the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第27节
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〃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
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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 handlord forgie me for saying sic a word！It keeps its grund；
be what it likeI'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
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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 thatand then my grandame's auld
and my sisters wad sit peengin' at the ingle…side for want o' me to ding
them aboutand Earnscliff； or the neighbourhood； or maybe your ainsell；
Elshie； might want some good turn that Hob Elliot could do yeand it's a
pity that the auld house o' the Heugh…foot should be wrecked a'thegither。
Sae I was thinkingbut 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 wiltdo 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
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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 reli
