登陆注册
5251900000038

第38章

The State DinnerTHE dinner-hour drew near- yet, strangely enough, the thought brought but slight discomfort to Tom, and hardly any terror. The morning's experiences had wonderfully built up his confidence; the poor little ash-cat was already more wonted to his strange garret, after four days' habit, than a mature person could have become in a full month. A child's facility in accommodating itself to circumstances was never more strikingly illustrated.

Let us privileged ones hurry to the great banqueting-room and have a glance at matters there while Tom is being made ready for the imposing occasion. It is a spacious apartment, with gilded pillars and pilasters, and pictured walls and ceilings. At the door stand tall guards, as rigid as statues, dressed in rich and picturesque costumes, and bearing halberds. In a high gallery which runs all around the place is a band of musicians and a packed company of citizens of both sexes, in brilliant attire. In the center of the room, upon a raised platform, is Tom's table. Now let the ancient chronicler speak:

'A gentleman enters the room bearing a rod, and along with him another bearing a table-cloth, which, after they have both kneeled three times with the utmost veneration, he spreads upon the table, and after kneeling again they both retire; then come two others, one with the rod again, the other with a salt-cellar, a plate, and bread; when they have kneeled as the others had done, and placed what was brought upon the table, they too retire with the same ceremonies performed by the first; at last come two nobles richly clothed, one bearing a tasting-knife, who, after prostrating themselves in the most graceful manner, approach and rub the table with bread and salt, with as much awe as if the king had been present.'*(14)So end the solemn preliminaries. Now, far down the echoing corridors we hear a bugle-blast, and the indistinct cry, 'Place for the king! way for the king's most excellent majesty!' These sounds are momently repeated- they grow nearer and nearer- and presently, almost in our faces, the martial note peals and the cry rings out, 'Way for the king!' At this instant the shining pageant appears, and files in at the door, with a measured march. Let the chronicler speak again:

'First come Gentlemen, Barons, Earls, Knights of the Garter, all richly dressed and bareheaded; next comes the Chancellor, between two, one of which carries the royal scepter, the other the Sword of State in a red scabbard, studded with golden fleurs-de-lis, the point upwards; next comes the King himself- whom, upon his appearing, twelve trumpets and many drums salute with a great burst of welcome, whilst all in the galleries rise in their places, crying "God save the King!"After him come nobles attached to his person, and on his right and left march his guard of honor, his fifty Gentlemen Pensioners, with gilt battle-axes.'

This was all fine and pleasant. Tom's pulse beat high and a glad light was in his eye. He bore himself right gracefully, and all the more so because he was not thinking of how he was doing it, his mind being charmed and occupied with the blithe sights and sounds about him- and besides, nobody can be very ungraceful in nicely fitting beautiful clothes after he has grown a little used to them- especially if he is for the moment unconscious of them. Tom remembered his instructions, and acknowledged his greeting with a slight inclination of his plumed head, and a courteous 'I thank ye, my good people.'

He seated himself at table without removing his cap; and did it without the least embarrassment; for to eat with one's cap on was the one solitary royal custom upon which the kings and the Cantys met upon common ground, neither party having any advantage over the other in the matter of old familiarity with it. The pageant broke up and grouped itself picturesquely, and remained bareheaded.

Now, to the sound of gay music, the Yeomen of the Guard entered-'the tallest and mightiest men in England, they being selected in this regard'- but we will let the chronicler tell about it:

'The Yeomen of the Guard entered bareheaded, clothed in scarlet, with golden roses upon their backs; and these went and came, bringing in each turn a course of dishes, served in plate. These dishes were received by a gentleman in the same order they were brought, and placed upon the table, while the taster gave to each guard a mouthful to eat of the particular dish he had brought, for fear of any poison.'

Tom made a good dinner, notwithstanding he was conscious that hundreds of eyes followed each morsel to his mouth and watched him eat it with an interest which could not have been more intense if it had been a deadly explosive and was expected to blow him up and scatter him all over the place. He was careful not to hurry, and equally careful not to do anything whatever for himself, but wait till the proper official knelt down and did it for him. He got through without a mistake- flawless and precious triumph.

When the meal was over at last and he marched away in the midst of his bright pageant, with the happy noises in his ears of blaring bugles, rolling drums, and thundering acclamations, he felt that if he had seen the worst of dining in public, it was an ordeal which he would be glad to endure several times a day if by that means he could but buy himself free from some of the more formidable requirements of his royal office.

