, and
that she herself had come to London some weeks ago, to give attendance
upon her aunt, who had been dangerously ill, but was now pretty well
recovered.

Although the conversation of course turned upon general topics, during
the entertainment he took all opportunities of being particular with his
eyes, through which he conveyed a thousand tender protestations. She
saw and inwardly rejoiced at the humility of his looks; but, far from
rewarding it with one approving glance, she industriously avoided this
ocular intercourse, and rather coquetted with a young gentleman that
ogled her from the opposite box. Peregrine's penetration easily detected
her sentiments, and he was nettled at her dissimulation, which served to
confirm him in his unwarrantable designs upon her person. He persisted
in his assiduities with indefatigable perseverance; when the play was
concluded, handed her and her companion into a hackney-coach, and with
difficulty was permitted to escort them to the house of Emilia's uncle,
to whom our hero was introduced by the young lady, as an intimate friend
of her brother Godfrey.

The old gentleman, who was no stranger to the nature of Peregrine's
connection with his sister's family, prevailed upon him to stay
supper, and seemed particularly well pleased with his conversation and
deportment, which, by the help of his natural sagacity, he wonderfully
adapted to the humour of his entertainer. After supper, when the ladies
were withdrawn, and the citizen called for his pipe, our sly adventurer
followed his example. Though he abhorred the plant, he smoked with
an air of infinite satisfaction, and expatiated upon the virtues of
tobacco, as if he had been deeply concerned in the Virginia trade. In
the progress of the discourse, he consulted the merchant's disposition;
and the national debt coming upon the carpet, held forth upon the
funds like a professed broker. When the alderman complained of the
restrictions and discouragements of trade, his guest inveighed against
exorbitant duties, with the nature of which he seemed as well acquainted
as any commissioner of the customs; so that the uncle was astonished at
the extent of his knowledge, and expressed his surprise that a gay young
gentleman like him should have found either leisure or inclination to
consider subjects so foreign to the fashionable amusements of youth.

Pickle laid hold on this opportunity to tell him, that he was descended
from a race of merchan