It was done in a minute . Every movable was packed off , as if it were dismissed from public life for evermore ; the floor was swept and watered , the lamps were trimmed , fuel was heaped upon the fire ; and the warehouse was as snug , and warm , and dry , and bright a ball-room as you would desire to see upon a winter 's night . In came a fiddler with a music-book , and went up to the lofty desk , and made an orchestra of it , and tuned like fifty stomachaches . In came Mrs. Fezziwig , one vast substantial smile . In came the three Miss Fezziwigs , beaming and lovable . In came the six young followers whose hearts they broke . In came all the young men and women employed in the business . In came the housemaid , with her cousin the baker . In came the cook , with her brother 's particular friend the milkman . In came the boy from over the way , who was suspected of not having board enough from his master ; trying to hide himself behind the girl from next door but one , who was proved to have had her ears pulled by her mistress . In they all came , one after another ; some shyly , some boldly , some gracefully , some awkwardly , some pushing , some pulling ; in they all came , any how and every how . Away they all went , twenty couple at once ; hands half round and back again the other way ; down the middle and up again ; round and round in various stages of affectionate grouping ; old top couple always turning up in the wrong place ; new top couple starting off again as soon as they got there ; all top couples at last , and not a bottom one to help them ! When this result was brought about , old Fezziwig , clapping his hands to stop the dance , cried out , `` Well done ! '' and the fiddler plunged his hot face into a pot of porter , especially provided for that purpose . But , scorning rest upon his reappearance , he instantly began again , though there were no dancers yet , as if the other fiddler had been carried home , exhausted , on a shutter , and he were a bran-new man resolved to beat him out of sight , or perish . There were more dances , and there were forfeits , and more dances , and there was cake , and there was negus , and there was a great piece of Cold Roast , and there was a great piece of Cold Boiled , and there were mince-pies , and plenty of beer . But the great effect of the evening came after the Roast and Boiled , when the fiddler -LRB- an artful dog , mind ! The sort of man who knew his business better than you or I could have told it him ! -RRB- struck up `` Sir Roger de Coverley . '' Then old Fezziwig stood out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig .
Top couple , too ; with a good stiff piece of work cut out for them ; three or four and twenty pair of partners ; people who were not to be trifled XXXXX ; people who would dance , and had no notion of walking .
In after as at into like than though upon with