The
_battue_, however, in time, called forth its band, and then one by one,
or two by two, or sometimes even three, leaning on each other's arms
and smiling in each other's faces, the ladies dropped into the
breakfast-room at Castle Dacre. There, until two o'clock, a lounging
meal might always be obtained, but generally by twelve the coast was
clear; for our party were a natural race of beings, and would have
blushed if flaming noon had caught them napping in their easy couches.
Our bright bird, May Dacre, too, rose from her bower, full of the memory
of the sweetest dreams, and fresh as lilies ere they kiss the sun.
She bends before her ivory crucifix, and gazes on her blessed mother's
face, where the sweet Florentine had tinged with light a countenance
Too fair for worship, too divine for love!
And innocence has prayed for fresh support, and young devotion told her
holy beads. She rises with an eye of mellowed light, and her soft cheek
is tinted with the flush that comes from prayer. Guard over her, ye
angels! wheresoe'er and whatsoe'er ye are! For she shall be your meet
companion in an after-day.
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