Beginning of 'The Cromwell Affair'

Rebecca Cromwell was a beautiful
woman and I think people cared about her beauty more than the murder
of my great aunt Rose, which happened when I was quite young, about
17 years of age. It was a cold night. There was a ball in the
Cromwell Palace. The townspeople who were, much to their joy, invited
to attend rushed into the gate of the Front Wing of the palace like a
deluge.  My aunts and uncles graciously received them. The dinner was
stupendous. A large table with all kinds of delectable foods served
under the luminous golden chandeliers, all given with Schubert's
composition. The dancing afterwards began. Women with feathery heads
and pearl-studded necks hopped and skipped with gallant gentlemen.
Cupid flew by the magnificently engraved ceiling, shooting arrows to
make new loves and lovers. The violinists sharply and masterfully
twisted and thrashed their bows and strings. Whenever they finished a
popular piece, they would turn some pages on their stands and begin
another. The music notes flowed beautifully between dancers,
magically and softly tickling their ears. Small parties of ladies and
gentlemen stood laughing over their glasses of luscious red wine.
Women fanned themselves flirtatiously and moved about with the hems
of their flowery dresses, sweeping the glowing floor. One man stepped
on the toes of his dancing partner, then turned so red in the face
and so overwhelmed with embarrassment that he could not comport
himself to a decent apology. Another man was trying to impress his
new lady acquaintance with the Shakespearean sonnets he kept in his
pocket. A pretty girl, just coming out, stood alone rotating her head
like an owl in search of her aunt. A newlywed showed off the fresh
pansies on her hair her husband had given her. A group of older women
sat down leaning on their canes and bragging of the good fortune of
their sons and daughters. Large, extravagantly framed portraits of
the lavishly dressed Cromwell ancestry came to life as the golden
chandeliers surrounding them brightened their painted eyes.

Then entered Rebecca Cromwell and
all that passed were silenced.