bestial doctrine," said the Dwarf, his eyes
kindling with insane fury,--"I spurn at it, as worthy only of the beasts
that perish; but I will waste no more words with you."

He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, with great
vehemence, "Yet, lest you still think my apparent benefits to
mankind flow from the stupid and servile source, called love of our
fellow-creatures, know, that were there a man who had annihilated my
soul's dearest hope--who had torn my heart to mammocks, and seared my
brain till it glowed like a volcano, and were that man's fortune and
life in my power as completely as this frail potsherd" (he snatched up
an earthen cup which stood beside him), "I would not dash him into atoms
thus"--(he flung the vessel with fury against the wall),--"No!" (he
spoke more composedly, but with the utmost bitterness), "I would pamper
him with wealth and power to inflame his evil passions, and to fulfil
his evil designs; he should lack no means of vice and villainy; he
should be the centre of a whirlpool that itself should know neither rest
nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, while it wrecked every goodly
ship that approached its limits! he should be an earthquake capable
of shaking the very land in which he dwelt, and rendering all its
inhabitants friendless, outcast, and miserable--as I am!"

The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words,
shutting the door with furious violence, and rapidly drawing two bolts,
one after another, as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that
hated race, who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy. Earnscliff left the
moor with mingled sensations of pity and horror, pondering what strange
and melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of
mind, a man whose language argued him to be of rank and education much
superior to the vulgar. He was also surprised to see how much particular
information a person who had lived in that country so short a time,
and in so recluse a manner, had been able to collect respecting the
dispositions and private affairs of the inhabitants.

"It is no wonder," he said to himself, "that with such extent of
information, such a mode of life, so uncouth a figure, and sentiments
so virulently misanthropic, this unfortunate should be regarded by the
vulgar as in league with the Enemy of Mankind."

CHAPTER V.

The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath
Feels, in its barrenness, some touc