“Inimicus amicissimus,” said the Lord Keeper, returning the pressure; “but this gentleman—­this Mr. Hayston of Bucklaw—­I am afraid the poor young man—­I heard the fellow mention his name—­is under very bad guidance.”

“He is old enough to govern himself,” answered the Master.

“Old enough, perhaps, but scarce wise enough, if he has chosen this fellow for his fidus Achates.  Why, he lodged an information against him—­that is, such a consequence might have ensued from his examination, had we not looked rather at the character of the witness than the tenor of his evidence.”

“Mr. Hayston of Bucklaw,” said the master, “is, I believe, a most honourable man, and capable of nothing that is mean or disgraceful.”

“Capable of much that is unreasonable, though; that you must needs allow, master.  Death will soon put him in possession of a fair estate, if he hath it not already; old Lady Girnington—­an excellent person, excepting that her inveterate ill-nature rendered her intolerable to the whole world—­is probably dead by this time.  Six heirs portioners have successively died to make her wealthy.  I know the estates well; they march with my own—­a noble property.”

“I am glad of it,” said Ravenswood, “and should be more so, were I confident that Bucklaw would change his company and habits with his fortunes.  This appearance of Craigengelt, acting in the capacity of his friend, is a most vile augury for his future respectability.”

“He is a bird of evil omen, to be sure,” said the Keeper, “and croaks of jail and gallows-tree.  But I see Mr. Caleb grows impatient for our return to breakfast.”

CHAPTER XVIII.

     Sir, stay at home and take an old man’s counsel;
     Seek not to bask you by a stranger’s hearth;
     Our own blue smoke is warmer than their fire. 
     Domestic food is wholesome, though ’tis homely,
     And foreign dainties poisonous, though tasteful.

     The French Courtezan.

The Master of Ravenswood took an opportunity to leave his guests to prepare for their departure, while he himself made the brief arrangements necessary previous to his absence from Wolf’s Crag for a day or two.  It was necessary to communicate with Caleb on this occasion, and he found that faithful servitor in his sooty and ruinous den, greatly delighted with the departure of their visitors, and computing how long, with good management, the provisions which had been unexpended might furnish the Master’s table.  “He’s nae belly god, that’s ae blessing; and Bucklaw’s gane, that could have eaten a horse behind the saddle.  Cresses or water-purpie, and a bit ait-cake, can serve the Master for breakfast as weel as Caleb.  Then for dinner—­there’s no muckle left on the spule-bane; it will brander, though—­it will brander very weel.”

His triumphant calculations were interrupted by the Master, who communicated to him, not without some hesitation, his purpose to ride with the Lord Keeper as far as Ravenswood Castle, and to remain there for a day or two.