酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

The Black Dwarf-Part19_WALTER SCOTT(1771-1832)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页
that I was carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were



alike unknown to me, and am now restored to freedom by means of

this gentleman's gallant interference."



"By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done?" pursued

Mareschal.--"Had you no knowledge of the place to which you were



conveyed?--Earnscliff, where did you find this lady?"

But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced,



and, returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the

conference.



"When I know," he said, "exactly how much I owe to Mr.

Earnscliff, he may rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime,"



taking the bridle of Miss Vere's horse, "thus far I thank him for

replacing my daughter in the power of her natural guardian."



A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal

haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon



the road to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a

conference so earnest, that the rest of the company judged it



improper to intrude by approaching them too nearly. In the

meantime, Earnscliff, as he took leave of the other gentlemen



belonging to Ellieslaw's party, said aloud, "Although I am

unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can authorize



such a suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seems to

believe that I have had some hand in the atrocious violence which



has been offered to his daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to

take notice of my explicit denial of a charge so dishonourable;



and that, although I can pardon the bewildering feelings of a

father in such a moment, yet, if any other gentleman" (he looked



hard at Sir Frederick Langley) "thinks my word and that of Miss

Vere, with the evidence of my friends who accompany me, too



slight for my exculpation, I will be happy--most happy--to repel

the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honour dearer than



his life."

"And I'll be his second," said Simon of Hackburn, "and take up



ony twa o' ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; it's a' ane to

Simon."



"Who is that rough-looking fellow?" said Sir Frederick Langley,

"and what has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen?"



"I'se be a lad frae the Hie Te'iot," said Simon, "and I'se

quarrel wi' ony body I like, except the king, or the laird I live



under."

"Come," said; Mareschal, "let us have no brawls.--Mr. Earnscliff;



although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may be

opponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without



losing our respect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I

believe you as innocent of this matter as I am myself; and I will



pledge myself that my cousin Ellieslaw, as soon as the perplexity

attending these sudden events has left his judgment to its free



exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge the very important service

you have this day rendered him."



"To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself--

Good evening, gentlemen," continued Earnscliff; "I see most of



your party are already on their way to Ellieslaw."

Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the party



with indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards

the Heugh-foot, to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for



farther researches after his bride, of whose restoration to her

friends he was still ignorant.



"There he goes," said Mareschal; "he is a fine, gallant young

fellow, upon my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust



with him on the green turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his

equal with the foils, and I should like to try him at sharps."



"In my opinion," answered Sir Frederick Langley, "we have done

very ill in having suffered him, and those men who are with him,



to go off without taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very

likely to draw to a head under such a sprightly young fellow as



that."

"For shame, Sir Frederick!" exclaimed Mareschal; "do you think



that Ellieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being

offered to Earnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring



back his daughter? or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you

think that I, and the rest of these gentlemen, would disgrace



ourselves by assisting in such a transaction? No, no, fair play

and auld Scotland for ever! When the sword is drawn, I will be



as ready to use it as any man; but while it is in the sheath, let

us behave like gentlemen and neighbours."






文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号