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With palpable and inexcusable defects in the dénouement, there are scenes of deep and overwhelming interest; and every one, we think, must be delighted with the portrait of the Grandmother of Hobbie Elliott, a representation soothing and consoling in itself, and heightened in its effect by the contrast produced from the lighter manners of the younger members of the family, and the honest but somewhat blunt and boisterous bearing of the shepherd himself.
"Hout fie, bairns!" said the old lady, with something of a good-humoured reproof, "ye shouldna vex your billy Hobbie that way. Look round, my bairn, and see if there isna ane here mair than ye left this morning." Hobbie looked eagerly round. "There's you, and the three titties." "There's four of us now, Hobbie, lad," said the youngest, who at this moment entered.
The cleugh, or wild ravine, into which Hobbie Elliot had followed the game, was already far behind him, and he was considerably advanced on his return homeward, when the night began to close upon him.
He then started into an access of frenzy, and unsheathing a long sharp knife, or dagger, which he wore under his coat, he was about to launch it at the dog, when Hobbie, perceiving his purpose, interposed, and caught hold of his hand, exclaiming, "Let a be the hound, man let a be the hound! Na, na, Killbuck maunna be guided that gate, neither."
Suddenly Hobbie slackened his pace in the deepest mortification, while that of Earnscliff was hastened by impatient surprise. It was not Grace Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, whose liberation had been effected by their appearance before the tower. "Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong?" exclaimed Hobbie, in the extremity of wrath and indignation.
The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree affecting. His sisters threw themselves upon him, and almost stifled him with their caresses, as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish the absence of one yet more beloved. "God help thee, my son! He can help when worldly trust is a broken reed." Such was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson.
It seemed to the party that their motions were watched by some one concealed within this turret; and they were confirmed in their belief when, through a narrow loophole, a female hand was seen to wave a handkerchief, as if by way of signal to them. Hobbie was almost out of his senses with joy and eagerness. "It was Grace's hand and arm," he said; "I can swear to it amang a thousand.
I can tell ye, my mother my grandmother I mean but, since we lost our ain mother, we ca' her sometimes the tane, and sometimes the tother but, ony gate, she conceits hersell no that distant connected wi' you." "Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinner to-morrow with all my heart." "Weel, that's kindly said!
He was interrupted by the youngest of his sisters, who came running out, and, speaking in a constrained voice, as if to stifle some emotion, called out to him, "What are ye doing there, Hobbie, fiddling about the naig, and there's ane frae Cumberland been waiting here for ye this hour and mair? Haste ye in, man; I'll take off the saddle."
Go hence, thou who hast contrived to give an additional pang to the most miserable of human beings thou who hast deprived me of what I half considered as a source of comfort. Go hence, and enjoy the happiness prepared for thee at home!" "Never stir," said Hobbie, "if I wadna take you wi' me, man, if ye wad but say it wad divert ye to be at the bridal on Monday.
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