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216 of admitting her petitioners to an immediate audience, ordered the antechamber to be erected, called among mortals, the Hall of Expectation. Into this hall the entrance was easy to those whom had consigned to, and it was therefore crowded with a promiscuous throng, assembled from every corner of the earth, pressing forward with the utmost eagerness of desire, and agitated with all the anxieties of competition.

They entered this general receptacle with ardour and alacrity, and made no doubt of speedy access, under the conduct of, to the presence of. But it generally happened that they were here left to their destiny, for the inner doors were committed to, who opened and shut them, as it seemed, by chance, and rejected or admitted without any settled rule of distinction. In the mean time, the miserable attendants were left to wear out their lives in alternate exultation and dejection, delivered up to the sport of, who was always whispering into their ear designs against them which were never formed, and of , who diligently pointed out the good fortune of one or other of their competitors. flew round the hall, and scattered mildews from her wings, with which every one was stained; followed her with slower flight, and endeavoured to hide the blemishes with paint, which was immediately brushed away, or separated of itself, and left the stains more visible; nor were the spots of  ever effaced, but with limpid water effused by the hand of  from a well which sprung up beneath the throne of.