with an admirer of your disposition, and therefore, I think I must make sure of you while it is in my power." "You are willing then to take me for better for worse, in presence of Heaven and these witnesses?" cried Peregrine kneeling, and applying her hand to his lips. At this interrogation, her features softened into an amazing expression of condescending love; and while she darted a side-glance that thrilled to his marrow, and heaved a sigh more soft than Zephyr's balmy wing, her answer was, 66 Why-ay-and Heaven grant me patience to bear the humours of such a yokefellow." "And may the same powers," replied the youth, "grant me life and opportunity to manifest the immensity of my love. Meanwhile, I have eighty thousand pounds, which shall be laid in your lap." So saying, he sealed the contract upon her lips, and explained the mystery of his last words, which had begun to operate upon the wonder of the two sisters. Sophy was agreeably surprised with the account of his good fortune; nor was it, in all probability, unacceptable to the lovely Emilia; though, from this information, she took an opportunity to upbraid her admirer with the inflexibility of his pride, which, she scrupled not to say, would have baffled all the suggestions of passion, had it not been gratified by this providential event. Matters being thus happily matured, the lover begged that immediate recourse might be had to the church, and his happiness ascertained before night. But the bride objected with great vehemence to such precipitation, being desirous of her mother's presence at the ceremony; and she was seconded in her opinion by her brother's wife. Peregrine, maddening with desire, assaulted her with the most earnest entreaties, representing, that, as her mother's consent was already obtained, there was surely no necessity for a delay, that must infallibly make a dangerous impression upon his brain and constitution. He fell at her feet, in all the agony of impatience; swore that his life and intellects would actually be in jeopardy by her refusal; and when she attempted to argue him out of his demand, began to rave with such extravagance, that Sophy was frightened into conviction; and Godfrey enforcing the remonstrances of his friend, the amiable Emilia was teased into compliance. After breakfast the bridegroom and his companion set out for the Commons for a license, having first agreed upon the house at which the ceremony should be performed, in the lodgings of the bride; and the permission being obtained, they found means to engage a clergyman, who undertook to attend them at their own time and place. Then a ring was purchased for the occasion; and they went in search of the lieutenant, with whom they dined at a tavern, and not only | made him acquainted with the steps they had taken, but desired that he would stand godfather to the bride; an employment which Jack accepted with demonstrations of particular satisfaction; till chancing to look into the street, and seeing Cadwallader approach the door, in consequence of a message they had sent to him by Pipes, he declined the office in favour of the senior; who was accordingly ordained for that purpose, on the supposition that such a mark of regard might facilitate his concurrence with a match, which otherwise he would certainly oppose, as he was a professed enemy to wedlock, and, as yet, ignorant of Peregrine's intention. After having congratulated Pickle upon his succession, and shook his two friends by the hand, the misanthrope asked whose mare was dead, that he was summoned in such a plaguy hurry from his dinner, which he had been fain to gobble up like a cannibal ? Our hero gave him to understand that they had made an appointment to drink tea with two agreeable ladies, and were unwilling that he should lose the opportunity of enjoying an entertainment which he loved so much. Crabtree, shrivelling up his face like an autumn leaf at this intimation, cursed his complaisance, and swore they should keep their assignation without him; for he and lechery had shook hands many years ago. The bridegroom, however, likening him unto an old coachman, who still delights in the smack of the whip, and dropping some flattering hints of his manhood, even at these years, he was gradually prevailed upon to accompany them to the place of rendezvous; where, being ushered into a dining-room, they had not waited three minutes, when they were joined by the parson, who had observed the hour with great punctuality. This gentleman no sooner entered the room, than Cadwallader, in a whisper to Gauntlet, asked if that was not the cockbawd? and, before the captain could make any reply,-"What an unconscionable whoremaster the rogue is !" said he: "scarce discharged from confinement, and sweetened with a little fresh air, when he wenches with a pimp in canonicals in his pay." The door again opened, and Emilia broke in upon them with such dignity of mien, and divinity of aspect, as inspired every spectator with astonishment and admiration. The lieutenant, who had not seen her since her charms were ripened into such perfection, expressed his wonder and approbation in an exclamation of "Add's zooks! what a glorious galley!" and the misanthrope's visage was instantly metamorphosed into the face of a mountain goat. He licked his lips instinctively, snuffed the air, and squinted with a most horrid obliquity of vision. The bride and her sister being seated, and Hatchway having renewed his acquaintance with the former who recognised him with particular civility, Peregrine withdrew into another apartment with his friend Crabtree, to whom he imparted the design of this meeting; which the latter no sooner understood, than he attempted to retreat, without