Cecilia, Volume 3 (of 3)

of her fortune, and arrangement of her affairs. He strongly, however, advised her not to mention her large debt, which, though contracted in the inno

ecilia was sitting in Lady Margaret's dressing room, "with sad civil

spoilt provisions. He then complained of Mr Delvile, whom he charged with defrauding him of his dues; but observing in the midst of his railing her dejection

lia, "I thank you,

said he, "bay? what are fretting for?

cried she, w

me in a passion by going off from me with that old grandee, or would have got one long ago. Hate that old Don; used me very ill; wish I could tro

of her finishing wholly with the old Don, who had been a mere cypher in the executorship; but he advised her not to t

o make her acknowledgments for all the trouble he had alr

m knaves and cheats, but by trusting to nobody but himself, and informing her what in

money to which he alluded was in fact her own, she could not yield to them. He was, however, so stubborn and so difficult to deal with,

h very much surprised by the sight of his person, when, in th

to call upon the account of two ladies that are acquaintances

matter with

f reasoning and arguing, than they do of a shop ledger! however, my maxim is this; every body in their way; one has no more right to expect courageousness f

alarm? nothing, I hope, is th

s apt to be catching, and one lady's crying makes another think she must do the same, for a little thing serves for a lady's tears, being they can cry at any time: but a

myself! never use soap; nothing but wa

d I am quite fresh and agreeable: and then I take a walk in Tottenham Court Road as far as the Tabernacle, or thereabouts, and snuff in a little fresh country air, and then I come back, with a good

fer it in my house. Breakfast on water-gruel, sooner done; fills one up in a second

ays think I was preparing for the small-pox. My notion is quite of another nature; the first thing I do is to have a good fire; for what I say is this, if a man is cold in his finger

Sir," said Cecilia, "to hear what

im, all the morning, and he has never come; so Mrs Belfield, not knowing where to sen

a, much provoked by the implication it conveyed; "if Mr Bel

or Mrs Belfield crying, and being in that dilemma, I thought I could do n

s eagerly; "who are talking of? hay?-who d

Sir," cri

bit! who is it? will

behaviour, and withal, as pretty a manner of dressing himself, and that, as any lady need desire. He has no great head

patiently; "can cast an account? that's

s. What's my own, is my own, and what is another person's, is another person

worth two shillings; and that will go for powder and pomatum; hat

ob-jerom. What I say is, let every body follow their nature; that's the way to be comfortable; and then if they pay every one

"or whether they stuff their gullets

d of toast and butter, and a few oysters, fresh opened, by way of a damper before dinner, no man need be ashamed of them, provided he pays as he goes: and

is shut teeth; "you're out there! oysters!

be civil; that's what I say, for that's the way to make every thing agreeable but

that of hoarding it, should give rise to a quarrel, which, between two such sturdy champions for their own opinions, might lead to a conclusion rather more ro

e undisturbed: and Albany was not a man with whom a hint that she was engaged could be risked: but she had made no pr

r to speak with severity or gentleness, said, "once more I come to prove thy sincerit

e answered, "but indeed at pre

wanton trifling! why shouldst thou thus elate a worn-out mind, only to make it feel its ling

by this reproof, "if you knew how he

n will never repair it! but was that a reason for shunning the duties of humanity? was the sight of death a motive for neglecting the claims of benevolence? ought it not rather

ef at that time made me

else dost tho

" said she, half smiling, "but yet belie

cuses! what business is so important

th alacrity, "be backward; but at least for th

took out

r Briggs felt enraged at the sight of Cecilia's ready purse. Neither of them, however, knew which way to interfere, the stem gravity of Albany, joined to a language too lofty for their comprehension, intimidating them both. They took, however, the relief of communing with one another, and Mr Hobson said in a whisper "This, you must know, is, I

gs, "promise him that! don't half lik

e, enquired what

uinea," h

that

eafter, you may assist them again. Go but and see their

he twitched the sleeve of her gown, and pinching her arm, with a look of painful eagerness, said i

