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Theirwas tender and affectionate; the sensibility of Cecilia's heart flowed froladness of Mrs Harrel's dimpled her cheeks

As soon as their eneral inquiries had been -room, "where," she added, "you will see some of my friends, who are impatient to be presented to you"

"I could have wished," said Cecilia, "after so long an absence, to have passed this first evening alone with you"

"They are all people who particularly desired to see you," she answered, "and I had the you, as I was afraid you would be out of spirits at leaving Bury"

Cecilia, finding the kindness of her intentions, forbore any further expostulation, and quietly followed her to the drawing-room But as the door was opened, she was struck with a that the aparthted with brilliancy, and decorated with nificence, was more than half filled with coaiety and profusion

Cecilia, who from the word friends, expected to have seen a small and private party, selected for the purpose of social converse, started involuntarily at the sight before her, and had hardly courage to proceed

Mrs Harrel, however, took her hand and introduced her to the whole company, ere all severally nareeable but even necessary to those who live in the gay world, in order to obviate distressing mistakes, or unfortunate ily dispensed with, since to her their na of their histories, parties or connections, she could to nothing allude: it therefore served but to heighten her colour and increase her enity of uish modesty from bashfulness, enabled her in a short time to conquer her surprise, and recover her coise for her appearance, and being seated between two young ladies, endeavoured to seem reconciled to it herself

Nor was this very difficult; for while her dress, which she had not changed since her journey, joined to the novelty of her face, attracted general observation, the report of her fortune, which had preceded her entrance, secured to her general respect She soon found, too, that a company was not necessarily formidable because full dressed, that fah to her, every one see-room, no formality was assumed, and no solemnity was affected: every one ithout restraint, even rank obtained but little distinction; ease was the general plan, and entertaineneral pursuit