 by the young lady, as an intimate friend of her
brother Godfrey.
    The old gentleman, who was no stranger to the nature of Peregrine's
connexion with his sister's family, prevailed upon him to stay to supper, and
seemed particularly well pleased with his conversation and deportment, which, by
help of his natural sagacity, he wonderfully adapted to the humour of his
entertainer. After supper, when the ladies were withdrawn, and the citizen
called for his pipe, our sly adventurer followed his example; and though he
abhorred the plant, smoaked with an air of infinite satisfaction, and expatiated
upon the virtues of tobacco, as if he had been deeply concerned in the Virginia
trade. In the progress of the discourse, he consulted the merchant's
disposition; and the national debt coming upon the carpet, held forth upon the
funds like a professed broker. When the alderman complained of the restrictions
and discouragement of trade, his guest inveighed against exorbitant duties, with
the nature of which he seemed as well acquainted as any commissioner of the
customs; so that the uncle was astonished at the extent of his knowledge, and
expressed his surprize, that a gay young gentleman, like him, should have found
either leisure or inclination to consider subjects so foreign to the fashionable
amusements of youth.
    Pickle laid hold on this opportunity to tell him, that he was descended from
a race of merchants; 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 LXXXI

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,
