And with this answer, after all that she could urge, she was compelled to leave the house, as he complained that his brown paper plaister wanted fresh dipping in vinegar, and he could stay talking no longer. The disgust with which this behaviour filled her, was doubled by the shame and concern of returning to the Harrels with her promise unperformed; she deliberated upon every method that occurred to her of still endeavouring to serve them, but could suggest nothing, except trying to prevail upon Mr Delvile to interfere in her favour. She liked not, indeed, the office of solicitation to so haughty a man, but, having no other expedient, her repugnance gave way to her generosity, and she ordered the chairmen to carry her to St James's Square. CHAPTER ii A PERPLEXITY. And here, at the door of his Father's house, and just ascending the steps, she perceived young Delvile. “Again!” cried he, handing her out of the chair, “surely some good genius is at work for me this morning!” She told him she should not have called so early, now she was acquainted with the late hours of Mrs Delvile, but that she merely meant to speak with his Father, for two minutes, upon business. He attended her up stairs; and finding she was in haste, went himself with her message to Mr Delvile: and soon returned with an answer that he would wait upon her presently. The strange speeches he had made to her when they first met in the morning now recurring to her memory, she determined to have them explained, and in order to lead to the subject, mentioned the disagreeable situation in which he had found her, while she was standing up to avoid the sight of the condemned malefactors. “Indeed?” cried he, in a tone of voice somewhat incredulous, “and was that the purpose for which you stood up?” “Certainly, Sir;--what other could I have?” “None, surely!” said he, smiling, “but the accident was singularly opportune.” “Opportune?” cried Cecilia, staring, “how opportune? this is the second time in the same morning that I am not able to understand you!” “How _should_ you understand what is so little intelligible?” “I see you have some meaning which I cannot fathom, why, else, should it be so extraordinary that I should endeavour to avoid a mob? or how could it be opportune that I should happen to meet with one?” He laughed at first without making any answer; but perceiving she looked at him with impatience, he half gaily, half reproachfully, said, “Whence is it that young ladies, even such whose principles are most strict, seem universally, in those affairs where their affections are concerned, to think hypocrisy necessary, and deceit amiable? and hold it graceful to disavow to-day, what they may perhaps mean publicly to acknowledge to-morrow?” Cecilia, who heard these questions with unfeigned astonishment, looked at him with the utmost eagerness for an explanation.