 Chapter 100 of the Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, Volume 2, by Tobias Smollett, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 100. These associates commit an assault upon Crabtree, for which they are banished from the fleet. Peregrine begins to feel the effects of confinement. Our adventure, having dined and an ordinary, and in the afternoon retired to his own apartment, as usual, with his friend Cadwallader, Hatchway and his associates, after they had been obliged to discuss the provision for which they had paid, renewed their conference upon the old subject. Pipe's giving his messmate to understand that Peregrine's chief confidant was the old deaf bachelor, whom he had seen at his lodging the preceding day. Mr. Hatchway, in his great penetration, discovered that the young gentleman's obstinacy proceeded from the advice of the misanthrope, whom for that reason it was their business to chastise. Pipe's entered into this opinion the more willingly, as he had all along believed the senior to be a sort of wizard, or some cacodemon, whom it was not very creditable to be acquainted with. Indeed, he had been inspired with this notion by the insinuations of Haji, who had formally dropped some hints touching Crabtree's profound knowledge in the magic art. Mentioning in particular his being possessed of the philosopher's stone, an assertion to which Tom had given implicit credit, until his master was sent to prison for debt, when he could no longer suppose Cadwallader, lord of such a valuable secret, or else he would have certainly procured the enlargement of his most intimate friend. With these sentiments, he espoused the resentment of Hatchway. They determined to seize the supposed conjurer with the first opportunity on his return from his visit to Peregrine, and without hesitation, exercise upon him the discipline of the pump. This plan they would have executed that same evening, had not the misanthrope luckily withdrawn himself by accident before it was dark, and even before they had intelligence of his retreat. But next day they kept themselves upon the watch till he appeared, and Pipe's lifting his hat as Crabtree passed. Oh Dernier, oh Dany, said he, you and I must grapple by and by, and again I shall lie so near your quarter that your earports will let in the sound, death they are double caulked with oakum. This misanthrope's ears were not quite so fast closed, but that they received this intimation, which though delivered in terms that he did not well understand, had such an effect upon his apprehension that he signified his doubts to Peregrine, observing that he did not much like the looks of that same ruffian with the wooden leg. Pickle assured him he had nothing to fear from the two sailors who could have no cause of resentment against him, or if they had would not venture to take any step which they knew must block up all the avenues to that reconcilment about which they were so anxious, and moreover give such offense to the governor of the place as would infallibly induce him to expel them both from his territories. Notwithstanding this assurance, the young gentleman was not so confident of the lieutenant's discretion as to believe that Crabtree's fears were altogether without foundation. He forthwith conjectured that Jack had taken umbrage at an intimacy from which he found himself excluded and imputed his disgrace to the insinuations of Cadwallader, whom in all likelihood he intended to punish for his supposed advice. He knew his friend could sustain no great damage from the lieutenant's resentment in a place which he could immediately alarm with his cries and therefore wished he might fall into the snare because it would furnish him with a pretense of complaint, in consequence of which the sailors would be obliged to shift their quarters so as that he should be rid of their company in which he at present could find no enjoyment. Everything happened as he had foreseen. The misanthrope in his retreat from Peregrine's chamber was assaulted by Hatchway and his associate, who seized him by the collar without ceremony and began to drag him towards the pump, of which they would have certainly complimented him with a very disagreeable bath, had not he exalted his voice in such a manner as in a moment brought a number of the inhabitants and pickle himself to his aid. The assailants would have persisted in their design, had the opposition been such as they could have faced with any possibility of success, nor did they quit their prey before a dozen at least, had come to his rescue and Peregrine, with a menacing aspect and air of authority, commanded his old valet to withdraw. Then they thought proper to shear off and retake themselves to close quarters, while our hero accompanied the affrighted Cadwallader to the gate and exhibited to the warden a formal complaint against the rioters upon whom he retorted the charge of lunacy which was supported by the evidence of twenty persons who had been eyewitnesses of the outrage committed against the old gentlemen. The governor in consequence of this information sent a message to Mr. Hatchway, warning him to move his lodging next day on pain of being expelled. The lieutenant, contumatiously refusing to comply with this information was in the morning while he amused himself in walking upon the bear, suddenly surrounded by the constables of the court who took him and his adherent prisoners before they were aware and delivered them into the hands of the turned keys by whom they were immediately dismissed and their baggage conveyed to the side of the ditch. This expulsion was not performed without an obstinate opposition on the part of the delinquents who had they not been surprised would have set the whole fleet at defiance and in all probability have acted diverse tragedies before they could have been overpowered. Things being circumstance as they were the lieutenant did not part with his conductor without tweaking his nose by way of farewell and pipes in imitation of such a laudable example communicated a token of remembrance in an application to the sole eye of his attendant who, scorning to be outdone in this kind of courtesy, returned the compliment with such goodwill that Tom's organ performed the office of a multiplying glass. These were mutual hints for stripping and accordingly each was naked from the waist upwards in a trice. A ring of butchers from the market was immediately formed. A couple of the Reverend Flamens who, in morning gowns, applied for marriages in that quarter of the town constituted themselves seconds and umpires of