Ebook143 pages44 hours
The Little Duke
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
()
About this ebook
On a bright autumn day, as long ago as the year 943, there was a great bustle in the Castle of Bayeux in Normandy. The hall was large and low, the roof arched, and supported on thick short columns, almost like the crypt of a Cathedral; the walls were thick, and the windows, which had no glass, were very small, set in such a depth of wall that there was a wide deep window seat, upon which the rain might beat, without reaching the interior of the room. And even if it had come in, there was nothing for it to hurt, for the walls were of rough stone, and the floor of tiles. There was a fire at each end of this great dark apartment, but there were no chimneys over the ample hearths, and the smoke curled about in thick white folds in the vaulted roof, adding to the wreaths of soot, which made the hall look still darker.
The fire at the lower end was by far the largest and hottest. Great black cauldrons hung over it, and servants, both men and women, with red faces, bare and grimed arms, and long iron hooks, or pots and pans, were busied around it. At the other end, which was raised about three steps above the floor of the hall, other servants were engaged. Two young maidens were strewing fresh rushes on the floor; some men were setting up a long table of rough boards, supported on trestles, and then ranging upon it silver cups, drinking horns, and wooden trenchers.
Benches were placed to receive most of the guests, but in the middle, at the place of honour, was a high chair with very thick crossing legs, and the arms curiously carved with lions’ faces and claws; a clumsy wooden footstool was set in front, and the silver drinking-cup on the table was of far more beautiful workmanship than the others, richly chased with vine leaves and grapes, and figures of little boys with goats’ legs. If that cup could have told its story, it would have been a strange one, for it had been made long since, in the old Roman times, and been carried off from Italy by some Northman pirate...
The fire at the lower end was by far the largest and hottest. Great black cauldrons hung over it, and servants, both men and women, with red faces, bare and grimed arms, and long iron hooks, or pots and pans, were busied around it. At the other end, which was raised about three steps above the floor of the hall, other servants were engaged. Two young maidens were strewing fresh rushes on the floor; some men were setting up a long table of rough boards, supported on trestles, and then ranging upon it silver cups, drinking horns, and wooden trenchers.
Benches were placed to receive most of the guests, but in the middle, at the place of honour, was a high chair with very thick crossing legs, and the arms curiously carved with lions’ faces and claws; a clumsy wooden footstool was set in front, and the silver drinking-cup on the table was of far more beautiful workmanship than the others, richly chased with vine leaves and grapes, and figures of little boys with goats’ legs. If that cup could have told its story, it would have been a strange one, for it had been made long since, in the old Roman times, and been carried off from Italy by some Northman pirate...
Read more from Charlotte Yonge
The Prince and the Page Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYoung Folks' History of Rome Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsModern Broods, Or Developments Unlooked For Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYoung Folks' History of England Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Little Duke
Related ebooks
The Little Duke Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Duke Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Duke Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Duke Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lances of Lynwood Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWindsor Castle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lances of Lynwood Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOnly an Ensign Volume 1, 2, 3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Thrall of Leif the Lucky: A Story of Viking Days Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lances of Lynwood Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last of the Barons — Volume 05 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKing and Emperor: The Hammer and the Cross, Book Three Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Struggle for Rome Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCastle Richmond Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJohn Deane of Nottingham Historic Adventures by Land and Sea Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Struggle for Rome (Vol. 1-3): Historical Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWestward Ho!: "All we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWindsor Castle: Historical Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFair Margaret Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFair Margaret Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fifth Queen Crowned Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5King Arthur and His Knights Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Fair Margaret Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Iron Arrow Head or The Buckler Maiden: A Tale of the Northman Invasion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fifth Queen Crowned: A Romance Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Trilby Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHarold : the Last of the Saxon Kings — Volume 02 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last of the Barons — Volume 04 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Kingdom to Colony Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Children's Historical For You
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little House in the Big Woods Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Witch of Blackbird Pond: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fever 1793 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Number the Stars: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Secret Garden: The 100th Anniversary Edition with Tasha Tudor Art and Bonus Materials Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Alice In Wonderland: The Original 1865 Unabridged and Complete Edition (Lewis Carroll Classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLittle House on the Prairie Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Night Before Christmas Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sarah, Plain and Tall: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Walk Two Moons Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Farmer Boy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Long Winter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One Crazy Summer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Single Shard: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBy the Shores of Silver Lake Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Forge Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On the Banks of Plum Creek Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lincoln: A Photobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shades of Gray Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An Elephant in the Garden: Inspired by a True Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Kid's Guide to Native American History: More than 50 Activities Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIntroduction to Greek Mythology for Kids: A Fun Collection of the Best Heroes, Monsters, and Gods in Greek Myth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFairest Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bronze Bow: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Call It Courage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Little Duke
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Little Duke - Charlotte Yonge
2^ book_preview_excerpt.html }Zے9rc:Bۨ#z$gfo $!V% i?/o'%>'(%/R.@"qD=\Ra̝/wtp||'_mc)[#~y|{'$g;vv+\O}6+3fg3?zw4xsCpbnNeuM}x)ks}6w[yCsy]X
]1Lf=g{2ki:yʯ>`8f34aĵN1糘d1,ne6p`2%g'3Nio
{8i8C<;|nOgoCqs.]8ī,?>yqڼc^q˷7^4nZ^;7{{#9~wn|F˷s7ʥճxƼxs?3=ͦ.ol2/\uukvDYOɗV~!:^ؓ;;]ߙEdrަc}<&Eo_N Ɉb=Cli 0 dr爉9r2 w|"c{X1wͼn'2..OxF͖WI8sco۲2ӈln oTGot6 N"ܣo/b<O/7-"VTf?%L_98&K>ֹ}2̭ǟX:w3K*T:@A̺f/8;eCUY- `y]
|
ƾ
Ĉ',ųkmL[sm`; '{f,Utn>t.>mDr {h.G
~y_j uP5*#8(N smICj@N"ccь2А"X"7k~*