more scarves of velvet and silk festooned the table in front of the couch , on which there was a variety of paraphernalia , including burning incense , more candles ( dripping onto the cloth , by the way ) , bowls filled with dark liquid , a huge , clear , round ball on a poofy , tasselled , velvet pillow and what looked , distressingly , like the bones of a small animal ( or an infant and , even though neither choice was good , abby was hoping for the former ) .