epeat； still less bound by the alleged obligation。
〃About the autumn of last year； as I understand； either his own crazed imagination； or the accomplishment of some such scheme as I have hinted； brought him down to this country。 His alleged motive； it seems； was a desire of seeing a monument which he had directed to be raised in the chapel over the tomb of your mother。 Mr。 Ratcliffe； who at this time had done me the honour to make my house his own； had the complaisance to introduce him secretly into the chapel。 The consequence； as he informs me； was a frenzy of several hours； during which he fled into the neighbouring moors； in one of the wildest spots of which he chose； when he was somewhat recovered； to fix his mansion； and set up for a sort of country empiric； a character which； even in his best days； he was fond of assuming。 It is remarkable； that； instead of informing me of these circumstances； that I might have had the relative of my late wife taken such care of as his calamitous condition required； Mr。 Ratcliffe seems to have had such culpable indulgence for his irregular plans as to promise and even swear secrecy concerning them。 He visited Sir Edward often； and assisted in the fantastic task he had taken upon him of constructing a hermitage。 Nothing they appear to have dreaded more than a discovery of their intercourse。
〃The ground was open in every direction around； and a small subterranean cave； probably sepulchral； which their researches had detected near the great granite pillar； served to conceal Ratcliffe； when any one approached his master。 I think you will be of opinion； my love； that this secrecy must have had some strong motive。 It is also remarkable； that while I thought my unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of La Trappe； he should have been actually living； for many months； in this bizarre disguise； within five miles of my house； and obtaining regular information of my most private movements； either by Ratcliffe； or through Westburnflat or others； whom he had the means to bribe to any extent。 He makes it a crime against me that I endeavoured to establish your marriage with Sir Frederick。 I acted for the best； but if Sir Edward Mauley thought otherwise； why did he not step manfully forward； express his own purpose of becoming a party to the settlements； and take that interest which he is entitled to claim in you as heir to his great property？
〃Even now； though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat tardy in announcing his purpose； I am far from opposing my authority against his wishes； although the person he desires you to regard as your future husband be young Earnscliff； the very last whom I should have thought likely to be acceptable to him； considering a certain fatal event。 But I give my free and hearty consent； providing the settlements are drawn in such an irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by that state of dependence； and that sudden and causeless revocation of allowances； of which I have so much reason to complain。 Of Sir Frederick Langley； I augur； you will hear no more。 He is not likely to claim the hand of a dowerless maiden。 I therefore commit you； my dear Isabella； to the wisdom of Providence and to your own prudence； begging you to lose no time in securing those advantages； which the fickleness of your kinsman has withdrawn from me to shower upon you。
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edward's intention to settle a considerable sum upon me yearly； for my maintenance in foreign parts； but this my heart is too proud to accept from him。 I told him I had a dear child； who； while in affluence herself； would never suffer me to be in poverty。 I thought it right to intimate this to him pretty roundly； that whatever increase be settled upon you； it may be calculated so as to cover this necessary and natural encumbrance。 I shall willingly settle upon you the castle and manor of Ellieslaw； to show my parental affection and disinterested zeal for promoting your settlement in life。 The annual interest of debts charged on the estate somewhat exceeds the income； even after a reasonable rent has been put upon the mansion and mains。 But as all the debts are in the person of Mr。 Ratcliffe； as your kinsman's trustee； he will not be a troublesome creditor。 And here I must make you aware； that though I have to complain of Mr。 Ratcliffe's conduct to me personally； I； nevertheless； believe him a just and upright man； with whom you may safely consult on your affairs； not to mention that to cherish his good opinion will be the best way to retain that of your kinsman。 Remember me to MarchieI hope he will not be troubled on account of late matters。 I will write more fully from the Continent。 Meanwhile； I rest your loving father； RICHARD VERE。〃
The above letter throws the only additional light which we have been able to procure upon the earlier part of our story。 It was Hobbie's opinion； and may be that of most of our readers；that the Recluse of Mucklestane…Moor had but a kind of a gleaming； or twilight understanding； and that he had neither very clear views as to what he himself wanted； nor was apt to pursue his ends by the clearest and most direct means； so that to seek the clew of his conduct； was likened； by Hobbie； to looking for a straight path through a common； over which are a hundred devious tracks； but not one distinct line of road。
