⚫ Norton's house underwent a regular ransacking; and what with scrubbing, brushing, dusting, and other et ceteras, the lady-hostesses gave themselves a tolerable breathing. Beds and chairs that lately looked quakerlike, in their coverings of gray holland, now stood forth in glowing crimson; and the Brussels carpets one more showed their faces. Every thing being declared in apple-pie order in the house, the dancing-room was the next object of attention. Norton's house, though a tolerably spacious one, had no room at all commensurate in -size with the expected dancing throng; fortunately, however, the house abutted upon the mill, looking something like a pigmy in the embrace of a giant; and they determined to convert a spare room in it, used for storing away waste cotton, into their "salle à danser." The only objection to this scheme was, that is was far from being "redolent of sweetness," in fact, it smelt abominably-and it required scrubbing, and whitewashing, and ventilating, before even the cotton nobility could reconcile themselves to it,

The walls of this elegant and tasteful apartment were appropriately decorated with a multitude of tin sconces; and at either extremity there was placed a large laurel-tree, having oranges and apples ingeniously suspended in them, "looking, for all the world," as Miss Norton declared, "just like natur." This was a fancy of Mrs. Manford's, and was reckoned the "chef-d'œuvre" of the day.

The next important division of their labours was. to arrange the eatables and drinkables; and it was here the plebeians showed profusion, if they did not show any particular nicety of idea. They looked upon this day as one

and the larder and dining-room presented a glorious display of decanters and dishes. Here old Mrs. Manford was in her element; she marshalled long files of wine bottles, backed by a goodly show of rum and brandy holders, for making the

"Liquor that she lov'd,"

namely-punch, a favourite beverage amongt the ladies of the district; who esteemed it far above wine, as a stimulant to enable them to dance with that degree of energy, which came up to their notions of graceful agility. Judging from the quantities provided, there seemed to be no reason for supposing, that there would be any lack of spirits among the visitors, to enable them to go through the evening with becoming vigour.

These multifarious labours were, at length, brought to a close, just as the shades of evening began to show themselves; and as their cards of invitation had appointed eight o'clock for the hour of reception, the ladies thought it time to begin to decorate themselves, in order that their persons might appear in unison with their apartments. Mrs. Brown had indeed done her part to admiration, and as the different articles were brought under review, it was unanimously agreed, "that they should all be as fine as queens."

The taste, indeed, displayed by these refined ladies, was not at all in accordance with the duke's advice to Juliana

"I'll have no glittering gew-gaws stuck about you,

To stretch the gaping eyes of idiot wonder,

And make men stare upon a piece of earth
As on the star wrought firmament-no feathers
To wave as streamers to your vanity-

Nor cumbrous silk, that with its rustling sound
Makes proud the flesh that bears it."

In truth, the ladies were neither young nor handsome, so that had they been modestly attired, with

"A half-blown rose, stuck in their braided hair,

With no more diamonds than their eyes were made of.
No deeper rubies than compos'd their lips,

Nor pearls more precious than inhabit them,"

they would have been any thing but charming; indeed, in the last particular, more than one of the bevy were absolutely wanting.

However there was no fear on this head-feathers, as we have before seen, were especial objects of regard; and after their "waving locks” had undergone the proper amount of brushing, a 'panoply of plumes" nodded upon each half-robed damsel; and Phœbe declared that her head "felt just like a pin-cushion."

66

Time flew rapidly-the ladies indulged themselves in a gossiping cup of tea; and now nothing remained to be done but to make their final arrangements for receiving the company. Mrs. Manford, senior, took charge of the tea-tableMrs. Manford, junior, placed herself near the door -Miss Norton was in the kitchen superintending half a dozen servants, all busily at work in making toast, and bread and butter-beef and lamb were roasting, and the whole place was in a throng of business. The three Misses Manford were disposed in different parts of the rooms. Mrs. Norton was vis-à-vis with Mrs. Manford, junior, and the Misses Norton were placed one on each side of the fire-place-whilst Manford, who had now joined them, and who was to act as master of the ceremonies, paraded the drawing-room-dressed à la Manford that is, a blue coat, with enormous metal buttons, a pair of kerseymere shorts, white

stockings, substantial shoes, a marcella waistcoat, made with flaps, and a cravat of ample dimensions.

Every thing being thus "in statu quo," expecta. tion was alive, and just as the clock struck eight, a distant sound was heard, resembling the rumbling of a baggage train. Near and more near came the sound, and a cortège slowly wound its way along the narrow lane leading to the house, that would have astonished the very paving stones of St. James' Square.

Punctuality was a thing of course, the most distant of the invited, in all directions, had set out pretty early, and as they proceeded on their way, they were joined by others, whose houses lay in their track, till these various trains had become concentrated as they neared their place of destination. Caravans, market-carts, and farming carts were the magnificent chariots used by the visitors -some covered, some uncovered, but all thronged with people quite as grand as the Manfords and Nortons themselves,

CHAPTER XXI.

THE PLEBEIAN BALL.

What a coil's here""

Shakspeare.

Carriage after carriage disgorged its contents, and the parties were one after another announced by Jem in a most vociferous strain. Most of these were of the "illustrious obscure," who are, as yet, "unsung by fame," comprising their immediate neighbours, and grocers, drapers and tallow-chandlers from the surrounding hamlets. The ball had been spoken of in such grandiloquent terms, that all were on the tip-toe of expectation; and the formidable preparations made to receive them, gave a foretaste of coming splendour, quite overpowering.

Meanwhile the "posse comitatus," in the drawing-room, was fully on the alert; and when the ladies had stripped off their outward coverings, and the gentlemen had adjusted their stocks, duos and trios made their entrè in rapid succession. Sir John Manford acted as "maitre de mode," and the two senior ladies had soon sufficient occupation in catering for the keen appetites of the company-it being a standing rule, to come hungry and to make the most of the "goods the gods provide," on such an occasion.

It would be impossible to describe, or rather it would be incredible were it to be told, how many cups of tea were drank by the ladies-and how many slices of bread and butter, and toast were