eat to be disguis'd; and I am extremely pleas'd, that
you can think any Thing in my House worthy the Honour you intend
_Peregrina_. Indeed, had you made any particular and publick Address to
my Daughter, I should have believ'd it want of Merit in her, or in us,
her Parents, that you should, after that, quit your Pretensions to her,
without any willing or known Offence committed on our Side. I therefore
(Sir) approve your Choice, and promise you my utmost Assistance afar.
She is really virtuous in all the Latitude of Virtue; her Beauty is too
visible to be disputed ev'n by Envy it self: As for her Birth, she best
can inform you of it; I must only let you know, that, as her Name
imports, she was utterly a Stranger, and entertain'd by us in pure
Charity. But the Antiquity and Honour of your Family can receive no
Diminution by a Match with a beautiful and virtuous Creature, for whom,
you say, and I believe, you have so true a Passion. I have now told you
the worst (Sir) that I know of her; but your Wealth and Love may make
you both eternally happy on Earth. And so they shall, _by her dear
self_, (return'd the amorous Knight) if both of 'em may recommend me to
her, with your Perswasions added, which still I beg. Say, rather you
command; and with those three hundred Pounds which I promis'd her, if
she marry'd with my Consent to Mr. _Prayfast_.

To this, the other smiling, reply'd, Her Person and Love is all I court
or expect, Sir: But since you have thought her worthy of so great an
Expression of your Favour and Kindness, I will receive it with all
Humility as is from a Father, which I shall ever esteem you.--But see,
Sir, (cry'd he in an Extasy) how she comes, led by Madam _Eleanora_,
your Daughter. The young Lady coming to him, began thus: I know (Sir)
'tis my Father and Mother's Desire and Ambition to shew you the
heartiest Welcome in their Power, which can by no Means be made appear
so particularly and undisputably, as by presenting you with what you
like best in the Family: In Assurance therefore that I shall merit their
Favour by this Act, I have brought your dear _Peregrina_ to you, not
without Advice, and some Instructions of mine, that may concern her
Happiness with you, if discreetly observ'd and persu'd by her. In short,
(Sir) I have told her, that a Gentleman of so good a Figure, such
excellent Parts, and generous Education, of so ancient and honourable a
Family, together with so plentiful an Estate as you at prese