 of his
design, until she should find it too late to retract with any decency. The hope
of seeing and conversing with Emilia, and perhaps of being reconciled to her,
after having suffered so much and so long from her displeasure, raised a tumult
of ideas in his breast, and produced a strange inquietude of joy and
perturbation. Gauntlet having stayed with him a few days, and signified the time
appointed for his spousals, took his leave, in order to prepare for the
occasion; while Peregrine, with his friend Hatchway, made a tour among his
acquaintance in the country, with a view of sounding their inclinations touching
a project which he had lately conceived, of offering himself as a candidate for
a certain borough in the neighbourhood, at the ensuing election for members of
parliament.
    This scheme, which was suggested to him by one of his quality patrons, would
have succeeded according to his wish, had the election taken place immediately;
but before that happened, his interest was overbalanced by some small accidents
that will be recorded in the sequel. In the mean time, he repaired to Windsor on
the eve of his friend's marriage, and understood from Godfrey, that it was with
the utmost difficulty he and Sophy could prevail upon his sister to be present
at the wedding, when she was informed that her lover was invited, and that her
consent had not been obtained until they had promised, on the part of Peregrine,
that he should not renew the old topic, nor even speak to her in the stile of a
former acquaintance.
    Our young gentleman was nettled at this preliminary, to which, however, he
said he would adhere; and so well did he think himself fortified with pride and
resentment, that he resolved to behave towards her with such indifference, as
would, he hoped, mortify her vanity, and thereby punish her for the
implacability of her disposition. Armed with these sentiments, he was next day
introduced by Godfrey to the bride, who received him with her usual sweetness of
temper and affability; and Emilia being present, he saluted her with a distant
bow, which she acknowledged with a cold curt'sy, and an aspect of ice. Tho' this
deportment confirmed his displeasure, her beauty undermined his resolution; he
thought her charms were infinitely improved since their last parting, and a
thousand fond images recurring to his imagination, he felt his whole soul
dissolving into tenderness and love.
    In order to banish those dangerous ideas, he endeavoured to enter into a gay
conversation with Sophy, on the subject of the approaching ceremony; but his
tongue performed
