Each
looked on the face of his neighbour, hoping to find there some
indication of the felicity which his own had failed to exhibit.
The countenance of their chief grew more dark and portentous. Just as
they were expecting the full burst of his fury, up trotted the merry
imp, and irreverently crept behind Sir Ralph. Before their almost
incredulous eyes did he lay hold on the tail of the knight's cloak, and
twisting it round his arm, by a sudden jerk he brought this dignified
personage backwards upon the floor. The oaken beams trembled at this
unlooked-for invasion of their repose. Deep, deadly, and abominable
curses, rang through the hall. Livid and ghastly by turns, the knight's
features wore that ludicrous expression of rage and astonishment more
easy to conceive than to portray. Volleys of oaths and inarticulate
sounds burst out from his wrath, almost too big for utterance. When
reinstated in that posture which is the distinctive characteristic of
man, he did not attempt to administer his vindictive retribution by
proxy. Laying hold on a tough cudgel, he gave it one ominous swing,
describing an arc of sufficient magnitude to have laid an army
prostrate.
Pages:
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250