Різдвяна історія

           Whenthisresultwasbroughtabout,oldFezziwig,clappinghishandstostopthedance,criedout,‘Welldone!’andthefiddlerplungedhishotfaceintoapotofporter,especiallyprovidedforthatpurpose.Butscorningrest,uponhisreappearance,heinstantlybeganagain,thoughtherewerenodancersyet,asiftheotherfiddlerhadbeencarriedhome,exhausted,onashutter,andhewereabran-newmanresolvedtobeathimoutofsight,orperish.

           Thereweremoredances,andtherewereforfeits,andmoredances,andtherewascake,andtherewasnegus,andtherewasagreatpieceofColdRoast,andtherewasagreatpieceofColdBoiled,andthereweremince-pies,andplentyofbeer.ButthegreateffectoftheeveningcameaftertheRoastandBoiled,whenthefiddler(anartfuldog,mind.ThesortofmanwhoknewhisbusinessbetterthanyouorIcouldhavetoldithim.)struckup‘SirRogerdeCoverley.’ThenoldFezziwigstoodouttodancewithMrsFezziwig.Topcouple,too;withagoodstiffpieceofworkcutoutforthem;threeorfourandtwentypairofpartners;peoplewhowerenottobetrifledwith;peoplewhowoulddance,andhadnonotionofwalking.

           Butiftheyhadbeentwiceasmany—ah,fourtimes—oldFezziwigwouldhavebeenamatchforthem,andsowouldMrsFezziwig.Astoher,shewasworthytobehispartnerineverysenseoftheterm.Ifthat’snothighpraise,tellmehigher,andI’lluseit.ApositivelightappearedtoissuefromFezziwig’scalves.Theyshoneineverypartofthedancelikemoons.