CHAPTER i
AN APPLICATION.
Cecilia, upon her return home, heard with some surprise that Mr and MrsHarrel were by themselves in the drawing-room; and, while she was uponthe stairs, Mrs Harrel ran out, calling eagerly, "Is that my brother?"
Before she could make an answer, Mr Harrel, in the same impatient tone,exclaimed, "Is it Mr Arnott?"
"No;" said Cecilia, "did you expect him so late?"
"Expect him? Yes," answered Mr Harrel, "I have expected him the wholeevening, and cannot conceive what he has done with himself."
"'Tis abominably provoking," said Mrs Harrel, "that he should be out ofthe way just now when he is wanted. However, I dare say to-morrow willdo as well."
"I don't know that," cried Mr Harrel. "Reeves is such a wretch that I amsure he will give me all the trouble in his power."
Here Mr Arnott entered; and Mrs Harrel called out "O brother, we havebeen distressed for you cruelly; we have had a man here who has plaguedMr Harrel to death, and we wanted you sadly to speak to him."
"I should have been very glad," said Mr Arnott, "to have been of anyuse, and perhaps it is not yet too late; who is the man?"
"O," cried Mr Harrel, carelessly, "only a fellow from that rascallytaylor who has been so troublesome to me lately. He has had theimpudence, because I did not pay him the moment he was pleased to wanthis money, to put the bill into the hands of one Reeves, a gripingattorney, who has been here this evening, and thought proper to talk tome pretty freely. I can tell the gentleman I shall not easily forget hisimpertinence! however, I really wish mean time I could get rid of him."
"How much is the bill, Sir?" said Mr Arnott.
"Why it's rather a round sum; but I don't know how it is, one's billsmount up before one is aware: those fellows charge such confounded sumsfor tape and buckram; I hardly know what I have had of him, and yet hehas run me up a bill of between three and four hundred pound."
Here there was a general silence; till Mrs Harrel said "Brother, can'tyou be so good as to lend us the money? Mr Harrel says he can pay itagain very soon."
"O yes, very soon," said Mr Harrel, "for I shall receive a great deal ofmoney in a little time; I only want to stop this fellow's mouth for thepresent."
"Suppose I go and talk with him?" said Mr Arnott.
"O, he's a brute, a stock!" cried Mr Harrel, "nothing but the money willsatisfy him: he will hear no reason; one might as well talk to a stone."
Mr Arnott now looked extremely distressed; but upon his sister's warmlypressing him not to lose any time, he gently said, "If this person willbut wait a week or two, I should be extremely glad, for really justnow I cannot take up so much money, without such particular loss andinconvenience, that I hardly know how to do it:--but yet, if he will notbe appeased, he must certainly have it."
"Appeased?" cried Mr Harrel, "you might as well appease the sea in astorm! he is hard as iron."
Mr Arnott then, forcing a smile, though evidently in much uneasiness,said he would not fail to raise the money the next morning, and wastaking his leave, when Cecilia, shocked that such tenderness andgood-nature should be thus grossly imposed upon, hastily begged to speakwith Mrs Harrel, and taking her into another room, said, "I beseech you,my dear friend, let not your worthy brother suffer by his generosity;permit me in the present exigence to assist Mr Harrel: my having such asum advanced can be of no consequence; but I should grieve indeed thatyour brother, who so nobly understands the use of money, should take itup at any particular disadvantage."
"You are vastly kind," said Mrs Harrel, "and I will run and speak tothem about it: but which ever of you lends the money, Mr Harrel hasassured me he shall pay it very soon."
She then returned with the proposition. Mr Arnott strongly opposed it,but Mr Harrel seemed rather to prefer it, yet spoke so confidently ofhis speedy payment, that he appeared to think it a matter of littleimportance from which he accepted it. A generous contest ensued betweenMr Arnott and Cecilia, but as she was very earnest, she at lengthprevailed, and settled to go herself the next morning into the city, inorder to have the money advanced by Mr Briggs, who had the management ofher fortune entirely to himself, her other guardians never interferingin the executive part of her affairs.
