ABSTRACT
It is time to return to Cranberry Hall, where we left our heroine with her mother. She was not well pleased with the night adventures, which we have recounted, but attributed them chiefly to her brother’s whimsical humours. Tim, under pretence of giving an opinion of the goodness of her spinnet, had stolen a short, but delightful interview, in which she felicitated him on the accession to the importance and honours of his family, and they renewed their declarations of unalterable attachment and fidelity. It was agreed, that our hero should disclose his wishes to Dr. Homily, and prevail on him to open the business, if he judged prudent, to her parents. In the mean while she would, at any rate, prevent the further pretensions of colonel Beekman, and, if no greater progress could be made, / reserve her hand and heart for our hero, till his advancement in life, or some favourable turn in their affairs, should crown them with happiness, by removing or subduing all opposition to their union. Thus, with all their blushing hopes profuse around them, they bade each other a tender adieu; and Tim, soon after, as we have said, returned to Berkeley Hall, and took the first opportunity of disclosing the state of his bosom to his grandfather. Dr. Homily warmly approved of his choice, which he affirmed he could not have bettered in the country; though he would have been more pleased if he had deferred his determination until he had finished his travels through England and become established in life. ‘However,’ said he, ‘as our fate in love as well as in death, seems inevitable, we will do the best for you in our power; but I fear we shall meet with great difficulties from the avarice of her parents, and the sullen unforgiving temper of her brother. The / young lady I highly esteem; and as you have happily obtained her concurrence, you have certainly secured a most leading and important step to success. We must make use of the favourable influence which the commodore’s arrival has given us with her family; and if we are defeated, leave it to your growing reputation and prosperity, and a more favourable coincidence of circumstances, to effect your future wishes.’ Our hero was unbounded in the effusions of his gratitude and joy, and 214promised that, whatever should be the event, he would follow the good advice of so indulgent a benefactor and experienced a friend.