the approaching contests and the battle began without further preparation. The combatants were in point of strength and agility pretty equally matched but the jailer had been regularly trained in the art of bruising. He had more than once signalized himself in public by his prowess and skill in this exercise and lost one eye upon the stage in the course of his exploits. This was a misfortune of which pipes did not fail to take the advantage. It already sustained several hard knocks upon his temples and jaws and found it impracticable to smite his antagonist upon the whittling office so dexterously was it defended against assault. He then changed his battering being ambidextor, raised such a clutter upon the turnkey's blind side that this hero believing him left-handed converted his attention that way and opposed the unenlightened side of his face to the right hand of pipes which being thus unprovided against slyly bestowed upon him a peg under the fifth rib that in an instant laid him senseless on the pavement at the feet of his conqueror. Pipes was congratulated upon his victory not only by his friend Hatchway but also by all the bystanders particularly the priest who had espoused his cause and now invited the strangers to his lodgings in a neighboring ale house where they were entertained so much to their liking that they determined to seek no other habitation while they should continue in town and notwithstanding the disgrace and discouragement they had met with in their endeavors to serve our adventurer they were still resolved to persevere in their good offices or in the vulgar phrase to see him out. While they settled themselves in this manner and acquired familiar connections round all the pearly use of the ditch Paragrain found himself deprived of the company of Cadwallader who signified by letter that he did not choose to hazard his person again in visiting him while such assassins occupied the avenues through which he must pass for he had been at pains to inquire into the motions of the seamen and informed himself exactly of the harbor in which they were moored. Our hero had been so much accustomed to the conversation of Crabtree which was altogether suitable to the singularity of his own disposition that he could very ill afford to be debarred of it at this juncture when almost every other source of enjoyment was stopped. He was however obliged to submit to the hardship of his situation and as the characters of his fellow prisoners did not at all improve upon him he was compelled to seek for satisfaction within himself not but that he had an opportunity of conversing with some people who neither wanted sense nor were deficient in point of principle yet there appeared in the behavior of them all without exception a certain want of decorum a squalor of sentiment a sort of jailish caste contracted in the course of confinement which disgusted the delicacy of our hero's observation he therefore detached himself from their parties as much as he could without giving offense to those among whom he was obliged to live and resumed his labors with incredible eagerness and perseverance his spirits being supported by the success of some severe Philippics which he occasionally published against the author of his misfortune nor was his humanity unemployed in the vacations of his revenge a man must be void of all sympathy and compassion who can reside among so many miserable objects without feeling an inclination to relieve their distress every day almost presented to his view such lamentable scenes as were most likely to attract his notice and engage his benevolence reverses of fortune attended with the most deplorable circumstances of domestic woe were continually intruding upon his acquaintance his ears were invaded with the cries of the hapless wife who from the enjoyment of affluence and pleasure was forced to follow her husband through this abode of wretchedness and want his eyes were every minute assailed with the naked and meager appearances of hunger and cold and his fancy teamed with a thousand aggravations of their misery thus situated his purse was never shut while his heart remained open without reflecting upon the slenderness of his store he exercised his charity to all the children of distress and acquired a popularity which though pleasing was far from being profitable in short his bounty kept no pace with his circumstances and in a little time he was utterly exhausted he had recourse to his bookseller from whom with great difficulty he obtained a small reinforcement and immediately relapsed into the same want of retention he was conscious of his infirmity and found it incurable he foresaw that by his own industry he should never be able to defray the expense of these occasions and this reflection sunk deep into his mind the approbation of the public which he had earned or might acquire like a cordial often repeated began to lose its effect upon his imagination his health suffered by his sedentary life and austere application his eyesight failed his appetite foresook him his spirits decayed so that he became melancholy listless and altogether incapable of prosecuting the only means he had left for his subsistence and what did not at all contribute to the alleviation of these particulars he was given to understand by his lawyer that he had lost his cause and was condemned in cause even this was not the most mortifying piece of intelligence he received he at the same time learned that his bookseller was bankrupt and his friend Crabtree at the point of death these were comfortable considerations to a youth of peregrine's disposition which was so capricious that the more his misery increased the more hearty and inflexible he became rather than be beholden to hatchway who still hovered about the gate eager for an opportunity to assist him he chose to undergo the want of almost every convenience of life and actually pledged his wearing apparel to an Irish pawnbroker in the fleet for money to purchase those things without which he must have absolutely perished he was gradually irritated by his misfortunes into a rancorous resentment against mankind in general and his heart so alienated from the enjoyments of life that he did not care how soon he quitted his miserable existence though he had shocking examples of the vicissitudes of fortune continually before his eyes he could never be reconciled to the idea of living like his fellow sufferers in the most abject degree of dependence if he refused to accept the favors from his own allies and intimate friends whom he had formally obliged it is not to be