This arranged, they all retired.
And then, with encreasing astonishment, Cecilia reflected upon theruinous levity of Mr Harrel, and the blind security of his wife; she sawin their situation danger the most alarming, and in the behaviour of MrHarrel selfishness the most inexcusable; such glaring injustice to hiscreditors, such utter insensibility to his friends, took from her allwish of assisting him, though the indignant compassion with which shesaw the easy generosity of Mr Arnott so frequently abused, had now, forhis sake merely, induced her to relieve him.
She resolved, however, as soon as the present difficulty was surmounted,to make another attempt to open the eyes of Mrs Harrel to the evilswhich so apparently threatened her, and press her to exert all herinfluence with her husband, by means both of example and advice, toretrench his expences before it should be absolutely too late to savehim from ruin.
She determined also at the same time that she applied for the moneyrequisite for this debt, to take up enough for discharging her own billat the bookseller's, and putting in execution her plan of assisting theHills.
The next morning she arose early, and attended by her servant, set outfor the house of Mr Briggs, purposing, as the weather was clear andfrosty, to walk through Oxford Road, and then put herself into a chair;and hoping to return to Mr Harrel's by the usual hour of breakfast.
She had not proceeded far, before she saw a mob gathering, and thewindows of almost all the houses filling with spectators. She desiredher servant to enquire what this meant, and was informed that the peoplewere assembling to see some malefactors pass by in their way to Tyburn.
Alarmed at this intelligence from the fear of meeting the unhappycriminals, she hastily turned down the next street, but found that alsofilling with people who were running to the scene she was trying toavoid: encircled thus every way, she applied to a maidservant who wasstanding at the door of a large house, and begged leave to step in tillthe mob was gone by. The maid immediately consented, and she waited herewhile she sent her man for a chair.
He soon arrived with one; but just as she returned to the street door, agentleman, who was hastily entering the house, standing back to lether pass, suddenly exclaimed, "Miss Beverley!" and looking at him, sheperceived young Delvile.
"I cannot stop an instant," cried she, running down the steps, "lest thecrowd should prevent the chair from going on."
"Will you not first," said he, handing her in, "tell me what news youhave heard?"
"News?" repeated she. "No, I have heard none!"
"You will only, then, laugh at me for those officious offers you did sowell to reject?"
"I know not what offers you mean!"
"They were indeed superfluous, and therefore I wonder not you haveforgotten them. Shall I tell the chairmen whither to go?"
"To Mr Briggs. But I cannot imagine what you mean."
"To Mr Briggs!" repeated he, "O live for ever French beads and Bristolstones! fresh offers may perhaps be made there, impertinent, officious,and useless as mine!"
He then told her servant the direction, and, making his bow, went intothe house she had just quitted.
Cecilia, extremely amazed by this short, but unintelligibleconversation, would again have called upon him to explain his meaning,but found the crowd encreasing so fast that she could not venture todetain the chair, which with difficulty made its way to the adjoiningstreets: but her surprize at what had passed so entirely occupied her,that when she stopt at the house of Mr Briggs, she had almost forgottenwhat had brought her thither.
The foot-boy, who came to the door, told her that his master was athome, but not well.
She desired he might be acquainted that she wished to speak to him uponbusiness, and would wait upon him again at any hour when he thought heshou
ld be able to see her.
The boy returned with an answer that she might call again the next week.
Cecilia, knowing that so long a delay would destroy all the kindness ofher intention, determined to write to him for the money, and thereforewent into the parlour, and desired to have pen and ink.
The boy, after making her wait some time in a room without any fire,brought her a pen and a little ink in a broken tea-cup, saying "Masterbegs you won't spirt it about, for he's got no more; and all ourblacking's as good as gone."
"Blacking?" repeated Cecilia.
"Yes, Miss; when Master's shoes are blacked, we commonly gets a littledrap of fresh ink."
Cecilia promised to be careful, but desired him to fetch her a sheet ofpaper.
"Law, Miss," cried the boy, with a grin, "I dare say master'd as soongive you a bit of his nose! howsever, I'll go ax."
