the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第37章
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poverty。 I thought it right to intimate this to him pretty roundly； that
whatever increase be settled upon you； it may be calculated so as to cover
this necessary and natural encumbrance。 I shall willingly settle upon you
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the castle and manor of Ellieslaw； to show my parental affection and
disinterested zeal for promoting your settlement in life。 The annual
interest of debts charged on the estate somewhat exceeds the income； even
after a reasonable rent has been put upon the mansion and mains。 But as
all the debts are in the person of Mr。 Ratcliffe； as your kinsman's trustee；
he will not be a troublesome creditor。 And here I must make you aware；
that though I have to complain of Mr。 Ratcliffe's conduct to me personally；
I； nevertheless； believe him a just and upright man； with whom you may
safely consult on your affairs； not to mention that to cherish his good
opinion will be the best way to retain that of your kinsman。 Remember
me to MarchieI hope he will not be troubled on account of late matters。
I will write more fully from the Continent。 Meanwhile； I rest your loving
father； RICHARD VERE。〃
The above letter throws the only additional light which we have been
able to procure upon the earlier part of our story。 It was Hobbie's opinion；
and may be that of most of our readers；that the Recluse of Mucklestane…
Moor had but a kind of a gleaming； or twilight understanding； and that he
had neither very clear views as to what he himself wanted； nor was apt to
pursue his ends by the clearest and most direct means； so that to seek the
clew of his conduct； was likened； by Hobbie； to looking for a straight path
through a common； over which are a hundred devious tracks； but not one
distinct line of road。
When Isabella had perused the letter； her first enquiry was after her
father。 He had left the castle； she was informed； early in the morning；
after a long interview with Mr。 Ratcliffe； and was already far on his way to
the next port； where he might expect to find shipping for the Continent。
〃Where was Sir Edward Mauley？〃
No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the preceding
evening。
〃Odd； if onything has befa'en puir Elshie；〃 said Hobbie Elliot； 〃I wad
rather I were harried ower again。〃
He immediately rode to his dwelling； and the remaining she…goat came
bleating to meet him； for her milking time was long past。 The Solitary was
nowhere to be seen； his door； contrary to wont； was open； his fire
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extinguished； and the whole hut was left in the state which it exhibited on
Isabella's visit to him。 It was pretty clear that the means of conveyance
which had brought the Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding evening； had
removed him from it to some other place of abode。 Hobbie returned
disconsolate to the castle。
〃I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an' a'。〃
〃You have indeed；〃 said Ratcliffe； producing a paper； which he put
into Hobbie's hands； 〃but read that； and you will perceive you have been
no loser by having known him。〃
It was a short deed of gift； by which 〃Sir Edward Mauley； otherwise
called Elshender the Recluse； endowed Halbert or Hobbie Elliot； and
Grace Armstrong； in full property； with a considerable sum borrowed by
Elliot from him。〃
Hobbie's joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down his
rough cheeks。
〃It's a queer thing；〃 he said； 〃but I canna joy in the gear； unless I kend
the puir body was happy that gave it me。〃
〃Next to enjoying happiness ourselves；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃is the
consciousness of having bestowed it on others。 Had all my master's
benefits been conferred like the present； what a different return would they
have produced！ But the indiscriminate profusion that would glut avarice；
or supply prodigality； neither does good； nor is rewarded by gratitude。 It is
sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind。〃
〃And that wad be a light har'st；〃 said Hobbie； 〃but； wi' my young
leddie's leave； I wad fain take down Eishie's skeps o' bees； and set them in
Grace's bit flower yard at the Heugh…footthey shall ne'er be smeekit by
ony o' huz。 And the puir goat； she would be negleckit about a great toun
like this； and she could feed bonnily on our lily lea by the burn side； and
the hounds wad ken her in a day's time； and never fash her； and Grace wad
milk her ilka morning wi' her ain hand； for Elshie's sake； for though he
was thrawn and cankered in his converse； he likeit dumb creatures weel。〃
Hobbie's requests were readily granted； not without some wonder at
the natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this mode of
displaying his gratitude。 He was delighted when Ratcliffe informed him
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that his benefactor should not remain ignorant of the care which he took of
his favourite。
〃And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties； and； abune
a'； Grace and mysell； are weel and thriving； and that it's a' his doingthat
canna but please him； ane wad think。〃
And Elliot and the family at Heugh…foot were； and continued to be； as
fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty； tenderness； and gallantry so
well merited。
All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now
removed； and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part of Sir
Edward Mauley； might have satisfied the cupidity of Ellieslaw himself。
But Miss Vere and Ratcliffe thought it unnecessary to mention to
Earnscliff that one great motive of Sir Edward； in thus loading the young
pair with benefits； was to expiate his having； many years before； shed the
blood of his father in a hasty brawl。 If it be true； as Ratcliffe asserted； that
the Dwarf's extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat； under the
consciousness of having diffused happiness among so many； the
recollection of this circumstance might probably be one of his chief
motives for refusing obstinately ever to witness their state of contentment。
Mareschal hunted； shot； and drank clarettired of the country； went
abroad； served three campaigns； came home； and married Lucy Ilderton。
Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife； and found and left
them contented and happy。 The scheming ambition of Sir Frederick
Langley engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of 1715。 He was
made prisoner at Preston； in Lancashire； with the Earl of Derwentwater；
and others。 His defence； and the dying speech which he made at his
execution； may be found in the State Trials。 Mr。 Vere； supplied by his
daughter with an ample income； continued to reside abroad； engaged
deeply in the affair of Law's bank during the regency of the Duke of
Orleans； and was at one time supposed to be immensely rich。 But； on the
bursting of that famous bubble； he was so much chagrined at being again
reduced to a moderate annuity （although he saw thousands of his
companions in misfortune absolutely starving）； that vexation of mind
brought on a paralytic stroke； of which he died； after lingering under its
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effects a few weeks。
Willie of Westburnflat fled from the wrath of Hobbie Elliot； as his
betters did from the pursuit of the law。 His patriotism urged him to serve
his country abroad； while his reluctance to leave his native soil pressed
him rather to remain in the beloved island； and collect purses； watches；
and rings on the highroads at home。 Fortunately for him； the first
impulse prevailed； and he joined the army under Marlborough； obtained a
commission to which he was recommended by his services in collecting
cattle for the commissariat； returned home after many years； with some
money （how come by Heaven only knows）；demolished the peel…house at
Westburnflat； and built； in its stead； a high narrow ONSTEAD； of three
stories； with a chimney at each enddrank brandy with the neighbours；
whom； in his younger days； he had plundereddied in his bed； and is
recorded upon his tombstone at Kirkwhistle （still extant）； as having played
all the parts of a brave soldier； a discreet neighbour； and a sincere
Christian。
Mr。 Ratcliffe resided usually with the family at Ellieslaw； but regularly
every spring and autumn he absented himself for about a month。 On the
direction and purpose of his periodical journey he remained steadily silent；
but it was well understood that he was then in attendance on his
unfortunate patron。 At length； on his return from one of these visits； his
grave countenance； and deep mourning dress； announced to the Ellieslaw
family that their benefactor was no more。 Sir Edward's death made no
addition to their fortune； for he had divested himself of his property during
his lifetime； and chiefly in their favour。 Ratcliffe； his sole confidant； died
at a good old age； but without ever naming the place to which his master
had finally retired； or the manner of his death； or the place of his burial。
It was supposed that on all these particulars his patron had enjoined him
strict secrecy。
The sudden disappearance of Elshie from his extraordinary hermitage
corroborated the reports which the common people had spread concerning
him。 Many believed that； having ventured to en
