CHAPTER x
A PROVOCATION.
The next morning, when breakfast was over, Cecilia waited with muchimpatience to hear some tidings of the poor carpenter's wife; but thoughMr Harrel, who had always that meal in his own room, came into hislady's at his usual hour, to see what was going forward, he did notmention her name. She therefore went into the hall herself, to enquireamong the servants if Mrs Hill was yet come?
Yes, they answered, and had seen their master, and was gone.
She then returned to the breakfast room, where her eagerness to procuresome information detained her, though the entrance of Sir Robert Floyermade her wish to retire. But she was wholly at a loss whether to imputeto general forgetfulness, or to the failure of performing his promise,the silence of Mr Harrel upon the subject of her petition.
In a few minutes they were visited by Mr Morrice, who said he called toacquaint the ladies that the next morning there was to be a rehearsal ofa very grand new dance at the Opera-House, where, though admission wasdifficult, if it was agreeable to them to go, he would undertake tointroduce them.
Mrs Harrel happened to be engaged, and therefore declined the offer.He then turned to Cecilia, and said, "Well, ma'am, when did you see ourfriend Monckton?"
"Not since the rehearsal, sir."
"He is a mighty agreeable fellow," he continued, "and his house in thecountry is charming. One is as easy at it as at home. Were you everthere, Sir Robert?"
"Not I, truly," replied Sir Robert; "what should I go for?--to seean old woman with never a tooth in her head sitting at the top of thetable! Faith, I'd go an hundred miles a day for a month never to seesuch a sight again."
"O but you don't know how well she does the honours," said Morrice; "andfor my part, except just at meal times, I always contrive to keep out ofher way."
"I wonder when she intends to die," said Mr Harrel.
"She's been a long time about it," cried Sir Robert; "but those toughold cats last for ever. We all thought she was going when Moncktonmarried her; however, if he had not managed like a driveler, he mighthave broke her heart nine years ago."
"I am sure I wish he had," cried Mrs Harrel, "for she's an odiouscreature, and used always to make me afraid of her."
"But an old woman," answered Sir Robert, "is a person who has no senseof decency; if once she takes to living, the devil himself can't get ridof her."
"I dare say," cried Morrice, "she'll pop off before long in one of thosefits of the asthma. I assure you sometimes you may hear her wheeze amile off."
"She'll go never the sooner for that," said Sir Robert, "for I have gotan old aunt of my own, who has been puffing and blowing as if she wasat her last gasp ever since I can remember; and for all that, onlyyesterday, when I asked her doctor when she'd give up the ghost, he toldme she might live these dozen years."
Cecilia was by no means sorry to have this brutal conversationinterrupted by the entrance of a servant with a letter for her. She wasimmediately retiring to read it; but upon the petition of Mr Monckton,who just then came into the room, she only went to a window. The letterwas as follows:
_To Miss, at his Honour Squire Harrel's--These:_
Honoured Madam,--This with my humble duty. His Honour has given menothing. But I would not be troublesome, having wherewithal to wait, soconclude, Honoured Madam, your dutiful servant to command, till death,M. HILL.
The vexation with which Cecilia read this letter was visible to thewhole company; and while Mr Arnott looked at her with a wish of enquiryhe did not dare express, and Mr Monckton, under an appearance ofinattention, concealed the most anxious curiosity, Mr Morrice alone hadcourage to interrogate her; and, pertly advancing, said, "He is a happyman who writ that letter, ma'am, for I am sure you have not read it withindifference."
"Were I the writer," said Mr Arnott, tenderly, "I am sure I shouldreckon myself far otherwise, for Miss Beverley seems to have read itwith uneasiness."
"However, I have read it," answered she, "I assure you it is not from_any man_."
"O pray, Miss Beverley," cried Sir Robert, coming forward, "are you anybetter to-day?"
"No, sir, for I have not been ill."
"A little vapoured, I thought, yesterday; perhaps you want exercise."
"I wish the ladies would put themselves under my care," cried Morrice,"and take a turn round the park."
"I don't doubt you, Sir," said Mr Monckton, contemptuously, "and, butfor the check of modesty, probably there is not a man here who would notwish the same."
"I could propose a much better scheme than that," said Sir Robert; "whatif you all walk to Harley Street, and give me your notions of a house Iam about there? what say you, Mrs Harrel?"