supposed that he would listen to proposals of that kind from any of his fellow prisoners with whom he had contracted acquaintance he was even more cautious than ever of incurring obligations he now shunned his former mess mates in order to avoid disagreeable tenders of friendship imagining that he perceived an inclination in the clergyman to learn the state of his finances he discouraged and declined the explanation and it links the clue to himself from all society end of chapter one hundred chapter one hundred and one of the adventures of peregrine pickle volume two by Tobias Smollett this Liebervox recording is in the public domain chapter one hundred and one he receives an unexpected visit and the clouds of misfortune begin to separate while he pined in this forlorn condition with an equal abhorrence of the world and himself captain gauntlet arrived in town in order to employ his interest for promotion in the army and in consequence of his wife's particular desire made it his business to inquire for peregrine to whom he longed to be reconciled even though at the expense of a slight submission but he could hear no tidings of him at the place to which he was directed and on the supposition that our hero had gone to reside in the country applied himself to his own business with intention to renew his inquiries after that affair should be transacted he communicated his demands to his supposed patron who had assumed the merit of making him a captain and been gratified with a valuable present on that consideration and was cajoled with hopes of succeeding in his present aim by the same interest meanwhile he became acquainted with one of the clerks belonging to the war office whose advice and assistance he was told would be of furtherance to his scheme as he had occasion to discourse with this gentleman upon the circumstances of his expectation he learned that the nobleman upon whom he depended was a person of no consequence in the state and altogether incapable of assisting him in his advancement at the same time his counselor expressed his surprise that Captain Gauntlet did not rather interest in his cause the noble peer to whose good offices he owed his last commission this remark introduced an explanation by which Godfrey discovered to his infinite astonishment the mistake in which he had continued so long with regard to his patron though he could not divine the motive which induced a nobleman with whom he had no acquaintance or connection to interpose his influence in his behalf whatsoever that might be he thought it was his duty to make his acknowledgement and for that purpose went next morning to his house where he was politely received and given to understand that Mr. Pickle was the person to whose friendship he was indebted for his last promotion inexpressible were the transports of gratitude affection and remorse that took possession of the soul of Gauntlet when this mystery was unfolded good heaven cried he lifting up his hands have I lived so long in a state of animosity with my benefactor I intended to have reconciled myself at any rate before I was sensible of this obligation but now I shall not enjoy a moment's quiet until I have an opportunity of expressing to him my sense of his heroic friendship I presume from the nature of the favor conferred upon him in my behalf that Mr. Pickle is well known to your lordship and I should think myself extremely happy if you could inform me in what part of the country he is to be found for the person with whom he lodged some time ago could give me no intelligence of his motions the nobleman touched with this instance of generous self-denial in peregrine as well as with the sensibility of his friend lamented the unhappiness of our hero while he gave Gauntlet to understand that he had been long disordered in his intellects in consequence of having squandered away his fortune and that his creditors had thrown him into the fleet prison the weather he still continued in that confinement or was released from his misfortunes by death his lordship did not know because he had never inquired Godfrey no sooner received this intimation than his blood boiling with grief and impatience he created pardon for his abrupt departure than quitting his informer on the instant re-embarked in his hackney coach and ordered himself to be conveyed directly to the fleet as the vehicle proceeded along one side of the market he was surprised with the appearance of hatch-way and pipes who stood cheapening cauliflower at a green stall their heads being cased in worsted night caps half covered with their hats and a short tobacco pipe in the mouth of each he was rejoiced at sight of the two seamen which he took for a happy omen of finding his friend and ordering the coachman to stop the carriage called to the lieutenant by his name Jack replying with an hello looking behind him and recognizing the face of his old acquaintance ran up to the coach with great eagerness shaking the captain heartily by the hand odds heart said he I'm glad thou has fallen in with us we shall now be able to find the trim of this vessel and lay her about on tethered tack for my own part I've had many a consort in my time that is in the way of good fellowship and I always made a shift to wear him at one time or another but this had strong toad will neither obey the helm nor the sheet and for odd I know we all found her where allies at anchor gauntlet who conceived part of his meaning alighted immediately and being conducted to the sailors lodging was informed of everything that had passed between the lieutenant and pickle he in his turn communicated to Jack the discovery which he had made with regard to his commission at which the other gave no signs of surprise but taking the pipe from his mouth while looking captains that he that's not the only good term you have owed him that same money you received from the Commodore as an old debt was all a sham contrived by pickle for your service but a will drive under his bare poles without sales and rigging or a mess of provision on board rather than take the same assistance from another man Godfrey was not only amazed but chagrined at the knowledge of this anecdote which gave umbrage to his pride while it stimulated his desire of doing something in return for the obligation he inquired into the present circumstances of the prisoner and understanding that he was indisposed and but indifferently provided with the common necessaries of life those still death to all offers of assistance began to be extremely concerned at the account of this savage obstinacy and pride which would he