After the celebration, Lothair retired4 to his private apartments. It was arranged that he was to join his assembled friends at noon, when he would receive their congratulations, and some deputations from the county.
At noon, therefore, preparatively preceded by Mr. Putney Giles, whose thought was never asleep, and whose eye was on every thing, the guardians5, the cardinal6, and the Earl of Culloden, waited on Lothair to accompany him to his assembled friends, and, as it were, launch him into the world.
They were assembled at one end of the chief gallery, and in a circle. Although the deputations would have to advance the whole length of the chamber7, Lothair and his guardians entered from a side apartment. Even with this assistance he felt very nervous. There was no lack of feeling, and, among many, of deep feeling, on this occasion, but there was an equal and a genuine exhibition of ceremony.
The lord-lieutenant was the first person who congratulated Lothair, though the high-sheriff had pushed forward for that purpose, but, in his awkward precipitation, he got involved with the train of the Hon. Lady Clotworthy, who bestowed8 on him such a withering9 glance, that he felt a routed man, and gave up the attempt. There were many kind and some earnest words. Even St. Aldegonde acknowledged the genius of the occasion. He was grave, graceful10, and dignified11, and, addressing Lothair by his title, he said, “that he hoped he would meet in life that happiness which he felt confident he deserved.” Theodora said nothing, though her lips seemed once to move; but she retained for a moment Lothair’s hand, and the expression of her countenance12 touched his innermost heart. Lady Corisande beamed with dazzling beauty. Her countenance was joyous13, radiant; her mien14 imperial and triumphant15. She gave her hand with graceful alacrity16 to Lothair, and said in a hushed tone, but every word of which reached his ear, “One of the happiest hours of my life was eight o’clock this morning.”
The lord-lieutenant and the county members then retired to the other end of the gallery, and ushered17 in the deputation of the magistracy of the county, congratulating their new brother, for Lothair had just been appointed to the bench, on his secession to his estates. The lord-lieutenant himself read the address, to which Lothair replied with a propriety18 all acknowledged. Then came the address of the mayor and corporation of Grandchester, of which city Lothair was hereditary19 high-steward; and then that of his tenantry, which was cordial and characteristic. And here many were under the impression that this portion of the proceedings20 would terminate; but it was not so. There had been some whispering between the bishop and the archdeacon, and the Rev21. Dionysius Smylie had, after conference with his superiors, twice left the chamber. It seems that the clergy22 had thought fit to take this occasion of congratulating Lothair on his great accession and the proportionate duties which it would fall on him to fulfil. The bishop approached Lothair and addressed him in a whisper. Lothair seemed surprised and a little agitated23, but apparently24 bowed assent25. Then the bishop and his staff proceeded to the end of the gallery and introduced a diocesan deputation, consisting of archdeacons and rural deans, who presented to Lothair a most uncompromising address, and begged his acceptance of a bible and prayer-book richly bound, and borne by the Rev. Dionysius Smylie on a cushion of velvet26.
The habitual27 pallor of the cardinal’s countenance became unusually wan28; the cheek of Clare Arundel was a crimson29 flush; Monsignore Catesby bit his lip; Theodora looked with curious seriousness, as if she were observing the manners of a foreign country; St. Aldegonde snorted, and pushed his hand through his hair, which had been arranged in unusual order. The great body of those present, unaware30 that this deputation was unexpected, were unmoved.
It was a trial for Lothair, and scarcely a fair one. He was not unequal to it, and what he said was esteemed31, at the moment, by all parties as satisfactory; though the archdeacon, in secret conclave32, afterward33 observed that he dwelt more on religion than on the Church, and spoke34 of the Church of Christ and not of the Church of England. He thanked them for their present of volumes, which all must reverence35 or respect.
While all this was taking place within the Towers, vast bodies of people were assembling without. Besides the notables of the county and his tenantry and their families, which drained all the neighboring villages, Lothair had forwarded several thousand tickets to the mayor and corporation of Grandchester, for distribution among their fellow-townsmen, who were invited to dine at Muriel and partake of the festivities of the day, and trains were hourly arriving with their eager and happy guests. The gardens were at once open for their unrestricted pleasure, but at two o’clock, according to the custom of the county under such circumstances, Lothair held what, in fact, was a lev e, or rather a drawing-room, when every person who possessed36 a ticket was permitted, and even invited and expected, to pass through the whole range of the state apartments of Muriel Towers, and at the same time pay their respects to, and make the acquaintance of, their lord.
Lothair stood with his chief friends near him, the ladies, however, seated, and every one passed—farmers and townsmen and honest folk, down to the stokers of the trains from Grandchester, with whose presence St. Aldegonde was much pleased, and whom he carefully addressed as they passed by.
