Cecilia, Volume 2 (of 3)

ran into Cecilia's room before breakfast, and acquain

rder to soften the apprehension with which it was communicated; Mrs Harrel, however, was extreme

ation was procured. A subject also of such immediate concern, was sufficient apology for avoiding any particular conversation with Miss Bel

ing prepared for going to an assembly! yet declaring at the same time it was extremely disagreeable

of rest, those who labour for subsistence are at liberty when subsistence is procured; but those who toil to please the vain and the idle, undertake a task

in order to spend an hour or two with Mrs Delvile. The servants, as they conducted her up stairs, said

the absence of his mother, whom he said had understood she was not to see her till t

r seeming inconsistency; after which,

wn away upon Lord Vannelt; he has heard an excellent character of him from all his former acquain

n hearing such intelligence; and

Delvile, after this second p

t changing colour,

deed, for her situation, since her relations, her bro

ded "Perhaps you do not think her amiable?-you may have s

acrity, "but only I was thinking that-d

have been with Mr Belfield, som

ess to give praise, compelled herself to say, "Miss Belfield is indeed a very sw

our goodness to her, and I think she seems equally to require and to deserve it. I doubt not you will extend it to her when she

on, faintly answered "Certainly,-whateve

t the room. Cecilia, glad of any pretence to leave it also, insisted upon giving no interruption to Mrs D

served to confirm her opinion of his benevolence, but in her present state of anxiety and uncertainty, every thing gave birth to conjecture, and had power to alarm her. He had behaved to her of late with the strangest coldness and distance,-his praise of Henrietta

eive for a daughter-in-law the child of a citizen and tradesman? would Mrs Delvile herself, little less elevated in her notions, though infinitely softer in her manners, ever condescend to acknowledge her? Cecilia's own birth and connections, superior as they were to those of Miss Belfield, were even openly

may attribute neglect, but who can only be sought and caressed from motives of purest regard. She loves Mr Delvile, loves him with the most artless affection;-perhaps, too, he loves her in return,-why else his solicitude to know my opinion of her, and why so sudden his alarm when he thought it unfavourable? Perhaps he me