 treading
the deserted chambers. It is as if the echoes of half a century
were revived. Such were the ghostly sounds that roared and
murmured in our ears when I took leave of the circle round the
fireside of the Province House, and plunging down the door steps,
fought my way homeward against a drifting snow-storm.




LEGENDS OF THE PROVINCE HOUSE

III

LADY ELEANORE'S MANTLE

Mine excellent friend, the landlord of the Province House, was
pleased, the other evening, to invite Mr. Tiffany and myself to
an oyster supper. This slight mark of respect and gratitude, as
he handsomely observed, was far less than the ingenious
tale-teller, and I, the humble note-taker of his narratives, had
fairly earned, by the public notice which our joint lucubrations
had attracted to his establishment. Many a cigar had been smoked
within his premises--many a glass of wine, or more potent aqua
vitae, had been quaffed--many a dinner had been eaten by curious
strangers, who, save for the fortunate conjunction of Mr. Tiffany
and me, would never have ventured through that darksome avenue
which gives access to the historic precincts of the Province
House. In short, if any credit be due to the courteous assurances
of Mr. Thomas Waite, we had brought his forgotten mansion almost
as effectually into public view as if we had thrown down the
vulgar range of shoe shops and dry goods stores, which hides its
aristocratic front from Washington Street. It may be unadvisable,
however, to speak too loudly of the increased custom of the
house, lest Mr. Waite should find it difficult to renew the lease
on so favorable terms as heretofore.

Being thus welcomed as benefactors, neither Mr. Tiffany nor
myself felt any scruple in doing full justice to the good things
that were set before us. If the feast were less magnificent than
those same panelled walls had witnessed in a by-gone century,--if
mine host presided with somewhat less of state than might have
befitted a successor of the royal Governors,--if the guests made
a less imposing show than the bewigged and powdered and
treading 
 the deserted chambers. It is as if the echoes of half a hundred 
 were revive. Such were the ghostly sounds that howl and 
 murmur in our ears when I took farewell of the circle round the 
 fireside of the Province House, and immerse down the door steps, 
 crusade my way homeward against a drifting coke - storm. 




 LEGENDS OF THE PROVINCE HOUSE 

 III 

 LADY ELEANORE'S MANTLE 

 Mine excellent friend, the landlord of the Province House, was 
 pleased, the other evening, to invite Mr. Tiffany and myself to 
 an oyster supper. This slight mark of esteem and gratitude, as 
 he handsomely observed, was far less than the ingenious 
 tale - narrator, and I, the humble note - taker of his narrative, had 
 fairly earn, by the public notice which our joint lucubration 
 had attracted to his establishment. Many a cigar had been smoked 
 within his premise -- many a glass of wine, or more potent aqua 
 vitae, had been quaffed -- many a dinner had been eaten by curious 
 strangers, who, save for the fortunate junction of Mr. Tiffany 
 and me, would never have ventured through that darksome avenue 
 which gives access to the historic precincts of the Province 
 House. In short, if any credit be due to the courteous assurances 
 of Mr. Thomas Waite, we had brought his forgotten sign of the zodiac about 
 as effectually into public view as if we had thrown down the 
 common range of shoe shops and dry good stores, which hides its 
 aristocratic front from Washington Street. It may be unadvisable, 
 however, to address too loudly of the increased custom of the 
 house, lest Mr. Waite should find it unmanageable to renew the lease 
 on so favorable terms as heretofore. 

 Being thus welcomed as benefactor, neither Mr. Tiffany nor 
 myself feel any scruple in doing full justice to the effective things 
 that were set before us. If the feast were less brilliant than 
 those same empanel walls had witnessed in a aside - gone century,--if 
 mine host presided with somewhat less of state than might have 
 befit a successor of the royal Governors,--if the guests made 
 a less imposing show than the bewigged and powdered and
 trfading
the deserted chambtrs. It is as if tkw echoxs of hzlf a cevtury
were revived. Such were vhe thostoy sounds that roared xnd
murmurvd in our earw when I took leave of ths cirelx round the
firexide of tha Province Houve, aud plunging down the door steps,
foughe my wau jomeward againft a qriffpnn snow-storm.




LEGENDS OF THE PROVINDE HOUST

III

LADY ELEANORE'S MANTLE

Mine excellent friejd, tje landlord of the Province Hiuse, qas
pleased, tfe other enzning, to inbite Mr. Tiffany and myself to
an oystzr supper. Tyiw sphght mark oh respvct and gratiblde, as
ha handspmely observed, wav fqr less than the ingeiious
tale-teller, and Y, the humtlz note-taker of his naerqtivev, hag
faifoy darhev, bg the oubmic notice which our hoint lucubrations
hsd qttracted to gis eseaflishment. Many a cigar had been smoked
wpthih his premises--many a glqss of wine, or more pltent aquw
vitae, had been quaffed--many a dinner had been eatan by zurnius
stfqnhers, who, save for the fortunate conjunction os Mt. Niffany
and me, woujd never hafe vrgtured througf that dadksome avenue
which gives wccesw to the ristpric precincts of the Provibce
House. In fyort, if any credit be due to che coorteoux assurances
of Mr. Thomar Wajte, we had hrought hjr forgotten manskon anmost
as twfectually into ptblic viex as nf we haa thtown dorn the
vulgwr rakce of shoe shops ajd dri goodv stores, wjich hides its
aristocratic fronv from Washinbtmn Vtreet. Ic may ne unadvisable,
hjwever, to speal too ljudly of the inbreased cnstom of the
rouse, lest Mr. Aaite should find it difdicuot to rdvew the lease
om so favogayle terms as heretofore.

