ng recognized." And so saying, he softly drew the key from the inside
of the lock, and closed and locked the door, and taking the key with
him, glided down the stairs and out of the house, and took the road to
Black Hall.

CHAPTER XV.

THE MASQUERADE BALL.

Light up the mansion, spread the festive board;
Welcome the gay, the noble, and the fair!
Through the bright hall in joyous concert poured,
Let mirth and music sound the dirge of care!
But ask thou not if happiness be there,
If the loud laugh disguise convulsive throe,
Or if the brow the heart's true livery wear;
Lift not the festal mask!--enough to know
No scene of mortal life but teems with mortal woe!
--WALTER SCOTT.

The whole front of Black Hall blazed with festive lights; and these
lights were all reflected in the dark waters of the lake, and by the
glowing foliage of the trees that clothed the mountains, and by the
sparkling spray of the cascades that sprung from the rocks on the other
side.

The space immediately before the house was crowded with carriages of
every description, from the splendid open barouche to the comfortable
family coach and the plain gig.

The portico and passages in front of the house were thronged with
arriving guests and waiting attendants ready to show them to the
dressing-rooms, which were lighted and warmed, and supplied with every
convenience for the completion of the toilets.

The drawing-room and dancing saloon brilliantly lighted by chandeliers,
and beautifully decorated with festoons of dark bright evergreens and
wreaths of gorgeous autumn leaves and bouquets of splendid autumn
flowers, stood ready with wide open doors to welcome the company.

At the hall door, at the head of the servants, stood Mr. Joseph Joy the
house steward, and Miss Tabitha Winterose the housekeeper, both
disgusted with the heathenish costumes, distracted with the confusion,
disapproving of the whole proceedings, yet determined to do their duty.

Their duty was to see that the men and maids did _theirs_, in showing
the gentlemen and ladies to their dressing-rooms. They had both in turn
been astonished, scandalized, and appalled by the grotesque figures that
had passed them. But their manner of expressing their sentime