to it, and his eager activity in +advancing it. He cannot but be conscious, besides, that the +first information will be readily received by government, and +that if the question be, which can first lodge intelligence of +the affair, we can easily save a few hours on him." + +"You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in +such a race of treachery; for my part, I won't enter my horse for +such a plate," said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, "A +pretty pair of fellows to trust a man's neck with!" + +"I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper," said +Sir Frederick Langley; "and my first step shall be to leave +Ellieslaw. I have no reason to keep faith with one" (looking at +Vere) "who has kept none with me." + +"In what respect," said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of +his hand, his impetuous kinsman--"how have I disappointed you, +Sir Frederick?" + +"In the nearest and most tender point--you have trifled with me +concerning our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the +gage of our political undertaking. This carrying off and this +bringing back of Miss Vere,--the cold reception I have met with +from her, and the excuses with which you cover it, I believe to +be mere evasions, that you may yourself retain possession of the +estates which are hers by right, and make me, in the meanwhile, a +tool in your desperate enterprise, by holding out hopes and +expectations which you are resolved never to realize." + +"Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred--" + +"I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them +too long," answered Sir Frederick. + +"If you leave us," said Ellieslaw, "you cannot but know both your +ruin and ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together." + +"Leave me to take care of myself," returned the knight; "but were +what you say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any +farther." + +"Can nothing--no surety convince you of my sincerity?" said +Ellieslaw, anxiously; "this morning I should have repelled your +unjust suspicions as an insult; but situated as we now are--" + +"You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?" retorted Sir +Frederick. "If you would have me think so, there is but one way +to convince me of it--let your daughter bestow her hand on me +this evening." + +"So soon?--impossible," answered Vere; "think of her late alarm-- +of our present undertaking." + +"I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the +altar. You have a chapel in the castle--Doctor Hobbler is +present among the company-this proof of your good faith to-night, +and we are again joined in heart and hand. If you refuse me when +it is so much for your advantage to consent, how shall I trust +you to-morrow, when I shall stand committed in your undertaking, +and unable to retract?" + +"And I am to understand, that, if you can be made my son-in-law +to-night, our friendship is renewed?" said Ellieslaw. + +"Most infallibly, and most inviolably," replied Sir Frederick. + +"Then," said Vere, "though what you ask is premature, indelicate, +and unjust towards my character, yet, Sir Frederick, give me your +hand--my daughter shall be your wife." + +"This night?" + +"This very night," replied Ellieslaw, "before the clock strikes +twelve." + +"With her own consent, I trust," said Mareschal; "for I promise +you both, gentlemen, I will not stand tamely by, and see any +violence put on the will of my pretty kinswoman." + +"Another pest in this hot-headed fellow," muttered Ellieslaw; +and then aloud, "With her own consent? For what do you take me, +Mareschal, that you should suppose your interference necessary to +protect my daughter against her father? Depend upon it, she has +no repugnance to Sir Frederick Langley." + +"Or rather to be called Lady Langley? faith, like enough--there +are many women might be of her mind; and I beg your pardon, but +these sudden demands and concessions alarmed me a little on her +account." + +"It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me," +said Ellieslaw; "but perhaps if she is found intractable, Sir +Frederick will consider--" + +"I will consider nothing, Mr. Vere--your daughter's hand to- +night, or I depart, were it at midnight--there is my ultimatum." + +"I embrace it," said Ellieslaw; "and I will leave you to talk +upon our military preparations, while I go to prepare my daughter +for so sudden a change of condition." + +So saying, he left the company. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + He brings Earl Osmond to receive my vows. + O dreadful change! for Tancred, haughty Osmond. + TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA. + +Mr. Vere, whom long practice of dissimulation had enabled to +model his very gait and footsteps to aid the purposes of +deception, walked along the stone passage, and up the first +flight of steps towards Miss Vere's apartment, with the alert, +firm, and steady pace of one who is bound, indeed, upon important +business, but who entertains no doubt he can terminate his +affairs satisfactorily. But when out of hearing of the gentlemen +whom he had left, his step became so slow and irresolute, as to +correspond with his doubts and his fears. At length he paused in +an antechamber to collect his ideas, and form his plan of +argument, before approaching his daughter. + +"In what more hopeless and inextricable dilemma was ever an +unfortunate man involved!" Such was the tenor of his +reflections.--"If we now fall to pieces by disunion, there can be +little doubt that the government will take my life as the prime +agitator of the insurrection. Or, grant I could stoop to save +myself by a hasty submission, am I not, even in that case, +utterly ruined? I have broken irreconcilably with Ratcliffe, and +can have nothing to expect from that quarter but insult and +persecution. I must wander forth an impoverished and dishonoured +man, without even the means of sustaining life, far less wealth +sufficient to counterbalance the infamy which my countrymen, both +those whom I desert and those whom I join, will attach to the +name of the political renegade. It is not to be thought of. And +yet, what choice remains between this lot and the ignominious +scaffold? Nothing can save me but reconciliation with these men; +and, to accomplish this, I have promised to Langley that Isabella +shall marry him ere midnight, and to Mareschal, that she shall do +so without compulsion. I have but one remedy betwixt me and +ruin--her consent to take a suitor whom she dislikes, upon such +short notice as would disgust her, even were he a favoured lover +--But I must trust to the romantic generosity of her disposition; +and let me paint the necessity of her obedience ever so strongly, +I cannot overcharge its reality." + +Having finished this sad chain of reflections upon his perilous +condition, he entered his daughter's apartment with every nerve +bent up to the support of the argument which he was about to +sustain. Though a deceitful and ambitious man, he was not so +devoid of natural affection but that he was shocked at the part +he was about to act, in practising on the feelings of a dutiful +and affectionate child; but the recollections, that, if he +succeeded, his daughter would only be trepanned into an +advantageous match, and that, if he failed, he himself was a lost +man, were quite sufficient to drown all scruples. + +He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing-room, her +head reclining on her hand, and either sunk in slumber, or so +deeply engaged in meditation, that she did not hear the noise he +made at his entrance. He approached with his features composed +to a deep expression of sorrow and sympathy, and, sitting down +beside her, solicited her attention by quietly taking her hand, a +motion which he did not fail to accompany with a deep sigh. + +"My father!" said Isabella, with a sort of start, which +expressed at least as much fear, as joy or affection. + +"Yes, Isabella," said Vere, "your unhappy father, who comes now +as a penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury +done to her in the excess of his affection, and then to take +leave of her for ever." + +"Sir? Offence to me take leave for ever? What does all this +mean?" said Miss Vere. + +"Yes, Isabella, I am serious. But first let me ask you, have you +no suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance +which befell you yesterday morning?" + +"You, sir?" answered Isabella, stammering between a +consciousness that he had guessed her thoughts justly, and the +shame as well as fear which forbade her to acknowledge a +suspicion so degrading and so unnatural. + +"Yes!" he continued, "your hesitation confesses that you +entertained such an opinion, and I have now the painful task of +acknowledging that your suspicions have done me no injustice. +But listen to my motives. In an evil hour I countenanced the +addresses of Sir Frederick Langley, conceiving it impossible that +you could have any permanent objections to a match where the +advantages were, in most respects, on your side. In a worse, I +entered with him into measures calculated to restore our banished +monarch, and the independence of my country. He has taken +advantage of my unguarded confidence, and now has my life at his +disposal." + +"Your life, sir?" said Isabella, faintly. + +"Yes, Isabella," continued her father, "the life of him who gave +life to you. So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his +headlong passion (for, to do him justice, I believe his +unreasonable conduct arises from excess of attachment to you) was +likely to hurry him, I endeavoured, by finding a plausible +pretext for your absence for some weeks, to extricate myself from +the dilemma in which I am placed. For this purpose I wished, in +case your objections to the match continued insurmountable, to +have sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your +maternal aunt at Paris. By a series of mistakes you have been +brought from the place of secrecy and security which I had +destined for your temporary abode. Fate has baffled my last +chance of escape, and I have only to give you my blessing, and +send you from the castle with Mr. Ratcliffe, who now leaves it; +my own fate will soon be decided." + +"Good Heaven, sir! can this be possible?" exclaimed Isabella. +"O, why was I freed from the restraint in which you placed me? +or why did you not impart your pleasure to me?" + +"Think an instant, Isabella. Would you have had me prejudice in +your opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving, by +communicating to you the injurious eagerness with which he +pursued his object? Could I do so honourably, having promised to +assist his suit?