"Persuasive words and more persuasive sighs,"

said Clarence Hervey.

"A good bold Stanhope cast of the net, faith," whispered one of his
companions. "Melpomene, hast thou forgot thyself to marble?" pursued Lady
Delacour. "I am not very well," whispered Miss Portman to her ladyship:
"could we get away?"

"Get away from Clarence Hervey, do you mean?" replied her ladyship, in a
whisper: "'tis not easy, but we'll try what can be done, if it is
necessary."

Belinda had no power to reply to this raillery; indeed, she scarcely heard
the words that were said to her; but she put her arm within Lady
Delacour's, who, to her great relief, had the good nature to leave the
room with her immediately. Her ladyship, though she would sacrifice the
feelings of others, without compunction, to her vanity, whenever the power
of her wit was disputed, yet towards those by whom it was acknowledged she
showed some mercy.

"What is the matter with the child?" said she, as she went down the
staircase.

"Nothing, if I could have air," said Belinda. There was a crowd of
servants in the hall.

"Why does Lady Delacour avoid me so pertinaciously? What crime have I
committed, that I was not favoured with one word?" said Clarence Hervey,
who had followed them down stairs, and overtook them in the hall.