In the short story "Her First Ball," the setting and imagery throughout the story help convey the message of the novel through its main character, Leila. Written with Leila as the central focus, the reader can clearly see the lively youth of Leila, and her desire to experience life while she could through her vivid descriptions of her surroundings. The setting allowed the reader to understand the way Leila viewed the world; thus at the end of the story, it is not so shocking to the audience when she ignores the warnings of the old man and decides to live her life fully.
             From the first paragraph, the setting is described as it is seen through Leila's eyes. She sits in the corner of the taxi, as "...they bowled, past waltzing lampposts and houses and fences and trees" (1). The repeated use of the conjunction, and, shows Leila's eagerness and excitement for her first ball. Also, the "waltzing lampposts" allow the reader to already imagine the ball, filled with dancing. Leila's longing to attend the ball is obvious through this first description. Even before actually arriving at the ball, she cannot help herself from her fascination and enchantment with attending such a luxurious, fantastic occasion. Later in the cab, she describes the road being "bright on either side with moving fan-like lights, and on the pavement gay couples seemed to float through the air..." (7). In this scene, her adventure reaches the second phase; her description reveals how she is so intrigued by every detail of the ball. Such an intense thrill from just arriving at the ball foreshadows her disregard of the old man's warning later in the novel.
             At the ball, Leila follows Laura into the overflowing ladies' room, with two benches on each side, covered with wraps. The ladies' room was lighted by a "...great quivering jet of gas... [the room] couldn't wait; it was dancing alre...