I Say En Famille, For An Aide-De-Camp And A
Few Waiters Excepted, No One Interferes With The Small Groups Clubbed
Together To Enjoy Their Early Repast, Of Which Cold Meat, Radishes,
Bread, Tea And Coffee Form The Staples.
Those whose appetites are
appeased make room for new comers, and amuse themselves strolling
under the shade of trees.
At ten the cloth is removed; the company are
all on the qui vive. The cottage, like the enchanted castle in the
Opera of Zemira and Azor, only awaits the magic touch of a fairy; a
few minutes elapse, and the chief entrance is thrown open; Little King
Craig followed by a brilliant staff, enters. Simultaneously an
invisible orchestra, located high amidst the dense foliage of large
trees, strikes up "God Save the King." All stand uncovered, in solemn
silence, in token of respect to the national anthem of Great Britain.
"The magnates press forward to pay their respects to His Excellency
Those who do not intend to "trip the light fantastic toe" take seats
on the platform where his Excellency sits in state; an A.D.C. calls
out, gentlemen, take your partners, and the dance begins.
"Close on sixty winters have run by since that day, when I,
indefatigable dancer, figured in a country dance of thirty couples. My
footsteps, which now seem to me like lead, scarcely then left a trace
behind them. All the young hearts who enlivened this gay meeting of
other days are mouldering in their tombs, even she, the most
beautiful of them all, la belle des belles - she, the partner of
my joys and of my sorrows - she who on that day accepted in the
circling dance, for the first time, this hand, which two years after
was to lead her to the hymeneal altar - yes, even she has been swept
away by the tide of death.
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