Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/287

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THE BRIDE OF LAMMERMOOR.
277

ceiving the situation of Miss Ashton, he had prudence enough to make a pause, both to avoid adding to her alarm, and in order to secure attention to his account of the disastrous effects of the thunder.

But when he perceived that the lady was recovered, and heard the conversation turn upon the accommodation and refreshment which the castle afforded, he thought it time to burst into the room in the manner announced in the last chapter.

"Wull a wins!—wull a wins!—such a misfortune to befa' the House of Ravenswood, and I to live to see it!"

"What is the matter, Caleb?" said his master, somewhat alarmed in his turn; "has any part of the castle fallen?"

"Castle fa'an?—na, but the sute's fa'an, and the thunner's come right down the kitchen-lumm, and the things are a' lying here awa', there awa,' like the Laird o' Hotchpotch's lands—and wi' brave guests of honour and quality to entertain,"—a low bow here to Sir William Ashton and