Todealplainlywiththereader，thecaptain，eversincehisarrival，atleastfromthemomenthisbrotherhadproposedthematchtohim，longbeforehehaddiscoveredanyflatteringsymptomsinMissBridget，hadbeengreatlyenamoured；thatistosay，ofMr。
Allworthy’shouseandgardens，andofhislands，tenements，andhereditaments；ofallwhichthecaptainwaspassionatelyfond，thathewouldmostprobablyhavecontractedmarriagewithhadhebeenobligedtohavetakenthewitchofEndorintothebargain。
AsMr。Allworthy，therefore，haddeclaredtothedoctorthatheneverintendedtotakeasecondwife，ashissisterwashisnearestrelation，andasthedoctorhadfishedoutthathisintentionsweretomakeanychildofhershisheir，whichindeedthelaw，withouthisinterposition，wouldhavedoneforhim；thedoctorandhisbrotherthoughtitanactofbenevolencetogivebeingtoahumancreature，whowouldbesoplentifullyprovidedwiththemostessentialmeansofhappiness。Thewholethoughts，therefore，ofboththebrotherswerehowtoengagetheaffectionsofthisamiablelady。
Butfortune，whoisatenderparent，andoftendothmoreforherfavouriteoffspringthaneithertheydeserveorwish，hadbeensoindustriousforthecaptain，thatwhilsthewaslayingschemestoexecutehispurpose，theladyconceivedthesamedesireswithhimself，andwasonhersidecontrivinghowtogivethecaptainproperencouragement，withoutappearingtooforward；forshewasastrictobserverofallrulesofdecorum。Inthis，however，sheeasilysucceeded；forasthecaptainwasalwaysonthelook-out，noglance，gesture，orwordescapedhim。
ThesatisfactionwhichthecaptainreceivedfromthekindbehaviourofMissBridget，wasnotalittleabatedbyhisapprehensionsofMr。Allworthy；for，notwithstandinghisdisinterestedprofessions，thecaptainimaginedhewould，whenhecametoact，followtheexampleoftherestoftheworld，andrefusehisconsenttoamatchsodisadvantageous，inpointofinterest，tohissister。