When Isabella had perused the letter； her first enquiry was after her father。 He had left the castle； she was informed； early in the morning； after a long interview with Mr。 Ratcliffe； and was already far on his way to the next port； where he might expect to find shipping for the Continent。
〃Where was Sir Edward Mauley？〃
No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the preceding evening。
〃Odd； if onything has befa'en puir Elshie；〃 said Hobbie Elliot； 〃I wad rather I were harried ower again。〃
He immediately rode to his dwelling； and the remaining she…goat came bleating to meet him； for her milking time was long past。 The Solitary was nowhere to be seen； his door； contrary to wont； was open； his fire extinguished； and the whole hut was left in the state which it exhibited on Isabella's visit to him。 It was pretty clear that the means of conveyance which had brought the Dwarf to Ellieslaw on the preceding evening； had removed him from it to some other place of abode。 Hobbie returned disconsolate to the castle。
〃I am doubting we hae lost Canny Elshie for gude an' a'。〃
〃You have indeed；〃 said Ratcliffe； producing a paper； which he put into Hobbie's hands； 〃but read that； and you will perceive you have been no loser by having known him。〃
It was a short deed of gift； by which 〃Sir Edward Mauley； otherwise called Elshender the Recluse； endowed Halbert or Hobbie Elliot； and Grace Armstrong； in full property； with a considerable sum borrowed by Elliot from him。〃
Hobbie's joy was mingled with feelings which brought tears down his rough cheeks。
〃It's a queer thing；〃 he said； 〃but I canna joy in the gear； unless I kend the puir body was happy that gave it me。〃
〃Next to enjoying happiness ourselves；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃is the consciousness of having bestowed it on others。 Had all my master's benefits been conferred like the present； what a different return would they have produced！ But the indiscriminate profusion that would glut avarice； or supply prodigality； neither does good； nor is rewarded by gratitude。 It is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind。〃
〃And that wad be a light har'st；〃 said Hobbie； 〃but； wi' my young leddie's leave； I wad fain take down Eishie's skeps o' bees； and set them in Grace's bit flower yard at the Heugh…footthey shall ne'er be smeekit by ony o' huz。 And the puir goat； she would be negleckit about a great toun like this； and she could feed bonnily on our lily lea by the burn side； and the hounds wad ken her in a day's time； and never fash her； and Grace wad milk her ilka morning wi' her ain hand； for Elshie's sake； for though he was thrawn and cankered in his converse； he likeit dumb creatures weel。〃
Hobbie's requests were readily granted； not without some wonder at the natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this mode of displaying his gratitude。 He was delighted when Ratcliffe informed him that his benefactor should not remain ignorant of the care which he took of his favourite。
〃And mind be sure and tell him that grannie and the titties； and； abune a'； Grace and mysell； are weel and thriving； and that it's a' his doingthat canna but please him； ane wad think。〃
And Elliot and the family at Heugh…foot were； and continued to be； as fortunate and happy as his undaunted honesty； tenderness； and gallantry so well merited。
All bar between the marriage of Earnscliff and Isabella was now removed； and the settlements which Ratcliffe produced on the part of Sir Edward Mauley； might have satisfied the cupidity of Ellieslaw himself。 But Miss Vere and Ratcliffe thought it unnecessary to mention to Earnscliff that one great motive of Sir Edward； in thus loading the young pair with benefits； was to expiate his having； many years before； shed the blood of his father in a hasty brawl。 If it be true； as Ratcliffe asserted； that the Dwarf's extreme misanthropy seemed to relax somewhat； under the consciousness of having diffused happiness among so many； the recollection of this circumstance might probably be one of his chief motives for refusing obstinately ever to witness their state of contentment。
Mareschal hunted； shot； and drank clarettired of the country； went abroad； served three campaigns； came home； and married Lucy Ilderton。
Years fled over the heads of Earnscliff and his wife； and found and left them contented and happy。 The scheming ambition of Sir Frederick Langley engaged him in the unfortunate insurrection of 1715。 He was made prisoner at Preston； in Lancashire； with the Earl of Derwentwater； and others。 His defence； and the dying speech which he made at his execution； may be found in the State Trials。 Mr。 Vere； supplied by his daughter with an ample income； continued to reside abroad； engaged deeply in the affair of Law's bank during the regency of the Duke of Orleans； and was at one time supposed to be immensely rich。 But； on the burstin