Cecilia, Volume 3 (of 3)

taking leave of Henrietta, though she chose not again to expose herself to the forward insinuations of her mother; she sent her

urned the fol

ss Be

f a room where I can often be alone for two or three hours together. And so I shall this morning, if it was possible my dear Miss Beverley could come. But I don't mean to be teasing, and I would not be impertinent or encroaching for the world; but only the thing is I have a great deal to say to you, and if you was not so rich a lady, and so much above me, I am sure I should love you bett

TTA BE

er now not endure to disappoint her. "She has much," cried she, "to say to me, and I will no longer refuse to hear her; she shall unbosom to me her gentle heart, for we have now nothing to fear from each other. She promises herself pleasure from the communication, and doubtless

ta was in her arms. "This is sweet of you indeed," cried she, "for I did not know how to ask it, though it rains so ha

aid they had lately hired, and, as it was made but l

her way of life; "And, indeed, I have some hopes," she continued, "that we shall be able by and bye to do something better for him; for he has got one friend in the world, yet; thank God, and such a noble

how to press the subject, though she came with no other view

beg of them: though if they knew him as well as I do, they would not long think that, for I am sure he would a great deal rather be starved to death. But indeed, to say the truth, I am afraid he has been sadly to blame in this affair, and

s this gentl

y more than I should myself, so I am sure I may believe what he says. But my poor brother, not being a lord himself, thought every body meant to be rude to him, and because he knew he was poor, he suspected they all

gentleman ver

all! he only comes here to see my brother; it would be ver

ther, then, he held thi

e went down upon her knees to him to beg him to go to Lord Vannelt's, and make excuses for him, if he had not behaved properly: but if my brother was to know this

e stay wit

uestions all the while, and kept him as long as I could

never seen

s not know my brother is come back to

wish him

, "a little;-sometimes I

r don't tell me if you had rather not,-did I not once see you

d she, looking down, "it was only

that to your brother!-is it pos

they are new to!-but I who see them seldom, and who live with people so very unlike them-Oh you cannot guess how sweet to me is every thing that belongs to them! whatev

new she only meant him, little indee

little more of the world, I don't wonder any longer at his behaviour: for I know how it is, and I see that those who have had good educations, and kept great company, and mixed with the world,-O it is another thing!-they seem quit

nthusiasm of your brother, though you so long condemned it! Oh have a

le I so much admire are quite out of my reach. I hardly ever eve

smiling, "are there, then, m

is only one! there can be-I mean there are

ut honour: yet indulge it not too far, lest it should wander f

person I was thinking of! but indeed you are qui

a, embracing her, "I scarc

m for his goodness to my brother, and never think of him at all, but just by way of comparing him, sometimes,

ne you but an ill office, and happy it would be

y brother was so ashamed of them. They are all so rude, and so free, and put one so out of countenance,-O how different is this person you are thinking of! he would not distress anybo

guessed too well what she might have heard, an

Beverley!" said Henrietta, with a l

uming more chearfulness, "to be thankful

in love with you, with all the money that you can wish for, and so much sweetness that nobody can envy you it! with power to keep just what company you pl

tion,-how cruel that by one dreadful blo

ou, madam, who are just such another as himself-but then, indeed, you may see so many of the same sort, that just this one may not so much strike you: and for that reason I hope with all my hear

hought Cecilia, were that al

deserve their kindness, and now they only take those that know they have a right to it. Often and often have I thought so about this very gentleman! and sometimes when I have been in

ittle alarmed, "ever seek to ingr

o more had I myself till lately, for I cared not who was high, nor who was low: but now, indeed, I must own I have some times wished myself

eet Henriett

I dared trust. I have thought, then, I have sometimes thought,-my true affection, my faithful fondnes

plaintive tenderness, "I believe it-and were I him,

n the passage, before a thundering knocking at the street-door occasioned it to be instantly re-opened. A servant then e

ent, she heard from the next parlour the voice of Mr Delvile s

n to her of silence, for her own amazemen

eld; "but I suppose, Sir, you

urned, "my business

ld be regarded as a confirmation of all that he had asserted. She whispered, therefore, to Henrietta, that she must instantly run

would not fail to mention seeing her; and a retreat so private was worse than any other risk. A chair was also in waiting for herself, but it was a

between the two parlours made her heari

ng to oblige you," Mrs Belfield answer

or is there any present necessity I should make it known. It is sufficient I assure you, you are spe

usiness, Sir, if I don't s

ndeed, to ask, which I must trouble you to answer, but they will sufficiently explain themselves to

nsensible of this ambiguous greatness, "

g a very few houses in this town to which my person would not immediately announce it. That, however, is immaterial; and you will be so

y knowing, with what, only said he was

on; I have heard of him, also, somewhere before; pray will you give me leave to enquire-I don't mean to go deep into the matter,-but particular family o

