After this they found some subject less popular, and the lady unknown leaned over me, without any ceremony, to whisper with Mrs. Hampden.  I should have offered her my place if she had made any apology, but as it was, I thought she might take her own way.  In the course of the evening, however, I had the pleasure to observe a striking change in her manners; for as soon as she picked up, I know not how, my name, she ceased her whispering, looked at me with the civilest smiles, spoke to me two or three times, and calling to a fine beau, said—­

“Do pray sit this way, that you may screen Miss Burney as well as me from that fire,”

I did not, however, sufficiently like her beginning, to accept her challenge of talking, and only coldly answered by yes, no, or a bow.

At miss Monckton’s:  “Cecilia” Extolled by the “Old wits,” And By Burke.

Then came in Sir Joshua Reynolds, and he soon drew a chair near mine, and from that time I was never without some friend at my elbow.

Have you seen,” said he, “Mrs. Montagu lately?”

“No, not very lately.”

“But within these few months?”

“No, not since last year.”

“Oh, you must see her, then.  You ought to see and to hear her—­ ’t will be worth your while.  Have you heard of the fine long letter she has written?”

“Yes, but I have not met with it.”

“I have.”

“And who is it to?”

“The old Duchess of Portland.(161) She desired Mrs. Mon-

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tagu’s opinion of ‘Cecilia,’ and she has written it at full length.  I was in a party at her grace’s, and heard of nothing but you.  She is so delighted, and so sensibly, so rationally, that I only wish you could have heard her.  And old Mrs. Delany had been forced to begin it, though she had said she should never read any more; however, when we met, she was reading it already for the third time.”

After this Mrs. Burke saw me, and with much civility and softness of manner, came and talked with me, while her husband without seeing me, went behind my chair to speak to Mrs Hampden.

Miss Monckton, returning to me, then said—­

" Miss Burney, I had the pleasure yesterday of seeing Mrs. Greville.(162)

I suppose she concluded I was very intimate with her.

“I have not seen her,” said I, “many years.”

“I know, however,” cried she, looking surprised, “she is your godmother.”

“But she does not do her duty and answer for me, for I never see her.”

“Oh, you have answered very well for yourself!  But I know by that your name is Fanny.”

She then tripped to somebody else, and Mr. Burke very quietly came from Mrs. Hampden, and sat down in the vacant place at my side.  I could then wait no longer, for I found he was more near-sighted than myself; I, therefore, turned towards him and bowed:  he seemed quite amazed, and really made me ashamed, however delighted, by the expressive civility and distinction with which he instantly rose to return my bow, and stood the whole time he was making his compliments upon seeing me, and calling himself the blindest of men for not finding me out sooner.  And Mrs. Burke, who was seated near me, said, loud enough for me to hear her—­