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Her next effort was to remonstrate with Mr Harrel himself; but this scheme was not more easy of execution than the other, since Mr Harrel, suspecting she ain to dun him for her money, avoided all separate conversation with her so skilfully, that she could not find a moment to make him hear her

She then resolved to apply to his lady; but here her success was not better: Mrs Harrel, dreading another lecture upon economy, peevishly answered to her request of a conference, that she was not very well, and could not talk gravely

Cecilia, justly offended with them all, had now no resource but in Mr Monckton, whose counsel for effectually dis the baronet, she determined to solicit by the first opportunity

The moment, therefore, that she next saw him, she acquainted him with the speeches of Sir Robert and the behaviour of Mr Harrel

There needed no rhetoric to point out to Mr Monckton the danger of suffering such expectations, or the impropriety of her present situation: he was struck with both in a manner the most forcible, and spared not for warmth of expression to alarm her delicacy, or add to her displeasure But chiefly he was exasperated against Mr Harrel, assuring her there could be no doubt but that he had some particular interest in so strenuously and artfully supporting the pretensions of Sir Robert Cecilia endeavoured to refute this opinion, which she regarded as proceeding rather from prejudice than justice; but when she mentioned that the baronet was invited to spent the Easter holidays at Violet-Bank, he represented with such energy the consequent constructions of the world, as well as the unavoidable encouragement such intimacy would iest to her some way of deliverance

"There is only one;" answered he, "you o to Violet Bank yourself If, after what has passed, you are included in the saive a sanction yourself to the reports already circulated of your engagements with I and the effect of such a sanction will be e that a connection is believed in the world, frequently, if not generally, leads by irees to its real ratification"

Cecilia, with the utmost alacrity, proht be the opposition of Mr Harrel He quitted her, therefore, with unusual satisfaction, happy in his power over herwith secret rapture the felicity he had in reserve fro the absence of the fa known her intention of giving up the Easter party, which was to take place in two days' ti the holidays in tohen Mr Harrel sauntered into the breakfast rooive some commission to his lady