Cecilia; Or, Memoirs of an Heiress — Volume 1

by Fanny Burney

  CHAPTER vi

  A BREAKFAST.

  The next morning, during breakfast, a servant acquainted Cecilia thata young gentleman was in the hall, who begged to speak with her. Shedesired he might be admitted; and Mrs Harrel, laughing, asked if sheought not to quit the room; while Mr Arnott, with even more than hisusual gravity, directed his eye towards the door to watch who shouldenter.

  Neither of them, however, received any satisfaction when it was opened,for the gentleman who made his appearance was unknown to both: but greatwas the amazement of Cecilia, though little her emotion, when she saw MrMorrice!

  He came forward with an air of the most profound respect for the companyin general, and obsequiously advancing to Cecilia, made an earnestenquiry into her health after her journey, and hoped she had heard goodnews from her friends in the country.

  Mrs Harrel, naturally concluding both from his visit and behaviour, thathe was an acquaintance of some intimacy, very civilly offered him a seatand some breakfast, which, very frankly, he accepted. But Mr Arnott,who already felt the anxiety of a rising passion which was too full ofveneration to be sanguine, looked at him with uneasiness, and waited hisdeparture with impatience.

  Cecilia began to imagine he had been commissioned to call upon her withsome message from Mr Monckton: for she knew not how to suppose thatmerely and accidentally having spent an hour or two in the same roomwith her, would authorize a visiting acquaintance. Mr Morrice, however,had a faculty the most happy of reconciling his pretensions to hisinclination; and therefore she soon found that the pretence she hadsuggested appeared to him unnecessary. To lead, however, to the subjectfrom which she expected his excuse, she enquired how long he had leftSuffolk?

  "But yesterday noon, ma'am," he answered, "or I should certainly havetaken the liberty to wait upon you before."

  Cecilia, who had only been perplexing herself to devise some reason whyhe came at all, now looked at him with a grave surprize, which wouldtotally have abashed a man whose courage had been less, or whoseexpectations had been greater; but Mr Morrice, though he had hazardedevery danger upon the slightest chance of hope, knew too well theweakness of his claims to be confident of success, and had been toofamiliar with rebuffs to be much hurt by receiving them. He mightpossibly have something to gain, but he knew he had nothing to lose.

  "I had the pleasure," he continued, "to leave all our friends well,except poor Lady Margaret, and she has had an attack of the asthma;yet she would not have a physician, though Mr Monckton would fain havepersuaded her: however, I believe the old lady knows better things." Andhe looked archly at Cecilia: but perceiving that the insinuation gaveher nothing but disgust, he changed his tone, and added, "It is amazinghow well they live together; nobody would imagine the disparity in theiryears. Poor old lady! Mr Monckton will really have a great loss of herwhen she dies."

  "A loss of her!" repeated Mrs Harrel, "I am sure she is an exceedingill-natured old woman. When I lived at Bury, I was always frightened outof my wits at the sight of her."

  "Why indeed, ma'am," said Morrice, "I must own her appearance is ratheragainst her: I had myself a great aversion to her at first sight. Butthe house is chearful,--very chearful; I like to spend a few days therenow and then of all things. Miss Bennet, too, is agreeable enough,and----"

  "Miss Bennet agreeable!" cried Mrs Harrel, "I think she's the mostodious creature I ever knew in my life; a nasty, spiteful old maid!"

  "Why indeed, ma'am, as you say," answered Morrice, "she is not veryyoung; and as to her temper, I confess I know very little about it; andMr Monckton is likely enough to try it, for he is pretty severe."

  "Mr Monckton," cried Cecilia, extremely provoked at hearing him censuredby a man she thought highly honoured in being permitted to approachhim, "whenever _I_ have been his guest, has merited from me nothing butpraise and gratitude."

  "O," cried Morrice, eagerly, "there is not a more worthy man in theworld! he has so much wit, so much politeness! I don't know a morecharming man anywhere than my friend Mr Monckton." Cecilia nowperceiving that the opinions of her new acquaintance were as pliantas his bows, determined to pay him no further attention, and hoped bysitting silent to force from him the business of his visit, if anyhe had, or if, as she now suspected, he had none, to weary him into aretreat.

  But this plan, though it would have succeeded with herself, failed withMr Morrice, who to a stock of good humour that made him always ready tooblige others, added an equal portion of insensibility that hardenedhim against all indignity. Finding, therefore, that Cecilia, to whomhis visit was intended, seemed already satisfied with its length, heprudently forbore to torment her; but perceiving that the lady of thehouse was more accessible, he quickly made a transfer of his attention,and addressed his discourse to her with as much pleasure as if his onlyview had been to see her, and as much ease as if he had known her allhis life.

  With Mrs Harrel this conduct was not injudicious; she was pleased withhis assiduity, amused with his vivacity, and sufficiently satisfied withhis understanding. They conversed, therefore, upon pretty equal terms,and neither of them were yet tired, when they were interrupted by MrHarrel, who came into the room, to ask if they had seen or heard anything of Sir Robert Floyer?

  "No," answered Mrs Harrel, "nothing at all."

  "I wish he was hanged," returned he, "for he has kept me waiting thishour. He made me promise not to ride out till he called and now he'llstay till the morning is over."

