As a matter of course, General Forster was there-in fact, he was looked upon as the most important guest, and the greatest attention was paid him by the master of the ceremonies and the stewards, but he seemed entirely engrossed by Mrs. Scarisbrick.
The two ladies who attracted most attention by their beauty and grace were the Countess of Derwentwater and Dorothy Forster. Both looked charming. They had not come prepared for such a ball, but their dresses were very becoming. They were attended by Lord Widdrington, Charles Radclyffe, and several of the Scottish nobles. Lord Derwentwater was not very far off, but he was engaged in converse with Mr. Townley, Mr. Standish, and Sir Francis Anderton.
At this ball all the beauty of Preston was displayed, and no town in the county-perhaps no town in the kingdom-could have made such a display.
The Preston ladies had a witchery about them that very few of the opposite sex could resist. Wherein the charm consisted we cannot say exactly-but since most of them had extremely fine eyes, their glances may have had something to do with it. Be this as it may, the effect of the fascination was manifest. All submitted to the influence-the old campaigner as well as the young recruit. Every damsel appeared to have an admirer-some half a dozen.
Whatever political opinions they had heretofore entertained, the ladies were all now staunch adherents of King James, who could not, they declared, be better represented than by his army, and that army must not be in a hurry to depart. So far from desiring to go, the gallant young troopers declared they should like to remain at Preston for ever.
At the special request of Captain Shaftoe, the handsome young recruits from Lancaster had been invited, and they caused quite as great a sensation as they had done on their arrival at the town. They had no difficulty in obtaining partners, for all the young ladies were anxious to dance with them, and it must be owned that they danced with remarkable spirit and grace. A cotillon in which they figured with some of the prettiest girls in the room, was the great success of the evening.
“Who are those smart young fellows?” inquired Mrs. Scarisbrick, who was looking on at the dance with General Forster.
“I know nothing about them, except that they are recruits from Lancaster,” he replied. “They have been introduced by Captain Shaftoe. You must apply to him for information.”
“They dance charmingly,” observed the lady. “But they look like women.”
“They may be women for aught I know,” said the general. “But they have joined as troopers-at least, Shaftoe tells me so. He is speaking to their captain now.”
“And if the so-called captain is not a woman in disguise, I am very much mistaken,” observed Mrs. Scarisbrick.
The music having struck up for another dance the young sparks ought to have surrendered their partners, who were engaged three or four deep, instead of which they stood up with them again-a course of proceeding that gave great umbrage to the claimants; and in a few minutes a disturbance arose that threw the whole room into confusion.
The Lancaster recruits showed great spirit, and refused to give up their partners, defying the claimants to take them. The challenge was accepted, and a struggle ensued, in the midst of which screams arose, and it was found that three of the Lancashire youths had fainted. Their sex could, therefore, no longer be concealed; and it then came out, as Mrs. Scarisbrick had suspected, that they were a party of young damsels, who had followed their lovers from Lancaster.
The occurrence caused much merriment, and Captain Shaftoe had to undergo a good deal of raillery from Mrs. Scarisbrick.
Shortly afterwards, the more distinguished guests were summoned to a magnificent supper, which was served in an adjoining room.
In the course of the evening there were several Highland dances, which from their novelty produced a great effect. One of these was a Highland reel, in which Lady Derwentwater and Dorothy took part. The countess danced with Lord Charles Murray, and Dorothy with Colonel Farquharson of Invercauld, and acquitted themselves admirably. Besides these, two other ladies joined the reel and found partners in the Master of Nairn and Captain Gordon. All danced with great spirit to the stirring accompaniment of the pipes. A Highland fling, executed by Lord Charles Murray and Captain Gordon, was rewarded by the applause of Brigadier Mackintosh.