Cecilia, Volume 3 (of 3)

mpt with which she had been treated during the whole visit was nothing short of insult,

xcited she was still ignorant; but she found Mr Delvile had been informed she had taken up money of a Jew, without having heard it was for Mr Harrel, and that he had been acquainted with her visits in Portland-street, without seeming to k

hey had been spread, remained a doubt inexplicable. They could not, she was certain, be the mere rumour of chance,

her own knew them. How, then, should it be circulated, that she "visited often at the house?" however be invented that it was from her "attention to the young man?" Henrietta, she was sure, was too good and too innocent to be guilty of such perfidy;

t Cecilia was in love with her son; and as that son, by never offering himself, had never been refused

ficious and loquacious forwardness she concluded had induced her to na

ir own, that it was not unreasonable to believe it as safe among them all, as if solely consigned to one. For herself, she had revealed it to no creature but Mr Monckton; not even to Delvile; though, upon her consenting to marry him, he had an undoubted right to be acquainted with the true state of her affairs; but such had been the hurry, distress, confusion and irresolution of her mind at that period, that this whole circumstance had been driven from it entirely, and she ha

ch made it thrill with horror; "good

drove it hastily from her;-she was certain it was fa

well-wisher from childhood, my zealous counsellor and assistant almost f

t: and however earnestly her generosity combated her rising suspicions, she could not wholly quell them; and Mr Monckton's strange aversion to the De

, endeavouring to form conjectures upon what had happened, yet unable to succeed, but

r two guardians, and how she had settled her affairs. She answered without hesitation all

, who, after a short time, begged to

then endeavoured to brighten up, and changed the subject to the di

r own exertion, her solemnity began to wear off, he repeated h

moved, then honestly, but without comments, related the

of her behaviour. "I see," he cried hastily, "what you cannot but suspec

dication required not such a step, and begged he would counsel her how to discover this

trayed, expressed the warmest indignation at the malevolent insinuations against her conduct, and lamented with mingl

bt obstinately clung to her understanding, the purity of her own principles, and the softness of her heart, ple

, had I concealed my opinion when I saw you in danger of forming an alliance with them; I spoke to you, therefore, with honest zeal, thoughtless of any enmity I might draw upon myself; but though it was an interference from which I hoped, by preventing th

conclude that some accident, inexplicable as unfortunate, had occasioned the partial discovery to Mr Delvile, by which her own goodness proved the source of her defamation: and though something still hung upon her mind that destroyed that firm con

lost in perplexity, she could only accuse him to be penetrated with horror. She endeavoured to suspend her judgm

all his accounts, and, in a few days, by the active interference of Mr Monckton, her affairs were wholly taken out of his hands. He stormed, and prophesied all ill to Cecilia, but it was not to any purpose; he was so disagreeable to her, by his manners, and so unintelligible to her in matters of business, that she wa

d to her from her uncle, and which was all in landed property, she continued to commit to the management of the steward who was employed in his life-time; and her own fortune from her

ss than a week, she passed her time chiefly alone. Her wishes all inclined her to bestow it upon Henrietta, but the late attack of Mr Delvile had frightened he

e concluded, also, that Delvile would be informed of these calumnies, yet she judged his generosity by her own, and was therefore convinced he would not credit them: but what chiefly at this time encreased her sadness and uneasiness, was the mention of Mrs Delvile

d a little risk to the keenness of his reproaches, and the weather being good on the morning that he called, she consented to accompany him in his rambles: only charging her footman to follow where-ever they went, and not to fail enquiring for her if s

lly, where, up three pair of stairs, was a wretched woman ill in

ed with torture, yet lying in all this noise! unable to stir in her bed, yet without an

house, who kept a Green Grocer's shop on the ground floor, and desired her to hire a nurse for her sick lodger, to call all the children down stairs, and to send for an apot

ger attention, now clasped both his hands with a look of rap

ambitious to deserve it, chearfully

most benign; "I will not wear out thy

nlimited, and would not press any further bounty for objects she knew not, certain that occasions and claimants, far beyond her ability of answering, w

she had appointed for re-visiting the invalid

tended by an apothecary who had given her some alleviating medicine; she had a nurse at her b

r benefactress; but not a little was the surprise of Cecilia, when, up

t recollection of her, in return

married, madam, I was the

etreated from the bed; while Albany with a look of asto

d she, hastily; "i

have touched! sooner will I expire than a breath of mine shall make it vib

e, from the frequent attacks which she suffered of the rheumatism; that she had received much assistance both from the Rector an

could do for her, and then giving her

f reflections, seemed now to compassionate the sadness which hitherto he had reproved, and walking silently by her side ti

erself, "if thus they are

ulfil: the very air in those miserable houses is unwholesome for you to breathe; you will soon be affected with some of the diseases to which you so uncautiously expose yourself, and while not half you give in charity will answer the purpose you wish, you will be plundered by cheats

trance, acknowledged there was some truth in it, and prom

ointed out to her, grew more and more alluring every step. Her old friends, the poor Hills

encouragement to similar actions. Mrs Hill wept for joy in recounting how well she succeeded, and Cecilia, delighted by the power of giving such pleasure, forgot all cautions and promises in the generosity which she displayed. She paid Mrs Roberts

d was a tolerable plain work-woman; she resolved, therefore, to send her into the country, where she hoped to be able to get her some business, and knew that at least, she could help her, if unsuccessful, and see that her children were brought up to useful employments. The woman herself was enchanted at the plan, and firmly persuaded the c

f all three! to see money thus sported away, which he had long considered as his own, to behold those sums which he had destined for his pleasures, thus lavishly bestowed upon beggars, exc

d the moment her affairs were in so much forwardness that they could be managed by letters, she prepared for returning into the count

n of accompanying her: and Lady Margaret, whose purpose was now answered