Miss Beverley!"

Cecilia then turned her head towards the door, and there, to her own
as well as her neighbours' amazement, she perceived Mr Briggs! who, in
order to look about him at his ease, was standing upon a chair, from
which, having singled her out, he was regarding her with a facetious
smirk, which, when it caught her eye, was converted into a familiar
nod.

She returned his salutation, but was not much charmed to observe, that
presently descending from his exalted post, which had moved the wonder
and risibility of all the company, he made a motion to approach her;
for which purpose, regardless of either ladies or gentlemen in his
way, he sturdily pushed forward, with the same unconcerned hardiness
he would have forced himself through a crowd in the street; and taking
not the smallest notice of their frowns, supplications that he would
stand still, and exclamations of "Pray, Sir!"--"Lord, how
troublesome!" and "Sir, I do assure you here's no room!" he fairly and
adroitly elbowed them from him till he reached her seat: and then,
with a waggish grin, he looked round, to show he had got the better,
and to see whom he had discomposed.

When he had enjoyed this triumph, he turned to Cecilia, and chucking
her under the chin, said "Well, my little duck, how goes it? got to
you at last; squeezed my way; would not be nicked; warrant I'll mob
with the best of them! Look here! all in a heat!--hot as the dog
days."

And then, to the utter consternation of the company, he took off his
wig to wipe his head! which occasioned such universal horror, that all