“They do not grow, Lilya,” replied Oriel, with a smile; “they are the amusements of the world of fashion. A ball is a collection of persons, or rather the amusement of a collection of persons brought together for the purpose of enjoying the diversion of dancing; and dancing is a gliding motion of the feet, by which the body is moved in different attitudes from one place to another.”
“And do people amuse themselves in this way; or is it an amusement for others to look upon?” asked Lilya.
“It is the amusement in which both sexes most delight,” said the young merchant. “They meet together in rooms such as this cabin, only much larger, and much more gay, where music is provided; and directly the music plays, they are all set in motion, and so continue till the dance is over. Some dances consist in whirling round, others in bounding forward, and a great number in gliding from place to place.”
“I do not think a ball would amuse me; I should soon get tired of such exertion, especially as I cannot perceive what causes the amusement,” said Lilya.
“The amusement, I believe, is more generally created by the persons who are brought together than by any quality in the dance,” observed Oriel. “But it is considered a graceful and agreeable way of passing the time; and, to young people particularly, it appears to possess very great attractions. It might be rendered a profitable exercise, but the heat and glitter of a ball-room is not the place in which it can be made most advantageous.”
“I would rather run after the leveret, or chase the young deer for exercise,” observed the simple girl.
“Operas and concerts are places where fashionable people meet to hear music,” continued the young merchant. “It is rarely that the best music is played there; but, generally, the best performers are there to be met with.”
“I would rather hear Zabra,” exclaimed the bashful maiden, hanging down her head as if afraid the acknowledgment might not have been proper.