, recounting
at the same time the particulars of the conversation which had happened at the
inn, and describing the demeanour of Pickle with some expressions of asperity,
which were neither agreeable to Emilia, nor approved by the gentle Sophy, who
tenderly chid him, for allowing Peregrine to depart in terms of
misunderstanding.
 

                                  Chapter XCV

Peregrine sets out for the Garison, and meets with a Nymph of the Road, whom he
takes into Keeping, and metamorphoses into a fine Lady
 
In the mean time, our hero jogged along in a profound reverie, which was
disturbed by a beggar-woman and her daughter, who solicited him for alms, as he
passed them on the road. The girl was about the age of sixteen, and
notwithstanding the wretched equipage in which she appeared, exhibited to his
view a set of agreeable features, enlivened with the complexion of health and
chearfulness. The resolution I have already mentioned was still warm in his
imagination; and he looked upon this young mendicant as a very proper object for
the performance of his vow. He therefore entered into a conference with the
mother, and for a small sum of money purchased her property in the wench, who
did not require much courtship and intreaty, before she consented to accompany
him to any place that he should appoint for her habitation.
    This contract being settled to his satisfaction, he ordered Pipes to seat
his acquisition behind him upon the crupper, and alighting at the first public
house which they found upon the road, he wrote a letter to Hatchway, desiring
him to receive this hedge-inamorata, and direct her to be cleaned and cloathed
in a decent manner, with all expedition, so that she should be touchable upon
his arrival, which (on that account) he would defer for the space of one day.
This billet, together with the girl, he committed to the charge of Pipes, after
having laid strong injunctions upon him to abstain from all attempts upon her
chastity, and ordered him to make the best of his way to the garison, while he
himself crossed the country to a market-town, where he proposed to spend the
night.
    Tom thus cautioned, proceeded with his charge, and being naturally taciturn,
opened not his lips, until he had performed the best half of his journey. But
Thomas, notwithstanding his irony appearance, was in reality composed of flesh
and blood; and his desire being titillated by the contact of a buxome wench,
whose right arm embraced his middle as he rode, his thoughts began to mutiny
against his master, and he found it almost impossible to withstand the
temptation of making
