royal armchair. Grace was said in the accustomed manner, save that
there was added to it the "De Profundis." We cannot be surprised that
such strange proceedings as these gave rise to much ridicule, and
helped to bring the Court itself into contempt.


FOOTNOTES:

[15] Miss Jackson's "Shropshire Folklore," 101.

[16] Family Romance, 1853, pp. 1-8.

[17] Harland's "Lancashire Legends," 271-2.

[18] Sir Bernard Burke, "Family Romance," 1853, I., 307-12.




CHAPTER V.

MYSTERIOUS ROOMS.

A jolly place, said he, in days of old;
But something ails it now--the spot is curst.
WORDSWORTH.


A peculiar feature of many old country houses is the so-called
"strange room," around which the atmosphere of mystery has long clung.