one ought to bring hither a cup of the waters of lethe, that the remembrance of pleasanter scenes may not heighten, at least, the natural dreariness of these.'
'i shall be governed by circumstances, madam,' said the count, 'this barbarous spot was inhabited by my ancestors.'
the carriage now stopped at the chateau, where, at the door of the great hall, appeared the old steward and the parisian servants, who had been sent to prepare the chateau, waiting to receive their lord.
lady blanche now perceived, that the edifice was not built entirely in the gothic style, but that it had additions of a more modern date;the large and gloomy hall, however, into which she now entered, was entirely gothic, and sumptuous tapestry, which it was now too dark to distinguish, hung upon the walls, and depictured scenes from some of the antient provencal romances.a vast gothic window, embroidered with clematis and eglantine, that ascended to the south, led the eye, now that the casements were thrown open, through this verdant shade, over a sloping lawn, to the tops of dark woods, that hung upon the brow of the promontory.beyond, appeared the waters of the mediterranean, stretching far to the south, and to the east, where they were lost in the horizon; while, to the north-east, they were bounded by the luxuriant shores of languedoc and provence, enriched with wood, and gay with vines and sloping pastures; and, to the south-west, by the majestic pyrenees, now fading from the eye, beneath the gradual gloom.
blanche, as she crossed the hall, stopped a moment to observe this lovely prospect, which the evening twilight obscured, yet did not conceal.but she was quickly awakened from the complacent delight, which this scene had diffused upon her mind, by the countess, who, discontented with every object around, and impatient for refreshment and repose, hastened forward to a large parlour, whose cedar wainscot, narrow, pointed casements, and dark ceiling of carved cypress wood, gave it an aspect of peculiar gloom, which the dingy green velvet of the chairs and couches, fringed with tarnished gold, had once been designed to enliven.