principal
officers of the Company's Civil Service.

The officers of the "Thisbe" stopped near the entrance to admire the
brilliant spectacle. Superb chandeliers hung from the ceiling or
projected from the walls, amid gay coloured banners, and wreaths of
exquisite flowers; while below them moved the fairest of Eve's daughters
to be found in the capital of the East, amid numerous military officers
in various handsome uniforms; and rajahs, and nabobs, and princes, and
chiefs of every description, habited in the richest and most picturesque
of oriental costumes, with turbans and daggers and sword-hilts sparkling
with gold and silver, and gems of fabulous value.

The gallant captain of the frigate, and most of the officers who
accompanied him, were more accustomed to the quarterdeck, and the battle
and the breeze, than to ball-rooms or palaces, and they stood for some
time totally entranced, and scarcely able to express their surprise to
each other at the gay scene.

Morton had in his boyhood learned most of the dances then in vogue, and
a quick eye and perfect self-possession enabled him to appear to
advantage when at rare intervals he entered a ball-room. Still, feeling
himself a stranger among a crowd, he very naturally preferred remaining
in a quiet spot, that he might at his leisure watch what was going
forward. Captain Calder felt very much as he did, for he was even still
less accustomed to ball-rooms, though his true gentlemanly feelings and
innate sense of propriety prevented him from committing any solecism in
good manners. Sims and Dicky Glover stood together.

"This is very slow work, sir, I think," observed Dicky to his superior,
with whom, bye-the-bye, he felt himself in a ballroom on the most
perfect equality. "I vote we shove forward, and look out for partners.
There are lots of pretty girls, and I flatter myself that if they were
asked they would prefer us blue-jackets to the red-coats."

"As to that I am not quite certain," answered the lieutenant. "You see
these soldier officers out here, at all events, are generally
matrimonially inclined, while such would be a very inconvenient
inclination for us to indulge in; and so not from superior merit but
from the force of circumstances the soldiers are likely to carry the
day."

"That argument of yours is irresistible, but still I don't see that it
should make us give up our chance of a dance," answered Glover, pushing
a little more forward.

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