--But it is all over, I and Mareschal have made +up our minds to die like men; it only remains to send you from +hence under a safe escort." + +"Great powers! and is there no remedy?" said the terrified +young woman. + +"None, my child," answered Vere, gently, "unless one which you +would not advise your father to adopt--to be the first to betray +his friends." + +"O, no! no!" she answered, abhorrently yet hastily, as if to +reject the temptation which the alternative presented to her. +"But is there no other hope--through flight--through mediation +--through supplication?--I will bend my knee to Sir Frederick!" + +"It would be a fruitless degradation; he is determined on his +course, and I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate. +On one condition only he will turn aside from his purpose, and +that condition my lips shall never utter to you." + +"Name it, I conjure you, my dear father!" exclaimed Isabella. +"What CAN he ask that we ought not to grant, to prevent the +hideous catastrophe with which you are threatened?" + +"That, Isabella," said Vere, solemnly, "you shall never know, +until your father's head has rolled on the bloody scaffold; then, +indeed, you will learn there was one sacrifice by which he might +have been saved." + +"And why not speak it now?" said Isabella; "do you fear I would +flinch from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation? or +would you bequeath me the bitter legacy of life-long remorse, so +oft as I shall think that you perished, while there remained one +mode of preventing the dreadful misfortune that overhangs you?" + +"Then, my child," said Vere, "since you press me to name what I +would a thousand times rather leave in silence, I must inform you +that he will accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage, +and that conferred before midnight this very evening!" + +"This evening, sir?" said the young lady, struck with horror at +the proposal--"and to such a man!--A man?--a monster, who could +wish to win the daughter by threatening the life of the father +--it is impossible!" + +"You say right, my child," answered her father, "it is indeed +impossible; nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such +a sacrifice--It is the course of nature that the old should die +and be forgot, and the young should live and be happy." + +"My father die, and his child can save him!--but no--no--my dear +father, pardon me, it is impossible; you only wish to guide me to +your wishes. I know your object is what you think my happiness, +and this dreadful tale is only told to influence my conduct and +subdue my scruples." + +"My daughter," replied Ellieslaw, in a tone where offended +authority seemed to struggle with parental affection, "my child +suspects me of inventing a false tale to work upon her feelings! +Even this I must bear, and even from this unworthy suspicion I +must descend to vindicate myself. You know the stainless honour +of your cousin Mareschal--mark what I shall write to him, and +judge from his answer, if the danger in which we stand is not +real, and whether I have not used every means to avert it." + +He sate down, wrote a few lines hastily, and handed them to +Isabella, who, after repeated and painful efforts, cleared her +eyes and head sufficiently to discern their purport. + +"Dear cousin," said the billet, "I find my daughter, as I +expected, in despair at the untimely and premature urgency of Sir +Frederick Langley. She cannot even comprehend the peril in which +we stand, or how much we are in his power-- Use your influence +with him, for Heaven's sake, to modify proposals, to the +acceptance of which I cannot, and will not, urge my child against +all her own feelings, as well as those of delicacy and propriety, +and oblige your loving cousin,--R. V." + +In the agitation of the moment, when her swimming eyes and dizzy +brain could hardly comprehend the sense of what she looked upon, +it is not surprising that Miss Vere should have omitted to remark +that this letter seemed to rest her scruples rather upon the form +and time of the proposed union, than on a rooted dislike to the +suitor proposed to her. Mr. Vere rang the bell, and gave the +letter to a servant to be delivered to Mr. Mareschal, and, rising +from his chair, continued to traverse the apartment in silence +and in great agitation until the answer was returned. He glanced +it over, and wrung the hand of his daughter as he gave it to her. +The tenor was as follows:-- + +"My dear kinsman, I have already urged the knight on the point +you mention, and I find him as fixed as Cheviot. I am truly +sorry my fair cousin should be pressed to give up any of her +maidenly rights. Sir Frederick consents, however, to leave the +castle with me the instant the ceremony is performed, and we will +raise our followers and begin the fray. Thus there is great hope +the bridegroom may be knocked on the head before he and the bride +can meet again, so Bell has a fair chance to be Lady Langley +A TRES BON MARCHE. For the rest, I can only say, that if she can +make up her mind to the alliance at all--it is no time for mere +maiden ceremony--my pretty cousin must needs consent to marry in +haste, or we shall all repent at leisure, or rather have very +little leisure to repent; which is all at present from him who +rests your affectionate kinsman,--R. M." + +"P.S.--Tell Isabella that I would rather cut the knight's throat +after all, and end the dilemma that way, than see her constrained +to marry him against her will." + +When Isabella had read this letter, it dropped from her hand, and +she would, at the same time, have fallen from her chair, had she +not been supported by her father. + +"My God, my child will die!" exclaimed Vere, the feelings of +nature overcoming, even in HIS breast, the sentiments of selfish +policy; "look up, Isabella--look up, my child--come what will, +you shall not be the sacrifice--I will fall myself with the +consciousness I leave you happy--My child may weep on my grave, +but she shall not--not in this instance--reproach my memory." He +called a servant.--"Go, bid Ratcliffe come hither directly." + +During this interval, Miss Vere became deadly pale, clenched her +hands, pressing the palms strongly together, closed her eyes, and +drew her lips with strong compression, as if the severe +constraint which she put upon her internal feelings extended even +to her muscular organization. Then raising her head, and drawing +in her breath strongly ere she spoke, she said, with firmness, +--"Father, I consent to the marriage." + +"You shall not--you shall not,--my child--my dear child--you +shall not embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain +danger." + +So exclaimed Ellieslaw; and, strange and inconsistent beings that +we are! he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his +heart. + +"Father," repeated Isabella, "I will consent to this marriage." + +"No, my child, no--not now at least--we will humble ourselves to +obtain delay from him; and yet, Isabella, could you overcome a +dislike which has no real foundation, think, in other respects, +what a match!--wealth--rank--importance." + +"Father!" reiterated Isabella, "I have consented." + +It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying anything else, +or even of varying the phrase which, with such effort, she had +compelled herself to utter. + +"Heaven bless thee, my child!--Heaven bless thee!--And it WILL +bless thee with riches, with pleasure, with power." + +Miss Vere faintly entreated to be left by herself for the rest of +the evening. + +"But will you not receive Sir Frederick?" said her father, +anxiously. + +"I will meet him," she replied, "I will meet him--when I must, +and where I must; but spare me now." + +"Be it so, my dearest; you shall know no restraint that I can +save you from. Do not think too hardly of Sir Frederick for +this,--it is an excess of passion." + +Isabella waved her hand impatiently. + +"Forgive me, my child--I go--Heaven bless thee. At eleven--if +you call me not before--at eleven I come to seek you." + +"When he left Isabella she dropped upon her knees--"Heaven aid me +to support the resolution I have taken-- Heaven only can--O, poor +Earnscliff! who shall comfort him? and with what contempt will +he pronounce her name, who listened to him to-day and gave +herself to another at night! But let him despise me--better so +than that he should know the truth--let him despise me; if it +will but lessen his grief, I should feel comfort in the loss of +his esteem." + +She wept bitterly; attempting in vain, from time to time, to +commence the prayer for which she had sunk on her knees, but +unable to calm her spirits sufficiently for the exercise of +devotion. As she remained in this agony of mind, the door of her +apartment was slowly opened. