The lights of the big hanging kerosene lamps flickered and cast great shadows, showing the women all with heads very high and backs straight and stiff, the men in various attitudes of jellyfish, with heads hanging and feet screwed under their chairs in search of moral support.
It was the beginning of the ball.

These were the first arrivals.

At the head of the hall, far off, sat three musicians, negroes alleged to play violins and an accordion, and by that merit raised to a bad eminence.

Gloomy, haughty, superior, these gazed sternly out before them, ready for the worst.

Now and then they leaned over the one toward another, and ventured some grim, ghastly remark.