Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/196

176 which we only attended one. We went about ten o'clock to a box on the pit tier, and although a pronunciamiento (the fashionable term here for a revolution) was prognosticated, we found everything very quiet and orderly, and the ball very gay and crowded. As we came in, and were giving our tickets, a number of masks came springing by, shrieking out our names in their unearthly voices. Captain G, brother of Lord, came to our box; also a scion of La jeune France, M. de C, who condescendingly kept his hat on during the whole evening. In a box directly above us, were the French legation who arrived lately. Amongst the women, the dresses were for the most part dominos, adopted for greater concealment, as it was not considered very creditable to be there.

There were also several in men's attire, chiefly French modistes, generally a most disreputable set here, and numerous men dressed as women. There were masked Poblanas without stockings, and with very short petticoats; knights in armor; innumerable dresses probably borrowed from the theatre, and even more than the usual proportion of odd figures. The music was very good, and the dancers waltzed and galloped, and flew round the room like furies. There was at least no want of animation. Hundreds of masks spoke to us, but I discovered no one. One in a domino was peculiarly anxious to direct my attention to the Poblana dress, and asked me if it would have done for me to attend the fancy ball in such a costume. Very angry at his absurdity, I began to explain how I should have dressed, when I