Cecilia, Volume 1 (of 3)

neither sensible of fatigue from her change of hours nor her journey, arose with

prized to find herself there before her friend, her ardour for waiting her arrival was somewhat chilled, up

er prepared for her reception, but still it was empty. Again s

ng evening, he expatiated with warmth and feeling upon the happiness of his boyish days, remembered every circumstance belonging to the plays in which the

e joined by Mrs Harrel, and then another,

hom she immediately advanced with the intimacy of an old acquaintance, taking her

rolles, without consulting her looks, or attending to her manner, proceeded to express the earnest desire she had long had to be known to her;

mmings! and her ribbons are quite divine! It is the most dangerous thing you can conceive to go near her; I

ruinous," said Cecilia, "I

e she's shockingly dear, that I must own; but then who can wonder? She

arty was agreed upon, and accompanied by Mr Arnott,

nexpressible, enquired who were the intended possessors, heard their names with envy, and sighed with

Larolles was almost equally eloquent, and to appropriate whose goods she was almost equally earnest: and then,

ongratulated herself that the rest of the

not absolutely alone, for I e

again t

will be a very small party; not mo

iling; "and how short a time since would you

returned Mrs Harrel; "but what in the worl

id Cecilia, "as my pre

rted to dres

pelled her to observe the same silence she so resolutely practised herself. Yet not the less was her internal surprise that a lady who seemed det

ne, of their former sports and amusements, he had already exhausted all that was worth being mentioned; but not yet had he exhausted the pleasure he received from the theme; it seemed always fresh and always enchanti

h the ladies, Cecilia, with no little surprise, inquired for

or it happens continually. He dines at home, indeed, in g

how does he fi

er consults me about it; but I suppose mu

me earnestness, "how little did I ever

t is it I do? Don't I live exactly like every

a low voice, "will I hope give to the

hey separated

xpected not to find: she got together her books, arranged them to her fancy, and secured to herself for the future occupation of her leisure hour

ied she, eagerly, "to run away with you both to my Lord Belgrade's sale. All the world will

e sold there?

house, stables, china, laces, hor

intend to bu

e likes to see th

ed they would exc

e you; there'll be such a monstrous crowd as you never saw i

e much weight with a poor rustic just out of the country: it must require

ry thing; I really believe creditors are the cruelest set of people in the world! they have taken those beautiful buckles out of her shoes! Poor soul! I declare it will make my heart ache to see

d accompanying them, adding that s

rs Mears this month, and she begged me to prevail with you to be of

appen to have so many engagements just at this time! I

rrow we go to

? and how long i

s; I'll shew yo

more than three weeks. "And as these," she said, "are struck off,

ondered at by Cecilia, it was restored to its place, the two ladies went together to t

ee Mrs Harrel in the same retirement in which she had hitherto lived herself, when books were their first amusement, and the society of each other was their chief happiness, the change she now perceived in her mind and manners equally concerned and surprised her. She found her insensible to friendship, indifferent to her husband, and negligent of all social felicity. Dress, company, parties of pleasur

uare, at the head of a splendid fortune, and wife to a man whose own pursuits soon showed her the little value he himself set upon domestic happiness. Immersed in the fashionable round of company and diversions, her understanding, naturally weak, wa

the house of her friend: he had little personal knowledge of him, but was satisfied with the nomination, because acquainted with his family, fortune, a

and had still no greater pleasure than that of encreasing it. From the high honour, therefore, of Mr Delvile, he expected the most scrupulous watchfulness that his niece should in nothing be injured, and from the experience of Mr Briggs in money matters, and his di

e only in time to dress

, a gentleman she had not before seen, but who as soon as she entered the parlour, Mr Harr

urance; his person, too, though neither striking for its grace nor its deformity, attracted notice from the insolence of his deportment. His manners, haughty and supercilious, marked the high opini

due to her beauty, nor yet with that of curiosity excited by her novelty, but with the scrutinizing observatio

tand them; and the episodes with which they were occasionally interspersed, consisting chiefly of comparative strictures upon celebrated beauties, hints of impending bankruptcies, and witticisms upon recent divorces, were yet more disagreeable to her, because more intelligible. Wearied, therefore, with uninteresting anecdotes,

erning the Baronet would accord, instantly and openly declared her disapprobation of every thing he had uttered; but Mrs

e him, then

entertaining and clever

ilia; "and how long might you deliberate befor

and Cecilia, though much concerned that the husband of her friend had made so disgraceful an election of a favourite