The following morning, therefore, Cecilia went early to St James's-square: and, after the usual ceremonies of messages and long waiting, she was shewn into an apartment where she found Mr Delvile and his son.
She rejoiced to see them together, and determined to make known to
them both the purport of her visit: and therefore, after some
apologies and a little hesitation, she told Mr Delvile, that
encouraged by his offers of serving her, she had taken the liberty
to call upon him with a view to entreat his assistance.
Young Delvile, immediately arising, would have quitted the room; but
Cecilia, assuring him she rather desired what she had to say should
be known than kept secret, begged that he would not disturb himself.
Delvile, pleased with this permission to hear her, and curious to
know what would follow, very readily returned to his seat.
"I should by no means," she continued, "have thought of proclaiming
even to the most intimate of my friends, the partiality which Sir
Robert Floyer has been pleased to shew me, had he left to me the
choice of publishing or concealing it: but, on the contrary, his own
behaviour seems intended not merely to display it, but to insinuate
that it meets with my approbation. Mr Harrel, also, urged by too
much warmth of friendship, has encouraged this belief; nor, indeed, do I know at present where the mistake stops, nor what it is report has not scrupled to affirm. But I think I ought no longer to neglect it, and therefore I have presumed to solicit your advice in what manner I may most effectually contradict it."
The extreme surprise of young Delvile at this speech was not more
evident than pleasant to Cecilia, to whom it accounted for all that
had perplext her in his conduct, while it animated every expectation
she wished to encourage."
"The behaviour of Mr Harrel," answered Mr Delvile, "has by no means
been such as to lead me to forget that his father was the son of a
steward of Mr Grant, who lived in the neighbourhood of my friend and
relation the Duke of Derwent: nor can I sufficiently congratulate
myself that I have always declined acting with him. The late Dean, indeed, never committed so strange an impropriety as that of nominating Mr Harrel and Mr Briggs coadjutors with Mr Delvile. The impropriety, however, though extremely offensive to me, has never obliterated from my mind the esteem I bore the Dean: nor can I possibly give a greater proof of it than the readiness I have always shewn to offer my counsel and instruction to his niece. Mr Harrel, therefore, ought certainly to have desired Sir Robert Floyer to acquaint me with his proposals before he gave to him any answer."
"Undoubtedly, Sir," said Cecilia, willing to shorten this parading
harangue, "but as he neglected that intention, will you think me too
impertinent should I entreat the favour of you to speak with Sir
Robert yourself, and explain to him the total inefficacy of his
pursuit, since my determination against him is unalterable?"
Here the conference was interrupted by the entrance of a servant who
said something to Mr Delvile, which occasioned his apologizing to
Cecilia for leaving her for a few moments, and ostentatiously
assuring her that no business, however important, should prevent his
thinking of her affairs, or detain him from returning to her as soon
as possible.
The astonishment of young Delvile at the strength of her last
expression kept him silent some time after his father left the room; and then, with a countenance that still marked his amazement, he said "Is it possible, Miss Beverley, that I should twice have been thus egregiously deceived? or rather, that the whole town, and even the most intimate of your friends, should so unaccountably have persisted in a mistake."
"For the town," answered Cecilia, "I know not how it can have had
any concern in so small a matter; but for my intimate friends, I
have too few to make it probable they should ever have been so
strangely misinformed."
"Pardon me," cried he, "it was from one who ought to know, that I
had myself the intelligence."
"I entreat you, then," said Cecilia, "to acquaint me who it was?"
"Mr Harrel himself; who communicated it to a lady in my hearing, and
at a public place."
Cecilia cast up her eyes in wonder and indignation at a proof so
incontrovertible of his falsehood, but made not any answer.