Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 2 - 1819.djvu/91

Rh family this day, as I wad chap the head aff a sybo!"

The old Butler looked long after his master, often clearing away the dew as it rose to his eyes, that he might, as long as possible, distinguish his stately form from those of the other horsemen. "Close to her bridle-rein—ay, close to her bridle-rein!—Wisely saith the holy man, 'By this also you may know that woman hath dominion over all men;'—and without this lass would not our ruin have been altogether fulfilled."

With an heart fraught with such sad auguries did Caleb return to his necessary duties at Wolf's Crag, so soon as he could no longer distinguish the object of his anxiety among the groupe of riders, which diminished in the distance.

In the mean time the party pursued their route joyfully. Having once taken his resolution, the Master of Ravenswood was not of a character to hesitate or pause upon