Peregrine receives a letter from Hatchway, in consequence of which he
repairs to the Garrison, and performs the last Offices to his Aunt--He
is visited by Mr. Gauntlet, who invites him to his Marriage.
In this circle of amusements our hero's time was parcelled out, and
few young gentlemen of the age enjoyed life with greater relish,
notwithstanding those intervening checks of reason, which served only
to whet his appetite for a repetition of the pleasures she so prudently
condemned; when he received the following letter, by which he was
determined to visit his estate in the country:
Cousin Pickle,--I hope you are in a better trim than your
aunt, who hath been fast moored to her bed these seven weeks,
by several feet of under-water lodging in her hold and
hollop, whereby I doubt her planks are rotted, so that she
cannot choose but fall to pieces in a short time. I have
done all in my power to keep her tight and easy, and free
from sudden squalls that might overstrain her. And here
have been the doctors, who have scuttled her lower deck, and
let out six gallons of water. For my own part, I wonder how
the devil it came there; for you know as how it was a liquor
she never took in. But as for those fellows the doctors, they
are like unskilful carpenters, that in mending one leak make
a couple; and so she fills again apace. But the worst sign of
all is this here, she won't let a drop of Nantz go between
the combings of her teeth, and has quite lost the rudder of
her understanding, whereby she yaws woundily in her speech
palavering about some foreign part called the New Geereusalem,
and wishing herself in a safe berth in the river Geordun.
The parson, I must say, strives to keep her steady, concerning
the navigation of her soul, and talks very sensibly of charity
and the poor, whereof she hath left a legacy of two hundred
pounds in her will. And here has been Mr. Gamaliel and your
brother my lord, demanding entrance at the gate, in order to
see her; but I would not suffer them to come aboard, and
pointed my patereroes, which made them sheer off. Your sister,
Mrs. Clover, keeps close watch upon her kinswoman, without
ever turning in, and a kind-hearted young woman it is. I
should be glad to see you at the garrison, if the wind of your
inclination sits that way; and mayhap it may be a comfort to
your aunt, to behold you alongside of her, when her anchor is
apeak. So no more at present, but rests your friend and humble
servant to command, “John Hatchway.”
Next morning, after the receipt of this epistle, Peregrine, in order to
manifest his regard to his aunt, as well as his friendship for honest
Jack, set out on horseback for their habitation, attended by Pipes, who
longed to see his old messmate; but before he had reached the garrison,
Mrs. Hatchway had given up the ghost, in the threescore and fifth year
of her age. The widower seemed to bear his loss with resignation, and
behaved very decently upon the occasion, though he did not undergo those
dangerous transports of sorrow, which some tender-hearted husbands have
felt at the departure of their wives. The lieutenant was naturally a
philosopher, and so well disposed to acquiesce in the dispensations of
Providence, that in this, as well as in every other emergency of his
life, he firmly believed, that everything which happened was for the
best.
Peregrine's task, therefore, was not so great in comforting him, as in
consoling his own sister, who, with great poignancy and sincerity
of grief, lamented the death of the only relation with whom she had
maintained any intimacy of correspondence; for her mother was as
implacable as ever, in her enmity against her and Peregrine, and rather
more determined in her rancour; that which was originally a sudden
transport of indignation, being by this time settled into a confirmed
inveteracy of hate. As for Gam, who was now dignified by the country
people with the appellation of the young squire, he still acted in the
capacity of minister to the caprice and vengeance of his mother,
taking all opportunities of disturbing Julia's peace, slandering her
reputation, and committing outrages against the tenants and domestics of
her husband, who was a man of quiet and timorous disposition.
