He enjoys an interview with Emilia, and makes himself ample Amends for
all the Mortifications of his Life.
Godfrey, who had taken leave of his sister, on pretence of making a
short excursion with Peregrine, whose health required the enjoyment of
fresh air, after his long confinement, sent a message to her, that
same night, announcing his arrival, and giving her notice that he would
breakfast with her next morning; when he and our hero, who had dressed
himself for the purpose, taking a hackney-coach, repaired to her
lodging, and were introduced into a parlour adjoining to that in which
the tea-table was set. Here they had not waited many minutes when they
heard the sound of feet coming downstairs; upon which our hero's heart
began to beat the alarm. He concealed himself behind the screen, by the
direction of his friend, whose ears being saluted with Sophy's voice
from the next room, he flew into it with great ardour, and enjoyed upon
her lips the sweet transports of a meeting so unexpected; for he had
left her in her father's house at Windsor.
Amidst these emotions, he had almost forgotten the situation of
Peregrine; when Emilia, assuming her enchanting air: “Is not this,” said
she, “a most provoking scene to a young woman like me, who am doomed
to wear the willow, by the strange caprice of my lover? Upon my word,
brother, you have done me infinite prejudice, in promoting this jaunt
with my obstinate correspondent; who, I suppose, is so ravished with
this transient glimpse of liberty, that he will never be persuaded
to incur unnecessary confinement for the future.”--“My dear sister,”
replied the captain tauntingly, “your own pride set him the example; so
you must e'en stand to the consequence of his imitation.”--“'Tis a hard
case, however,” answered the fair offender, “that I should suffer all
my life, by one venial trespass. Heigh ho! who would imagine that
a sprightly girl, such as I, with ten thousand pounds, should go a
begging? I have a good mind to marry the next person that asks me the
question, in order to be revenged upon this unyielding humourist. Did
the dear fellow discover no inclination to see me, in all the term of
his releasement? Well, if ever I can catch the fugitive again, he shall
sing in his cage for life.”
It is impossible to convey to the reader a just idea of Peregrine's
transports, while he overheard this declaration; which was no sooner
pronounced, than, unable to resist the impetuosity of his passion,
he sprung from his lurking-place, exclaiming, “Here I surrender!” and
rushing into her presence, was so dazzled with her beauty, that his
speech failed. He was fixed like a statue to the floor; and all his
faculties were absorbed in admiration. Indeed, she was now in the full
bloom of her charms, and it was nearly impossible to look upon her
without emotion. What then must have been the ecstasy of our youth,
whose passion was whetted with all the incitements which could stimulate
the human heart! The ladies screamed with surprise at his appearance,
and Emilia underwent such agitation as flushed every charm with
irresistible energy: her cheeks glowed with a most delicate suffusion,
and her bosom heaved with such bewitching undulation, that the cambric
could not conceal or contain the snowy hemispheres, that rose like a
vision of paradise to his view.
While he was almost fainting with unutterable delight, she seemed to
sink under the tumults of tenderness and confusion; when our hero,
perceiving her condition, obeyed the impulse of his love, and circled
the charmer in his arms, without suffering the least frown or symptom
of displeasure. Not all the pleasures of his life had amounted to the
ineffable joy of this embrace, in which he continued for some minutes
totally entranced. He fastened upon her pouting lips with all the
eagerness of rapture; and, while his brain seemed to whirl round with
transport, exclaimed, in a delirium of bliss, “Heaven and earth! this is
too much to bear.”
His imagination was accordingly relieved, and his attention in some
measure divided, by the interposition of Sophy, who kindly chid him for
his having overlooked his old friends. Thus accosted, he quitted his
delicious armful, and, saluting Mrs. Gauntlet, asked pardon for his
neglect; observing that such rudeness was excusable, considering the
long and unhappy exile which he had suffered from the jewel of his
soul. Then turning to Emilia, “I am come, madam,” said he, “to claim
the performance of your promise, which I can produce under your own
fair hand. You may, therefore, lay aside all superfluous ceremony and
shyness, and crown my happiness without further delay; for, upon my
soul! my thoughts are wound up to the last pitch of expectation, and
I shall certainly run distracted, if I am doomed to any term of
probation.”