feared exclude him from the privilege of relieving him in his distress however he resolved to leave no expedient untried that might have any tendency to surmount such destructive prejudice and entering the jail was directed to the apartment of the wretched prisoner he knocked softly at the door and when it was opened started back with horror and astonishment the figure that presented itself to his view was the remains of his once happy friend but so miserably altered and disguised that his features were scarce cognizable the florid the sprightly the gay the elevated youth was now metamorphosed into a wan dejected meager squalid specter the hollow eyed representative of distemper indigents and despair yet his eyes retained a certain ferocity which through a dismal gleam at the work of cloudiness of his aspect and he in silence viewed his old companion with a look for tokening confusion and disdain as for gauntlet he could not without emotion behold such a woeful reverse of fate in a person for whom he entertained the noblest sentiments of friendship gratitude and disdain his sorrow was at first too big for utterance and he shed a flood of tears before he could pronounce one word peregrine in spite of his misanthropy could not help being affected with this uncommon testimony of regard but he strove to stifle his sensations his brows contracted themselves into a severe frown his eyes kindled into the appearance of live coals he waved with his end in signal for godfrey to be gone and leave such a wretch as him to the miseries of his fate and finding nature too strong to be suppressed uttered a deep groan and wept aloud the soldier seeing him thus melted unable to restrain the strong impulse of his affection sprung towards and clasping him in his arms my dearest friend and best benefactor said he I am come hither to humble myself for the offense I was so unhappy as to give at our last party to beg a reconciliation to thank you for the case and affluence I have enjoyed through your means and to rescue you in spite of yourself from this melancholy situation of which but an hour ago I was utterly ignorant do not deny me the satisfaction of acquitting myself in point of duty and obligation he must certainly have had some regard for a person in his favor you have exerted yourself so much and if any part of that esteem remains you will not refuse him an opportunity of approving himself in some measure worthy of it. Let me not suffer the most mortifying of all repulsives that have slighted friendship but kindly sacrifice your resentment and inflexibility to the request of one who is at all times ready to sacrifice his life for your honor and advantage. If you will not yield to my entreaties have some regard to the wishes of my Sophie who laid me under the strongest injunctions to solicit your forgiveness even before she knew how much I was indebted to your generosity or if that consideration should be of no weight. I hope you will relax a little for the sake of poor Amelia whose resentment have been long subdued by her affection and who now droops in secret at your neglect. Every word of this address delivered in the most pathetic manner made an impression upon the mind of peregrine. He was affected with the submission of his friend who in reality had given him no just cause to complain. He knew that no ordinary motive had swayed him to a condescension so extraordinary in a man of his punctilious temper. He considered it therefore as the genuine effect of eager gratitude and disinterested love and his heart began to relent accordingly. When he heard himself conjured in the name of the gentle Sophie his obstinacy was quite overcome and when Amelia was recalled to his remembrance his whole frame underwent a violent agitation. He took his friend by the hand with a softened look and as soon as he recovered the faculty of speech which had been overpowered in the conflict of passions that transported him, protested that he retained no vestige of animosity but considered him in the light of an affectionate comrade, the ties of whose friendship adversity could not unbind. He mentioned Sophie in the most respectful terms spoke of Amelia with the most reverential awe as the object of his invaluable love and veneration but disclaimed all hope of evermore attracting her regard and excused himself from profiting by Godfrey's kind intention declaring with her resolute air that he had broken off all connection with mankind and that he impatiently longed for the hour of his dissolution which if it should not soon arrive by the course of nature he was resolved to hasten with his own hands rather than be exposed to the contempt and more intolerable pity of a rascally world. Gauntlet argued against this frantic termination with all the vehemence of expostulating friendship but his remonstrances did not produce the desired effect upon our desperate hero who calmly refuted all his arguments and asserted the rectitude of his design from the pretended maxims of reason and true philosophy. While this dispute was carried on with eagerness on one side and deliberation on the other, a letter was brought to peregrine who threw it carelessly aside and opened. Though the superscription was in a handwriting to which he was a stranger and in all probability the contents would never have been perused had not Gauntlet insisted upon his waving all ceremony and reading it forthwith. Thus solicited Pickle unsealed the billet which to his no small surprise contained the following intimation. Sir, this comes to inform you that after many dangers and disappointments I am by the blessing of God safely arrived in the Downs on board of the Gambaroon India man having made a tolerable voyage by which I hope I shall be enabled to repay with interest the 700 pounds which I barred of you before my departure from England. I take this opportunity of writing by our purser who goes express with dispatches for the company that you may have this satisfactory notice as soon as possible relating to one whom I suppose you have long given over as lost. I've enclosed it in a letter to my broker who I hope knows your address and will forward it accordingly and I am with respect, sir, your most humble servant Benjamin Chance. He had no sooner taken a curse review of this agreeable epistle than his countenance cleared up and reaching it to his friend with a smile. There said he is a more convincing argument on your side of the question than all the casualists in the universe can advance. Gauntlet wondering at this observation took the paper and casting his eyes greedily upon the