Madam, I am
doomed to be for ever wretched; and to sigh without ceasing
for the possession of that jewel, which, though now in my
offer, I dare not enjoy. I shall not pretend to express the
anguish that tears my heart, whilst I communicate this fatal
renunciation, but appeal to the delicacy of your own
sentiments, which can judge of my sufferings, and will,
doubtless, do justice to the self-denial of your forlorn
"P. Pickle."
Emilia, who knew the nicety of our hero's pride, had foreseen the
purport of this epistle before it came to her hands; she did not,
therefore, despair of success, nor desist from the prosecution of
her plan, which was no other than that of securing her own happiness,
in espousing the man upon whom she had fixed her unalterable affection.
Confident of his honour, and fully satisfied of the mutual passion
with which they were inspired, she gradually decoyed him into
a literary correspondence, wherein she attempted to refute the
arguments on which he grounded his refusal; and, without doubt,
the young gentleman was not a little pleased with the enjoyment of
such delightful commerce, in the course of which he had, more than
ever, an opportunity of admiring the poignancy of her wit, and the
elegance of her understanding.
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