This laconic epistle, simple and unadorned as it was, met with as
cordial a reception from the person to whom it was addressed, as
if it had been couched in the most elegant terms that delicacy of
passion and cultivated genius could supply; nay, I believe, was the
more welcome on account of its mercantile plainness; because when
an advantageous match is in view, a sensible woman often considers
the flowery professions and rapturous exclamations of love as
ensnaring ambiguities, or, at best, impertinent preliminaries, that
retard the treaty they are designed to promote; whereas Mr. Pickle
removed all disagreeable uncertainty, by descending at once to the
most interesting particular.

She had no sooner, as a dutiful child, communicated this billet-doux
to her father, than he, as a careful parent, visited Mr. Pickle,
and, in presence of Mrs. Grizzle, demanded a formal explanation
of his sentiments with regard to his daughter Sally. Mr. Gamaliel,
without any ceremony, assured him he had a respect for the young
woman, and, with his good leave, would take her for better, for
worse. Mr. Appleby, after having expressed his satisfaction that
he had fixed his affections in his family, comforted the lover with
the assurance of his being agreeable to the young lady; and they
forthwith proceeded to the articles of the marriage-settlement,
which being discussed and determined, a lawyer was ordered to
engross them; the wedding-clothes were bought, and, in short, a
day was appointed for the celebration of their nuptials, to which
everybody of any fashion in the neighbourhood was invited. Among
these, commodore Trunnion and Mr. Hatchway were not forgotten,
being the sole companions of the bridegroom, with whom, by this
time, they had contracted a sort of intimacy at their nocturnal