|Though little time had been allowed for its preparation, the ball at
the town-hall was 'really very brilliant. The rooms were large, but
crowded to excess, and space could with difficulty be found for the
dancers. As the greater part of the male guests were military, their
varied costumes added materially to the effect of the scene. The leaders
of all the English and Scottish regiments were present, and though
Brigadier Mackintosh rarely appeared at such an assembly, his tall
figure could be descried amid the gay throng.
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 Der-wentwater 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
excepted, 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. Beside 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.
Owing to the crowded state of the room some inconvenience was
experienced by the dancers, and interruptions occasionally occurred;
but, on the whole, the ball went off remarkably well, and was long
afterwards remembered at Preston. Many ladies, then in their bloom, used
to boast to their grand-daughters, that they had danced with the rebels
in 1715, and they invariably added “Never was seen such a fine set of
young fellows.”
Amid that scene of gaiety and excitement, when all the young men yielded
to the soft influence of beauty, few thought that vigorous preparations
for attacking them were being made by their foes, and that within three
days many of them would be slain, and the rest exiled. Had such thoughts
intruded they would have been quickly banished.
But the revellers were not troubled by any such disagreeable
reflections. Content with the enjoyment of the moment, they gave
themselves no thought of the future. How could it be otherwise, when
their general and most of their officers set them such an example!
But there was one person amid that thoughtless crowd who was oppressed
with care, and felt the danger in which the invading army stood. He felt
that, if this culpable indifference on the part of the general should
continue, they were lost.
Of all that large assemblage which boasted the presence of so many
Scottish nobles and gentlemen--so many wealthy English gentlemen--there
was not one who had so much at stake as he.
As he looked at his lovely wife, who was then calling forth rapturous
admiration in the Highland dance, and felt how soon he might lose her,
he could scarcely repress the pang that crossed his breast.
But she seemed full of excitement, and when she came back to him with
Dorothy, he strove to receive them with a smile.
Dorothy was not allowed much repose after her fatiguing dance. She was
carried off by Charles Radclyffe, who since her arrival seemed to have
fallen desperately in love with her. He told her that her image had been
constantly before him during the march, and earnestly besought her to
enter into an engagement with him.
To this Dorothy replied that she would not make any immediate
engagement, but if he survived the campaign, and renewed his suit, she
would consider the matter. The promise did not altogether satisfy him,
but he was obliged to be content.