the black dwarf-第20节

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bbie　was　not　of　the　number。　　Almost　heart…broken　by　the　events　of　the　day；　and　his　final　disappointment；　he　returned　moodily　home　to　take　such　measures　as　he　could　for　the　sustenance　and　protection　of　his　family；　and　to　arrange　with　his　neighbours　the　farther　steps　which　should　be　adopted　for　the　recovery　of　Grace　Armstrong。　　The　rest　of　the　party　dispersed　in　different　directions；　as　soon　as　they　had　crossed　the　morass。　　The　outlaw　and　his　mother　watched　them　from　the　tower；　until　they　entirely　disappeared。



CHAPTER　X。

　I　left　my　ladye's　bower　last　night　　It　was　clad　in　wreaths　of　snaw；　　I'll　seek　it　when　the　sun　is　bright；　　And　sweet　the　roses　blaw。　　　　　　　　　　　　OLD　BALLAD。

Incensed　at　what　he　deemed　the　coldness　of　his　friends；　in　a　cause　which　interested　him　so　nearly；　Hobbie　had　shaken　himself　free　of　their　company；　and　was　now　on　his　solitary　road　homeward。　〃The　fiend　founder　thee！〃　　said　he；　as　he　spurred　impatiently　his　over…fatigued　and　stumbling　horse；　〃thou　art　like　a'　the　rest　o'　them。　　Hae　I　not　bred　thee；　and　fed　thee；　and　dressed　thee　wi'　mine　ain　hand；　and　wouldst　thou　snapper　now　and　break　my　neck　at　my　utmost　need？　　But　thou'rt　e'en　like　the　lavethe　farthest　off　o'　them　a'　is　my　cousin　ten　times　removed；　and　day　or　night　I　wad　hae　served　them　wi'　my　best　blood；　and　now；　I　think　they　show　mair　regard　to　the　common　thief　of　Westburnflat　than　to　their　ain　kinsman。　　But　I　should　see　the　lights　now　in　Heugh…footWae's　me！〃　　he　continued；　recollecting　himself；　〃there　will　neither　coal　nor　candle…light　shine　in　the　Heugh…foot　ony　mair！　　An　it　werena　for　my　mother　and　sisters；　and　poor　Grace；　I　could　find　in　my　heart　to　put　spurs　to　the　beast；　and　loup　ower　the　scaur　into　the　water　to　make　an　end　o't　a'。〃In　this　disconsolate　mood　he　turned　his　horse's　bridle　towards　the　cottage　in　which　his　family　had　found　refuge。

As　he　approached　the　door；　he　heard　whispering　and　tittering　amongst　his　sisters。　　〃The　deevil's　in　the　women；〃　said　poor　Hobbie；　〃they　would　nicker；　and　laugh；　and　giggle；　if　their　best　friend　was　lying　a　corpand　yet　I　am　glad　they　can　keep　up　their　hearts　sae　weel；　poor　silly　things；　but　the　dirdum　fa's　on　me；　to　be　sure；　and　no　on　them。〃

While　he　thus　meditated；　he　was　engaged　in　fastening　up　his　horse　in　a　shed。　　〃Thou　maun　do　without　horse…sheet　and　surcingle　now；　lad；〃　he　said；　addressing　the　animal；　〃you　and　me　hae　had　a　downcome　alike；　we　had　better　hae　fa'en　i；　the　deepest　pool　o'　Tarras。〃

He　was　interrupted　by　the　youngest　of　his　sisters；　who　came　running　out；　and；　speaking　in　a　constrained　voice；　as　if　to　stifle　some　emotion；　called　out　to　him；　〃What　are　ye　doing　there；　Hobbie；　fiddling　about　the　naig；　and　there's　ane　frae　Cumberland　been　waiting　here　for　ye　this　hour　and　mair？　　Haste　ye　in；　man；　I'll　take　off　the　saddle。〃

〃Ane　frae　Cumberland！〃　　exclaimed　Elliot；　and　putting　the　bridle　of　his　horse　into　the　hand　of　his　sister；　he　rushed　into　the　cottage。　　〃Where　is　he？　　where　is　he！〃　　he　exclaimed；　glancing　eagerly　around；　and　seeing　only　females；　〃Did　he　bring　news　of　Grace？〃

