“We were only to have met,” answered she, in much confusion, “at the last moment,--and that would be too late--it would be too--I could not, without some previous notice, break a promise which I gave without any restriction.” “Is this your only objection?” “It is; but it is one which I cannot conquer.” “Then you would give up this ill-boding connection, but from notions of delicacy with regard to the time?” “Indeed I meant it, before you came.” “I, then, will obviate this objection; give me but the commission, either verbally or in writing, and I will undertake to find him out, and deliver it before night.” Cecilia, little expecting this offer, turned extremely pale, and after pausing some moments, said in a faultering voice, “What, then, Sir, is your advice, in what manner--” “I will say to him all that is necessary; trust the matter with me.” “No,--he deserves, at least, an apology from myself,--though how to make it--” She stopt, she hesitated, she went out of the room for pen and ink, she returned without them, and the agitation of her mind every instant encreasing, she begged him, in a faint voice, to excuse her while she consulted with Mrs Charlton, and promising to wait upon him again, was hurrying away. Mr Monckton, however, saw too great danger in so much emotion to trust her out of his sight; he told her, therefore, that she would only encrease her perplexity, without reaping any advantage, by an application to Mrs Charlton, and that if she was really sincere in wishing to recede, there was not a moment to be lost, and Delvile should immediately be pursued. Cecilia, sensible of the truth of this speech, and once more recollecting the unaffected earnestness with which but an hour or two before, she had herself desired to renounce this engagement, now summoned her utmost courage to her aid, and, after a short, but painful struggle, determined to act consistently with her professions and her character, and, by one great and final effort, to conclude all her doubts, and try to silence even her regret, by completing the triumph of fortitude over inclination. She called, therefore, for pen and ink, and without venturing herself from the room, wrote the following letter. To Mortimer Delvile, Esq.