ich they had been busily engaged--and looked up with
an impertinent stare at the new comers. Mine host bustled about as the
carriage drove up before the door, and his jolly red face grew redder by
his vociferous calls for servants. In obedience to his high behest, the
servants came--the hostler, an imported cockney, to examine the points
of the horses committed to his care, and to measure his provender by
their real worth; the pretty Scotch chambermaid to conduct the ladies to
their respective rooms, and a brisk and dapper little French barber to
attack the colonel vehemently with a clothes-brush, as though he had
hostile designs upon the good man's coat.

Bernard, in the meantime, having promised to come for Virginia, and
escort her to the famous birth-night ball, rode slowly towards the
palace; now and then casting a haughty glance around him on those worthy
gossips, who followed his fine form with their admiring eyes, and
whispered among themselves that "Some folks was certainly born to luck;
for look ye, Gaffer, there is a young fribble, come from the Lord knows
where, and brought into the colony to be put over the heads of many
worthier; and for all he holds his head so high, and sneers so mighty
handsome with his lip, who knows what the lad may be. The great folk aye
make a warm nest for their own bastards, and smooth the outside of the
blanket as softly as the in, while honester folks must e'en rough it in
frieze and Duffield. But na'theless, I say nothing, neighbor."

CHAPTER XIV.

"There was a sound of revelry by night--
And Belgium's capital had gathered then
Her beauty and her chivalry; and bright
The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men;
A thousand hearts beat happily; and when
Music arose with its voluptuous swell,
Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spoke again,
And all went merry as a marriage bell."
_Childe Harold._

The ball at Sir William Berkeley's palace was of that character, which,
in the fashionable world, is described as brilliant; and was long
remembered by those who attended it, as the last scene of revelry that
was ever known in Jamestown. The park or lawn which we have described
was brilliantly illuminated with lamps and transparencies hung from the
trees. The palace itself was a perfect blaze of light. The coaches of
the cavaliers rolled in rapid succession around the circular path that
led to the