 and at the same time dejected. He
flung his cloak from him as he entered, threw himself upon a chair, and appeared
sunk in a profound reverie.
    »What has happened? What have you done?« was hastily demanded by Craigengelt
and Bucklaw in the same moment.
    »Nothing,« was the short and sullen answer.
    »Nothing? and left us, determined to call the old villain to account for all
the injuries that you, we, and the country, have received at his hand? Have you
seen him?«
    »I have,« replied the Master of Ravenswood.
    »Seen him? and come away without settling scores which have been so long
due?« said Bucklaw; »I would not have expected that at the hand of the Master of
Ravenswood.«
    »No matter what you expected,« replied Ravenswood; »it is not to you, sir,
that I shall be disposed to render any reason for my conduct.«
    »Patience, Bucklaw,« said Craigengelt, interrupting his companion, who
seemed about to make an angry reply. »The Master has been interrupted in his
purpose by some accident; but he must excuse the anxious curiosity of friends,
who are devoted to his cause like you and me.«
    »Friends, Captain Craigengelt!« retorted Ravenswood, haughtily; »I am
ignorant what familiarity has passed betwixt us to entitle you to use that
expression. I think our friendship amounts to this, that we agreed to leave
Scotland together so soon as I should have visited the alienated mansion of my
fathers, and had an interview with its present possessor - I will not call him
proprietor.«
    »Very true, Master,« answered Bucklaw; »and as we thought you had a mind to
do something to put your neck in jeopardy, Craigie and I very courteously agreed
to tarry for you, although ours might run some risk in consequence. As to
Craigie, indeed, it does not very much signify, he had gallows written on his
brow in the hour of his birth; but I should not like to discredit my parentage
by coming to such an end in another man's cause.«
    »Gentlemen,« said the Master of Ravenswood, »I am sorry if I have occasioned
you any inconvenience, but I must claim the right of judging what is best for my
own affairs, without rendering explanations to any one. I have altered my mind,
and do not design to leave the country this season.«
    »Not to leave the country, Master!« exclaimed Craigengelt. »Not to go
