Who then at last, thought Cecilia, are half so much the slaves of the world as the gay and the dissipated? Those who work for hire, have at least their hours of rest, those who labour for subsistence are at liberty when subsistence is procured; but those who toil to please the vain and the idle, undertake a task which can never be finished, however scrupulously all private peace, and all internal comfort, may be sacrificed in reality to the folly of saving appearances! Losing, however, the motive for which she had given up her own engagement, she now sent for her chair, in order to spend an hour or two with Mrs Delvile. The servants, as they conducted her up stairs, said they would call their lady; and in entering the drawing-room she saw, reading and alone, young Delvile. He seemed much surprised, but received her with the utmost respect, apologizing for the absence of his mother, whom he said had understood she was not to see her till the next day, and had left him to write letters now, that she might then be at liberty. Cecilia in return made excuses for her seeming inconsistency; after which, for some time, all conversation dropt. The silence was at length broken by young Delvile's saying “Mr Belfield's merit has not been thrown away upon Lord Vannelt; he has heard an excellent character of him from all his former acquaintance, and is now fitting up an apartment for him in his own house till his son begins his tour.” Cecilia said she was very happy in hearing such intelligence; and then again they were both silent. “You have seen,” said young Delvile, after this second pause, “Mr Belfield's sister?” Cecilia, not without changing colour, answered “Yes, Sir.” “She is very amiable,” he continued, “too amiable, indeed, for her situation, since her relations, her brother alone excepted, are all utterly unworthy of her.” He stopt; but Cecilia made no answer, and he presently added “Perhaps you do not think her amiable?--you may have seen more of her, and know something to her disadvantage?” “O no!” cried Cecilia, with a forced alacrity, “but only I was thinking that--did you say you knew all her relations?” “No,” he answered, “but when I have been with Mr Belfield, some of them have called upon him.” Again they were both silent; and then Cecilia, ashamed of her apparent backwardness to give praise, compelled herself to say, “Miss Belfield is indeed a very sweet girl, and I wish--” she stopt, not well knowing herself what she meant to add. “I have been greatly pleased,” said he, after waiting some time to hear if she would finish her speech, “by being informed of your goodness to her, and I think she seems equally to require and to deserve it. I doubt not you will extend it to her when she is deprived of her brother, for then will be the time that by doing her most service, it will reflect on yourself most honour.”