"Sixpence?" repeated he scornfully, "if you don't know the value of
sixpence, you'll never be worth fivepence three farthings. How do
think got rich, hay?--by wearing fine coats, and frizzling my pate?
No, no; Master Harrel for that! ask him if he'll cast an account with
me!--never knew a man worth a penny with such a coat as that on."

Morrice again laughed, and again Mr Briggs reproved him; and Cecilia,
taking advantage of the squabble, stole back to the music-room. Here,
in a few minutes, Mrs Panton, a lady who frequently visited at the
house, approached Cecilia, followed by a gentleman, whom she had never
before seen, but who was so evidently charmed with her, that he had
looked at no other object since his entrance into the house. Mrs
Panton, presenting him to her by the name of Mr Marriot, told her he
had begged her intercession for the honour of her hand in the two
first dances: and the moment she answered that she was already
engaged, the same request was made for the two following. Cecilia had
then no excuse, and was therefore obliged to accept him.

The hope she had entertained in the early part of the evening, was
already almost wholly extinguished; Delvile appeared not! though her
eye watched the entrance of every new visitor, and her vexation made
her believe that he alone, of all the town, was absent.

When the Concert was over, the company joined promiscuously for chat
and refreshments before the ball; and Mr Gosport advanced to Cecilia,
to relate a ridiculous dispute which had just passed between Mr Briggs
and Morrice.

"You, Mr Gosport," said Cecilia, "who seem to make the _minutiae_