Cecilia; Or, Memoirs of an Heiress — Volume 1Burney, Fanny
General
Cecilia; Or, Memoirs of an Heiress — Volume 1
Burney, Fanny
England -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Love stories; Young women -- Fiction
Davison now came again to hasten her, and said that the Jew was with his
master, and they both impatiently expected her.
Cecilia, half distracted with her uncertainty how to act, changed colour
at this message, and exclaimed “Oh Mr Arnott, run I beseech you for Mr
Monckton! bring him hither directly,--if any body can save me it is him;
but if I go back to Mr Harrel, I know it will be all over!”
“Certainly,” said Mr Arnott, “I will run to him this moment.”
“Yet no!--stop!--” cried the trembling Cecilia, “he can now do me no
good,--his counsel will arrive too late to serve me,--it cannot call
back the oath I have given! it cannot, compulsatory as it was, make me
break it, and not be miserable for ever!”
This idea sufficed to determine her; and the apprehension of
self-reproach, should the threat of Mr Harrel be put in execution, was
more insupportable to her blameless and upright mind, than any loss or
diminution which her fortune could sustain.
Slowly however, with tardy and unwilling steps, her judgment repugnant,
and her spirit repining, she obeyed the summons of Mr Harrel, who,
impatient of her delay, came forward to meet her.
“Miss Beverley,” he cried, “there is not a moment to be lost; this good
man will bring you any sum of money, upon a proper consideration, that
you will command; but if he is not immediately commissioned, and
these cursed fellows are not got out of my house, the affair will be
blown,”---“and what will follow,” added he, lowering his voice, “I will
not again frighten you by repeating, though I shall never recant.”
Cecilia turned from him in horror; and, with a faltering voice and heavy
heart, entreated Mr Arnott to settle for her with the Jew.
Large as was the sum, she was so near being of age, and her security
was so good, that the transaction was soon finished: 7500 pounds was
received of the Jew, Mr Harrel gave Cecilia his bond for the payment,
the creditors were satisfied, the bailiffs were dismissed, and the house
was soon restored to its customary appearance of splendid gaiety.
Mrs Harrel, who during this scene had shut herself up in her own room
to weep and lament, now flew to Cecilia, and in a transport of joy and
gratitude, thanked her upon her knees for thus preserving her from utter
ruin: the gentle Mr Arnott seemed uncertain whether most to grieve or
rejoice; and Mr Harrel repeatedly protested she should have the sole
guidance of his future conduct.
This promise, the hope of his amendment, and the joy she had expanded,
somewhat revived the spirits of Cecilia; who, however, deeply affected
by what had passed, hastened from them all to her own room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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