and many of the poorer classes had formed themselves into groups, as usual, around the spacious door: the company, which already amounted to forty persons, were, many of them, better dressed than at the dinner; especially the young ladies, who, by their lively deportment and conversation, seemed to evince a degree of enjoyment rather anticipated than felt, but which is seldom felt equal to the anticipation: there were, evidently, preparations for a ball; and there are few young ladies, I believe, who have returned from one so happy as they went to it. Amongst the company, I discovered the three cousins of the hostess, whom I had called upon by mistake: they were, certainly, with one or two exceptions, the belles of the party. One of these ladies appeared to have two lovers, each of whom was so zealous in his attentions, that the poor girl was quite bewildered, and so, instead of dancing all the evening, very pleasantly, as she had anticipated,—in order not to offend them, she danced with neither; but whether by
