chapter07
ChapterVII
Anorchestraofyellowsilkwomenandbald-headedmenonanelevatedstagenearthecentreofagreatgreen-huedhall，playedapopularwaltz。Theplacewascrowdedwithpeoplegroupedaboutlittletables。Abattalionofwaitersslidamongthethrong，carryingtraysofbeerglassesandmakingchangefromtheinexhaustiblevaultsoftheirtrouserspockets。Littleboys，inthecostumesofFrenchchefs，paradedupanddowntheirregularaislesvendingfancycakes。Therewasalowrumbleofconversationandasubduedclinkingofglasses。Cloudsoftobaccosmokerolledandwaveredhighinairaboutthedullgiltofthechandeliers。
Thevastcrowdhadanairthroughoutofhavingjustquittedlabor。Menwithcallousedhandsandattiredingarmentsthatshowedthewearofanendlesstrudgeforaliving，smokedtheirpipescontentedlyandspentfive，ten，orperhapsfifteencentsforbeer。Therewasameresprinklingofkid-glovedmenwhosmokedcigarspurchasedelsewhere。Thegreatbodyofthecrowdwascomposedofpeoplewhoshowedthatalldaytheystrovewiththeirhands。QuietGermans，withmaybetheirwivesandtwoorthreechildren，satlisteningtothemusic，withtheexpressionsofhappycows。Anoccasionalpartyofsailorsfromawar-ship，theirfacespicturesofsturdyhealth，spenttheearlierhoursoftheeveningatthesmallroundtables。Veryinfrequenttipsymen，swollenwiththevalueoftheiropinions，engagedtheircompanionsinearnestandconfidentialconversation。Inthebalcony，andhereandtherebelow，shonetheimpassivefacesofwomen。ThenationalitiesoftheBowerybeameduponthestagefromalldirections。
PeteaggressivelywalkedupasideaisleandtookseatswithMaggieatatablebeneaththebalcony。