ly
reproached and rebuked for his impolite behaviour, that he retired in
high dudgeon, threatening to relinquish their society, and branding them
with the appellation apostates from the common cause. Mortified at the
behaviour of their companion, those that remained were earnest in
their apologies to their guests, whom they besought to forgive his
intemperance, assuring them with great confidence that he would, upon
the recovery of his reflection, wait upon them in person, and ask
pardon for the umbrage he had given. Pickle was satisfied with their
remonstrances, resumed his good humour, and the night being pretty far
advanced resisted all their importunities with which he was entreated to
see another bottle go round, and was escorted to his own lodgings more
than half-seas over. Next morning, about eight o'clock, he was waked by
his valet-de-chambre, who told him that two of the gentlemen with whom
he had spent the evening were in the house, and desired the favour of
being admitted into his chamber. He could not conceive the meaning of
this extraordinary visit; and, ordering his man to show them enter into
his apartment, beheld the person who had affronted him enter with the
gentleman who had reprehended his rudeness.

He who had given the offence, after having made an apology for
disturbing Mr. Pickle, told him that his friend there present had been
with him early that morning, and proposed the alternative of either
fighting with him immediately, or coming to beg pardon for his
unmannerly deportment over-night: that though he had courage enough to
face any man in the field in a righteous cause, he was not so brutal as
to disobey the dictates of his own duty and reflection, in consequence
of which, and not out of any regard to the other's menaces, which he
despised, he had now taken the liberty of interrupting his repose, that
he might, as soon as possible, atone for the injury he had done him,
which he protested was the effect of intoxication alone, and begged his
forgiveness accordingly. Our hero accepted of this acknowledgment very
graciously; thanked the other gentleman for the gallant part he had
acted in his behalf; and perceiving that his companion was a little
irritated at his officious interposition, effected a reconciliation, by
convincing him that what he had done was for the honour of the company.
He then kept them to his breakfast; expressed a desire of seeing their
situation altered for the better; and th