ur and convenience of a modern palace.

But though it had witnessed many scenes and sights, and as strange ones
as any old walls in this ancient land, it may be doubted whether the
keep of Montfort ever looked down on anything more rare than the life
that was gathering and disporting itself in its towers and halls, and
courts and parks, and forest chase, in the memorable autumn of this
year.

Berengaria had repaired to her castle full of triumph; her lord, in high
good humour, admiring his wife for her energy, yet with a playful malice
apparently enjoying the opportunity of showing that the chronology
of her arrangements was confused, and her costume incorrect. They had
good-naturedly taken Endymion down with them; for travelling to the
Border in those times was a serious affair for a clerk in a public
office. Day after day the other guests arrived; the rivals in the
tourney were among the earliest, for they had to make themselves
acquainted with the land which was to be the scene of their exploits.
There came the Knights of the Griffin, and the Dragon, and the Black
Lion and the Golden Lion, and the Dolphin and the Stag's Head, and they
were all always scrupulously addressed by their chivalric names, instead
of by the Tommys and the Jemmys that circulated in the affectionate
circle of White's, or the Gusseys and the Regys of Belgravian
tea-parties. After a time duly appeared the Knight of the White Rose,
whose armour shielded the princely form of Florestan; and this portion
of the company was complete when the Black Knight at length reached the
castle, who had been detained by his attendance on a conference at St.
James', in the character of the Count of Ferroll.

If anything could add to the delight and excitement of Berengaria, it
would seem to be the arrival of the Count of Ferroll.

Other guests gradually appeared, who were to sustain other characters in
the great pageant. There was the Judge of Peace, and the Knight Marshal
of the Lists, and the Jester, who was to ride on a caparisoned mule
trapped with bells, and himself bearing a sceptre. Mr. Sidney Wilton
came down, who had promised to be King of the Tournament; and, though
rather late, for my lord had been detained by the same cause as the
Count of Ferroll, at length arrived the Queen of Beauty herself.

If the performance, to which all contiguous Britain intended to
repair--for irrespective of the railroads, which now began sensibly
to affect the communi