the bastard waltz and spurious

Pepper stopped and began a discourse upon round dances, country dances,morris dances, and quadrilles, all of which are entirely superiorto the bastard waltz and spurious polka which have ousted themmost unjustly in contemporary popularity--when the waiters gentlypushed him on to his table in the corner. 　　The dining-room at this moment had a certain fantastic resemblanceto a farmyard scattered with grain on which bright pigeonskept descending. Almost all the ladies wore dresses which theyhad not yet displayed, and their hair rose in waves and scrollsso as to appear like carved wood in Gothic churches ratherthan hair. The dinner was shorter and less formal than usual,even the waiters seeming to be affected with the general excitement. 　　Ten minutes before the clock struck nine the committee made a tourthrough the ballroom. The hall, when emptied of its furniture,brilliantly lit, adorned with flowers whose scent tinged the air,presented a wonderful appearance of ethereal gaiety. 　　"It's like a starlit sky on an absolutely cloudless night,"Hewet murmured, looking about him, at the airy empty room. 　　"A heavenly floor, anyhow," Evelyn added, taking a run and slidingtwo or three feet along. 　　"What about those curtains?" asked Hirst. The crimson curtainswere drawn across the long windows. "It's a perfect night outside.""Yes, but curtains inspire confidence," Miss Allan decided. 　　"When the ball is in full swing it will be time to draw them. 　　We might even open the windows a little. . . . If we do it now elderlypeople will imagine there are draughts. 　　Her wisdom had come to be recognised, and held in respect. 　　Meanwhile as they stood talking, the musicians were unwrappingtheir instruments, and the violin was repeating again and againa note struck upon the piano. Everything was ready to begin. 　　After a few minutes' pause, the father, the daughter, and theson-in-law who played the horn flourished with one accord. 　　Like the rats who followed the piper, heads instantly appearedin the doorway. There was another flourish; and then the triodashed spontaneously into the triumphant swing of the waltz. 　　It was as though the room were instantly flooded with water.