And yet, with nervous
impatience, he wished the dinner and his trial were over, his
fate sealed, and his life ended at once, since it was to be ended
soon. For the fulfillment of the first wish, he had not long to
wait; the feast, though gay and grand, was of the briefest, and
they could have scarcely been half an hour gone when they were
all back.
Everybody seemed in better humor, too, after the refection, but
the queen and the dwarf - the former looked colder, and harder,
and more like a Labrador iceberg tricked out in purple velvet,
than ever, and his highness was grinning from ear to ear - which
was the very worst possible sign. Not even her majesty could
make the slightest excuse for delaying the trial now; and,
indeed, that eccentric lady seemed to have no wish to do so, had
she the power, but seated herself in silent disdain of them all,
and dropping her long lashes over her dark eyes, seemed to forget
there was anybody in existence but herself.
His highness and his nobles took their stations of authority
behind the green table, and summoned the guards to lead the
prisoner up before them, which was done; while the rest of the
company were fluttering down into their seats, and evidently
about to pay the greatest attention.
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