While he diverted himself with these agreeable reveries,
an unexpected event intervened, in which she and her brother were
deeply interested. The uncle was tapped for the dropsy, and died
in a few days after the operation, having bequeathed, in his will,
five thousand pounds to his nephew, and twice that sum to his niece,
who had always enjoyed the greatest share of his favour.
If our adventurer, before this occurrence, looked upon his love
for Emilia as a passion which it was necessary, at any rate, to
conquer or suppress, he now considered her accession of fortune
as a circumstance which confirmed that necessity, and resolved
to discourage every thought on that subject which should tend to
the propagation of hope. One day, in the midst of a conversation
calculated for the purpose, Godfrey put into his hand a letter
directed to Mr. Pickle, in the handwriting of Emilia, which the
youth no sooner recognized, than his cheeks were covered with a
crimson dye, and he began to tremble with violent agitation; for
he at once guessed the import of the billet, which he kissed with
great reverence and devotion, and was not at all surprised when he
read the following words:--
Sir,--l have performed a sufficient sacrifice to my
reputation, in retaining hitherto the appearance of that
resentment which I had long ago dismissed; and as the
late favourable change in my situation empowers me to
avow my genuine sentiments, without fear of censure, or
suspicion of mercenary design, I take this opportunity
to assure you, that, if I still maintain that place in
your heart which I was vain enough to think I once
possessed, I am willing to make the first advances to an
accommodation, and have actually furnished my brother
with full powers to conclude it in the name of your
appeased "Emilia.
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