"
"Really, Mr. Vavasour," said Celestina, as soon as he would give her an opportunity of speaking, "your conduct and manners are so eccentric, that it is difficult to know what to say to you, which you will not call either prudery or coquetry, or impute to a partiality for some other person. Permit me, however, to tell you, with that sincerity with which I have always spoke on this subject, that I am sensible of the honour you do me, but that I never can accept it, even though my situation were to be more humble than it is, and though such a man as Mr. Montague Thorold had never existed."

"Oh! very well, Madam," cried Vavasour, impatiently interrupting her—"You must, however, allow me to ask your objections: are they to my person? my family? my fortune?"
"I have already said, Sir, that they are all unexceptionable."
"Well, Madam, I must then infer from your refusal, that you are engaged."
"No, Sir, that inference by no means follows. Pardon me if I say, that notwithstanding all the advantages you possess, it is possible for a person to decline the honour of your addresses without being engaged."
"However, Madam, do you or do you not deny that such an engagement does exist? Of that, I think, I have a right to enquire."
"Forgive me, Sir, if I answer that it does not seem to me that you have any right in the world to ask that question of me."
"Well then, I shall ask it elsewhere."

"Where you have, if possible, still less right," said Celestina, alarmed at his vehemence.
"You are, however, very quick at understanding to whom I allude."
"Certainly, after what you have just said, I cannot mistake your meaning. You allude to Mr. Montague Thorold."
"Damn him," cried Vavasour, rising, and speaking with vehemence that made her shudder, "that puppy crosses me like my evil genius. By any man at all worthy of you, I might perhaps bear to be supplanted; but by such a silly fellow as that—no, damn it, there is no enduring it—curse me if it does not make me frantic."
"Hear me then, Mr. Vavasour—hear me for the last time—for I never will again willingly expose myself to this sort of treatment. I am not engaged to Mr. Thorold: it
