She perceived and partook of
his emotion; for their souls, like unisons, vibrated with the same
impulse. However, she called her pride and resentment to her aid,
and found resolution enough to retire from such a dangerous scene.
Alarmed at her retreat, he recollected all his assurance, and,
impelled by love, which he could no longer resist, followed her into
the next room, where, in the most disconcerted manner, he accosted
her with "Your humble servant, Miss Gauntlet;" to which salutation
she replied, with an affectation of indifference, that did not,
however, conceal her agitation, "Your servant, sir;" and immediately
extending her finger toward the picture of Duns Scotus, which is
fixed over one of the doors, asked her companion, in a giggling
tone, if she did not think he looked like a conjurer? Peregrine,
nettled into spirits by this reception, answered for the other lady,
"that it was an easy matter to be a conjurer in those times, when
the simplicity of the age assisted his divination; but were he,
or Merlin himself, to rise from the dead now, when such deceit and
dissimulation prevail, they would not be able to earn their bread
by the profession.
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