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At first he only laughed at her plan, gaily rallying her upon her love of solitude; but when he found it was serious, he very warmly opposed it, and called upon Mrs Harrel to join in his expostulations That lady complied, but in so faint a manner, that Cecilia soon saw she did not wish to prevail; and with a concern, that cost her infinite pain, now finally perceived that not only all her former affection was subsided into indifference, but that, since she had endeavoured to abridge her aarded her as a spy, and dreaded her as the censor of her conduct

Mean while Mr Arnott, as present, though he interfered not in the debate, waited the event with anxiety; naturally hoping her objections arose frouided hith, tired of the iravely said, that if he desired to hear the reasons which obliged her to refuse his request, she was ready to communicate them

Mr Harrel, after a little hesitation, accompanied her into another room

She then declared her resolution not to live under the same roof with Sir Robert, and very openly expressed her vexation and displeasure, that he so evidently persisted in giving that gentleement

"My dear Miss Beverley," answered he, carelessly, "when young ladies will not know their own minds, it is necessary some friend should tell it them: you were certainly very favourable to Sir Robert but a short tiain, when you have seen more of him"

"You amaze me, Sir!" cried Cecilia: "as I favourable to hiularly been , "you will not easily persuade him to think so; your behaviour at the Opera-house was ill calculated to give him that notion"

"My behaviour at the Opera-house, Sir, I have already explained to you; and if Sir Robert himself has any doubts, either from that circumstance or from any other, pardon ness to remove theer, nor to subject reeable to me"

"O fie, fie, Miss Beverley! after all that has passed, after his long expectations, and his constant attendance, you cannot for ahim"

Cecilia, equally surprised and provoked by this speech, could not for a moment tell how to answer it; and Mr Harrel, wilfullyher silence, took her hand, and said, "Come, I am sure you have too much, honour to make a fool of such a man as Sir Robert Floyer There is not a woman in toill not envy your choice, and I assure you there is not a land I would so soon recommend to you"