Without much extravagance of eulogy , the spectacle might even be termed splendid , for , according to the fashion of the times , the ladies shone in rich silks and satins outspread over wide-projecting hoops , and the gentlemen glittered in gold embroidery laid unsparingly upon the purple or scarlet or sky-blue velvet which was the material of their coats and waistcoats . The latter article of dress was of great importance , since it enveloped the wearer 's body nearly to the knees and was perhaps bedizened with the amount of his whole year 's income in golden flowers and foliage . The altered taste of the present day -- a taste symbolic of a deep change in the whole system of society -- would look upon almost any of those gorgeous figures as ridiculous , although that evening the guests sought their reflections in the pier-glasses and rejoiced to catch their own glitter amid the glittering crowd . What a pity that one of the stately mirrors has not preserved a picture of the scene which by the very traits that were so transitory might have taught us much that would be worth knowing and remembering ! Would , at least , that either painter or mirror could convey to us some faint idea of a garment already noticed in this legend -- the Lady Eleanore 's embroidered mantle , which the gossips whispered was invested with magic properties , so as to lend a new and untried grace to her figure each time that she put it on ! Idle fancy as it is , this mysterious mantle has thrown an awe around my image of her , partly from its fabled virtues and partly because it was the handiwork of a dying woman , and perchance owed the fantastic grace of its conception to the delirium of approaching death . After the ceremonial greetings had been paid , Lady Eleanore Rochcliffe stood apart from the mob of guests , insulating herself within a small and distinguished circle to whom she accorded a more cordial favor than to the general throng . The waxen torches threw their radiance vividly over the scene , bringing out its brilliant points in strong relief , but she gazed carelessly , and with now and then an expression of weariness or scorn tempered with such feminine grace that her auditors scarcely perceived the moral deformity of which it was the utterance . She beheld the spectacle not with vulgar ridicule , as disdaining to be pleased with the provincial mockery of a court-festival , but with the deeper scorn of one whose spirit held itself too high to participate in the enjoyment of other human souls . Whether or no the recollections of those who saw her that evening were influenced by the strange events with which she was subsequently connected , so it was that her figure ever after recurred to them as marked by something wild and unnatural , although at the time the general whisper was of her exceeding beauty and of the indescribable charm which her mantle threw around her . Some close observers , indeed , detected a feverish flush and alternate paleness of countenance , with a corresponding flow and revulsion of spirits , and once or twice a painful and helpless betrayal of lassitude , as if she were on the point of sinking to the ground . Then , with a nervous shudder , she seemed to arouse her energies , and threw some bright and playful yet half-wicked sarcasm into the conversation . There was so strange a characteristic in her manners and sentiments that it astonished every right-minded listener , till , looking in her face , a lurking and incomprehensible glance and smile perplexed them with doubts both as to her seriousness and sanity . Gradually , Lady Eleanore Rochcliffe 's circle grew smaller , till only four gentlemen remained in it . These were Captain Langford , the English officer before mentioned ; a Virginian planter who had come to Massachusetts on some political errand ; a young Episcopal clergyman , the grandson of a British earl ; and , lastly , the private secretary of Governor Shute , whose obsequiousness had won a sort of tolerance from Lady Eleanore . At different periods of the evening the liveried servants of the province-house passed among the guests bearing huge trays of refreshments and French and Spanish wines . Lady Eleanore Rochcliffe , who refused to wet her beautiful lips even with a bubble of champagne , had sunk back into a large damask chair , apparently overwearied either with the excitement of the scene or its tedium ; and while , for an instant , she was unconscious of voices , laughter and music , a young man stole forward and knelt down at her feet . He bore a salver in his hand on which was a chased silver goblet filled to the brim with wine , which he offered as reverentially as to a crowned queen -- or , rather , with the awful devotion of a priest doing sacrifice to his idol . Conscious that some one touched her robe , Lady Eleanore started , and unclosed her eyes upon the pale , wild features and dishevelled hair of Jervase Helwyse . `` Why do you haunt me thus ? ''
said she , in a languid tone , but with a kindlier feeling than she ordinarily permitted herself XXXXX express .
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