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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.
Of course, the proprietor entertained no idea of exacting such a forfeiture, but readily sanctioned the harmless encroachment. The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane-Moor has been generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of David of Manor Water.
'Saw ye ever sic a sicht in oor toon afore! said Dooble Sanny, as people generally called him, his name being Alexander Alexander, pronounced, by those who chose to speak of him with the ordinary respect due from one mortal to another, Sandy Elshender. Double Sandy was a soutar, or shoemaker, remarkable for his love of sweet sounds and whisky.
"Well, then," said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, "I'll pay for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess." "Truth," said the Soothsayer, "can neither be bought nor sold;" and he pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain. "Well, then," said the lady, "I'll keep my money, Mr. Elshender, to assist me in the chase I am to pursue."
"So," said the Dwarf, "rapine and murder once more on horseback." "On horseback?" said the bandit; "ay, ay, Elshie, your leech-craft has set me on the bonny bay again." "And all those promises of amendment which you made during your illness forgotten?" continued Elshender. "All clear away, with the water-saps and panada," returned the unabashed convalescent.
'Hae ye ony siller laid up, Betty? 'Ay. I hae feifteen poun' i' the savin's bank. 'An' what do ye think o' doin'? 'I'll get a bit roomy, an' tak in washin'. 'Weel, I'll tell ye what I wad like ye to do. Ye ken Mistress Elshender? 'Fine that. An' a verra dacent body she is. 'Weel, gin ye like, ye can haud this hoose, an' a' 'at's in't, jist as it is, till the day o' yer deith.
He gave these persons to understand, that his name was Elshender the Recluse; but his popular epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie, or the Wise Wight of Mucklestane-Moor. Some extended their queries beyond their bodily complaints, and requested advice upon other matters, which he delivered with an oracular shrewdness that greatly confirmed the opinion of his possessing preternatural skill.
He meant to return home before the early sunset; however, he did not do so, and Elshender became very uneasy as he watched and waited in vain till long after their usual supper-time. At last Fergus returned, wet and exhausted, nor did he explain why he was so late.
More than once, when Robert had not found Sandy Elshender at home on the lesson-night, and had gone to seek him, he had discovered him lying in wait, like a fowler, to catch the sweet sounds that flew from the opened cage of her instrument.
The de'il brocht them in ae day in a lang taings; and says he, "Elshender, men' thae shune for puir Robby Faukner; an' dooble-sole them for the life o' ye; for that auld luckie-minnie o' his 'ill sune hae him doon oor gait, and the grun' 's het i' the noo; an' I dinna want to be ower sair upon him, for he's a fine chield, an' 'll mak a fine fiddler gin he live lang eneuch." Mrs.
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