But though duty and gratitude were the only ties that
bound him to his father, he loved his mother not merely
with filial affection, but with the purest esteem
and highest reverence; he knew, too, that while without
him her existence would be a burthen, her tenderness
was no effusion of weak partiality, but founded on
the strongest assurances of his worth; and however
to maternal indulgence its origin might be owing,
the rectitude of his own conduct could alone save it
from diminution.
Such was the house in which Cecilia was now settled,
and with which she lived almost to the exclusion of
the sight of any other; for though she had now been
three weeks at the castle, she had only at church
seen any family but the Delviles.
Nor did any thing in the course of that time occur
to her, but the reception of a melancholy letter from
Mrs Harrel, filled with complaints of her retirement
and misery; and another, from Mr Arnott, with an account
of the funeral, the difficulties he had had to encounter
with the creditors, who had even seized the dead body,
and the numerous expences in which he had been involved,
by petitions he could not withstand, from the meaner
and more clamorous of those whom his late brother-in-law
had left unpaid. He concluded with a pathetic
prayer for her happiness, and a declaration that his
own was lost for ever, since now he was even deprived
of her sight. Cecilia wrote an affectionate answer
to Mrs Harrel, promising, when fully at liberty, that
she would herself fetch her to her own house in Suffolk:
but she could only send her compliments to Mr Arnott,
though her compassion urged a kinder message; as she
feared even a shadow of encouragement to so serious,
yet hopeless a passion.
A RATTLE.
At this time, the house was much enlivened by a visit
from Lady Honoria Pemberton, who came to spend a month
with Mrs Delvile.
Cecilia had now but little leisure, for Lady Honoria
would hardly rest a moment away from her; she insisted
upon walking with her, sitting with 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; and Mrs Delvile, who wished her well, though she
had no patience with her foibles, encouraged this
intimacy from the hope it might do her service.
It was not, however, that Lady Honoria had conceived
any regard for Cecilia; on the contrary, had she been
told she should see her 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
for pursuing her but that she had nothing else to
do, and no fondness for her society but, what resulted
from aversion to solitude.
