This gentleman no sooner entered the room, than Cadwallader, in
a whisper to Gauntlet, asked if that was not the cock-b--d; and,
before the captain could make any reply, "What an unconscionable w--
master the rogue is! "said he, "scarce discharged from confinement,
and sweetened with a little fresh air, when he wenches with a pimp
in canonicals in his pay." The door again opened, and Emilia broke
in upon them, with such dignity of mien, and divinity of aspect,
as inspired every spectator with astonishment and admiration. The
lieutenant, who had not seen her since her charms were ripened
into such perfection, expressed his wonder and approbation in
an exclamation of "Add's zooks! what a glorious galley!" and the
misanthrope's visage was instantly metamorphosed into the face of
a mountain goat. He licked his lips instinctively, snuffed the air,
and squinted with a most horrible obliquity of vision.
The bride and her sister being seated, and Hatchway having renewed
his acquaintance with the former, who recognized him with particular
civility, Peregrine withdrew into another apartment with his friend
Crabtree, to whom he imparted the design of his meeting; which the
latter no sooner understood, than he attempted to retreat, without
making any other reply than that of "Pshaw! rot your matrimony!
can't you put your neck in the noose, without my being a witness
of your folly?"
The young gentleman, in order to vanquish this aversion, stepped to
the door of the next room, and begged the favour of speaking with
Emilia, to whom he introduced the testy old bachelor as one of his
particular friends, who desired to have the honour of giving her
away.
Pages:
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526