Mrs. Gauntlet, seeing
his eyes kindled at the occasion, kissed her charming sister, who,
throwing her snowy arms about her neck, would have detained her in
the room, had not Peregrine gently disengaged her confidante from
her embrace, and conducted her trembling to the door; which having
bolted and barricadoed, he profited by his good fortune, and his
felicity was perfect.
Next day he rose about noon, and found his three friends assembled,
when he learned that Jack had fallen in his own snare, and been
obliged to lie in the same tavern where he fell; a circumstance of
which he was so much ashamed, that Peregrine and his wife escaped
many jokes, which he would have certainly cracked, had he not lain
under the imputation of this disgrace. In half an hour after he
came down, Mrs. Pickle appeared with Sophy, blushing like Aurora
or the goddess of health, and sending forth emanations of beauty
unparalleled. She was complimented upon her change of situation
by all present, and by none more warmly than by old Crabtree, who
declared himself so well satisfied with his friend's fortune, as
to be almost reconciled to that institution, against which he had
declaimed during the best part of his life.
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