“No, Sir, nothing worth repeating.”
“O pray don't punish me so severely as not to let me hear it!”
Cecilia, though merely not to seem offended at his negligence, was then again beginning an answer, when, looking at him as she spoke, she perceived that he was biting his nails with so absent an air, that he appeared not to know he had asked any question. She therefore broke off, and left him to his cogitation.
Sometime after he addressed her again, saying, “Don't you find this place extremely tiresome, ma'am?”
“Yes, Sir,” said she, half laughing, “it is, indeed, not very entertaining!”
“Nothing is entertaining,” answered he, “for two minutes together. Things are so little different one from another, that there is no making pleasure out of any thing. We go the same dull round for ever; nothing new, no variety! all the same thing over again! Are you fond of public places, ma'am?”
“Yes, Sir, soberly, as Lady Grace says.”
“Then I envy you extremely, for you have some amusement always in your own power. How desirable that is!”
“And have not you the same resources?”
“O no! I am tired to death! tired of every thing! I would give the universe for a disposition less difficult to please. Yet, after all, what is there to give pleasure? When one has seen one thing, one has seen every thing. O, 'tis heavy work! Don't you find it so, ma'am?”