"And pray, Sir," again asked Mrs Charlton, "what was your reason for making the enquiry?"
"Why, ma'am, I had a little favour to ask of Miss Beverley, that made me think I would take the liberty to call."
"And was this time of night, Sir," she returned, "the only one you could chase for that purpose?"
"Why, ma'am, I'll tell you how that was; I did not mean to have called till to-morrow morning; but as I was willing to know if the postilion had given me a right direction, I knocked one soft little knock at the door, thinking you might be gone to bed after your journey, merely to ask if it was the right house; but when the servant told me there was a gentleman with you already, I thought there would be no harm in just stepping for a moment up stairs."
"And what, Sir," said Cecilia, whom mingled shame and vexation had hitherto kept silent, "is your business with me?"
"Why, ma'am, I only just called to give you a direction to a most excellent dog-doctor, as we call him, that lives at the comer of--"
"A dog-doctor, Sir?" repeated Cecilia, "and what have I to do with any such direction?"
"Why you must know, ma'am, I have been in the greatest concern imaginable about that accident which happened to me with the poor little dog, and so--"
"What little dog, Sir?" cried Delvile, who now began to conclude he was not sober, "do you know what you are talking of?"
"Yes, Sir, for it was that very little dog you made me drop out of my arms, by which means he broke his other leg."
"I made you drop him?" cried Delvile, angrily, "I believe, Sir, you had much better call some other time; it does not appear to me that you are in a proper situation for remaining here at present."
"Sir, I shall be gone in an instant," answered Morrice, "I merely wanted to beg the favour of Miss Beverley to tell that young lady that owned the dog, that if she will carry him to this man, I am sure he will make a cure of him."
"Come, Sir," said. Delvile, convinced now of his inebriety, "if you please we will walk away together."
"I don't mean to take you away, Sir," said Morrice, looking very significantly, "for I suppose you have not rode so hard to go so soon; but as to me, I'll only write the direction, and be off."
Delvile, amazed and irritated at so many following specimens of ignorant assurance, would not, in his present eagerness, have scrupled turning him out of the house, had he not thought it imprudent, upon such an occasion, to quarrel with him, and improper, at so late an hour, to be left behind; he therefore only, while he was writing the direction, told Cecilia, in a low voice, that he would get rid of him and return in an instant.