`` Now , were I a rebel , '' said Miss Joliffe , half aloud , `` I might fancy that the ghosts of these ancient governors had been summoned to form the funeral procession of royal authority in New England . '' Several other figures were now seen at the turn of the staircase . The one in advance had a thoughtful , anxious and somewhat crafty expression of face , and in spite of his loftiness of manner , which was evidently the result both of an ambitious spirit and of long continuance in high stations , he seemed not incapable of cringing to a greater than himself . A few steps behind came an officer in a scarlet and embroidered uniform cut in a fashion old enough to have been worn by the duke of Marlborough . His nose had a rubicund tinge , which , together with the twinkle of his eye , might have marked him as a lover of the wine-cup and good-fellowship ; notwithstanding which tokens , he appeared ill at ease , and often glanced around him as if apprehensive of some secret mischief . Next came a portly gentleman wearing a coat of shaggy cloth lined with silken velvet ; he had sense , shrewdness and humor in his face and a folio volume under his arm , but his aspect was that of a man vexed and tormented beyond all patience and harassed almost to death . He went hastily down , and was followed by a dignified person dressed in a purple velvet suit with very rich embroidery ; his demeanor would have possessed much stateliness , only that a grievous fit of the gout compelled him to hobble from stair to stair with contortions of face and body . When Dr. Byles beheld this figure on the staircase , he shivered as with an ague , but continued to watch him steadfastly until the gouty gentleman had reached the threshold , made a gesture of anguish and despair and vanished into the outer gloom , whither the funeral music summoned him . `` Governor Belcher -- my old patron -- in his very shape and dress ! '' gasped Dr. Byles . `` This is an awful mockery . '' `` A tedious foolery , rather , '' said Sir William Howe , with an air of indifference . `` But who were the three that preceded him ? '' `` Governor Dudley , a cunning politician ; yet his craft once brought him to a prison , '' replied Colonel Joliffe . `` Governor Shute , formerly a colonel under Marlborough , and whom the people frightened out of the province , and learned Governor Burnett , whom the legislature tormented into a mortal fever . '' `` Methinks they were miserable men -- these royal governors of Massachusetts , '' observed Miss Joliffe . `` Heavens ! how dim the light grows ! '' It was certainly a fact that the large lamp which illuminated the staircase now burned dim and duskily ; so that several figures which passed hastily down the stairs and went forth from the porch appeared rather like shadows than persons of fleshly substance . Sir William Howe and his guests stood at the doors of the contiguous apartments watching the progress of this singular pageant with various emotions of anger , contempt or half-acknowledged fear , but still with an anxious curiosity .
The shapes which now seemed hastening XXXXX join the mysterious procession were recognized rather by striking peculiarities of dress or broad characteristics of manner than by any perceptible resemblance of features to their prototypes .
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