Cecilia, Volume 2 (of 3)

ill very late, and then found it so pleasant, that they had strolled into the Park two miles from the house, w

a fortnight, I suppose he'll shut himself up in one of those little round towers, and shave his head, and live upon roots, and howl if any body comes near him. I really half wonder he does not think it too dissipated to

matter with him but

ss has not much occasion to be jealous of you or me, f

ess and accidental sally of Lady Honoria's; particularly, however, upon her guard, from the raillery she had

notice of her when he saw her; I am sure if he marr

ady Eup

pecially if he looks as dismally at her as he does at us! and that probably he will do the more readily

of rain obliged them to take shelter under a large tree; where in two minutes they were joined by Delvile, who came to offer his assistance in hurrying them home; and finding the thunder

rm was over. It was in vain he represented her mistake in supposing herself in a place of security; she clu

re, some time all together; but the storm increasing with great violence, the thunder growing louder, and the lightning becoming stronger, Delvile grew impatient even to anger at Lady Honoria's resistance, and warmly expostulated upon

Cecilia, "Come then, Miss Beverley, let us wait no longe

ot more precious than either of yours,

ing her consent, almost forced her away with him, saying as they ran, "How could a thousand Lady Honoria's recompense the world for the los

most took away her breath; and before they were near home, slackening her pace, and pant

ean upon me? surely this is no time for scruples, and for idle

is arm but she soon repented her condescension; for Delvile, with an emotion he seemed to fin

hdrew from his hold; he suffered her to disengage herself, but said in

erself, as quick a pace as she was able; and Delvi

ged to stop, in defiance of her utmost efforts to force herself forward. Delvile then approaching her, proposed that she should again stand under a tree, as the thunder and lightning for the present seemed over

wind abated; mean time they were both silent, and both

ite of his endeavours to save her, some hail-stones lodged upon her thin summer cloak; he then took off his

or unmoved, but turning to him with much emot

wered he, "to obtain forgi

,-pray put

u comm

inly!-but

n, "whose are the commands that would

her pause, he added,

ened by the seriousness of his manner, answered very readil

d, "is Miss Beverley!-O that I had power-that it were n

ly drawing away her hand, "you will teach me, for

of the servants approach with an umbrella, went forward to take

eld it over her head, but with an air of d

t me carry it fo

ere is not a

proceeded

ad from the height of the grass, and the unevenness of the ground, that Cecilia had the utmost difficulty to make her way; yet she resolutely refused any ass

however, in declining all aid, she preferred going a considerable way round to another part of the park which led t

h provoked with the perpetual inconsistency of his behaviour, and deemed it wholly improper to suffer, without discoura

which obstructed the entrance of the umbrella; Delvile once more, and almost involuntarily, o

in his hand, while, in a tone of voice the most dejected, he said "I am grieved to find you thus offended; but were it possible you could know half the

hich instantly changed all her anger into sorrow, that she scarce knew what they said to her, nor what she replied;

ed, and drinking white wine whey to prevent taking cold; cold, indeed, she feared not; yet she agreed to the

d fright; and Mrs Delvile, having assisted in hurrying her to bed, went

, with fondness loved her, seemed no longer to admit of any doubt, for however distant and cold he appeared, when acting with circumspection and design, the moment he was off his guard from s

conquer it; he seemed to dread even her sight, and to have imposed upon him

nduct so mysterious? he knew not, indeed, that she herself wished it changed, but he cou

r own name to the man she married? this she herself thought was an unpleasant circumstance, but ye

her entire conviction that Henrietta was not loved by him, joined to a certainty that affection

n her mind, and she thought it probable some actua

icate in avoiding either raillery or observation upon the subject of her son, whom she rare

be the real obstacle; his pride might readily object to her birth, which though not contemptible,

pricious, he has, in fact, acted wholly from necessity; if his father insists upon his forming another connection, has he not been honourable, prude

with more assiduous care than ever, and since she found that their union was by himse