contents congratulated him upon the receipt of it with extravagant demonstrations of joy. Not on account of the sum said he which upon my honor I would with pleasure pay three times over for your convenience and satisfaction but because it seems to have reconciled you to life and disposed your mind for enjoying the comforts of society. The instantaneous effect which this unexpected smile of fortune produced in the appearance of our adventurer is altogether inconceivable. It plumped up his cheeks in a moment unbended and enlightened every feature of his face elevated his head which had begun to sink as it were between his shoulders and from a squeaking dispirited tone swelled up his voice to a clear manly accent. Godfrey taking advantage of this favorable change began to regale him with prospects of future success. He reminded him of his youth and qualifications which were certainly designed for better days than those he had yet as yet seen. He pointed out various paths by which he might arrive at wealth and reputation. He importuned him to accept of a sum for his immediate occasions and earnestly begged that he would allow him to discharge the debt for which he was confined. Observing that Sophie's fortune had enabled him to exhibit that proof of his gratitude without any detriment to his affairs and protesting that he should not believe himself in possession of Mr. Pickles' esteem unless he was permitted to make some such return of good will to the man who had not only raised him from indigence and scorn. To competence and reputable rank but also empowered him to obtain the possession of an excellent woman who had filled up the measure of his felicity. Peregrine declared himself already overpaid for all his good offices by the pleasure he enjoyed in employing them and the happy effects they had produced in the mutual satisfaction of two persons so dear to his affection. And assured his friend that one time or other he would set his conscience at ease and remove the scruples of his honor by having recourse to his assistance. But at present he could not make use of his friendship without giving just cause of offense to Honest Hatchway who was prior to him in point of solicitation and had manifested his attachment with surprising obstinacy and perseverance. End of Chapter 101 Chapter 102 of the Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, Volume 2 by Tobias Smollett. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 102 Peregrine reconciles himself to the lieutenant and renews his connection with society. Diverse plans are projected in his behalf and he has occasion to exhibit a remarkable proof of self-denial. The captain with reluctance yielded the preference in this particular to Jack who was immediately invited to a conference by a note subscribed with Pickle's own hand. He was found at the prison gate waiting for Gauntlet to know the issue of his negotiation. He no sooner received this summons than he set all his sales and made the best of his way to his friend's apartment. Being admitted by the term key in consequence of Peregrine's request communicated by the messenger who carried the billet. Pipes followed close in the wake of his shipmate and in a few minutes after the note had been dispatched. Peregrine and Gauntlet heard the sound of the stump ascending the wooden staircase with such velocity that they at first mistook it for the application of drumsticks to the head of an empty barrel. This uncommon speed however was attended with a misfortune. He chanced to overlook a small defect in one of the steps and his prop plunging into a hole he fell backwards to the imminent danger of his life. Tom was luckily at his back and sustained him in his arms so as that he escaped without any other damage than the loss of his wooden leg which was snapped in the middle by the weight of his body and falling. And such was his impatience that he would not give himself the trouble to disengage the fractured member. Unbuckling the whole equippage in a trice he left it sticking in the crevice saying a rotten cable was not worth heaving up and in this natural state of mutilation hopped into the room with infinite expedition. Peregrine taking him cordially by the hand seated him upon one side of his bed and after having made an apology for that reserve of which he has so justly complained asked if he could conveniently accommodate him with the loan of twenty guineas. Lieutenant without opening his mouth pulled out his purse and pipes who overheard the demand applying the whistle to his lips performed a loud overture in token of his joy. Matters being thus brought to an accommodation our hero told the captain that he should be glad of his company at dinner with their common friend Hatchway if he would in the meantime leave him to the ministry of pipes. And the soldier went away for the present in order to pay a short visit to his uncle who at that time languished in a declining state of health promising to return at the appointed hour. Lieutenant having surveyed the dismal appearance of his friend could not help being moved at the spectacle and began to upgrade him with his obstinate pride which he swore was no better than self murder. But the young gentleman interrupted him in the course of his moralizing by telling him he had reasons for his conduct which perhaps he would impart in due season. But at present his design was to alter that plan of behavior and make himself some amends for the misery he had undergone. He accordingly sent pipes to redeem his clothes from the pawnbroker's wardrobe and bespeak something comfortable for dinner. When Godfrey came back he was very agreeably surprised to see such a favorable alteration in his externals for by the assistance of his valet he had purified himself from the dregs of his distress and now appeared in a decent suit with clean linen while his face was disencumbered of the hair that overshadowed it and his apartment prepared for the reception of company. They enjoyed their meal with great satisfaction entertaining one another with the recapitulation of their former adventures at the garrison. In the afternoon Gauntlet taking his leave in order to write a letter to his sister at the desire of his uncle who finding his end approaching wanted to see her without loss of time. Pergrine made his appearance on the bear and was complimented on his coming abroad again not only by his old messmates who had not seen him for many weeks but by a number of those objects whom his liberality had fed before his funds were exhausted. Hatchway was, by his interest with the warden, put