haracter is very well known to me." And then, disengag

outcries, "Be ruined! see it plainly; be fleeced! be stript! be robbed! won't have a gown to your back! won't have a shoe to your foot! won't h

o have worse than nothing? who pay to-day in hunger for bread they borrowed yesterday from pity? who to save themselve

perplexity of his understanding, at a discourse to wh

and hardened in the world, suffer, at least, a creature yet untainted, who melts at sorrow, and who glows with charity, to pay from

all the wondering

o Cecilia, "if it's no offence,

y not,

harm; but my notion was the gentleman

izers of plenty! ye selfish, unfeeling engrossers of wealth, which ye dissipate without enjoying, and of a

penny, without any underhand dealings, why he has as much a title to enjoy his pleasure as the Chief Justice, or the Lord Chancellor: and it's odds but he's as happy a

or what, if used, brings care, and if neglected, remorse! have you

gan now better to comprehend him, "why to buy in, to be

less misery! not to give succour to the wretched, not to support the falling; all is for self, however little

ot have 'em relieved; don't like 'em; hate a beg

n master by the nature of the law, and as to his being a subject, why a duke is no more, nor a judge, nor the Lord High Chancellor, and the like of those; which makes it tantamount to nothing, being he is answerable to nobody by the right of Magna Charta: except in cases of treason, felony

ink you, in cold and hunger, they lose those feelings which even in voluptuous prosperity from time to time disturb you? you say they are all cheats?

! full of tricks; break their own legs, put out their arms, cut off their fingers, snap their own ancles,-all for what? to

guarded? what nobler purpose can it answer to you, than even a chance to snatch some wretch from sinking? think less how much ye sa

gs, again lost in pe

the hardness which ye practice; rather amend yourselves than corrupt h

another thing: and begin who will, I'll be bound to go on with him, pound for pound, or pence for pence. But as to giving to them beggars, it's what I don't approve; I pay the poor's rate, and that's what I call charity enough for any man. But for the matter of living wel

on't be worth a plum while your head wags!" then, taking Cecilia apart, "hark'ee,

short time, Sir; but I t

that's the point,

me uncommonly benevo

ng; is he warm? that's

a, "I believe the energy of his manne

iently; "can come down with the ready, that's t

his appearance; but I kn

e for? eh? com

on me

hen? only a

have no wish but to ass

's as poor as a rat, talks of nothing but giving money; a bad sign! if he'd got any, would not do

e now a new interruption, and

on; she regretted the absence of Mr Monckton, who could easily have taken them away; for though without scruple she could h

t the hour of his appointment: but having advanced a few paces, without looking either to the right or left, said, "as I have never acted, my coming may not, perhaps, be essential; but as my

be attended to by every one, and seemed proudly uttered as a

etired to a corner of the room; Mr Hobson began to believe it was time for him to depart; and Mr Briggs thinking only of the quarrel

nt; but casting his eyes round the room, and perceiving the two strangers, he was visibly surprised, and looki

ned to Mr Briggs, and said, "Sir, here is pen and in

t'other; all in our turn; don't come befor

ir?" said Mr De

ed Briggs, with a spiteful grin, "kno

, but turning contemptuously fro

xultingly to Mr Hobson, "what do stand here for?-hay?-fal

imself, or the like of that, and going to make me Chancellor of the Exchequer, or Commissioner of Excise. Not th

a roll; locks 'em in a closet; says his prayers to 'em; can't live without '

ared for what measures I shall take. I declined seeing you in my own house, that I mig

me into a family vault? bind me o' top of an old monument? tie me to a stin

hat Mr Delvile, trembling with passion, scarce refrained lifti

xclaimed, "Whence this unmeaning dissension? to what purpose this irritating abuse? Oh vain an

r at Mr Delvile, "have it now! got old Mr Bounce u

et them stimulate acts of virtue, let them animate deeds of beneficence! Oh waste not spirits that may urge y

hole attention, was struck with astonishment at this address, an

I say is this, if a man gets the better, he's only where he was before, and if he gets worsted, why it's odds but the laugh's against him: so, if I may make bold to g

t expressed his highest indignation, at being thus familiarly coupled with Mr Briggs. And then, turning from him to Cecilia, h

going directly. So you can give me no insight, ma'am," addre

voked by observing that Mr De

ask for him of a young lady: that's my maxim. Come, Sir," to Mr Briggs, "you and I had like to have fallen

