dared venture at no professions; yet, how either to support, or dispute
her compliance, she dreaded to think.

"I come to you, then," Mrs Delvile solemnly resumed, "in the name of Mr
Delvile, and in the name of our whole family; a family as ancient as it
is honourable, as honourable as it is ancient. Consider me as its
representative, and hear in me its common voice, common opinion, and
common address.

"My son, the supporter of our house, the sole guardian of its name, and
the heir of our united fortunes, has selected you, we know, for the
lady of his choice, and so fondly has, fixed upon you his affections,
that he is ready to relinquish us all in preference to subduing them.
To yourself alone, then, can we apply, and I come to you--"

"O hold, madam, hold!" interrupted Cecilia, whose courage now revived
from resentment, "I know, what you would say; you come to tell me of
your disdain; you come to reproach my presumption, and to kill me with
your contempt! There is little occasion for such a step; I am
depressed, I am self-condemned already; spare me, therefore, this
insupportable humiliation, wound me not with your scorn, oppress me not
with your superiority! I aim at no competition, I attempt no
vindication, I acknowledge my own littleness as readily as you can
despise it, and nothing but indignity could urge me to defend it!"

"Believe me," said Mrs Delvile, "I meant not to hurt or offend you, and
I am sorry if I have appeared to you either arrogant or assuming. The
peculiar and perilous situation of my family has perhaps betrayed me
into offensive expressions, and made me guilty myself of an ostentation
which in others has often disgusted me. Ill, indeed, can we any of us