CHAPTER iv
AN EVASION.
Cecilia now for about a fortnight passed her time without incident;the Harrels continued their accustomed dissipation, Sir Robert Floyer,without even seeking a private conference, persevered in his attentions,and Mr Arnott, though still silent and humble, seemed only to liveby the pleasure of beholding her. She spent two whole days with MrsDelvile, both of which served to confirm her admiration of that lady andof her son; and she joined the parties of the Harrels, or stayed quietlyat home, according to her spirits and inclinations: while she wasvisited by Mr Monckton often enough to satisfy him with her proceedings,yet too seldom to betray either to herself or to the world any suspicionof his designs.
Her L200 pounds however, which was to have been returned at the end ifthe first week, though a fortnight was now elapsed, had not even beenmentioned; she began to grow very impatient, but not knowing what courseto pursue, and wanting courage to remind Mr Harrel of his promise, shestill waited the performance of it without speaking.
At this time, preparations were making in the family for removing toViolet-bank to spend the Easter holidays: but Cecilia, who was too muchgrieved at such perpetual encrease of unnecessary expences to haveany enjoyment in new prospects of entertainment, had at present somebusiness of her own which gave her full employment.
The poor carpenter, whose family she had taken under her protection, wasjust dead, and, as soon as the last duties had been paid him, she sentfor his widow, and after trying to console her for the loss she hadsuffered, assured her she was immediately ready to fulfil the engagementinto which she had entered, of assisting her to undertake some bettermethod of procuring a livelihood; and therefore desired to know in whatmanner she could serve her, and what she thought herself able to do.
The good woman, pouring forth thanks and praises innumerable, answeredthat she had a Cousin, who had offered, for a certain premium, to takeher into partnership in a small haberdasher's shop. "But then, madam,"continued she, "it's quite morally impossible I should raise such asum, or else, to be sure, such a shop as that, now I am grown so poorly,would be quite a heaven upon earth to me: for my strength, madam, isalmost all gone away, and when I do any hard work, it's quite a piteoussight to see me, for I am all in a tremble after it, just as if I hadan ague, and yet all the time my hands, madam, will be burning like acoal!"
"You have indeed been overworked," said Cecilia, "and it is high timeyour feeble frame should have some rest. What is the sum your cousindemands?"
"O madam, more than I should be able to get together in all my life!for earn what I will, it goes as fast as it cones, because there's manymouths, and small pay, and two of the little ones that can't help atall;--and there's no Billy, madam, to work for us now!"
"But tell me, what is the sum?"
"Sixty pound, madam."
"You shall have it!" cried the generous Cecilia, "if the situation willmake you happy, I will give it you myself."
The poor woman wept her thanks, and was long before she couldsufficiently compose herself to answer the further questions of Cecilia,who next enquired what could be done with the children? Mrs Hill,however, hitherto hopeless of such a provision for herself, had forthem formed no plan. She told her, therefore, to go to her cousin, andconsult upon this subject, as well as to make preparations for her ownremoval.
The arrangement of this business now became her favourite occupation.She went herself to the shop, which was a very small one in Fetter-lane,and spoke with Mrs Roberts, the cousin; who agreed to take the eldestgirl, now sixteen years of age, by way of helper; but said she had roomfor no other: however, upon Cecilia's offering to raise the premium, sheconsented that the two little children should also live in the house,where they might be under the care of their mother and sister.
There were still two others to be disposed of; but as no immediatemethod of providing for them occurred to Cecilia, she determined, forthe present, to place them in some cheap school, where they might betaught plain work, which could not but prove a useful qualification forwhatever sort of business they might hereafter attempt.
Her plan was to bestow upon Mrs Hill and her children L100 by way ofputting them all into a decent way of living; and, then, from time totime, to make them such small presents as their future exigencies orchanges of situation might require.
Now, therefore, payment from Mr Harrel became immediately necessary, forshe had only L50 of the L600 she had taken up in her own possession, andher customary allowance was already so appropriated that she could makefrom it no considerable deduction.
There is something in the sight of laborious indigence so affecting andso respectable, that it renders dissipation peculiarly contemptible,and doubles the odium of extravagance: every time Cecilia saw this poorfamily, her aversion to the conduct and the principles of Mr Harrelencreased, while her delicacy of shocking or shaming him diminished, andshe soon acquired for them what she had failed to acquire for herself,the spirit and resolution to claim her debt.
One morning, therefore, as he was quitting the breakfast room, shehastily arose, and following, begged to have a moment's discourse withhim. They went together to the library, and after some apologies, andmuch hesitation, she told him she fancied he had forgotten the L200which she had lent him.
"The L200," cried he; "O, ay, true!--I protest it had escaped me. Well,but you don't want it immediately?"
"Indeed I do, if you can conveniently spare it."
"O yes, certainly!--without the least doubt!--Though now I think ofit--it's extremely unlucky, but really just at this time--why did notyou put me in mind of it before?"
"I hoped you would have remembered it yourself."
"I could have paid you two days ago extremely well--however, you shallcertainly have it very soon, that you may depend upon, and a day or twocan make no great difference to you."
He then wished her good morning, and left her.
Cecilia, very much provoked, regretted that she had ever lent it atall, and determined for the future strictly to follow the advice of Mr.Monckton in trusting him no more.
Two or three days passed on, but still no notice was taken either of thepayment or of the debt. She then resolved to renew her application, andbe more serious and more urgent with him; but she found, to her uttersurprise, this was not in her power, and that though she lived underthe same roof with him, she had no opportunity to enforce her claim. Mr.Harrel, whenever she desired to speak with him, protested he was somuch hurried he had not a moment to spare: and even when, tired of hisexcuses, she pursued him out of the room, he only quickened his speed,smiling, however, and bowing, and calling out "I am vastly sorry, butI am so late now I cannot stop an instant; however, as soon as I comeback, I shall be wholly at your command."
When he came back, however, Sir Robert Floyer, or some other gentleman,was sure to be with him, and the difficulties of obtaining an audiencewere sure to be encreased. And by this method, which he constantlypractised, of avoiding any private conversation, he frustrated all herschemes of remonstrating upon his delay, since her resentment, howevergreat, could never urge her to the indelicacy of dunning him in presenceof a third person.
She was now much perplext herself how to put into execution her plansfor the Hills: she knew it would be as vain to apply for money to Mr.Briggs, as for payment to Mr. Harrel. Her word, however, had been given,and her word she held sacred: she resolved, therefore, for the present,to bestow upon them the 50 pounds she still retained, and, if the restshould be necessary before she became of age, to spare it, howeverinconveniently, from her private allowance, which, by the will of heruncle, was 500 pounds a year, 250 pounds of which Mr Harrel received forher board and accommodations.
Having settled this matter in her own mind, she went to the lodging ofMrs Hill, in order to conclude the affair. She found her and all herchildren, except the youngest, hard at work, and their honest industryso much strengthened her compassion, that her wishes for serving themgrew every instant more liberal.
br /> Mrs Hill readily undertook to make her cousin accept half the premiumfor the present, which would suffice to fix her, with three of herchildren, in the shop: Cecilia then went with her to Fetter-lane,and there, drawing up herself an agreement for their entering intopartnership, she made each of them sign it and take a copy, and kept athird in her own possession: after which, she gave a promissory note toMrs Roberts for the rest of the money.
She presented Mrs Hill, also, with 10 pounds to clothe them alldecently, and enable her to send two of the children to school; andassured her that she would herself pay for their board and instruction,till she should be established in her business, and have power to savemoney for that purpose.
She then put herself into a chair to return home, followed by theprayers and blessings of the whole family.