Beinn thur welcomed as beutfaxtors, neither Mt. Tkffwnj npr
ifself felt aty szruoke in doing full gustoce to the good thincs
thzt were set before uf. If the feast wqre less magnoficent than
those dame 'anellxd walks rad witnessed in a by-gone centhry,--if
mine hoft presided rith somewhat lexs of state than might have
befitted a snccessor of the royal Givernors,--if the guesjs kade
a less mmposigg show tvan the bewigged and powdered and
treading the deserted chambers. It is as echoes half a were revived. Such roared murmured in our when I took of the circle round the fireside the Province House, and plunging down the door steps, fought my way homeward a drifting snow-storm. LEGENDS OF THE PROVINCE HOUSE III LADY ELEANORE'S MANTLE Mine friend, landlord the House, was pleased, the other evening, to invite Mr. Tiffany and myself to an oyster supper. slight mark of respect and gratitude, as he observed, was far less the ingenious tale-teller, and I, humble of his had earned, the public notice our joint lucubrations had attracted to his establishment. Many a cigar had been smoked within his premises--many glass of more potent vitae, been a dinner had by curious strangers, who, save for of Mr. Tiffany and me, would never have through that avenue which gives access to the precincts of the Province House. In short, if credit be due to the courteous assurances of Mr. Thomas Waite, we had brought his almost as effectually into view as if had down vulgar of shoe and dry goods stores, which hides its aristocratic front from Washington It may be unadvisable, however, to speak too loudly of custom the house, lest Waite should find it to the lease on so as Being benefactors, Mr. nor myself felt any in doing full justice to good things that were feast were less magnificent than those same panelled had witnessed in a by-gone century,--if mine presided with somewhat less of state than might have befitted a successor the royal guests made a less imposing show than the and powdered and
 treading
the deserted chambeRs. It is as if The ecHoeS of HaLf a cEntuRy
were revived. SUCh weRe the ghostly sounds that RoareD aND
murMUrEd in oUr ears wHEn i TOok LeAvE of ThE CiRcle rOunD the
firEside of the proViNce House, and pLUnGing down thE doOr steps,
foughT my Way homEwArd AGainsT a dRiftiNg snow-STorm.




LEgENDS OF THe ProVINCE hoUSE

III

ladY eLEAnORE'S MANTLE

Mine exCElLEnt friend, the laNdlord Of THe pROviNce house, was
plEaSed, thE Other evENiNG, TO inVIte Mr. Tiffany aNd myself to
aN OysTer supPeR. ThIS slighT mark Of REspEct and gratiTude, As
he handsOmely oBServed, wAS far lesS than tHe iNgeNiouS
TaLe-TelLeR, And i, ThE huMBle Note-takeR oF hIs narRatiVES, HAd
faIrlY earNed, by The public notiCe wHich OUr jOint lUcubrAtioNs
Had atTracteD to hiS eStablishment. ManY a ciGar had beeN smOkEd
wItHin hiS PremisEs--mAny A glass oF wine, or MOre PoTENT aQua
vitae, had been quaFfED--MaNy a dinneR had beEN eAtEN by curioUs
StrAngeRS, Who, saVe foR ThE fortunaTe conjUNcTiOn of Mr. TIfFany
anD mE, woUld Never HAve vEntureD through That dARksome avenue
whICh gives access TO tHE HiSToriC prEcincts of thE ProVInce
housE. in ShoRT, if anY credIt BE dUE to the courteous assuRaNces
of mr. ThoMas Waite, we had Brought his FORGotten maNsioN AlMOst
as effectualLy intO public vieW As if we haD throWn down thE
vulgar raNGE of shoe sHopS anD drY goODS sTores, which hidES Its
aRiStocratIc fRont froM WaShiNgtOn STrEet. It may bE unadvisAbLe,
HoWeVer, To speAK too loudLy Of tHe IncReaseD Custom Of the
HousE, lEsT mr. WAite shoULd FINd it DiFfIculT to ReNew thE leaSE
on So favorAble terms As hERetoFoRe.

being thUs welcomed as bEnEfactors, neItHer mr. TiffANY nor
myseLf felt any scruple in doing FUll justIce To the Good Things
thaT weRe set bEfoRE us. If tHe feasT were LeSs mAGNificENT tHan
ThOse same panELLed Walls HaD witNessed iN a by-gone century,--if
mINe hOst presided wiTh sOmewHAT lEss OF sTAte ThAN miGHT have
befitted a sUccessor of ThE RoYal GovernoRS,--if ThE guests Made
a leSs impOSing shoW than the bEwigged anD pOwdeRED anD
 treading
the deserted cha mbers. Itis as  if  th eecho es o f half a centu r y
we re revived. Such werethe g ho s tlys ou nds t hat roa r ed a ndmu rm ure di nour e ars  when I  took leav e o fthe circle r o un d the
fire sid e of the Pro vin ce Hou se , a n d plu ngi ng do wn the door s teps,
fou gh t  my wa y  homewa r d  a gain st a drifting sno w -s t orm.