making any other reply than that of " Pshaw! rot your matrimony! can't you put your neck in the noose without my being a witness of your folly ?" the coach, and Jack proposed to the captain, The young gentleman, in order to vanquish this aversion, stepped to the door of the next room, and begged the favour of speaking with Emilia, to whom he introduced the testy old bachelor, as one of his particular friends, who desired to have the honour of giving her away. The bewitching smile with which she received his salute, and granted his request, at once overcame the disapprobation of the misanthrope, who, with a relaxation in his countenance, which had never been perceived before that instant, thanked her in the most po-swered in the affirmative, he sent her up lite terms for such an agreeable mark of distinction. He accordingly led her into the dining room, where the ceremony was performed without delay; and after the husband had asserted his prerogative on her lips, the whole company saluted her by the name of Mrs Pickle. I shall leave the sensible reader to judge what passed at this juncture within the bosoms of the new-married couple; Peregrine's heart was filled with inexpressible ardour and impatience; while the transports of the bride were mingled with a dash of diffidence and apprehension. Gauntlet saw it would be too much for both, to bear their present tantalising situation till night, without some amusement to divert their thoughts; and therefore proposed to pass part of the evening at the public entertainments in Marybone gardens, which were at that time frequented by the best company in town. The scheme was relished by the discreet Sophy, who saw the meaning of the proposal, and the bride submitted to the persuasion of her sister; so that, after tea, two coaches were called, and Peregrine was forcibly separated from his charmer during the conveyance. The new-married couple and their company having made shift to spend the evening, and supped on a slight collation in one of the boxes, Peregrine's patience was almost quite exhausted and taking Godfrey aside, he imparted his intention to withdraw in private from the sea-wit of his friend Hatchway, who would otherwise retard his bliss with unseasonable impediments, which, at present, he could not possibly bear. Gauntlet, who sympathised with his impatience, undertook to intoxicate the lieutenant with bumpers to the joy of the bride, and, in the mean time, desired Sophy to retire with his sister, under the auspices of Cadwallader, who promised to squire them home. The ladies were accordingly conducted to stairs to announce his arrival, undressed him- When he approached, she was overwhelm- Next day he rose about noon, and found his three friends assembled, when he learned that Jack had fallen in his own snare, and been obliged to lie in the same tavern where he fell; a circumstance of which he was so much ashamed, that Peregrine and his wife escaped many jokes, which he would have certainly cracked, had he not lain under the imputation of this disgrace. In half an hour after he came down, Mrs Pickle appeared with Sophy, blushing like Aurora, or the goddess of health, and sending forth emanations of beauty unparalleled; she was complimented upon her change of situation by all present, and by none more warmly than by old Crab tree, who declared himself so well satisfied with his friend's good fortune, as to be almost reconciled to that institution, against which he had declaimed during the best part of his life. An express was immediately dispatched to Mrs Gauntlet with an account of her daughter's marriage; a town-house was hired, and a handsome equipage set up, in which the new married pair appeared at all publick 1 places, to the astonishment of our adventurer's | man," and turned his head another way, in fair-weather friends, and the admiration of presence of the whole court. all the world; for, in point of figure, such When he had made a circuit round all the another couple was not to be found in the places frequented by the beau monde, to the whole united kingdom. Envy despaired, and utter confusion of those against whom his redetraction was struck dumb, when our hero's sentment was kindled, paid off his debts, and new accession of fortune was consigned to the settled his money-matters in town, Hatchcelebration of public fame; Emilia attracted way was dismissed to the country, in order the notice of all observers, from the pert to prepare for the reception of his fair Emitemplar to the sovereign himself, who was lia. In a few days after his departure, the pleased to bestow encomiums upon the excel- whole company (Cadwallader himself inlence of her beauty. Many persons of con- cluded) set out for his father's house, and, in sequence, who had dropped the acquaint- their way, took up Mrs Gauntlet, the mother, ance of Peregrine in the beginning of his who was sincerely rejoiced to see our hero decline, now made open efforts to cultivate in the capacity of her son-in-law. From her his friendship anew; but he discouraged all habitation they proceeded homewards at an these advances with the most mortifying dis-easy pace, and, amidst the acclamations of dain; and one day, when the nobleman whom he had formerly obliged came up to him in the drawing-room, with the salutation of "Your servant, Mr Pickle," he eyed him with a look of ineffable contempt, saying,"I suppose your lordship is mistaken in your the whole parish, entered their own house, where Emilia was received in the most tender manner by Mr Clover's wife, who had provided every thing for her ease and accommodation, and, next day, surrendered unto her the management of her own household affairs. END OF PEREGRINE PICKLE. |