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anxious to escape for the purpose of making some little personal
arrangements； before presenting themselves to a young gentleman in a
dishabille only intended for their brother。
Hobbie； in the meanwhile； bestowing some hearty and general abuse
upon them all （for Grace was not of the party）； snatched the candle from
the hand of one of the rustic coquettes； as she stood playing pretty with it
in her hand； and ushered his guest into the family parlour； or rather hall；
for the place having been a house of defence in former times； the sitting
apartment was a vaulted and paved room； damp and dismal enough
compared with the lodgings of the yeomanry of our days； but which； when
well lighted up with a large sparkling fire of turf and bog…wood； seemed to
Earnscliff a most comfortable exchange for the darkness and bleak blast of
the hill。 Kindly and repeatedly was he welcomed by the venerable old
dame； the mistress of the family； who； dressed in her coif and pinners； her
close and decent gown of homespun wool； but with a large gold necklace
and ear…rings； looked； what she really was； the lady as well as the farmer's
wife； while； seated in her chair of wicker； by the corner of the great
chimney； she directed the evening occupations of the young women； and
of two or three stout serving wenches； who sate plying their distaffs
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behind the backs of their young mistresses。
As soon as Earnscliff had been duly welcomed； and hasty orders
issued for some addition to the evening meal； his grand…dame and sisters
opened their battery upon Hobbie Elliot for his lack of success against the
deer。
〃Jenny needna have kept up her kitchen…fire for a' that Hobbie has
brought hame；〃 said one sister。
〃Troth no； lass；〃 said another； 〃the gathering peat； if it was weel blawn；
wad dress a' our Hobbie's venison。〃 ＇The gathering peat is the piece of turf
left to treasure up the secret seeds of fire； without any generous
consumption of fuel； in a word； to keep the fire alive。＇
〃Ay； or the low of the candle； if the wind wad let it hide steady；〃 said a
third； 〃if I were him； I would bring hame a black craw； rather than come
back three times without a buck's horn to blaw on。〃
Hobbie turned from the one to the other； regarding them alternately
with a frown on his brow； the augury of which was confuted by the good…
humoured laugh on the lower part of his countenance。 He then strove to
propitiate them； by mentioning the intended present of his companion。
〃In my young days；〃 said the old lady； 〃a man wad hae been ashamed
to come back frae the hill without a buck hanging on each side o' his horse；
like a cadger carrying calves。〃
〃I wish they had left some for us then； grannie；〃 retorted Hobbie；
〃they've cleared the country o' them； thae auld friends o' yours； I'm
thinking。〃
〃We see other folk can find game； though you cannot； Hobbie；〃 said
the eldest sister； glancing a look at young Earnscliff。
〃Weel； weel； woman； hasna every dog his day； begging Earnscliff's
pardon for the auld sayingMayna I hae his luck； and he mine； another
time？It's a braw thing for a man to be out a' day； and frightedna； I
winna say that neither but mistrysted wi' bogles in the hame…coming； an'
then to hae to flyte wi' a wheen women that hae been doing naething a' the
live…lang day； but whirling a bit stick； wi' a thread trailing at it； or boring at
a clout。〃
〃Frighted wi' bogles！〃 exclaimed the females； one and all；for great
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was the regard then paid； and perhaps still paid； in these glens； to all such
fantasies。
〃I did not say frighted； nowI only said mis…set wi' the thing And
there was but ae bogle； neitherEarnscliff； ye saw it； as weel as I did？〃
And he proceeded； without very much exaggeration； to detail； in his
own way； the meeting they had with the mysterious being at Mucklestane…
Moor； concluding； he could not conjecture what on earth it could be；
unless it was either the Enemy himsell； or some of the auld Peghts that
held the country lang syne。
〃Auld Peght！〃 exclaimed the grand…dame； 〃na； nabless thee frae
scathe； my bairn； it's been nae Peght thatit's been the Brown Man of the
Moors！ O weary fa' thae evil days！what can evil beings be coming for
to distract a poor country； now it's peacefully settled； and living in love
and lawO weary on him！ he ne'er brought gude to these lands or the
indwellers。 My father aften tauld me he was seen in the year o' the
bloody fight at Marston…Moor； and then again in Montrose's troubles； and
again before the rout o' Dunbar； and； in my ain time； he was seen about the
time o' Bothwell…Brigg； and they said the second…sighted Laird of
Benarbuck had a communing wi' him some time afore Argyle's landing；
but that I cannot speak to sae preceeselyit was far in the west。O； bairns；
he's never permitted but in an ill time； sae mind ilka ane o' ye to draw to
Him that can help in the day of trouble。〃
Earnscliff now interposed； and expressed his firm conviction that the
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