ready to show the lady guests into their dressing
room; at the opposite door, on the left, stood Sam Grandiere, ready to
show the gentlemen into theirs.

Here, of course, our set divided and followed their guides--Mr. Force and
Leonidas going one way and Mrs. Force and her party the other.

In the ladies' room they found a good, open fire, and the colored girl
Henny in attendance; but there was none of the company present besides
themselves, except Miss Sibby Bayard, who was standing before the glass,
settling a smart cap made of white Irish gauze and white satin ribbon on
her head.

"Good-evening! That's right! I am glad to see you all here! Be merry while
you may, sez I; for you don't often get the chance, sez I!"

Such was her general greeting of the party; but after she had fixed her
cap to her mind, she turned around and shook hands with every individual.

When Mrs. Force and her party had laid off their wraps, they stood up in
the same costumes they had worn at their own Christmas Eve dance. There
was no extravagance, and but little variety of dressing in that
neighborhood.

A changing of boots for slippers, a little shaking down of slightly
rumpled skirts, a little touching up of slightly disarranged hair, a
drawing on and buttoning of kid gloves, and they were all ready.

Their two gentlemen met them at the chamber door, and they went down
together.

Their entrance seemed to complete the expected company, and to give the
signal for "the opening of the ball," for before seats could be found for
the elders of the party the musicians, consisting of two negro fiddlers, a
tambourine and a banjo player, struck the stirring, old-fashioned tune of
the "Fisher's Hornpipe." And gentlemen immediately took their
partners--Mr. Force led out Mrs. Anglesea; Leonidas took Odalite; Ned and
Sam Grandiere, Wynnette and Elva, for one set. William Elk and Thomas
Grandiere, the elders, took respectively Miss Sukey Grandiere and Miss
Sibby Bayard; Dr. Ingle and Roland Bayard took respectively Natalie Meeke
and Rosemary Hedge. These formed the second set. There was not room enough
in the farmhouse parlor for a third set, so about half the company had to
wait their turn; but they amused themselves very well in the interim by
listening to the music, watching the dancers, gossiping, flirting, and
making flying excursions into the dining room for refreshment in the form
of plum cake, pound cake, raisins and almonds, and sugar kisse