Their  footfalls  were  descending  snowflakes,  their
manners  devout,  solemn,  and  stately.  It  was
really  quite  delicious,  just  for  a  short  time ;  and  it
was  impossible  not  to  be  convinced  that  we  at
least  came  over  with  William  the  Conqueror ;  or
we  might  be  descended  in  a  straight  line  from
Prince  Bladud,  who  flourished  in  Bath  eight  hun-
dred years  before  the  Christian  era.  At  all  events,
we  were  the  noblest  in  the  land,  and  received  the
salaams  of  the  Sublime  and  the  Pensive  as  obvi-
ously due  to  our  exalted  rank.  As  I  looked  at
my  husband,  so  kingly  in  aspect  by  nature,  of
such  high  courtesy  in  manner  ;  and  at  Una,
princesslike,  with  her  sweet  dignity,  I  did  not  at
all  wonder  at  the  stolen  glances  of  our  waiters ;
that  looking  without  looking  ioxyAiX^  a  thorough-
bred English  waiter  is  so  remarkable.  Lord  Waldo
also  "  bore  it  well ;  *'  and  as  to  the  Lady  Rose,
she  might  have  bloomed  in  a  royal  conservatory.
Sumptuous  wax  candles,  in  richly  chased  silver
candlesticks,  lighted  us  up  in  the  evening.  When-
ever I  left  the  sitting-room  for  my  chamber,  the
Sublime  was  suddenly  at  the  door  to  open  and
shut  it  for  me,  bowing  down  with  all  his  lilies.