同类推荐
  • 罗汉传

    罗汉传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉堂闲话

    玉堂闲话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Coral Reefs

    Coral Reefs

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幽明录

    幽明录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 浦阳人物记

    浦阳人物记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 痰疠法门

    痰疠法门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 两界搬运工

    两界搬运工

    自由穿行在现实世界和玄幻世界之间,安静的做一个两界搬运工。PS:新书《小师弟别浪》求支持!!
  • 悍妃无敌

    悍妃无敌

    相府七小姐又被休了!花轿未上,休书已至,七次花嫁,七次被休。相府七小姐君卿卿荣幸地成为华泽国史上最为有名的‘休’女。一纸赐婚,命定的三小姐变成了七小姐嫁入了瑞王府,不知是天意,还是人为..‘环肥燕瘦,瑞王好丰满。’一时流言四起,搅乱了一池春水,王府内群蝶飞舞,百花忙乱.“君卿卿,这是怎么回事?”男子犹如猎豹般嗜血暴戾的眼神冷冷地横扫过一众穿着暴露,胸前丰满的女人,最终将寒眸定格在那个走在最后,姗姗来迟的女子身上。走在后面的某女笑得一脸怡然自得,不时地掩嘴打个哈欠,眼角瞥了一眼堂下跪着的那一群颤颤巍巍,打扮的花枝招展的女人们,颇为无辜地眨了眨眼睛,“王爷这是做什么?妹妹们不过是为了投王爷之所好罢了。”男子玩味地看着眼前这个敢于跟他叫板,与他对视良久的女子,深邃的黑眸中划过一道森寒的冷冽。…“你就从了奴家吧。”女子浅笑盈盈地半依在床榻边,芊指轻勾,媚眼如丝,粉面却带着一丝冷意.“君卿卿,这次看你还要如何抵赖,啊,你的姘夫哪?”房门被人砰地一声撞开,满面得意的俏丽女子带着四五个丫鬟耀武扬威地站在正中,有些意外地看着床榻笑得灿烂的女子。“滚出去。”屏风后缓缓走出一人,俏丽女子脸色顿时惨白一片,浑身如坠冰窖,耳边却听得那个女人没心没肺地柔声道,“姐姐,妹妹的姘夫正是王爷哪。”…“女人,利用完了本王,就想这样就全身而退了吗?”男人冷冷地声音中不易察觉地带着一丝颤抖。“各取所需,两不相欠。难道王爷就没有利用过我吗?还是王爷已经爱上了我,决定要将皇后之位相授了?”自嘲地勾了勾唇角,不屑地看着那个轩昂挺立与天地间,浑身无形之中自然散发着一股傲视苍穹,浑然天成的霸气的俊逸男子。纵然是得到了天下又如何,你以为什么就都在你的掌握之中了吗?偏偏世间就有那么一两件事,一两个人不是在你的意料之中的,而她就是其中之一。“君卿卿,你以为如此就能逃离本王了吗?”男子一双深邃的黑眸笃定地盯着女子,心却是微微轻颤着。“自然不是,先皇圣旨,瑞王接旨.”女子娇柔的声音不大,却有足够的震撼力。
  • 凤心不轨

    凤心不轨

    她是富商之女,却被陷害失身,为查真相,她步步为营,却在路中丢失了心,但是谁又能知道在那灵魂深处,沉睡的是一个怎样的灵魂~寡妇村,借助不明人士离开,踏上旅程,展开一场前途未知的未来。他是人见人惧的魔头,只为她展现温柔,甘愿等她打开心结,接受他。
  • 东方最胜灯王陀罗尼经

    东方最胜灯王陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新七宗罪(一)

    新七宗罪(一)

    你能听到么?在这个虚无的世界里,我可以看到月出,然后月落。不论阴晴圆缺,世上已经没有什么能让我动容。我只倍感孤独,没有一个人理我。哪怕是最微弱的伤,也无法在我的胸口愈合。而你,却一去不归,你为何偏爱那里。是他们满足了你么?还是你满足了人类。 “罪 ” ——曾是我们共同的名字,却被神无情的分成了7个。你走了,你们都走了,唯留下我。在这没有阳光的天际,我已经忘记了自己是谁。我泪流满面,我快要疯了,你能体会到么?我真的不行了,我也要和你一样,放纵自己。人类的灵魂对于我们就像一张纸,上面密密麻麻的写满了字。
  • 法家的法术管理:领导者的权与势

    法家的法术管理:领导者的权与势

    韩非子是春秋战国时期韩国的贵族,师承儒学大师荀子。当时,各国都进行过变法,中央集权的政治制度和法制度已经初具规模。
  • 无限刀剑

    无限刀剑

    在都市之外是一个截然相反的世界,妖兽横行,存在无数的未知之地。有充斥着无穷黑暗生物的黑暗大陆,有着存在于天空之上的天空之城,那埋葬着神灵的无边海域,以及那些真正的异次元的世界!然而在都市之内,存在着这个世界真正的罪恶......
  • 太上洞玄灵宝五帝醮祭招真玉诀

    太上洞玄灵宝五帝醮祭招真玉诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三生梦·百年心

    三生梦·百年心

    两个相爱的人,一段重生的感情;用疼痛的忧伤镌刻着心灵成长过的痕迹。经历了权力的角逐,爱到最后,仿若隔世。那高高在上的帝座高台,终究是虚无缥缈的存在,唯有爱,才像四月阳光下的玉兰,美丽而真实。一半西风吹去,玉兰花落,恨有尽期,爱无天涯……