in possession of his former quarters and pipes dispatched to make inquiry about grab-tree at his former lodging where he learned that the misanthrope after a very severe fit of illness was removed to Kensington gravel pits for the convenience of breathing a pure air than that of London. In consequence of this information Pergrine who knew the narrowness of the old gentleman's fortune next day desired his friend Gauntlet to take the trouble of visiting him in his name with a letter in which he expressed great concern for his in disposition gave him notice of the fortunate intelligence he had received from the Downs and conjured him to make use of his purse if he was in the least hampered in his circumstances. The captain took coach immediately and set out for the place according to the direction which pipes had procured. Cadwallader having seen him at bath knew him again at first sight and though reduced to a skeleton believed himself in such a fair way of doing well that he would have accompanied him to the fleet immediately had he not been restrained by his nurse who was by his physician invested with full authority to dispute and oppose his will in everything that she should think prejudicial to his health. For he was considered by those who had the care of him as an old humorist not a little distempered in his brain he inquired particularly about the sailors who he said had deterred him from carrying on his usual correspondence with pickle and been the immediate cause of his in disposition by terrifying him into a fever. Understanding that the breach between pickle and hatchway was happily cemented and that he was no longer in any danger from the lieutenant's resentment. He promised to be at the fleet with the first convenient opportunity and in the meantime wrote an answer to pair grinds letter importing that he was obliged to him for his offer but not the least occasion for his assistance. In a few days our adventurer recovered his vigor, complexion and vivacity. He mingled again in the diversions and parties of the place and he received in a little time the money he had lent upon bottom which together with the interest amounted to upwards of 1100 pounds. The possession of this sum while it buoyed up his spirits involved him in perplexity. Sometimes he thought it was incumbent on him as a man of honor to employ the greatest part of it in diminishing the debt for which he suffered. On the other hand he considered that obligation he faced by the treacherous behavior of his creditor who had injured him to 10 times the value of the sum. And in these sentiments entertained thoughts of attempting his escape from prison with a view of conveying himself with the shipwreck of his fortune to another country in which he might use it to better advantage. Both suggestions were attended with such doubts and difficulties that he hesitated between them and for the present laid out 1000 pounds in stock the interest of which together with the fruits of his own industry he hoped would support him above want in his confinement until something should occur that would point out the expediency of some other determination. Godlet still insisted upon having the honor of obtaining his liberty at the expense of taking up his notes to clean him and exhorted him to purchase a commission with part of the money which he had retrieved. Lieutenant affirmed that it was his privilege to procure the release of his cousin Pickle because he enjoyed a very handsome sum by his aunt which of right belonged to the young gentleman to whom he was moreover indebted for the use of his furniture and for the very house that stood over his head. And that although he had already made a will in his favor he should never be satisfied nor easy in his mind so long as he remained deprived of his liberty and wanted any of the conveniences of life. He had Wallider who by this time assisted at their councils and was best acquainted with the peculiarity and unbending disposition of the youth proposed that seeing he was so averse to obligations Mr. Hatchway should purchase of him the garrison with his appendages which at a moderate price would sell for more money than would be sufficient to discharge his debts. That if the servile subordination of the army did not suit his inclinations he might with his reversion buy a comfortable annuity and retire with him to the country where he might live absolutely independent and entertain himself as usual with the ridiculous characters of mankind. This plan was to Pickle less disagreeable than any other project which as yet had been suggested and the lieutenant declared himself ready to execute his part of it without delay but the soldier was mortified at the thoughts of seeing his assistance unnecessary and eagerly objected to the retirement as a scheme that would blast the fairest promises of fame and fortune and bury his youth and talents in solitude and obscurity. This earnest opposition on the part of gauntlet hindered our adventurer from forming any immediate resolution which was also retarded by his unwillingness to part with the garrison upon any terms because he looked upon it as a part of his inheritance which he could not dispose of without committing an insult upon the memory of the deceased Commodore. End of Chapter 102 Chapter 103 of the Adventures of Peregrine Pickle. Volume 2 by Tobias Smollett. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 103. He is engaged in a very extraordinary correspondence which is interrupted by a very unexpected event. While this affair was in agitation, the captain told him in the course of conversation that Amelia was arrived in town and had inquired about Mr. Pickle with such an eagerness of concern as seemed to proclaim that she was in some measure informed of his misfortune. He therefore desired to know if he might be allowed to make her acquainted with his situation, provided he should be again importuned by her on that subject which he had at first industriously waved. This proof or rather presumption of her sympathizing regard did not fail to operate powerfully upon the bosom of Peregrine which was immediately filled with those two malts which love ill-stifled frequently excites. He observed that his disgrace was such as could not be effectually concealed. Therefore he saw no reason for depriving himself of Amelia's compassion since he was forever excluded from her affection and desired Godfrey to present to his sister the lowly respects of a despairing lover. But notwithstanding his declaration of despondence on this head, his imagination involuntarily teamed with