按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
land 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 hershe'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 duneane 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 uninjuredwha 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 headthe 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 forwardgang na forwardit'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； Annaplewhere is my grandmothermy 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 ruinedruined to the ground！But curse on the warld's gearHad it not been the week before the bridalBut 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 slaythey 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？〃