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Cecilia, though prejudiced against hiuments; yet conscious that scarce any part of the money to which he alluded was in fact her own, she could not yield to them He was, however, so stubborn and so difficult to deal with, that she at length let hi herself to answer, and privately deterht her battle

She was not, therefore, displeased by his interruption, though very ht of his person, when, in the s's oratory, Mr Hobson entered the parlour

"I ask pardon, ma'am," cried he, "if I intrude; but I made free to call upon the account of two ladies that are acquaintances of yours, that are quite, as one may say, at their wit's ends"

"What is the reat htened, and when once they are upon the fret, oneand arguing, than they do of a shop ledger! however, ht to expect courageousness from a lady in them cases, than one has from a child in arms; for what I say is, they have not the proper use of their heads, which makes it very excusable"

"But what has occasioned any alar, I hope, is thelady enjoys her health very well: but she is taking on just in the same way as her mamma, as what can be , and one lady's cryingserves for a lady's tears, being they can cry at any tiood conscience, and be clear of the world, and I'll engage he'll not wash his face without soap! that's what I say!"

"Will, will!" cried Mr Briggs, "do itbut waste; take a little sand; does as well"

"Let every man have his own proposal;" answered Hobson; "for e bowl of water, and souse oes reeable: and then I take a walk in Tottenham Court Road as far as the Tabernacle, or thereabouts, and snuff in a little fresh country air, and then I coood wholeso lady's pardon; and I enjoy my pot of fresh tea, and ood a relish as if I was a Prince"