CHAPTER vii.
A MESSAGE.
From this lethargy of sadness Cecilia was soon, however, awakened by thereturn of the surgeon, who had brought with him a physician to consultupon Mrs Delvile's situation. Terror for the mother once more drovethe son from her thoughts, and she waited with the most apprehensiveimpatience to hear the result of the consultation. The physiciandeclined giving any positive opinion, but, having written aprescription, only repeated the injunction of the surgeon, that sheshould be kept extremely quiet, and on no account be suffered to talk.
Cecilia, though shocked and frightened at the occasion, was yet by nomeans sorry at an order which thus precluded all conversation; unfittedfor it by her own misery, she was glad to be relieved from all necessityof imposing upon herself the irksome task of finding subjects fordiscourse to which she was wholly indifferent, while obliged withsedulity to avoid those by which alone her mind was occupied.
The worthy Mrs Charlton heard the events of the morning with the utmostconcern, but charged her grand-daughters to assist her young friend indoing the honours of her house to Mrs Delvile, while she ordered anotherapartment to be prepared for Cecilia, to whom she administered all theconsolation her friendly zeal could suggest.
Cecilia, however unhappy, had too just a way of thinking to indulge inselfish grief, where occasion called her to action for the benefitof others: scarce a moment, therefore now did she allow to sorrow andherself, but assiduously bestowed the whole of her time upon her twosick friends, dividing her attention according to their own desire orconvenience, without consulting or regarding any choice of her own.Choice, indeed, she had none; she loved Mrs Charlton, she revered MrsDelvile; the warmest wish with which her heart glowed, was the recoveryof both, but too deep was her affliction to receive pleasure fromeither.
Two days passed thus, during which the constancy of her attendance,which at another time would have fatigued her, proved the only reliefshe was capable of receiving. Mrs Delvile was evidently affected by hervigilant tenderness, but seemed equally desirous with herself to makeuse of the prohibition to speech as an excuse for uninterrupted silence.She enquired not even after her son, though the eagerness of her looktowards the door whenever it was opened, shewed either a hope, or anapprehension that he might enter. Cecilia wished to tell her whitherhe was gone, but dreaded trusting her voice with his name; and theirsilence, after a while, seemed so much by mutual consent, that she hadsoon as little courage as she had inclination to break it.
The arrival of Dr Lyster gave her much satisfaction, for upon himrested her hopes of Mrs Delvile's re-establishment. He sent for her downstairs, to enquire whether he was expected; and hearing that he was not,desired her to announce him, as the smallest emotion might do mischief.
She returned up stairs, and after a short preparation, said, "Yourfavourite Dr Lyster, madam, is come, and I shall be much the happier forhaving you under his care."
"Dr Lyster?" cried she, "who sent for him?"
"I believe--I fancy--Mr Delvile fetched him."
"My son?--is he here, then?"
"No,--he went, the moment he left you, for Dr Lyster,--and Dr Lyster iscome by himself."
"Does he write to you?"
"No, indeed!--he writes not--he comes not--dearest madam be satisfied,he will do neither to me ever more!"
"Exemplary young man!" cried she, in a voice hardly audible, "how greatis his loss!--unhappy Mortimer!--ill-fated, and ill-rewarded!"
She sighed, and said no more; but this short conversation, the only onewhich had passed between them since her illness, agitated her somuch, that Dr Lyster, who now came up stairs, found her in a state oftrembling and weakness that both alarmed and surprised him. Cecilia,glad of an opportunity to be gone, left the room, and sent, by DrLyster's desire, for the physician and surgeon who had already attended.
After they had been some time with their patient, they retired to aconsultation, and when it was over, Dr Lyster waited upon Cecilia inthe parlour, and assured her he had no apprehension of danger forMrs Delvile, "Though, for another week," he added, "I would have hercontinue your _patient_, as she is not yet fit to be removed. But praymind that she is kept quiet; let nobody go near her, not even her ownson. By the way he is waiting for me at the inn, so I'll just speakagain to his mother, and be gone."
Cecilia was well pleased by this accidental information, to learnboth the anxiety of Delvile for his mother, and the steadiness of hisforbearance for himself. When Dr Lyster came down stairs again, "I shallstay," he said, "till to-morrow, but I hope she will be able in anotherweek to get to Bristol. In the mean time I shall leave her, I see, withan excellent nurse. But, my good young lady, in your care of her, don'tneglect yourself; I am not quite pleased with your looks, though it isbut an old fashioned speech to tell you so.--What have you been doing toyourself?"
"Nothing;" said she, a little embarrassed; "but had you not better havesome tea?"
"Why yes, I think I had;--but what shall I do with my young man?"
Cecilia understood the hint, but coloured, and made no answer.
"He is waiting for me," he continued, "at the inn; however, I never yetknew the young man I would prefer to a young woman, so if you will giveme some tea here, I shall certainly jilt him."
Cecilia instantly rang the bell, and ordered tea.
