another ray gladdening the expectant eyes of the guest from Londonway;
while yet another broad gleam sped the departing traveler over the
threshold of the forest into the gloom-environed pathway beyond. Upon
every shelving projection of the unhewn stone structure was ice. The
entire walls scintillated with a fairy brilliancy, and the trees as
they swayed back and forth propelled by the unceasing wind caused such
a coruscation of sparkles it fairly blinded the spectator. Beneath
the spreading branches were a host of men, horses and dogs. The gay
costumes of the huntsmen showing resplendent in the ice-bespangled
light. The horns were lowered, and there was a confusion of tongues
between groomsmen and lackeys; and there were shouts of welcome from
the wide-open doorway of the servants' hall; for 'twas here the game
was brought and laid upon the stone floor or hung upon pegs on the
wall for the inspection of the guests. Lord Cedric leapt from his
horse, throwing the reins to a waiting groom; strode into the hall
with rattling spurs and flung through the rooms and up the stairway to
his Lady Katherine's bower, and rapped smartly upon the panelling of
the door. The vision that met his amorous eyes sent him hot and cold;
and 'twas with difficulty he restrained himself from encircling her
full, glowing body.

"The hours I have been from thee have seemed weeks, and I was of no
use in the field; my gun would entangle in the low-hanging boughs;
and on the wold my steed's feet were caught in the dry gorse, until I
could not get near enough to shoot anything. On the other hand, Cupid
has arrowed me to the death, and I come,--a shade for thee to put life
into; and the sight of thee is a life-giving thing." Katherine's face
flamed with his warm words, and the consciousness of the beauty of her
new adornment; for she stood before him in an amber shimmering stuff
that clung to her lithe limbs, hiding not her slender ankle and her