, not without hopes of that tender enjoyment, which never fails to attend
an accommodation betwixt two lovers of taste and sensibility. Though the
consciousness of his trespass encumbered him with an air of awkward confusion,
he was too confident of his own qualifications and address to despair of
forgiveness; and by that time he arrived at the citizen's gate, he had conned a
very artful and pathetic harangue, which he proposed to utter in his own behalf,
laying the blame of his conduct on the impetuosity of his passion, incensed by
the Burgundy, which he had too liberally drank: but he did not meet with an
opportunity to avail himself of this preparation. Emilia, suspecting that he
would take some step of this kind to retrieve her favour, had gone abroad on
pretence of visiting, after having signified to her kinsman, her resolution to
avoid the company of Peregrine, on account of some ambiguities which (she said)
were last night remarkable in his demeanour, at the masquerade. She chose to
insinuate her suspicions in these hints, rather than give an explicit detail of
the young man's dishonourable contrivance, which might have kindled the
resentment of the family to some dangerous pitch of animosity and revenge.
    Our adventurer, finding himself baffled in his expectation of seeing her,
inquired for the old gentleman, with whom he thought he had influence enough to
make his apology good, in case he should find him prepossessed by the young
lady's information. But here too he was disappointed; the uncle had gone to dine
in the country, and his wife was indisposed; so that he had no pretext for
staying in the house, till the return of his charmer. Being, however, fruitful
of expedients, he dismissed his chariot, and took possession of a room in a
tavern, the windows of which fronted the merchant's gate; and there he proposed
to watch until he should see her approach. This scheme he put in practice with
indefatigable patience, though it was not attended with the expected success.
    Emilia, whose caution was equally vigilant and commendable, foreseeing that
she might be exposed to the fertility of his invention, came home by a private
passage, and entered by a postern, which was altogether unknown to her admirer;
and her uncle did not arrive, until it was so late, that he could not with any
decency demand a conference.
    Next morning, he did not fail to present himself at the door, and his
mistress being denied by her own express direction, insisted upon seeing the
master of the house, who received him with such coldness of civility
