the black dwarf-第13节

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〃O；　no！〃　　said　Miss　Ilderton；　〃Nancy；　though　an　excellent　good　girl；　and　fondly　attached　to　you；　would　make　a　dull　conspirator　as　dull　as　Renault　and　all　the　other　subordinate　plotters　in　VENICE　PRESERVED。　　No；　this　is　a　Jaffier；　or　Pierre；　if　you　like　the　character　better；　and　yet　though　I　know　I　shall　please　you；　I　am　afraid　to　mention　his　name　to　you；　lest　I　vex　you　at　the　same　time。　　Can　you　not　guess？　　Something　about　an　eagle　and　a　rock　it　does　not　begin　with　eagle　in　English；　but　something　very　like　it　in　Scotch。〃

〃You　cannot　mean　young　Earnscliff；　Lucy？〃　　said　Miss　Vere；　blushing　deeply。

〃And　whom　else　should　I　mean〃　said　Lucy。　　〃Jaffiers　and　Pierres　are　very　scarce　in　this　country；　I　take　it；　though　one　could　find　Renaults　and　Bedamars　enow。〃

〃How　call　you　talk　so　wildly；　Lucy？　　Your　plays　and　romances　have　positively　turned　your　brain。　　You　know；　that；　independent　of　my　father's　consent；　without　which　I　never　will　marry　any　one；　and　which；　in　the　case　you　point　at；　would　never　be　granted；　independent；　too；　of　our　knowing　nothing　of　young　Earnscliff's　inclinations；　but　by　your　own　vivid　conjectures　and　fancies　besides　all　this；　there　is　the　fatal　brawl！〃

〃When　his　father　was　killed？〃　　said　Lucy。　　〃But　that　was　very　long　ago；　and　I　hope　we　have　outlived　the　time　of　bloody　feud；　when　a　quarrel　was　carried　down　between　two　families　from　father　to　son；　like　a　Spanish　game　at　chess；　and　a　murder　or　two　committed　in　every　generation；　just　to　keep　the　matter　from　going　to　sleep。　　We　do　with　our　quarrels　nowadays　as　with　our　clothes；　cut　them　out　for　ourselves；　and　wear　them　out　in　our　own　day；　and　should　no　more　think　of　resenting　our　fathers'　feuds；　than　of　wearing　their　slashed　doublets　and　trunk…hose。〃

〃You　treat　this　far　too　lightly；　Lucy；〃　answered　Miss　Vere。

〃Not　a　bit；　my　dear　Isabella；〃　said　Lucy。　　〃Consider；　your　father；　though　present　in　the　unhappy　affray；　is　never　supposed　to　have　struck　the　fatal　blow；　besides；　in　former　times；　in　case　of　mutual　slaughter　between　clans；　subsequent　alliances　were　so　far　from　being　excluded；　that　the　hand　of　a　daughter　or　a　sister　was　the　most　frequent　gage　of　reconciliation。　　You　laugh　at　my　skill　in　romance；　but；　I　assure　you；　should　your　history　be　written；　like　that　of　many　a　less　distressed　and　less　deserving　heroine；　the　well…judging　reader　would　set　you　down　for　the　lady　and　the　love　of　Earnscliff；　from　the　very　obstacle　which　you　suppose　so　insurmountable。〃

〃But　these　are　not　the　days　of　romance；　but　of　sad　reality；　for　there　stands　the　castle　of　Ellieslaw。〃

〃And　there　stands　Sir　Frederick　Langley　at　the　gate；　waiting　to　assist　the　ladies　from　their　palfreys。　　I　would　as　lief　touch　a　toad；　I　will　disappoint　him；　and　take　old　Horsington　the　groom　for　my　master　of　the　horse。〃

So　saying；　the　lively　young　lady　switched　her　palfrey　forward；　and　passing　Sir　Frederick　with　a　familiar　nod　as　he　stood　ready　to　take　her　horse's　rein；　she　cantered　on；　and　jumped　into　the　arms　of　the　old　groom。　　Fain　would　Isabella　have　done　the　same　had　she　dared；　but　her　father　stood　near；　displeasure　already　darkening　on　a　countenance　peculiarly　qualified　to　express　the　harsher　passions；　and　she　was　compelled　to　receive　the　unwelcome　assiduities　of　her　detested　suitor。



