MY FIRST AND LAST STEEPLE-CHASE 163 



ably good; and if the storm had deprived the supper- 

 table of many of the light dishes, quite enough was 

 left to satisfy guests who were not disposed to be 

 critical. 



I shall not detain the reader by giving a descrip- 

 tion of the ball, which proved a complete success, 

 more than compensating us for the trouble and 

 anxiety we had undergone. It was seldom the girls 

 in the neighbourhood had a chance of enjoying them- 

 selves in that way, and they seemed resolved to make 

 the most of it. Human endurance, however, has its 

 limits. Towards morning the band, whose " staying 

 powers " were sorely tried, began to show symptoms 

 of mutiny. Threats and bribes (the latter too often 

 administered in the shape of champagne) were tried, 

 and they were induced to continue for another hour. 

 The result may easily be anticipated : they broke 

 down hopelessly, at last, in the middle of " Sir 

 Eoger." A sudden change in the music made us 

 all stop, and to our dismay we found one half of the 

 performers playing " God save the Queen." The 

 others had just commenced " Partant pour la Syrie," 

 while the " big drum " was furiously beating the 

 " tattoo " in a corner. Turning them all out, we 

 threw open the windows. A flood of sunshine 

 poured into the room, and the cool fresh sea breeze 

 swept joyously round, extinguishing the lights. This 



