Cecilia, Volume 2 (of 3)

offices, instantly assured her the thousand pound should be her own, if she would consent to seek some quiet retreat, and receive it in small sums, of fifty or one hundred pounds at

ed he could not possibly set out without first receiving the money. "I shall go myself, therefore," said she, "to my brother after brea

ointed, answered "I am sorry for Mr

for her removal to St James's-square, whither, with all the speed in

ife; they seemed mutually out of humour and comfortless, nothing hardly was spoken, and little was swallowed; Mr Harr

said, "You have not, I hope, Miss Beverley

e answered, "and already

ewhat recovering, said with much bitterness, "Well, madam,

d she coolly, "I a

amuse yourself first with seeing bailiffs take possession

a, with uplifted hands, "is this a ques

once think that way-" then rising and strik

oo, and weeping vi

settled, leave Priscilla with me? When I go into my own house, she shall ac

s profuse, as expensive as myself; she has practised neither oeconomy nor self-denial, she has neither thought of me nor

rge in return! but let us not enlarge upon so ungrateful a subject, the wises

se to be here at night, and if till then you will stay, I will promise to release you without further petit

ng, "good heaven, and how can my remo

at I have said is a fact, and immutable; and you must hasten my end, or give me a chance for avoiding it, as you think fit. I scarce care at t

left t

or, nor the lessons of her own experience, were proofs against the terrors which threats so desperate inspired; and though more than once she determined to fly at all events from a tyranny he had so little right to usurp, the mere reme

tion was still undecided, her servant broug

erley, Port

13th,

your beauty, I find myself too weak to bear the distress of my unhappy sister, and therefore I run from the sight, nor shall any letter or message follow me, unless it comes from Miss Beverley h

that Mr Arnott, at least, had escaped the present storm; yet she was certain it would fall the more he

nto the room, calling out "My brother is gone! he has left me for ever! Oh save me, Miss Beverley

his persecution, faintly ask

d pound!-the chaise is already ordered,-Mr Harrel is fixed upon going,-yet he says without that money we must both starve

le his discretion! indeed you must submit to your fate,

er life would be safe in making so long a journey with Mr Harrel in his present state of mind; his character, she said, was totally changed, his gaiety, good humour, and sprightliness were

refused to interfere with Mr Arnott, and even thought it

Brother's affection, at the very time I am forced out of the kingdom, with a husband who is ready to murder me, and who says he hates the sight

, when a message came from Mr Harrel,

m! I dare not go to him! he wants to know my success, and when he hears my brother is run away, I am sure he will kill

ly to send for my brother, that he may protect me, and beg Mr Harrel not to treat me so cruelly,-consider but what a long, long journey I am going to make! consider how often you used to say you would love me for ev

s, said "Oh Priscilla, plead and reproach no more! what you wish sha

my brother, and his heart will yield to my distress, and he will s

him from a retreat which her own counsel made him seek, professedly to expose him to a supplication which from his present situation

you at last," cried Mrs Harrel,

sufferer but myself,-I cannot send for Mr Arnott,-from me you must have the money, and may it answer the purpo

epentance they had not the delicacy to regard; again, therefore, she signed her name for paying the principal and interest of another 1000l. within ten days after she was of age; and having taken the money, she accompanied Mr and Mrs Harrel into another room. Presenting it then with an affecti

d acknowledgment, as before she had been to

nd resentment, accompanied the donation, and rested upon her mind; she feared she had done wrong; she was certain Mr Monckton would blame her

mbittered her beneficence. Their worth was without suspicion, and their misfortunes were not of their own seeking; the post in

of her mind only increased by reflection, for when the rights of the creditors with their injuries occurred to her, she enquired of herself b

weighed the consequences, and thought with the utmost dismay, that while she had flattered herself she was merely

upon to assist him, would his suicide have lessened their losses, or secured their demands? even if he had no intention but to intimidate me, who will be wronged by my enabling him to go abroad, or who would be better paid

and now uneasy from the rectitude of her principles, sh

he had shewn him, and gaily added, "You should be absolved from all the mischief you may do for a

or many days. But tell me, sir, exactly, at what ti

ght o'clock; perhaps by nine;

stance. She wrote, therefore, another note to Mrs Delvile, desiring she would not expect her till near ten o'

abroad but oeconomy, prudence and housewifery; a lesson how hard for the thoughtless and negligent Priscilla! she heard the advice

out, entreating Cecilia to stay with Priscilla t

then grew anxious to keep her appointment with Mrs Delvile

and chair; but when Mrs Harrel desired to be informed the moment that Mr

, she enquired

dam, and gave orders

a few minutes longer; and, fearing some new evil, she was going to send him a me

d in a hurrying manner,

lia, staring, perceived in his face a look

time to lose. A hackney coach will s

en up going abroad

t us live while we live! I have ordered a chai

ia, "let me wish yo

cried Mrs Harrel, "how ca

swered she; "but if I g

ried Mr Harrel, "if you desire

e, called out "Oh Mr Harrel, will

e a better friend than you have made a wife, and i

possible you can be serious? Are you really going

answered, "

bell, he ordere

cilia for amazement; while Mr Harrel, attending to neith

Mrs Delvile must already be astonished at my delay, an

in an agony; "if Mr Harrel will let me stay, s

r of us go to Vauxhall? surely that is

, and said the hackney

out, "come, what do we wait for? if we

good night, protesting she co

to deny me this last request! I will kneel to you day and night," sinking upon the ground before her, "and I will serve y

rest!-it is painful to me to refuse, but to comply for ever in defiance of my judgment-Oh Mrs Harrel, I know no

el impetuously, "I wa

ott will I am sure hold his to be sacred, she shall now go with him, she s

l not carry her abroad with me, but the only legacy I can leave her, is a w

, "leave me at Vauxhall,

t? have you any regard for me? or for any thing upon earth but yoursel

rrel shrieked aloud, and the terrified Cecilia exclaimed, "If indeed you are to part to-night, part not thus dreadfully!-ris

, "why should you go!-you want no warning! you need no terror!-bett

by the scenes of horror and perplexity in which she was perpetually engaged, ordered

m both into the coach, whi

s Harrel, who now released from her personal ap

meant to go; but still he did not reply; and when she urged him b

a gloomy silence, and Cecilia most unpleasantly passed her time between anxious suspicions