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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。〃
〃Hae ye ony tidings？Hae ye ony speerings； Hobbie？O； callants；
dinna be ower hasty；〃 said old Dick of the Dingle。
〃What signifies preaching to us； e'enow？〃 said Simon； 〃if ye canna
make help yoursell； dinna keep back them that can。〃
〃Whisht； sir； wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrang'd ye？〃
〃D'ye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our fathers
before us？All evil comes out o' thereawayit's an auld saying and a true；
and we'll e'en away there； as if the devil was blawing us south。〃
〃We'll follow the track o' Earnscliff's horses ower the waste；〃 cried one
Elliot。
〃I'll prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border； an there
had been a fair held there the day before；〃 said Hugh； the blacksmith of
Ringleburn； 〃for I aye shoe his horse wi' my ain hand。〃
〃Lay on the deer…hounds；〃 cried another 〃where are they？〃
〃Hout； man； the sun's been lang up； and the dew is aff the grund the
scent will never lie。〃
Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds； which were roving about the
ruins of their old habitation； and filling the air with their doleful howls。
〃Now； Killbuck；〃 said Hobbie； 〃try thy skill this day〃 and then； as if a
light had suddenly broke on him；〃that ill…faur'd goblin spak something o'
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this！ He may ken mair o't； either by villains on earth； or devils below
I'll hae it frae him； if I should cut it out o' his mis…shapen bouk wi' my
whinger。〃 He then hastily gave directions to his comrades： 〃Four o' ye；
wi' Simon； haud right forward to Graeme's…gap。 If they're English； they'll
be for being back that way。 The rest disperse by twasome and threesome
through the waste； and meet me at the Trysting…pool。 Tell my brother