nd good-humour, his countenance gradually
contracted itself into a representation of severity and care, he dropped
all his amusements and the companions of his pleasure, and turned his
whole attention to the minister, at whose levees he never failed to
appear.

While he thus laboured in the wheel of dependence, with all that
mortification which a youth of his pride and sensibility may be supposed
to feel from such a disagreeable necessity, he one day heard himself
called by name, as he crossed the park; and, turning, perceived the wife
of Captain Gauntlet, with another lady. He no sooner recognized the kind
Sophy, than he accosted her with his wonted civility and friendship;
but his former sprightly air was metamorphosed into such austerity, or
rather dejection of feature, that she could scarce believe her own eyes,
and, in her astonishment, "Is it possible," said she, "that the gay Mr.
Pickle should be so much altered in such a short space of time!" He made
no other reply to this exclamation, but by a languid smile; and asked
how long she had been in town; observing, that he would have paid his
compliments to her at her own lodgings, had he been favoured with
the least intimation of her arrival. After having thanked him for his
politeness, she told him, it was not owing to any abatement of her
friendship and esteem for him, that she had omitted to give him that
notice; but his abrupt departure from Windsor, and the manner in which
he quitted Mr. Gauntlet, had given her just grounds to believe that they
had incurred his displeasure; which suspicion was reinforced by his long
silence and neglect from that period to the present time. She observed
it was still farther confirmed, by his forbearing to inquire for Emilia
and her brother: "judge, then," said she, "if I had any reason to
believe that you would be pleased to hear that I was in town. However,
I will not detain you at present, because you seem to be engaged about
some particular business; but, if you will favour me with your company
at breakfast to-morrow, I shall be much pleased, and honoured to boot,
by the visit." So saying, she gave him a direction to her lodgings;
and he took his leave, with a faithful promise of seeing her at the
appointed time.

He was very much affected with this advance of Sophy, which he
considered as an instance of her uncommon sweetness of temper; he
felt strange longings of returning friendship towards Godfrey; and the
remembrance o