A Merry Time in the Midlands, 251 



manufactory known as Day and Martin^s^ and when 

 deploring the fact of his inability to obtain the pardon 

 of the offended parent, who was stone blind, remarked, 

 ^^ that it was most unfortunate, for if his father-in-law 

 could only have seen the polish on his boots, forgive- 

 ness would have been instantaneous.'^ But to resume 

 the thread of my discourse. Having received an 

 invitation to attend a grand Masonic ball at the Town 

 Hall on the evening of my arrival, I was in due 

 course ushered into the elegantly decorated ball- 

 room, where I found a large party assembled, some 

 150 in all. The brethren in full dress, wearing the 

 costume, jewels, and insignia of their rank and oflBce ; 

 officers holding Her Majesty's commission, and those 

 of the volunteer service, in full-dress uniform. The 

 splendid band of his Grace the Duke of Rutland^ 

 under the able direction of Mr. Henry Nicholson, and 

 a bevy of beautifully dressed and graceful women, 

 waltzing to the enlivening music so admirably played 

 by these skilled musicians. A '^ gay and festive " 

 scene in every sense of the word was this that met 

 ^y eye ; the brilliancy of the dresses, the tastefully- 

 arranged suite of rooms, the profusion of choice 

 flowers, and the evident enjoyment of the dancers, 

 all combined to render it a striking and delightful 

 reunion. A splendid supper was provided, including 

 all the delicacies of the season, to use the stereotyped 

 phrase of descriptions of such banquets ; but having 

 due regard to my nerves, and the fact that I was to 

 ride with the Pytchley the following morning, I con- 

 tented myself with a humble meal, befitting an an- 

 chorite, or one of the monks of old of whom we 

 occasionally hear, merely refreshing myself with a 



