 had imagined, her shyness gradually wore off, and they soon
came to a satisfactory explanation; in the beginning of which, he frankly
unravelled the whole mystery of the apparition: a discovery which had almost
proved fatal to her, from the violence of mirth it produced; and she as candidly
disclosed her own private history. She told him, that her lover's honourable
agent had formerly lived in the house of her mother, who being a poor widow,
supported her family by letting lodgings; that he had, by the opportunities of
familiarity and friendship, employed his arts upon her, and actually debauched
this girl, when she was no more than fifteen years of age; that upon the
remonstrances of her mother, who detected their correspondence, by perceiving
she was with child, he had quitted the house, with an absolute refusal to
provide for her; so that she was obliged to sue him for the maintenance of the
infant, and reduced to the necessity of receiving gallants in private; though
she had always managed her occupation in such a manner, as to preserve her
character unsuspected in the neighbourhood: and lastly, that her first seducer
had lately renewed his correspondence, by dint of presents and apologies, and
procured her as a virgin for his patron, who had promised to settle some small
provision upon her for life.
    Peregrine comforted her for her disappointment, by reciting what he had
overheard of the conversation that passed in the garden, after she made her
elopement; from whence he inferred, that her interest would suffer no prejudice
from that interruption; because, in all probability, her intended lover's flesh
would soon get the better of the spirit again, in spite of a thousand
apparitions; in which case, he would again have recourse to her compliance; or,
should his superstition prevail, he would look upon himself as in duty and
conscience bound, to enable her, by a suitable settlement, to withstand such
temptations for the future.
    She seemed to concur with his opinion, and was perfectly satisfied with that
expectation, while our hero was more and more engaged by her easy and agreeable
deportment. Her conversation was that of a gay libertine, who had a good share
of sense and imagination, which, with a natural vivacity, she employed in
accommodating herself to the humour of her gallant: but his ears were not
disgusted with the nauseous ribaldry and vulgar execrations which characterise
the discourse of those nymphs, whose temporary endearments are solicited by the
distinguishing youth of this refined age. In a word, this accidental meeting was
productive of very agreeable consequences to both; and
