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wildly around the great stone； exhausting his voice in shrieks and
imprecations； that thrilled wildly along the waste heath。
The two sportsmen moved on some time in silence； until they were out
of hearing of these uncouth sounds； which was not ere they had gained a
considerable distance from the pillar that gave name to the moor。 Each
made his private comments on the scene they had witnessed； until Hobbie
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Elliot suddenly exclaimed； 〃Weel； I'll uphaud that yon ghaist； if it be a
ghaist； has baith done and suffered muckle evil in the flesh； that gars him
rampauge in that way after he is dead and gane。〃
〃It seems to me the very madness of misanthropy；〃 said Earnscliff；
following his own current of thought。
〃And ye didna think it was a spiritual creature； then？〃 asked Hobbie at
his companion。
〃Who； I？No； surely。〃
〃Weel； I am partly of the mind mysell that it may be a live thingand
yet I dinna ken； I wadna wish to see ony thing look liker a bogle。〃
〃At any rate；〃 said Earnscliff； 〃I will ride over to…morrow and see what
has become of the unhappy being。〃
〃In fair daylight？〃 queried the yeoman； 〃then； grace o' God； I'se be
wi' ye。 But here we are nearer to Heugh…foot than to your house by twa
mile；hadna ye better e'en gae hame wi' me； and we'll send the callant on
the powny to tell them that you are wi' us； though I believe there's naebody
at hame to wait for you but the servants and the cat。〃
〃Have with you then； friend Hobbie；〃 said the young hunter； 〃and as I
would not willingly have either the servants be anxious； or puss forfeit her
supper； in my absence； I'll be obliged to you to send the boy as you
propose。〃
〃Aweel； that IS kind； I must say。 And ye'll gae hame to Heugh… foot？
They'll be right blithe to see you； that will they。〃
This affair settled； they walked briskly on a little farther； when；
coming to the ridge of a pretty steep hill； Hobbie Elliot exclaimed； 〃Now；
Earnscliff； I am aye glad when I come to this very bitYe see the light
below； that's in the ha' window； where grannie； the gash auld carline； is
sitting birling at her wheel and ye see yon other light that's gaun whiddin'
back and forrit through amang the windows？ that's my cousin； Grace
Armstrong； she's twice as clever about the house as my sisters； and sae
they say themsells； for they're good…natured lasses as ever trode on heather；
but they confess themsells； and sae does grannie； that she has far maist
action； and is the best goer about the toun； now that grannie is off the foot
hersell。My brothers； ane o' them's away to wait upon the chamberlain；
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and ane's at Moss… phadraig； that's our led farmhe can see after the stock
just as weel as I can do。〃
〃You are lucky； my good friend； in having so many valuable relations。〃
〃Troth am IGrace make me thankful； I'se never deny it。But will ye
tell me now； Earnscliff； you that have been at college； and the high…school
of Edinburgh； and got a' sort o' lair where it was to be best gottenwill ye
tell meno that it's ony concern of mine in particular；but I heard the
priest of St。 John's； and our minister； bargaining about it at the Winter fair；
and troth they baith spak very weelNow； the priest says it's unlawful to
marry ane's cousin； but I cannot say I thought he brought out the Gospel
authorities half sae weel as our minister… …our minister is thought the best
divine and the best preacher atween this and EdinburghDinna ye think he
was likely to be right？〃
〃Certainly marriage； by all protestant Christians； is held to be as free
as God made it by the Levitical law； so； Hobbie； there can be no bar； legal
or religious； betwixt you and Miss Armstrong。〃
〃Hout awa' wi' your joking； Earnscliff；〃 replied his companion； 〃 ye
are angry aneugh yoursell if ane touches you a bit； man； on the sooth side
of the jestNo that I was asking the question about Grace； for ye maun
ken she's no my cousin…germain out and out； but the daughter of my
uncle；s wife by her first marriage； so she's nae kith nor kin to meonly a
connexion like。 But now we're at the Sheeling…hillI'll fire off my gun；
to let them ken I'm coming； that's aye my way； and if I hae a deer I gie
them twa shots； ane for the deer and ane for mysell。〃
He fired off his piece accordingly； and the number of lights were seen
to traverse the house； and even to gleam before it。 Hobbie Elliot pointed
out one of these to Earnscliff； which seemed to glide from the house
towards some of the outhouses…〃That's Grace hersell；〃 said Hobbie。
〃She'll no meet me at the door； I'se warrant herbut she'll be awa'； for a'
that； to see if my hounds' supper be ready； poor beasts。〃
〃Love me； love my dog；〃 answered Earnscliff。 〃Ah； Hobbie； you are
a lucky young fellow！〃
This observation was uttered with something like a sigh； which
apparently did not escape the ear of his companion。
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〃Hout； other folk may be as lucky as I amO how I have seen Miss
Isabel Vere's head turn after somebody when they passed ane another at
the Carlisle races！ Wha kens but things may come round in this world？〃
Earnscliff muttered something like an answer； but whether in assent of
the proposition； or rebuking the application of it； could not easily be
discovered； and it seems probable that the speaker himself was willing his
meaning should rest in doubt and obscurity。 They had now descended
the broad loaning； which； winding round the foot of the steep bank； or
heugh； brought them in front of the thatched； but comfortable； farm…house；
which was the dwelling of Hobbie Elliot and his family。
The doorway was thronged with joyful faces； but the appearance of a
stranger blunted many a gibe which had been prepared on Hobbie's lack of
success in the deer…stalking。 There was a little bustle among three
handsome young women； each endeavouring to devolve upon another the
task of ushering the stranger into the apartment； while probably all were
anxious to escape for the