Gamaliel, having taken lodging in the neighbourhood, was speedily followed by his mother, to whom Peregrine sent word that a regular provision should be settled upon her.

No will having been made in favour of the second son, all Mr. Pickle’s property, amounting to more than L80,000, fell to Peregrine, the widow being entitled to a jointure of L500 a year.

On Peregrine’s return to London, Godfrey Gauntlet, knowing his sister’s affections still undiverted from her earliest love, arranged for his friend to call for him at Emilia’s lodgings.

Rushing into her presence, Peregrine was at first so dazzled with her beauty, that his speech failed, and all his culties were absorbed in admiration.  Then he obeyed the impulse of his love, and circled the charmer in his arms without suffering the least frown or symptom of displeasure.  Observing Mrs. Gauntlet, he asked pardon for his neglect, and was forgiven in consideration of the long and unhappy exile which he had suffered.

“I ought to punish you with the mortification of a twelve months’ trial,” said Emilia, “but it is dangerous to tamper with an admirer of your disposition, and therefore I think I must make sure of you while it is in my power.”

“You are willing, then, to take me for better, for worse, in presence of heaven and these witnesses?” cried Peregrine, kneeling, and applying her hand to his lips.  She darted a side-glance, while her answer was, “Why—­heaven grant me patience to bear the humours of such a yolk-fellow.”

“And may the same powers,” replied the youth, “grant me life and opportunity to manifest the immensity of my love.”

Matters being thus happily matured, the lover begged that immediate recourse might be had to the church, and set out with Godfrey for Doctor Commons for a license, having first agreed that the ceremony should be performed in the lodgings of the bride.

Permission being obtained, they found a means to engage a clergyman, who undertook to attend them at their own time and place.

The ceremony was performed without delay, Hatchway standing as godfather to the bride.

Such another couple as Peregrine and Emilia were not to be found in the whole United Kingdom.

* * * * *

MADAME DE STAEL

Corinne

Madame de Stael, the most famous and brilliant of the many famous Frenchwomen of the Revolution and the Empire, was born, like Bonaparte himself, of alien parents.  Her father was Necker, the eminent Swiss minister of finance under Louis XVI, whose triumph and exile were among the startling events of the opening stage of the Revolution; whilst her mother, also Swiss, had been the lover of the historian Gion and now presided over one of the most brilliant salons in Paris.  Anne Marie Louise Germaine Necker was born at Paris on April 22, 1766.  In 1787 she was