ound means to make a conquest of my heart, and upon whom I
prevailed, after much attendance and solicitation, to give me a promise
of marriage. As this beautiful creature passed for a rich heiress, I
blessed my good fortune, and was actually on the point of crowning all
my wishes by matrimony, when I made such a discovery as effectually
turned me from my design, and I abandoned all thoughts of marriage for
the future.

CHAPTER XXI

Squire Gawky comes to lodge with my master--is involved in a troublesome
affair, out of which he is extricated by me--he marries my master's
daughter--they conspire against me--I am found guilty of theft,
discharged--deserted by my friends, I hire a room in St. Gile's--where,
by accident, I find the lady to whom I paid my addresses in a miserable
condition--I relieve her

When I enjoyed myself at large in this temper of mind, Lavement let his
first floor to my countryman and acquaintance, Squire Gawky, who by this
time had got a lieutenancy in the army, and such a martial ferocity in
his appearance that I was afraid he would remember what happened between
us in Scotland, and atone for his breach of appointment then by his
punctuality now; but whether he had actually forgot me, or was willing
to make me believe so, he betrayed not the least symptom of recognition
at sight of me, and I remained quite cured of my apprehension; though
I had occasion not long after to be convinced, that howsoever his
externals might be altered, he was at bottom the same individual Gawky,
whom I have already described. For coming home late one night from the
house of a patient, I heard a noise in the street, and as I approached,
perceived two gentlemen in custody, of three watchmen. The prisoners,
who were miserable, disfigured with dirt, complained bitterly of the
loss of their hats and wigs; and one of them, whom by his tongue I know
to be a Scotchman, lamented most piteously, offering a guinea for his
liberty, which the watchman refused, alleging that one of his companions
was wounded grievously, and that he must stand to the consequence. My
prejudice in favour of my native country was so strong, that I could not
bear to see anybody belonging to it in distress, and therefore, with one
blow of my faithful cudgel, knocked down the watchman who had hold
of the person for whom I was chiefly concerned. He was no sooner
disengaged, than he betook himself to his heels, and left me to maintain
the dispute as