y, who had rejected his addresses in the zenith of
his fortune.

While he diverted himself with these agreeable reveries, an unexpected
event intervened, in which she and her brother were deeply interested.
The uncle was tapped for the dropsy, and died in a few days after the
operation, having bequeathed, in his will, five thousand pounds to his
nephew, and twice that sum to his niece, who had always enjoyed the
greatest share of his favour.

If our adventurer, before this occurrence, looked upon his love for
Emilia as a passion which it was necessary, at any rate, to conquer or
suppress, he now considered her accession of fortune as a circumstance
which confirmed that necessity, and resolved to discourage every thought
on that subject which should tend to the propagation of hope. One day,
in the midst of a conversation calculated for the purpose, Godfrey put
into his hand a letter directed to Mr. Pickle, in the handwriting of
Emilia, which the youth no sooner recognized, than his cheeks were
covered with a crimson dye, and he began to tremble with violent
agitation; for he at once guessed the import of the billet, which he
kissed with great reverence and devotion, and was not at all surprised
when he read the following words:--

Sir,--I have performed a sufficient sacrifice to my
reputation, in retaining hitherto the appearance of that
resentment which I had long ago dismissed; and as the
late favourable change in my situation empowers me to
avow my genuine sentiments, without fear of censure, or
suspicion of mercenary design, I take this opportunity
to assure you, that, if I still maintain that place in
your heart which I was vain enough to think I once
possessed, I am willing to make the first advances to an
accommodation, and have actually furnished my brother
with full powers to conclude it in the name of your
appeased

"Emilia."

Pickle, having kissed the subscription with great ardour, fell upon his
knees, and lifting up his eyes, "Thank Heaven!" cried he, with an air
of transport, "I have not been mistaken in my opinion of that generous
maid. I believed her inspired with the most dignified and heroic
sentiments, and now she gives me a convincing proof of her magnanimity.
It is now my business to approve myself worthy of her regard. May Heaven
inflict upon me the keenest arrows of its vengeance, if I do not, at
this instant, contemplate the