Cecilia, Volume 2 (of 3)

by a visit from Lady Honoria Pemberton, w

her, working with her, and singing with her; whatever she did, she chose to do also; wherever she went, she was bent upon accompanying her; an

no more, she would have heard it with the same composure as if she had been told she should meet with her daily; she had no motive

tle, and danced a great deal. She had quick parts and high spirits, though her mind was uncultivated, and she was totally void of judgment or discretion; she was careless of giving offence, and indifferent

rtunate attendance; but at present, the unsettled state of her own mind made her glad to give it any employment, and the sprightliness of Lady Honoria served therefore to amuse her. Yet she

rival at the castle, she came running into Cecil

g!" cried Cecilia,

rd Derford

incident," cried Cecilia, "if t

s such difficulty to keep awake, that I am frightened to death lest I should be taken with a sudden nap,

ng very terrible

else. She never stirs out, you know, and has no company at home, which is an extremely tiresome plan, for it only serves to make us all doubly sick of one another; though you must know it's one great reason why my father likes I should come; for he has some very old-fash

honour," cried C

ile in a passion, which will help to give us a little spirit; though I know we shall not get the smallest intelligence from him, for he knows nothing in the world that's going forward. And, indeed, that's no great matter, for if he did, he would not know how to tell it, he's

! you have my free consent to s

n, and upon my word I don't think he is much uglier. But I wonder vastly you would not marry him, for all that, for yo

think that an admirable recommendation; but were I

d, and the best thing I know of marrying is to get rid of them. I fancy you think so too, only it's a pret

indeed I h

saw you in St James's-square I thought you very lively. But really these

ve had a very bad effe

true, as if that could possibly signify! I am sure I had as lieve the things were false as not, for they tell as well one way as the other, if she would but have patience to hear them. But she's extremely severe, you know, as almost all those very clever women are; so that she keeps a kind of restraint

there's much resemblance," said

able young man in the world; but if you observe, that's all over now, and he is getting just as stupid and dismal as

Cecilia, with a

tead of going over that old draw-bridge, throw myself into the moat. I wish Euphrasia was here. It's just the right place for her. She'll fancy h

nce that Lady Eup

it would not be proper; but I mean

eated Cecilia, in the

ria, looking at her very archly, "you

no, i

hing, "and indeed when you came hither, every

a, again changing colour, "I am sure t

f you married Mortimer, there would be a lawsuit that would take away half your estate; and others said you had promised your hand to Sir Robert Floyer, and repented when you heard of his mortgages, and he gave it out eve

lf laughing, "what wild inventions

n. But don't take any notice of what I told you a

g by believing it all fiction, "

among the higher powers; only Mr Delvile does not yet kn

ndependent situation exempts me from being disp

eing shut up in this place; it's much fitter for Euphrasia. To tell you the truth, I believe they could not make out money enough; but

hrasia your

hing at all of the world, for she has never been presented yet, so she is not come out, you know;

cried Cecilia, g

the most formal little grave thing you ever beheld; she'll preach to you sometimes for half an hour together. Grandmama ta

uch perplexity; she knew not what wholly to credit, or wholly to disbelieve; but her chief concern

"Miss Beverley," she said, "has your little ra

rd, do you

her; shall you dis

y come merely to wait u

d she smiling, "will certainly h

change in me; I have been very explicit with him, and he seemed equall

strangely shackled by Mr Harrel, and therefore his lordship may probably hop

said Cecilia, "for he will th

ake any. I have forborn all questions upon this subject, lest you should find any reluctance in answering them; but I am now too deep

ready, but bl

aced your train, which there is you have disting

one,

ere not one that, hereafter

proud of them; there is one only who, had my fortune been smaller, would, I believe, ever have

vile, "is just what I expected

man; I am much indeed deceived, if his partiality f

, my

return it mo

do yo

compelled to belong to any one of those who have been pleased to address me, I should not hesitate a moment in

"but with sentiments so strongly in his favour, you

t you would have patience, for so uninteresting a detail; but though there are some thi

y because, not merely among your avowed admirers, but among the whole race

that scarce! who ma

stressing you by any further questions at present; you will not, I think, act materially without con

of her soul, had she not apprehended such a confession would have seemed soliciting her inter

ung simply from friendly curiosity, or whether she was desirous from any nearer motive to be satisfied with respect to her freedom or e