 in the
same tavern where he fell: a circumstance of which he was so much ashamed, that
Peregrine and his wife escaped many jokes, which he would have certainly
cracked, had he not lain under the predicament of this disgrace. In half an hour
after he came down, Mrs. Pickle appeared with Sophy, blushing like Aurora or the
goddess of health, and sending forth emanations of beauty unparallelled: she was
complimented upon her change of situation by all present, and by none more
warmly than by old Crabtree, who declared himself so well satisfied with his
friend's fortune, as to be almost reconciled to that institution, against which
he had declaimed during the best part of his life.
    An express was immediately dispatched to Mrs. Gauntlet, with an account of
her daughter's marriage; a town-house was hired, and an handsome equipage set
up, in which the new-married pair appeared at all public places, to the
astonishment of our adventurer's fair-weather friends, and the admiration of all
the world: for, in point of figure, such another couple was not to be found in
the whole united kingdom. Envy despaired, and detraction was struck dumb, when
our hero's new accession of fortune was consigned to the celebration of public
fame: Emilia attracted the notice of all observers, from the pert templar to the
Sovereign himself, who was pleased to bestow encomiums upon the excellence of
her beauty. Many persons of consequence, who had dropped the acquaintance of
Peregrine, in the beginning of his decline, now made open efforts to cultivate
his friendship anew: but he discouraged all these advances with the most
mortifying disdain; and one day, when the nobleman, whom he had formerly
obliged, came up to him in the drawing-room, with the salutation of »Your
servant, Mr. Pickle«, he eyed him with a look of ineffable contempt, saying, »I
suppose your lordship is mistaken in your man,« and turned his head another way,
in presence of the whole court.
    When he had made a circuit round all the places frequented by the
beau-monde, to the utter confusion of those against whom his resentment was
kindled; paid off his debts, and settled his money-matters in town; Hatchway was
dismissed to the country, in order to prepare for the reception of his fair
Emilia; and in a few days after his departure, the whole company (Cadwallader
himself included) set out for his father's house, and, in their way, took up
Mrs. Gauntlet the mother
