Cecilia found Mrs Harrel eagerly waiting to hear some account how
she had passed the morning, and fully persuaded that she would leave
the Delviles with a determination never more, but by necessity, to
see them: she was, therefore, not only surprised but disappointed, when instead of fulfilling her expectations, she assured her that she had been delighted with Mrs Delvile, whose engaging qualities amply recompensed her for the arrogance of her husband; that her visit had no fault but that of being too short, and that she had already appointed an early day for repeating it.
Mrs Harrel was evidently hurt by this praise, and Cecilia, who
perceived among all her guardians a powerful disposition to hatred
and jealousy, soon dropt the subject: though so much had she been
charmed with Mrs Delvile, that a scheme of removal once more
occurred to her, notwithstanding her dislike of her stately
guardian.
At dinner, as usual, they were joined by Sir Robert Floyer, who grew
more and more assiduous in his attendance, but who, this day, contrary to his general custom of remaining with the gentlemen, made his exit before the ladies left the table; and as soon as he was gone, Mr Harrel desired a private conference with Cecilia.
They went together to the drawing-room, where, after a flourishing
preface upon the merits of Sir Robert Floyer, he formally acquainted
her that he was commissioned by that gentleman, to make her a tender
of his hand and fortune.
Cecilia, who had not much reason to be surprised at this overture, desired him to tell the Baronet, she was obliged to him for the honour he intended her, at the same time that she absolutely declined receiving it.
Mr Harrel, laughing, told her this answer was very well for a
beginning, though it would by no means serve beyond the first day of
the declaration; but when Cecilia assured him she should firmly
adhere to it, he remonstrated with equal surprise and discontent
upon the reasons of her refusal. She thought it sufficient to tell
him that Sir Robert did not please her, but, with much raillery, he
denied the assertion credit, assuring her that he was universally
admired by the ladies, that she could not possibly receive a more
honourable offer, and that he was reckoned by every body the finest
gentleman about the town. His fortune, he added, was equally
unexceptionable with his figure and his rank in life; all the world, he was certain, would approve the connexion, and the settlement made upon her should be dictated by herself.
Cecilia begged him to be satisfied with an answer which she never
could change, and to spare her the enumeration of particular
objections, since Sir Robert was wholly and in every respect
disagreeable to her.
"What, then," cried he, "could make you so frightened for him at the
Opera-house? There has been but one opinion about town ever since of
your prepossession in his favour."
"I am extremely concerned to hear it; my fright was but the effect
of surprise, and belonged not more to Sir Robert than to Mr
Belfield."
He told her that nobody else thought the same, that her marriage
with the Baronet was universally expected, and, in conclusion, notwithstanding her earnest desire that he would instantly and explicitly inform Sir Robert of her determination, he repeatedly refused to give him any final answer till she had taken more time for consideration.
Cecilia was extremely displeased at this irksome importunity, and
still more chagrined to find her incautious emotion at the Opera-house, had given rise to suspicions of her harbouring a partiality for a man whom every day she more heartily disliked.
While she was deliberating in what manner she could clear up this
mistake, which, after she was left alone, occupied all her thoughts, she was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Monckton, whose joy in meeting her at length by herself exceeded not her own, for charmed as he was that he could now examine into the state of her affairs, she was not less delighted that she could make them known to him.
After mutual expressions, guarded, however, on the part of Mr. Monckton, though unreserved on that of Cecilia, of their satisfaction in being again able to converse as in former times, he asked if she would permit him, as the privilege of their long acquaintance, to speak to her with sincerity.
She assured him he could not more oblige her.