e next
election, which, they supposed, would soon happen, because the present
member was in a declining state of health. Nor did his person and
address escape unheeded by the ladies, many of whom did not scruple to
spread their attractions before him, with a view of captivating such
a valuable prize: nay, such an impression did this legacy make upon
a certain peer, who resided in this part of the country, that he
cultivated Pickle's acquaintance with great eagerness, and, without
circumlocution, offered to him in marriage his only daughter, with a
very considerable fortune.

Our hero expressed himself upon this occasion as became a man of
honour, sensibility, and politeness, and frankly gave his lordship to
understand, that his heart was already engaged. He was pleased with the
opportunity of making such a sacrifice of his passion for Emilia, which,
by this time, inflamed his thoughts to such a degree of impatience, that
he resolved to depart for London with all possible speed; and for
that purpose industriously employed almost every hour of his time in
regulating his domestic affairs. He paid off all his father's servants,
and hired others, at the recommendation of his sister, who promised
to superintend his household in his absence. He advanced the first
half-yearly payment of his mother's jointure; and as for his brother
Gam, he gave him divers opportunities of acknowledging his faults, so
that he might have answered to his own conscience for taking any step in
his favour; but that young gentleman was not yet sufficiently humbled
by misfortune, and not only forbore to make any overtures of peace, but
also took all occasions to slander the conduct and revile the person of
our hero, being in this practice comforted and abetted by his righteous
mamma.

Everything being thus settled for the present, the triumvirate set out
on their return to town in the same manner with that in which they had
arrived in the country, except in this small variation, that Hatchway's
chaise-companion was now the valet-de-chambre refitted, instead of
Pipes, who, with another lacquey, attended them on horseback. When
they had performed two-thirds of their way to London, they chanced to
overtake a country squire, on his return from a visit to one of his
neighbours, who had entertained him with such hospitality, that, as the
lieutenant observed, he rolled himself almost gunwale to every motion
of his horse, which was a fine hunter; and when th