“You will find all this, sir, end in nothing.” “That, madam, as I said before, remains to be proved. If a young lady at eight o'clock in the morning, is seen,--and she was seen, going into a church with a young gentleman, and one female friend; and is afterwards observed to come out of it, followed by a clergyman and another person, supposed to have officiated as father, and is seen get into a coach with same young gentleman, and same female friend, why the circumstances are pretty strong!--” “They may seem so, Sir; but all conclusions drawn from them will be erroneous. I was not married then, upon my honour!” “We have little, madam, to do with professions; the circumstances are strong enough to bear a trial, and--” “A trial!--” “We have traced, madam, many witnesses able to stand to divers particulars; and eight months share of such an estate as this, is well worth a little trouble.” “I am amazed, sir! surely Mr Eggleston never desired you to make use of this language to me?” “Mr Eggleston, madam, has behaved very honourably; though he knew the whole affair so long ago, he was persuaded Mr Delvile had private reasons for a short concealment; and expecting every day when they would be cleared up by his taking your name, he never interfered: but being now informed he set out last week for the continent, he has been advised by his friends to claim his rights.” “That claim, sir, he need not fear will be satisfied; and without any occasion for threats of enquiries or law suits.” “The truth, madam, is this; Mr Eggleston is at present in a little difficulty about some money matters, which makes it a point with him of some consequence to have the affair settled speedily: unless you could conveniently compromise the matter, by advancing a particular sum, till it suits you to refund the whole that is due to him, and quit the premises.” “Nothing, sir, is due to him! at least, nothing worth mentioning. I shall enter into no terms, for I have no compromise to make. As to the premises, I will quit them with all the expedition in my power.” “You will do well, madam; for the truth is, it will not be convenient to him to wait much longer.” He then went away. “When, next,” cried Cecilia, “shall I again be weak, vain, blind enough to form any plan with a hope of secresy? or enter, with _any_ hope, into a clandestine scheme! betrayed by those I have trusted, discovered by those I have not thought of, exposed to the cruellest alarms, and defenceless from the most shocking attacks!--Such has been the life I have led since the moment I first consented to a private engagement!--Ah Delvile! your mother, in her tenderness, forgot her dignity, or she would not have concurred in an action which to such disgrace made me liable!” CHAPTER iv. A DELIBERATION.