should I be tempted to repine at what I have to bear, I will think of
this heroick girl and blush!

Mrs Harrel now broke in upon them, eager to be informed of the truth or
falsehood of the reports which were buzzed throughout the house.
Cecilia briefly related to them both the state of her affairs,
earnestly expressing her concern at the abrupt separation which must
take place, and for which she had been unable to prepare them, as the
circumstances which led to it had been wholly unforeseen by herself.

Mrs Harrel listened to the account with much curiosity and surprize;
but Henrietta wept incessantly in hearing it: the object of a passion
ardent as it was romantic, lost to her past recovery; torn herself,
probably for ever, from the best friend she had in the world; and
obliged to return thus suddenly to an home she detested,--Henrietta
possessed not the fortitude to hear evils such as these, which, to her
inexperienced heart, appeared the severest that could be inflicted.

This conversation over, Cecilia sent for her Steward, and desired him,
with the utmost expedition, to call in all her bills, and instantly to
go round to her tenants within twenty miles, and gather in, from those
who were able to pay, the arrears now due to her; charging him,
however, upon no account, to be urgent with such as seemed distressed.

The bills she had to pay were collected without difficulty; she never
owed much, and creditors are seldom hard of access; but the money she
hoped to receive fell very short of her expectations, for the
indulgence she had shewn to her tenants had ill prepared them for so
sudden a demand.