In this disposition of mind Cecilia the next morning obeyed the
summons of Mr Delvile, and for the first time went to St James'-square in a humour to look for evil instead of good, and meanness instead of nobleness.
She was shewn into an apartment where she found Mr Delvile alone, and was received by him, as usual, with the most stately solemnity.
When she was seated, "I have given you, Miss Beverley," said he, "the trouble of calling, in order to discuss with you the internal state of your affairs; a duty which, at this juncture, I hold to be incumbent upon my character. The delicacy due to your sex would certainly have induced me to wait upon you myself for this purpose, but for the reasons I have already hinted to you, of fearing the people with whom you live might think it necessary to return my visit. Persons of low origin are commonly in those matters the most forward. Not, however, that I would prejudice you against them; though, for myself, it is fit I remember that a general and indiscriminate acquaintance, by levelling all ranks, does injury to the rites of society."
Ah! thought Cecilia, how infallible is Mr Monckton! and how
inevitably, in a family of which Mr Delvile is the head, should I be
cruelly held down, as the disgrace of their alliance!
"I have applied," continued he, "to Mrs Delvile, to know if the
communication which I had recommended to you, and to which she had
promised her attention, had yet passed; but I am informed you have
not spoken to her upon the subject."
"I had nothing, Sir, to communicate," answered Cecilia, "and I had
hoped, as Mrs Delvile made no enquiries, she was satisfied she had
nothing to hear."
"With respect to enquiries," said Mr Delvile, "I fear you are not
sufficiently aware of the distance between a lady of Mrs Delvile's
rank, both by birth and alliance, and such a young woman as Mrs
Harrel, whose ancestors, but a short time since, were mere Suffolk
farmers. But I beg your pardon;—I mean not any reflection upon
yours: I have always heard they were very worthy people. And a
farmer is certainly a very respectable person. Your father, I think, no more than the Dean your uncle, did nothing in that way himself?"
"No, Sir," said Cecilia, drily, and much provoked by this
contemptuous courtesy.
"I have always been told he was a very good sort of man: I knew none
of the family myself, but the Dean. His connections with the Bishop
of ———, my relation, put him often in my way. Though his naming
me for one of his trustees, I must own, was rather extraordinary; but I mean not to hurt you; on the contrary, I should be much concerned to give you any uneasiness."
Again Mr Monckton arose in the mind of Cecilia, and again she
acknowledged the truth of his strictures; and though she much
wondered in what an harangue so pompous was to end, her disgust so
far conquered her curiosity, that without hearing it, she wished
herself away.
"To return," said he, "to my purpose. The present period of your
life is such as to render advice particularly seasonable; I am
sorry, therefore, as I before said, you have not disclosed your
situation to Mrs Delvile. A young lady on the point of making an
establishment, and with many engagements in her power, is extremely
liable to be mistaken in her judgment, and therefore should solicit
instruction from those who are able to acquaint her what connection
would be most to her advantage. One thing, however, I am happy to
commend, the young man who was wounded in the duel—I cannot
recollect his name—is, I hear, totally out of the question."
What next? thought Cecilia; though still she gave him no
interruption, for the haughtiness of his manner was repulsive to
reply.
"My design, therefore, is to speak to you of Sir Robert Floyer. When
I had last the pleasure of addressing you upon this subject, you may
probably remember my voice was in his favour; but I then regarded
him merely as the rival of an inconsiderable young man, to rescue
you from whom he appeared an eligible person. The affair is now
altered, that young man is thought of no more, and another rival
comes forward, to whom Sir Robert is as inconsiderable as the first
rival was to Sir Robert."
Cecilia started at this information, livelier sensations stimulated
her curiosity, and surmises in which she was most deeply interested
quickened her attention.