These thoughts, which confusedly, yet forcibly, rushed upon her mind,
brought with them at once an excuse for his conduct, and an alarm for
his danger; "He must think," she cried, "I came to town only to meet Mr
Belfield!" then, opening the chaise-door herself, she jumpt out, and
ran back into Portland-street, too impatient to argue with the
postilion to return with her, and stopt not till she came to Mrs
Belfield's house.

She knocked at the door with violence; Mrs Belfield came to it herself;
"Where," cried she, hastily entering as she spoke, "are the gentlemen?"

"Lack-a-day! ma'am," answered Mrs Belfield, "they are both gone out."

"Gone out?--where to?--which way?"

"I am sure I can't tell, ma'am, no more than you can; but I am sadly
afraid they'll have a quarrel before they've done."

"Oh heaven!" cried Cecilia, who now doubted not a second duel, "tell
me, shew me, which way they went?"

"Why, ma'am, to let you into the secret," answered Mrs Belfield, "only
I beg you'll take no notice of it to my son, but, seeing them so much
out of sorts, I begged the favour of Mr Simkins, as Mr Hobson was gone
out to his club, just to follow them, and see what they were after."

Cecilia was much rejoiced this caution had been taken, and determined
to wait his return. She would have sent for the chaise to follow her;
but Mrs Belfield kept no servant, and the maid of the house was