第24章

Livingsocontinuallyinherowncircleofideas，andnever

regulatinghermindbyaproperreferencetopresentthings，Esther

Dudleyappearstohavegrownpartiallycrazed。Itwasfoundthatshe

hadnorightsenseoftheprogressandtruestateoftheRevolutionary

War，butheldaconstantfaiththatthearmiesofBritainwere

victoriousoneveryfield，anddestinedtobeultimatelytriumphant。

WheneverthetownrejoicedforabattlewonbyWashington，orGates，

orMorgan，orGreene，thenews，inpassingthroughthedoorofthe

ProvinceHouse，asthroughtheivorygateofdreams，became

metamorphosedintoastrangetaleoftheprowessofHowe，Clinton，

orCornwallis。Soonerorlateritwasherinvinciblebeliefthe

colonieswouldbeprostrateatthefootstooloftheKing。Sometimes

sheseemedtotakeforgrantedthatsuchwasalreadythecase。On

oneoccasion，shestartledthetownspeoplebyabrilliantillumination

oftheProvinceHouse，withcandlesateverypaneofglass，anda

transparencyoftheKing’sinitialsandacrownoflightinthe

greatbalconywindow。Thefigureoftheagedwomaninthemost

gorgeousofhermildewedvelvetsandbrocadeswasseenpassingfrom

casementtocasement，untilshepausedbeforethebalcony，and

flourishedahugekeyaboveherhead。Herwrinkledvisageactually

gleamedwithtriumph，asifthesoulwithinherwereafestallamp。

“Whatmeansthisblazeoflight？WhatdoesoldEsther’sjoy

portend？”whisperedaspectator。“Itisfrightfultoseehergliding

aboutthechambers，andrejoicingtherewithoutasoultobearher

company。”

“Itisasifsheweremakingmerryinatomb。”saidanother。

“Pshaw！Itisnosuchmystery。”observedanoldman，aftersome

briefexerciseofmemory。“MistressDudleyiskeepingjubileefor

theKingofEngland’sbirthday。”

Thenthepeoplelaughedaloud，andwouldhavethrownmudagainst

theblazingtransparencyoftheKing’scrownandinitials，onlythat

theypitiedthepoorolddame，whowassodismallytriumphantamidthe

wreckandruinofthesystemtowhichsheappertained。

Oftentimesitwashercustomtoclimbthewearystaircasethat

woundupwardtothecupola，andthencestrainherdimmedeyesight

seawardandcountryward，watchingforaBritishfleet，orforthe

marchofagrandprocession，withtheKing’sbannerfloatingover

it。Thepassengersinthestreetbelowwoulddiscernheranxious

visage，andsendupashout，“WhenthegoldenIndianontheProvince

Houseshallshoothisarrow，andwhenthecockontheOldSouth

spireshallcrow，thenlookforaRoyalGovernoragain！”-forthishad

grownabywordthroughthetown。Andatlast，afterlong，long

years，oldEstherDudleyknew，orperchancesheonlydreamed，thata

RoyalGovernorwasontheeveofreturningtotheProvinceHouseto

receivetheheavykeywhichSirWilliamHowehadcommittedtoher

charge。Nowitwasthefactthatintelligencebearingsomefaint

analogytoEsther’sversionofitwascurrentamongthetownspeople。

Shesetthemansioninthebestorderthathermeansallowed，and，

arrayingherselfinsilksandtarnishedgold，stoodlongbeforethe

blurredmirrortoadmireherownmagnificence。Asshegazed，the

grayandwitheredladymovedherashenlips，murmuringhalfaloud，

talkingtoshapesthatshesawwithinthemirror，toshadowsofher

ownfantasies，tothehouseholdfriendsofmemory，andbiddingthem

rejoicewithherandcomeforthtomeettheGovernor。Andwhile

absorbedinthiscommunion，MistressDudleyheardthetrampofmany

footstepsinthestreet，and，lookingoutatthewindow，beheldwhat

sheconstruedastheRoyalGovernor’sarrival。

“Ohappyday！Oblessed，blessedhour！”sheexclaimed。“Letme

butbidhimwelcomewithintheportal，andmytaskintheProvince

House，andonearth，isdone！”

Thenwithtotteringfeet，whichageandtremulousjoycausedto

treadamiss，shehurrieddownthegrandstaircase，hersilkssweeping

andrustlingasshewent，sothatthesoundwasasifatrainof

spectralcourtierswerethrongingfromthedimmirror。AndEsther

Dudleyfanciedthatassoonasthewidedoorshouldbeflungopen，all

thepompandsplend