Household Words (1852) [ Practices ]
… without speaking together; a handsome young man deriving intense gratification from the motion of his fingers as he played with them in the air; two men standing like pillars before the fire-cage; one man, with a newspaper under his arm, … sounds of music were heard from a distance. The ball had begun, and we hurried off in the direction of the music. It was playing in another gallery -- a brown sombre place, not brilliantly illuminated by a light at either end, adorned with … spot, through all the Christmases to come! The tree was in a bye room by itself, not lighted yet, but presently to be displayed in all its glory. The porter of the Institution, a brisk young fellow with no end of dancing in him, now …
Celebration | Towns | Dance | Furniture
Anthology