Cedric of Crandlemar was noted among beaux old and young of his
intimate acquaintance for the spicy diversions with which he
entertained his friends, when they were so fortunate as to be present
at his stag parties. Arriving home after a long absence, he opened
his castle upon St. Valentine's eve with a ball, wherein his guests
appeared in full court costume, in honour of the Royal guests. The
weeks following had been filled with stately entertainment; and now
his Royal and formal guests had departed, and the throng that passed
into the great saloon were youths and maidens of neighbouring
counties; some college friends and kinsmen. They entered with gay
abandon. The beaux were whetted to great curiosity, for 'twas
whispered among them that after a short evening with the ladies, there
were to appear a bevy of London-town dancing girls, who would give
them a highly flavoured entertainment; and, as if Bacchus had
prematurely begun to disport himself in brain and leg of each beau, he
set about to ogle and sigh and wish and--pull a stray curl upon some
maiden's forehead or touch her glowing cheek with cold fingers, and
some began to illustrate the _modus operandi_ of taking certain game,
while another danced a clog or contra-dance or Sir Roger de Coverley.
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