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + The darksome cave they enter, where they found + The woful man, low sitting on the ground, + Musing full sadly in his sullen mind. FAERY QUEEN. + +The intruder on Miss Vere's sorrows was Ratcliffe. Ellieslaw +had, in the agitation of his mind, forgotten to countermand the +order he had given to call him thither, so that he opened the +door with the words, "You sent for me, Mr. Vere." Then looking +around--"Miss Vere, alone! on the ground! and in tears!" + +"Leave me--leave me, Mr. Ratcliffe," said the unhappy young lady. + +"I must not leave you," said Ratcliffe; "I have been repeatedly +requesting admittance to take my leave of you, and have been +refused, until your father himself sent for me. Blame me not, if +I am bold and intrusive; I have a duty to discharge which makes +me so." + +"I cannot listen to you--I cannot speak to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; +take my best wishes, and for God's sake leave me." + +"Tell me only," said Ratcliffe, "is it true that this monstrous +match is to go forward, and this very night? I heard the +servants proclaim it as I was on the great staircase--I heard the +directions given to clear out the chapel." + +"Spare me, Mr. Ratcliffe," replied the luckless bride; "and from +the state in which you see me, judge of the cruelty of these +questions." + +"Married? to Sir Frederick Langley? and this night? It must not +cannot--shall not be." + +"It MUST be, Mr. Ratcliff, or my father is ruined." + +"Ah! I understand," answered Ratcliffe; "and you have sacrificed +yourself to save him who--But let the virtue of the child atone +for the faults of the father it is no time to rake them up.--What +CAN be done? Time presses--I know but one remedy--with four-and- +twenty hours I might find many--Miss Vere, you must implore the +protection of the only human being who has it in his power to +control the course of events which threatens to hurry you before +it." + +"And what human being," answered Miss Vere, "has such power?" + +"Start not when I name him," said Ratcliffe, coming near her, and +speaking in a low but distinct voice. "It is he who is called +Elshender the Recluse of Mucklestane-Moor." + +"You are mad, Mr. Ratcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by +an ill-timed jest!" + +"I am as much in my senses, young lady," answered her adviser, +"as you are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least +of all with your misery. I swear to you that this being (who is +other far than what he seems) actually possesses the means of +redeeming you from this hateful union." + +"And of insuring my father's safety?" + +"Yes! even that," said Ratcliffe, "if you plead his cause with +him--yet how to obtain admittance to the Recluse!" + +"Fear not that," said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the +incident of the rose; "I remember he desired me to call upon him +for aid in my extremity, and gave me this flower as a token. Ere +it faded away entirely, I would need, he said, his assistance: +is it possible his words can have been aught but the ravings of +insanity?" + +"Doubt it not fear it not--but above all," said Ratcliffe, "let +us lose no time--are you at liberty, and unwatched?" + +"I believe so," said Isabella: "but what would you have me to +do?" + +"Leave the castle instantly," said Ratcliffe, "and throw yourself +at the feet of this extraordinary man, who in circumstances that +seem to argue the extremity of the most contemptible poverty, +possesses yet an almost absolute influence over your fate.-- +Guests and servants are deep in their carouse--the leaders +sitting in conclave on their treasonable schemes--my horse stands +ready in the stable--I will saddle one for you, and meet you at +the little garden-gate--O, let no doubt of my prudence or +fidelity prevent your taking the only step in your power to +escape the dreadful fate which must attend the wife of Sir +Frederick Langley!" + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, "you have always been esteemed a +man of honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always +catch at the feeblest twig,--I will trust you--I will follow your +advice--I will meet you at the garden-gate." + +She bolted the outer-door of her apartment as soon as Mr. +Ratcliffe left her, and descended to the garden by a separate +stair of communication which opened to her dressing-room. On the +way she felt inclined to retract the consent she had so hastily +given to a plan so hopeless and extravagant. But as she passed +in her descent a private door which entered into the chapel from +the back-stair, she heard the voice of the female-servants as +they were employed in the task of cleaning it. + +"Married! and to sae bad a man--Ewhow, sirs! onything rather +than that." + +"They are right--they are right," said Miss Vere, "anything +rather than that!" + +She hurried to the garden. Mr. Ratcliffe was true to his +appointment--the horses stood saddled at the garden-gate, and in +a few minutes they were advancing rapidly towards the hut of the +Solitary. + +While the ground was favourable, the speed of their journey was +such as to prevent much communication; but when a steep ascent +compelled them to slacken their pace, a new cause of apprehension +occurred to Miss Vere's mind. + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," she said, pulling up her horse's bridle, "let us +prosecute no farther a journey, which nothing but the extreme +agitation of my mind can vindicate my having undertaken--I am +well aware that this man passes among the vulgar as being +possessed of supernatural powers, and carrying on an intercourse +with beings of another world; but I would have you aware I am +neither to be imposed on by such follies, nor, were I to believe +in their existence, durst I, with my feelings of religion, apply +to this being in my distress." + +"I should have thought, Miss Vere," replied Ratcliffe, "my +character and habits of thinking were so well known to you, that +you might have held me exculpated from crediting in such +absurdity." + +"But in what other mode," said Isabella, "can a being, so +miserable himself in appearance, possess the power of assisting +me?" + +"Miss Vere." said Ratcliffe, after a momentary pause, "I am +bound by a solemn oath of secrecy--You must, without farther +explanation, be satisfied with my pledged assurance, that he does +possess the power, if you can inspire him with the will; and +that, I doubt not, you will be able to do." + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, "you may yourself be mistaken; +you ask an unlimited degree of confidence from me." + +"Recollect, Miss Vere," he replied, "that when, in your humanity, +you asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell +and his ruined family--when you requested me to prevail on him to +do a thing most abhorrent to his nature--to forgive an injury and +remit a penalty--I stipulated that you should ask me no questions +concerning the sources of my influence--You found no reason to +distrust me then, do not distrust me now." + +"But the extraordinary mode of life of this man," said Miss Vere; +"his seclusion--his figure--the deepness of mis-anthropy which he +is said to express in his language--Mr. Ratcliffe, what can I +think of him if he really possesses the powers you ascribe to +him?" + +"This man, young lady, was bred a Catholic, a sect which affords +a thousand instances of those who have retired from power and +affluence to voluntary privations more strict even than his." + +"But he avows no religious motive," replied Miss Vere. + +"No," replied Ratcliffe; "disgust with the world has operated his +retreat from it without assuming the veil of superstition. Thus +far I may tell you--he was born to great wealth, which his +parents designed should become greater by his union with a +kinswoman, whom for that purpose they bred up in their own house. +You have seen his figure; judge what the young lady must have +thought of the lot to which she was destined--Yet, habituated to +his appearance, she showed no reluctance, and the friends of--of +the person whom I speak of, doubted not that the excess of his +attachment, the various acquisitions of his mind, his many and +amiable qualities, had overcome the natural horror which his +destined bride must have entertained at an exterior so dreadfully +inauspicious." + +"And did they judge truly?" said Isabella. + +"You shall hear. He, at least, was fully aware of his own +deficiency; the sense of it haunted him like a phantom. 'I am,' +was his own expression to me,--I mean to a man whom he trusted,-- +'I am, in spite of what you would say, a poor miserable outcast, +fitter to have been smothered in the cradle than to have been +brought up to scare the world in which I crawl.' The person whom +he addressed in vain endeavoured to impress him with the +indifference to external form which is the natural result of +philosophy, or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental +talents to the more attractive attributes that are merely +personal. 'I hear you,' he would reply; 'but you speak the voice +of cold-blooded stoicism, or, at least, of friendly partiality. +But look at every book which we have read, those excepted of that +abstract philosophy which feels no responsive voice in our +natural feelings. Is not personal form, such as at least can be +tolerated without horror and disgust, always represented as +essential to our ideas of a friend, far more a lover? Is not +such a mis-shapen monster as I am, excluded, by the very fiat of +Nature, from her fairest enjoyments? What but my wealth prevents +all--perhaps even Letitia, or you--from shunning me as something +foreign to your nature, and more odious, by bearing that +distorted resemblance to humanity which we observe in the animal +tribes that are more hateful to man because they seem his +caricature?'" + +"You repeat the sentiments of a madman," said Miss Vere. + +"No," replied her conductor, "unless a morbid and excessive +sensibility on such a subject can be termed insanity. "Yet I +will not deny that this governing feeling and apprehension +carried the person who entertained it, to lengths which indicated +a deranged imagination. He appeared to think that it was +necessary for him, by exuberant, and not always well-chosen +instances of liberality, and even profusion, to unite himself to +the human race, from which he conceived himself naturally +dissevered. The benefits which he bestowed, from a disposition +naturally philanthropical in an uncommon degree, were exaggerated +by the influence of the goading reflection, that more was +necessary from him than from others,--lavishing his treasures as +if to bribe mankind to receive him into their class. It is +scarcely necessary to say, that the bounty which flowed from a +source so capricious was often abused, and his confidence +frequently betrayed. These disappointments, which occur to all, +more or less, and most to such as confer benefits without just +discrimination, his diseased fancy set down to the hatred and +contempt excited by his personal deformity.