At first sight, when we went into the room, it burst upon me
that it was very pretty. The room was dressed with flags, —
and evergreens, — and with uniforms; and undoubtedly there is
charm in colour, and a gilt button and a gold strap do light
up the otherwise sombre and heavy figures of our Western
masculine costume. The white and rosy and blue draperies and
scarfs that were floating around the forms of the ladies, were
met and set off by the grey and white of the cadets and the
heavier dark blue of the officers. I never anywhere else saw
so pretty gatherings. I stood quite enchanted with the
pleasure of the eye; till to my startled astonishment, Captain
Pcrcival came up and asked me to dance the first dance with
him. I had not expected to dance with anybody except Preston
and Mr. Thorold, and perhaps Mr. Caxton. Mr. Thorold came up
before the dance began, and I presented him to Mrs. Sandford.
He asked me for the first dance, then for the second. And
there was no more time for anything, for the dancing began.
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