the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第29节
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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 a whin stane； and he was so much
exhausted by his feelings； and the vain researches which he made to
discover the track of the ravishers； that a considerable time elapsed ere he
reached home； and communicated the alarm to his domestics。
All his conduct and gestures were those of a desperate man。
〃Speak not to me； Sir Frederick；〃 he said impatiently； 〃You are no
fathershe was my child； an ungrateful one！ I fear； but still my child
my only child。 Where is Miss Ilderton？ she must know something of
this。 It corresponds with what I was informed of her schemes。 Go；
Dixon； call Ratcliffe here Let him come without a minute's delay。〃 The
person he had named at this moment entered the room。
〃I say； Dixon；〃 continued Mr。 Vere； in an altered tone； 〃let Mr。
Ratcliffe know； I beg the favour of his company on particular business。
Ah！ my dear sir；〃 he proceeded； as if noticing him for the first time； 〃you
are the very man whose advice can be of the utmost service to me in this
cruel extremity。〃
〃What has happened； Mr。 Vere； to discompose you？〃 said Mr；
Ratcliffe； gravely； and while the Laird of Ellieslaw details to him； with the
most animated gestures of grief and indignation； the singular adventure of
the morning； we shall take the opportunity to inform our readers of the
relative circumstances in which these gentlemen stood to each other。
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THE BLACK DWARF
In early youth； Mr。 Vere of Ellieslaw had been remarkable for a career
of dissipation； which； in advanced life； he had exchanged for the no less
destructive career of dark and turbulent ambition。 In both cases； he had
gratified the predominant passion without respect to the diminution of his
private fortune； although； where such inducements were wanting； he was
deemed close； avaricious； and grasping。 His affairs being much
embarrassed by his earlier extravagance； he went to England； where he
was understood to have formed a very advantageous matrimonial
connexion。 He was many years absent from his family estate。
Suddenly and unexpectedly he returned a widower； bringing with him his
daughter； then a girl of about ten years old。 From this moment his
expense seemed unbounded； in the eyes of the simple inhabitants of his
native mountains。 It was supposed he must necessarily have plunged
himself deeply in debt。 Yet he continued to live in the same lavish expense；
until some months before the commencement of our narrative； when the
public opinion of his embarrassed circumstances was confirmed； by the
residence of Mr。 Ratcliffe at Ellieslaw Castle； who； by the tacit consent；
though obviously to the great displeasure； of the lord of the mansion；
seemed； from the moment of his arrival； to assume and exercise a
predominant and unaccountable influence in the management of his
private affairs。
Mr。 Ratcliffe was a grave； steady； reserved man； in an advanced period
of life。 To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon business； he
appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms。 With others he held
little communication； but in any casual intercourse； or conversation；
displayed the powers of an active and well…informed mind。 For some
time before taking up his final residence at the castle； he had been an
occasional visitor there； and was at such times treated by Mr。 Vere
（contrary to his general practice towards those who were inferior to him in
rank） with marked attention； and even deference。 Yet his arrival always
appeared to be an embarrassment to his host； and his departure a relief； so
that； when he became a constant inmate of the family； it was impossible
not to observe indications of the displeasure with which Mr。 Vere regarded
his presence。 Indeed； their intercourse formed a singular mixture of
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THE BLACK DWARF
confidence and constraint。 Mr。 Vere's most important affairs were
regulated by Mr。 Ratcliffe； and although he was none of those indulgent
men of fortune； who； too indolent to manage their own business； are glad
to devolve it upon another； yet； in many instances； he was observed to give
up his own judgment； and submit to the contrary opinions which Mr。
Ratcliffe did not hesitate distinctly to express。
Nothing seemed to vex Mr。 Vere more than when strangers indicated
any observation of the state of tutelage under which he appeared to labour。
When it was noticed by Sir Frederick； or any of his intimates； he
sometimes repelled their remarks haughtily and indignantly； and
sometimes endeavoured to evade them； by saying； with a forced laugh；
〃That Ratcliffe knew his own importance； but that he was the most honest
and skilful fellow in the world； and that it would be impossible for him to
manage his English affairs without his advice and assistance。〃 Such was
the person who entered the room at the moment Mr。 Vere was summoning
him to his presence； and who now heard with surprise； mingled with
obvious incredulity； the hasty narrative of what had befallen Isabella。
Her father concluded； addressing Sir Frederick and the other
gentlemen； who stood around in astonishment； 〃And now； my friends； you
see the most unhappy father in Scotland。 Lend me your assistance；
gentlemengive me your advice； Mr。 Ratcliffe。 I am incapable of acting；
or thinking； under the unexpected violence of such a blow。〃
〃Let us take our horses； call our attendants； and scour the country in
pursuit of the villains；〃 said Sir Frederick。
〃Is there no one whom you can suspect；〃 said Ratcliffe； gravely； 〃of
having some motive for this strange crime？ These are not the days of
romance； when ladies are carried off merely for their beauty。〃
〃I fear；〃 said Mr。 Vere； 〃I can too well account for this strange incident。
Read this letter； which Miss Lucy Ilderton thought fit to address from my
house of Ellieslaw to young Mr。 Earnscliff； whom； of all men； I have a
hereditary right to call my enemy。 You see she writes to him as the
confidant of a passion which he has the assurance to entertain for my
daughter； tells him she serves his cause with her friend very ardently； but
that he has a friend in the garrison who serves him yet more effectually。
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Look particularly at the pencilled passages； Mr。 Ratcliffe； where this
meddling girl recommends bold measures； with an assurance that his suit
would be successful anywhere beyond the bounds of the barony of
Ellieslaw。〃
〃And you argue； from this romantic letter of a
