 hand-writing of Emilia; which the youth no sooner
recognized, than his cheeks were covered with a crimson dye, and he began to
tremble with violent agitation: for he, at once, guessed the import of the
billet, which he kissed with great reverence and devotion, and was not at all
surprised when he read the following words.
 
        Sir,
            I have performed a sufficient sacrifice to my reputation, in
        retaining hitherto the appearance of that resentment, which I had long
        ago dismissed; and as the late favourable change in my situation,
        impowers me to avow my genuine sentiments, without fear of censure, or
        suspicion of mercenary design, I take this opportunity to assure you,
        that if I still maintain that place in your heart, which I was vain
        enough to think I once possessed, I am willing to make the first
        advances to an accommodation; and have actually furnished my brother
        with full powers to conclude it, in the name of your appeased
                                                                          EMILIA
 
Pickle, having kissed the subscription with great ardour, fell upon his knees,
and lifting up his eyes, »Thank heaven! (cried he, with an air of transport) I
have not been mistaken in my opinion of that generous maid. I believed her
inspired with the most dignified and heroic sentiments, and now she gives me a
convincing proof of her magnanimity: it is now my business to approve myself
worthy of her regard. May heaven inflict upon me the keenest arrows of its
vengeance, if I do not, at this instant, contemplate the character of Emilia
with the most perfect love and adoration; yet, amiable and inchanting as she is,
I am, more than ever, determined to sacrifice the interest of my passion to my
glory, tho' my life should fail in the contest; and even to refuse an offer,
which, otherwise, the whole universe should not bribe me to forego.«
    This declaration was not so unexpected as unwelcome to his friend Gauntlet,
who represented that his glory was not at all interested in the affair; because
he had already vindicated his generosity, in repeated proffers to lay his whole
fortune at Emilia's feet, when it was impossible that any thing selfish could
enter into the proposal: but that, in rejecting her present purpose, he would
give the world an opportunity to say that his pride was capricious, his
obstinacy invincible, and his sister undeniable reason to believe, that either
his passion for her was dissembled, or the ardour of it considerably abated.
    In answer to these remonstrances, Pickle observed, that he had long set the
world at defiance;
