This contest, in point of dissimulation, continued till night, when
the company was paired for dancing, and Peregrine began the ball
by walking a minuet with the bride; then he took out the young lady
to whom he was recommended by Gauntlet, being very well pleased
to see that her person was such as might have inspired even Emily
herself with jealousy, though, at the same time, he perceived
his mistress coupled with a gay young officer, whom, with all due
deference to his own qualifications, he considered as no despicable
rival. However, he himself first began hostilities, by becoming all
of a sudden particular with his partner, whom he forthwith assailed
with flattering compliments, that soon introduced the subject of
love, upon which he expatiated with great art and elocution, using
not only the faculty of speech, but also the language of the eyes,
in which he was a perfect connoisseur.
This behaviour soon manifested itself to the whole assembly, the
greatest part of whom believed that he was in good earnest captivated
by the charms of his partner; while Emilia, penetrating into his
design, turned his own artillery upon himself, by seeming to listen
with pleasure to the addresses of his rival, who was no novice in
the art of making love.
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