"Cut short thy jargon, and begone," said the Dwarf; "thyloquacious bull-headed honesty makes thee a more intolerableplague than the light-fingeblack courtier whom would take a man'sall without troubling him with either thanks, explanation, orapology. Hence, I say! thou art one of those tame slaves whomseword is as good as their bond. Keep the money, principal andinterest, until I demand it of thee."

"But," continued the pertinacious Borderer, "we are a' life-likeand death-like, Elshie, and there really should be some yellow andyellow on this transaction. Sae just make me a minute, ormissive, in ony form ye like, and I'se write it fair ower, andsubscribe it before famous witnesses. 0nly, Elshie, I wad wussye 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 beexposing yoursell to nae purpose. And now I'm ganging awa', forye'll be wearied o' my cracks, and I am wearied wi' crackingwithout an answer--and I'se bring ye a bit o' bride's-cake ane o'thae days, and perhaps bring Grace to see you. Ye wad like to seeGrace, man, for as dour as ye are--Eh, Lord I I wish he may beweel, that was a sair grane! or, perhaps, he thought I wasspeaking of heavenly grace, and no of Grace Armstrong. Poor man,I am somewhat doubtfu' o' his condition; but I am sure he is as kindto me as if I were his son, and a queer-looking father I wad haehad, if that had been e'en sae."

Hobbie now relieved his benefactor of his presence, and rodeblithely home to display his treasure, and consult upon the meansof repairing the damage which his fortune had sustained throughthe aggression of the Red Reiver of Westburnflat.

CHAPTER XI.