ThealarmoftheLordKeeperbecameveryserious；sincetheClaimofRight，thepowerofappealingfromthedecisionsofthecivilcourttotheEstatesofParliament，whichhadformerlybeenheldincompetent，hadinmanyinstancesbeenclaimed，andinsomeallowed，andhehadnosmallreasontoapprehendtheissue，iftheEnglishHouseofLordsshouldbedisposedtoactuponanappealfromtheMasterofRavenswood”forremeidinlaw。”Itwouldresolveintoanequitableclaim，andbedecided，perhaps，uponthebroadprinciplesofjustice，whichwerenotquitesofavourabletotheLordKeeperasthoseofstrictlaw。Besides，judging，thoughmostinaccurately，fromcourtswhichhehadhimselfknownintheunhappytimesprecedingtheScottishUnion，theKeepermighthavetoomuchrighttothinkthat，intheHousetowhichhislawsuitsweretobetransferred，theoldmaximmightprevailwhichwastoowellrecognisedinScotlandinformertimes:”Showmetheman，andI’llshowyouthelaw。”ThehighandunbiassedcharacterofEnglishjudicialproceedingswasthenlittleknowninScotland，andtheextensionofthemtothatcountrywasoneofthemostvaluableadvantageswhichitgainedbytheUnion。ButthiswasablessingwhichtheLordKeeper，whohadlivedunderanothersystem，couldnothavethemeansofforeseeing。Inthelossofhispoliticalconsequence，heanticipatedthelossofhislawsuit。Meanwhile，everyreportwhichreachedhimservedtorenderthesuccessoftheMarquis’sintriguesthemoreprobable，andtheLordKeeperbegantothinkitindispensablethatheshouldlookroundforsomekindofprotectionagainstthecomingstorm。Thetimidityofhistemperinducedhimtoadoptmeasuresofcompromiseandconciliation。Theaffairofthewildbull，properlymanaged，might，hethought，bemadetofacilitateapersonalcommunicationandreconciliationbetwixttheMasterandhimself。Hewouldthenlearn，ifpossible，whathisownideaswereoftheextentofhisrights，andthemeansofenforcingthem；andperhapsmattersmightbebroughttoacompromise，whereonepartywaswealthyandtheothersoverypoor。AreconciliationwithRavenswoodwaslikelytogivehimanopportunitytoplayhisowngamewiththeMarquisofA。”Andbesides，”saidhetohimself，”itwillbeanactofgenerositytoraiseuptheheirofthisdistressedfamily；andifheistobewarmlyandeffectuallybefriendedbythenewgovernment，whoknowsbutmyvirtuemayproveitsownreward？”
ThusthoughtSirWilliamAshton，coveringwithnounusualself-
delusionhisinterestedviewswithahueofvirtue；andhavingattainedthispoint，hisfancystrayedstillfarther。Hebegantobethinkhimself，”ThatifRavenswoodwastohaveadistinguishedplaceofpowerandtrust，andifsuchaunionwouldsopitetheheavierpartofhisunadjustedclaims，theremightbeworsematchesforhisdaughterLucy:theMastermightbereponedagainsttheattainder。LordRavenswoodwasanancienttitle，andthealliancewould，insomemeasure，legitimatehisownpossessionofthegreaterpartoftheMaster’sspoils，andmakethesurrenderoftherestasubjectoflessbitterregret。”
Withthesemingledandmultifariousplansoccupyinghishead，theLordKeeperavailedhimselfofmyLordBittlebrains’srepeatedinvitationtohisresidence，andthuscamewithinaveryfewmilesofWolf’sCrag。Herehefoundthelordofthemansionabsent，butwascouteouslyreceivedbythelady，whoexpectedherhusband’simmediatereturn。SheexpressedherparticulardelightatseeingMissAshton，andappointedthehoundstobetakenoutfortheLordKeeper’sspecialamusement。Hereadilyenteredintotheproposal，asgivinghimanopportunitytoreconnoitreWolf’sCrag，andperhapstomakesomeacquaintancewiththeowner，ifheshouldbetemptedfromhisdesolatemansionbythechase。Lockhardhadhisorderstoendeavouronhisparttomakesomeacquaintancewiththeinmatesofthecastle，andwehaveseenhowheplayedhispart。
TheaccidentalstormdidmoretofurthertheLordKeeper’splanofformingapersonalacquaintancewithyoungRavenswoodthanhismostsanguineexpectationscouldhaveanticipated。Hisfearoftheyoungnobleman’spersonalresentmenthadgreatlydecreasedsinceheconsideredhimasformidablefromhislegalclaimsandthemeanshemighthaveofenforcingthem。Butalthoughhethought，notunreasonably，thatonlydesperatecircumstancesdrovemenondesperatemeasures，itwasnotwithoutasecretterror，whichshookhisheartwithinhim，thathefirstfelthimselfinclosedwithinthedesolateTowerofWolf’sCrag；aplacesowellfitted，fromsolitudeandstrength，tobeasceneofviolenceandvengeance。ThesternreceptionatfirstgiventothembytheMasterofRavenswood，andthedifficultyhefeltinexplainingtothatinjurednoblemanwhatguestswereundertheshelterofhisroof，didnotsoothethesealarms；sothatwhenSirWilliamAshtonheardthedoorofthecourtyardshutbehindhimwithviolence，thewordsofAlicerunginhisears，”ThathehaddrawnonmatterstoohardlywithsofiercearaceasthoseofRavenswood，andthattheywouldbidetheirtimetobeavenged。”