“I cannot hope,” said Mr Arnott, “that I have any place in the recollection of Miss Beverley, but long as I have been absent from Suffolk, and unfortunate as I was in not seeing her during my last visit there, I am yet sure, even at this distance of time, grown and formed as she is, I should instantly have known her.” “Amazing!” cried an elderly gentleman, in a tone of irony, who was standing near them, “for the face is a very common one!” “I remember well,” said Cecilia, “that when you left Suffolk I thought I had lost my best friend.” “Is that possible?” cried Mr Arnott, with a look of much delight. “Yes, indeed, and not without reason, for in all disputes you were my advocate; in all plays, my companion; and in all difficulties, my assistant.” “Madam,” cried the same gentleman, “if you liked him because he was your advocate, companion, and assistant, pray like me too, for I am ready to become all three at once.” “You are very good,” said Cecilia, laughing, “but at present I find no want of any defender.” “That's pity,” he returned, “for Mr Arnott seems to me very willing to act the same parts over again with you.” “But for that purpose he must return to the days of his childhood.” “Ah, would to heaven it were possible!” cried Mr Arnott, “for they were the happiest of my life.” “After such a confession,” said his companion, “surely you will let him attempt to renew them? 'tis but taking a walk backwards; and though it is very early in life for Mr Arnott to sigh for that retrograde motion, which, in the regular course of things, we shall all in our turns desire, yet with such a motive as recovering Miss Beverley for a playfellow, who can wonder that he anticipates in youth the hopeless wishes of age?” Here Miss Larolles, who was one of that numerous tribe of young ladies to whom all conversation is irksome in which they are not themselves engaged, quitted her place, of which Mr Gosport, Cecilia's new acquaintance, immediately took possession. “Is it utterly impossible,” continued this gentleman, “that I should assist in procuring Mr Arnott such a renovation? Is there no subaltern part I can perform to facilitate the project? for I will either _hide_ or _seek_ with any boy in the parish; and for a _Q in the corner_, there is none more celebrated.” “I have no doubt, sir,” answered Cecilia, “of your accomplishments; and I should be not a little entertained with the surprize of the company if you could persuade yourself to display them.” “And what,” cried he, “could the company do half so well as to rise also, and join in the sport? it would but interrupt some tale of scandal, or some description of a _toupee_. Active wit, however despicable when compared with intellectual, is yet surely better than the insignificant click-clack of modish conversation,” casting his eyes towards Miss Larolles, “or even the pensive dullness of affected silence,” changing their direction towards Miss Leeson.