to the infinite relief of Cecilia, who instant

lvile, in a tone that spoke his disappointment; but added "And th

fortune, that has as much a mind to him, I tell him, as any man need desire to see; but there's no making him think it! though

more complacency, "it is not on the side of the

ter him ever so often; but being brought up, as I said, at the university, he thou

lled but by the shame of Henrietta, who, though she knew not to whom he

ntinued Mrs Belfield

quaintance is-not

riends could tell where in the world he was gone! She was the first, Sir, to come and tell me news of him though I was his own mother! Love, Sir, is pr

sions, though they tried her reason never conquered it, she restrained herself by considering that to issue forth from a room in th

than a baby does: so I suppose he'll shilly shally till somebody else will cry snap, and take her. It is but

uch displeasure; "young Mr Delvile is not to be disposed of with

indignation, and Henriet

ch, and I dare say the old gentleman, being her guardian, took care to put his son enough in her way, ho

any thing about him: and you will excuse my informing you that a person of his rank and

re for my part if I never mention the old gentleman's name again! I never heard any good of him

with rage, "and who are they?

, Sir! it's his c

y no more respect to one of the first families in England. It is a

he passage, which Henrietta immediately knowing, turned, with uplifted hands to Cecilia, an

t come in here?" r

ing back, but Henrietta catching him by the arm, told him in a low voice, that she had made use of his room because s

, when she knew she had been represented as quite at his service, distressed and provoked her immeasurably; and she felt very angry with Henrietta for not sooner informing her whose apartme

Mr Delvile, to whose own passion and loudness was owing Belfield's entering his room unheard: but the

our rout day? Sir your most humble servant. I ask pardon, but I did not know you at first. But come, suppose we wer

m," said Mr Delvile, with great s

f mine to be communicating myself to a gentleman that I don't kno

epeated Mr Delv

if one leaves but a quart in a hogshead, it's two pints too much. That's my notion. But, Sir, that was but an ungain business at 'Squire Monckton's t'other morning

ate opin

things, and about others I hold him to be quite wide of the mark. But as to talking in such a whisky frisky manner that nobody can understand him, why its tantamount to not talking at all, being he might as well hold his tongue. That's what I say. And then as to

," said Mr Delvile, "you wil

Sir; that's not my way, so

iscussion. I have only a few words more to say to this gentlewoman, and as my time is not

thinking of gentlemen's going about in that manner, being I never did it myself. But I have nothing to offer against that; let every man have his own way; that's what I say. Only just let

hair as soon as I come in; and I was just going to say who'

said Mr Hobson; "but I shall make free to

e angrily called out, "What do you do here, Misters? do you only come to

ng for the lady,"

ave my entry filled up by two hulking fellows for nothing, I shall shew you the difference. One's dirt enoug

ours; the lady bid us w

n of escape was too late; Mrs Belfield called aloud for her daughter, and then, returning to the front parlour, said,

his own situation, and equally concerned and surprised at her evident distress, had himself the feeling of a culprit, though without the

rplexed, and embarrassed! while that of the discovere

re's Miss Beverley!-in my son's b

should be, and that is with a gentleman. Ha! ha! that's the right wa

, endeavouring, but vainly, to speak with co

urned home; and unfortunately broke into the room, from tota

as mere excuses, that while Mr Delvile haughtily marked his incredulity by a motion of his chin, Mrs Bel

, "to enquire, for the few doubts with which I came to this h

ore spirit, "to explain, in presence of those who ca

at once exulting and pompous, "the situation in which I see you abundantly satisfies my cur

a stiff bow, and

, coldly took leave of Henrietta, and courtsying to Mrs

icate to follow her; Mr Hobson only said "The young lady seems quite

a distant bow of the head, and left the house with a r

and his sister-joined to the positive assertions of her partiality for him made by his mother, could not, to Mr Delvile, but appear marks irrefragable that his ch

regarded her having run out her fortune. His determination not to hear her shewed the inflexibility of his character; and it was evident, notwithstanding hi

s mother, too, greatly as she esteemed and loved her, might have the matter so represented as to stagger her good opinion;-th

ty. She disdained even to write to him, since his behaviour called for resentment, not concession; and such an eagerne

rcourse with her, she had declared against writing again, and prohibited her letters: and, therefore, after much fluctuation of opinion, her delicacy conc

Bennet, she was suddenly called out to speak to a young woman;

out of town without forgiving me, I shall fret myself quite ill! my mother is gone out to tea, and I have run here al

"if you had excited all the anger I am capable of feeling, such sof

nd had very few books at their lodgings: but she would not mention that the room was his, lest Cecilia should object to making use of it, and she knew she had no other chance of having the conversation with her she had so very long

f her confidence in the morning had merited all her affection, and she gave her the wa

she did not dare be out longer, lest her mother should discover her excursion. Cecilia insisted, howeve

e her to her house in the country; but the terror of Mrs Belfield's insinuations, added to the cruel interpretations sh