Date: 1782

"He must, upon no account, sustain a conversation with any spirit, lest he should appear, to his utter disgrace, interested in what is said: and when he is quite tired of his existence, from a total vacuity of ideas, he must affect a look of absence, and pretend, on the sudden, to be wholly lost ...

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"In the midst of this jargon, to which the fulness of Cecilia's mind hardly permitted her to listen, there suddenly appeared at the door of the apartment, Mr. Albany, who, with his usual austerity of countenance, stopt to look round upon the company."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"She made not, however, the least impression upon his mind; he assured her he doubted not giving her shortly a good account of himself, and that living in the country was a resource of desperation which need not be anticipated."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"She had no time, however, for comments, as she was presently called to the second cotillon; but the confused and unpleasant ideas which, without waiting for time or reflection, crowded upon her imagination on observing his behaviour, were not more depressing to herself, than obvious to her part...

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"This letter contained a most passionate avowal of the impression she had made on his heart the preceding evening, and an angry complaint that Mr. Harrel had refused to hear his proposals."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"But still she wished with the utmost ardour to know the length of their acquaintance, how often they had met, when they had conversed, what notice he had taken of her, and how so dangerous a preference had invaded her heart."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"She then went back to Mrs. Harrel, leaving, however, an impression upon the mind of Sir Robert, that made him no longer dare dispute her commands."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"Such was the love which already she felt for Cecilia; her countenance had struck, her manners had charmed her, her understanding was displayed by the quick intelligence of her eyes, and every action and every notion spoke her mind the seat of elegance."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"Left at length by herself, she revolved in her mind the adventure of the evening, and the whole behaviour of Delvile since first she was acquainted with him."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)

Date: 1782

"But I'll make him believe that it's necessary, in order to give him something to think of, for really his poor head is so vacant, that I am sure if one might but play upon it with sticks, it would sound just like a drum."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)