more agreeable ideas. The proposal of Crabtree had taken root in his reflection and he could not help forming plans of pastoral felicity in the arms of the lovely Amelia, remote from those pompous scenes which he now detested and despised. He amused his fancy with the prospect of being able to support her in a state of independency by means of the slender annuity which it was in his power to purchase together with the fruits of those endeavors which would profitably employ his vacant hours. And foresaw provision for his growing family in the friendship of the lieutenant who had already constituted him his heir. He even parceled out his hours among the necessary cares of the world, the pleasures of domestic bliss and the enjoyments of a country life, and spent the night in ideal parties with his charming bride, sometimes walking by the sedgibank of some transparent stream, sometimes pruning the luxuriant vine, and sometimes sitting in social converse with her in a shady grove of his own planting. These, however, were no more than the shadowy phantoms of imagination which he well knew would never be realized, not that he believed such happiness unattainable by a person in his circumstances but because he would not stoop to propose a scheme which might in any shape seem to interfere with the interest of Amelia or subject himself to a repulse from that young lady who had rejected his addresses in the zenith of his fortune. While he diverted himself with these agreeable reveries, an unexpected event intervened in which she and her brother were deeply interested. The uncle was tapped for the drop-see and died in a few days after the operation, having bequeathed in his will, five thousand pounds to his nephew, and twice that sum to his niece who had always enjoyed the greatest share of his favor. If our adventurer before this occurrence looked upon his love for Amelia as a passion which it was necessary at any rate to conquer or suppress, he now considered her accession of fortune as a circumstance which confirmed that necessity and resolved to discourage every thought on that subject which should tend to the propagation of hope. One day in the midst of a conversation calculated for the purpose, Godfrey put into his hand a letter directed to Mr. Pickle in the handwriting of Amelia which the youth no sooner recognized than his cheeks were covered with the grims and dye, and he began to tremble with violent agitation for he had once guessed the import of the billet which he kissed with great reverence and devotion and was not at all surprised when he read the following words. Sir, I have performed a sufficient sacrifice to my reputation in retaining hitherto the appearance of that resentment which I had long ago dismissed and as the late favorable change in my situation empowers me to avow my genuine sentiments without fear of censure or suspicion of mercenary design. I take this opportunity to assure you that if I still maintain that place in your heart which I was vain enough to think I once possessed I'm willing to make the first advances to an accommodation and have actually furnished my brother with full powers to conclude it in the name of your appeased Amelia. Pickle, having kissed the subscription with great ardor, fell upon his knees and lifting up his eyes, thank heaven cried he with an air of transport. I have not been mistaken in my opinion of that generous maid. I believed her inspired with the most dignified and heroic sentiments, and now she gives me a convincing proof of her magnanimity. It is now my business to approve myself worthy of her regard. May heaven inflict upon me the keenest arrows of its vengeance if I do not at this instant contemplate the character of Amelia with the most perfect love and adoration. Yet amiable and enchanting as she is, I am more than ever determined to sacrifice the interest of my passion to my glory, though my life should fail in the contest and even to refuse an offer which otherwise the whole universe should not drive me to forgo. This declaration was not so unexpected as unwelcome to his friend Gauntlet who represented that his glory was not at all interested in the affair, because he had already vindicated his generosity and repeated proffers to lay his whole fortune at Amelia's feet when it was impossible that anything selfish could enter into the proposal. But that in rejecting her present purpose, he would give the world an opportunity to say that his pride was capricious, his obstinacy invincible, and his sister would have undeniable reason to believe that either his passion for her was dissembled or the ardor of it considerably abated. In answer to these remonstrances, Pickle observed that he had long set the world at defiance, and as to the opinion of Amelia, he did not doubt that she would applaud in her heart the resolution he had taken and do justice to the purity of his intention. It was not an easy task to divert our hero from his designs at any time of life, but since his confinement, his inflexibility was become almost insurmountable. The captain therefore, after having discharged his conscience in assuring him that his sister's happiness was at stake, that his mother had approved of the steps she had taken and that he himself should be extremely mortified at his refusal for bored to press in with further argument, which served only to rivet him the more strongly in his own opinion and undertook to deliver this answer to Amelia's letter. Madam, that I revere the dignity of your virtue with the utmost veneration and love you infinitely more than life, I am at all times ready to demonstrate, but the sacrifice to honor it is now my turn to pay, and such is the rigor of my destiny that in order to justify your generosity, I must refuse to profit by your condescension. Madam, I am doomed to be forever wretched and to sigh without ceasing for the possession of that jewel, which though now in my offer I dare not enjoy. I shall not pretend to express the anguish that tears my heart whilst I communicate this fatal renunciation, but appeal to the delicacy of your own sentiments, which can judge of my sufferings and will doubtless do justice to the self-denial of your forlorn P. Pickle. Amelia, who knew the nicety of our hero's pride, had foreseen the purport of this epistle before it came to her hands. She did not therefore despair of success nor desist from the prosecution of her plan, which was no other than that of securing her own happiness in espousing the man upon whom she had fixed her unalterable affection, confident of his honor and fully satisfied of