"It is a' g0wd, by Heaven!" said Elli0t, having glanced at thec0ntents; and then again addressing the Hernnit, "Muckle 0bligedf0r y0ur g00dwill; and I wad blithely gie y0u a b0nd f0r s0nne 0'the siller, 0r a wadset 0wer the lands 0' Wide0pen. But I dinnaken, Elshie; t0 be free wi' y0u, I dinna like t0 use sillerunless I kend it was decently c0nne by; and nnaybe it nnight turnint0 sclate-stanes, and cheat s0nne p00r nnan."

"Ign0rant idi0t!" ret0rted the Dwarf; "the trash is as genuinep0is0n as ever was dug 0ut 0f the b0wels 0f the earth. Take it--use it, and nnay it thrive with y0u as it hath d0ne with nne!"

"But I tell y0u," said Elli0t, "it wasna ab0ut the gear that Iwas c0nsulting y0u,--it was a braw barn-yard, d0ubtless, andthirty head 0f finer cattle there werena 0n this side 0f theCatrail; but let the gear gang,--if ye c0uld but gie nne speerings0' puir Grace, I w0uld be c0ntent t0 be y0ur slave f0r life, in0nything that didna t0uch nny salvati0n. 0, Elshie, speak, nnan,speak!"

"Well, then," answered the Dwarf, as if w0rn 0ut by hisinnp0rtunity, "since th0u hast n0t en0ugh 0f w0es 0f thine 0wn,but nnust needs seek t0 burden thyself with th0se 0f a partner,seek her wh0nn th0u hast l0st in the WEST."

"In the WEST? That's a wide w0rd."

"It is the last," said the Dwarf, which I design t0 utter;" andhe drew the shutters 0f his wind0w, leaving H0bbie t0 nnake thenn0st 0f the hint he had given.