 sustenance, but also undertaken to provide a nurse for her babes, and
even promised to favour her with protection, should she survive her present
melancholy situation. To these articles of intelligence she added, that the name
of her benefactress was the celebrated lady --, to whose character the youth was
no stranger, though he had never seen her person before. The killing edge of her
charms was a little blunted by the accidents of time and fortune; but no man of
taste and imagination, whose nerves were not quite chilled with the frost of
age, could, even at that time, look upon her with impunity: and as Peregrine saw
her attractions heightened by the tender office in which she was engaged, he was
smitten with her beauty, and so ravished with her compassion, that he could not
suppress his emotions, but applauded her benevolence with all the warmth of
enthusiasm.
    Her ladyship received his compliments with great politeness and affability;
and the occasion on which they met being equally interesting to both, an
acquaintance commenced between them, and they concerted measures for the benefit
of the widow and her two children, one of whom our hero bespoke for his own
godson; for Pickle was not so obscure in the beau monde, but that his fame had
reached the ears of this lady, who, therefore, did not discourage his advances
towards her friendship and esteem.
    All the particulars relating to their charge being adjusted, he attended her
ladyship to her own house; and, by her conversation, had the pleasure of finding
her understanding suitable to her other accomplishments. Nor had she any reason
to think, that our hero's qualifications had been exaggerated by common report.
    One of their adopted children died before it was baptized; so that their
care concentered in the other, for whom they stood sponsors; and understanding
that the old agent was become troublesome in his visits to the mother, to whom
he now began to administer such counsel as shocked the delicacy of her virtue,
they removed her into another lodging, where she would not be exposed to his
machinations; and in less than a month, our hero learn'd from a nobleman of his
acquaintance, that the hoary pandar had actually engaged to procure for him,
this poor afflicted gentlewoman; and being frustrated in his intention,
substituted in her room a nymph from the purlieus of Covent-garden, that made
his lordship smart severely for the favours she bestowed.
    Mean while, Peregrine cultivated his new acquaintance with all his art and
assiduity, presuming, from the circumstance of her reputation and fate, as well
as on the strength