-- But I fatigue you, +Miss Vere?" + +"No, by no means; I--I could not prevent my attention from +wandering an instant; pray proceed." + +"He became at length," continued Ratcliffe, "the most ingenious +self-tormentor of whom I have ever heard; the scoff of the +rabble, and the sneer of the yet more brutal vulgar of his own +rank, was to him agony and breaking on the wheel. He regarded +the laugh of the common people whom he passed on the street, and +the suppressed titter, or yet more offensive terror, of the young +girls to whom he was introduced in company, as proofs of the true +sense which the world entertained of him, as a prodigy unfit to +be received among them on the usual terms of society, and as +vindicating the wisdom of his purpose in withdrawing himself from +among them. On the faith and sincerity of two persons alone, he +seemed to rely implicitly--on that of his betrothed bride, and of +a friend eminently gifted in personal accomplishments, who +seemed, and indeed probably was, sincerely attached to him. He +ought to have been so at least, for he was literally loaded with +benefits by him whom you are now about to see. The parents of +the subject of my story died within a short space of each other. +Their death postponed the marriage, for which the day had been +fixed. The lady did not seem greatly to mourn this delay,-- +perhaps that was not to have been expected; but she intimated no +change of intention, when, after a decent interval, a second day +was named for their union. The friend of whom I spoke was then a +constant resident at the Hall. In an evil hour, at the earnest +request and entreaty of this friend, they joined a general party, +where men of different political opinions were mingled, and where +they drank deep. A quarrel ensued; the friend of the Recluse +drew his sword with others, and was thrown down and disarmed by a +more powerful antagonist. They fell in the struggle at the feet +of the Recluse, who, maimed and truncated as his form appears, +possesses, nevertheless, great strength, as well as violent +passions. He caught up a sword, pierced the heart of his +friend's antagonist, was tried, and his life, with difficulty, +redeemed from justice at the expense of a year's close +imprisonment, the punishment of manslaughter. The incident +affected him most deeply, the more that the deceased was a man of +excellent character, and had sustained gross insult and injury +ere he drew his sword. I think, from that moment, I observed--I +beg pardon--The fits of morbid sensibility which had tormented +this unfortunate gentleman, were rendered henceforth more acute +by remorse, which he, of all men, was least capable of having +incurred, or of sustaining when it became his unhappy lot. His +paroxysms of agony could not be concealed from the lady to whom +he was betrothed; and it must be confessed they were of an +alarming and fearful nature. He comforted himself, that, at the +expiry of his imprisonment, he could form with his wife and +friend a society, encircled by which he might dispense with more +extensive communication with the world. He was deceived; before +that term elapsed, his friend and his betrothed bride were man +and wife. The effects of a shock so dreadful on an ardent +temperament, a disposition already soured by bitter remorse, and +loosened by the indulgence of a gloomy imagination from the rest +of mankind, I cannot describe to you; it was as if the last cable +at which the vessel rode had suddenly parted, and left her +abandoned to all the wild fury of the tempest. He was placed +under medical restraint. As a temporary measure this might have +been justifiable; but his hard-hearted friend, who, in +consequence of his marriage, was now his nearest ally, prolonged +his confinement, in order to enjoy the management of his immense +estates. There was one who owed his all to the sufferer, an +humble friend, but grateful and faithful. By unceasing exertion, +and repeated invocation of justice, he at length succeeded in +obtaining his patron's freedom, and reinstatement in the +management of his own property, to which was soon added that of +his intended bride, who having died without male issue, her +estates reverted to him, as heir of entail. But freedom and +wealth were unable to restore the equipoise of his mind; to the +former his grief made him indifferent--the latter only served him +as far as it afforded him the means of indulging his strange and +wayward fancy. He had renounced the Catholic religion, but +perhaps some of its doctrines continued to influence a mind, over +which remorse and misanthropy now assumed, in appearance, an +unbounded authority. His life has since been that alternately of +a pilgrim and a hermit, suffering the most severe privations, not +indeed in ascetic devotion, but in abhorrence of mankind. Yet no +man's words and actions have been at such a wide difference, nor +has any hypocritical wretch ever been more ingenious in assigning +good motives for his vile actions, than this unfortunate in +reconciling to his abstract principles of misanthropy, a conduct +which flows from his natural generosity and kindness of feeling." + +"Still, Mr. Ratcliffe--still you describe the inconsistencies of +a madman." + +"By no means," replied Ratcliffe. "That the imagination of this +gentleman is disordered, I will not pretend to dispute; I have +already told you that it has sometimes broken out into paroxysms +approaching to real mental alienation. But it is of his common +state of mind that I speak; it is irregular, but not deranged; +the shades are as gradual as those that divide the light of +noonday from midnight. The courtier who ruins his fortune for +the attainment of a title which can do him no good, or power of +which he can make no suitable or creditable use, the miser who +hoards his useless wealth, and the prodigal who squanders it, are +all marked with a certain shade of insanity. To criminals who +are guilty of enormities, when the temptation, to a sober mind, +bears no proportion to the horror of the act, or the probability +of detection and punishment, the same observation applies; and +every violent passion, as well as anger, may be termed a short +madness." + +"This may be all good philosophy, Mr. Ratcliffe," answered Miss +Vere; "but, excuse me, it by no means emboldens me to visit, at +this late hour, a person whose extravagance of imagination you +yourself can only palliate." + +"Rather, then," said Ratcliffe, "receive my solemn assurances, +that you do not incur the slightest danger. But what I have been +hitherto afraid to mention for fear of alarming you is, that now +when we are within sight of his retreat, for I can discover it +through the twilight, I must go no farther with you; you must +proceed alone." + +"Alone?--I dare not." + +"You must," continued Ratcliffe; "I will remain here and wait for +you." + +"You will not, then, stir from this place," said Miss Vere "yet +the distance is so great, you could not hear me were I to cry for +assistance." + +"Fear nothing," said her guide; "or observe, at least, the utmost +caution in stifling every expression of timidity. Remember that +his predominant and most harassing apprehension arises from a +consciousness of the hideousness of his appearance. Your path +lies straight beside yon half-fallen willow; keep the left side +of it; the marsh lies on the right. Farewell for a time. +Remember the evil you are threatened with, and let it overcome at +once your fears and scruples." + +"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Isabella, "farewell; if you have deceived +one so unfortunate as myself, you have for ever forfeited the +fair character for probity and honour to which I have trusted." + +"On my life--on my soul," continued Ratcliffe, raising his voice +as the distance between them increased, "you are safe--perfectly +safe." + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + --'Twas time and griefs + That framed him thus: Time, with his fairer hand, + Offering the fortunes of his former days, + The former man may make him.--Bring us to him, + And chance it as it may. OLD PLAY. + +The sounds of Ratcliffe's voice had died on Isabella's ear; but +as she frequently looked back, it was some encouragement to her +to discern his form now darkening in the gloom. Ere, however, +she went much farther, she lost the object in the increasing +shade. The last glimmer of the twilight placed her before the +hut of the Solitary. She twice extended her hand to the door, +and twice she withdrew it; and when she did at length make the +effort, the knock did not equal in violence the throb of her own +bosom. Her next effort was louder; her third was reiterated, for +the fear of not obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe +promised so much, began to overpower the terrors of his presence +from whom she was to request it. At length, as she still +received no answer, she repeatedly called upon the Dwarf by his +assumed name, and requested him to answer and open to her. + +"What miserable being is reduced," said the appalling voice of +the Solitary, "to seek refuge here? Go hence; when the heath- +fowl need shelter, they seek it not in the nest of the night- +raven." + +"I come to you, father," said Isabella, "in my hour of adversity, +even as you yourself commanded, when you promised your heart and +your door should be open to my distress; but I fear--" + +"Ha!" said the Solitary, "then thou art Isabella Vere? Give me a +token that thou art she." + +"I have brought you back the rose which you gave me; it has not +had time to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon +me!" + +"And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge," said the Dwarf, "I +will not forfeit mine. The heart and the door that are shut +against every other earthly being, shall be open to thee and to +thy sorrows." + +She heard him move in his hut, and presently afterwards strike a +light. One by one, bolt and bar were then withdrawn, the heart +of Isabella throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting +were successively removed. The door opened, and the Solitary +stood before her, his uncouth form and features illuminated by +the iron lamp which he held in his hand. + +"Enter, daughter of affliction," he said,--"enter the house of +misery." + +She entered, and observed, with a precaution which increased her +trepidation, that the Recluse's first act, after setting the lamp +upon the table, was to replace the numerous bolts which secured +the door of his hut. She shrunk as she heard the noise which +accompanied this ominous operation, yet remembered Ratcliffe's +caution, and endeavoured to suppress all appearance of +apprehension. The light of the lamp was weak and uncertain; but +the Solitary, without taking immediate notice of Isabella, +otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small settle +beside the fireplace, made haste to kindle some dry furze, which +presently cast a blaze through the cottage. Wooden shelves, +which bore a few books, some bundles of dried herbs, and one or +two wooden cups and platters, were on one side of the fire; on +the other were placed some ordinary tools of field-labour, +mingled with those used by mechanics. Where the bed should have +been, there was a wooden frame, strewed with withered moss and +rushes, the couch of the ascetic. The whole space of the cottage +did not exceed ten feet by six within the walls; and its only +furniture, besides what we have mentioned, was a table and two +stools formed of rough deals. + +Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed +with a being, whose history had nothing to reassure her, and the +fearful conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an +almost superstitious terror. He occupied the seat opposite to +her, and dropping his huge and shaggy eyebrows over his piercing +black eyes, gazed at her in silence, as if agitated by a variety +of contending feelings. On the other side sate Isabella, pale as +death, her long hair uncurled by the evening damps, and falling +over her shoulders and breast, as the wet streamers droop from +the mast when the storm has passed away, and left the vessel +stranded on the beach. The Dwarf first broke the silence with +the sudden, abrupt, and alarming question,--"Woman, what evil +fate has brought thee hither?" + +"My father's danger, and your own command," she replied faintly, +but firmly. + +"And you hope for aid from me?" + +"If you can bestow it," she replied, still in the same tone of +mild submission. + +"And how should I possess that power?" continued the Dwarf, with +a bitter sneer; "Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs? Is +this the castle in which one powerful enough to be sued to by a +fair suppliant is likely to hold his residence? I but mocked +thee, girl, when I said I would relieve thee." + +"Then must I depart, and face my fate as I best may!" + +"No!" said the Dwarf, rising and interposing between her and the +door, and motioning to her sternly to resume her seat--"No! you +leave me not in this way; we must have farther conference. Why +should one being desire aid of another? Why should not each be +sufficient to itself? Look round you--I, the most despised and +most decrepit on Nature's common, have required sympathy and help +from no one. These stones are of my own piling; these utensils I +framed with my own hands; and with this"--and he laid his hand +with a fierce smile on the long dagger which he always wore +beneath his garment, and unsheathed it so far that the blade +glimmered clear in the fire-light--"with this," he pursued, as he +thrust the weapon back into the scabbard, "I can, if necessary, +defend the vital spark enclosed in this poor trunk, against the +fairest and strongest that shall threaten me with injury." + +It was with difficulty Isabella refrained from screaming out +aloud; but she DID refrain. + +"This," continued the Recluse, "is the life of nature, solitary, +self-sufficing, and independent. The wolf calls not the wolf to +aid him in forming his den; and the vulture invites not another +to assist her in striking down her prey." + +"And when they are unable to procure themselves support," said +Isabella, judiciously thinking that he would be most accessible +to argument couched in his own metaphorical style, "what then is +to befall them?" + +"Let them starve, die, and be forgotten; it is the common lot of +humanity." + +"It is the lot of the wild tribes of nature," said Isabella, "but +chiefly of those who are destined to support themselves by +rapine, which brooks no partner; but it is not the law of nature +in general; even the lower orders have confederacies for mutual +defence. But mankind--the race would perish did they cease to +aid each other.--From the time that the mother binds the child's +head, till the moment that some kind assistant wipes the death- +damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot exist without mutual +help. All, therefore, that need aid, have right to ask it of +their fellow-mortals; no one who has the power of granting can +refuse it without guilt." + +"And in this simple hope, poor maiden," said the Solitary, "thou +hast come into the desert, to seek one whose wish it were that +the league thou hast spoken of were broken for ever, and that, in +very truth, the whole race should perish? Wert thou not +frightened?" + +"Misery," said Isabella, firmly, "is superior to fear." + +"Hast thou not heard it said in thy mortal world, that I have +leagued myself with other powers, deformed to the eye and +malevolent to the human race as myself? Hast thou not heard +this--And dost thou seek my cell at midnight?" + +"The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears," said +Isabella; but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied the +affected courage which her words expressed. + +"Ho! ho!" said the Dwarf, "thou vauntest thyself a philosopher? +Yet, shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrusting +thyself, young and beautiful, in the power of one so spited +against humanity, as to place his chief pleasure in defacing, +destroying, and degrading her fairest works?" + +Isabella, much alarmed, continued to answer with firmness, +"Whatever injuries you may have sustained in the world, you are +incapable of revenging them on one who never wronged you, +nor,wilfully, any other." + +"Ay, but, maiden," he continued, his dark eyes flashing with an +expression of malignity which communicated itself to his wild and +distorted features, "revenge is the hungry wolf, which asks only +to tear flesh and lap blood. Think you the lamb's plea of +innocence would be listened to by him?" + +"Man!" said Isabella, rising, and expressing herself with much +dignity, "I fear not the horrible ideas with which you would +impress me. I cast them from me with disdain. Be you mortal or +fiend, you would not offer injury to one who sought you as a +suppliant in her utmost need. You would not--you durst not." + +"Thou say'st truly, maiden," rejoined the Solitary; "I dare not +--I would not. Begone to thy dwelling. Fear nothing with which +they threaten thee. Thou hast asked my protection--thou shalt +find it effectual." + +"But, father, this very night I have consented to wed the man +that I abhor, or I must put the seal to my father's ruin." + +"This night?--at what hour?" + +"Ere midnight." + +"And twilight," said the Dwarf, "has already passed away. But +fear nothing, there is ample time to protect thee." + +"And my father?" continued Isabella, in a suppliant tone. + +"Thy father," replied the Dwarf, "has been, and is, my most +bitter enemy. But fear not; thy virtue shall save him. And now, +begone; were I to keep thee longer by me, I might again fall into +the stupid dreams concerning human worth from which I have been +so fearfully awakened. But fear nothing--at the very foot of the +altar I will redeem thee. Adieu, time presses, and I must act!" + +He led her to the door of the hut, which he opened for her +departure. She remounted her horse, which had been feeding in +the outer enclosure, and pressed him forward by the light of the +moon, which was now rising, to the spot where she had left +Ratcliffe. + +"Have you succeeded?" was his first eager question. + +"I have obtained promises from him to whom you sent me; but how +can he possibly accomplish them?" + +"Thank God!" said Ratcliffe; "doubt not his power to fulfil his +promise." + +At this moment a shrill whistle was heard to resound along the +heath. + +"Hark!" said Ratcliffe, "he calls me--Miss Vere, return home, +and leave unbolted the postern-door of the garden; to that which +opens on the back-stairs I have a private key." + +A second whistle was heard, yet more shrill and prolonged than +the first. + +"I come, I come," said Ratcliffe; and setting spurs to his horse, +rode over the heath in the direction of the Recluse's hut. Miss +Vere returned to the castle, the mettle of the animal on which +she rode, and her own anxiety of mind, combining to accelerate +her journey. + +She obeyed Ratcliffe's directions, though without well +apprehending their purpose, and leaving her horse at large in a +paddock near the garden, hurried to her own apartment, which she +reached without observation. She now unbolted her door, and rang +her bell for lights. Her father appeared along with the servant +who answered her summons. + +"He had been twice," he said, "listening at her door during the +two hours that had elapsed since he left her, and, not hearing +her speak, had become apprehensive that she was taken ill." + +"And now, my dear father," she said, "permit me to claim the +promise you so kindly gave; let the last moments of freedom which +I am to enjoy be mine without interruption; and protract to the +last moment the respite which is allowed me." + +"I will," said her father; "nor shall you be again interrupted. +But this disordered dress--this dishevelled hair--do not let me +find you thus when I call on you again; the sacrifice, to be +beneficial, must be voluntary." + +"Must it be so?" she replied; "then fear not, my father! the +victim shall be adorned." + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + This looks not like a nuptial. