asked Lord Percy . `` 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 XXXXX this singular pageant with various emotions of anger , contempt or half-acknowledged fear , but still with an anxious curiosity .
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