 scene beneath him, and heard
the whoops of the huntsmen gaily mingled with the cry of the dogs, and the
neighing and trampling of the horses. But these jovial sounds fell sadly on the
ear of the ruined nobleman. The chase, with all its train of excitations, has
ever since feudal times been accounted the almost exclusive privilege of the
aristocracy, and was anciently their chief employment in times of peace. The
sense that he was excluded by his situation from enjoying the silvan sport,
which his rank assigned to him as a special prerogative, and the feeling that
new men were now exercising it over the downs, which had been jealously reserved
by his ancestors for their own amusement, while he, the heir of the domain, was
fain to hold himself at a distance from their party, awakened reflections
calculated to depress deeply a mind like Ravenswood's, which was naturally
contemplative and melancholy. His pride, however, soon shook off this feeling of
dejection, and it gave way to impatience upon finding that his volatile friend,
Bucklaw, seemed in no hurry to return with his borrowed steed, which Ravenswood,
before leaving the field, wished to see restored to the obliging owner. As he
was about to move towards the group of assembled huntsmen, he was joined by a
horseman, who like himself had kept aloof during the fall of the deer.
    This personage seemed stricken in years. He wore a scarlet cloak, buttoning
high up on his face, and his hat was unlooped and slouched, probably by way of
defence against the weather. His horse, a strong and steady palfrey, was
calculated for a rider who proposed to witness the sport of the day, rather than
to share it. An attendant waited at some distance, and the whole equipment was
that of an elderly gentleman of rank and fashion. He accosted Ravenswood very
politely, but not without some embarrassment.
    »You seem a gallant young gentleman, sir,« he said, »and yet appear as
indifferent to this brave sport as if you had my load of years on your
shoulders.«
    »I have followed the sport with more spirit on other occasions,« replied the
Master; »at present, late events in my family must be my apology - and besides,«
he added, »I was but indifferently mounted at the beginning of the sport.«
    »I think,« said the stranger, »one of my attendants had the sense to
accommodate your friend with a horse.«
    »I was much indebted to his politeness and yours,« replied Ravenswood. »My
friend is Mr.
