the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第9节
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THE BLACK DWARF
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 lodgingit 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 methe sound of pour human
voices goes through my ears like sharp bodkins〃
〃Lord safe us！〃 whispered Hobbie； 〃that the dead should bear sie
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THE BLACK DWARF
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…wordthat noose for
woodcocksthat common disguise for man…trapsthat 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 situationyou 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
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THE BLACK DWARF
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 thingand
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 bitYe 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；
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and ane's at Moss… phadraig； that's our led farmhe 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 IGrace 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 gottenwill ye
tell meno 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 weelNow； 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 Edin
