the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第23章
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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 relieved his benefactor of his presence； and rode blithely
home to display his treasure； and consult upon the means of repairing the
damage which his fortune had sustained through the aggression of the Red
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Reiver of Westburnflat。
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CHAPTER XI。
Three ruffians seized me yester morn； Alas！ a maiden most
forlorn； They choked my cries with wicked might； And bound me on a
palfrey white： As sure as Heaven shall pity me； I cannot tell what men
they be。 CHRISTABELLE。
The course of our story must here revert a little； to detail the
circumstances which had placed Miss Vere in the unpleasant situation
from which she was unexpectedly； and indeed unintentionally liberated； by
the appearance of Earnscliff and Elliot； with their friends and followers；
before the Tower of Westburnflat。
On the morning preceding the night in which Hobbie's house was
plundered and burnt； Miss Vere was requested by her father to accompany
him in a walk through a distant part of the romantic grounds which lay
round his castle of Ellieslaw。 〃To hear was to obey；〃 in the true style of
Oriental despotism； but Isabella trembled in silence while she followed her
father through rough paths； now winding by the side of the river； now
ascending the cliffs which serve for its banks。 A single servant； selected
perhaps for his stupidity； was the only person who attended them。 From
her father's silence； Isabella little doubted that he had chosen this distant
and sequestered scene to resume the argument which they had so
frequently maintained upon the subject of Sir Frederick's addresses； and
that he was meditating in what manner he should most effectually impress
upon her the necessity of receiving him as her suitor。 But her fears
seemed for some time to be unfounded。 The only sentences which her
father from time to time addressed to her； respected the beauties of the
romantic landscape through which they strolled； and which varied its
features at every step。 To these observations； although they seemed to
come from a heart occupied by more gloomy as well as more important
cares； Isabella endeavoured to answer in a manner as free and
unconstrained as it was possible for her to assume； amid the involuntary
apprehensions which crowded upon her imagination。
Sustaining with mutual difficulty a desultory conversation； they at
length gained the centre of a small wood； composed of large oaks；
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intermingled with birches； mountain…ashes； hazel； holly； and a variety of
underwood。 The boughs of the tall trees met closely above； and the
underwood filled up each interval between their trunks below。 The spot
on which they stood was rather more open； still； however； embowered
under the natural arcade of tall trees； and darkened on the sides for a space
around by a great and lively growth of copse…wood and bushes。
〃And here； Isabella；〃 said Mr。 Vere； as he pursued the conversation； so
often resumed； so often dropped； 〃here I would erect an altar to
Friendship。〃
〃To Friendship； sir！〃 said Miss Vere； 〃and why on this gloomy and
sequestered spot； rather than elsewhere？〃
〃O； the propriety of the LOCALE is easily vindicated；〃 replied her
father； with a sneer。 〃You know； Miss Vere （for you； I am well aware； are
a learned young lady）； you know； that the Romans were not satisfied with
embodying； for the purpose of worship； each useful quality and moral
virtue to which they could give a name； but they； moreover； worshipped
the same under each variety of titles and attributes which could give a
distinct shade； or individual character； to the virtue in question。 Now； for
example； the Friendship to whom a temple should be here dedicated； is not
Masculine Friendship； which abhors and despises duplicity； art； and
disguise； but Female Friendship； which consists in little else than a mutual
disposition on the part of the friends； as they call themselves； to abet each
other in obscure fraud and petty intrigue。〃
〃You are severe； sir；〃 said Miss Vere。
〃Only just；〃 said her father； 〃a humble copier I am from nature； with
the advantage of contemplating two such excellent studies as Lucy
Ilderton and yourself。〃
〃If I have been unfortunate enough to offend； sir； I can conscientiously
excuse Miss Ilderton from being either my counsellor or confidante。〃
〃Indeed！ how came you； then；〃 said Mr。 Vere； 〃by the flippancy of
speech； and pertness of argument； by which you have disgusted Sir
Frederick； and given me of late such deep offence？〃
〃If my manner has been so unfortunate as to displease you； sir； it is
impossible for me to apologize too deeply； or too sincerely； but I cannot
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confess the same contrition for having answered Sir Frederick flippantly
when he pressed me rudely。 Since he forgot I was a lady； it was time to
show him that I am at least a woman。〃
〃Reserve； then； your pertness for those who press you on the topic；
Isabella；〃 said her father coldly； 〃for my part； I am weary of the subject；
and will never speak upon it again。〃
〃God bless you； my dear father；〃 said Isabella； seizing his reluctant
hand 〃there is nothing you can impose on me； save the task of listening to
this man's persecution； that I will call； or think； a hardship。〃
〃You are very obliging； Miss Vere； when it happens to suit you to be
dutiful；〃 said her unrelenting father； forcing himself at the same time from
the affectionate grasp of her hand； 〃but henceforward； child； I shall save
myself the trouble of offering you unpleasant advice on any topic。 You
must look to yourself。〃
At this moment four ruffians rushed upon them。 Mr。 Vere and his
servant drew their hangers； which it was the fashion of the time to wear；
and attempted to defend themselves and protect Isabella。 But while each of
them was engaged by an antagonist； she was forced into the thicket by the
two remaining villains； who placed her and themselves on horses which
stood ready behind the copse… wood。 They mounted at the same time；
and； placing her between them； set of at a round gallop； holding the reins
of her horse on each side。 By many an obscure and winding path； over
dale and down； through moss and moor； she was conveyed to the tower of
Westburnflat； where she remained strictly watched； but not otherwise ill…
treated； under the guardianship of the old woman； to whose son that retreat
belonged。 No entreaties could prevail upon the hag to give Miss Vere
any information on the object of her being carried forcibly off； and
confined in this secluded place。 The arrival of Earnscliff； with a strong
party of horsemen； before the tower； alarmed the robber。 As he had
already directed Grace Armstrong to be restored to her friends； it did not
occur to him that this unwelcome visit was on her account； and seeing at
the head of the party； Earnscliff； whose attachment to Miss Vere was
whispered in the country； he doubted not that her liberation was the sole
object of the attack upon his fastness。 The dread of personal
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consequences compelled him to deliver up his prisoner in the manner we
have already related。
At the moment the tramp of horses was heard which carried off the
daughter of Ellieslaw； her father fell to the earth； and his servant； a stout
young fellow； who was gaining ground on the ruffian with whom he had
been engaged； left the combat to come to his master's assistance； little
doubting that he had received a mortal wound； Both the villains
immediately desisted from farther combat； and； retreating into the thicket；
mounted their horses； and went off at full speed after their companions。
Meantime； Dixon had the satisfaction to find Mr。 Vere not only alive； but
unwounded。 He had overreached himself； and stumbled； it seemed； over
the root of a tree； in making too eager a blow at his antagonist。 The
despair he felt at his daughter's disappearance； was； in Dixon's phrase；
such as would have melted the heart of
