Betty Leicester's Christmas
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Somebody has said that there are only a very few kinds of people in theworld, but that they are put into all sorts of places and conditions.The minute Betty Leicester looked at Edith Banfield next day she sawthat she was a little like Mary Beck, her own friend and Tidesheadneighbor. The first thought was one of pleasure, and the second was afear that the new "Becky" would not have a good time at Danesly. It wasthe morning after Betty's own arrival. That first evening she had herdinner alone, and afterward was reading and resting after her journey inLady Mary's own little sitting-room, which was next her own room. WhenPagot came up from her own hasty supper and "crack" with her friends tolook after Betty, and to unpack, she had great tales to tell of thelarge and noble company assembled at Danesly House. "They're dining inthe great banquet hall itself," she said with pride. "Lady Mary looks aqueen at the head of the table, with the French prince beside her andthe great Earl of Seacliff at the other side," said Pagot proudly. "Itook a look from the old musicians' gallery, miss, as I came along, andit was a fine sight, indeed. Lady Mary's own maid, as I have known wellthese many years, was telling me the names of the strangers." Pagot wasvery proud of her own knowledge of fine people.
Betty asked if it was far to the gallery; and, finding that it was quitenear the part of the house where they were, she went out with Pagotalong the corridors with their long rows of doors, and into themusicians' gallery, where they found themselves at a delightful point ofview. Danesly Castle had been built at different times; the banquet-hallitself was very old and stately, with a high, carved roof. There werebeautiful old hangings and banners where the walls and roof met, andlower down were spread great tapestries. There was a huge fire blazingin the deep fireplace at the end, and screens before it; the long tabletwinkled with candle-light, and the gay company sat about it. Bettylooked first for papa, and saw him sitting beside Lady Dimdale, who wasa great friend of his; then she looked for Lady Mary, who was at thehead between the two gentlemen of whom Pagot had spoken. She was stilldressed in black lace, but with many diamonds sparkling at her throat,and she looked as sweet and quiet and self-possessed as if there were nogreat entertainment at all. The men-servants in their handsome liverymoved quickly to and fro, as if they were actors in a play. The peopleat the table were talking and laughing, and the whole scene was sopleasant, so gay and friendly, that Betty wished, for almost the firsttime, that she were grown up and dining late, to hear all the delightfultalk. She and Pagot were like swallows high under the eaves of the greatroom. Papa looked really boyish, so many of the men were older than he.There were twenty at table; and Pagot said, as Betty counted them, thatmany others were expected the next day. You could imagine the greatfestivals of an older time as you looked down from the gallery. In thegallery itself there were quaint little heavy wooden stools for themusicians: the harpers and fiddlers and pipers who had played for somany generations of gay dancers, for whom the same lights had flickered,and over whose heads the old hangings had waved. You felt as if you werelooking down at the past. Betty and Pagot closed the narrow door of thegallery softly behind them, and our friend went back to her own bedroom,where there was a nice fire, and nearly fell asleep before it, whilePagot was getting the last things unpacked and ready for the night.