She now with daily concern looked back to the sacrifice
she had made to the worthless and ungrateful Mr Harrel,
and was sometimes tempted to immediately chuse another
guardian, and leave his house for ever: yet the
delicacy of her disposition was averse to any step
that might publicly expose him, and her early regard
for his wife would not suffer her to put it in execution.
These circumstances contributed strongly to encrease
her intimacy with Miss Belfield; she now never saw
Mrs Delvile, whom alone she preferred to her, and
from the troublesome assiduity of Sir Robert, scarce
ever met Mr Monckton but in his presence: she
found, therefore, no resource against teazing and
vexation, but what was afforded her by the conversation
of the amiable Henrietta.
A DETECTION.
A fortnight had now elapsed in which Cecilia had had
no sort of communication with the Delviles, whom equally
from pride and from prudence she forbore to seek for
herself, when one morning, while she was sitting with
Miss Belfield, her maid told her that young Mr Delvile
was in the drawing-room, and begged the honour of seeing
her for a few moments.
Cecilia, though she started and changed colour with
surprize at this message, was unconscious she did
either, from the yet greater surprise she received
by the behaviour of Miss Belfield, who hastily arising,
exclaimed “Good God, Mr Delvile!—do
you know Mr Delvile, madam?—does Mr Delvile
visit at this house?”
“Sometimes; not often,” answered Cecilia;
“but why?”
“I don’t know,—nothing, madam,—I
only asked by accident, I believe, —but
it’s very—it’s extremely—I
did not know”—and colouring violently,
she again sat down.
An apprehension the most painful now took possession
of Cecilia, and absorbed in thought, she continued
for some minutes silent and immoveable.
From this state she was awakened by her maid, who
asked if she chose to have her gloves.
Cecilia, taking them from her without speaking, left
the room, and not daring to stop for enquiry or consideration,
hastened down stairs; but when she entered the apartment
where young Delvile was waiting for her, all utterance
seemed denied her, and she courtsied without saying
a word.
Struck with the look and uncommon manner of her entrance,
he became in a moment as much disturbed as herself,
pouring forth a thousand unnecessary and embarrassed
apologies for his visit, and so totally forgetting
even the reason why he made it, that he had taken his
leave and was departing before he recollected it.
He then turned back, forcing a laugh at his own absence
of mind, and told her he had only called to acquaint
her, that the commands with which she had honoured
him were now obeyed, and, he hoped, to her satisfaction.
Cecilia, who knew not she had ever given him any,
waited his further explanation; and he then informed
her he had that very morning introduced Mr Belfield
to the Earl of Vannelt, who had already heard him
very advantageously spoken of by some gentlemen to
whom he had been known at the University, and who
was so much pleased with him upon this first interview,
that he meant, after a few enquiries, which could
not but turn out to his credit, to commit his eldest
son to his trust in making the tour of Europe.
