30
THE BATTALION.
T
as there were many ahead of us. As we sat there, waiting
for our turn to come, in the quiet and warmth, in the frag
rance and luxuriance of it all, it seemed to me the supreme
moment of my life.
In a little while we moved on and soon alighted upon the
Avide, red carpeted stairs and were rapidly Avhisked away ta
the cloak roomj everyone seemed in a spasm of haste, except
the demure Avhite-capped maid servant Avho took our Avraps,
marked them leisurely and laid them a vay. We hurried,
like the rest and soon found ourseh’es in a large pillared room
filled with chairs, most of them occupied by ladies, each
waiting for her presentation time to arrive. I am afraid that
I stared, for I had ne\ r er seen so many rare jewels and bro
cades; lovely orchids and patrician faces in one group before
in my life—and I stared in simple republican Avonder! Several
gentlemen were scattered among these loA T ely women, some
Avere officers in uniform, while others were only civilians,
but Avere dressed in regulation costumes of black velvet, silk
hose and shoe buckles. Our major was au fait in court mat
ters, so w r e felt no uneasiness with him to see us through.
Suddenly a door opened at the farther end of the room and
we all rushed forward, but found we could go no further, as a
silken rope detained us, also a gentleman of the Court.
The lady in front Avas taken out first and so on to us—each
held her train OA 7 er the left arm. We went through this de
partment to another door, Avhere we found another silken bar
rier and another gentleman of the Court. Royalty is so
hedged about! Lady de Armand preceded me, Avhen our turn
came, called back in a stage whisper “Don’t forget the
nine courtesies!” I saAv three gentlemen of the household
take her train from her arm and spread it over the floor to
its fullest extent. I quickly glanced ahead and then I saAV
the Queen in the midst of all the glories of the court, stand
ing among them as queen, and yet, Avith the kind look of
mother and friend in her face. In a moment I felt my train
taken from me, heard my name called, Deborah Winthrop,
yet it scarcely seemed mine—then I felt myself dip forward,
a