But the chief amusement of young Pickle, in his later years, was
the chase, in which he acquired some renown by his intrepidity and
remarkable figure, which improved every day in deformity; insomuch,
as to suggest a ludicrous scheme of revenge to a gentleman in the
neighbourhood. Having been affronted by the insolence of Crookback,
he clothed a large baboon that was in his possession, in a dress that
resembled the hunting equipage of Gam; and ordering the animal to be set
astride, and tied upon the back of his keenest hunter, turned them out
one day after the hounds. The horse in a little time outstripping all
the rest in the field, the rider was mistaken for Gam by the whole
company, who saluted him as he passed with a halloo, observing, that
the squire had his usual good luck, in being better mounted than his
neighbours. Pickle afterwards appearing in his own person, created
great astonishment in the spectators, one of whom asked if he had split
himself in twain, and pointed out his representative, who was, by this
time, almost up with the hounds. Upon which the identical Gam went in
pursuit of the impostor. When he overtook him, he was so much enraged at
the counterfeit, that he attacked the baboon whip in hand, and, in all
probability, would have sacrificed him to his resentment, had not he
been prevented by the other fox-hunters. They interposed, in order
to make up the difference betwixt two brothers of the sport, and were
equally surprised and diverted when they distinguished the quality of
Crookback's antagonist, which they rescued from his rage, and reconveyed
to its master.
Peregrine, at the request of his friend Jack, took charge of his aunt's
funeral, to which his parents were invited, though they did not think
proper to appear, or pay the least regard to his solicitations, when
he desired permission to wait upon them in person. Nevertheless, old
Gamaliel, at the instigation of his wife, afterwards obtained an order
from Doctors' Commons, obliging Hatchway to produce the will of his
wife, on the supposition that she had bequeathed to him some part of the
money, which, he knew, was at her own disposal. But from this step he
reaped no other satisfaction than that of finding himself altogether
neglected by the testatrix, who had left all her effects to her husband,
except one thousand pounds, with her jewels, to Julia's daughter,
the benefaction mentioned in the lieutenant's letter, and some
inconsiderable legacies to her favourite domestics.
A few days after the interment of this good lady, our hero was agreeably
surprised with a visit from his friend Godfrey, who had come to England
in consequence of that promotion which he owed to his interest, though
the soldier himself placed it to the credit of a certain courtier who
had formerly promised to befriend him, and now finding his advancement
unowned, very modestly arrogated the merit of it to himself. He
communicated his good-fortune to Pickle, who complimented him upon it as
an event of which he had no precognition; and at the same time told
him, that, in consequence of his preferment, his cousin at Windsor had
consented to his being immediately united in the bands of wedlock with
his lovely Sophy; that the wedding-day was already fixed; and that
nothing would be wanting to his happiness, if Peregrine would honour the
nuptials with his presence.
Our hero accepted the invitation with great eagerness, when he learned
that Emilia would be there in quality of bridesmaid; and now repeated
what he had formerly written to his friend, namely, that he was not only
willing, but extremely impatient to atone for his mad behaviour to that
young lady, by laying himself and his whole fortune at her feet. Godfrey
thanked him for his honourable intention, and promised to use his
influence, and that of Sophy, in his behalf, though he seemed dubious
of their success, on account of his sister's delicacy which could not
pardon the least shadow of disrespect. He owned, indeed, he was not
certain that she would appear in the same company with Pickle; but, as
she made no stipulation on that score, he would interpret her silence
in the most favourable manner, and keep her in ignorance of his design,
until she should find it too late to retract with any decency. The hope
of seeing and conversing with Emilia, and perhaps of being reconciled
to her, after having suffered so much and so long from her displeasure,
raised a tumult of ideas in his breast, and produced a strange
inquietude of joy and perturbation. Gauntlet having stayed with him a
few days, and signified the time appointed for his spousals, took his
leave, in order to prepare for the occasion; while Peregrine, with his
friend Hatchway, made a tour among his acquaintance in the country, with
a view of sounding their inclinations touching a project which he had
lately conceived, of offering himself as a candidate for a certain
borough in the neighbourhood, at the ensuing election for members of
parliament.
This scheme, which was suggested to him by one of his quality patrons,
would have succeeded according to his wish, had the election taken place
immediately; but, before that happened, his interest was overbalanced
by some small accidents that will be recorded in the sequel. In the
meantime, he repaired to Windsor on the eve of his friend's marriage,
and understood from Godfrey that it was with the utmost difficulty he
and Sophy could prevail upon his sister to be present at the wedding.
when she was informed that her lover was invited; and that her consent
had not been obtained until they had promised, on the part of Peregrine,
that he should not renew the old topic, nor even speak to her in the
style of a former acquaintance.