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. + +The chapel in the castle of Ellieslaw, destined to be the scene +of this ill-omened union, was a building of much older date than +the castle itself, though that claimed considerable antiquity. +Before the wars between England and Scotland had become so common +and of such long duration, that the buildings along both sides of +the Border were chiefly dedicated to warlike purposes, there had +been a small settlement of monks at Ellieslaw, a dependency, it +is believed by antiquaries, on the rich Abbey of Jedburgh. Their +possessions had long passed away under the changes introduced by +war and mutual ravage. A feudal castle had arisen on the ruin of +their cells, and their chapel was included in its precincts. + +The edifice, in its round arches and massive pillars, the +simplicity of which referred their date to what has been called +the Saxon architecture, presented at all times a dark and sombre +appearance, and had been frequently used as the cemetery of the +family of the feudal lords, as well as formerly of the monastic +brethren. But it looked doubly gloomy by the effect of the few +and smoky torches which were used to enlighten it on the present +occasion, and which, spreading a glare of yellow light in their +immediate vicinity, were surrounded beyond by a red and purple +halo reflected from their own smoke, and beyond that again by a +zone of darkness which magnified the extent of the chapel, while +it rendered it impossible for the eye to ascertain its limits. +Some injudicious ornaments, adopted in haste for the occasion, +rather added to the dreariness of the scene. Old fragments of +tapestry, torn from the walls of other apartments, had been +hastily and partially disposed around those of the chapel, and +mingled inconsistently with scutcheons and funeral emblems of the +dead, which they elsewhere exhibited. On each side of the stone +altar was a monument, the appearance of which formed an equally +strange contrast. On the one was the figure, in stone, of some +grim hermit, or monk, who had died in the odour of sanctity; he +was represented as recumbent, in his cowl and scapulaire, with +his face turned upward as in the act of devotion, and his hands +folded, from which his string of beads was dependent. On the +other side was a tomb, in the Italian taste, composed of the most +beautiful statuary marble, and accounted a model of modern art. +It was erected to the memory of Isabella's mother, the late Mrs. +Vere of Ellieslaw, who was represented as in a dying posture, +while a weeping cherub, with eyes averted, seemed in the act of +extinguishing a dying lamp as emblematic of her speedy +dissolution. It was, indeed, a masterpiece of art, but misplaced +in the rude vault to which it had been consigned. Many were +surprised, and even scandalized, that Ellieslaw, not remarkable +for attention to his lady while alive, should erect after her +death such a costly mausoleum in affected sorrow; others cleared +him from the imputation of hypocrisy, and averred that the +monument had been constructed under the direction and at the sole +expense of Mr. Ratcliffe. + +Before these monuments the wedding guests were assembled. They +were few in number; for many had left the castle to prepare for +the ensuing political explosion, and Ellieslaw was, in the +circumstances of the case, far from being desirous to extend +invitations farther than to those near relations whose presence +the custom of the country rendered indispensable. Next to the +altar stood Sir Frederick Langley, dark, moody, and thoughtful, +even beyond his wont, and near him, Mareschal, who was to play +the part of bridesman, as it was called. The thoughtless humour +of this young gentleman, on which he never deigned to place the +least restraint, added to the cloud which overhung the brow of +the bridegroom + +"The bride is not yet come out of her chamber," he whispered to +Sir Frederick; "I trust that we must not have recourse to the +violent expedients of the Romans which I read of at College. It +would be hard upon my pretty cousin to be run away with twice in +two days, though I know none better worth such a violent +compliment." + +Sir Frederick attempted to turn a deaf ear to this discourse, +humming a tune, and looking another may, but Mareschal proceeded +in the same wild manner. + +"This delay is hard upon Dr. Hobbler, who was disturbed to +accelerate preparations for this joyful event when he had +successfully extracted the cork of his third bottle. I hope you +will keep him free of the censure of his superiors, for I take it +this is beyond canonical hours.--But here come Ellieslaw and my +pretty cousin--prettier than ever, I think, were it not she seems +so faint and so deadly pale--Hark ye, Sir Knight, if she says not +YES with right good-will, it shall be no wedding, for all that +has come and gone yet." + +"No wedding, sir?" returned Sir Frederick, in a loud whisper, +the tone of which indicated that his angry feelings were +suppressed with difficulty. + +"No--no marriage," replied Mareschal, "there's my hand and glove +on't." + +Sir Frederick Langley took his hand, and as he wrung it hard, +said in a lower whisper, "Mareschal, you shall answer this," and +then flung his hand from him. + +"That I will readily do," said Mareschal, "for never word escaped +my lips that my hand was not ready to guarantee.- So, speak up, +my pretty cousin, and tell me if it be your free will and +unbiassed resolution to accept of this gallant knight for your +lord and husband; for if you have the tenth part of a scruple +upon the subject, fall back, fall edge, he shall not have you." + +"Are you mad, Mr. Mareschal?" said Ellieslaw, who, having been +this young man's guardian during his minority, often employed a +tone of authority to him. "Do you suppose I would drag my +daughter to the foot of the altar, were it not her own choice?" + +"Tut, Ellieslaw," retorted the young gentleman, "never tell me of +the contrary; her eyes are full of tears, and her cheeks are +whiter than her white dress. I must insist, in the name of +common humanity, that the ceremony be adjourned till to-morrow." + +"She shall tell you herself, thou incorrigible intermeddler in +what concerns thee not, that it is her wish the ceremony should +go on--Is it not, Isabella, my dear?" + +"It is," said Isabella, half fainting--"since there is no help, +either in God or man." + +The first word alone was distinctly audible. Mareschal shrugged +up his shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rather +supported, his daughter to the altar. Sir Frederick moved +forward and placed himself by her side. The clergyman opened his +prayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere for the signal to commence +the service. + +"Proceed," said the latter. + +But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife, +called, in such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in +the vaulted chapel, "Forbear!" + +All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the +clash of swords, or something resembling it, was heard from the +remote apartments. It ceased almost instantly. + +"What new device is this?" said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing +Ellieslaw and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion. + +"It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest," said +Ellieslaw, though greatly confounded; "we must make large +allowances for the excess of this evening's festivity. Proceed +with the service." + +Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they +had before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female +attendants screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid +their hands on their swords. Ere the first moment of surprise +had passed by, the Dwarf stepped from behind the monument, and +placed himself full in front of Mr. Vere. The effect of so +strange and hideous an apparition in such a place and in such +circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to annihilate the +Laird of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughter's arm, staggered +against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as if +for support, laid his brow against the column. + +"Who is this fellow?" said Sir Frederick; "and what does he mean +by this intrusion?" + +"It is one who comes to tell you," said the Dwarf, with the +peculiar acrimony which usually marked his manner, "that, in +marrying that young lady, you wed neither the heiress of +Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley Hall, nor of Polverton, nor of one +furrow of land, unless she marries with MY consent; and to thee +that consent shall never be given. Down--down on thy knees, and +thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding qualities with +which thou hast no concern--portionless truth, virtue, and +innocence--thou, base ingrate," he continued, addressing himself +to Ellieslaw, "what is thy wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who +wouldst sell thy daughter to relieve thee from danger, as in +famine thou wouldst have slain and devoured her to preserve thy +own vile life!