lessen her vexation in thinking of her own. "The generous friend of my
brother," said she, "who, though but a new acquaintance to him, has
courted him in all his sorrows, when every body else forsook him, has
brought him at last into a better way of thinking. He says there is a
gentleman whose son is soon going abroad, who he is almost sure will
like my brother vastly, and in another week, he is to be introduced to
him. And so, if my mother can but reconcile herself to parting with
him, perhaps we may all do well again."

"Your mother," said Cecilia, "when he is gone, will better know the
value of the blessing she has left in her daughter."

"O no, madam, no; she is wrapt up in him, and cares nothing for all
the world besides. It was always so, and we have all of us been used
to it. But we have had a sad scene since you were so kind as to come
last; for when she told him what you had done, he was almost out of
his senses with anger that we had acquainted you with his distress,
and he said it was publishing his misery, and undoing whatever his
friend or himself could do, for it was making him ashamed to appear in
the world, even when his affairs might be better. But I told him again
and again that you had as much sweetness as goodness, and instead of
hurting his reputation, would do him nothing but credit."

"I am sorry," said Cecilia, "Mrs Belfield mentioned the circumstance
at all; it would have been better, for many reasons, that he should
not have heard of it."

"She hoped it would please him," answered Miss Belfield, "however, he
made us both promise we would take no such step in future, for he said
we were not reduced to so much indigence, whatever he was: and that as