The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-15


 On the other hangings were worked monksh legends and scenes from the controversial fathers. Much of this needlework had been wrought by the fair hands of Dorothy Vernon herself. Sir George had bidden his daughter to grace the feast. and Dorothy had prepared her self in all the richness of attire which her ample wardrobe afforded her.
 The silver dinner bell rang on the sum- init of the hall, the warder thrice wound his horn. With a great clang the doors of the banquet room flew open and in came a splendid company of knights and nobles, led by the chief vassal of the vernons, Sir Firras Faljambe. He was clad in buff jerkin with slashed sleeves, a mantle of lincoln green was fastened around his neck with golden wolf claws. a pair of gilt spurs jingled upon the heels of his brown hunting boets. The toes of his boots turned up and were connected with golden chainS to the. silver tassels which adorned the tops of his boots. On his head was boarskin cap, in the front , in gold. At his side was famous hunt Ing horn. the hunting horn of Tutbury. Behind him came Sir George. plainly dressed, his long brown hair falling down to his girdle. No ornament or extrava- gance of apparel needed he-the natural dignity of his bearing was enough. Around him and behind him the knights and nobles glittered and shone, but the lord Of Haddon walked on in simple majesty. Among the knights and nobles walked many fair and noble dame and many a blooming maiden, all attired in the sump- tuous manner which the dress of state of tho times prescribed. And among the blooming throng of loveliness none shone so fair as Dora Vernon. Her~high spirit had not been broken or bent; she was re- solved to win her way and her lover, and now her cheeks were red as roses and her eyes as bright as diamonds. Grace, beauty, health, fairly irridated from her and all who gazed upon her murmured some words of admiration. When the company at the high table was seated the ewer-bearers presented to them silver basins filled with water. The water came to them pure, but went away red for the hands of tho male guests were dyed with the blood of the chase.
 The eating and the drinking began Such a vast amount of flesh. such floods of wine and ale, such laughing and talk ing, minstrels now and then striking a note upon their instruments and the dogs barking or growing as they fought with each other over the bones thrown to them-this was the scene when the feast was high in Haddon hall in the brave old days of the Vernons. And now the ladies retired and the men, left alone at table and gorged with food. began the business of drinking. The red wine in cups of gold and the ale in silver flag one shone and sparkled as they passed from lip to lip beneath the blaze of the massy lamps. The knights toasted their mistresses, the retainers boasted of their exploits and the minstrels with harp and tongue made music and song abound. The gentlest struck their drinking cups on the table until 1t rang again. the menials stamped their feet upon the solid floor, while the hounds. imagining that they head the call to the chase. leapcd up and bayed in hoarst but appropriate chorus.
 Soon the ladies. who had gone to the withdrawing room when the drinking be- gan. appeared in the side gallaries to look down upon the scene of revel. Among them Dorothy Vernon looked down with eyes which. after having for minute
 scanned the company below intently, suddenly glowed with a bright and hap py ligAt. while she could not conceal some slight marks of agitation. Those
 who were observing the lovely being
 wondered which it was of the knights below who had inspired her with this sud- den lovelit of flushing joy and delicious agitation. Each of the gallant knights who looked upon her hoped that he him self was the cause of this display of feel ing. She leaned her white bosom, shin- ing through the veil which shaded 1t, up- on the railing of the gallery and. compos- ing herself, smiled down at the guests below.
 All the knights sprang to their feet. and Sir Lucas Peverel shouted out: ''Fill all your wine cups. knights!" "Yes, i'll them to the brim!" echoed Sir Henry Aveneul. "And drain them out. were they deeper than the WyeI' cried Sir Gregory, Geron. ITO the health of the Princsss of the Peak!- sang out Sir Ralph cavsndish.