till every poffible argument upon them is exhaufted? Tranquilize, I conjure you, your agitated fpirits, and if the trueft tenderness, the moft animated efteem, and the gratefulleft admiration, can foften your future. cares, and infure your future peace, every anniversary of this day will recompenfe my Cecilia for every pang the now fuffers!"

Cecilia, half foothed and half afhamed, finding he had in fact nothing new to fay or to object, compelled herself to rife, and, penetrated by his folicitations, endeavoured to compofe her mind, and promised to follow

him.

He would not truft her, however, from his fight, but feizing the very inftant of her renewed confent, he difmiffed the chairs, and ordering a hackney - coach, preferred any risk to that of her again wavering, and infifted upon accompanying her in it him

felf.

Cecilia had now scarce time to breathe, before the found herself at the porch of-church. Delvile hurried her out of the carriage, and then offered his arm to Mrs. Charlton.

Not

a word was fpoken by any of the party till they went into the veftry, where Delvile ordered Cecilia a glafs of water, and having haftily made his compliments to the clergyman, gave her hand to Mr. Singleton, who led her to the altar,

The

The ceremony was now begun; and Cecilia, finding herself past all power of re-tracting, foon called her thoughts from wishing it, and turned her whole attention to the awful fervice; to which, though fhe liftened with reverence, her full fatisfaction in the object of her vows, made her liften without terror. But when the priest came to that folemn adjuration, If any man can fhew any just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, a confcious tear ftole into her eye, and a figh efcaped from Delvile that went to her heart: but, when the priest concluded the exhortation with let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace, a female voice at fome diftance, called out in fhrill accents, "I do!"

The ceremony was inftantly ftopt. The aftonished priest immediately fhut up the book to regard the intended bride and bridegroom; Delvile ftarted with amazement to fee whence the found proceeded, and Ceci-lia, aghaft, and ftruck with horror, faintly fhrieked, and caught hold of Mrs. Charl

ton.

The confternation was general, and general was the filence, though all of one accord turned round towards the place whence the voice iffued: a female form at the fame moment was seen rufhing from a pew, who glided out of the church with the quicknefs. of lightning.

E 6

Not

Not a word was yet uttered, every one feemed rooted to the fpot on which he ftood, and regarding in mute wonder the place this form had croffed.

Delvile at length exclaimed "What can this mean?"

"Did you not know the woman, Sir?" faid the clergyman.

"No, Sir, I did not even fee her." "Nor you, madam?" faid he, addreffing Cecilia.

No, Sir," fhe answered in a voice that fcarce articulated the two fyllables, and changing colour fo frequently, that Delvile, apprehenfive fhe would faint, flew to her, calling out "Let me fupport you!"

She turned from him haftily, and still holding by Mrs. Charlton, moved away from the altar.

"Whither," cried Delvile, fearfully following her, "whither are you going?"

She made not any anfwer; but ftill, though tottering as much from emotion as Mrs. Charlton from infirmity, fhe walked on.

Why did you ftop the ceremony, Sir?" cried Delvile, impatiently speaking to the clergyman.

"No ceremony, Sir," he returned, "could proceed with fuch an interruption."

"It has been wholly accidental," cried he, "for we neither of us know the woman, who could not have any right or authority for the

pro

1

prohibition." Then yet more anxiously purfuing Cecilia, " why," he continued, "do you thus move off? Why leave the ceremony unfinished? Mrs. Charlton, what is it you are about?-Cecilia, I beseech you return, and let the fervice go on."

-

Cecilia, making a motion with her hand to forbid his following her, ftill filently proceeded, though drawing along with equal difficulty Mrs. Charlton and herself.

"This is infupportable!" cried Delvile, with vehemence," turn, I conjure you! my Cecilia!-my wife-why is it you thus abandon me?-Turn, I implore you, and receive my eternal vows!-Mrs. Charlton, bring her back, Cecilia, you must not

go!".

He now attempted to take her hand, but fhrinking from his touch, in an emphatic, but low voice, the faid "Yes, Sir, I muft!-an she interdiction fuch as this!-for the world could I not brave it!"

She then made an effort to fomewhat quicken her pace.

"Where," cried Delvile, half frantic, "where is this infamous woman? This wretch who has thus wantonly deftroyed me !”

And he rushed out of the church in pursuit of her..

The clergyman and Mr. Singleton, who had hitherto been wondering fpectators, came

now

now to offer their affiftance to Cecilia. She declined any help for herfelf, but gladly accepted their fervices for Mrs. Charleton, who, thunderstruck by all that had paft, feemed almoft robbed of her faculties. Mr. Singleton propofed calling a hackney coach, the confented, and they stopt for it at the church porch.

The clergyman now began to enquire of the pew-opener, what fhe knew of the woman, who she was, and how he had got into the church? She knew of her, fhe answered, nothing, but that he had come in to early prayers, and fhe fuppofed fhe had hid herfelf in a pew when they were over, as fhe had thought the church entirely empty.

A hackney coach now drew up, and while the gentlemen were affifting Mrs. Charltoninto it, Delvile returned.

"I have purfued and enquired," cried he,. "in vain, I can neither difcover nor hear of her. But what is all this? Whither are you going? What does this coach do here?Mrs. Charlton, why do you get into it?-Cecilia, what are you doing?”

Cecilia turned away from him in filence. The fhock fhe had received, took from her all power of fpeech, while amazement and terror deprived her even of relief from tears. She believed Delvile to blame, though fhe knew not in what, but the obscurity of her

fears