Page 221 (1/1)

"O yes I have, for I got a little chat with two or three people as they were passing, for, you knohen one sits there, they can't help saying soly odd they don't care whether they speak to one or no As to Mr Meadows, he's really enough to provoke one to death I suppose he's in one of his absent fits However, I assure you I think it's extreme impertinent of him, and so I shall tell Mr Sawyer, for I know he'll ain"

"I rather think," said Cecilia, "the best would be to return the compliment in kind, and when he next recollects you, appear to have forgotten hiood notion! so I will, I declare But you can't conceive how glad I ah I sat as near the fire as possible, I was so extreme cold you've no idea, for Mr Meadows never would let me have the least peep at it I declare I believe he does it on purpose to plague one, for he groorse and worse every day You can't think how I hate him!"

"Not easily, I believe indeed!" said Cecilia, archly

"O do but look!" resumed the fair VOLUBLE, "if there is not Mrs Mears in her old red gown again! I begin to think she'll never have another I wish she was to have an execution in her house, if it was only to get rid of it! I aht of it you can't conceive"

Mr Morrice now brought intelligence that he had secured one side of a table which would very well accommodate the ladies; and that the other side was only occupied by one gentle tea hiive up his place when the party appeared

Miss Larolles then ran back to her own set, and the rest followed Mr Morrice; Mrs Harrell, Mrs Mears and Cecilia took their places The gentleman opposite to them proved to be Mr Meadows: Morrice, therefore, wasup his place, he had flung hi posture, while he rested one ar his own seat, he filled up a space meant for three

Mr Harrel had already walked off to another party: Delvile stood aloof for so Sir Robert Floyer would station himself behind Cecilia; but Sir Robert, ould scarce have thought such a condescension due to a princess, disdained any appearance of assiduity, even while he made it his care to publish his pretensions: and therefore, finding no accoentlemen in another part of the roolected, and Mr Arnott, who had not had courage to make any effort in his own favour, modestly stood near him Cecilia contrived to make room for Mr Gosport next to herself, and Morrice was sufficiently happy in being allowed to call the waiters, superintend, the provisions, and serve the whole party