, would have a dangerous effect upon his constitution. Tho'
Emily was inflexible in her answers to the kind remonstrances of the gentle
Sophy, her heart was melting with the impressions of pity and love; and finding
herself unable to perform the duty of her function, in putting the bride to bed,
she retired to her own chamber, and, in secret, sympathized with the distemper
of her lover.
    In the morning, as early as decency would permit him to leave the arms of
his dear wife, captain Gauntlet made a visit to Peregrine, who had passed a very
tedious and uneasy night, having been subject to short intervals of delirium,
during which Pipes had found it very difficult to keep him fast belayed. He
owned indeed to Godfrey, that his imagination had been haunted by the ideas of
Emilia and her officer, which tormented him to an unspeakable degree of anguish
and distraction; and that he would rather suffer death than a repetition of such
excruciating reflections. He was, however, comforted by his friend, who assured
him, that his sister's inclinations would, in time, prevail over all the
endeavours of resentment and pride, illustrating this asseveration by an account
of the manner in which she was affected by the knowledge of his disorder, and
advising him to implore the mediation of Sophy, in a letter which she should
communicate to Emilia.
    This was an opportunity which our hero thought too favourable to be
neglected; and therefore calling for paper, he sat up in his bed, and, in the
first transports of his emotion, wrote the following petition to Godfrey's
amiable wife.
 
        Dear madam,
            The affliction of a contrite heart can never appeal to your
        benevolence in vain; and therefore I presume to approach you, in this
        season of delight, with the language of sorrow, requesting that you will
        espouse the cause of an unhappy lover, who mourns with unutterable
        anguish over his ruined hope, and interceed for my pardon with that
        divine creature, whom, in the intemperance and excess of passion, I have
        so mortally offended. Good heaven! is my guilt inexpiable? Am I excluded
        from all hope of remission? Am I devoted to misery and despair? I have
        offered all the atonement which the most perfect and sincere penitence
        could suggest, and she rejects my humility and repentance. If her
        resentment would pursue me to the grave, let her signify her pleasure;
        and may I be branded with the name of villain, and remembered with
        infamy and detestation to all posterity, if I hesitate one moment in
        sacrificing a life which is odious to Emilia. Ah!
