按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
territory which； since the days of Adam； had borne nothing but ling and
whortle…berries。
〃Our religion is cut up； root and branch；〃 said the pimple…nosed pastor
of the Episcopal meeting…house at Kirkwhistle。
〃We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench； without a
certificate from the presbytery and kirk…treasurer；〃 said Mareschal…Wells。
〃Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning； without license from
a commissioner of excise；〃 said the smuggler。
〃Or ride over the fell in a moonless night；〃 said Westburnflat； 〃without
asking leave of young Earnscliff； or some Englified justice of the peace：
thae were gude days on the Border when there was neither peace nor
justice heard of。〃
〃Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe；〃 continued
Ellieslaw； 〃and take arms for the protection of our rights； our fortunes； our
lives； and our families。〃
〃Think upon genuine episcopal ordination； without which there can be
114
… Page 115…
THE BLACK DWARF
no lawful clergy；〃 said the divine。
〃Think of the piracies committed on our East…Indian trade by Green
and the English thieves；〃 said William Willieson； half… owner and sole
skipper of a brig that made four voyages annually between Cockpool and
Whitehaven。
〃Remember your liberties；〃 rejoined Mareschal； who seemed to take a
mischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the enthusiasm
which he had excited； like a roguish boy； who； having lifted the sluice of a
mill…dam； enjoys the clatter of the wheels which he has put in motion；
without thinking of the mischief he may have occasioned。 〃Remember
your liberties；〃 he exclaimed； 〃confound cess； press； and presbytery； and
the memory of old Willie that first brought them upon us！〃
〃Damn the gauger！〃 echoed old John Rewcastle； 〃I'll cleave him wi'
my ain hand。〃
〃And confound the country…keeper and the constable！〃 re…echoed
Westburnflat； 〃I'll weize a brace of balls through them before morning。〃
〃We are agreed； then；〃 said Ellieslaw； when the shouts had somewhat
subsided； 〃to bear this state of things no longer？〃
〃We are agreed to a man；〃 answered his guests。
〃Not literally so；〃 said Mr。 Ratcliffe； 〃for though I cannot hope to
assuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have seized
upon the company； yet I beg to observe； that so far as the opinion of a
single member goes； I do not entirely coincide in the list of grievances
which has been announced； and that I do utterly protest against the frantic
measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them。 I can
easily suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out of the
heat of the moment； or have been said perhaps in jest。 But there are
some jests of a nature very apt to transpire； and you ought to remember；
gentlemen； that stone…walls have ears。〃
〃Stone…walls may have ears；〃 returned Ellieslaw； eyeing him with a
look of triumphant malignity； 〃but domestic spies； Mr。 Ratcliffe； will soon
find themselves without any； if any such dares to continue his abode in a
family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion； where his
conduct has been that of a presumptuous meddler； and from which his exit
115
… Page 116…
THE BLACK DWARF
shall be that of a baffled knave； if he does not know how to take a hint。〃
〃Mr。 Vere；〃 returned Ratcliffe； with calm contempt； 〃I am fully aware；
that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you； which it must through
the rash step you are about to adopt； it will immediately become unsafe to
myself； as it has always been hateful to you。 But I have one protection；
and it is a strong one； for you would not willingly hear me detail before
gentlemen； and men of honour； the singular circumstances in which our
connexion took its rise。 As to the rest； I rejoice at its conclusion； and as I
think that Mr。 Mareschal and some other gentlemen will guarantee the
safety of my ears and of my throat （for which last I have more reason to be
apprehensive） during the course of the night； I shall not leave your castle
till to…morrow morning。〃
〃Be it so； sir；〃 replied Mr。 Vere； 〃you are entirely safe from my
resentment； because you are beneath it； and not because I am afraid of
your disclosing my family secrets； although； for your own sake； I warn
you to beware how you do so。 Your agency and intermediation can be of
little consequence to one who will win or lose all； as lawful right or unjust
usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue。 Farewell；
sir。〃
Ratcliffe arose； and cast upon him a look； which Vere seemed to
sustain with difficulty； and； bowing to those around him； left the room。
This conversation made an impression on many of the company； which
Ellieslaw hastened to dispel； by entering upon the business of the day。
Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection。
Ellieslaw； Mareschal； and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders； with
powers to direct their farther measures。 A place of rendezvous was
appointed； at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day； with such
followers and friends to the cause as each could collect around him。
Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations； and
Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others； who； with Westburnflat and
the old smuggler； continued to ply the bottle stanchly； for leaving the head
of the table； as he must necessarily hold a separate and sober conference
with the coadjutors whom they had associated with him in the command。
The apology was the more readily accepted； as he prayed them； at the
116
… Page 117…
THE BLACK DWARF
same time； to continue to amuse themselves with such refreshments as the
cellars of the castle afforded。 Shouts of applause followed their retreat；
and the names of Vere； Langley； and； above all； of Mareschal； were
thundered forth in chorus； an