Page:History of Whittington and his cat (1).pdf/19

This page has been validated.
19

gentleman, and made him the offer of his house to live in, till he could provide himself with a better. Now it came to pass, that when Mr Whittington’s face was washed, his hair curled, and dressed in a rich suit of clothes, that he turned out a genteel young fellow: and as wealth contributes much to give a man confidence, he in a little time dropped that sheepish behaviour, which was principally occasioned by a depression of spirits, and soon grew a sprightly and good companion, insomuch that Miss Alice, who had formerly seen him with an eye of compassion, now viewed him with other eyes, which perhaps was in some measure occasioned by his readiness to oblige her, and by continually making her presents of such things as he thought would he agreeable.

When her father perceived they had this good liking for each other, he proposed a match between them, to which both parties cheerfully consented,