Cecilia, Volume 3 (of 3)

for the mother once more drove the son from her thoughts, and she waited with the most apprehensive impatience to hear the result of the consultation. The physician declined giving

itted for it by her own misery, she was glad to be relieved from all necessity of imposing upon herself the irksome task of finding subj

rs to assist her young friend in doing the honours of her house to Mrs Delvile, while she ordered another apar

rself, but assiduously bestowed the whole of her time upon her two sick friends, dividing her attention according to their own desire or convenience, without consulting or regarding any choice of her own. Choic

irous with herself to make use of the prohibition to speech as an excuse for uninterrupted silence. She enquired not even after her son, though the eagerness of her look towards the door whenever it was opened, shewed either a hope, or an apprehension t

ile's re-establishment. He sent for her down stairs, to enquire whether he was expected; and h

said, "Your favourite Dr Lyster, madam, is come, and I

ried she, "who

ancy-Mr Delvil

is he her

eft you, for Dr Lyster,-and D

e write

s not-dearest madam be satisfied,

hardly audible, "how great is his loss!-unh

uch, that Dr Lyster, who now came up stairs, found her in a state of trembling and weakness that both alarmed and surprised him. Cecilia,

d no apprehension of danger for Mrs Delvile, "Though, for another week," he added, "I would have her continue your patient, as she is not yet fit to be removed. But pray m

again, "I shall stay," he said, "till to-morrow, but I hope she will be able in another week to get to Bristol. In the mean time I shall leave her, I see, with an excellent nurse. But, my goo

le embarrassed; "but had yo

ad;-but what shall I

he hint, but coloure

ever yet knew the young man I would prefer to a young woman, so

y rang the bell,

door. I shall tell him you laid violent hands on me; and if that is not, enough to excu

what gaiety she could assume, "if I am to be re

ay would it be quite out of rule for y

d she, stammering, "it's ver

ette of young ladies. 'Tis a science too intricate to be learned without more study than we plodding men of business can well spa

compelled to submit to it, as either to send for Delvile, or explain her objections, wa

t, "what a fine thing it is to be a young man! Why now, Mr Mortimer understands as much of all thi

it into Ce

r Ly

am uneasy at your long stay, and engaged with my fri

.

nance for engaging myself to you, when this young gen

er immediately began an answer, but before he had finished it, called out, "Now as I am told you are a very good young woman, I t

much confused for herself, looked

ea, he may find another for supper; but that as to me, I am better disposed of, for you insis

you will favour us with your company, Miss Charltons and my

e my own, or how do I punish him? So, suppose I tell him I shall not only sup with t

away; and then, turning gaily to Cecilia, "Come," he said, "why don't you g

ou both to witness if this is not very bad usage: this young woman has connived at my writing a downright falsehood, and all the time took me in to believe it wa

, who had not at all suspected he meant seriously to speak wit

was she sent for here to look so like one? I charged her, therefore, to take all that as a thing of course; and to prove that I really think what I say, I am now going to make a trial of you, that, if you are any thing less, will induce you to o

discourse, and after a grave, yet gentle preparation, expressive of his unwillingness to distress her, and his firm persuas

e, blushing and much

perly. His openness to counsel, and the manly firmness with which he behaved in quitting you, made me hope the danger was blown over. But last week, when I was at the Castle, where I have for some time attended Mr Delvile, who has had a severe fit of the gout, I found him in an agitation of spirits that made me apprehend it would be thrown into his stomach. I desired Mrs Delvile to use her influence to ca

ceived, and from whom, but had not th

my distress in what manner to leave his father; and he was extremely shocked himself when acquainted with his situation. We agreed that it would be vain to conceal from him the indisposition of Mrs Delvile, which the delay of her return, and a thousand oth

d to see how Cecili

h firmness; "but I have not yet heard you

ry;" he answered, "since the young man can

is a message, it is f

to him his son's assurances. He was relieved, but not satisfied; he would not see h

e?" cried Cecilia, half frigh

r the son, after giving me his first account, had

ture of admiration and regret, "to hea

either he, or you must

, however, no answer, and I will make him no promise; to Mrs Delvile alone I hold myself bound; to him, send what messages he may, I shall always hold myself free.

appointment you may have suffered. And what, after all, have you to regret? Mortimer Delvile is, indeed, a young man that any woman might wish to attach; but every wom

was sensible it became not her situation to make complaints, and theref

tions, and set off. Mr Mortimer Delvile accompanies me back: but he means to return hither in a week, in order to travel with his mother to Bristol.

said Cecilia, "should a rec

me few such men, there would hardly be a family in the kingdom that could count a great grand-father. I am not, I must own, of his humour myself, but I think it rather peculiarly stranger, than peculia

discuss it, made not any answer, and Dr Lyster, after a few good-natured

tacked, that not a moment of tranquility may ever be allowed me! Had the lowest of women won the affections of Mr Delvile, could his father with less delicacy or less decency have acquainted her with his inflexible disapprobation? To