Page:Letters from India Vol 1.djvu/96

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four rupees for a little handbell, which would not have cost 1s. 6d. in any London toyshop. I am shy of saying ‘Qui hi’ when I want a servant, so I have got this little dear bell. We went to the ball at 10 p.m.—an immense procession! Ten men with lights ran before George’s carriage, besides the usual day accompaniment of servants, guards, &c. The ball was much like a London ball in look, only the uniforms make it look more dressed, and there is more space for dancing. They dance away as if they were not in a furnace, and instead of resting between the dances they walk round the room in pairs. There were few young ladies, but some young brides, and they all seem to dance on to a most respectable old age. Several mothers of grown-up daughters never missed a quadrille or waltz; they were all very well dressed, and seemed to take pains to be so. Came home at 12 p.m. Our new aide-de-camp, Captain ——, mentioned that he was not going home with us, and I believe he slunk back, after putting us in our carriage, to have a good dance. It cannot be such a bad climate, or the old gentlemen who were figuring away at this ball would not be so active.