  "Pray where does he live, sir?" cried Morrice, starting from his seat.

  "In Cavendish Square, sir," answered Mr Harrel, looking at him with muchsurprise.

  Not a word more said Morrice, but scampered out of the room.

  "Pray who is this Genius?" cried Mr Harrel, "and what has he run awayfor?"

  "Upon my word I know nothing at all of him," said Mrs Harrel; "he is avisitor of Miss Beverley's."

  "And I, too," said Cecilia, "might almost equally disclaim all knowledgeof him; for though I once saw, I never was introduced to him."

  She then began a relation of her meeting him at Mr Monckton's house, andhad hardly concluded it, before again, and quite out of breath, he madehis appearance.

  "Sir Robert Floyer, sir," said he to Mr Harrel, "will be here in twominutes."

  "I hope, sir," said Mr Harrel, "you have not given yourself the troubleof going to him?"

  "No, sir, it has given me nothing but pleasure; a run these coldmornings is the thing I like best."

  "Sir, you are extremely good," said Mr Harrel, "but I had not the leastintention of your taking such a walk upon my account."

  He then begged him to be seated, to rest himself, and to take somerefreshment; which civilities he received without scruple.

  "But, Miss Beverley," said Mr Harrel, turning suddenly to Cecilia, "youdon't tell me what you think of my friend?"

  "What friend, sir?"

  "Why, Sir Robert Floyer; I observed he never quitted you a moment whilehe stayed at Mrs Mears."

  "His stay, however, was too short," said Cecilia, "to allow me to form afair opinion of him."

  "But perhaps," cried Morrice, "it was long enough to allow you to form a_foul_ one."

  Cecilia could not forbear laughing to hear the truth thus accidentallyblundered out; but Mr Harrel, looking very little pleased, said, "Surelyyou can find no fault with him? he is one of the most fashionable men Iknow."

  "My finding fault with him then," said Cecilia, "will only farther provewhat I believe is already pretty evident, that I am yet a novice in theart of admiration."

  Mr Arnott, animating at this speech, glided behind her chair, and said,"I knew you could not like him! I knew it from the turn of your mind;--Iknew it even from your countenance!"

  Soon after, Sir Robert Floyer arrived.

  "You are a pretty fellow, a'n't you," cried Mr Harrel, "to keep mewaiting so long."

  "I could not come a moment sooner; I hardly expected to get here at all,for my horse has been so confounded resty I could not tell how to gethim
along."

  "Do you come on horseback through the streets, Sir Robert?" asked MrsHarrel.

  "Sometimes; when I am lazy. But what the d---l is the matter with him Idon't know; he has started at everything. I suspect there has been somefoul play with him."

  "Is he at the door, sir?" cried Morrice.

  "Yes," answered Sir Robert.

  "Then I'll tell you what's the matter with him in a minute;" and awayagain ran Morrice.

  "What time did you get off last night, Harrel?" said Sir Robert.

  "Not very early; but you were too much engaged to miss me. By the way,"lowering his voice, "what do you think I lost?"

  "I can't tell indeed, but I know what I gained: I have not had such arun of luck this winter."

  They then went up to a window to carry on their enquiries moreprivately.

  At the words _what do you think I lost_, Cecilia, half starting, casther eyes uneasily upon Mrs Harrel, but perceived not the least changein her countenance. Mr Arnott, however, seemed as little pleased asherself, and from a similar sensation looked anxiously at his sister.

  Morrice now returning, called out, "He's had a fall, I assure you!"

  "Curse him!" cried Sir Robert, "what shall I do now? he cost me thed---l and all of money, and I have not had him a twelvemonth. Can youlend me a horse for this morning, Harrel?"

  "No, I have not one that will do for you. You must send to Astley."

  "Who can I send? John must take care of this."

  "I'll go, sir," cried Morrice, "if you'll give me the commission."

  "By no means, sir," said Sir Robert, "I can't think of giving you suchan office."

  "It is the thing in the world I like best," answered he; "I understandhorses, and had rather go to Astley's than any where."

  The matter was now settled in a few minutes, and having received hisdirections, and an invitation to dinner, Morrice danced off, with aheart yet lighter than his heels.

  "Why, Miss Beverley," said Mr Harrel, "this friend of yours is the mostobliging gentleman I ever met with; there was no avoiding asking him todinner."

  "Remember, however," said Cecilia, who was involuntarily diverted at thesuccessful officiousness of her new acquaintance, "that if you receivehim henceforth as your guest, he obtains admission through his ownmerits, and not through my interest."

  At dinner, Morrice, who failed not to accept the invitation of MrHarrel, was the gayest, and indeed the happiest man in the company: theeffort he had made to fasten himself upon Cecilia as an acquaintance,had not, it is true, from herself met with much encouragement; but heknew the chances were against him when he made the trial, and thereforethe prospect of gaining admission into such a house as Mr Harrel's,was not only sufficient to make amends for what scarcely amounted to adisappointment, but a subject of serious comfort from the credit ofthe connection, and of internal exultation at his own management andaddress.

  In the evening, the ladies, as usual, went to a private assembly, and,as usual, were attended to it by Mr Arnott. The other gentlemen hadengagements elsewhere.