Our young gentleman was nettled at this preliminary, to which, however,
he said he would adhere; and so well did he think himself fortified with
pride and resentment, that he resolved to behave towards her with such
indifference, as would, he hoped, mortify her vanity, and thereby
punish her for the implacability of her disposition. Armed with these
sentiments, he was next day introduced by Godfrey to the bride, who
received him with her usual sweetness of temper and affability; and
Emilia being present, he saluted her with a distant bow, which she
acknowledged with a cold courtesy, and an aspect of ice. Though
this deportment confirmed his displeasure, her beauty undermined his
resolution; he thought her charms infinitely improved since their last
parting, and a thousand fond images recurring to his imagination, he
felt his whole soul dissolving into tenderness and love.
In order to banish those dangerous ideas, he endeavoured to enter into a
gay conversation with Sophy, on the subject of the approaching ceremony;
but his tongue performed its office awkwardly, his eyes were attracted
towards Emilia, as if they had been subject to the power of fascination;
in spite of all his efforts, a deep sigh escaped from his bosom, and
his whole appearance indicated anxiety and confusion. The bridegroom,
perceiving his condition, abridged the visit, and having conducted his
companion to his own lodgings, expressed his concern at having been the
innocent occasion of his uneasiness, by exposing him to the sight of
Emilia, which he perceived had given him pain. Peregrine, who had by
this time recollected the dictates of his pride, assured him, that he
was very much mistaken in the cause of his disorder, which was no other
than a sudden qualm, to which he had been for some time subject; and to
show him how philosophically he could bear the disdain of Emilia, which,
with all deference to her conduct, he could not help thinking a little
too severe, he desired, as the bridegroom had made preparation for a
private ball in the evening, that he would provide him with an agreeable
partner; in which case he would exhibit undoubted proofs of the
tranquility of his heart. “I was in hopes,” answered Godfrey, “of being
able, with the assistance of Sophy, to make up matters between you and
my sister, and for that reason kept her unengaged to any other gentleman
for the night; but since she was so peevishly obstinate, I shall take
care to accommodate you with a very handsome young lady, whose partner
will not be sorry to exchange her for Emilia.”
The thoughts of having an opportunity to coquette with another woman,
under the eye of this implacable mistress, supported his spirits during
the ceremony, which put Gauntlet in possession of his heart's desire;
and, by means of this cordial, he found himself so undisturbed at
dinner, though he sat opposite to his fair enemy, that he was able
to pass some occasional jokes upon the new-married couple, with some
appearance of mirth and good-humour. Nor did Emily any otherwise seem
affected by his presence, than by excepting him from the participation
of those genial regards which she distributed to the rest of the
company. This easiness of behaviour on her side reinforced his
resolution, by giving him pretence to call her sensibility in question;
for he could not conceive how any woman of acute feelings could sit
unmoved in presence of a man with whom she had such recent and intimate
connection; not considering that she had much more reason to condemn his
affectation of unconcern, and that her external deportment might, like
his own, be an effort of pride and resentment.
This contest, in point of dissimulation, continued till night, when the
company was paired for dancing, and Peregrine began the ball by walking
a minuet with the bride; then he took out the young lady to whom he was
recommended by Gauntlet, being very well pleased to see that her person
was such as might have inspired even Emily herself with jealousy,
though, at the same time, he perceived his mistress coupled with a gay
young officer, whom, with all due deference to his own qualifications,
he considered as no despicable rival. However, he himself first began
hostilities, by becoming all of a sudden particular with his partner,
whom he forthwith assailed with flattering compliments, that soon
introduced the subject of love, upon which he expatiated with great
art and elocution, using not only the faculty of speech, but also the
language of the eyes, in which he was a perfect connoisseur.
