Gauntlet overnight, and told the young ladies be would call early
next morning to bid them farewell. He did not neglect this piece
of duty, and found the two friends and breakfast already prepared
in the parlour. All three being extremely affected with the thoughts
of parting, a most pathetic silence for some time prevailed, till
Peregrine put an end to it by lamenting his fate, in being obliged
to exile himself so long from the dear object of his most interesting
wish. He begged, with the most earnest supplications, that she
would now, in consideration of the cruel absence he must suffer,
give him the consolation which she had hitherto refused; namely, that
of knowing he possessed a place within her heart. The confidante
seconded his request, representing that it was now no time
to disguise her sentiments, when her lover was about to leave the
kingdom, and might be in danger of contracting other connections,
unless he was confirmed in his constancy, by knowing how far
he could depend upon her love; and, in short, she was plied with
such irresistible importunities, that she answered in the utmost
confusion, "Though I have avoided literal acknowledgments, methinks
the circumstances of my behaviour might have convinced Mr.
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