Very soon after, he hastily arose, and seeming entirely to forget that he had spoken to her, very abruptly walked away. Mr. Gosport, who was advancing to Cecilia and had watched part of this scene, stopped him as he was retreating, and said, "Why, Meadows, how's this? are you caught at last?" "Oh, worn to death! worn to a thread!" cried he, stretching himself and yawning; "I have been talking with a young lady to entertain her! oh, such heavy work! I would not go through it again for millions!" "What, have you talked yourself out of breath?" "No; but the effort! the effort!--Oh, it has unhinged me for a fortnight!--Entertaining a young lady!--one had better be a galley-slave at once!" "Well, but did she not pay your toils? She is surely a sweet creature." "Nothing can pay one for such insufferable exertion! though she's well enough, too--better than the common run--but shy, quite too shy; no drawing her out." "I thought that was to your taste. You commonly hate much volubility. How have I heard you bemoan yourself when attacked by Miss Larolles!" "Larolles! Oh, distraction! she talks me into a fever in two minutes. But so it is for ever! nothing but extremes to be met with! common girls are too forward, this lady is too reserved--always some fault! always some drawback! nothing ever perfect!" "Nay, nay," cried Mr. Gosport, "you do not know her; she is perfect enough, in all conscience." "Better not know her then," answered he, again yawning, "for she cannot be pleasing. Nothing perfect is natural,--I hate everything out of nature." MISS BURNEY'S FRIENDS From the 'Letters' But Dr. Johnson's approbation!--it almost crazed me with agreeable surprise--it gave me such a flight of spirits that I danced a jig to Mr. Crisp, without any preparation, music, or explanation--to his no small amazement and diversion. I left him, however, to make his own comments upon my friskiness, without affording him the smallest assistance. Susan also writes me word that when my father went last to Streatham, Dr. Johnson was not there, but Mrs. Thrale told him that when he gave her the first volume of 'Evelina,' which she had lent him, he said, "Why, madam, why, what a charming book you lent me!" and eagerly inquired for the rest. He was particularly pleased with the snow-hill scenes, and said that Mr. Smith's vulgar gentility was admirably portrayed; and when Sir Clement joins them, he said there was a shade of character prodigiously well marked. Well may it be said, that the greatest minds are ever the most candid to the inferior set! I think I should love Dr. Johnson for such lenity to a poor mere worm in literature, even if I were not myself the identical grub he has obliged.