CHAPTER　VI。

　Let　not　us　that　are　squires　of　the　night's　body　be　called　　thieves　of　the　day's　booty；　let　us　be　Diana's　foresters；　　gentlemen　of　the　shade；　minions　of　the　moon。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HENRY　THE　FOURTH；　PART　I。

The　Solitary　had　consumed　the　remainder　of　that　day　in　which　he　had　the　interview　with　the　young　ladies；　within　the　precincts　of　his　garden。　　Evening　again　found　him　seated　on　his　favourite　stone。　　The　sun　setting　red；　and　among　seas　of　rolling　clouds；　threw　a　gloomy　lustre　over　the　moor；　and　gave　a　deeper　purple　to　the　broad　outline　of　heathy　mountains　which　surrounded　this　desolate　spot。　　The　Dwarf　sate　watching　the　clouds　as　they　lowered　above　each　other　in　masses　of　conglomerated　vapours；　and；　as　a　strong　lurid　beam　of　the　sinking　luminary　darted　full　on　his　solitary　and　uncouth　figure；　he　might　well　have　seemed　the　demon　of　the　storm　which　was　gathering；　or　some　gnome　summoned　forth　from　the　recesses　of　the　earth　by　the　subterranean　signals　of　its　approach。　　As　he　sate　thus；　with　his　dark　eye　turned　towards　the　scowling　and　blackening　heaven；　a　horseman　rode　rapidly　up　to　him；　and　stopping；　as　if　to　let　his　horse　breathe　for　an　instant；　made　a　sort　of　obeisance　to　the　anchoret；　with　an　air　betwixt　effrontery　and　embarrassment。

The　figure　of　the　rider　was　thin；　tall；　and　slender；　but　remarkably　athletic；　bony；　and　sinewy；　like　one　who　had　all　his　life　followed　those　violent　exercises　which　prevent　the　human　form　from　increasing　in　bulk；　while　they　harden　and　confirm　by　habit　its　muscular　powers。　　His　face；　sharp…featured；　sun…burnt；　and　freckled；　had　a　sinister　expression　of　violence；　impudence；　and　cunning；　each　of　which　seemed　alternately　to　predominate　over　the　others。　　Sandy…coloured　hair；　and　reddish　eyebrows；　from　under　which　looked　forth　his　sharp　grey　eyes；　completed　the　inauspicious　outline　of　the　horseman's　physiognomy。　　He　had　pistols　in　his　holsters；　and　another　pair　peeped　from　his　belt；　though　he　had　taken　some　pains　to　conceal　them　by　buttoning　his　doublet。　　He　wore　a　rusted　steel　head　piece；　a　buff　jacket　of　rather　an　antique　cast；　gloves；　of　which　that　for　the　right　hand　was　covered　with　small　scales　of　iron；　like　an　ancient　gauntlet；　and　a　long　broadsword　completed　his　equipage。

〃So；〃　said　the　Dwarf；〃　rapine　and　murder　once　more　on　horseback。〃

〃On　horseback？〃　　said　the　bandit；　〃ay；　ay；　Elshie；　your　leech…　craft　has　set　me　on　the　bonny　bay　again。〃

〃And　all　those　promises　of　amendment　which　you　made　during　your　illness　forgotten？〃　　continued　Elshender。

〃All　clear　away；　with　the　water…saps　and　panada；〃　returned　the　unabashed　convalescent。　　〃Ye　ken；　Elshie；　for　they　say　ye　are　weel　acquent　wi'　the　gentleman；

　〃When　the　devil　was　sick；　the　devil　a　monk　would　be；　　　When　the　devil　was　well；　the　devil　a　monk　was　he。〃

〃Thou　say'st　true；〃　said　the　Solitary；　〃as　well　divide　a　wolf　from　his　appetite　for　carnage；　or　a　raven　from　her　scent　of　slaughter；　as　thee　from　thy　accursed　propensities。〃

