not," answered the old lady, with
her usual ungraciousness.
Cecilia would now have hastened away, but Mr Monckton, stopping
her, again expressed his fears of the consequences of her journey; "Be
upon your guard," he cried, "with all new acquaintance; judge nobody
from appearances; form no friendship rashly; take time to look about
you, and remember you can make no alteration in your way of life,
without greater probability of faring worse, than chance of faring better.
Keep therefore as you are, and the more you see of others, the more
you will rejoice that you neither resemble nor are connected with
them."
"This from you, Mr Monckton!" cried Belfield, "what is become of
your conformity system? I thought all the world was to be alike, or only
so much the worse for any variation?"
"I spoke," said Mr Monckton, "of the world in general, not of this lady
in particular; and who that knows, who that sees her, would not wish it
were possible she might continue in every respect exactly and
unalterably what she is at present?"
"I find," said Cecilia, "you are determined that flattery at least, should I
meet with it, shall owe no pernicious effects to its novelty."
"Well, Miss Beverley," cried Mr Harrel, "will you now venture to
accompany me to town? Or has Mr Monckton frightened you from
proceeding any farther?"
"If," replied Cecilia, "I felt no more sorrow in quitting my friends, than
I feel terror in venturing to London, with how light a heart should I
make the journey!"
"Brava!" cried Belfield, "I am happy to find the discourse of Mr
Monckton has not intimidated you, nor prevailed upon you to deplore
your condition in having the accumulated misery of being young, fair
and affluent."
"Alas! poor thing!" exclaimed the old gentleman who sat in the corner,
fixing his eyes upon Cecilia with an expression of mingled grief and
pity.
Cecilia started, but no one else paid him any attention.
The usual ceremonies of leave-taking now followed, and the Captain,
with most obsequious reverence, advanced to conduct Cecilia to the
carriage; but in the midst of the dumb eloquence of his bows and smiles,
Mr Morrice, affecting not to perceive his design, skipped gaily between
them, and, without any previous formality, seized the hand of Cecilia
himself; failing not, however, to temper the freedom of his action by a
look of respect the most profound.
The Captain shrugged and retired. But Mr Monckton, enraged at his
assurance, and determined it should nothing avail him, exclaimed,
"Why how now, Morrice, do you take away the privilege of my
house?"
"True, true;" answered Morrice, "you members of parliament have an
undoubted right to be tenacious of your privileges." Then, bowing with
a look of veneration to Cecilia, he resigned her hand with an air of as
much happiness as he had taken it.
Mr Monckton, in leading her to the chaise, again begged permission to
wait upon her in town: Mr Harrel took the hint, and entreated him to
consider his house as his own; and Cecilia, gratefully thanking him for
his solicitude in her welfare, added, "And I hope, sir, you will honour
me with your counsel and admonitions with respect to my future
conduct, whenever you have the goodness to let me see you."
This was precisely his wish. He begged, in return, that she would treat
him with confidence, and then suffered the chaise to drive off.
CHAPTER iii
AN ARRIVAL.
As soon as they lost sight of the house, Cecilia expressed her surprise at
the behaviour of the old gentleman who sat in the corner, whose
general silence, seclusion from the company, and absence of mind, had
strongly excited her curiosity.
Mr Harrel could give her very little satisfaction: he told her that he had
twice or thrice met him in public places, where everybody remarked the
singularity of his manners and appearance, but that he had never
discoursed with anyone to whom he seemed known; and that he was as
much surprised as herself in seeing so strange a character at the house
of Mr Monckton.
The conversation then turned upon the family they had just quitted, and
Cecilia warmly declared the good opinion she had of Mr Monckton, the
obligations she owed to him for the interest which, from her childhood,
he had always taken in her affairs; and her hopes of reaping much
instruction from the friendship of a man who had so extensive a
knowledge of the world.
Mr Harrel professed himself well satisfied that she should have such a
counsellor; for though but little acquainted with him, he knew he was a
man of fortune and fashion, and well esteemed in the world. They
mutually compassionated his unhappy situation in domestic life, and
Cecilia innocently expressed her
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