〃He　doughtna　bide　an　instant　langer；〃　said　the　elder　sister；　still　with　a　suppressed　laugh。

〃Hout　fie；　bairns！〃　　said　the　old　lady；　with　something　of　a　good…　humoured　reproof；　〃ye　shouldna　vex　your　billy　Hobbie　that　way。　Look　round；　my　bairn；　and　see　if　there　isna　ane　here　mair　than　ye　left　this　morning。〃

Hobbie　looked　eagerly　round。　　〃There's　you；　and　the　three　titties。〃

〃There's　four　of　us　now；　Hobbie；　lad；〃　said　the　youngest；　who　at　this　moment　entered。

In　an　instant　Hobbie　had　in　his　arms　Grace　Armstrong；　who；　with　one　of　his　sister's　plaids　around　her；　had　passed　unnoticed　at　his　first　entrance。　　〃How　dared　you　do　this？〃　said　Hobbie。

〃It　wasna　my　fault；〃　said　Grace；　endeavouring　to　cover　her　face　with　her　hands　to　hide　at　once　her　blushes；　and　escape　the　storm　of　hearty　kisses　with　which　her　bridegroom　punished　her　simple　stratagem；〃It　wasna　my　fault；　Hobbie；　ye　should　kiss　Jeanie　and　the　rest　o'　them；　for　they　hae　the　wyte　o't。〃

〃And　so　I　will；〃　said　Hobbie；　and　embraced　and　kissed　his　sisters　and　grandmother　a　hundred　times；　while　the　whole　party　half…　laughed；　half…cried；　in　the　extremity　of　their　joy。　　〃I　am　the　happiest　man；〃　said　Hobbie；　throwing　himself　down　on　a　seat；　almost　exhausted；〃I　am　the　happiest　man　in　the　world！〃

〃Then；　O　my　dear　bairn；〃　said　the　good　old　dame；　who　lost　no　opportunity　of　teaching　her　lesson　of　religion　at　those　moments　when　the　heart　was　best　open　to　receive　it；〃Then；　O　my　son；　give　praise　to　Him　that　brings　smiles　out　o'　tears　and　joy　out　o'　grief；　as　He　brought　light　out　o'　darkness　and　the　world　out　o'　naething。　　Was　it　not　my　word；　that　if　ye　could　say　His　will　be　done；　ye　might　hae　cause　to　say　His　name　be　praised？〃

〃It　wasit　was　your　word；　grannie；　and　I　do　praise　Him　for　His　mercy；　and　for　leaving　me　a　good　parent　when　my　ain　were　gane；〃　said　honest　Hobbie；　taking　her　hand；　〃that　puts　me　in　mind　to　think　of　Him；　baith　in　happiness　and　distress。〃

There　was　a　solemn　pause　of　one　or　two　minutes　employed　in　the　exercise　of　mental　devotion；　which　expressed；　in　purity　and　sincerity；　the　gratitude　of　the　affectionate　family　to　that　Providence　who　had　unexpectedly　restored　to　their　embraces　the　friend　whom　they　had　lost。

Hobbie's　first　enquiries　were　concerning　the　adventures　which　Grace　had　undergone。　　They　were　told　at　length；　but　amounted　in　substance　to　this：That　she　was　awaked　by　the　noise　which　the　ruffians　made　in　breaking　into　the　house；　and　by　the　resistance　made　by　one　or　two　of　the　servants；　which　was　soon　overpowered；　that；　dressing　herself　hastily；　she　ran　downstairs；　and　having　seen；　in　the　scuffle；　Westburnflat's　vizard　drop　off；　imprudently　named　him　by　his　name；　and　besought　him　for　mercy；　that　the　ruffian　instantly　stopped　her　mouth；　dragged　her　from　the　house；　and　placed　her　on　horseback；　behind　one　of　his　associates。

〃I'll　break　the　accursed　neck　of　him；〃　said　Hobbie；　〃if　there　werena　another　Graeme　in　the　land　but　himsell！〃

