Part 17 (2/2)
”Then set your wits to work,” said her Fairy, ”for wits you will need to bring that about.”
And Maid Sally thought of a plan.
CHAPTER XV.
A COLONIAL BALL
The next Wednesday evening, after singing-school, Maid Sally said to Master Sutcliff, with many a blush and a queer quaking of the voice:
”I have a great desire to see something of the fine ball, but there appeareth no way for me to do it.”
Master Sutcliff laughed at the courage as well as the frightened, anxious face of the maid. He next looked thoughtful for a s.p.a.ce, and then said, with nods and bows that made Sally's heart leap:
”I play the violin for the company, and must needs have rosin at hand in case a string getteth obstinate. And it might beseem me to have some one nigh to hand me music in the order it must be played.”
”Oh, but I can't be seen,” cried Maid Sally.
”No more you need, young maid. Many fiddlers will be there, and you can have a low seat, even on a cricket hard by the ba.s.s viol, and though the players will be on a high platform, you can hide for a little while behind the big instrument and have a good peep at it all.”
”How can I get in?” asked Sally.
”You can enter under the shadow of my wing,” said Master Sutcliff, ”but not long had you best remain. At first no one would notice you, but it might not be easy for you to long hide entirely: we change places once in a while.”
”I will go the moment I am bid,” said the maiden.
In very truth all the bliss of Fairy Land opened up to Sally the next night.
Never before had the maiden had an idea of the glamour, the bewitchment, the splendor of such a scene.
The costumes, or dresses, the dancing, and courtly manners,--the manners of those who are about the court of a king,--the music that thrilled and charmed her, sending all kinds of bright and airy dreams through her mind, all these sent the blood rus.h.i.+ng swiftly through the veins of the delighted maid as, spell-bound, she peered from behind the great ba.s.s viol.
”Oh, it is heaven, heaven!” she panted, as with great starry eyes she looked down upon the splendid company. ”And I, I could so enjoy it all, had I only been born to it! Was I born to it? Oh, no, no, it could not be!”
”Who knows?” faintly asked her Fairy.
But Sally spent not much time in asking longing questions. The room seemed filled with the odor of musk, attar of roses, and cologne, flowers, and perfumes of many kinds.
There was the governor, brilliant as a king, in purple velvet coat, gold lace, a white, flowered waistcoat with great frills of costly lace adown the front and falling over his white hands.
s.h.i.+ning knee-buckles flashed back the light from hundreds of candles, which caught also the light from gleaming stones in the buckles of his high-heeled shoes. A man of fancy-fine appearance, but looked upon with eyes that loved him not, but rather despised him.
The ladies were like Fairy dreams, in stiff, brocaded-silks, sheeny satins, ribbons, lace, jewels, and necklaces of gold, amber, and medallions--round stones with faces cut on them.
With dazzled eyes, Sally gazed upon the courtlike appearance of Sir Percival Grandison, his wife, daughter, and niece. But her eyes lingered long on the Lady Rosamond Earlscourt.
Never in her brightest visions had the poor maid watching from the platform beheld such radiance. The powdered hair was cus.h.i.+oned high on her head, and held between the puffs were white plumes and glossy leaves, joined in loops of small gilt chains.
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