the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第25节
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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。
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THE BLACK DWARF
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 lavethe
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…footWae'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 corpand 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
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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？〃
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〃It wasit 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；
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〃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 r