This behaviour soon manifested itself to the whole assembly, the
greatest part of whom believed that he was in good earnest captivated
by the charms of his partner; while Emilia, penetrating into his
design, turned his own artillery upon himself, by seeming to listen with
pleasure to the addresses of his rival, who was no novice in the art of
making love. She even affected uncommon vivacity, and giggled aloud at
every whisper which he conveyed into her ear, insomuch that she, in
her turn, afforded speculation to the company, who imagined the young
soldier had made a conquest of the bridegroom's sister. Pickle
himself began to cherish the same opinion, which gradually invaded his
good-humour, and at length filled his bosom with rage. He strove to
suppress his indignation, and called every consideration of vanity
and revenge to his aid. He endeavoured to wean his eyes from the fatal
object that disturbed him, but they would not obey his direction and
command. He wished himself deprived of all sensation, when he heard
her laugh, and saw her smile upon the officer; and, in the course of
country-dancing, when he was obliged to join hands with her, the touch
thrilled through all his nerves, and kindled a flame within him which he
could not contain. In a word, his endeavours to conceal the situation of
his thoughts were so violent, that his constitution could not endure the
shock; the sweat ran down his forehead in a stream, the colour vanished
from his cheeks, his knees began to totter, and his eyesight to fail; so
that he must have fallen at his full length upon the floor, had not he
retired very abruptly into another room, where he threw himself upon a
couch, and fainted.
In this condition he was found by his friend, who, seeing him withdraw
with such symptoms of disorder, followed him thither; and, when he
recovered the use of his faculties, pressed him to make use of a bed in
that house, rather than expose himself in the night air, by going home
to his own lodgings; but not being able to prevail upon him to accept
the offer, he wrapped him up in a cloak, and, conducting him to the
inn where he lodged, helped him to undress and go to bed, where he was
immediately seized with a violent fit of the ague. Godfrey behaved with
great tenderness, and would have actually borne him company all night,
notwithstanding the circumstances of his own situation, had not his
friend insisted upon his returning to the company, and making his
apology to his partner for his sudden departure. This was a step
absolutely necessary towards maintaining the quiet of the assembly,
which he found in great consternation, occasioned by his absence; for
some of the ladies, seeing the bridegroom follow the stranger in his
retreat, the meaning of which they did not comprehend, began to be
afraid of a quarrel. Emilia, upon pretence of that supposition, was so
much alarmed, that she could not stand, and was fain to have recourse to
a smelling-bottle.
The bride, who understood the whole mystery, was the only person that
acted with deliberation and composure; she imputed Emilia's disorder to
the right cause, which was no other than concern for the condition of
her lover, and assured the ladies there was nothing extraordinary in Mr.
Pickle's going off, he being subject to fainting fits, by which he was
often overtaken without any previous notice. The arrival of Gauntlet
confirmed the truth of this declaration. He made an apology to the
company in the name of his friend, who, he told them, was suddenly
taken ill; and they returned to their diversion of dancing, with this
variation: Emilia was so disordered and fatigued, that she begged to
be excused from continuing the exercise; and Peregrine's partner
being disengaged, was paired with the young officer, for whom she
was originally designed. Meanwhile, the bride withdrew into another
apartment with her sister, and expostulated with her upon her cruelty
to Mr. Pickle, assuring her, from Godfrey's information, that he had
undergone a severe fit on her account, which, in all likelihood
would have a dangerous effect upon his constitution. Though Emily was
inflexible in her answers to the kind remonstrances of the gentle
Sophy, her heart was melting with the impressions of pity and love; and,
finding herself unable to perform the duty of her function, in putting
the bride to bed, she retired to her own chamber, and in secret
sympathized with the distemper of her lover.
In the morning, as early as decency would permit him to leave the arms
of his dear wife, Captain Gauntlet made a visit to Peregrine, who had
passed a very tedious and uneasy night, having been subject to short
intervals of delirium, during which Pipes had found it very difficult to
keep him fast belayed. He owned indeed to Godfrey, that his imagination
had been haunted by the ideas of Emilia and her officer, which tormented
him to an unspeakable degree of anguish and distraction; and that
he would rather suffer death than a repetition of such excruciating
reflections. He was, however, comforted by his friend, who assured
him, that his sister's inclinations would in time prevail over all the
endeavours of resentment and pride, illustrating this asseveration by an
account of the manner in which she was affected by the knowledge of
his disorder, and advising him to implore the mediation of Sophy, in a
letter which she should communicate to Emilia.