"Well now," said he, "remember the sin of this breach of appointmentlies wholly at your door. I shall tell him you laid violent hands onme; and if that is not, enough to excuse me, I shall desire he will trywhether he could be more of a stoic with you himself."
"I think I must unorder the tea," said she, with what gaiety she couldassume, "if I am to be responsible for any mischief from your drinkingit."
"No, no, you shan't be off now; but pray would it be quite out of rulefor you to send and ask him to come to us?"
"Why I believe--I think--" said she, stammering, "it's very likely hemay be engaged."
"Well, well, I don't mean to propose any violent incongruity. You mustexcuse my blundering; I understand but little of the etiquette of youngladies. 'Tis a science too intricate to be learned without more studythan we plodding men of business can well spare time for. However, whenI have done _writing_ prescriptions, I will set about _reading_ them,provided you will be my instructress."
Cecilia, though ashamed of a charge in which prudery and affectationwere implied, was compelled to submit to it, as either to send forDelvile, or explain her objections, was equally impossible. The MissCharltons, therefore, joined them, and they went to tea.
Just as they had done, a note was delivered to Dr Lyster; "see here,"cried he, when he had read it, "what a fine thing it is to be a _young_man! Why now, Mr Mortimer understands as much of all this _etiquette_ asyou ladies do yourselves; for he only writes a note even to ask how hismother does."
He then put it into Cecilia's hand.
_To Dr Lyster_.
Tell me, my dear Sir, how you have found my mother? I am uneasy atyour long stay, and engaged with my friend Biddulph, or I should havefollowed you in person.
M.D.
"So you see," continued the doctor, "I need not do penance forengaging myself to you, when this young gentleman can find such goodentertainment for himself."
Cecilia who well knew the honourable motive of Delvile's engagement,with difficulty forbore speaking in his vindication. Dr Lysterimmediately began an answer, but before he had finished it, called out,"Now as I am told you are a very good young woman, I think you can do noless than assist me to punish this gay spark, for playing the macaroni,when he ought to visit his sick mother."
Cecilia, much hurt for Delvile, and much confused for herself, lookedabashed, but knew not what to answer.
"My scheme," continued the doctor, "is to tell him, that as he has foundone engagement for tea, he may find another for supper; but that as tome, I am better disposed of, for you insist upon keeping me to yourself.Come, what says _etiquette_? may I treat myself with this puff?"
"Certainly," sa
id Cecilia, endeavouring to look pleased, "if you willfavour us with your company, Miss Charltons and myself will think the_puffing_ should rather be ours than yours."
"That, then," said the doctor, "will not answer my purpose, for I meanthe puff to be my own, or how do I punish him? So, suppose I tell himI shall not only sup with three young ladies, but be invited to a_tete-a-tete_ with one of them into the bargain?"
The young ladies only laughed, and the doctor finished his note, andsent it away; and then, turning gaily to Cecilia, "Come," he said, "whydon't you give me this invitation? surely you don't mean to make meguilty of perjury?"
Cecilia, but little disposed for pleasantry, would gladly now have droptthe subject; but Dr Lyster, turning to the Miss Charltons, said, "Youngladies, I call you both to witness if this is not very bad usage: thisyoung woman has connived at my writing a downright falsehood, and allthe time took me in to believe it was a truth. The only way I can thinkof to cure her of such frolics, is for both of you to leave us together,and so make her keep her word whether she will or no."
The Miss Charltons took the hint, and went away; while Cecilia, whohad not at all suspected he meant seriously to speak with her, remainedextremely perplexed to think what he had to say.
"Mrs Delvile," cried he, continuing the same air of easy good humour,"though I allowed her not to speak to me above twenty words, took upnear ten of them to tell me that you had behaved to her like an angel.Why so she ought, cried I; what else was she sent for here to lookso like one? I charged her, therefore, to take all that as a thing ofcourse; and to prove that I really think what I say, I am now going tomake a trial of you, that, if you are any thing less, will induce you toorder some of your men to drive me into the street. The truth is, I havehad a little commission given me, which in the first place I know nothow to introduce, and which, in the second, as far as I can judge,appears to be absolutely superfluous."
Cecilia now felt uneasy and alarmed, and begged him to explain himself.He then dropt the levity with which he had begun the discourse, andafter a grave, yet gentle preparation, expressive of his unwillingnessto distress her, and his firm persuasion of her uncommon worthiness, heacquainted her that he was no stranger to her situation with respect tothe Delvile family.
"Good God!" cried she, blushing and much amazed; "and who"---
"I knew it," said he, "from the moment I attended Mr Mortimer in hisillness at Delvile Castle. He could not conceal from me that the seatof his disorder was his mind; and I could not know that, without readilyconjecturing the cause, when I saw who was his father's guest, and whenI knew what was his father's character. He found he was betrayed to me,and upon my advising a journey, he understood me properly. His opennessto counsel, and the manly firmness with which he behaved in quittingyou, made me hope the danger was blown over. But last week, when I wasat the Castle, where I have for some time attended Mr Delvile, who hashad a severe fit of the gout, I found him in an agitation of spiritsthat made me apprehend it would be thrown into his stomach. I desiredMrs Delvile to use her influence to calm him; but she was herself instill greater emotion, and acquainting me she was obliged to leavehim, desired I would spend with him every moment in my power. I havetherefore almost lived at the Castle during her absence, and, inthe course of our many conversations, he has acknowledged to me theuneasiness under which he has laboured, from the intelligence concerninghis son, which he had just received."
