The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 333 hibited no repugnance. Nevertheless, | for her beauty, her fascinating manners, Elizabetha remained secluded in her | and her accomplishments. own chamber, and pleaded the continu-|* ‘ What incident has afforded us the ance of fatigue as an apology for not| unlooked-for pleasure of your ladyship’s joining the festive party in the evening | presence ?’ asked the Baron of Alten- at the banquetting-table. dorf, when he had placed the Baroness The day was spent by the nobles and Hamelen on his right hand, the Mar- ladies in hunting and hawking in the| 4" of Schomberg occupying the chair forest; and by the baron and Lord Ro- immediately next to her. dolph in superintending the sumptuous| — he terrible Zitzka has threatened arrangements which were in progress | place a ‘Taborite garrison in my man- for the nuptials, as well as the warlike | sion and my castle,’ was the response ; ye PURE? PRA Tec on: ‘and not choosing to trust myself amon preparations that were necessary fox the | | her hae ae - ye. ior = coming strife. The castle therefore |e eee eee ee ee presented a scene of gaiety, animation, | to "y poh or hee seg mites Se = . and bustle, such as its walls had not! ts 3 Nas ¢. cordially me id fe ye witnessed for many a year; and the er ee bt st gee re5 ee . . *,* : ? . . ‘ occasional voice of military command, as | ladyship,’ said the baron. ‘ But what, well as the peal of merry laughter, | then, has become of all the pensioners z < . q ; . ‘ ‘“ . . aroused those echoes which long had whom bea aa a 8 aes maintains ' _|in your two establishments | ean priors gaa supa ‘Alas ! I was compelled to leave them ' -| there,’ replied the baroness. ‘ But no Here pipes of wine were rolled through the court-yard, under the su harm will befall them; inasmuch as [ : y : ~| myself am alone suspected by the ‘T'a- sage psoteseiess _ ee ee borites of being in any way associated beneath the inspection of n military with the leaders of the royalist party.’ hye 4 ‘ And there will be no brighter orna- aga een Sera ae ee ment about the court of her majesty with provisions ; now it vibrated beneath than your ladyship,’ said the baron. the wheels of the gun-carriage and the ‘ Judging by the enthusiasm with which ad at f well the aristocracy of the southern districts Ma NED ks Hatha n dive arson of Bohemia have proclaimed their ad- Od vassals Hocked in from ah GirectiO08*+ | hesion to the royal cause, we shall soon stout farmers and pretty dairy-maidens ges agit Pane Sar Ee be in a condition to assume the offen- came with their provender,; and 1resh | sive, instead of acting merely upon the arrivals of royalist nobles, followed by defensive.’ numerous retinues, were reported to) 17 have already learnt that your lord- the baron from time to time through- ship has been invested with the chief out the day. command of the queen’s army,’ said When evening came, the banquet-|the Baroness Hamelen; ‘and I con- ting hall was thronged with a brilliant |gratulate your lordship and the friends company ; and the guests had just taken | of the cause generally upon that nomi- their places at the board, when ove of| nation. I have likewise heard that her the numerous valets in attendance an-| majesty has been pleased to accept the nounced the Baroness Hamelen. suit of your lordship’s son; and upon Her ladyship, who had only just ar-| that event I likewise offer my felicita- rived in time to make the necessary | tions.’ change in her toilette ere the deep-| The baron and Lord Rodolph made toned bell of the castle proclaimed the! suitable acknowledgments for these signal for the festival, was cordially | complimentary expressions; but the greeted by the Baron of Altendorf, the | Marquis of Schomberg could not for an Carthusian, and the Marquis of Schom-| instant repel the cloud which gathered berg; and Lord Rodolph was presented | over his countenance as he listened to to her in due form. To many of the| the language addressed by his mistress guests she was known personally, and| to one whom he now regarded as a suc- to all by name; few were acquainted | cessful rival. The keen eyes of Father with her real character, and these were | Cyprian were fixed upon him; and in members of the vast fraternity of the|the transitory expression which thus Bronze Statue ; to the greater portion, | swept over the features of the marquis, therefore, she appeared only in the| the wily monk read the confirmation of light of a woman as remarkable for her| all his previously-conceived suspicions, boundless charity as she was celebrated} ‘The banquet continued with as much = @ m eae. ee Ae al al = Ri er a wr - pet TO gin a pa” rt J = ~~ eae * a ee ee ee > ¢ = 45); "°* —e € poms +... ‘ax . ae ~ a * - io 2°. 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