attorney."

Cecilia's distress and confusion were now unspeakable; she knew not
what to own or deny, she could not conjecture how she had been
betrayed, and she had never made the smallest preparation against such
an attack.

"Mr Eggleston, madam," he continued, "has been pretty credibly informed
that you are actually married: he is very desirous, therefore, to know
what are your intentions, for your continuing to be called _Miss_
Beverley, as if still single, leaves him quite in the dark: but, as he
is so deeply concerned in the affair, he expects, as a lady of honour,
you will deal with him without prevarication."

"This demand, sir," said Cecilia, stammering, "is so extremely--so--so
little expected--"

"The way, madam, in these cases, is to keep pretty closely to the
point; are you married or are you not?"

Cecilia, quite confounded, made no answer: to disavow her marriage,
when thus formally called upon, was every way unjustifiable; to
acknowledge it in her present situation, would involve her in
difficulties innumerable.

"This is not, madam, a slight thing; Mr Eggleston has a large family
and a small fortune, and that, into the bargain, very much encumbered;
it cannot, therefore, be expected that he will knowingly connive at
cheating himself, by submitting to your being actually married, and
still enjoying your estate though your husband does not take your