of absurd characters your study, can explain to me, perhaps, why Mr
Briggs seems to have as much pleasure in proclaiming his meanness, as
in boasting his wealth?"

"Because," answered Mr Gosport, "he knows them, in his own affairs, to
be so nearly allied, that but for practising the one, he had never
possessed the other; ignorant, therefore, of all discrimination,--
except, indeed, of pounds, shillings and pence!--he supposes them
necessarily inseparable, because with him they were united. What you,
however, call meanness, he thinks wisdom, and recollects, therefore,
not with shame but with triumph, the various little arts and
subterfuges by which his coffers have been filled."

Here Lord Ernolf, concluding Cecilia still disengaged from seeing her
only discourse with Mr Gosport and Mr Monckton, one of discourse was
old enough to be her father, and the other was a _married man_,
advanced, and presenting to her Lord Derford, his son, a youth not yet
of age, solicited for him the honour of her hand as his partner.

Cecilia, having a double excuse, easily declined this proposal; Lord
Ernolf, however, was too earnest to be repulsed, and told her he
should again try his interest when her two present engagements were
fulfilled. Hopeless, now, of young Delvile, she heard this intimation
with indifference; and was accompanying Mr Monckton into the ballroom,
when Miss Larolles, flying towards her with an air of infinite eagerness,
caught her hand, and said in a whisper "pray let me wish you joy!"

"Certainly!" said Cecilia, "but pray let me ask you of what?"

"O Lord, now," answered she, "I am sure you know what I mean; but you