Cecilia, Volume 1 (of 3)

but though Mr Harrel, who had always that meal in his own room, came into his lady's at his usual hour, to see what was going forw

and had seen their m

ntrance of Sir Robert Floyer made her wish to retire. But she was wholly at a loss whether to impute to general for

e next morning there was to be a rehearsal of a very grand new dance at the Opera-House, where, tho

lined the offer. He then turned to Cecilia, and said

the rehea

d his house in the country is charming. One is as ea

man with never a tooth in her head sitting at the top of the table! Faith,

," said Morrice; "and for my part, except just at m

e intends to die,

st for ever. We all thought she was going when Monckton married her; however, if

rrel, "for she's an odious creature, an

son who has no sense of decency; if once she takes

e long in one of those fits of the asthma. I assur

n puffing and blowing as if she was at her last gasp ever since I can remember; and for all that, only yes

ervant with a letter for her. She was immediately retiring to read it; but upon the petition of M

Honour Squire

g. But I would not be troublesome, having wherewithal to wait, so conclu

d not dare express, and Mr Monckton, under an appearance of inattention, concealed the most anxious curiosity, Mr Morrice alone had courage to in

m sure I should reckon myself far otherwise, for Mi

answered she, "I assure y

d Sir Robert, coming forward,

or I have n

hought, yesterday; perh

elves under my care," cried Morric

uously, "and, but for the check of modesty, probably

ert; "what if you all walk to Harley Street, and give me your

ll like i

Harrel; "'tis an

let's be off. Miss Beverley, I

to excuse my att

was declined. Mr and Mrs Harrel both teized Cecilia to consent; but the haughty Baronet, evidently more offended than hurt

inion concerning his house. But while this somewhat alarmed him, the unabated insolence of his carriage, and the confident defiance of his pride, still more surprized him; and notwithstan

lowed to it; and he resolved, by outstaying all the company, to

hough already weary, to keep up a general conversation; but what moved at once his wonder and his indignation was the assurance of

stranger, who was waiting in the house-keeper's room,

y, brother, try to get rid of him for me, for he comes to te

treat John Groot by no means to be satisfied without seeing Mrs Harrel herself: John Groot, howev

l the obstacles in its way, and then to have it held from him by a young fellow he so much despised, and who had no entrance into the house but through his own boldness, and no inducement to stay in it but from his own impertinence, mortified him so insufferab

was standing at the back of it, with a sudden spring which made the whole room shake, jumpt over, and sunk plump into the vacant place h

t short, and looking at him with a fierceness that overpowered his discretion, was bursting out with, "Sir, you a

yet more agility than he had seated himself, he resumed the obsequiousness of which an uncommon flow of spirits had robbed him, and guessing no other subject for his anger than the disturbance he had ma

ks of Mr Monckton, made an apology with the utmost humility, and hurried away: and Mr Monckton, hopeless of any better fortune, soon did th