 were inclosed, could recollect no
particular expression which could have justly given the least umbrage; and
therefore in the agonies of perplexity, begged that the whole might be submitted
to the judgment of Miss Sophy; and faithfully promised to stand to her award.
    In short, this proposal was with seeming reluctance embraced by Emilia, and
an appointment made to meet next day in the same place, whither both parties
were desired to come provided with their credentials, according to which
definitive sentence would be pronounced.
    Our lover having succeeded thus far, overwhelmed Sophy with acknowledgments
on account of her generous mediation, and in the course of their walk, which
Emilia was now in no hurry to conclude, whispered a great many tender
protestations in the ear of his mistress, who, nevertheless, continued to act
upon the reserve, until her doubts should be more fully resolved.
    Mr. Pickle having found means to amuse them in the fields till the twilight,
was obliged to wish them good even, after having obtained a solemn repetition of
their promise to meet him at the appointed time and place; and then retreated to
his apartment, where he spent the whole night in various conjectures on the
subject of this letter, the gordian knot of which he could by no means untie.
    One while he imagined that some wag had played a trick upon his messenger,
in consequence of which Emilia had received a supposititious letter; but upon
further reflection, he could not conceive the practicability of any such deceit.
Then he began to doubt the sincerity of his mistress, who, perhaps, had only
made that an handle for discarding him, at the request of some favoured rival;
but his own integrity forbad him to harbour this mean suspicion; and therefore
he was again involved in the labyrinth of perplexity. Next day he waited on the
rack of impatience for the hour of five in the afternoon, which no sooner
struck, than he ordered Pipes to attend him, in case there should be occasion
for his evidence; and repaired to the place of rendezvous, where he had not
tarried five minutes before the ladies appeared. Mutual compliments being
passed, and the attendant stationed at a convenient distance, Peregrine
persuaded them to sit down upon the grass, under the shade of a spreading oak,
that they might be more at their ease; while he stretched himself at their feet,
and desired that the paper on which his doom depended might be examined. It was
accordingly put into the hand of his fair arbitress, who read it immediately
with an audible voice. The first two words of it were no sooner pronounced, than
he started
