“I am happy,” said Mrs Delvile, “to
see so much spirit and discernment where arts of all
sorts will be practised to ensnare and delude.
Fortune and independence were never so securely lodged
as in Miss Beverley, and I doubt not but her choice,
whenever it is decided, will reflect as much honour
upon her heart, as her difficulty in making it does
upon her understanding.”
Mr Delvile then enquired whether she had fixed upon
any person to choose as a guardian in the place of
Mr Harrel. No, she said, nor should she, unless
it were absolutely necessary.
“I believe, indeed,” said Mrs Delvile,
“your affairs will not much miss him! Since
I have heard of the excess of his extravagance, I have
extremely rejoiced in the uncommon prudence and sagacity
of his fair ward, who, in such dangerous hands, with
less penetration and sound sense, might have been
drawn into a thousand difficulties, and perhaps defrauded
of half her fortune.”
Cecilia received but little joy from this most unseasonable
compliment, which, with many of the same sort that
were frequently, though accidentally made, intimidated
her from the confession she had planned and finding
nothing but censure was likely to follow the discovery,
she at length determined to give it up wholly, unless
any connection should take place which might render
necessary its avowal. Yet something she could
not but murmur, that an action so detrimental to her
own interest, and which, at the time, appeared indispensable
to her benevolence, should now be considered as a
mark of such folly and imprudence that she did not
dare own it.
A RAILING.
The next morning the family purposed setting off as
soon as breakfast was over: young Delvile, however,
waited not so long; the fineness of the weather tempted
him, he said, to travel on horse-back, and therefore
he had risen very early, and was already gone.
Cecilia could not but wonder, yet did not repine.
Just as breakfast was over, and Mr and Mrs Delvile
and Cecilia were preparing to depart, to their no
little surprise, the door was opened, and, out of
breath with haste and with heat, in stumpt Mr Briggs!
“So,” cried he to Cecilia, “what’s
all this? hay?—where are you going?—a
coach at the door! horses to every wheel! Servants
fine as lords! what’s in the wind now? think
to chouse me out of my belongings?”
“I thought, Sir,” said Cecilia, who instantly
understood him, though Mr and Mrs Delvile stared at
him in utter astonishment, “I had explained
before I left you that I should not return.”
“Didn’t, didn’t!” answered
he, angrily; “waited for you three days, dressed
a breast o’ mutton o’ purpose; got in a
lobster, and two crabs; all spoilt by keeping; stink
already; weather quite muggy, forced to souse ’em
in vinegar; one expense brings on another; never begin
the like agen.”
“I am very sorry, indeed,” said Cecilia,
much disconcerted, “if there has been any mistake
through my neglect; but I had hoped I was understood,
and I have been so much occupied—”
