The merchant's house being nigh unto the market cross, Kate's
prettily-spangled feet were soon safely conducted over the low
stepping-stones placed at convenient distances for the transit of
foot-passengers through the unpaved streets. Near a sort of style,
guarding the entrance to the churchyard, rose an immense pile of
buildings, cumbrous and uncouth. These were built something in the
fashion of an inverted pyramid; to wit, the smaller area occupying the
basement, and the larger spreading out into the topmost story. As she
turned the corner of this vast hive of habitation--for many families
were located therein--a gay cavalier, sumptuously attired, swept round
at the same moment. Man and maid stood still for one instant. With
unpropitious courtesy, an unlucky gust turned aside Kate's veil of real
Flanders point; and the two innocents, like silly sheep, were staring
into each other's eyes without either apology or rebuke. It did seem as
though Kate were not without knowledge of the courtly beau: a rich and
glowing vermilion came across her neck and face, like the gorgeous blush
of evening upon the cold bosom of a snow-cloud.
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