The Keepers of the People

880Then, having handed her over to the care of six mute maids, he went to the right wing of the palace, where he lodged himself.

881Her maids led her up a broad flight of stairs to a suite of lofty rooms with great casements opening on the gardens, and with a far view over the plains. After she had bathed, they dressed her in robes of Eastern silks, wonderfully embroidered, and led her to the Princess of Varandaleel, Prince Ralph’s mother, an old woman, white-haired, and beautiful, with grave, gentle face, serene and smooth of lines. She talked to her kindly, but watched her the while with a mother’s jealous scrutiny of her son’s wife; and all the time she was plainly alert and impatient for the sight of her son. Then, with mutes leading the way, and mutes bearing their trains, they passed down the staircase, out of the wing, along a cloister at the end of the gardens, through a great door that was thrown open for them by guards, and into the central block of the palace. They came down a long corridor into a chamber where Prince Ralph, clad in splendid Eastern robes, awaited them with his father, an old man, venerable with white hair and white beard, whose face wore the unchanging impassiveness of that of his son, whose eyes had the same piercing quality of glance.

882Prince Ralph embraced his mother with a great fondness; and presented the Princess Agnes to his father. The old Prince bade her welcome to Varandaleel with a fine courtliness; and they went into the great hall to sup.