Cecilia, Memoirs of an Heiress, vol 1 | Page 9

concern at the dislike Lady Margaret
seemed to have taken to her; a dislike which Mr Harrel naturally
enough imputed to her youth and beauty, yet without suspecting any
cause more cogent than a general jealousy of attractions of which she
had herself so long outlived the possession.
As their journey drew near to its conclusion, all the uneasy and
disagreeable sensations which in the bosom of Cecilia had
accompanied its commencement, gave way to the expectation of quick
approaching happiness in again meeting her favourite young friend.
Mrs Harrel had in childhood been her playmate, and in youth her
school-fellow; a similarity of disposition with respect to sweetness of
temper, had early rendered them dear to each other, though the
resemblance extended no farther, Mrs Harrel having no pretensions to
the wit or understanding of her friend; but she was amiable and
obliging, and therefore sufficiently deserving affection, though neither
blazing with attractions which laid claim to admiration, nor endowed
with those superior qualities which mingle respect in the love they
inspire.
From the time of her marriage, which was near three years, she had
entirely quitted Suffolk, and had had no intercourse with Cecilia but by
letter. She was now just returned from Violet Bank, the name given by
Mr Harrel to a villa about twelve miles from London, where with a
large party of company she had spent the Christmas holidays.
Their meeting was tender and affectionate; the sensibility of Cecilia's
heart flowed from her eyes, and the gladness of Mrs Harrel's dimpled
her cheeks.
As soon as their mutual salutations, expressions of kindness, and
general inquiries had been made, Mrs Harrel begged to lead her to the
drawing-room, "where," she added, "you will see some of my friends,
who are impatient to be presented to you."
"I could have wished," said Cecilia, "after so long an absence, to have

passed this first evening alone with you."
"They are all people who particularly desired to see you," she answered,
"and I had them by way of entertaining you, as I was afraid you would
be out of spirits at leaving Bury."
Cecilia, finding the kindness of her intentions, forbore any further
expostulation, and quietly followed her to the drawing-room. But as the
door was opened, she was struck with amazement upon finding that the
apartment, which was spacious, lighted with brilliancy, and decorated
with magnificence, was more than half filled with company, every one
of which was dressed with gaiety and profusion.
Cecilia, who from the word friends, expected to have seen a small and
private party, selected for the purpose of social converse, started
involuntarily at the sight before her, and had hardly courage to proceed.
Mrs Harrel, however, took her hand and introduced her to the whole
company, who were all severally named to her; a ceremonial which
though not merely agreeable but even necessary to those who live in
the gay world, in order to obviate distressing mistakes, or unfortunate
implications in discourse, would by Cecilia have been willingly
dispensed with, since to her their names were as new as their persons,
and since knowing nothing of their histories, parties or connections, she
could to nothing allude: it therefore served but to heighten her colour
and increase her embarrassment.
A native dignity of mind, however, which had early taught her to
distinguish modesty from bashfulness, enabled her in a short time to
conquer her surprise, and recover her composure. She entreated Mrs
Harrel to apologise for her appearance, and being seated between two
young ladies, endeavoured to seem reconciled to it herself.
Nor was this very difficult; for while her dress, which she had not
changed since her journey, joined to the novelty of her face, attracted
general observation, the report of her fortune, which had preceded her
entrance, secured to her general respect. She soon found, too, that a
company was not necessarily formidable because full dressed, that

familiarity could be united with magnificence, and that though to her,
every one seemed attired to walk in a procession, or to grace a
drawing-room, no formality was assumed, and no solemnity was
affected: every one was without restraint, even rank obtained but little
distinction; ease was the general plan, and entertainment the general
pursuit.
Cecilia, though new to London, which city the ill-health of her uncle
had hitherto prevented her seeing, was yet no stranger to company; she
had passed her time in retirement, but not in obscurity, since for some
years past she had presided at the table of the Dean, who was visited by
the first people of the county in which he lived: and notwithstanding his
parties, which were frequent though small, and elegant though private,
had not prepared her for the splendour or the diversity of a London
assembly, they yet, by