Mr Briggs was at home, and Cecilia instantly and briefly informed him
that it was inconvenient for her to live any longer at Mr Harrel's, and that if she could be accommodated at his house, she should be glad to reside with him during the rest of her minority.
"Shall, shall," cried he, extremely pleased, "take you with all my
heart. Warrant Master Harrel's made a good penny of you. Not a bit the
better for dressing so fine; many a rogue in a gold lace hat."
Cecilia begged to know what apartments he could spare for her.
"Take you up stairs," cried he, "shew you a place for a queen."
He then led her up stairs, and took her to a room entirely dark, and
so close for want of air that she could hardly breathe in it. She
retreated to the landing-place till he had opened the shutters, and
then saw an apartment the most forlorn she had ever beheld, containing
no other furniture than a ragged stuff bed, two worn-out rush-bottomed
chairs, an old wooden box, and a bit of broken glass which was
fastened to the wall by two bent nails.
"See here, my little chick," cried he, "everything ready! and a box
for your gimcracks into the bargain."
"You don't mean this place for me, Sir!" cried Cecilia, staring.
"Do, do;" cried he, "a deal nicer by and by. Only wants a little
furbishing: soon put to rights. Never sweep a room out of use; only
wears out brooms for nothing."
"But, Sir, can I not have an apartment on the first floor?"
"No, no, something else to do with it; belongs to the club; secrets in
all things! Make this do well enough. Come again next week; wear quite
a new face. Nothing wanting but a table; pick you up one at a
broker's."
"But I am obliged, Sir, to leave Mr Harrel's house directly."
"Well, well, make shift without a table at first; no great matter if
you ha'n't one at all, nothing particular to do with it. Want another
blanket, though. Know where to get one; a very good broker hard by. Understand how to deal with him! A close dog, but warm."
"I have also two servants, Sir," said Cecilia.
"Won't have 'em! Sha'n't come! Eat me out of house and home."
"Whatever they eat, Sir," answered she, "will be wholly at my expence, as will everything else that belongs to them."
"Better get rid of them: hate servants; all a pack of rogues: think of
nothing but stuffing and guzzling."
Then opening another door, "See here," he cried, "my own room just by; snug as a church!"
Cecilia, following him into it, lost a great part of her surprise at
the praise he had lavished upon that which he destined for herself, by
perceiving that his own was yet more scantily furnished, having
nothing in it but a miserable bed without any curtains, and a large
chest, which, while it contained his clothes, sufficed both for table
and chair.
"What are doing here?" cried he angrily, to a maid who was making the
bed, "can't you take more care? beat 'out all the feathers, see! two
on the ground; nothing but waste and extravagance! never mind how soon
a man's ruined. Come to want, you slut, see that, come to want!"
"I can never want more than I do here," said the girl, "so that's one
comfort."
Cecilia now began to repent she had made known the purport of her
visit, for she found it would be utterly impossible to accommodate
either her mind or her person to a residence such as was here to be
obtained and she only wished Mr Monckton had been present, that he
might himself be convinced of the impracticability of his scheme. Her
whole business, therefore, now, was to retract her offer, and escape
from the house.
"I see, Sir," said she, when he turned from his servant, "that I
cannot be received here without inconvenience, and therefore I will
make some new arrangement in my plan."
"No, no," cried he, "like to have you, 'tis but fair, all in our turn; won't be chorused; Master Harrel's had his share. Sorry could not get you that sweetheart! would not bite; soon find out another; never fret."
"But there are so many things with which I cannot possibly dispense," said Cecilia, "that I am certain my removing hither would occasion you far more trouble than you at present foresee."