 new
acquaintance. He arose with the lark, adjusted his hair into an agreeable
negligence of curl, and dressing himself in a genteel grey frock trimmed with
silver binding, waited with the utmost impatience for the hour of ten, which no
sooner struck, than he hied him to the place of appointment, and inquiring for
Miss Gauntlet, was shewn into a parlour. Here he had not waited above ten
minutes, when Emilia entered in a most inchanting undress, with all the graces
of nature playing about her person, and in a moment rivetted the chains of his
slavery beyond the power of accident to unbind.
    Her mother being still abed, and her brother gone to give orders about the
chaise, in which they proposed to return the same day to their own habitation,
he enjoyed her company tête a tête a whole hour, during which he declared his
love in the most passionate terms, and begged that he might be admitted into the
number of those admirers whom she permitted to visit and adore her.
    She affected to look upon his vows and protestations as the ordinary effects
of gallantry, and very obligingly assured him, that were she to live in that
place, she should be glad to see him often; but as the spot on which she resided
was at a considerable distance, she could not expect he would go so far upon
such a trifling occasion, or take the trouble of providing himself with her
mamma's permission.
    To this favourable hint he answered with all the eagerness of the most
fervid passion, that he had uttered nothing but the genuine dictates of his
heart, and desired nothing so much as an opportunity of evincing the sincerity
of his professions; and that though she lived at the extremity of the kingdom,
he would find means to lay himself at her feet, provided he could visit her with
her mother's consent, which he assured her he would not fail to sollicit.
    She then gave him to understand, that her habitation was about sixteen miles
from Winchester, in a village which she named, and where (as he could easily
collect from her discourse) he would be no unwelcome guest.
    In the midst of this communication they were joined by Mrs. Gauntlet, who
received him with great courtesy, thanked him again for his politeness to Emy at
the Ball, and anticipated his intention, by saying that she should be very glad
to see him at her house, if ever his occasions should call him that way.
 

                                  Chapter XXI

He inquires into the Situation of this young Lady with whom he is enamoured;
elopes from School; is found by the Lieutenant,
