If he were a venerable family servant, a hoary-headed old seneschal, who had known Roger in petticoats, it would have been nothing.

I could have chattered filially to him; but he is a youngish man, who came only six months ago.

On what subjects can we converse?
I feel small doubt that his own sufferings will be hardly inferior in poignancy to mine.
The room is well lit, and the candles shine genially down from the laurel garlands and ivy festoons which clothe the walls.

They light the faces and various dresses of a numerous assembly--every groom, footman, housemaid, and scullion, from far and near.

The ladies seem largely to preponderate both in number and _aplomb_; the men appearing, for the more part, greatly disposed to run for shelter behind the bolder petticoats; particularly the stablemen.