sight."

And she then went into her carriage.

Cecilia, unfitted to attend her old friend, and unequal to the task of
explaining to her the cruel scene in which she had just been engaged,
then hastened to her own apartment. Her hitherto stifled emotions broke
forth in tears and repinings: her fate was finally determined, and its
determination was not more unhappy than humiliating; she was openly
rejected by the family whose alliance she was known to wish; she was
compelled to refuse the man of her choice, though satisfied his
affections were her own. A misery so peculiar she found hard to
support, and almost bursting with conflicting passions, her heart
alternately swelled from offended pride, and sunk from disappointed
tenderness.



CHAPTER iv.

A PERTURBATION.

Cecelia was still in this tempestuous state, when a message was brought
her that a gentleman was below stairs, who begged to have the honour of
seeing her. She concluded he was Delvile, and the thought of meeting
him merely to communicate what must so bitterly afflict him, redoubled
her distress, and she went down in an agony of perturbation and sorrow.

He met her at the door, where, before he could speak, "Mr Delvile," she
cried, in a hurrying manner, "why will you come? Why will you thus