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Mr Monckton had, at this time, a party of co the Christmas holidays He waited with anxiety the arrival of Cecilia, and flew to hand her froht He observed the melancholy of her countenance, and was much pleased to find that her London journey had so little power to charm her He conducted her to the breakfast parlour, where Lady Margaret and his friends expected her
Lady Margaret received her with a coldness that bordered upon incivility; irascible by nature and jealous by situation, the appearance of beauty alararded atchful suspicion whoever was addressed by her husband, and having led out Cecilia for the object of her peculiar antipathy; while Cecilia, perceiving her aversion though ignorant of its cause, took care to avoid all intercourse with her but what ceremony exacted, and pitied in secret the unfortunate lot of her friend
The coentlemen
Miss Bennet, the lady, was in every sense of the phrase, the huaret; she was low-born, er alike to innate merit or acquired accomplishments, yet skilful in the art of flattery, and an adept in every species of low cunning With no other view in life than the attainment of affluence without labour, she was not more the slave of theindignity withoutof course
Aentlemen, the most conspicuous, by means of his dress, was Mr Aresby, a captain in thefrequently heard the words red-coat and gallantry put together, iined the conjunction not merely custo to think of the service of his country, he considered a cockade as a badge of politeness, and wore it but to mark his devotion to the ladies, whom he held himself equipped to conquer, and bound to adore
The next who by forwardness the most officious took care to be noticed, was Mr Morrice, a young lawyer, who, though rising in his profession, owed his success neither to distinguished abilities, nor to skill-supplying industry, but to the art of uniting suppleness to others with confidence in himself To a reverence of rank, talents, and fortune the most profound, he joined an assurance in his own merit, which no superiority could depress; and with a presus, he blended a good-humour that no mortification could lessen And while by the pliability of his disposition he avoided e, he learned the surest way ofuseful to them