Soothfasttidingshadassuredhimthatthisnoblemanwasatlength，andwithoutfail，tohonourhiscastleatoneintheafternoon，beingalatedinner-hour；andmuchwasthebustleinconsequenceoftheannunciation。TheLordKeepertraversedthechambers，heldconsultationwiththebutlerinthecellars，andevenventured，attheriskofademelewithacookofaspiritloftyenoughtoscorntheadmonitionsofLadyAshtonherself，topeepintothekitchen。Satisfied，atlength，thateverythingwasinasactiveatrainofpreparationaswaspossible，hesummonedRavenswoodandhisdaughtertowalkupontheterrace，forthepurposeofwatching，fromthatcommandingposition，theearliestsymptomsofhislordship’sapproach。Forthispurpose，withslowandidlestep，heparadedtheterrace，which，flankedwithaheavystonebattlement，stretchedinfrontofthecastleuponalevelwiththefirststory；whilevisitorsfoundaccesstothecourtbyaprojectinggateway，thebartizanorflat-leadedroofofwhichwasaccessiblefromtheterracebyaneasyflightoflowandbroadsteps。Thewholeborearesemblancepartlytoacastle，partlytoanobleman’sseat；andthoughcalculated，insomerespects，fordefence，evincedthatithadbeenconstructedunderasenseofthepowerandsecurityoftheancientLordsofRavenswood。
Thispleasantwalkcommandedabeautifulandextensiveview。
Butwhatwasmosttoourpresentpurpose，therewereseenfromtheterracetworoads，oneleadingfromtheeast，andonefromthewestward，which，crossingaridgeopposedtotheeminenceonwhichthecastlestood，atdifferentangles，graduallyapproachedeachother，untiltheyjoinednotfarfromthegateoftheavenue。ItwastothewestwardapproachthattheLordKeeper，fromasortoffidgetinganxiety，hisdaughter，fromcomplaisancetohim，andRavenswood，thoughfeelingsomesymptomsofinternalimpatience，outofcomplaisancetohisdaughter，directedtheireyestoseetheprecursorsoftheMarquis’sapproach。
Thesewerenotlongofpresentingthemselves。Tworunningfootmen，dressedinwhite，withblackjockey-caps，andlongstaffsintheirhands，headedthetrain；andsuchwastheiragility，thattheyfoundnodifficultyinkeepingthenecessaryadvance，whichtheetiquetteoftheirstationrequired，beforethecarriageandhorsemen。Onwardtheycameatalongswingingtrot，arguingunweariedspeedintheirlong-breathedcalling。
SuchrunningfootmenareoftenalludedtoinoldplaysIwouldparticularlyinstanceMiddleton’sMadWorld，myMasters，andperhapsmaybestillrememberedbysomeoldpersonsinScotland，aspartoftheretinueoftheancientnobilitywhentravellinginfullceremony。Behindtheseglancingmeteors，whofooteditasiftheAvengerofBloodhadbeenbehindthem，cameacloudofdust，raisedbyriderswhopreceded，attended，orfollowedthestate-carriageoftheMarquis。