The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Chapter XXI

Volume One, Chapter XXI 101 appointment, and inquiring for Miss Gauntlet, was shewn into a parlour. Here he had not waited above ten minutes, when Emilia entered in a most inchanting undress,14 with all the graces of nature playing about her person, and in a moment rivetted the chains of his slavery beyond the power of accident to unbind. Her mother being still abed, and her brother gone to give orders about the chaise, in which they proposed to return that same day to their own habitation, he enjoyed her company tête a tête a whole hour, during which he declared his love in the most passionate terms, and begged that he might be admitted into the number of those admirers whom she permitted to visit and adore her. She affected to look upon his vows and protestations as the ordinary effects of gallantry , and very obligingly assured him, that were she to live in that place, she should be glad to see him often; but as the spot on which she resided was at a considerable distance, she could not expect he would go so far upon such a trifling occasion, or take the trouble of providing himself with her mamma’s permission. To this favourable hint he answered with all the eagerness of the most fervid passion, that he had uttered nothing but the genuine dictates of his heart, and desired nothing so much as an opportunity of evincing the sincerity of his professions; and that though she lived at the extremity of the kingdom, he would find means to lay himself at her feet, provided he could visit her with her mother’s consent, which he assured her he would not fail to sollicit. She then gave him to understand, that her habitation was about sixteen miles from Winchester, in a village which she named, and where (as he could easily collect from her discourse) he would be no unwelcome guest. In the midst of this communication they were joined by Mrs. Gauntlet, who received him with great courtesy, thanked him again for his politeness to Emy at the ball, and anticipated his intention, by saying that she should be very glad to see him at her house, if ever his occasions should call him that way. chapter xxi. He inquires into the situation of this young lady with whom he is enamoured; elopes from school; is found by the lieutenant, conveyed to Winchester, and sends a letter with a copy of verses to his mistress. He was transported with pleasure at this invitation, which he assured her he should not neglect; and after a little more conversation on general topics, took his leave of the charming Emilia and her prudent mamma, who had perceived the first emotions of Mr. Pickle’s passion for her daughter, and been at some pains to inquire about his family and fortune. 102 The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle Neither was Peregrine less inquisitive about the situation and pedigree of his new mistress, who, he learned, was the only daughter of a field-officer, who died before he had it in his power to make suitable provision for his children;1 that the widow lived in a frugal, though decent manner, on the pension, assisted by the bounty of her relations ; that the son carried arms as volunteer in the company which his father had commanded ; and that Emilia had been educated in London, at the expence of a rich uncle, who was seized with the whim of marrying at the age of fifty-five; in consequence of which, his niece had returned to her mother, without any visible dependance, except on her own conduct and qualifications. This account, though it could not diminish his affection, nevertheless alarmed his pride; for his warm imagination had exaggerated all his own prospects; and he began to fear, that his passion for Emilia might be thought to derogate from the dignity of his situation. The struggle between his interest and love produced a perplexity which had an evident effect upon his behaviour; he became pensive, solitary and peevish, avoided all publick diversions, and grew so remarkably negligent in his dress, that he was scarce distinguishable by his own acquaintance. This contention of thoughts continued several weeks, at the end of which the charms of Emilia triumphed over every other consideration ; and having received a supply of money from the commodore, who acted towards him with great generosity, he ordered...