The Argosy — page 142: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

130 Brussels. ‘Fune, 1815. famous ‘‘ Waterloo Ball” was given in a coach-builder’s store-room. For they can tell of the Porte Cochére through which they passed to the garden entrance ; of another approach to the hall, passing by the stables, with their recollection of the position of billiard-room, dining-room and their father’s study, passing up a few steps to the long room appropriated as a schoolroom for the younger branches of the family, and which they are all equally certain was the actual apart- ment used as a ball-room upon this eventful evening. It was certainly no “high hall” with windowed niche, but a long narrow room with windows on the side facing the stables. No doubt the ball had been arranged some time, and the great Duke had no wish that it should be postponed on account of the reported approach of the French army, though many English families had been frightened into retreating from Brussels, and post-horses were kept harnessed in readiness at the Duke of Richmond's stables in case bad news from the scene of conflict should make it advisable for the children to be sent to Antwerp. A large number of our troops were already out of reach, the Guards were at Enghien, and few, if any, of the officers could have obtained leave to attend the ball. The nearest neighbours in Brussels appear to have been violent Bonapartists, and were prepared to entertain Napoleon in great style, when he had successfully forced the British army to retreat and should himself enter the Belgian capital in triumph. Lord Byron’s lines in ‘‘ Childe Harold” are so engraven on men’s minds that it was long believed that the ball actually took place on the 17th of June, and that the orders for the route were delivered in the very midst of the festivities. Not so. It was on the 15th of June; and as the guests arrived and passed through the hall and on to the ball-room, so the evening went on without a panic of any sort. Cettainly, while merry couples were flying round, a despatch reached the Duke of Wellington from the front, and he asked his host for a private room where he could speak to one or two of the generals who were present. ‘The Duchess’s dressing-room was the only convenient apartment safe from intrusion. Candles were hastily lit on the dressing-table at which the Duke sat with a map of the country before him, and having explained certain points to his staff, they all re-joined the company and left the house without attracting any remark. Very few indeed, if any, guessed how near the crisis was which should decide the fate of Europe; and it never entered into the minds of the happy girls as they danced so gaily that to many of their partners it might possibly be the very last dance they would ever enjoy. Lady Georgina is the only sister still living who was grown up then, whilst Lady Louisa and Lady Sophia were only old enough to look on as children while their elder sisters danced all night. Of Eomiclboookxs.com —_—