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ove the last spring？Who thought of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death…bed？My draughts； my skill； recovered him。 And； now； who dare leave his herd upon the lea without a watch； or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth… hound？〃
〃I own；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃you did little good to society by the last of these cures。 But； to balance the evil； there is my friend Hobbie； honest Hobbie of the Heugh…foot； your skill relieved him last winter in a fever that might have cost him his life。〃
〃Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance；〃 said： the Dwarf； smiling maliciously； 〃and thus they speak in their folly。 Have you marked the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated； how sportive； how playful； how gentle；but trust him with your game； your lambs； your poultry； his inbred ferocity breaks forth； he gripes； tears； ravages； and devours。〃
〃Such is the animal's instinct；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃but what has that to do with Hobbie？〃
〃It is his emblemit is his picture；〃 retorted the Recluse。 〃He is at present tame； quiet； and domesticated； for lack of opportunity to exercise his inborn propensities； but let the trumpet of war soundlet the young blood…hound snuff blood； he will be as ferocious as the wildest of his Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasant's abode。 Can you deny； that even at present he often urges you to take bloody revenge for an injury received when you were a boy？〃Earnscliff started； the Recluse appeared not to observe his surprise； and proceeded〃The trumpet WILL blow； the young blood…hound WILL lap blood； and I will laugh and say； For this I have preserved thee！〃 He paused； and continued；〃Such are my cures；their object； their purpose； perpetuating the mass of misery； and playing even in this desert my part in the general tragedy。 Were YOU on your sick bed； I might； in compassion； send you a cup of poison。〃
〃I am much obliged to you； Elshie； and certainly shall not fail to consult you； with so comfortable a hope from your assistance。〃
〃Do not flatter yourself too far；〃 replied the Hermit； 〃with the hope that I will positively yield to the frailty of pity。 Why should I snatch a dupe； so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are； from the wretchedness which his own visions； and the villainy of the world； are preparing for him？ Why should I play the compassionate Indian； and； knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk； at once spoil the three days' amusement of my kindred tribe； at the very moment when the brands were lighted； the pincers heated； the cauldrons boiling； the knives sharpened； to tear； scorch； seethe； and scarify the intended victim？〃
〃A dreadful picture you present to me of life； Elshie； but I am not daunted by it；〃 returned Earnscliff。 〃We are sent here； in one sense； to bear and to suffer； but； in another； to do and to enjoy。 The active day has its evening of repose； even patient sufferance has its alleviations； where there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged。〃
〃I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine；〃 said the Dwarf； his eyes kindling with insane fury；〃I spurn at it； as worthy only of the beasts that perish； but I will waste no more words with you。〃
He rose hastily； but； ere he withdrew into the hut； he added； with great vehemence； 〃Yet； lest you still think my apparent benefits to mankind flow from the stupid and servile source； called love of our fellow…creatures； know； that were there a man who had annihilated my soul's dearest hopewho had torn my heart to mammocks； and seared mp brain till it glowed like a volcano； and were that man's fortune and life in my power as completely as this frail potsherd〃 （he snatched up an earthen cup which stood beside him）； 〃I would not dash him into atoms thus〃（he flung the vessel with fury against the wall）；〃No！〃 （he spoke more composedly； but with the utmost bitterness）； 〃I would pamper him with wealth and power to inflame his evil passions； and to fulfil his evil designs； he should lack no means of vice and villainy； he should be the centre of a whirlpool that itself should know neither rest nor peace； but boil with unceasing fury； while it wrecked every goodly ship that approached its limits！ he should be an earthquake capable of shaking the very land in which he dwelt； and rendering all its inhabitants friendless； outcast； and miserableas I am！〃
The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words； shutting the door with furious violence； and rapidly drawing two bolts； one after another； as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that hated race； who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy。 Earnscliff left the moor with mingled sensations of pity and horror； pondering what strange and melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of mind； a man whose language argued him to be of rank and education much superior to the vulgar。 He was also surprised to see how much particular information a person who had lived in that country so short a time； and in so recluse a manner； had been able to collect respecting the dispositions and private affairs of the inhabitants。
〃It is no wonder；〃 he said to himself； 〃that with such extent of information； such a mode of life； so uncouth a figure； and sentiments so virulently misanthropic； this unfortunate should be regarded by the vulgar as in league with the Enemy of Mankind。〃
CHAPTER V。
The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath Feels； in its barrenness； some touch of spring； And； in the April dew； or beam of May； Its moss and lichen freshen and revive； And thus the heart； most sear'd to human pleasure； Melts at the tear； joys in the smile； of woman。 BEAUMONT
As the season advanced； the weather became more genial； and the Recluse was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone in the front of his mansion。 As he sate there one day； about the hour of noon； a party of gentlemen and ladies； well mounted； and numerously attended； swept across the heath at some distance from his dwelling。 Dogs； hawks； and led…horses swelled the retinue； and the air resounded at intervals with the cheer of the hunters； and the sound of horns blown by the attendants。 The Recluse was about to retire into his mansion at the sight of a train so joyous； when three young ladies； with their attendants； who had made a circuit； and detached themselves from their party； in order to gratify their curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight of Mucklestane…Moor； came suddenly up； ere he could effect his purpose。 The first shrieked； and put her hands before her eyes； at sight of an object so unusually deformed。 The second； with a hysterical giggle； which she intended should disguise her terrors； asked the Recluse； whether he could tell their fortune。 The third； who was best mounted； best dressed； and incomparably the best…looking of the three； advanced； as if to cover the incivility of her companions。
〃We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses； and our party have gone forward without us；〃 said the young lady。 〃Seeing you； father； at the door of your house； we have turned this way to〃
〃Hush！〃 interrupted the Dwarf； 〃so young； and already so artful？ You cameyou know you came； to exult in the consciousness of your own youth； wealth； and beauty； by contrasting them with age； poverty； and deformity。 It is a fit employment for the daughter of your father； but O how unlike the child of your mother！〃
〃Did you； then； know my parents； and do you know me？〃
〃Yes； this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes； but I have seen you in my dreams。〃
〃Your dreams？〃
〃Ay； Isabel Vere。 What hast thou； or thine； to do with my waking thoughts？〃
〃Your waking thoughts； sir；〃 said the second of Miss Vere's companions； with a sort of mock gravity； 〃are fixed； doubtless； upon wisdom； folly can only intrude on your sleeping moments。〃
〃Over thine；〃 retorted the Dwarf； more splenetically than became a philosopher or hermit； 〃folly exercises an unlimited empire； asleep or awake。〃
〃Lord bless us！〃 said the lady； 〃he's a prophet； sure enough。〃
〃As surely；〃 continued the Recluse；〃 as thou art a woman。A woman！I should have said a ladya fine lady。 You asked me to tell your fortuneit is a simple one； an endless chase through life after follies not worth catching； and； when caught； successively thrown awaya chase； pursued from the days of tottering infancy to those of old age upon his crutches。 Toys and merry…makings in childhoodlove and its absurdities in youthspadille and basto in age； shall succeed each other as objects of pursuitflowers and butterflies in spring butterflies and thistle…down in summerwithered leaves in autumn and winterall pursued； all caught； all flung aside。 Stand apart； your fortune is said。〃
〃All CAUGHT； however；〃 retorted the laughing fair one； who was a cousin of Miss Vere's； 〃that's something； Nancy；〃 she continued； turning to the timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf； 〃will you ask your fortune？〃
〃Not for worlds；〃 said she； drawing back； 〃I have heard enough of yours。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Miss Ilderton； offering money to the Dwarf； 〃I'll pay for mine； as if it were spoken by an