"Impossible! impossible!" cried Cecilia, with the most angry emotion; "this whole representation is exaggerated, and the latter part is utterly without foundation."
"The latter part," said Mr Monckton, "is of all other least disputable: the man who now dares not own, will then never venture to defend you. On the contrary, to make peace for himself, he will be the first to neglect you. The ruined estates of his ancestors will be repaired by your fortune, while the name which you carry into his family will be constantly resented as an injury: you will thus be plundered though you are scorned, and told to consider yourself honoured that they condescend to make use of you! nor here rests the evil of a forced connection with so much arrogance,--even your children, should you have any, will be educated to despise you!"
"Dreadful and horrible!" cried Cecilia;--"I can hear no more,--Oh, Mr Monckton, what a prospect have you opened to my view!"
"Fly from it, then, while it is yet in your power,--when two paths are before you, chuse not that which leads to destruction; send instantly after Delvile, and tell him you have recovered your senses."
"I would long since have sent,--I wanted not a representation such as this,--but I know not how to direct to him, nor whither he is gone."
"All art and baseness to prevent your recantation!"
"No, Sir, no," cried she, with quickness; "whatever may be the truth of your painting in general, all that concerns--"
Ashamed of the vindication she intended, which yet in her own mind was firm and animated, she stopt, and left the sentence unfinished.
"In what place were you to meet?" said Mr Monckton; "you can at least send to him there."
"We were only to have met," answered she, in much confusion, "at the last moment,--and that would be too late--it would be too--I could not, without some previous notice, break a promise which I gave without any restriction."
"Is this your only objection?"
"It is: but it is one which I cannot conquer."
"Then you would give up this ill-boding connection, but from notions of delicacy with regard to the time?"
"Indeed I meant it, before you came."
"I, then, will obviate this objection: give me but the commission, either verbally or in writing, and I will undertake to find him out, and deliver it before night."
Cecilia, little expecting this offer, turned extremely pale, and after pausing some moments, said in a faultering voice, "What, then, Sir, is your advice, in what manner--"
"I will say to him all that is necessary; trust the matter with me."