Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/267

Rh not aware, had listened in silence to its progress. This was the principal domestic of the stranger—a man of trust and consequence—the same, who, in the hunting-field, had accommodated Bucklaw with the use of his horse. He was in the stable when Caleb had contrived the expulsion of his fellow-servants, and thus avoided sharing the same fate from which his personal importance would certainly not have otherwise saved him.

This personage perceived the manœuvre of Caleb, easily appreciated the motive of his conduct, and knowing his master's intentions towards the family of Ravenswood, had no difficulty as to the line of conduct he ought to adopt. He took the place of Caleb (unperceived by the latter,) at the post of audience which he had just left, and announced to the assembled domestics, "that it was his master's pleasure that Lord Bittlebrain's retinue and his own should go down to the adjacent change-house, and call for what refreshments they