After having congratulated Pickle upon his succession, and shook
his two friends by the hand, the misanthrope asked whose mare was
dead, that he was summoned in such a plaguy hurry from his dinner,
which he had been fain to gobble up like a cannibal? Our hero gave
him to understand, that they had made an appointment to drink tea
with two agreeable ladies, and were unwilling that he should lose
the opportunity of enjoying an entertainment which he loved so
much. Crabtree, shrivelling up his face like an autumn leaf at
this intimation, cursed his complaisance, and swore they should
keep their assignation without him; for he and lechery had shook
bands many years ago.
The bridegroom, however, likening him unto an old coachman who still
delights in the smack of the whip, and dropping some flattering
hints of his manhood, even at these years, he was gradually prevailed
upon to accompany them to the place of rendezvous; where, being
ushered into a dining-room, they had not waited three minutes,
when they were joined by the parson, who had observed the hour with
great punctuality.
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