she wished to spend the day at home.

"At home, my dear?" cried Mrs Harrel; "why we have been engaged to
Mrs Mears this month, and she begged me to prevail with you to be of
the party. I expect she'll call, or send you a ticket, every moment"

"How unlucky for me," said Cecilia, "that you should happen to have
so many engagements just at this time! I hope, at least, there will
not be any for to-morrow."

"O yes; to-morrow we go to Mrs Elton's."

"Again to-morrow? and how long is this to last?"

"O, heaven knows; I'll shew you my catalogue."

She then produced a book which contained a list of engagements for
more than three weeks. "And as these," she said, "are struck off,
new ones are made; and so it is we go on till after the birth-day."

When this list had been examined and commented upon by Miss
Larolles, and viewed and wondered at by Cecilia, it was restored to
its place, the two ladies went together to the auction, permitting
Cecilia, at her repeated request, to return to her own apartment.

She returned, however, neither satisfied with the behaviour of her
friend, nor pleased with her own situation: the sobriety of her
education, as it had early instilled into her mind the pure dictates
of religion, and strict principles of honour, had also taught her to
regard continual dissipation as an introduction to vice, and