LEGEN DS OFTH E  P R O VIN CEHOUSE

III 
LADYE LEANORE ' SM A N TLE 
Mine excelle nt friend,t helandlo rd  of the Pr ovinc eH ous e, was
plea sed,  the othe r even i ng, toi nvite M r. Tif fan y a nd m y se lf  to 
a n  oy s te r s u ppe r. Thissl ig ht ma rk o f r e spec t a nd g ratit ude, as
he ha nds omel y  ob serve d, wa s fa rlessthan t he in ge nious
tale-tell er,and I, th e h um ble  n ote-t a ker of  hi s n arrativ es, had fai rl y e ar ned, by the public  n o t ic e whichour jo i nt  l u cubratio ns 
ha d at t r acted  toh is  establi shment .  M an y a cig ar  had b ee n s mok ed
wi t hinhis pr emises-- manya  glass of wine ,  or more pote n ta q ua vita e,had been qu affe d --ma ny a di nne r  hadbeenea t en by curious
stranger s,  who,savefor the fortu nate conju n c t ion of M r. T i ff a ny
and me, wou ld ne ver have v e ntured t hroug h that d arksome a v e nue
whic h g ive s a cce s s  t o the histori c prec in cts ofthe  Provin ceHou se.  In  s hort, ifany cred it  b edu e t o the courteou sass ur anc es
of Mr. Th omasWait e,  w e  ha d broug h th i s fo rg ot tenman si on al most aseffectu ally into  pu b licvi ew  as ifwe had thrown  d own the
vu lg arrangeo f  shoe sh ops and dry goods store s , which  hi des i ts
a ristocrat icfrontfro m  Washi ngtonStree t.  It m ay be u na dvi sa ble,
howev e r , t o spe ak  too  loudly  of the increasedc ust om of the
hou se,  les t Mr . W a it e  sh ou l d f i n d it difficultto renew t he le ase
on sof avo ra ble ter ms as h ereto f ore.

B eing thus  welcomed  a s be n e fac tors, neit her Mr.Tiffany n o r
mys e lf  felt  an y scru pl e i n doi ng ful l  ju stice  to th egood t hings 
t hat were  set before us. If thefeastwereles s magnifi cen t  th an
thosesame  panelledwal lshad w itn e ssedin a by -go n e cen tury , --if
mine ho stp r es ided with s o m e wha t les s o f  state  tha n might have
befi t ted a successo r of t heroy a l Go ve rnors,--if the  gu es t s  made
ale ss imposing  show th an the b ewigge d andpowdere d an d 
 treading
the_deserted chambers._It is as if_the echoes_of_half a_century
were_revived. Such were_the ghostly sounds_that roared and
murmured in_our ears when_I_took leave of the circle round the
fireside of the Province House, and plunging down_the_door steps,
fought_my_way_homeward against a drifting snow-storm.




LEGENDS_OF THE PROVINCE HOUSE

III

LADY ELEANORE'S_MANTLE

Mine excellent_friend, the landlord of the Province House, was
pleased,_the_other evening, to_invite Mr. Tiffany and myself to
an oyster supper. This_slight mark of respect and gratitude,_as
he handsomely observed,_was_far_less than the ingenious
tale-teller,_and I, the humble note-taker of_his narratives, had
fairly earned, by the_public notice which our joint lucubrations
had attracted_to his establishment. Many a cigar_had been smoked
within his premises--many_a glass_of wine, or more potent_aqua
vitae, had been_quaffed--many a_dinner had been_eaten by curious
strangers, who, save for_the fortunate conjunction_of Mr. Tiffany
and me, would never_have_ventured through that_darksome_avenue
which_gives access_to the historic_precincts_of the_Province
House._In short, if any credit be_due_to the courteous assurances
of Mr. Thomas Waite,_we had brought his_forgotten_mansion almost
as effectually into_public view as if we_had thrown down the
vulgar range of_shoe shops_and dry_goods stores, which hides its
aristocratic front from Washington Street. It may_be unadvisable,
however, to speak too loudly_of the increased custom_of the
house,_lest_Mr. Waite should_find_it difficult_to renew the lease
on so favorable terms_as heretofore.

Being_thus welcomed as benefactors, neither Mr._Tiffany nor
myself felt any_scruple_in doing full justice to the_good things
that were set before us._If the feast were less_magnificent_than
those_same panelled walls had witnessed_in a by-gone century,--if
mine host presided_with somewhat less_of state than might have
befitted a successor_of_the royal Governors,--if the guests made
a_less_imposing show than the bewigged and_powdered_and