ts; and that, early in life, he had made it his
business to instruct himself in the different branches of trade, which
he not only studied as his family profession, but also as the source
of all our national riches and power. He then launched out in praise of
commerce, and the promoters thereof; and, by way of contrast, employed
all his ridicule in drawing such ludicrous pictures of the manners and
education of what is called high life, that the trader's sides were
shaken by laughter, even to the danger of his life; and he looked upon
our adventurer as a miracle of sobriety and good sense. Having thus
ingratiated himself with the uncle, Peregrine took his leave, and next
day, in the forenoon, visited the niece in his chariot, after she
had been admonished by her kinsman to behave with circumspection, and
cautioned against neglecting or discouraging the addresses of such a
valuable admirer.

CHAPTER LXXV.

He prosecutes his Design upon Emilia with great Art and Perseverance.

Our adventurer, having by his hypocrisy obtained free access to his
mistress, began the siege by professing the most sincere contrition
for his former levity, and imploring her forgiveness with such earnest
supplication, that, guarded as she was against his flattering arts, she
began to believe his protestations, which were even accompanied with
tears, and abated a good deal of that severity and distance she had
proposed to maintain during this interview. She would not, however,
favour him with the least acknowledgment of a mutual passion, because,
in the midst of his vows of eternal constancy and truth, he did not
mention one syllable of wedlock, though he was now entirely master of
his own conduct, and this consideration created a doubt, which fortified
her against all his attacks. Yet, what her discretion would have
concealed, was discovered by her eyes, which, in spite of all her
endeavours, breathed forth complacency and love; for her inclination
was flattered by her own self-sufficiency, which imputed her admirer's
silence in that particular to the hurry and perturbation of his spirits,
and persuaded her that he could not possibly regard her with any other
than honourable intentions.

The insidious lover exulted in the tenderness of her looks, from which
he presaged a complete victory; but, that he might not overshoot
himself by his own precipitation, he would not run the risk of declaring
himself, until her heart should be so fa