trickled the
faster, when Crowe, with an arch look, signified, that now he was pretty
well victualled for life, he had some thoughts of embarking on the voyage
of matrimony.

But that point of happiness to which, as the north pole, the course of
these adventures hath been invariably directed, was still unattained; we
mean, the indissoluble union of the accomplished Sir Launcelot Greaves
and the enchanting Miss Darnel. Our hero now discovered in his mistress
a thousand charms, which hitherto he had no opportunity to contemplate.
He found her beauty excelled by her good sense, and her virtue superior
to both. He found her untainted by that giddiness, vanity, and
affectation, which distinguish the fashionable females of the present
age. He found her uninfected by the rage for diversion and dissipation;
for noise, tumult, gewgaws, glitter, and extravagance. He found her not
only raised by understanding and taste far above the amusement of little
vulgar minds; but even exalted by uncommon genius and refined reflection,
so as to relish the more sublime enjoyments of rational pleasure. He
found her possessed of that vigour of mind which constitutes true
fortitude, and vindicates the empire of reason. He found her heart
incapable of disguise or dissimulation; frank, generous, and open;
susceptible of the most tender impressions; glowing with a keen sense of
honour, and melting with humanity. A youth of his sensibility could not
fail of being deeply affected by such attractions. The nearer he
approached the centre of happiness, the more did the velocity of his
passion increase. Her uncle still remained insensible as it were in the
arms of death. Time seemed to linger in its lapse, till the knight was
inflamed to the most eager degree of impatience. He communicated his
distress to Aurelia; he pressed her with the most pathetic remonstrances
to abridge the torture of his suspense. He interested Mrs. Kawdle in his
behalf; and, at length, his importunities succeeded. The banns of
marriage were regularly published, and the ceremony was performed in the
parish church, in the presence of Dr. Kawdle and his lady, Captain Crowe,
Lawyer Clarke, and Mrs. Dolly Cowslip.

The bride, instead of being disguised in tawdry stuffs of gold and
silver, and sweating under a harness of diamonds, according to the
elegant taste of the times, appeared in a negligee of plain blue satin,
without any other jewels than her eyes, which far out