Mr Briggs, gi

may go round, and that not only you and I, but t

a face flaming with ire, he said to Cecilia, "If you have collected together these persons for the

ergy, called out, "Oh pride of heart, with littleness of soul! check this vile arrogance, too vain for man, and spare to othe

words he sternl

ent operated so powerfully that it was only in broken sentences he could express either. "Very extraordinary!-a new method of conduct!-libertie

is what one may call a genius, which makes it a little excusable; for he does things all his ow

told is extremely immaterial to me; and I must take the liberty to hint to you,

e; however, I have done, and I wish you good day. Your humble servant, m

d; only don't much like Spain, that's all!" winking

and both in haste to have done, settled in about five minutes all for wh

r time, but promised to see Cecilia again soon, and added, "be sure take care of that old Mr Bounce! crac

countenance spoke haste and eagerness. "I have this moment, madam," he said, "been informed a complaint has been lodged against me here, and I could not rest till I had

his speech that he was actually restored to his family, was sorry at these repeate

I am now for the last time alone with you, ma'am, and as it is certain we shall meet no more upon business, I cannot, in justice to my own character, and to the respect I retain for the memory of the Dean, your un

such speeches as she was least willing to hear, and gave to her th

y settled, to their various claims, must make me brief in what I have to represent

compliments or concessions: she was silent, ther

tensions, in this expensive age, of those who possess not such advantages. It would have been some pleasure to me, while I yet considered you as my Ward, to have seen you properly disposed of:

less inclination to make use of the

in finding themselves establishments, they ought not, therefore, to trifle when proper on

every moment encrease, determined to sustain herself with dignity, and at

y of being honourably settled. The clause of the name was, to him, immaterial; since his own name half a century ago was unheard of, and since he i

" said Cecilia co

s, some other bet

he, with spirit, "

ome inferior offer has more

content with my actual situation, and have, at pres

deration one caution, and then relieve you from my presence. Young women of ample fortunes, who are early independent, are sometimes apt to

"this at least is a caution rather dra

make your own use of; I have only to observe further, that when young women, at your time of

more offended than amazed, said, "I mu

been your guardian by the nomination of the Dean your uncle, I cannot forbear makin

errupted Cecilia, "w

better hands: but I cannot suppose you have been led to take such steps without some seriou

ity," cried Cecilia, "I could

terfered in your service with my Lord Derford, notwithstanding my reluctance to being involved in any fresh empl

oung ma

ion to him, the corroborating incidents of my servant's following you to his house, his friend's seeking him at y

whom you draw these inferences, from circum

do not often find erroneous. Mistake not, however, what I have said into supposing I have any objection to your marrying; on the contrary, it had been for the honour of my family had you been married a year ago I should not the

, now reddening with indignation, now turning pale with apprehension; she arose, she trembl

ing a stiff bow, wis

accents; "let me at least convince you o

sily convicted: and I may possibly labour under others that would give you no

urage from this fresh provocation; "I fear no disquisit

commendable; and doubtless, as you are your own mistress, your having run o

stonished, "run out gr

I have not often been so unfortuna

ebt,

inquire into your affairs.

ke me, at least, understand what you mean, whe

re than you have received, nor taken up money of Jews? your minority has been cle

m, eagerly answered, "do you mean, Sir,

I conceive the who

ent to t

you know of that transaction, do not refuse to listen to its occasio

ir of supercilious incredulity; "that was r

opened

ou will not credit me?" cried

present my avocations are

o his servants, who were waiting in th