This was an opportunity which our hero thought too favourable to be
neglected: calling for paper, he sat up in his bed, and, in the first
transports of his emotion, wrote the following petition to Godfrey's
amiable wife:--
Dear Madam--The affliction of a contrite heart can never
appeal to your benevolence in vain, and, therefore, I
presume to approach you in this season of delight, with
the language of sorrow, requesting that you will espouse
the cause of an unhappy lover, who mourns with unutterable
anguish over his ruined hope, and intercede for my pardon
with that divine creature, whom, in the intemperance and
excess of passion, I have so mortally offended. Good Heaven!
is my guilt inexpiable? Am I excluded from all hope of
remission? Am I devoted to misery and despair? I have
offered all the atonement which the most perfect and sincere
penitence could suggest, and she rejects my humility and
repentance. If her resentment would pursue me to the grave,
let her signify her pleasure; and may I be branded with the
name of villain, and remembered with infamy and detestation
to all posterity, if I hesitate one moment in sacrificing a
life which is odious to Emilia. Ah! madam, while I thus pour
forth the effusions of my grief and distraction, I look
around the apartment in which I lie, and every well-known
object that salutes my view, recalls to my remembrance that
fond, that happy day, on which the fair, the good, the
tender-hearted Sophy became my advocate, though I was a
stranger to her acquaintance, and effected a transporting
reconciliation between me and that same enchanting beauty,
that is now so implacably incensed. If she is not satisfied
with the pangs of remorse and disappointment, the transports
of madness I have undergone, let her prescribe what further
penance she thinks I ought to endure, and when I decline her
sentence, let me be the object of her eternal disdain.
I commit myself, dear madam! dear Sophy! dear partner of my
Friend! to your kind interposition. I know you will manage
my cause, as a concern on which my happiness entirely
depends; and I hope everything from your compassion and
beneficence, while I fear everything from her rigour and
barbarity. Yes! I call it barbarity, a savageness of delicacy
altogether inconsistent with the tenderness of human nature;
and may the most abject contempt be my portion, if I live
under its scourge! But I begin to rave. I conjure you by your
own humanity and sweetness of disposition, I conjure you by
your love for the man whom Heaven hath decreed your protector,
to employ your influence with that angel of wrath, in behalf
of your obliged and obedient servant. “P. PICKLE.”
This epistle was immediately transmitted by Godfrey to his wife, who
perused it with marks of the most humane sympathy; and, carrying it
into her sister's chamber, “Here is something,” said she, presenting the
paper, “which I must recommend to your serious attention.” Emilia, who
immediately guessed the meaning of this address, absolutely refused to
look upon it, or even to hear it read, till her brother, entering her
apartment, reprimanded her sharply for her obstinacy and pride, accused
her of folly and dissimulation, and entered so warmly into the interests
of his friend, that she thought him unkind in his remonstrances, and,
bursting into a flood of tears, reproached him with partiality and
want of affection. Godfrey, who entertained the most perfect love and
veneration for his sister, asked pardon for having given offence, and,
kissing the drops from her fair eyes, begged she would, for his sake,
listen to the declaration of his friend.
Thus solicited, she could not refuse to hear the letter, which, when he
had repeated, she lamented her own fate in being the occasion of so much
uneasiness, desired her brother to assure Mr. Pickle that she was not
a voluntary enemy to his peace; on the contrary, she wished him all
happiness, though she hoped he would not blame her for consulting her
own, in avoiding any future explanation or connection with a person
whose correspondence she found herself under a necessity to renounce. In
vain did the new-married couple exhaust their eloquence in attempting
to prove, that the reparation which our hero had offered was adequate to
the injury she had sustained: that in reconciling herself to a penitent
lover, who subscribed to her own terms of submission, her honour would
be acquitted by the most scrupulous and severe judges of decorum;
and that her inflexibility would be justly ascribed to the pride
and insensibility of her heart. She turned a deaf ear to all their
arguments, exhortations, and entreaties, and threatened to leave the
house immediately, if they would not promise to drop that subject of
discourse.
