nion, "give me leave to implore your intercession with your cousin.
I am sure you have humanity enough to espouse my cause, did you but know
the justice of it; and I flatter myself that by your kind interposition
I may be able to rectify that fatal misunderstanding which hath made
me wretched."--"Sir," said Sophy, "you appear like a gentleman, and
I doubt not but your behaviour has been always suitable to your
appearance; but you must excuse me from undertaking any such office
in behalf of a person whom I have not the honour to know."--"Madam,"
answered Peregrine, "I hope Miss Emy will justify my pretensions to that
character, notwithstanding the mystery of her displeasure, which, upon
my honour, I cannot for my soul explain."--"Lord! Mr. Pickle," said
Emilia, who had by this time recollected herself, "I never questioned
your gallantry and taste; but I am resolved that you shall never have
cause to exercise your talents at my expense; so that you tease yourself
and me to no purpose. Come, Sophy, let us walk home again."--"Good God!
madam," cried the lover, with great emotion, "why will you distract me
with such barbarous indifference? Stay, dear Emilia!--I conjure you on
my knees to stay and hear me. By all that is sacred, I was not to blame.
You must have been imposed upon by some villain who envied my good
fortune, and took some treacherous method to ruin my love."

Miss Sophy, who possessed a large stock of good nature, and to whom
her cousin had communicated the cause of her reserve, seeing the young
gentleman so much affected with that disdain which she knew to be
feigned, laid hold on Emilia's sleeve, saying, with a smile, "Not quite
so fast, Emily. I begin to perceive that this is a love-quarrel, and
therefore there may be hopes of a reconciliation; for I suppose both
parties are open to conviction."--"For my own part," cried Peregrine,
with great eagerness, "I appeal to Miss Sophy's decision. But why do I
say appeal? Though I am conscious of having committed no offence, I am
ready to submit to any penance, let it be never so rigorous, that my
fair enslaver herself shall impose, provided it will entitle me to
her favour and forgiveness at last." Emily, well nigh overcome by this
declaration, told him, that as she taxed him with no guilt, she expected
no atonement, and pressed her companion to return to town. But Sophy,
who was too indulgent to her friend's real inclination to comply with
her request, observed that