The drawing-room and dancing saloon brilliantly lighted by chandeliers, and beautifully decorated with festoons of dark bright evergreens and wreaths of gorgeous autumn leaves and bouquets of splendid autumn flowers, stood ready with wide open doors to welcome the company.
At the hall door, at the head of the servants, stood Mr. Joseph Joy the house steward, and Miss Tabitha Winterose the housekeeper, both disgusted with the heathenish costumes, distracted with the confusion, disapproving of the whole proceedings, yet determined to do their duty.
Their duty was to see that the men and maids did theirs, in showing the gentlemen and ladies to their dressing-rooms. They had both in turn been astonished, scandalized, and appalled by the grotesque figures that had passed them. But their manner of expressing their sentiments was quite different.
Joseph Joy stared, wondered, and shook his head.
Miss Tabby sighed, whimpered, and moralized.
“I feel as if I had been drinking for a week, and had a lively sort of a nightmare! Here comes another ghoul, in a false face and black gown and hood! Now, how is anybody to tell what it is? Whether it is a tall woman or a short man? Gentleman, or lady, if your honor pleases?” said Joseph Joy, addressing himself to a black domino that just then came up.
“Gentleman,” answered the unknown.
“Pass to the right, then, if you please, sir! Here Alick, show this gentleman in the black shroud to the gentlemen’s dressing-room.”
A trembling darky came forward and took charge of this terrific personage.
“Ah, my goodness! no good will ever come of this!” sighed Miss Tabby.