By Woman's Wit Author:Alexander Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE BALL. BOTH Mrs. L'Estrange and her step-daughter uttered exclamations of surprise and admiration as they entered the hall of Evesleigh Man... more »or House on the night of the ball. It was large and oblong, occupying the height of two stories, with a double staircase at the back, curving gently to an arch, beneath which a door led to the rooms in the rear of the mansion. A gallery of carved oak surrounded it on three sides. Below" were the reception- and breakfast-rooms, while the library, morning- and billiard-rooms were in the wings. This hall was exquisitely decorated and brilliantly lighted. Figures in armor held lamps, banks of flowers filled in the bend of the staircase at either side ; the doorway beneath, which was handsomely draped, showed the softly lighted passage beyond, leading, between ferns and palms, to the refreshment-room. Flowers wreathed the gallery, and groups of banners hung in the angles. Sofas and chairs stood in various positions, with Persian rugs, bear and tiger skins, lying before them on the highly polished oaken floor. The ladies of Brookdale came early, they wished to see the rooms before the crowd assembled. " Lady Dorrington is in the white drawing-room," said the butler, opening the first door on the left. This was the smaller of the two drawing-rooms, and was as bright and beautiful as lights, flowers and groups of plants could make it. Lady Dorrington, in velvet and diamonds, stood inthe center, with nearly all the house party, re-enforced by several gentlemen Nora had not seen before, gathered round her. Directly the butler announced " Mrs. and Miss L'Estrange," Marsden came forward, shook hands very cordially with Mrs. L'Estrange, and let her pass on to Lady Dorrington ; then stopping Nora, to whom he showed a p...« less