Cecilia, whose thoughts had been wholly employed upon what would pass at her approaching meeting with Delvile, was so entirely unprepared for this question, that she could make to it no manner of answer, till Mr Gosport, in a tone of some surprise, repeated it, and then, not without hesitation, she said, “I have some business, Sir, in London,--pray how long have you been in the country?” “Business, have you?” cried he, struck by her evasion; “and pray what can you and business have in common?” “More than you may imagine,” answered she, with greater steadiness; “and perhaps before long I may even have enough to teach me the enjoyment of leisure.” “Why you don't pretend to play my Lady Notable, and become your own steward?” “And what can I do better?” “What? Why seek one ready made to take the trouble off your hands. There are such creatures to be found, I promise you; beasts of burthen, who will freely undertake the management of your estate, for no other reward than the trifling one of possessing it. Can you no where meet with such an animal?” “I don't know,” answered she, laughing, “I have not been looking out.” “And have none such made application to you?” “Why no,--I believe not.” “Fie, fie! no register-office keeper has been pestered with more claimants. You know they assault you by dozens.” “You must pardon me, indeed, I know not any such thing.” “You know, then, why they do not, and that is much the same.” “I may conjecture why, at least; the place, I suppose, is not worth the service.” “No, no; the place, they conclude, is already seized, and the fee--simple of the estate is the heart of the owner. Is it not so?” “The heart of the owner,” answered she, a little confused, “may, indeed, be simple, but not, perhaps, so easily seized as you imagine.” “Have you, then, wisely saved it from a storm, by a generous surrender? you have been, indeed, in an excellent school for the study both of attack and defence; Delvile-Castle is a fortress which, even in ruins, proves its strength by its antiquity; and it teaches, also, an admirable lesson, by displaying the dangerous, the infallible power of time, which defies all might, and undermines all strength; which breaks down every barrier, and shews nothing endurable but itself.” Then looking at her with an arch earnestness, “I think,” he added, “you made a long visit there; did this observation never occur to you? did you never perceive, never feel, rather, the insidious properties of time?” “Yes, certainly,” answered she, alarmed at the very mention of Delvile Castle, yet affecting to understand literally what was said metaphorically, “the havoc of time upon the place could not fail striking me.” “And was its havoc,” said he, yet more archly, “merely external? is all within safe? sound and firm? and did the length of your residence shew its power by no new mischief?”