In a few minutes he again returned, and brought in his hand a slate anda black lead pencil; "Miss," cried he, "Master says how you may writeupon this, for he supposes you've no great matters to say."
Cecilia, much astonished at this extreme parsimony, was obliged toconsent, but as the point of the pencil was very blunt, desired theboy to get her a knife that she might cut it. He obeyed, but said "PrayMiss, take care it ben't known, for master don't do such a thing once ina year, and if he know'd I'd got you the knife, he'd go nigh to give mea good polt of the head."
Cecilia then wrote upon the slate her desire to be informed in whatmanner she should send him her receipt for 600 pounds, which she beggedto have instantly advanced.
The boy came back grinning, and holding up his hands, and said, "Miss,there's a fine piece of work upstairs! Master's in a peck of troubles;but he says how he'll come down, if you'll stay till he's got his thingson."
"Does he keep his bed, then? I hope I have not made him rise?"
"No, Miss, he don't keep his bed, only he must get ready, for he wearsno great matters of cloaths when he's alone. You are to know, Miss,"lowering his voice, "that that day as he went abroad with our sweep'scloaths on, he comed home in sich a pickle you never see! I believesomebody'd knocked him in the kennel; so does Moll; but don't you say asI told you! He's been special bad ever since. Moll and I was as glad ascould be, because he's so plaguy sharp; for, to let you know, Miss, he'sso near, it's partly a wonder how he lives at all: and yet he's worth apower of money, too."
"Well, well," said Cecilia, not very desirous to encourage hisforwardness, "if I want any thing, I'll call for you."
The boy, however, glad to tell his tale, went on.
"Our Moll won't stay with him above a week longer, Miss, because shesays how she can get nothing to eat, but just some old stinking saltmeat, that's stayed in the butcher's shop so long, it would make a horsesick to look at it. But Moll's pretty nice; howsever, Miss, to let youknow, we don't get a good meal so often as once a quarter! why this lastweek we ha'n't had nothing at all but some dry musty red herrings; soyou may think, Miss, we're kept pretty sharp!"
He was now interrupted by hearing Mr Briggs coming down the stairs, uponwhich, abruptly breaking off his complaints, he held up his finger tohis nose in token of secrecy, and ran hastily into the kitchen.
The appearance of Mr Briggs was by no means rendered more attractive byillness and negligence of dress. He had on a flannel gown and night cap;his black beard, of many days' growth, was long and grim, and upon hisnose and one of his cheeks was a large patch of brown paper, which, ashe entered the room, he held on with both his hands.
Cecilia made many apologies for having disturbed him, and some civilenquiries concerning his health.
"Ay, ay," cried he, pettishly, "bad enough: all along of that trumperymasquerade; wish I had not gone! Fool for my pains."
"When were you taken ill, Sir?"
"Met with an accident; got a fall, broke my head, like to have lost mywig. Wish the masquerade at old Nick! thought it would cost nothing, orwould not have gone. Warrant sha'n't get me so soon to another!"
"Did you fall in going home, Sir?"
"Ay, ay, plump in the kennel; could hardly get out of it; felt myself agoing, was afraid to tear my cloaths, knew the rascal would make me payfor them, so by holding up the old sack, come bolt on my face! off popsmy wig; could not tell what to do; all as dark as pitch!"
"Did not you call for help?"
"Nobody by but scrubs, knew they would not help for nothing. Scrawledout as I could, groped about for my wig, found it at last, all soused inthe mud; stuck to my head like Turner's cerate."
"I hope, then, you got into a hackney coach?"
"What for? to make things worse? was not bad enough, hay?--must pay twoshillings beside?"
"But how did you find yourself when you got home, Sir?"
"How? why wet as muck; my head all bumps, my cheek all cut, my nose bigas two! forced to wear a plaister; half ruined in vinegar. Got a greatcold; put me in a fever; never been well since."
"But have you had no advice, Sir? Should not you send for a physician?"
