FIELDING; OR, SOCIETY. SECTION XIII. FIELDING GOES TO A COUNTY BALL. I delight in masques and revels sometimes altogether." TWELFTH NIGHT. "They bid us to the English dancing school, HENRY V. THE evening came; the ball opened, and every heart beat high. Yes! D-House, or Carlton House, or Almacks itself may hold their heads up as high as they please! Neither grandeur, beauty, nobility, nor London elegance, can with all their charms equal the interest, and therefore the pleasure, kindled by a county ball. O! the dreams of partners; the bales of ribands and gauzes; the tailors and mantua makers; the sweetmeats and cold meats; the cooks and fidlers; the purveyors and perfumers put in requisition! The innkeepers VOL. III. B : already counting their gains; the dancing-masters drilling their pupils; the universal agitation among the towns-people, particularly as to what set they may get into, and whether the country families will be courteous, and not herd by themselves all this, for a fortnight together, make the happy town, which is to be the scene of so much glory, one of the most instructive, as well as pleasant fields for a practical philosopher that can be imagined. The universality and equality of rights in the parties that are to meet, which can be controlled by no conventional obstructions, privileges of caste, or self-conferred importance, render the race open to all who choose to run. It comes but once a year; it is almost a Saturnalia. Hence, there is no room for disguise; the great appear in an undress; the little are little better for dressing; (I speak of their minds, not their bodies ;)—and thus all is nature and genuine feeling. The touchstone of such a scene of action is finer than even May Fair can supply. To begin with the higher orders, as in duty bound. They receive all the incense that is paid them as their due. They are worshipped at first; they sit under canopies, and on cloths of state; or for want of those an exclusive sofa does as well. They bend or unbend with or without affability, as the case may require, or the whim prompt: they get together and talk, or are silent and thought fine; or for a moment mix, and are gracious. At any rate they are observed of all, and look strange, or look kind, and encourage or depress the gazing throng, who look upon them as superior beings. But all this, as I observed, only ut first. Sooner or later (sometimes very soon) the enchantment breaks, and having perused them, and got by heart every feature of their faces, every fold of their dress, and every turn of their carriage, the gazers are satisfied as to curiosity, and perhaps not a little as to self-love, at finding that my Lord, or my Lady, or Sir Harry, are very little different, and certainly very little better than themselves. Dancing begins; the ceremonial among the great is interrupted; more equality is introduced; the youthful high are even criticised by the youthful low, who think themselves almost as good. Mr. Kitt, the town dancing-master, is breathless in observing Lady Wilhelmina Grandborough's motions, and comparing her with Miss Amelia Nebbs, his favourite pupil, who has spread her own and his fame beyond the purlieus of the town. At first he is struck with a certain tournure, and some new steps of Lady Wilhelmina, which he has not before witnessed. Then he begins to wonder if her Ladyship was one of Monsieur Vestris' best scholars; and at last really begins to believe that Miss Amelia Nebbs is quite equal to Lady Wilhelmina in a gallopade, though, perhaps, inferior in a waltz! But supper is announced. Alas! the high table is bespoke, occupied; each chair guarded by Lady Grandborough's footmen till the great personage shall arrive. But there have been other great personages all the while in the room, equal in rank, equal in importance, equal in following,— Lord and Lady Drelincourt. They will not mix with the Grandboroughs. The Lords are of opposite politics, and rivals for the county; the Ladies hate one another, because the Countess of Drelincourt feels herself better born, and thinks herself better ton than the Lady Grandborough; and the Lady Grandborough believes herself far handsomer than the Countess of Drelincourt. "Non nostrum est inter vos;" but what shall prevent all these little strivings in the upper regions (though conducted with perfect good-breeding,) from spreading among the lower with not quite so much good-humour? In fact, the whole evening through, rivalry of all kinds prevailed:— rivalry in beauty, rivalry in love; rivalry in dress, taste, accomplishments; rivalry in notice of the higher orders, and be sure in politics. This last, indeed, was pointedly visible in the great leaders of the assembly themselves; and many a smile, or attempt at one, was interrupted or turned into a frown, |