madam," resumed our hero, fixing his eyes upon her;
"examples of levity are every where to be met with."-"Oh Lord, sir,"
cried Emilia, tossing her head, "you'll scarce ever find a fop without
it."

By this time his companion, seeing him engaged with one of the ladies,
entered into conversation with the other; and, in order to favour his
friend's gallantry, conducted her into the next apartment, on pretence
of entertaining her with the sight of a remarkable piece of painting.

Peregrine, laying hold on this opportunity of being alone with the
object of his love, assumed a most seducing tenderness of look, and,
heaving a profound sigh, asked if she had utterly discarded him from
her remembrance. Reddening at this pathetic question, which recalled the
memory of the imagined slight he had put upon her, she answered in great
confusion, "Sir, I believe I once had the pleasure of seeing you at a
ball in Winchester."--"Miss Emilia," said he, very gravely, "will you
be so candid as to tell me what misbehaviour of mine you are pleased to
punish, by restricting your remembrance to that single occasion?"--"Mr.
Pickle," she replied, in the same tone, "it is neither my province
nor inclination to judge your conduct; and therefore you misapply your
question when you ask such an explanation of me"--"At least" resumed our
lover, "give me the melancholy satisfaction to know for what offence
of mine you refused to take least notice of that letter which I had the
honour to write from Winchester by your own express permission."--"Your
letter," said miss, with great vivacity, "neither required, nor, in my
opinion, deserved an answer; and to be free with you, Mr. Pickle, it
was but a shallow artifice to rid yourself of a correspondence you had
deigned to solicit."

Peregrine, confounded at this repartee, replied that howsoever he might
have failed in point of elegance or discretion, he was sure he had not
been deficient in expressions of respect and devotion for those charms
which it was his pride to adore: "As for the verses," said he, "I own
they were unworthy of the theme; but I flattered myself that they would
have merited your acceptance, though not your approbation, and been
considered not so much as the proof of my genius, as the genuine
effusion of my love."--"Verses," cried Emilia with an air of
astonishment, "what verses? I really don't understand you."

The young gentleman was thunderstruck at this exclamation; to which,
after