not even stay to go up to my master, and we have not dared tell him of
his arrival."

This a little revived her; to hear that he had actually been enquiring
for her, at least assured her of his safety from any immediate
violence, and she began to hope she might now possibly meet with him
time enough to explain all that had past in his absence, and occasioned
her seemingly strange and suspicious situation at Belfield's. She
compelled herself, therefore, to summon courage for seeing his father,
since, as he had directed her to the house, she concluded he would
return there to seek her, when he had wandered elsewhere to no purpose.

She then, though with much timidity and reluctance, sent a message to
Mr Delvile to entreat a moment's audience.

An answer was brought her that he saw no company so late at night.

Losing now all dread of his reproaches, in her superior dread of
missing Delvile, she called out earnestly to the man, "Tell him, Sir, I
beseech him not to refuse me! tell him I have something to communicate
that requires his immediate attention!"

The servant obeyed; but soon returning, said his master desired him to
acquaint her he was engaged every moment he stayed in town, and must
positively decline seeing her.

"Go to him again," cried the harassed Cecilia, "assure him I come not
from myself, but by the desire of one he most values: tell him I
entreat but permission to wait an hour in his house, and that I have no
other place in the world whither I can go!"