"What to do, hay? fill me with jallop? can get it myself, can't I? Hadone once; was taken very bad, thought should have popt off; began toflinch, sent for the doctor, proved nothing but a cheat! cost me aguinea, gave it at fourth visit, and he never came again!---warrantwon't have no more!"
Then perceiving upon the table some dust from the black lead pencil,"What's here?" cried he, angrily, "who's been cutting the pencil? wishthey were hanged; suppose it's the boy; deserves to be horsewhipped:give him a good banging."
Cecilia immediately cleared him, by acknowledging she had herself beenthe culprit.
"Ay, ay," cried he, "thought as much all the time! guessed how it was;nothing but ruin and waste; sending for money, nobody knows why; wanting600 pounds--what to do? throw it in the dirt? Never heard the like!Sha'n't have it, promise you that," nodding his head, "shan't have nosuch thing!"
"Sha'n't have it?" cried Cecilia, much surprised, "why not, Sir?"
"Keep it for your husband; get you one soon: won't have no juggling.Don't be in a hurry; one in my eye."
Cecilia then began a very earnest expostulation, assuring him she reallywanted the money, for an occasion which would not admit of delay. Herremonstrances, however, he wholly disregarded, telling her that girlsknew nothing of the value of money, and ought not to be trusted withit; that he would not hear of such extravagance, and was resolved notto advance her a penny. Cecilia was both provoked and confounded by arefusal so unexpected, and as she thought herself bound in honour toMr Harrel not to make known the motive of her urgency, she was forsome time totally silenced: till recollecting her account with thebookseller, she determined to rest her plea upon that, persuaded that hecould not, at least, deny her money to pay her own bills. He heard her,however, with the utmost contempt; "Books?" he cried, "what do you wantwith books? do no good; all lost time; words get no cash." She informedhim his admonitions were now too late, as she had already received them,and must therefore necessarily pay for them. "No, no," cried he, "send'em back, that's best; keep no such rubbish, won't turn to account; dobetter without 'em." "That, Sir, will be impossible, for I have had themsome time, and cannot expect the bookseller to take them again." "Must,must," cried he, "can't help himself; glad to have 'em too. Are buta minor, can't be made pay a farthing." Cecilia with much indignationheard such fraud recommended, and told him she could by no means consentto follow his advice. But she soon found, to her utter amazement, thathe steadily refused to give her any other, or to bestow the slightestattention upon her expostulations, sturdily saying that her uncle hadleft her a noble estate, and he would take care to see it put in properhands, by getting her a good and careful husband.
"I have no intention, no wish, Sir," cried she, "to break into theincome or estate left me by my uncle; on the contrary, I hold themsacred, and think myself bound in conscience never to live beyond them:but the L10,000 bequeathed me by my Father, I regard as more peculiarlymy own property, and therefore think myself at liberty to dispose
of itas I please."
"What," cried he, in a rage, "make it over to a scrubby bookseller! giveit up for an old pot-hook? no, no, won't suffer it; sha'n't be, sha'n'tbe, I say! if you want some books, go to Moorfields, pick up enough atan old stall; get 'em at two pence a-piece; dear enough, too."
Cecilia for some time hoped he was merely indulging his strange andsordid humour by an opposition that was only intended to teize her;but she soon found herself extremely mistaken: he was immoveable inobstinacy, as he was incorrigible in avarice; he neither troubledhimself with enquiries nor reasoning, but was contented with refusingher as a child might be refused, by peremptorily telling her she did notknow what she wanted, and therefore should not have what she asked.
And with this answer, after all that she could urge, she was compelledto leave the house, as he complained that his brown paper plaisterwanted fresh dipping in vinegar, and he could stay talking no longer.
The disgust with which this behaviour filled her, was doubled bythe shame and concern of returning to the Harrels with her promiseunperformed; she deliberated upon every method that occurred to herof still endeavouring to serve them, but could suggest nothing, excepttrying to prevail upon Mr Delvile to interfere in her favour. She likednot, indeed, the office of solicitation to so haughty a man, but, havingno other expedient, her repugnance gave way to her generosity, and sheordered the chairmen to carry her to St James's Square.