--Ay, hide thy face with thy hands; well mayst thou +blush to look on him whose body thou didst consign to chains, his +hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. Saved once more by the +virtue of her who calls thee father, go hence, and may the pardon +and benefits I confer on thee prove literal coals of fire, till +thy brain is seared and scorched like mine!" + +Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair. + +"Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe," said the Dwarf, "and inform him +of his destiny. He will rejoice--for to breathe air and to +handle gold is to him happiness," + +"I understand nothing of all this," said Sir Frederick Langley; +"but we are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for +King James; and whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward +Mauley, who has been so long supposed dead in confinement, or +whether you be an impostor assuming his name and title, we will +use the freedom of detaining you, till your appearance here, at +this moment, is better accounted for; we will have no spies among +us--Seize on him, my friends." + +But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick +himself stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands +on his person, when his progress was suddenly stopped by the +glittering point of a partisan, which the sturdy hand of Hobbie +Elliot presented against his bosom. + +"I'll gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him!" +said the stout Borderer; "stand back, or I'll strike ye through! +Naebody shall lay a finger on Elshie; he's a canny neighbourly +man, aye ready to make a friend help; and, though ye may think +him a lamiter, yet, grippie for grippie, friend, I'll wad a +wether he'll make the bluid spin frae under your nails. He's a +teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smith's vice." + +"What has brought you here, Elliot?" said Mareschal; "who called +on you for interference?" + +"Troth, Mareschal-Wells," answered Hobbie, "I am just come here, +wi' twenty or thretty mair o' us, in my ain name and the King's +--or Queen's, ca' they her? and Canny Elshie's into the bargain, +to keep the peace, and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien +me. A bonny breakfast the loons gae me the ither morning, and +him at the bottom on't; and trow ye I wasna ready to supper him +up?--Ye needna lay your hands on your swords, gentlemen, the +house is ours wi' little din; for the doors were open, and there +had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took their swords +and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods." + +Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel. + +"By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with +armed men, and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and +let us fight our way." + +"Binna rash--binna rash," exclaimed Hobbie; "hear me a bit, hear +me a bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King +James, as ye ca' him, and the prelates, we thought it right to +keep up the auld neighbour war, and stand up for the t'other ane +and the Kirk; but we'll no hurt a hair o' your heads, if ye like +to gang hame quietly. And it will be your best way, for there's +sure news come frae Loudoun, that him they ca' Bang, or Byng, or +what is't, has bang'd the French ships and the new king aff the +coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi' auld Nanse for +want of a better Queen." + +Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts +so unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost +instantly, and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, +with such of his attendants as were able to follow him. + +"And what will you do, Mr. Mareschal?" said Ratcliffe. + +"Why, faith," answered he, smiling, "I hardly know; my spirit is +too great, and my fortune too small, for me to follow the example +of the doughty bridegroom. It is not in my nature, and it is +hardly worth my while." + +"Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will +be overlooked, as there has been no overt act." + +"Hout, ay," said Elliot, "just let byganes be byganes, and a' +friends again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I +hae gien him baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed +three blows of the broadsword wi' him before he lap the window +into the castle-moat, and swattered through it like a wild-duck. +He's a clever fallow, indeed! maun kilt awa wi' ae bonny lass in +the morning, and another at night, less wadna serve him! but if +he disna kilt himsell out o' the country, I'se kilt him wi' a +tow, for the Castleton meeting's clean blawn ower; his friends +will no countenance him." + +During the general confusion, Isabella had thrown herself at the +feet of her kinsman, Sir Edward Mauley, for so we must now call +the Solitary, to express at once her gratitude, and to beseech +forgiveness for her father. The eyes of all began to be fixed on +them, as soon as their own agitation and the bustle of the +attendants had somewhat abated. Miss Vere kneeled beside the +tomb of her mother, to whose statue her features exhibited a +marked resemblance. She held the hand of the Dwarf, which she +kissed repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and +motionless, excepting that his eyes glanced alternately on the +marble figure and the living suppliant. At length, the large +drops which gathered on his eye-lashes compelled him to draw his +hand across them. + +"I thought," he said, "that tears and I had done; but we shed +them at our birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our +graves. But no melting of the heart shall dissolve my +resolution. I part here, at once, and for ever, with all of +which the memory" (looking to the tomb), "or the presence" (he +pressed Isabella's hand), "is dear to me.--Speak not to me! +attempt not to thwart my determination! it will avail nothing; +you will hear of and see this lump of deformity no more. To you +I shall be dead ere I am actually in my grave, and you will think +of me as of a friend disencumbered from the toils and crimes of +existence." + +He kissed Isabella on the forehead, impressed another kiss on the +brow of the statue by which she knelt, and left the chapel +followed by Ratcliffe. Isabella, almost exhausted by the +emotions of the day, was carried to her apartment by her women. +Most of the other guests dispersed, after having separately +endeavoured to impress on all who would listen to them their +disapprobation of the plots formed against the government, or +their regret for having engaged in them. Hobbie Elliot assumed +the command of the castle for the night, and mounted a regular +guard. He boasted not a little of the alacrity with which his +friends and he had obeyed a hasty summons received from Elshie +through the faithful Ratcliffe. And it was a lucky chance, he +said, that on that very day they had got notice that Westburnflat +did not intend to keep his tryste at Castleton, but to hold them +at defiance; so that a considerable party had assembled at the +Heugh-foot, with the intention of paying a visit to the robber's +tower on the ensuing morning, and their course was easily +directed to Ellieslaw Castle. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +--Last scene of all, +To close this strange eventful history. AS YOU LIKE IT. + +On the next morning, Mr. Ratcliffe presented Miss Vere with a +letter from her father, of which the following is the tenor:-- + +"MY DEAREST CHILD, +The malice of a persecuting government will compel me, for my own +safety, to retreat abroad, and to remain for some time in foreign +parts. I do not ask you to accompany, or follow me; you will +attend to my interest and your own more effectually by remaining +where you are. It is unnecessary to enter into a minute detail +concerning the causes of the strange events which yesterday took +place. I think I have reason to complain of the usage I have +received from Sir Edward Mauley, who is your nearest kinsman by +the mother's side; but as he has declared you his heir, and is to +put you in immediate possession of a large part of his fortune, I +account it a full atonement. I am aware he has never forgiven +the preference which your mother gave to my addresses, instead of +complying with the terms of a sort of family compact, which +absurdly and tyrannically destined her to wed her deformed +relative. The shock was even sufficient to unsettle his wits +(which, indeed, were never over-well arranged), and I had, as the +husband of his nearest kinswoman and heir, the delicate task of +taking care of his person and property, until he was reinstated +in the management of the latter by those who, no doubt, thought +they were doing him justice; although, if some parts of his +subsequent conduct be examined, it will appear that he ought, for +his own sake, to have been left under the influence of a mild and +salutary restraint. + +"In one particular, however, he showed a sense of the ties of +blood, as well as of his own frailty; for while he sequestered +himself closely from the world, under various names and +disguises, and insisted on spreading a report of his own death +(in which to gratify him I willingly acquiesced), he left at my +disposal the rents of a great proportion of his estates, and +especially all those, which, having belonged to your mother, +reverted to him as a male fief. In this he may have thought that +he was acting with extreme generosity, while, in the opinion of +all impartial men, he will only be considered as having fulfilled +a natural obligation, seeing that, in justice, if not in strict +law, you must be considered as the heir of your mother, and I as +your legal administrator. Instead, therefore, of considering +myself as loaded with obligations to Sir Edward on this account, +I think I had reason to complain that these remittances were only +doled out to me at the pleasure of Mr. Ratcliffe, who, moreover, +exacted from me mortgages over my paternal estate of Ellieslaw +for any sums which I required as an extra advance; and thus may +be said to have insinuated himself into the absolute management +and control of my property. Or, if all this seeming friendship +was employed by Sir Edward for the purpose of obtaining a +complete command of my affairs, and acquiring the power of +ruining me at his pleasure, I feel myself, I must repeat, still +less bound by the alleged obligation. + +"About the autumn of last year, as I understand, either his own +crazed imagination, or the accomplishment of some such scheme as +I have hinted, brought him down to this country. His alleged +motive, it seems, was a desire of seeing a monument which he had +directed to be raised in the chapel over the tomb of your mother. +Mr. Ratcliffe, who at this time had done me the honour to make my +house his own, had the complaisance to introduce him secretly +into the chapel. The consequence, as he informs me, was a frenzy +of several hours, during which he fled into the neighbouring +moors, in one of the wildest spots of which he chose, when he was +somewhat recovered, to