fools, I could have promised you a Prince and a Nabob for half
the money.' This curiosity of theirs, however, was attended with
very serious effects: we now began to think ourselves designed by
the stars for something exalted, and already anticipated our
future grandeur. It has been a thousand times observed, and I
must observe it once more, that the hours we pass with happy
prospects in view, are more pleasing than those crowned with
fruition. In the first case we cook the dish to our own appetite;
in the latter nature cooks it for us. It is impossible to repeat
the train of agreeable reveries we called up for our
entertainment. We looked upon our fortunes as once more rising;
and as the whole parish asserted that the 'Squire was in love
with my daughter, she was actually so with him; for they
persuaded her into the passion. In this agreeable interval, my
wife had the most lucky dreams in the world, which she took care
to tell us every morning, with great solemnity and exactness. It
was one night a coffin and cross bones, the sign of an
approaching wedding: at another time she imagined her daughters'
pockets filled with farthings, a certain sign of their being
shortly stuffed with gold. The girls themselves had their omens.
They felt strange kisses on their lips; they saw rings in the
candle, purses bounced from the fire, and true love-knots lurked
in the bottom of every tea-cup.

Towards the end of the week we received a card from the town
ladies; in which, with their compliments, they hoped to see all
our family at church the Sunday following. All Saturday morning I
could perceive, in consequence of this, my wife and daughters in
close conference together, and now and then glancing at me with
looks that betrayed a latent plot. To be sincere, I had strong