Godfrey, very much chagrined at the bad success of his endeavours,
returned to his friend, and made as favourable a report of the affair,
as the nature of his conversation with Emilia would permit; but as he
could not avoid mentioning her resolution in the close, Peregrine was
obliged to drink again the bitter draught of disappointment, which put
his passions into such a state of agitation, as produced a short ecstasy
of despair, in which he acted a thousand extravagances. This paroxysm,
however, soon subsided into a settled reserve of gloomy resentment,
which he in secret indulged, detaching himself, as soon as possible,
from the company of the soldier, on pretence of retiring to rest.
While he lay ruminating upon the circumstances of his present situation,
his friend Pipes, who knew the cause of his anxiety, and firmly believed
that Emilia loved his master at her heart, howsoever she might attempt
to disguise her sentiments; I say, Thomas was taken with a conceit
which he thought would set everything to rights, and therefore put it in
execution without further delay. Laying aside his hat, he ran directly
to the house of Sophy's father, and, affecting an air of surprise and
consternation, to which he had never before been subject, thundered at
the door with such an alarming knock, as in a moment brought the whole
family into the hall. When he was admitted, he began to gape, stare, and
pant at the same time, and made no reply, when Godfrey asked what was
the matter, till Mrs. Gauntlet expressed her apprehensions about his
master. When Pickle's name was mentioned, he seemed to make an effort to
speak, and, in a bellowing tone, pronounced, “Brought himself up, split
my topsails!” So saying, he pointed to his own neck, and rose upon his
tiptoes, by way of explaining the meaning of his words.
Godfrey, without staying to ask another question, rushed out, and flew
towards the inn, with the utmost horror and concern; while Sophy, who
did not rightly understand the language of the messenger, addressing
herself to him a second time, said, “I hope no accident has happened
to Mr. Pickle?”--“No accident at all,” replied Tom; “he has only hanged
himself for love.” These words had scarcely proceeded from his mouth,
when Emilia, who stood listening at the parlour door, shrieked aloud,
and dropped down senseless upon the floor; while her sister, who
was almost equally shocked at the intelligence, had recourse to the
assistance of her maid, by whom she was supported from falling. Pipes,
hearing Emily's voice, congratulated himself upon the success of his
stratagem. He sprung to her assistance, and, lifting her up into an easy
chair, stood by her, until he saw her recover from her swoon, and heard
her call upon his master's name, with all the frenzy of despairing love.
Then he bent his course back to the inn, overjoyed at the opportunity of
telling Peregrine what a confession he had extorted from his mistress,
and extremely vain of this proof of his own sagacity.
In the meantime Godfrey arriving at the house in which he supposed this
fatal catastrophe had happened, ran upstairs to Peregrine's chamber,
without staying to make any inquiry below; and, finding the door locked,
burst it open with one stroke of his foot. But what was his amazement,
when, upon entrance, our hero, starting up from the bed, saluted him
with a boisterous exclamation of “Zounds! who's there?” He was struck
dumb with astonishment, which also riveted him to the place where he
stood, scarce crediting the testimony of his own senses, till Peregrine,
with an air of discontent, which denoted him displeased with his
intrusion, dispelled his apprehension by a second address, saying, “I
see you consider me as a friend, by your using me without ceremony.”
The soldier, thus convinced of the falsehood of the information he had
received, began to imagine, that Pickle had projected the plan which was
executed by his servant; and looking upon it as a piece of unjustifiable
finesse, which might be attended with very melancholy consequences to
his sister or wife, he answered, in a supercilious tone, that Mr.
Pickle must blame himself for the interruption of his repose, which was
entirely owing to the sorry jest he had set on foot.
