 while they imagined he indulged his vanity, a much more generous
passion had taken possession of his heart.
    Instead of that petulance of gaiety for which he had been distinguished in
his public appearance, he now gave manifest signs of confusion and concern; he
danced with an anxiety which impeded his performance, and blushed to the eyes at
every false step he made. Though this extraordinary agitation was overlooked by
the men, it could not escape the observation of the ladies, who perceived it
with equal surprize and resentment; and when Peregrine led this fair unknown to
her seat, expressed their pique in an affected titter, which broke from every
mouth at the same instant, as if all of them had been informed by the same
spirit.
    Peregrine was nettled at this unmannerly mark of disapprobation, and, in
order to increase their chagrin, endeavoured to enter into particular
conversation with their fair rival. The young lady herself, who neither wanted
penetration, nor the consciousness of her own accomplishments, resented their
behaviour, though she triumphed at the cause of it, and gave her partner all the
encouragement he could desire. Her mother, who was present, thanked him for his
civility in taking such notice of a stranger, and he received a compliment of
the same nature from the young gentleman in boots, who was her own brother.
    If he was charmed with her appearance, he was quite ravished with her
discourse, which was sensible, spirited and gay. Her frank and sprightly
demeanour excited his own confidence and good humour; and he described to her
the characters of those females who had honoured them with such a spiteful mark
of distinction, in terms so replete with humorous satire, that she seemed to
listen with particular complacency of attention, and distinguished every nymph
thus ridiculed with such a significant glance, as overwhelmed her with chagrin
and mortification. In short, they seemed to relish each other's conversation,
during which our young Damon acquitted himself with great skill in all the
duties of gallantry; he laid hold of proper opportunities to express his
admiration of her charms, had recourse to the silent rhetoric of tender looks,
breathed divers insidious sighs, and attached himself wholly to her during the
remaining part of the entertainment.
    When the company broke up, he attended her to her lodgings, and took leave
of her with a squeeze of the hand, after having obtained permission to visit her
next morning, and been informed by the mother that her name was Miss Emilia
Gauntlet.
    All night long he closed not an eye, but amused himself with plans of
pleasure, which his imagination suggested, in consequence of this
