Sir Robert, who had placed himself opposite to her, and was staring
full in her face, made a slight inclination of his head, and said,
"Certainly."

"I should be a very unpromising pupil," returned Cecilia, "for I
fear I should not only want diligence to improve, but desire."

"Oh, you will learn better things," said Mr Harrel; "we have had you
yet but three days amongst us,--in three months we shall see the
difference."

"I hope not," cried Mr Arnott, "I earnestly hope there will be
none!"

Mr Harrel now joined another party; and Mr Arnott seeing no seat
vacant near that of Cecilia, moved round to the back of her chair,
where he patiently stood for the rest of the evening. But Sir Robert
still kept his post, and still, without troubling himself to speak,
kept his eyes fixed upon the same object.

Cecilia, offended by his boldness, looked a thousand ways to avoid
him; but her embarrassment, by giving greater play to her features,
served only to keep awake an attention which might otherwise have
wearied. She was almost tempted to move her chair round and face Mr
Arnott, but though she wished to shew her disapprobation of the
Baronet, she had not yet been reconciled by fashion to turning her
back upon the company at large, for the indulgence of conversing
with some particular person: a fashion which to unaccustomed
observers seems rude and repulsive, but which, when once adopted,
carries with it imperceptibly its own recommendation, in the ease,