Page 82 (1/1)

At about eight o'clock the business of the evening began; and before nine, there were so many masks that Cecilia wished she had herself made one of the nu almost the only female in a common dress, than any masquerade habit could have eneral air of gaiety diffused throughout the co somewhat familiarized to the abruptness hich the masks approached her, and the freedom hich they looked at or addressed her, the first confusion of her situation subsided, and in her curiosity to watch others, she ceased to observe how much she atched herself

Her expectations of entertainment were not only fulfilled but surpassed; the variety of dresses, the ures, and the ludicrous roups, kept her attention unwearied: while the conceited efforts at wit, the total thoughtlessness of consistency, and the ridiculous incongruity of the language with the appearance, were incitements to surprise and diversion without end Even the local cant of, Do you knowof the finger, the arch nod of the head, and the pert squeak of the voice, though wearisome to those who frequent such assemblies, were, to her unhackneyed observation, additional subjects of amusement

Soon after nine o'clock, every rooular h the various apartments Do, eneral herd of the company: for the rest, the men were Spaniards, chimney-sweepers, Turks, watchmen, conjurers, and old woirls, Circassians, gipseys, haymakers, and sultanas

Cecilia had, as yet, escaped any address beyond the custo coave general courage, she was attacked in a ular

The very firstless in view than preventing the approach of every other: yet had he little reason to hope favour for himself, as the person he represented, of all others least alluring to the vieas the devil! He was black from head to foot, save that two red horns seemed to issue from his forehead; his face was so coht only of his eyes was visible, his feet were cloven, and in his right hand he held a wand the colour of fire