; so that they were fain to take their
repose as they sat, and nodded at each other like a congregation of
Anabaptists.

Next day Peregrine communed with his sister on the subject of her match
with Mr. Clover, who, she told him, had offered to settle a jointure of
four hundred pounds, and take her to wife without any expectation of a
dowry. She moreover gave him to understand, that, in his absence, she
had received several messages from her mother, commanding her to return
to her father's house; but that she had refused to obey these orders,
by the advice and injunction of her aunt and the commodore, which were
indeed seconded by her own inclination; because she had all the reason
in the world to believe, that her mother only wanted an opportunity of
treating her with severity and rancour. The resentment of that lady
had been carried to such indecent lengths, that, seeing her daughter at
church one day, she rose up, before the parson entered, and reviled her
with great bitterness, in the face of the whole congregation.

CHAPTER LXVII.

Sees his Sister happily married--Visits Emilia, who receives him
according to his Deserts.

Her brother being of opinion, that Mr. Clover's proposal was not to
be neglected, especially as Julia's heart was engaged in his favour,
communicated the affair to his uncle, who, with the approbation of
Mrs. Trunnion, declared himself well satisfied with the young man's
addresses, and desired that they might be buckled with all expedition,
without the knowledge or concurrence of her parents, to whom (on account
of their unnatural barbarity) she was not bound to pay the least regard.
Though our adventurer entertained the same sentiments of the matter,
and the lover, dreading some obstruction, earnestly begged the immediate
condescension of his mistress, she could not be prevailed upon to take
such a material step, without having first solicited the permission of
her father; resolved, nevertheless, to comply with the dictates of her
own heart, should his objections be frivolous or unjust.

Urged by this determination, her admirer waited upon Mr. Gamaliel at the
public-house, and, with the appearance of great deference and respect,
made him acquainted with his affection for his daughter, communicated
the particulars of his fortune, with the terms of settlement he was
ready to make; and in conclusion told him, that he would marry her
without a portion. This last offer seemed to have som