the Gordian
knot of which he could by no means untie. One while he imagined that
some wag had played a trick on his messenger, in consequence of
which Emilia had received a supposititious letter; but, upon farther
reflection, he could not conceive the practicability of any such deceit.
Then he began to doubt the sincerity of his mistress, who perhaps had
only made that a handle for discarding him, at the request of some
favoured rival; but his own integrity forbade him to harbour this mean
suspicion; and therefore he was again involved in the labyrinth of
perplexity. Next day he waited on the rack of impatience for the hour of
five in the afternoon, which no sooner struck than he ordered Pipes
to attend him, in case there should be occasion for his evidence, and
repaired to the place of rendezvous, where he had not tarried five
minutes before the ladies appeared. Mutual compliments being passed, and
the attendant stationed at a convenient distance, Peregrine persuaded
them to sit down upon the grass, under the shade of a spreading oak,
that they might be more at their ease; while he stretched himself at
their feet, and desired that the paper on which his doom depended might
be examined. It was accordingly put into the hand of his fair arbitress,
who read it immediately with an audible voice. The first two words of
it were no sooner pronounced, than he started, with great emotion, and
raised himself upon his hand and knee, in which posture he listened
to the rest of the sentence; then sprang upon his feet in the utmost
astonishment, and, glowing with resentment at the same time, exclaimed,
"Hell and the devil! what's all that? Sure you make a jest of me,
madam!"--"Pray, sir," said Sophy, "give me the hearing for a few
moments, and then urge what you shall think proper in your own defence."
Having thus cautioned him, she proceeded; but before she had finished
one-half of the performance, her gravity forsook her, and she was seized
with a violent fit of laughter, in which neither of the lovers could
help joining, notwithstanding the resentment which at that instant
prevailed in the breasts of both. The judge, however, in a little
time, resumed her solemnity, and having read the remaining part of this
curious epistle, all three continued staring at each other alternately
for the space of half a minute, and then broke forth at the same instant
in another paroxysm of mirth. From this unanimous convulsion, one would
have thoug