"O, I shall like it vastly."
"Done," cried Mr Harrel; "'tis an excellent motion."
"Come then," said Sir Robert, "let's be off. Miss Beverley, I hope youhave a good warm cloak?"
"I must beg you to excuse my attending you, sir."
Mr Monckton, who had heard this proposal with the utmost dread of itssuccess, revived at the calm steadiness with which it was declined. Mrand Mrs Harrel both teized Cecilia to consent; but the haughty Baronet,evidently more offended than hurt by her refusal, pressed the matter nofurther, either with her or the rest of the party, and the scheme wasdropt entirely.
Mr Monckton failed not to remark this circumstance, which confirmed hissuspicions, that though the proposal seemed made by chance, its designwas nothing else than to obtain Cecilia's opinion concerning his house.But while this somewhat alarmed him, the unabated insolence of hiscarriage, and the confident defiance of his pride, still more surprizedhim; and notwithstanding all he observed of Cecilia, seemed topromise nothing but dislike; he could draw no other inference from hisbehaviour, than that if he admired, he also concluded himself sure ofher.
This was not a pleasant conjecture, however little weight he allowedto it; and he resolved, by outstaying all the company, to have a fewminutes' private discourse with her upon the subject.
In about half an hour, Sir Robert and Mr Harrel went out together:Mr Monckton still persevered in keeping his ground, and tried, thoughalready weary, to keep up a general conversation; but what moved at oncehis wonder and his indignation was the assurance of Morrice, who seemednot only bent upon staying as long as himself, but determined, byrattling away, to make his own entertainment.
At length a servant came in to tell Mrs Harrel that a stranger, who waswaiting in the house-keeper's room, begged to speak with her upon veryparticular business.
"O, I know," cried she, "'tis that odious John Groot: do pray, brother,try to get rid of him for me, for he comes to teize me about his bill,and I never know what to say to him."
Mr Arnott went immediately, and Mr Monckton could scarce refrain fromgoing too, that he might entreat John Groot by no means to be satisfiedwithout seeing Mrs Harrel herself: John Groot, however, wanted not hisentreaties, as the servant soon returned to summons his lady to theconference.
But though Mr Monckton now seemed near the completion of his purpose,Morrice still remained; his vexation at this circumstance soon grewintolerable; to see himself upon the point of receiving the recompenseof his perseverance, by the fortunate removal of all the obstacles inits way, and then to have it held from him by a young fellow he so muchdespised, and who had no entrance into the house but through his ownboldness, and no inducement to stay in it but from his own impertinence,mortified him so insufferably, that it was with difficulty he evenforbore from affronting him. Nor would he have scrupled a momentdesiring him to leave the room, had he not prudently determined to guardwith the utmost sedulity against raising any suspicions of his passionfor Cecilia.
He arose, however, and was moving towards her, with the intention tooccupy a part of a sofa on which she was seated, when Morrice, who wasstanding at the back of it, with a sudden spring which made the wholeroom shake, jumpt over, and sunk plump into the vacant place himself,calling out at the same time, "Come, come, what have you married men todo
with young ladies? I shall seize this post for myself."
The rage of Mr Monckton at this feat, and still more at the words_married men_, almost exceeded endurance; he stopt short, and looking athim with a fierceness that overpowered his discretion, was bursting outwith, "Sir, you are an---_impudent fellow_," but checking himself whenhe got half way, concluded with, "a very facetious gentleman!"
Morrice, who wished nothing so little as disobliging Mr Monckton, andwhose behaviour was merely the result of levity and a want of earlyeducation, no sooner perceived his displeasure, than, rising with yetmore agility than he had seated himself, he resumed the obsequiousnessof which an uncommon flow of spirits had robbed him, and guessing noother subject for his anger than the disturbance he had made, he bowedalmost to the ground, first to him, and afterwards to Cecilia, mostrespectfully begging pardon of them both for his frolic, and protestinghe had no notion he should have made such a noise!
Mrs Harrel and Mr Arnott, now hastening back, enquired what had been thematter? Morrice, ashamed of his exploit, and frightened by the looks ofMr Monckton, made an apology with the utmost humility, and hurried away:and Mr Monckton, hopeless of any better fortune, soon did the same,gnawn with a cruel discontent which he did not dare avow, and longing torevenge himself upon Morrice, even by personal chastisement.