It was,
indeed, a day of peace-offering. -- Mr Dennison insisted upon
Liddy's accepting two bank notes of one hundred pounds each, as
pocket-money; and his lady gave her a diamond necklace of double
that value. There was, besides, a mutual exchange of tokens among
the individuals of the two families thus happily united.
As George Dennison and his partner were judged improper objects
of mirth, Jack Wilson had resolved to execute some jokes on
Lismahago, and after supper began to ply him with bumpers, when
the ladies had retired; but the captain perceiving his drift,
begged for quarter, alledging that the adventure, in which he had
engaged, was a very serious matter; and that it would be more the
part of a good Christian to pray that he might be strengthened,
than to impede his endeavours to finish the adventure. -- He was
spared accordingly, and permitted to ascend the nuptial couch
with all his senses about him. -- There he and his consort sat in
state, like Saturn and Cybele, while the benediction posset was
drank; and a cake being broken over the head of Mrs Tabitha
Lismahago, the fragments were distributed among the bystanders,
according to the custom of the antient Britons, on the
supposition that every person who eat of this hallowed cake,
should that night have a vision of the man or woman whom Heaven
designed should be his or her wedded mate.
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