His mistress having by this time recollected herself, replied, with a
most exhilarating smile, “I ought to punish you for your obstinacy
with the mortification of a twelvemonth's trial; but it is dangerous to
tamper 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, “Why--ay--and heaven grant me patience to bear the humours
of such a yoke-fellow.”--“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
immediately 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 his
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 delay, that must infallibly make a dangerous
impression upon his brain and constitution. He fell at her feet in
all the agony of impatience; and swore 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 rage 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 licence, 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 shaken 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 cock-b--d; and, before
the captain could make any reply, “What an unconscionable w-- master 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 horrible
obliquity of vision.
The bride and her sister being seated, and Hatchway having renewed
his acquaintance with the former, who recognized him with particular
civility, Peregrine withdrew into another apartment with his friend
Crabtree, to whom he imparted the design of his 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 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 polite terms for such
an agreeable mark of distinction. He accordingly led her to 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 fired
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 tantalizing
situation till night, without some amusement to divert their thoughts;
and therefore proposed to pass part of the evening at the public
entertainments in Marylebone 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 sympathized with his impatience, undertook to intoxicate
the lieutenant with bumpers to the joy of the bride, and, in the
meantime, desired Sophy to retire with his sister, under the auspices of
Cadwallader, who promised to squire them home.
The ladies were accordingly conducted to the coach, and Jack proposed
to the captain, that, for the sake of the joke, the bridegroom should
be plied with liquor, in such a manner as would effectually disable him
from enjoying the fruits of his good-fortune for one night at least.
Gauntlet seemed to relish the scheme, and they prevailed upon Pickle to
accompany them to a certain tavern, on pretence of drinking a farewell
glass to a single life: there the bottle was circulated, till Hatchway's
brain began to suffer innovation. As he had secured our hero's hat and
sword, he felt no apprehension of an elopement, which, however, was
effected; and the youth hastened on the wings of love to the arms of his
enchanting bride. He found Crabtree in a parlour waiting for his return,
and disposed to entertain him with a lecture upon temperance; to which
he paid very little attention, but ringing for Emilia's maid, desired to
know if her mistress was in bed. Being answered in the affirmative, he
sent her up-stairs to announce his arrival, undressed himself to a loose
gown and slippers, and, wishing the misanthrope good night, after having
desired to see him next day, followed in person to the delicious
scene, where he found her elegantly dished out, the fairest daughter of
chastity and love.
When he approached, she was overwhelmed with confusion, and hid her
lovely face from his transporting view. Mrs. Gauntlet, seeing his eyes
kindled at the occasion, kissed her charming sister, who, throwing her
snowy arms about her neck, would have detained her in the room, had
not Peregrine gently disengaged her confidante from her embrace,
and conducted her trembling to the door; which having bolted and
barricadoed, he profited by his good fortune, and his felicity was
perfect.
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 Crabtree, who declared himself so well satisfied with his friend's
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 despatched 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 public
places, to the astonishment of our adventurer's fair-weather friends,
and the admiration of all the world: for, in point of figure, such
another couple was not to be found in the whole United Kingdom. Envy
despaired, and detraction was struck dumb, when our hero's new accession
of fortune was consigned to the celebration of public fame: Emilia
attracted the notice of all observers, from the pert Templar to
the Sovereign himself, who was pleased to bestow encomiums upon the
excellence of her beauty. Many persons of consequence, who had dropped
the acquaintance of Peregrine in the beginning of his decline, now made
open efforts to cultivate his friendship anew; but he discouraged all
these advances with the most mortifying disdain; 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 man,” and turned his head another way in presence of
the whole court.
When he had made a circuit round all the places frequented by the
beau-monde, to the utter confusion of those against whom his resentment
was kindled; paid off his debts, and settled his money matters in town,
Hatchway was dismissed to the country, in order to prepare for the
reception of his fair Emilia. In a few days after his departure, the
whole company, Cadwallader himself included, set out for his father's
house, and, in their way, took up Mrs. Gauntlet, the mother, who was
sincerely rejoiced to see our hero in the capacity of her son-in-law.
From her habitation they proceeded homewards at an easy pace, and,
amidst the acclamations of the whole parish, entered their own house,
where Emilia was received in the most tender manner by Mr. Clover's
wife, who had provided everything for her ease and accommodation; and,
next day, surrendered unto her the management of her own household
affairs.