On the present occasion , however , she owed nothing to the witchery of dress , being clad in a riding-habit of velvet which would have appeared stiff and ungraceful on any other form . The coachman reined in his four black steeds , and the whole cavalcade came to a pause in front of the contorted iron balustrade that fenced the province-house from the public street . It was an awkward coincidence that the bell of the Old South was just then tolling for a funeral ; so that , instead of a gladsome peal with which it was customary to announce the arrival of distinguished strangers , Lady Eleanore Rochcliffe was ushered by a doleful clang , as if calamity had come embodied in her beautiful person . `` A very great disrespect ! '' exclaimed Captain Langford , an English officer who had recently brought despatches to Governor Shute . `` The funeral should have been deferred lest Lady Eleanore 's spirits be affected by such a dismal welcome . '' `` With your pardon , sir , '' replied Dr. Clarke , a physician and a famous champion of the popular party , `` whatever the heralds may pretend , a dead beggar must have precedence of a living queen . King Death confers high privileges . '' These remarks-were interchanged while the speakers waited a passage through the crowd which had gathered on each side of the gateway , leaving an open avenue to the portal of the province-house . A black slave in livery now leaped from behind the coach and threw open the door , while at the same moment Governor Shute descended the flight of steps from his mansion to assist Lady Eleanore in alighting . But the governor 's stately approach was anticipated in a manner that excited general astonishment . A pale young man with his black hair all in disorder rushed from the throng and prostrated himself beside the coach , thus offering his person as a footstool for Lady Eleanore Rochcliffe to tread upon . She held back an instant , yet with an expression as if doubting whether the young man were worthy to bear the weight of her footstep rather than dissatisfied to receive such awful reverence from a fellow-mortal . `` Up , sir ! '' said the governor , sternly , at the same time lifting his cane over the intruder . `` What means the Bedlamite by this freak ? '' `` Nay , '' answered Lady Eleanore , playfully , but with more scorn than pity in her tone ; `` Your Excellency shall not strike him . When men seek only to be trampled upon , it were a pity to deny them a favor so easily granted -- and so well deserved ! '' Then , though as lightly as a sunbeam on a cloud , she placed her foot upon the cowering form and extended her hand to meet that of the governor . There was a brief interval during which Lady Eleanore retained this attitude , and never , surely , was there an apter emblem of aristocracy and hereditary pride trampling on human sympathies and the kindred of nature than these two figures presented at that moment .
Yet the spectators were so smitten with her beauty , and so essential did pride seem XXXXX the existence of such a creature , that they gave a simultaneous acclamation of applause .
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