"The second carriage," said Constantia, "looks as if it contained a

prisoner--see, a soldier rides at each door." She turned still paler as

she spoke, and grasped the arm of Lady Frances with all her strength,

though support was required but for a moment. The motion was unnoticed

by her friend, who added in her usually gay tone-"A good guess! And who is in the third? some other caged animal; one of

my father's pet lions, or leopards, or creatures of that sort: pet or no

pet, I would rather see what it contains than all the others put

together--so much for woman's curiosity!"

"The guard are entering the great gates," said Constantia, "and whether

he bring me weal or woe, friend or foe, I must receive the Protector, so

as to show our sense of the more than honour he has done us."

"Constantia!" exclaimed Lady Frances, who still lingered at the window,

"there is a fourth carriage, a foreign-looking one, with an overgrown

boot, and no attendants--coming behind the train, like the last bit of

paper at the tail of a boy's kite. I marvel more than any who that can

contain?"

"Will you not come with me to receive your father?" said Constantia,

extending her hand to her friend. Lady Frances tripped across the room

and took it within hers.

"Constantia, nothing frights you from your propriety!--I am ready."

The sudden, though anticipated visit of the Protector, produced a

proportionate degree of embarrassment and confusion among all the

inmates of Cecil Place. At any other time, the bare intimation of such

an honour would have turned their heads, and inspired their heels with

the alacrity of St. Vitus himself; but they had felt too much interest

in the events of the past week to experience the full joy to which, at

any other time, they would have yielded. As it was, housekeeper, porter,

steward, cook, butler, and their subordinates, set about the necessary

preparations with the dexterity and alertness of servants who know that

their first duty is obedience, not only of their employer's words, but

their wishes:--not one but felt the warmest interest in all that

concerned their dear master, and still more dear mistress; they would

have gladly sacrificed their lives to make her happy: in them was

clearly shown the "constant service of the antique world." Solomon

Grundy, as usual, having the smallest quantity of brains, was the most

noisy, and the least useful, though the creature was affectionate enough

in his way, and, as we have stated, marvellously skilful in his calling.

He stood with the rest of the servants, about twenty in number, who had

assembled to await Cromwell's entrance, and do honour to their young

lady by as numerous and well arranged a show as they could collect. They

were all dressed in deep and decent mourning, except the women of Lady

Frances, who walked behind her to the great entrance, where she and

Constantia stood ready to receive his Highness. As he alighted, the

advanced-guard formed a semicircle beside the carriage; and when his

foot rested on the first step of the entrance-stairs, the two ladies

passed the threshold, to meet him with due respect. It was a picturesque

sight--the meeting of that rugged and warlike man with two such

females;--for Lady Frances, though deficient in what may be termed

regular beauty, had an air and fascination about her that was

exceedingly captivating; and as she waited, one foot a little in

advance, her head thrown back, and the jewels of her clasped stomacher

distinctly marking the outline of her full and graceful bust, she formed

a considerable, but still a pleasing contrast to the high-souled beauty

of her dignified friend. Constantia, at the moment Cromwell alighted,

trembled lest the next person should be Sir Willmott Burrell; and the

terror she naturally felt, lent an air of embarrassment to her pale,

high features, to which they were generally strangers. Her long mourning

veil fell, as usual, to her feet; and the folds of her rich velvet robe

concealed the change which but a little time had wrought in her

exquisitely moulded figure. The arched hall was crowded on either side

by her domestics, whose dresses formed a gloomy back-ground, which,

nevertheless, accorded well with the hatchment that hung over the

entrance,--a memorial of Lady Cecil's recent death. Lady Frances, as she

glanced on the sober, but well-arranged party in front, their bright

armour and broad swords flashing in the light, the prancing of the brave

horses, and the smiling face of her uncle's favourite page--her own

cousin, who followed close to his indulgent master--the mixture of

carriage and cuirass, of spear and pennon, set out against the green

meadows, and still farther off the blue and beautiful sea--all this

looked to her cheerful mind as if hope and happiness were about once

more to enter Cecil Place. The impression was so strong upon her mind,

that she only regretted she could not speak of it to Constantia, who

bent her knee to salute the hand of her friend--the Protector of

England! while he, gallantly removing his hat, raised her from the

ground, and imprinted a grave and respectful kiss upon her brow--then,

having saluted his own daughter after the same fatherly fashion, he

presented a hand to each of the ladies, and walked, bareheaded, into the

hall, returning the salutations of the delighted domestics as he passed,

and inquiring in a low, earnest tone, after the health of his worthy

host and friend, Sir Robert Cecil. As they entered the apartment, in

which a suitable refection had been prepared, Constantia was about to

return to receive her other guests.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024