Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/234

224 "Why, just that ye suld speer ony gentleman hame to dinner; for I canna mak anither fast on a feast day, as when I cam ower Bucklaw wi' Queen Margaret—and, to speak truth, if your lordship wad but please to cast yoursell in the way of dining wi' Lord Bittlebrains, I'se warrand I wad cast about brawly for the morn; or if, stead o' that, ye wad but dine wi' them at the Change-house, ye might mak your shift for the lawing; ye might say ye had forgot your purse—or that the carline awed you rent, and that ye wad allow it in the settlement."

"Or any other lie that came uppermost, I suppose," said his master. "Good bye, Caleb; I commend your care for the honour of the family." And, throwing himself on his horse, he followed Bucklaw, who, at the manifest risk of his neck, had begun to gallop down the steep path which led to the Tower, as soon as he saw Ravenswood have his foot in the stirrup.

Caleb Balderstone looked anxiously after