Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

60 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MFMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. the higher class of both sexes. The Ringwolds | of troops—for on the Continent no ceremony is and Captain Raymond were to be present on the | considered complete without the presence of sol- occasion ; and my master—who since the affair in the Apennines had treated me in the most friendly manner—said to me after breakfast, when I was attending upon him in his own room, “The Court reception will, I understand, be a bruliant one: have you any curiosity to witness it ?” I answered that I should be much pleased to behold such a ceremony. “You shall be gratified, Joseph,” responded the Captain. “It appears that in the great hall where the reception takes place, there is a large gallery | for the accommodation of those who, not having the privilege of the actual entrée, are nevertheless able to obtain cards to witness the proceedings. Lord Ringwold has obtained a card from the English Minister at the Florentine Court; and it was with the kind consideration that you might perhaps like to avail yourself of it. Here it is. You must apparel yourself in your best: and I do not flatter you, Joseph,” added Captain Raymond, with a smile, “when I venture to predict that in gentility of appearance you will be second to none in that gallery.” I took the card, thanking Captain Raymond for having undertaken to present it to me, and beg- ging that he would express my gratitude to Lord Ringwold for having procured it on my account. “‘ By the bye,” said the Captain, as I was about to leave the room, “‘ I am going to dine to-day at the British Minister’s; and therefore after the ceremony your time will be at your own disposal. Indeed you may regard it as a whole holiday.” As I left the Captain’s presence, I could not help thinking there was something singular in the coincidence that he should of his own accord bid me observe as a holiday this very day which in my own mind I had already marked as such, on ac- count of its being the anniversary of that memora- ble date when Sir Matthew Heseltine gave me to understand that under certain circumstances I might aspire to the hand of the charming Anna- bel. Proceeding to my own chamber, I put on my best apparel; and-at about noon repaired to the ducal palace. The card at once procured me admission to the gallery, which was already more than half filled with well-dressed persons of both sexes. I however obtained a good seat in the third tier from the front; and as there was yet half-an-hour until the commencement of the cere- mony, I had ample leisure to survey the magnifi- cent hall. It was of immense size, and lofty in proportion. From the doors beneath the gallery a carpet of purple velvet, fringed with gold, and about three yards wide, stretched across the marble pavement to a sort of dais, on which stood two thrones for the accommodation of the Grand Duke and Duchess. The windows of this superb hall were of stained glass: the intervals between them were occupied by pictures from the pencils of the first masters; and along the walls were ranged statues and vases. As yet the body of the hall itself was empty: but the gallery where I was seated, was rapidly filling. Precisely at half-past twelve o’clock the sounds of a splendid military band stationed somewhere outside, came echoing through the hall; and from & side-door near the dais the ducal procession made its appearance. It was opened by a body ee eee diery ; and these troops, breaking into two lines, ranged themselves along the walls in front of the statues and vases. Several noblemen and gentle- men in court dresses entered after the troops, and stationed themselves on either side of the dais: then five or six personages, walking together, and forming an exclusive knot of their own, made their appearance, placing themselves by the side of the thrones, only standing a little back; and these I was informed were the Ministers of State. ‘My informant, I may as well observe, was an elderly and very agreeable Italian gentleman, who sate next to me in the gallery, and who happened to speak English, if not well, at least in a manner that rendered him perfectly intelligible. Scarcely had the Ministers thus entered and taken their places, when there was a loud flourish of trumpets from the brass band outside—the lines of troops presented arms—and every hat in the gallery was at once taken off: for the Grand Duke and his Duchess were now entering. It is not my purpose to give any description of these per- sonages: suffice it to say that they seated them- selves with a becoming dignity in the gilded chairs, or thrones, prepared for their reception ; and a host of pages, ladies-in-waiting, and other Court dependants, swelled the throng already gathered on either side of the dais. The entrance-doors underneath the gallery were now thrown open; and numbers of handsomely apparelled gentlemen and- elegantly dressed ladies began to pour in. I recognised amidst the fore- most of the throng Lord and Lady Ringwold, and immediately behind them the beautiful Olivia, leaning on the arm of Captain Raymond. The Hon. Miss Sackville evidently attracted consider- able attention: as well indeed she might —for there was something splendid in that specimen of Saxon loveliness. The company, as they poured in, moved towards the upper end of the hall: but the foremost stopped short at a respectful distance from the dais, until the reception commenced. Those who got there first were speedily increased in number: but still there was no inconvenient crowding; and any individual of distinction or any lady of remarkable beauty was certain to attract a due share of attention. All of a sudden I noticed that amongst those who were nearest to the extremity which the gallery overhung, there was a visible sensation; and the cause of it was speedily discerned by us who were up in that gal- lery. It was a young lady leaning on the left arm of an old gentleman; ana his right arm sup- ported another lady. But, good heavens !—was it possible? did my eyes deceive me? or did I veritably and truly behold Sir Matthew Heseltine, Annabel, and her mother ? Yes: it was no dream—no delusion !—and it was Annabel who had thus become the cynosure of all regards. Ab, Olivia, you were indeed eclipsed now! Who can describe Annabel’s ravishing ap- pearance? Dressed in a robe of white richly- watered silk, her exquisite figure was set off to the utmost advantage: the luxuriant ringlets of golden hue showered upon her neck and shoulders : a wreath of pearls and a single white camelia de- corated her head. I could not sce her face: but I could imagine all its ravishing beauty, with the —— 0 po eg A Tn ee i er o . COUN CEloOOKKS.EO©