62 



RELICS OF POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. 



and when tlie churcli-yard gate opened, lie shrunk into the dark- 

 est corner of the porch. But the persons whom these shadows 

 represented were not destined to die within twelve-months, for 

 they paused there, and returned to the castle in the same slow 

 and silent manner. The last stroke of the clock had sounded, and 

 Ozias, knowing the prophetic hour was past, left his seat in the 

 porch, and crept home with more terror and surprise than he 

 dared confess. The inhabitants of the castle were, at that period, 

 only the steward and his wife, two daughters, as many maid -ser- 

 vants, and one man. How, then, could a procession of three 

 males and one female be supposed to represent this family? Ozias 

 canvassed this question in his own mind ; and not willing to lose 

 the possible benefit of a prediction, he whispered to his wife that 

 he had seen certain apparitions, boding ill to the noble owner of 

 the castle. The whisper circulated as usual, for the sexton's wife 

 had a head too full of chinks to hold any thing, and her prophetic 

 hints on such occasions were marvellously useful to her husband. 

 The stewardess of De Romeville's castle had, unfortunately, a 

 stupendous petticoat of homespun cloth to quilt about this time, 

 and collected, according to ancient custom, all the good wives of 

 the town to assist in the work, and enjoy some exquisite hyson. 

 While the household damsels enlivened their supper by ducking 

 for apples'^ and hunting the ring in a bowl of plum posset, the 

 terrible tale of St. Mark's eve was related at the supper table. 

 Walter Lambert, the seneschal or steward of the domain, heard 

 it with a shrewd smile of contempt, but, unlike other hearers, he 

 considered that a mere invention of old Ozias would have had 

 more likehhood and shew of truth. Taking its improbability as 

 a proof of some real fact concealed beneath it, and having, per- 

 haps, a few secret reasons, he resolved to watch the castle-gate 

 himself that night. His family went to bed at the customary 

 hour of nine, and Lambert, wrapped in a very long and dark 

 roquelaure, concealed himself near the portcullis. This castle, 

 well deserving the motto "Desormais," inscribed over its gate, 

 was still remarkable for the extent and strength of its walls, which 

 enclosed a square court open to the moon beams. As if to avoid 



* Shakspeare alludes to this custom when his Puck, or Robin GoodfelJow, 

 says, 



" And sometimes lurk I in a gossip's bowl. 

 In very likeness of a roasted crab." 



