"I had business another way. I came hither."

"Directly?"

"No; but soon."

"Where did you go first?"

"My Cecilia, it is now you must summon your fortitude: I left my father
without an explanation on my part;--but not till, in his rage of
asserting his authority, he had unwarily named his informant."

"Well!"

"That informant--the most deceitful of men!--was your long pretended
friend, Mr Monckton!"

"So I feared!" said Cecilia, whose blood now ran cold through her veins
with sudden and new apprehensions.

"I rode to the Grove, on hack-horses, and on a full gallop the whole
way. I got to him early in the evening. I was shewn into his library. I
told him my errand.--You look pale, my love? You are not well?--"

Cecilia, too sick for speech, leant her head upon a table. Delvile was
going to call for help; but she put her hand upon his arm to stop him,
and, perceiving she was only mentally affected, he rested, and
endeavoured by every possible means to revive her.

After a while, she again raised her head, faintly saying, "I am sorry I