ience of desire, talked in
a strain that barely kept within the bounds of decency, and attempted
to snatch such favours, as she, in the tenderness of mutual
acknowledgments, had once vouchsafed to bestow.

Grieved and offended as she was, at this palpable alteration in his
carriage, she disdained to remind him of his former deportment, and,
with dissembled good-humour, rallied him on the progress he had made
in gallantry and address. But, far from submitting to the liberties he
would have taken, she kept her person sacred from his touch, and would
not even suffer him to ravish a kiss of her fair hand; so that he
reaped no other advantage from the exercise of his talents, during
this interview, which lasted a whole hour, than that of knowing he had
overrated his own importance, and that Emily's heart was not a garrison
likely to surrender at discretion.

At length his addresses were interrupted by the arrival of the mother,
who had gone abroad to visit by herself; and the conversation becoming
more general, he understood that Godfrey was at London, soliciting for a
lieutenancy that had fallen vacant in the regiment to which he belonged;
and that Miss Sophy was at home with her father.

Though our adventurer had not met with all the success he expected by
his first visit, he did not despair of reducing the fortress, believing
that in time there would be a mutiny in his favour, and accordingly
carried on the siege for several days, without profiting by his
perseverance; till, at length, having attended the ladies to their
own house in the country, he began to look upon this adventure as time
misspent, and resolved to discontinue his attack, in hopes of meeting
with a more favourable occasion; being, in the meantime, ambitious of
displaying in a higher sphere, those qualifications which his vanity
told him were at present misapplied.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

He attends his Uncle with great Affection during a Fit of Illness--Sets
out again for London--Meets with his Friend Godfrey, who is prevailed
upon to accompany him to Bath; on the Road to which Place they chance
to Dine with a Person who entertains them with a curious Account of a
certain Company of Adventurers.

Thus determined, he took leave of Emilia and her mother, on pretence of
going to London upon some urgent business, and returned to the garrison,
leaving the good old lady very much concerned, and the daughter incensed
at his behaviour, which was the m