"Oh madam!" cried Delvile, "for mercy, for humanity, forbear this cruel
supplication!"

"Nay, more than supplication, you have my commands; commands you have
never yet disputed, and misery, ten-fold misery, will follow their
disobedience. Hear me, Mortimer, for I speak prophetically; I know your
heart, I know it to be formed for rectitude and duty, or destined by
their neglect to repentance and horror."

Delvile, struck by these words, turned suddenly from them both, and in
gloomy despondence walked to the other end of the room. Mrs Delvile
perceived the moment of her power, and determined to pursue the blow:
taking, therefore, the hand of Cecilia, while her eyes sparkled with
the animation of reviving hope, "See," she cried, pointing to her son,
"see if I am deceived! can he bear even the suggestion of future
contrition! Think you when it falls upon him, he will support it
better? No; he will sink under it. And you, pure as you are of mind,
and steadfast in principle, what would your chance be of happiness with
a man who never erring till he knew you, could never look at you
without regret, be his fondness what it might?"

"Oh madam," cried the greatly shocked Cecilia, "let him, then, see me
no more!--take, take him all to yourself! forgive, console him! I will
not have the misery of involving him in repentance, nor of incurring
the reproaches of the mother he so much reverences!"

"Exalted creature!" cried Mrs Delvile; "tenderness such as this would
confer honour upon a monarch." Then, calling out exultingly to her son,
"See," she added, "how great a woman can act, when stimulated by