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between glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects in life； and
suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was afforded him…
〃Mercy on us！ it's an awfu' thing to touch what has been sae lately in the
claws of something no canny； I canna shake mysell loose o' the belief that
there has been some jookery… paukery of Satan's in a' this； but I am
determined to conduct mysell like an honest man and a good Christian；
come o't what will。〃
He advanced accordingly to the cottage door； and having knocked
repeatedly without receiving any answer； he at length elevated his voice
and addressed the inmate of the hut。 〃Elshie！ Father Elshie！ I ken
ye're within doors； and wauking； for I saw ye at the door…cheek as I cam
ower the bent； will ye come out and speak just a gliff to ane that has mony
thanks to gie ye？It was a' true ye tell'd me about Westburnflat； but he's
sent back Grace safe and skaithless； sae there's nae ill happened yet but
what may be suffered or sustained；Wad ye but come out a gliff； man； or
but say ye're listening？Aweel； since ye winna answer； I'se e'en proceed
wi' my tale。 Ye see I hae been thinking it wad be a sair thing on twa
young folk； like Grace and me； to put aff our marriage for mony years till I
was abroad and came back again wi' some gear； and they say folk maunna
take booty in the wars as they did lang syne； and the queen's pay is a sma'
matter； there's nae gathering gear on thatand then my grandame's auld
and my sisters wad sit peengin' at the ingle…side for want o' me to ding
them aboutand Earnscliff； or the neighbourhood； or maybe your ainsell；
Elshie； might want some good turn that Hob Elliot could do yeand it's a
pity that the auld house o' the Heugh…foot should be wrecked a'thegither。
Sae I was thinkingbut deil hae me； that I should say sae；〃 continued he；
checking himself； 〃if I can bring mysell to ask a favour of ane that winna
sae muckle as ware a word on me； to tell me if he hears me speaking till
him。〃
〃Say what thou wiltdo what thou wilt；〃 answered the Dwarf from his
cabin； 〃but begone； and leave me at peace。〃
〃Weel； weel；〃 replied Elliot； 〃since ye are willing to hear me； I'se make
my tale short。 Since ye are sae kind as to say ye are content to lend me
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as muckle siller as will stock and plenish the Heugh…foot； I am content； on
my part； to accept the courtesy wi' mony kind thanks； and troth； I think it
will be as safe in my hands as yours； if ye leave it flung about in that gate
for the first loon body to lift； forbye the risk o' bad neighbours that can
win through steekit doors and lockfast places； as I can tell to my cost。 I
say； since ye hae sae muckle consideration for me； I'se be blithe to accept
your kindness； and my mother and me （she's a life…renter； and I am fiar； o'
the lands o' Wideopen） would grant you a wadset； or an heritable bond； for
the siller； and to pay the annual rent half…yearly； and Saunders Wyliecoat
to draw the bond； and you to be at nae charge wi' the writings。〃
〃Cut short thy jargon； and begone；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃thy loquacious
bull…headed honesty makes thee a more intolerable plague than the light…
fingered courtier who would take a man's all without troubling him with
either thanks； explanation； or apology。 Hence； I say！ thou art one of
those tame slaves whose word is as good as their bond。 Keep the money；
principal and interest； until I demand it of thee。〃
〃But；〃 continued the pertinacious Borderer； 〃we are a' life…like and
death…like； Elshie； and there really should be some black and white on this
transaction。 Sae just make me a minute； or missive； in ony form ye like；
and I'se write it fair ower； and subscribe it before famous witnesses。
Only； Elshie； I wad wuss ye to pit naething in't that may be prejudicial to
my salvation； for I'll hae the minister to read it ower； and it wad only be
exposing yoursell to nae purpose。 And now I'm ganging awa'； for ye'll be
wearied o' my cracks； and I am wearied wi' cracking without an answer
and I'se bring ye a bit o' bride's…cake ane o' thae days； and maybe bring
Grace to see you。 Ye wad like to see Grace； man； for as dour as ye are
Eh； Lord I I wish he may be weel； that was a sair grane！ or； maybe； he
thought I was speaking of heavenly grace； and no of Grace Armstrong。
Poor man； I am very doubtfu' o' his condition； but I am sure he is as kind
to me as if I were his son； and a queer…looking father I wad hae had； if that
had been e'en sae。〃
Hobbie now relieved his benefactor of his presence； and rode blithely
home to display his treasure； and consult upon the means of repairing the
damage which his fortune had sustained through the aggression of the Red
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Reiver of Westburnflat。
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CHAPTER XI。
Three ruffians seized me yester morn； Alas！ a maiden most
forlorn； They choked my cries with wicked might； And bound me on a
palfrey white： As sure as Heaven shall pity me； I cannot tell what men
they be。 CHRISTABELLE。
The course of our story must here revert a little； to detail the
circumstances which had placed Miss Vere in the unpleasant situation
from which she was unexpectedly； and indeed unintentionally liberated； by
the appearance of Earnscliff and Elliot； with their friends and followers；
before the Tower of Westburnflat。
On the morning preceding the night in which Hobbie's house was
plundered and burnt； Miss Vere was requested by her father to accompany
him in a walk through a distant part of the romantic grounds which lay
round his castle of Ellieslaw。 〃To hear was to obey；〃 in the true style of
Oriental despotism； but Isabella trembled in silence while she followed her
father through rough paths； now winding by the side of the river； now
ascending the cliffs which serve for its banks。 A single servant； selected
perhaps for his stupidity； was the only person who attended them。 From
her father'