fix his mansion, and set up for a sort of +country empiric, a character which, even in his best days, he was +fond of assuming. It is remarkable, that, instead of informing +me of these circumstances, that I might have had the relative of +my late wife taken such care of as his calamitous condition +required, Mr. Ratcliffe seems to have had such culpable +indulgence for his irregular plans as to promise and even swear +secrecy concerning them. He visited Sir Edward often, and +assisted in the fantastic task he had taken upon him of +constructing a hermitage. Nothing they appear to have dreaded +more than a discovery of their intercourse. + +"The ground was open in every direction around, and a small +subterranean cave, probably sepulchral, which their researches +had detected near the great granite pillar, served to conceal +Ratcliffe, when any one approached his master. I think you will +be of opinion, my love, that this secrecy must have had some +strong motive. It is also remarkable, that while I thought my +unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of La Trappe, he +should have been actually living, for many months, in this +bizarre disguise, within five miles of my house, and obtaining +regular information of my most private movements, either by +Ratcliffe, or through Westburnflat or others, whom he had the +means to bribe to any extent. He makes it a crime against me +that I endeavoured to establish your marriage with Sir Frederick. +I acted for the best; but if Sir Edward Mauley thought otherwise, +why did he not step manfully forward, express his own purpose of +becoming a party to the settlements, and take that interest which +he is entitled to claim in you as heir to his great property? + +"Even now, though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat +tardy in announcing his purpose, I am far from opposing my +authority against his wishes, although the person he desires you +to regard as your future husband be young Earnscliff; the very +last whom I should have thought likely to be acceptable to him, +considering a certain fatal event. But I give my free and hearty +consent, providing the settlements are drawn in such an +irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by that +state of dependence, and that sudden and causeless revocation of +allowances, of which I have so much reason to complain. Of Sir +Frederick Langley, I augur, you will hear no more. He is not +likely to claim the hand of a dowerless maiden. I therefore +commit you, my dear Isabella, to the wisdom of Providence and to +your own prudence, begging you to lose no time in securing those +advantages, which the fickleness of your kinsman has withdrawn +from me to shower upon you. + +"Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edward's intention to settle a +considerable sum upon me yearly, for my maintenance in foreign +parts; but this my heart is too proud to accept from him. I told +him I had a dear child, who, while in affluence herself, would +never suffer me to be in poverty. I thought it right to intimate +this to him pretty roundly, that whatever increase be settled +upon you, it may be calculated so as to cover this necessary and +natural encumbrance. I shall willingly settle upon you the +castle and manor of Ellieslaw, to show my parental affection and +disinterested zeal for promoting your settlement in life. The +annual interest of debts charged on the estate somewhat exceeds +the income, even after a reasonable rent has been put upon the +mansion and mains. But as all the debts are in the person of Mr. +Ratcliffe, as your kinsman's trustee, he will not be a +troublesome creditor. And here I must make you aware, that +though I have to complain of Mr. Ratcliffe's conduct to me +personally, I, nevertheless, believe him a just and upright man, +with whom you may safely consult on your affairs, not to mention +that to cherish his good opinion will be the best way to retain +that of your kinsman. Remember me to Marchie--I hope he will not +be troubled on account of late matters. I will write more fully +from the Continent. Meanwhile, I rest your loving father, +RICHARD VERE." + +The above letter throws the only additional light which we have +been able to procure upon the earlier part of our story. It was +Hobbie's opinion, and may be that of most of our readers,that the +Recluse of Mucklestane-Moor had but a kind of a gleaming, or +twilight understanding; and that he had neither very clear views +as to what he himself wanted, nor was apt to pursue his ends by +the clearest and most direct means; so that to seek the clew of +his conduct, was likened, by Hobbie, to looking for a straight +path through a common, over which are a hundred devious tracks, +but not one distinct line of road. + +When Isabella had perused the letter, her first enquiry was after +her father. He had left the castle, she was informed, early in +the morning, after a long interview with Mr. Ratcliffe, and was +already far on his way to the next port, where he might expect to +find shipping for the Continent. + +"Where was Sir Edward Mauley?" + +No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the +preceding evening. + +"Odd, if onything has befa'en puir Elshie," said Hobbie Elliot, +"I wad rather I were harried ower again." + +He immediately rode to his dwelling, and the remaining she-goat +came bleating to meet him, for her milking time was long past. +The Solitary was nowhere to be seen; his door, contrary to wont, +was open, his fire extinguished, and the whole hut was left in +the state which it exhibited on Isabella's visit to him. It was +pretty clear that the means of conveyance which had brought the +Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding evening, had removed him from +it to some other place of abode. Hobbie returned disconsolate to +the castle. + +"I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an' a'." + +"You have indeed," said Ratcliffe, producing a paper, which he +put into Hobbie's hands; "but read that, and you will perceive +you have been no loser by having known him." + +It was a short deed of gift, by which "Sir Edward Mauley, +otherwise called Elshender the Recluse, endowed Halbert or Hobbie +Elliot, and Grace Armstrong, in full property, with a +considerable sum borrowed by Elliot from him." + +Hobbie's joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down +his rough cheeks. + +"It's a queer thing," he said; "but I canna joy in the gear, +unless I kend the puir body was happy that gave it me." + +"Next to enjoying happiness ourselves," said Ratcliffe, "is the +consciousness of having bestowed it on others. Had all my +master's benefits been conferred like the present, what a +different return would they have produced! But the +indiscriminate profusion that would glut avarice, or supply +prodigality, neither does good, nor is rewarded by gratitude. It +is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind." + +"And that wad be a light har'st," said Hobbie; "but, wi' my young +leddie's leave, I wad fain take down Eishie's skeps o' bees, and +set them in Grace's bit flower yard at the Heugh-foot--they shall +ne'er be smeekit by ony o' huz. And the puir goat, she would be +negleckit about a great toun like this; and she could feed +bonnily on our lily lea by the burn side, and the hounds wad ken +her in a day's time, and never fash her, and Grace wad milk her +ilka morning wi' her ain hand, for Elshie's sake; for though he +was thrawn and cankered in his converse, he likeit dumb creatures +weel." + +Hobbie's requests were readily granted, not without some wonder +at the natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this +mode of displaying his gratitude. He was delighted when +Ratcliffe informed him that his benefactor should not remain +ignorant of the care which he took of his favourite. + +"And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties, and, +abune a', Grace and mysell, are weel and thriving, and that it's +a' his doing--that canna but please him, ane wad think." + +And Elliot and the family at Heugh-foot were, and continued to +be, as fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty, tenderness, +and gallantry so well merited. + +All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now +removed, and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part +of Sir Edward Mauley, might have satisfied the cupidity of +Ellieslaw himself. But Miss Vere and Ratcliffe thought it +unnecessary to mention to Earnscliff that one great motive of Sir +Edward, in thus loading the young pair with benefits, was to +expiate his having, many years before, shed the blood of his +father in a hasty brawl. If it be true, as Ratcliffe asserted, +that the Dwarf's extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat, +under the consciousness of having diffused happiness among so +many, the recollection of this circumstance might probably be one +of his chief motives for refusing obstinately ever to witness +their state of contentment. + +Mareschal hunted, shot, and drank claret--tired of the country, +went abroad, served three campaigns, came home, and married Lucy +Ilderton. + +Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife, and found +and left them contented and happy. The scheming ambition of Sir +Frederick Langley engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of +1715. He was made prisoner at Preston, in Lancashire, with the +Earl of Derwentwater, and others. His defence, and the dying +speech which he made at his execution, may be found in the State +Trials. Mr. Vere, supplied by his daughter with an ample income, +continued to reside abroad, engaged deeply in the affair of Law's +bank during the regency 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 end--drank brandy with the +neighbours, whom, in his younger days, he had plundered--died 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. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Black Dwarf, by Walter Scott + diff --git a/old/old/bdwrf10.zip b/old/old/bdwrf10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..da44c87 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/bdwrf10.zip |