the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第20节
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look at the burnt wa's of our kinsman's house？ Every wreath of the reek
is a blast of shame upon us！ Let us to horse； and take the chase。Who
has the nearest bloodhound？〃
〃It's young Earnscliff；〃 answered another； 〃and he's been on and away
wi' six horse lang syne； to see if he can track them。〃
〃Let us follow him then； and raise the country； and mak mair help as
we ride； and then have at the Cumberland reivers！ Take； burn； and slay
they that lie nearest us shall smart first。〃
〃Whisht！ haud your tongues； daft callants；〃 said an old man； 〃ye dinna
ken what ye speak about。 What！ wad ye raise war atween two
pacificated countries？〃
〃And what signifies deaving us wi' tales about our fathers；〃 retorted
the young； man； 〃if we're to sit and see our friends' houses burnt ower
their heads； and no put out hand to revenge them？ Our fathers did not do
that； I trow？〃
〃I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie's wrang； puir
chield； but we maun take the law wi' us in thae days； Simon；〃 answered
the more prudent elder。
〃And besides；〃 said another old man； 〃I dinna believe there's ane now
living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border。
Tam o' Whittram kend a' about it； but he died in the hard winter。〃
〃Ay；〃 said a third； 〃he was at the great gathering； when they chased as
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far as Thirlwall； it was the year after the fight of Philiphaugh。〃
〃Hout；〃 exclaimed another of these discording counsellors； 〃there's nae
great skill needed； just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear； or hayfork；
or siclike； and blaw a horn； and cry the gathering…word； and then it's
lawful to follow gear into England； and recover it by the strong hand； or to
take gear frae some other Englishman； providing ye lift nae mair than's
been lifted frae you。 That's the auld Border law； made at Dundrennan； in
the days of the Black Douglas； Deil ane need doubt it。 It's as clear as the
sun。〃
〃Come away； then； lads；〃 cried Simon； 〃get to your geldings； and we'll
take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi' us； he kens the value o' the stock
and plenishing that's been lost。 Hobbie's stalls and stakes shall be fou
again or night； and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon； we'se lay
an English ane as low as Heugh…foot isand that's fair play； a' the warld
ower。〃
This animating proposal was received with great applause by the
younger part of the assemblage； when a whisper ran among them； 〃There's
Hobbie himsell； puir fallow！ we'll be guided by him。〃
The principal sufferer； having now reached the bottom of the hill；
pushed on through the crowd； unable； from the tumultuous state of his
feelings； to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly
hands by which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their
sympathy in his misfortune。 While he pressed Simon of Hackburn's hand；
his anxiety at length found words。 〃Thank ye； Simonthank ye；
neighboursI ken what ye wad a' say。 But where are they？Where are〃
He stopped； as if afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry； and with a
similar feeling； his kinsmen； without reply； pointed to the hut； into which
Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of one who is resolved
to know the worst at once。 A general and powerful expression of
sympathy accompanied him。 〃Ah； puir fallowpuir Hobbie！〃
〃He'll learn the warst o't now！〃
〃But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o' the puir lassie。〃
Such were the exclamations of the group； who； having no
acknowledged leader to direct their motions； passively awaited the return
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of the sufferer； and determined to be guided by his directions。
The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree
affecting。 His sisters threw themselves upon him； and almost stifled him
with their caresses； as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish the
absence of one yet more beloved。
〃God help thee； my son！ He can help when worldly trust is a broken
reed。〃Such was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson。
He looked eagerly round； holding two of his sisters by the hand； while the
third hung about his neck〃I see youI count youmy grandmother；
Lilias； Jean； and Annot； but where is〃 （he hesitated； and then continued；
as if with an effort）； 〃Where is Grace？ Surely this is not a time to hide
hersell frae methere's nae time for daffing now。〃
〃O； brother！〃 and 〃Our poor Grace！〃 was the only answer his
questions could procure； till his grandmother rose up； and gently
disengaged him from the weeping girls； led him to a seat； and with the
affecting serenity which sincere piety； like oil sprinkled on the waves； can
throw over the most acute feelings； she said； 〃My bairn； when thy
grandfather was killed in the wars； and left me with six orphans around me；
with scarce bread to eat； or a roof to cover us； I had strength；not of mine
ownbut I had strength given me to say； The Lord's will be done！My son；
our peaceful house was last night broken into by moss…troopers； armed and
masked； they have taken and destroyed all； and carried off our dear Grace。
Pray for strength to say； His will be done！〃
〃Mother！ mother！ urge me notI cannotnot now I am a sinful
man； and of a hardened race。 Masked armedGrace carried off！ Gie me
my sword； and my father's knapsackI will have vengeance； if I should go
to the pit of darkness to seek it！〃
〃O my bairn； my bairn！ be patient under the rod。 Who knows when
He may lift His hand off from us？ Young Earnscliff； Heaven bless him；
has taen the chase； with Davie of Stenhouse； and the first comers。 I cried
to let house and plenishing burn； and follow the reivers to recover Grace；
and Earnscliff and his men were ower the Fell within three hours after the
deed。 God bless him！ he's a real Earnscliff； he's his father's true sona
leal friend。〃
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〃A true friend indeed； God bless him！〃 exclaimed Hobbie； 〃let's on
and away； and take the chase after him。〃
〃O； my child； before you run on danger； let me hear you but say； HIS
will be done！〃
〃Urge me not； mothernot now。〃 He was rushing out； when； looking
back； he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of affliction。 He
returned hastily； threw himself into her arms； and said； 〃Yes； mother； I
CAN say； HIS will be done； since it will comfort you。〃
〃May He go forthmay He go forth with you； my dear bairn； and O；
may He give you cause to say on your return； HIS name be praised！〃
〃Farewell； mother！farewell； my dear sisters！〃 exclaimed Elliot； and
rushed out of the house。
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CHAPTER VIII。
Now horse and hattock； cried the Laird； Now horse and hattock；
speedilie； They that winna ride for Telfer's kye； Let them never look in
the face o' me。 Border Ballad。
〃Horse！ horse！ and spear！〃 exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen。
Many a ready foot was in the stirrup； and； while Elliot hastily collected
arms and accoutrements； no easy matter in such a confusion； the glen
resounded with the approbation of his younger friends。
〃Ay； ay！〃 exclaimed Simon of Hackburn； 〃that's the gate to take it；
Hobbie。 Let women sit and greet at hame； men must do as they have
been done by； it's the Scripture says't。〃
〃Haud your tongue； sir；〃 said one of the seniors； sternly； 〃dinna abuse
the Word that gate； ye dinna ken what ye speak about。〃
〃
