this step the effect of his vanity or precipitation; but
having been often assured by his sister that it was absolutely necessary
for him to make a declaration of his love in writing, he took
this opportunity of acting in conformity with her advice, when his
imagination was unengaged or undisturbed by any other suggestion,
without suspecting in the least that she intended to save him the
trouble of exercising his own genius. Left, therefore, as he imagined,
to his own inventions, he sat down, and produced the following morceau,
which was transmitted to Miss Appleby, before his sister and counsellor
had the least intimation of the affair:--

"Miss Sally Appleby.

"Madam,--Understanding you have a parcel of heart, warranted
sound, to be disposed of, shall be pleased to treat for said
commodity, on reasonable terms; doubt not, shall agree for
same; shall wait on you for further information, when and where
you shall appoint. This the needful from--Yours, etc.

"Gam. Pickle."

This laconic epistle, simple and unadorned as it was, met with as
cordial a reception from the person to whom it was addressed, as if it
had been couched in the most elegant terms that delicacy of passion and
cultivated genius could supply; nay, I believe, was the more welcome on
account of its mercantile plainness; because when an advantageous match
is in view, a sensible woman often considers the flowery professions and
rapturous exclamations of love as ensnaring ambiguities, or, at best,
impertinent preliminaries, that retard the treaty they are designed to
promote; whereas Mr. Pickle removed all disagreeable uncertainty, by
descending at once to the most interesting particular.

She had no sooner, as a dutiful child, communicated this billet-doux to
her father, than he, as a careful parent, visited Mr. Pickle, and,
in presence of Mrs. Grizzle, demanded a formal explanation of his
sentiments with regard to his daughter Sally. Mr. Gamaliel, without any
ceremony, assured him he had a respect for the young woman, and, with
his good leave, would take her for better, for worse. Mr. Appleby, after
having expressed his satisfaction that he had fixed his affections
in his family, comforted the lover with the assurance of his being
agreeable to the young lady; and they forthwith proceeded to the
articles of the marriage-settlement, which being discussed and
determined, a lawyer