They charged into the street with the shutters -- one , two , three -- had 'em up in their places -- four , five , six -- barred 'em and pinned 'em -- seven , eight , nine -- and came back before you could have got to twelve , panting like race-horses . `` Hilli-ho ! '' cried old Fezziwig , skipping down from the high desk with wonderful agility . `` Clear away , my lads , and let 's have lots of room here ! Hilli-ho , Dick ! Chirrup , Ebenezer ! '' Clear away ! There was nothing they would n't have cleared away , or could n't have cleared away , with old Fezziwig looking on . 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 XXXXX stop the dance , cried out , `` Well done ! ''
after as at before down in into on to with