the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第4节
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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Scottish glen thirty years back； the fear of sorcery was very much out of
date。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
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THE BLACK DWARF
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
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THE BLACK DWARF
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。
*
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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 leav
