COURT LIFE AT NAPLES

IN OUR OWN TIMES

BY THE AUTHOR OF

"LA CAVA; OR, RECOLLECTIONS OF THE NEAPOLITANS "

COURT LIFE AT NAPLES.

CHAPTER I.

THE large ball-room was rapidly emptying, as prudent mammas carried off reluctant daughters, whose towzled dresses, disordered hair, and heavy eyelids bore witness, however, to the wisdom of the measure. Most of the English and other well-regulated families had departed, leaving the greater space for the remaining dancers, who were now busily preparing for the interminable cotillon, and hunting out chairs from every available nook and corner. Dancers' feet and orchestras' lungs are never supposed to know the meaning of fatigue, and on this occasion both were prepared to continue their hard work with astonishing perseverance.

A party of English naval officers were lounging half wearily on the royal couches, eyeing these proceedings with far from smiling countenances, and relieving themselves occasionally by tremendous yawns.

These gallant gentlemen had certainly no very great reason to be satisfied with the night's entertainment. There had been few dancers present among their own countrywomen, and Neapolitan ladies and those of other