Pickle, who was the child of passion, and more than half mad with
impatience before this visit, hearing himself treated in such a cavalier
manner, advanced close up to Godfrey's breast, and assuming a stern, or
rather frantic countenance, “Hark ye, sir,” said he, “you are mistaken
if you think I jest; I am in downright earnest, I assure you.” Gauntlet,
who was not a man to be browbeaten, seeing himself thus bearded by a
person of whose conduct he had, he thought, reason to complain, put on
his military look of defiance, and, erecting his chest, replied with
an exalted voice, “Mr. Pickle, whether you were in jest or earnest,
you must give me leave to tell you, that the scheme was childish,
unseasonable, and unkind, not to give it a harsher term.”--“Death, sir!”
cried our adventurer, “you trifle with my disquiet; if there is any
meaning in your insinuation, explain yourself, and then I shall know
what answer it will befit me to give.”--“I came with very different
sentiments,” resumed the soldier, “but since you urge me to
expostulation, and behave with such unprovoked loftiness of displeasure,
I will, without circumlocution, tax you with having committed an outrage
upon the peace of my family, in sending your fellow to alarm us with
such an abrupt account of your having done violence upon yourself.”
Peregrine, confounded at this imputation, stood silent, with a most
savage aspect of surprise, eager to know the circumstance to which
his accuser alluded, and incensed to find it beyond the sphere of his
comprehension.
While these two irritated friends stood fronting each other with mutual
indignation in their eyes and attitudes, they were joined by Pipes, who,
without taking the least notice of the situation in which he found them,
told his master, that he might up with the top-gallant masts of his
heart, and out with his rejoicing pendants; for as to Miss Emily, he
had clapped her helm aweather, the vessel wore, and now she was upon the
other tack, standing right into the harbour of his good-will. Peregrine,
who was not yet a connoisseur in the terms of his lacquey, commanded
him, upon pain of his displeasure, to be more explicit in his
intelligence; and by dint of divers questions, obtained a perfect
knowledge of the scheme which he had put in execution for his service.
This information perplexed him not a little; he would have chastised
his servant upon the spot for his temerity, had he not plainly perceived
that the fellow's intention was to promote his case and satisfaction;
and, on the other hand, he knew not how to acquit himself of the
suspicion which he saw Godfrey entertain of his being the projector of
the plan, without condescending to an explanation, which his present
disposition could not brook. After some pause, however, turning to Pipes
with a severe frown, “Rascal!” said he, “this is the second time I have
suffered in the opinion of that lady, by your ignorance and presumption;
if ever you intermeddle in my affairs for the future, without express
order and direction, by all that's sacred, I will put you to death
without mercy! Away, and let my horse be saddled this instant.”
Pipes having withdrawn, in order to perform this piece of duty, our
young gentleman, addressing himself again to the soldier, and laying
his hand upon his breast, said, with a solemnity of regard, “Captain
Gauntlet, upon my honour, I am altogether innocent of that shallow
device which you impute to my invention; and I don't think you do
justice either to my intellect or honour, in supposing me capable of
such insolent absurdity. As for your sister, I have once in my life
affronted her in the madness and impetuosity of desire; but I have made
such acknowledgments, and offered such atonement, as few women of her
sphere would have refused; and before God I am determined to endure
every torment of disappointment and despair, rather than prostrate
myself again to the cruelty of her unjustifiable pride.” So saying, he
stalked suddenly down-stairs, and took horse immediately, his spirits
being supported by resentment, which prompted him to vow within himself,
that he would seek consolation for the disdain of Emilia, in the
possession of the first willing wench he should meet upon the road.
While he set out for the garrison with these sentiments, Gauntlet, in a
suspense between anger, shame, and concern, returned to the house of his
father-in-law, where he found his sister still violently agitated
from the news of Peregrine's death; the mystery of which he forthwith
unravelled, recounting at the same time the particulars of the
conversation which had happened at the inn, and describing the demeanour
of Pickle with some expressions of asperity, which were neither
agreeable to Emilia, nor approved by the gentle Sophy, who tenderly chid
him, for allowing Peregrine to depart in terms of misunderstanding.