〃Why；　what　would　you　have　me　to　do？　　It's　born　with　melies　in　my　very　blude　and　bane。　　Why；　man；　the　lads　of　Westburnflat；　for　ten　lang　descents；　have　been　reivers　and　lifters。　　They　have　all　drunk　hard；　lived　high；　taking　deep　revenge　for　light　offence；　and　never　wanted　gear　for　the　winning。〃

〃Right；　and　thou　art　as　thorough…bred　a　wolf；〃　said　the　Dwarf；　〃as　ever　leapt　a　lamb…fold　at　night。　　On　what　hell's　errand　art　thou　bound　now？〃

〃Can　your　skill　not　guess？〃

〃Thus　far　I　know；〃　said　the　Dwarf；　〃that　thy　purpose　is　bad；　thy　deed　will　be　worse；；　and　the　issue　worst　of　all。〃

〃And　you　like　me　the　better　for　it；　Father　Elshie；　eh？〃　　said　Westburnflat；　〃you　always　said　you　did。〃

〃I　have　cause　to　like　all；〃　answered　the　Solitary；　〃that　are　scourges　to　their　fellow…creatures；　and　thou　art　a　bloody　one。〃

〃NoI　say　not　guilty　to　thatlever　bluidy　unless　there's　resistance；　and　that　sets　a　man's　bristles　up；　ye　ken。　　And　this　is　nae　great　matter；　after　a'；　just　to　cut　the　comb　of　a　young　cock　that　has　been　crawing　a　little　ower　crousely。〃

〃Not　young　Earnscliff？〃　　said　the　Solitary；　with　some　emotion。

〃No；　not　young　Earnscliffnot　young　Earnscliff　YET；　but　his　time　may　come；　if　he　will　not　take　warning；　and　get　him　back　to　the　burrow…town　that　he's　fit　for；　and　no　keep　skelping　about　here；　destroying　the　few　deer　that　are　left　in　the　country；　and　pretending　to　act　as　a　magistrate；　and　writing　letters　to　the　great　folk　at　Auld　Reekie；　about　the　disturbed　state　of　the　land。　Let　him　take　care　o'　himsell。〃

〃Then　it　must　be　Hobbie　of　the　Heugh…foot；〃　said　Elshie。　〃What　harm　has　the　lad　done　you？〃

〃Harm！　　nae　great　harm；　but　I　hear　he　says　I　staid　away　from　the　Ba'spiel　on　Fastern's　E'en；　for　fear　of　him；　and　it　was　only　for　fear　of　the　Country　Keeper；　for　there　was　a　warrant　against　me。　I'll　stand　Hobbie's　feud；　and　a'　his　clan's。　　But　it's　not　so　much　for　that；　as　to　gie　him　a　lesson　not　to　let　his　tongue　gallop　ower　freely　about　his　betters。　　I　trow　he　will　hae　lost　the　best　pen…feather　o'　his　wing　before　to…morrow　morning。　Farewell；　Elshie；　there's　some　canny　boys　waiting　for　me　down　amang　the　shaws；　owerby；　I　will　see　you　as　I　come　back；　and　bring　ye　a　blithe　tale　in　return　for　your　leech…craft。〃

Ere　the　Dwarf　could　collect　himself　to　reply；　the　Reiver　of　Westburnflat　set　spurs　to　his　horse。　　The　animal；　starting　at　one　of　the　stones　which　lay　scattered　about；　flew　from　the　path。　　The　rider　exercised　his　spurs　without　moderation　or　mercy。　　The　horse　became　furious；　reared；　kicked；　plunged；　and　bolted　like　a　deer；　with　all　his　four　feet　off　the　ground　at　once。　　It　was　in　vain；　the　unrelenting　rider　sate　as　if　he　had　been　a　part　of　the　horse　which　he　bestrode；　and；　after　a　short　but　furious　contest；　compelled　the　subdued　animal　to　proceed　upon　the　path　at　a　rate　which　soon　carried　him　out　of　sight　of　the　Solitary。

〃That　villain；〃　exclaimed　the　Dwarf；〃that　cool…blooded；　hardened；　unrelenting　ruffian；that　wretch；　whose　every　thou