She　proceeded　to　say；　that　she　was　carried　southward　along　with　the　party；　and　the　spoil　which　they　drove　before　them；　until　they　had　crossed　the　Border。　　Suddenly　a　person；　known　to　her　as　a　kinsman　of　Westburnflat；　came　riding　very　fast　after　the　marauders；　and　told　their　leader；　that　his　cousin　had　learnt　from　a　sure　hand　that　no　luck　would　come　of　it；　unless　the　lass　was　restored　to　her　friends。　　After　some　discussion；　the　chief　of　the　party　seemed　to　acquiesce。　　Grace　was　placed　behind　her　new　guardian；　who　pursued　in　silence；　and　with　great　speed；　the　least…frequented　path　to　the　Heugh…foot；　and　ere　evening　closed；　set　down　the　fatigued　and　terrified　damsel　within　a　quarter　of　a　mile　of　the　dwelling　of　her　friends。　　Many　and　sincere　were　the　congratulations　which　passed　on　all　sides。

As　these　emotions　subsided；　less　pleasing　considerations　began　to　intrude　themselves。

〃This　is　a　miserable　place　for　ye　a'；〃　said　Hobbie；　looking　around　him；　〃I　can　sleep　weel　eneugh　mysell　outby　beside　the　naig；　as　I　hae　done　mony　a　lang　night　on　the　hills；　but　how　ye　are　to　put　yoursells　up；　I　canna　see！　　And　what's　waur；　I　canna　mend　it；　and　what's　waur　than　a'；　the　morn　may　come；　and　the　day　after　that；　without　your　being　a　bit　better　off。〃

〃It　was　a　cowardly　cruel　thing；〃　said　one　of　the　sisters；　looking　round；　〃to　harry　a　puir　family　to　the　bare　wa's　this　gate。〃

〃And　leave　us　neither　stirk　nor　stot；〃　said　the　youngest　brother；　who　now　entered；　〃nor　sheep　nor　lamb；　nor　aught　that　eats　grass　and　corn。〃

〃If　they　had　ony　quarrel　wi'　us；〃　said　Harry；　the　second　brother；　〃were　we　na　ready　to　have　fought　it　out？　　And　that　we　should　have　been　a'　frae　hame；　too；ane　and　a'　upon　the　hillOdd；　an　we　had　been　at　hame；　Will　Graeme's　stamach　shouldna　hae　wanted　its　morning；　but　it's　biding　him；　is　it　na；　Hobbie？〃

〃Our　neighbours　hae　taen　a　day　at　the　Castleton　to　gree　wi'　him　at　the　sight　o'　men；〃　said　Hobbie；　mournfully；　〃they　behoved　to　have　it　a'　their　ain　gate；　or　there　was　nae　help　to　be　got　at　their　hands。〃

〃To　gree　wi'　him！〃　　exclaimed　both　his　brothers　at　once；　〃after　siccan　an　act　of　stouthrife　as　hasna　been　heard　o'　in　the　country　since　the　auld　riding　days！〃

〃Very　true；　billies；　and　my　blood　was　e'en　boiling　at　it；　but　the　sight　o'　Grace　Armstrong　has　settled　it　brawly。〃

〃But　the　stocking；　Hobbie'〃　said　John　Elliot；　〃we're　utterly　ruined。　　Harry　and　I　hae　been　to　gather　what　was　on　the　outby　land；　and　there's　scarce　a　cloot　left。　　I　kenna　how　we're　to　carry　onWe　maun　a'　gang　to　the　wars；　I　think。　　Westburnflat　hasna　the　means；　e'en　if　he　had　the　will；　to　make　up　our　loss；　there's　nae　mends　to　be　got　out　o'　him；　but　what　ye　take　out　o'　his　banes。　　He　hasna　a　four…footed　creature　but　the　vicious　blood　thing　he　rides　on；　and　that's　sair　trash'd　wi'　his　night　wark。　We　are　ruined　stoop　and　roop。〃

Hobbie　cast　a　mournful　glance　on　Grace　Armstrong；　who　returned　it　with　a　downcast　look　and　a　gentle　sigh。

〃Dinna　be　cast　down；　bairns；〃　said　the　grandmother；　〃we　hae　gude　friends　that　winna　forsake　us　in　adversity。　　There's　Sir　Thomas　Kittleloof　is　my　third　cousin　by　the　mother's　side；　and　he　has　come　by　a　hantle　siller；　and　been　made　a　knight…baronet　into　the　bargain；　for　being　ane　o'　the　c