Cecilia wished here to enquire _how_ received, and from whom, but hadnot the courage, and therefore he proceeded.
"I was still with the father when Mr Mortimer arrived post at my houseto fetch me hither. I was sent for home; he informed me of his errandwithout disguise, for he knew I was well acquainted with the originalsecret whence all the evil arose. I told him my distress in whatmanner to leave his father; and he was extremely shocked himself whenacquainted with his situation. We agreed that it would be vain toconceal from him the indisposition of Mrs Delvile, which the delay ofher return, and a thousand other accidents, might in some unfortunateway make known to him. He commissioned me, therefore, to break it tohim, that he might consent to my journey, and at the same time to quiethis own mind, by assuring him all he had apprehended was wholly at anend."
He stopt, and looked to see how Cecilia bore these words.
"It is all at an end, Sir;" said she, with firmness; "but I have not yetheard your commission; what, and from whom is that?"
"I am thoroughly satisfied it is unnecessary;" he answered, "since theyoung man can but submit, and you can but give him up."
"But still, if there is a message, it is fit I should hear it."
"If you chase it, so it is. I told Mr Delvile whither I was coming,and I repeated to him his son's assurances. He was relieved, but notsatisfied; he would not see him, and gave me for him a prohibition ofextreme severity, and to _you_ he bid me say--"
"From _him_, then, is my message?" cried Cecilia, half frightened, andmuch disappointed.
"Yes," said he, understanding her immediately, "for the son, aftergiving me his first account, had the wisdom and forbearance not once tomention you."
"I am very glad," said she, with a mixture of admiration and regret, "tohear it. But, what, Sir, said Mr Delvile?"
"He bid me tell you that either _he_, or _you_ must see his son nevermore."
"It was indeed unnecessary," cried she, colouring with resentment, "tosend me such a message. I meant not to see him again, he meant not todesire it. I return him, however, no answer, and I will make him nopromise; to Mrs Delvile alone I hold myself bound; to him, send whatmessages he may, I shall always hold myself free. But believe me, DrLyster, if with his name, his son had inherited his character, hisdesire of our separation would be feeble, and trifling, compared with myown!"
"I am sorry, my good young lady," said he, "to have given you thisdisturbance; yet I admire your spirit, and doubt not but it will enableyou to forget any little disappointment you may have suffered. And what,after all, have you to regret? Mortimer Delvile is, indeed, a young manthat any woman might wish to attach; but every woman cannot have him,and you, of all women, have least reason to repine in missing him,for scarcely is there another man you may not chuse or reject at yourpleasure."
Little as was the consolation Cecilia could draw from this speech,she was sensible it became not her situation to make complaints, andtherefore, to end the conversation she proposed calling in the MissCharltons.
"No, no," said he, "I must step up again to Mrs Delvile, and thenbe-gone. To-morrow morning I shall but call to see how she is, and leavesome directions, and set off. Mr Mortimer Delvile accompanies me back:but he means to return hither in a week, in order to travel with hismother to Bristol. Mean time, I purpose to bring about a reconciliationbetween him and his father, whose prejudices are more intractable thanany man's I ever met with."
"It will be strange indeed," said Cecilia, "should a reconciliation_now_ be difficult!"
"True; but it is long since he was young himself, and the softeraffections he never was acquainted with, and only regards them in hisson as derogatory to his whole race. However, if there were not some fewsuch men, there would hardly be a family in the kingdom that could counta great grand-father. I am not, I must own, of his humour myself, butI think it rather peculiarly stranger, than peculiarly worse than mostother peoples; and how, for example, was that of _your_ uncle a whit thebetter? He was just as fond of _his_ name, as if, like Mr Delvile, hecould trace it from the time of the Saxons."
Cecilia strongly felt the truth of this observation, but not chusing todiscuss it, made not any answer, and Dr Lyster, after a few good-naturedapologies, both for his friends the Delviles and himself, went upstairs.
"What continual disturbance," cried she, when left alone, "keeps methus for-ever from rest! no sooner is one wound closed, but another isopened; mortification constantly succeeds distress, and when my heart isspared; my pride is attacked, that not a moment of tranquility may everbe allowed me! Had the lowest of women won the af
fections of Mr Delvile,could his father with less delicacy or less decency have acquainted herwith his inflexible disapprobation? To send with so little ceremony amessage so contemptuous and so peremptory!--but perhaps it is better,for had he, too, like Mrs Delvile, joined kindness with rejection, Imight still more keenly have felt the perverseness of my destiny."