the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第11部分
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person they had seen was some poor maniac； and had no commission from
the invisible world to announce either war or evil。 But his opinion found
a very cold audience； and all joined to deprecate his purpose of returning
to the spot the next day。
〃O； my bonny bairn；〃 said the old dame （for； in the kindness of her
heart； she extended her parental style to all in whom she was interested）…
〃You should beware mair than other folkthere's been a heavy breach
made in your house wi' your father's bloodshed； and wi' law…pleas； and
losses sinsyne；and you are the flower of the flock； and the lad that will
build up the auld bigging again （if it be His will） to be an honour to the
country； and a safeguard to those that dwell in ityou； before others； are
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called upon to put yoursell in no rash adventuresfor yours was aye ower
venturesome a race； and muckle harm they have got by it。〃
〃But I am sure； my good friend； you would not have me be afraid of
going to an open moor in broad daylight？〃
〃I dinna ken；〃 said the good old dame； 〃I wad never bid son or friend
o' mine haud their hand back in a gude cause； whether it were a friend's or
their ainthat should be by nae bidding of mine； or of ony body that's
come of a gentle kindredBut it winna gang out of a grey head like mine；
that to gang to seek for evil that's no fashing wi' you； is clean against law
and Scripture。〃
Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of
maintaining with good effect； and the entrance of supper broke off the
conversation。 Miss Grace had by this time made her appearance； and
Hobbie； not without a conscious glance at Earnscliff； placed himself by
her side。 Mirth and lively conversation； in which the old lady of the
house took the good… humoured share which so well becomes old age；
restored to the cheeks of the damsels the roses which their brother's tale of
the apparition had chased away； and they danced and sung for an hour
after supper as if there were no such things as goblins in the world。
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CHAPTER IV。
I am Misanthropos； and hate mankind； For thy part； I do wish thou
wert a dog； That I might love thee something。 TIMON OF ATHENS
On the following morning； after breakfast； Earnscliff took leave of his
hospitable friends； promising to return in time to partake of the venison；
which had arrived from his house。 Hobbie； who apparently took leave of
him at the door of his habitation； slunk out； however； and joined him at the
top of the hill。
〃Ye'll be gaun yonder； Mr。 Patrick； feind o' me will mistryst you for a'
my mother says。 I thought it best to slip out quietly though； in case she
should mislippen something of what we're gaun to dowe maunna vex her
at nae rateit was amaist the last word my father said to me on his
deathbed。〃
〃By no means； Hobbie；〃 said Earnscliff； 〃she well merits all your
attention。〃
〃Troth； for that matter； she would be as sair vexed amaist for you as
for me。 But d'ye really think there's nae presumption in venturing back
yonder？We hae nae special commission； ye ken。〃
〃If I thought as you do； Hobbie；〃 said the young gentleman； 〃I would
not perhaps enquire farther into this business； but as I am of opinion that
preternatural visitations are either ceased altogether； or become very rare
in our days； I am unwilling to leave a matter uninvestigated which may
concern the life of a poor distracted being。〃
〃Aweel； aweel； if ye really think that；〃 answered Hobbie doubtfully
〃And it's for certain the very fairiesI mean the very good neighbours
themsells （for they say folk suldna ca' them fairies） that used to be seen on
every green knowe at e'en； are no half sae often visible in our days。 I
canna depone to having ever seen ane mysell； but； I ance heard ane whistle
ahint me in the moss； as like a whaup ＇Curlew＇ as ae thing could be like
anither。 And mony ane my father saw when he used to come hame frae
the fairs at e'en； wi' a drap drink in his head； honest man。〃
Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension of
superstition from one generation to another which was inferred In this last
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observation； and they continued to reason on such subjects； until they
came in sight of the upright stone which gave name to the moor。
〃As I shall answer；〃 says Hobbie； 〃yonder's the creature creeping about
yet！But it's daylight； and you have your gun； and I brought out my bit
whingerI think we may venture on him。〃
〃By all manner of means；〃 said Earnscliff； 〃but； in the name of wonder；
what can he be doing there？〃
〃Biggin a dry…stane dyke； I think； wi' the grey geese； as they ca' thae
great loose stanesOdd； that passes a' thing I e'er heard tell of！〃
As they approached nearer； Earnscliff could not help agreeing with his
companion。 The figure they had seen the night before seemed slowly
and toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones one upon another； as if to
form a small enclosure。 Materials lay around him in great plenty； but the
labour of carrying on the work was immense； from the size of most of the
stones； and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in
moving several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his
edifice。 He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the
two young men came up； and was so intent upon executing his purpose；
that he did not perceive them till they were close upon him。 In straining
and heaving at the stone； in order to place it according to his wish； he
displayed a degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with his
size and apparent deformity。 Indeed； to judge from the difficulties he had
already surmounted； he must have been of Herculean powers； for some of
the stones he had succeeded in raising apparently required two men's
strength to have moved them。 Hobbie's suspicions began to revive； on
seeing the preternatural strength he exerted。
〃I am amaist persuaded it's the ghaist of a stane…masonsee siccan
band…statnes as he's laid iAn it be a man； after a'； I wonder what he wad
take by the rood to build a march dyke。 There's ane sair wanted between
Cringlehope and the Shaws。 Honest man〃 （raising his voice）； 〃ye make
good firm wark there？〃
The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare； and；
getting up from his stooping posture； stood before them in all his native
and hideous deformity。 His head was of uncommon size； covered with a
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fell of shaggy hair； partly grizzled with age； his eyebrows； shaggy and
prominent； overhung a pair of small dark； piercing eyes； set far back in
their sockets； that rolled with a portentous wildness； indicative of a partial
insanity。 The rest of his features were of the coarse； rough…hewn stamp；
with which a painter would equip a giant in romance； to which was added
the wild； irregular； and peculiar expression； so often seen in the
countenances of those whose persons are deformed。 His body； thick and
square； like that of a man of middle size； was mounted upon two large feet；
but nature seemed to have forgotten the legs and the thighs； or they were
so very short as to be hidden by the dress which he wore。 His arms were
long and brawny； furnished with two muscular hands； and； where
uncovered in the eagerness of his labour； were shagged with coarse black
hair。 It seemed as if nature had originally intended the separate parts of
his body to be the members of a giant； but had afterwards capriciously
assigned them to the person of a dwarf； so
