y, a stranger might
be warned of his approach to this pandemonium some time ere its wonders
were visible. The pilgrim seated himself in an accessible corner,
anxiously awaiting the promised signal.

On a long stone bench lay heaps of broken meat, ready for distribution
to the groups of mendicants who were now clamouring without the gate.
From the low and ponderous rafters hung dried mutton, bacon, and deer's
tongues, wreathed in curls of smoke, that might seem to render an
introduction to the chimney unnecessary for completing their flavour.

It was not long ere a pert waiting-maid approached. She drew up her
short linsey-woolsey garments from the contaminations beneath her feet.
Raising her chin, she thus addressed the servitors:--

"My lady bids ye bring the dole quickly into the great hall--She attends
to-day in person. When the bell rings," looking towards the pilgrim as
she spoke, "my lady leaves her chamber."

Maude departed with the same supercilious deportment. The bell was
immediately heard, and the stranger, making the best of his way into the
hall, found the doors wide open, and an indiscriminate assemblage of
supplicants, displaying to the best advantage a variety of modes and
manifestations of distress, unhappily not confined to those unhallowed
days of wretchedness and misrule. Their chief attention seemed to be
directed towards a side wicket, in the upper part of which was a slide
for the more convenient distribution of the accustomed largess, when the
Lady Mabel did not superintend the apportioning of her beneficence.

It was soon whispered amongst the crowd that she, who had for a
considerable time kept aloof from all intercourse, would that day
distribute her own bounty.

The tinkling of the bell ceased, and suddenly the door flew open. Lady
Mabel and her maidens entered. The crowd fell back as she approached. Of
a commanding form and deportment, she seemed a being of some superior
creation; whilst, with slow and majestic steps, she passed on to the
upper division of the hall, where the dais raised her slightly above the
multitude.

She was habited in deep mourning: her heavy train swept gracefully over
the dark pavement; her veil, in cumbrous folds, reached almost to her
feet, effectually concealing her face from the eyes of the spectators. A
number of servitors, now entered, bearing the allotted viands, together
with sundry articles of winter apparel. The upper table was filled, and
a profoun