f Emilia melted his heart, already softened with grief and
mortification. Next day he did not neglect his engagement, and had the
pleasure of enjoying a long conversation with this sensible young lady,
who gave him to understand that her husband was with his regiment; and
presented to him a fine boy, the first-fruits of their love, whom they
had christened by the name of Peregrine, in memory of the friendship
which had subsisted between Godfrey and our youth.

This proof of their regard, notwithstanding the interruption in their
correspondence, made a deep impression upon the mind of our adventurer,
who having made the warmest acknowledgments for this undeserved mark
of respect, took the child in his arms, and almost devoured him with
kisses, protesting before God, that he should always consider him with
the tenderness of a parent. This was the highest compliment he could pay
to the gentle Sophy, who again kindly chid him for his disdainful and
precipitate retreat, immediately after her marriage; and expressed an
earnest desire of seeing him and the captain reconciled. He assured her,
nothing could give him greater satisfaction than such an event, to which
he would contribute all that lay in his power, though he could not help
looking upon himself as injured by Captain Gauntlet's behaviour,
which denoted a suspicion of his honour, as well as contempt for his
understanding. The lady undertook for the concession of her husband,
who, she told him, had been extremely sorry for his own heat, after
Mr. Pickle's departure, and would have followed him to the garrison, in
order to solicit his forgiveness, had he not been restrained by certain
punctilios, occasioned by some acrimonious expressions that dropped from
Peregrine at the inn.

After having cleared up this misunderstanding, she proceeded to give an
account of Emilia, whose behaviour, at that juncture, plainly indicated
a continuance of affection for her first lover; and desired, that
he would give her full powers to bring that matter also to an
accommodation: "For I am not more certain of my own existence," said
she, "than that you are still in possession of my sister's heart." At
this declaration, the tear started in his eye. But he shook his head,
and declined her good offices, wishing that the young lady might be much
more happy than ever he should be able to make her.

Mrs. Gauntlet, confounded at these expressions, and moved by the
desponding manner in which they