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"Should I think, Sir, to eternity," cried Cecilia, "I could never conjecture what you mean!"

"You may not chuse," said he, proudly, "to understand me; but I have done If it had been in my power to have interfered in your service withinvolved in any fresh e it: but this youngof him! it is by no means likely I should: but as I had already been infor incidents ofhi; were not well calculated to make me withdraw my credence to it"

"Is it, then, Mr Belfield, Sir, concerning whom you draw these inferences, fro?"

"It is by no htily, and with evident h displeasure at this speech, "to believe any thing lightly, or without even unquestionable authority; what once, therefore, I have credited, I do not often find erroneous Mistake not, however, what I have said into supposing I have any objection to your ; on the contrary, it had been for the honour of o I should not then have suffered the degradation of seeing a son of the first expectations in the kingdo his birth, nor a woman of the first distinction ruined in her health, and broken for ever in her constitution"

The emotions of Cecilia at this speech were too powerful for concealnation, now turning pale with apprehension; she arose, she tre what to say or what to do, again sat down

Mr Delvile then,

"Go not so, Sir!" cried she, in faltering accents; "let ard to Mr Belfield--"

"My mistakes, ma'am," said he, with a contemptuous smile, "are perhaps not easily convicted: and I ive you no less trouble: it may therefore be better to avoid any further disquisition"

"No, not better," answered she, again recovering her courage from this fresh provocation; "I fear no disquisition; on the contrary, it iswoman," said he, ironically, "is certainly very commendable; and doubtless, as you are your own reat part of your fortune, is nothing beyond what you have a right to do"