Dan led the way to this arena of gigantic gastronomy.  It was a vast and smoky den, such as could only exist in those days of feudal magnificence.  An immense furnace was fed by huge blocks of wood, which the ravening flame seized and in a moment enveloped in its embrace.  Forms, grisly and indistinct, flitted past this devouring blaze, by the sputtering and crackling of which, mingled with the hissing delicacies before it, and the shrill scream of the presiding fury, a stranger might be warned of his approach to this pandemonium some time ere its wonders were visible.  The pilgrim seated himself in an accessible corner, anxiously awaiting the promised signal.

On a long stone bench lay heaps of broken meat, ready for distribution to the groups of mendicants who were now clamouring without the gate.  From the low and ponderous rafters hung dried mutton, bacon, and deer’s tongues, wreathed in curls of smoke, that might seem to render an introduction to the chimney unnecessary for completing their flavour.

It was not long ere a pert waiting-maid approached.  She drew up her short linsey-woolsey garments from the contaminations beneath her feet.  Raising her chin, she thus addressed the servitors:—­

“My lady bids ye bring the dole quickly into the great hall—­She attends to-day in person.  When the bell rings,” looking towards the pilgrim as she spoke, “my lady leaves her chamber.”

Maude departed with the same supercilious deportment.  The bell was immediately heard, and the stranger, making the best of his way into the hall, found the doors wide open, and an indiscriminate assemblage of supplicants, displaying to the best advantage a variety of modes and manifestations of distress, unhappily not confined to those unhallowed days of wretchedness and misrule.  Their chief attention seemed to be directed towards a side wicket, in the upper part of which was a slide for the more convenient distribution of the accustomed largess, when the Lady Mabel did not superintend the apportioning of her beneficence.

It was soon whispered amongst the crowd that she, who had for a considerable time kept aloof from all intercourse, would that day distribute her own bounty.

The tinkling of the bell ceased, and suddenly the door flew open.  Lady Mabel and her maidens entered.  The crowd fell back as she approached.  Of a commanding form and deportment, she seemed a being of some superior creation; whilst, with slow and majestic steps, she passed on to the upper division of the hall, where the dais raised her slightly above the multitude.