timation, which she considered as an unseasonable
insult, and the young gentleman, perceiving her emotion, stood corrected
for his temerity, and asked pardon for the liberty of his remonstrance,
which he hoped she would ascribe to the prevalence of that principle
alone, which he had always taken pride in avowing.

Sophy, seeing him disconcerted, interposed in his behalf, and chid her
cousin for having practised such unnecessary affectation; upon which,
Emilia, softened into compliance, held out her finger as a signal of
her condescension. Peregrine put on the ring with great eagerness, and
mumbled her soft white hand in an ecstasy which would not allow him to
confine his embraces to that limb, but urged him to seize her by the
waist, and snatch a delicious kiss from her love-pouting lips; nor
would he leave her a butt to the ridicule of Sophy, on whose mouth he
instantly committed a rape of the same nature: so that the two friends,
countenanced by each other, reprehended him with such gentleness of
rebuke, that he was almost tempted to repeat the offence.

The morning being now lighted up, and the servants of the inn on foot,
he ordered some chocolate for breakfast, and at the desire of the
ladies, sent Pipes to see the horses fed, and the chariot prepared,
while he went to the bar, and discharged the bill.

These measures being taken, they set out about five o'clock, and having
refreshed themselves and their cattle at another inn on the road,
proceeded in the afternoon. Without meeting with any other accident,
they safely arrived at the place of their destination, where Mrs.
Gauntlet expressed her joy at seeing her old friend Mr. Pickle, whom,
however, she kindly reproached for the long discontinuance of his
regard. Without explaining the cause of that interruption, he protested
that his love and esteem had never been discontinued, and that for the
future he should omit no occasion of testifying how much he had her
friendship at heart. She then made him acquainted with her son, who at
that time was in the house, being excused from his duty by furlough.

This young man, whose name was Godfrey, was about the age of twenty, of
a middling size, vigorous make, remarkably well-shaped, and the scars
of the small-pox, of which he bore a good number, added a peculiar
manliness to the air of his countenance. His capacity was good, and his
disposition naturally frank and easy; but he had been a soldier from
his infancy, and hi