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But here the opposition of Cecilia was too earnest for any hope that it s, her repugnance to such an habitation was strongly, though silently increased, by her secret inclination to return to St Jaible host," said Mr Monckton, after listening to her objections, "but merely as oneat present would but be ill thought of in the world"

"Ill thought of, Sir? Why so?"

"Because he has a son; for whose sake alone it would be universally concluded you changed your abode: and to give any pretence for such a report, would by no means accord with the usual delicacy of your conduct"

Cecilia was confounded by this speech: the truth of the charge she felt, and the probability of the censure she did not dare dispute

He then gave her a thousand exhortations to beware of the schemes and artifices of Mr Harrel, which he foresaould be innumerable He told her, too, that with respect to Sir Robert Floyer, he thought she had better suffer the report to subside of itself, which in tiive to it so e to the Baronet, froht pretend to infer that hitherto she had been wavering, or she would have sent to him sooner

But the real motive of this advice was, that as he found Sir Robert by no enerally circulated and credited, ht keep off other pretenders, and inti Delvile

The purport for which Cecilia had wished this conference was, however, wholly unanswered; Mr Monckton, enraged by the conduct of Mr Harrel, refused to talk of his affairs, and could only mention hiive up the hope of an a now no other person to whom she could apply, determined to consult with Mr Arnott, whose affection for his sister would give hiht somewhat supply the place of superior abilities There was, indeed, no ti the projected atte reotten; every thing went on as usual, no new regulations were ht of hereafter ad storm, no trace of it was visible in the serenity of the present calm