cried Miss Larolles, detaining her, "do pray stop, for I've something
to tell you that's so monstrous you've no idea. Do you know Mr Meadows
has not danced at all! and he's been standing with Mr Sawyer, and
looking on all the time, and whispering and laughing so you've no
notion. However, I assure you, I'm excessive glad he did not ask me,
for all I have been sitting still all this time, for I had a great
deal rather sit still, I assure you: only I'm sorry I put on this
dress, for any thing would have done just to look on in that stupid
manner."

Here Mr Meadows sauntered towards them; and all the young ladies began
playing with their fans, and turning their heads another way, to
disguise the expectations his approach awakened; and Miss Larolles, in
a hasty whisper to Cecilia, cried, "Pray don't take any notice of what
I said, for if he should happen to ask me, I can't well refuse him,
you know, for if I do, he'll be so excessive affronted you can't
think."

Mr Meadows then, mixing in the little group, began, with sundry
grimaces, to exclaim "how intolerably hot it is! there's no such thing
as breathing. How can anybody think of dancing! I am amazed Mr Harrel
has not a ventilator in this room. Don't you think it would be a great
improvement?"

This speech, though particularly addressed to no one, received
immediately an assenting answer from all the young ladies.

Then, turning to Miss Larolles, "Don't you dance?" he said.

"Me?" cried she, embarrassed, "yes, I believe so,--really I don't