composed and conveyed that stupid production, he had never seen
it before, nor been privy to the least circumstance of the plan.

Pipes, now, for the first time, perceived the mischief which he had
occasioned; and, moved with the transports of his master, for whom he
had a most inviolable attachment, frankly declared he was ready to make
oath that Mr. Pickle had no hand in the letter which he delivered. All
three were amazed at this confession, the meaning of which they could
not comprehend. Peregrine, after some pause, leaped upon Pipes, and
seizing him by the throat, exclaimed, in an ecstasy of rage. "Rascal!
tell me this instant what became of the letter I entrusted to your
care." The patient valet, half-strangled as he was, squirted a
collection of tobacco-juice out of one corner of his mouth, and with
great deliberation replied, "Why, burnt it, you wouldn't have me to give
the young woman a thing that shook all in the wind in tatters, would
you?" The ladies interposed in behalf of the distressed squire, from
whom, by dint of questions which he had neither art nor inclination to
evade, they extorted an explanation of the whole affair.

Such ridiculous simplicity and innocence of intention appeared in the
composition of his expedient, that even the remembrance of all the
chagrin which it had produced, could not rouse their indignation, or
enable the to resist a third eruption of laughter which they forthwith
underwent. Pipes was dismissed, with many menacing injunctions to beware
of such conduct for the future; Emilia stood with a confusion of joy and
tenderness in her countenance; Peregrine's eyes kindled into rapture,
and, when Miss Sophy pronounced the sentence of reconciliation, advanced
to his mistress, saying, "Truth is mighty, and will prevail;" then
clapping her in his arms, very impudently ravished a kiss, which she had
not power to refuse. Nay, such was the impulse of his joy, that he took
the same freedom with the lips of Sophy, calling her his kind mediatrix
and guardian angel; and behaved with such extravagance of transport, as
plainly evinced the fervour and sincerity of his love.

I shall not pretend to repeat the tender protestations that were uttered
on one side, or describe the bewitching glances of approbation with
which they were received on the other, suffice it to say that the
endearing intimacy of their former connection was instantly renewed, and
Sophy, who congratulated them on the happy ter