About nine, the clouds
suddenly break away and a shaft of sunshine cleaves the mellow
atmosphere, and drifts slowly along the ranks of ladies; and every
rank it touches flames into a dazzling splendor of many-colored fires,
and we tingle to our finger-tips with the electric thrill that is shot
through us by the surprise and the beauty of the spectacle!
Presently a special envoy from some distant corner of the Orient,
marching with the general body of foreign ambassadors, crosses this
bar of sunshine, and we catch our breath, the glory that streams and
flashes and palpitates about him is so overpowering; for he is crusted
from head to heels with gems, and his slightest movement showers a
dancing radiance all around him.
Let us change the tense for convenience. The time drifted along-
one hour- two hours- two hours and a half; then the deep booming of
artillery told that the king and his grand procession had arrived at
last; so the waiting multitude rejoiced. All knew that a further delay
must follow, for the king must be prepared and robed for the solemn
ceremony; but this delay would be pleasantly occupied by the
assembling of the peers of the realm in their stately robes. These
were conducted ceremoniously to their seats, and their coronets placed
conveniently at hand; and meanwhile the multitude in the galleries
were alive with interest, for most of them were beholding for the
first time, dukes, earls, and barons, whose names had been
historical for five hundred years.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225