After this great reception they all dined in pavilions in the park—one thousand tenantry by themselves, and at a fixed37 hour; the miscellaneous multitude in a huge crimson tent, very lofty, with many flags, and in which was served a banquet that never stopped till sunset, so that in time all might be satisfied; the notables and deputations, with the guests in the house, lunched in the armory38. It was a bright day, and there was unceasing music.
In the course of the afternoon Lothair visited the pavilions, where his health was proposed, and pledged—in the first by one of his tenants39, and in the other by a workman, both orators40 of repute; and he addressed and thanked his friends. This immense multitude, orderly and joyous, roamed about the parks and gardens, or danced on a platform which the prescient experience of Mr. Giles had provided for them in a due locality, and whiled away the pleasant hours, in expectation a little feverish41 of the impending42 fireworks, which, there was a rumor43, were to be on a scale and in a style of which neither Grandchester nor the county had any tradition.
“I remember your words at Blenheim,” said Lothair to Theodora. “You cannot say the present party is founded on the principle of exclusion44.”
In the mean time, about six o’clock, Lothair dined in his great hall with his two hundred guests at a banquet where all the resources of nature and art seemed called upon to contribute to its luxury and splendor45. The ladies, who had never before dined at a public dinner, were particularly delighted. They were delighted by the speeches, though they had very few; they were delighted by the national anthem46, all rising; particularly, they were delighted by “three-times-three, and one cheer more,” and “hip47, hip.” It seemed to their unpractised ears like a great naval48 battle, or the end of the world, or any thing else of unimaginable excitement, tumult49, and confusion.
The lord-lieutenant proposed Lothair’s health, and dexterously50 made his comparative ignorance of the subject the cause of his attempting a sketch51 of what he hoped might be the character of the person whose health he proposed. Every one intuitively felt the resemblance was just, and even complete, and Lothair confirmed their kind and sanguine52 anticipations53 by his terse54 and well-considered reply. His proposition of the ladies’ healths was a signal that the carriages were ready to take them, as arranged, to Muriel Mere55.
The sun had set in glory over the broad expanse of waters still glowing in the dying beam; the people were assembled in thousands on the borders of the lake, in the centre of which was an island with a pavilion. Fanciful barges56 and gondolas57 of various shapes and colors were waiting for Lothair and his party, to carry them over to the pavilion, where they found a repast which became the hour and the scene—coffee and ices and whimsical drinks, which sultanas would sip58 in Arabian tales. No sooner were they seated than the sound of music was heard—distant, but now nearer, till there came floating on the lake, until it rested before the pavilion, a gigantic shell, larger than the building itself, but holding in its golden and opal seats Signor Mardoni and all his orchestra.
Then came a concert rare in itself, but ravishing in the rosy59 twilight60; and in about half an hour, when the rosy twilight had subsided61 into a violet eve, and when the white moon that had only gleamed began to glitter, the colossal62 shell again moved on, and Lothair and his companions, embarking63 once more in their gondolas, followed it in procession about the lake. He carried in his own bark the duchess, Theodora, and the lord-lieutenant, and was rowed by a crew in Venetian dresses. As he handed Theodora to her seat, the impulse was irresistible—he pressed her hand to his lips.
Suddenly a rocket rose with a hissing64 rush from the pavilion. It was instantly responded to from every quarter of the lake. Then the island seemed on fire, and the scene of their late festivity became a brilliant palace, with pediments and columns and statues, bright in the blaze of colored flame. For half an hour the sky seemed covered with blue lights and the bursting forms of many-colored stars; golden fountains, like the eruption65 of a marine66 volcano, rose from different parts of the water; the statued palace on the island changed and became a forest glowing with green light; and finally a temple of cerulean tint67, on which appeared in huge letters of prismatic color the name of Lothair.
The people cheered, but even the voice of the people was overcome by troops of rockets rising from every quarter of the lake, and by the thunder of artillery68. When the noise and the smoke had both subsided, the name of Lothair still legible on the temple but the letters quite white, it was perceived that on every height for fifty miles round they had fired a beacon69.
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1
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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2
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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3
laymen
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| 门外汉，外行人( layman的名词复数 )； 普通教徒（有别于神职人员） | |
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4
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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7
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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8
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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10
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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12
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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13
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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14
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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15
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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16
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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17
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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20
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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21
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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22
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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23
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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24
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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25
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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26
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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27
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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28
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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29
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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30
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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31
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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32
conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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33
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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34
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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35
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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36
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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37
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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38
armory
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| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
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39
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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40
orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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41
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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42
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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43
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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44
exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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45
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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46
anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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47
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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48
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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49
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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50
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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51
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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52
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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53
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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54
terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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55
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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56
barges
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| 驳船( barge的名词复数 ) | |
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57
gondolas
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| n.狭长小船( gondola的名词复数 )；货架（一般指商店，例如化妆品店）；吊船工作台 | |
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58
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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59
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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60
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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61
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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62
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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63
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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64
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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65
eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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66
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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67
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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68
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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69
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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