THE LEGEND OF HOSE ROCHE. 221 



loudly, and begged for shelter and refreshment. Proud of 

 this opportunity of affording hospitality to so noble and 

 munificent a protector, the wicket was unbarred, the Lord 

 3f Iveagh admitted, and received in honourable state by the 

 Lady Superior, and inducted with due form into the parlour 

 Df the Ursulines. 



There a plentiful repast was speedily prepared, and the 

 ;ired hunter w r as ceremoniously seated at the table. His 

 morning's meal had been despatched before the sun had 

 topped Slieve Gallion, and a long day's exercise had given 

 bim a keen relish for the evening banquet. The Lady 

 Abbess feasted the patron of her house right nobly he was 

 attended on assiduously by the novices dish after dish suc- 

 ceeded in luxurious variety, until the chief requested the 

 tables to be drawn, and with knightly courtesy entreated 

 permission to pledge the holy mother of the Ursulines in a 

 deep draught of Rhenish wine. 



Then, for the first time, the novice who presented the 

 cup, attracted the good Knight's attention. The folds of 

 her thick veil could not conceal the matchless symmetry of 

 her form ; and, as she filled the chalice from the flago^ the 

 exquisite proportions of her hand and arm struck Cormac 

 More with wonder. At this moment her drapery became 

 entangled with the jewelled pommel of the Knight's rapier ; 

 ?a hasty attempt to disengage it was unsuccessful the veil 

 fell, and . disclosed to the enraptured view of the Lord of 

 Iveagh the loveliest features he had ever seen. Covered 

 with blushes, which heightened her surpassing beauty, the 

 novice caught her veil hastily up and retired from the 

 parlour, while the Knight, despite the evident displeasure 

 that the accident had caused the Lady Abbess, gazed after 

 | the retiring girl until she disappeared among the cloisters. 

 | In vain the proud Superior introduced costlier wines of rare 

 and ancient vintages : in vain she enlarged upon the piety 

 'of her order, and enumerated the number of the Ursulines 

 who had been canonized: the Knight's whole thoughts 

 were engrossed with one lovely object his courtesy and 

 converse were feeble and constrained, until, piqued by his 

 neglect, the Abbess wished him a fair repose, and retired in 

 full state from the apartment, preceded by a crucifix and 

 taper, and followed by her attendant nuns. 



Although the Knight lay upon the Bishop's bed, and 



