Cecilia, Memoirs of an Heiress, vol 1 | Page 7

through life without any settled plan
or prudential restriction; but would you, therefore, grant the same

licence to every one? would you wish to see the world peopled with
defiers of order, and contemners of established forms? and not merely
excuse the irregularities resulting from uncommon parts, but encourage
those, also, to lead, who without blundering cannot even follow?"
"I would have all men," replied Belfield, "whether philosophers or
ideots, act for themselves. Every one would then appear what he is;
enterprize would be encouraged, and imitation abolished; genius would
feel its superiority, and folly its insignificance; and then, and then only,
should we cease to be surfeited with that eternal sameness of manner
and appearance which at present runs through all ranks of men."
"Petrifying dull work this, mon ami!" said the Captain, in a whisper to
Morrice, "de grace, start some new game."
"With all my heart," answered he; and then, suddenly jumping up,
exclaimed, "A hare! a hare!"
"Where?--where?--which way?" and all the gentlemen arose, and ran to
different windows, except the master of the house, the object of whose
pursuit was already near him.
Morrice, with much pretended earnestness, flew from window to
window, to trace footsteps upon the turf which he knew had not printed
it: yet, never inattentive to his own interest, when he perceived in the
midst of the combustion he had raised, that Lady Margaret was
incensed at the noise it produced, he artfully gave over his search, and
seating himself in a chair next to her, eagerly offered to assist her with
cakes, chocolate, or whatever the table afforded.
He had, however, effectually broken up the conversation; and breakfast
being over, Mr Harrel ordered his chaise, and Cecilia arose to take
leave.
And now not without some difficulty could Mr Monckton disguise the
uneasy fears which her departure occasioned him. Taking her hand, "I
suppose," he said, "you will not permit an old friend to visit you in
town, lest the sight of him should prove a disagreeable memorial of the

time you will soon regret having wasted in the country?"
"Why will you say this, Mr Monckton?" cried Cecilia; "I am sure you
cannot think it."
"These profound studiers of mankind, madam," said Belfield, "are
mighty sorry champions for constancy or friendship. They wage war
with all expectations but of depravity, and grant no quarter even to the
purest designs, where they think there will be any temptation to deviate
from them."
"Temptation," said Mr Monckton, "is very easy of resistance in theory;
but if you reflect upon the great change of situation Miss Beverley will
experience, upon the new scenes she will see, the new acquaintance she
must make, and the new connections she may form, you will not
wonder at the anxiety of a friend for her welfare."
"But I presume," cried Belfield, with a laugh, "Miss Beverley does not
mean to convey her person to town, and leave her understanding locked
up, with other natural curiosities, in the country? Why, therefore, may
not the same discernment regulate her adoption of new acquaintance,
and choice of new connections, that guided her selection of old ones?
Do you suppose that because she is to take leave of you, she is to take
leave of herself?"
"Where fortune smiles upon youth and beauty," answered Mr
Monckton, "do you think it nothing that their fair possessor should
make a sudden transition of situation from the quietness of a retired life
in the country, to the gaiety of a splendid town residence?"
"Where fortune frowns upon youth and beauty," returned Belfield,
"they may not irrationally excite commiseration; but where nature and
chance unite their forces to bless the same object, what room there may
be for alarm or lamentation I confess I cannot divine."
"What!" cried Mr Monckton, with some emotion, "are there not
sharpers, fortune-hunters, sycophants, wretches of all sorts and
denominations, who watch the approach of the rich and unwary, feed

upon their inexperience, and prey upon their property?"
"Come, come," cried Mr Harrel, "it is time I should hasten my fair ward
away, if this is your method of describing the place she is going to live
in."
"Is it possible," cried the Captain, advancing to Cecilia, "that this lady
has never yet tried the town?" and then, lowering his voice, and smiling
languishingly in her face, he added, "Can anything so divinely
handsome have been immured in the country? Ah! quelle honte! do you
make it a principle to be so cruel?"
Cecilia, thinking such a compliment merited not any other notice than a
slight bow, turned to Lady Margaret, and said, "Should your ladyship
be in town this winter, may I expect the honour of hearing where I may
wait upon you?"
"I don't know whether I shall go or