alarmed and uneasy, he could restrain himself no longer. He spoke to
her with warmth, he represented her conduct as highly dangerous in its
consequence; he said she would but court impostors from every corner of
the kingdom, called Albany a lunatic, whom she should rather avoid than
obey; and insinuated that if a report was spread of her proceedings, a
charity so prodigal, would excite such alarm, that no man would think
even her large and splendid fortune, would ensure him from ruin in
seeking her alliance.

Cecilia heard this exhortation without either terror or impatience, and
answered it with the utmost steadiness. His influence over her mind was
no longer uncontrolled, for though her suspicions were not
strengthened, they had never been removed, and friendship has no foe so
dangerous as distrust! She thanked him, however, for his zeal, but
assured him his apprehensions were groundless, since though she acted
from inclination, she acted not without thought. Her income was very
large, and she was wholly without family or connection; to spend it
merely upon herself would be something still worse than extravagance,
it must result from wilfulness the most inexcusable, as her disposition
was naturally averse to luxury and expence. She might save indeed, but
for whom? not a creature had such a claim upon her; and with regard to
herself, she was so provided for it would be unnecessary. She would
never, she declared, run in debt even for a week, but while her estate
was wholly clear, she would spend it without restriction.

To his hint of any future alliance, she only said that those who
disapproved her conduct, would probably be those she should disapprove
in her turn; should such an event however take place, the retrenching
from that time all her present peculiar expences, would surely, in a
clear u3000 a-year, leave her rich enough for any man, without making