the mutual passion with which they were inspired. She gradually decoyed him into a literary correspondence wherein she attempted to refute the arguments on which he grounded his refusal, and without doubt the young gentleman was not a little pleased with the enjoyment of such delightful commerce in the course of which he had more than ever an opportunity of admiring the poignancy of her wit and the elegance of her understanding. The contemplation of such excellency, while it strengthened the chains with which she held him enslaved, added emulation to the other motives that induced him to maintain the dispute. And much subtlety of reasoning was expended upon both sides of this very particular question, without any prospect of conviction on either part, till at last she began to despair of making him a proselyte to her opinion by dentive arguments. And resolve for the future to apply herself chiefly to the irresistible pre-possessions of his love, which were not at all diminished or impaired by the essays of her pen. With this view she proposed a conference pretending that it was impossible to convey all her reflections upon this subject in a series of short letters, and Godfrey undertook to bail him for the day. But conscious of her power he would not trust himself in her presence, though his heart throbbed with all the eagerness of desire to see her fair eyes, disrobed of that resentment in which they had worn so long, and to enjoy the ravishing sweets of a fond reconciliation. Nature could not have held out against such powerful attacks, had not the pride and caprice of his disposition been gratified to the full in the triumph of his resistance. He looked upon the contest as altogether original, and persevered with obstinacy because he thought himself sure of favorable terms whenever he should be disposed to capitulate. Perhaps he might have overshot himself in the course of his perseverance. A young lady of Amelia's fortune and attractions could not fail to find herself surrounded by temptations which few women can resist. She might have misinterpreted the meaning of some paragraph or taken umbrage at an unguarded expression in one of Peregrine's letters. She might have been tired out by his obstinate peculiarity, or at the long run constricted into madness, slight, or indifference, or rather than waste her prime in fruitless endeavors to subdue the pride of a headstrong humorist. She might have listened to the voice of some admirer, fraught with qualifications sufficient to engage her esteem and defection. But all these possibilities were providentially prevented by an accident, attended with more important consequences than any we have hitherto recounted. Early one morning, Pipes was disturbed by the arrival of a messenger who had been sent, expressed from the country by Mr. Clover, with a packet for the lieutenant, and arrived in town overnight. But as he was obliged to have recourse to the information of Jack's correspondent in the city touching the place of his abode, before he demanded entrance at the fleet, the gate was shut. Nor would the turnkeys admit him, although he told them that he was charged with a message of the utmost consequence, so that he was feigned to tarry till daybreak when he, at his earnest solicitation, was allowed to enter. Hatchway, opening the packet, found a letter enclosed for peregrine with an earnest request that he should forward it to the hands of that young gentleman with all possible dispatch. Jack, who could not dive into the meaning of this extraordinary injunction, began to imagine that Mrs. Clover lay at the point of death and wanted to take a last farewell of her brother, and this conceit worked so strongly upon his imagination that while he huddled on his clothes and made the best of his way to the apartment of our hero, he could not help cursing within himself the folly of the husband in sending such disagreeable messages to a man of peregrine's impatient temper, already soured by his own uneasy situation. This reflection would have induced him to suppress the letter, had not he been afraid to tamper with the ticklish disposition of his friend to whom, while he delivered it, as for my own parts, that he may have, I may have as much natural affection as another, but when my spouse parted, I bore my misfortune, like a British man, and a Christian, for why he's no better than a freshwater sailor who knows not how to stem the current of mischance. Pickle being waked from a pleasant dream in which the fair Emilia was principally concerned and hearing this strange preamble set up in his bed and unsealed the letter in a state of mortification and disgust, but what were the emotions of his soul when he read the following intimation. Dear brother, it hath pleased God to take your father suddenly off by a fit of apoplexy, and as he has died in testate, I give you this notice that you may, with all speed, come down and take possession of your right, in despite of Master Gan and his mother, who you may be sure do not sit easy under this unexpected dispensation of providence. I have, by virtue of being a justice of the peace, taken such precautions as I thought necessary for your advantage, and their funeral shall be deferred until your pleasure be known. Your sister, though sincerely afflicted by her father's fate, submits to the will of heaven with laudable resignation and begs you will set out for this place without delay, in which request she is joined by, sir, your affectionate brother and humble servant, Charles Clover. Peregrine at first looked upon this epistle as a mere illusion of the brain and continuation of the reverie in which he had been engaged. He read it ten times over without being persuaded that he was actually awake. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head in order to shake off the drowsy vapors that surrounded him. He hemmed thrice with great vociferation, snapped his fingers, tweaked his nose, started up from his bed, and opening the casement, took a survey of the well-known objects that appeared on each side of his habitation. Everything seemed congruous and connected, and he said within himself, sure this is the most distinct dream that ever sleep produced. Then he had recourse again to the paper which he carefully perused without finding any variation from his first notion of the contents. Hatchway, seeing all his extravagances of action, accompanied with a wild stare of distraction, began to believe that his head was at length fairly termed, and was really meditating means for securing his person when Pickle in a tone of surprise exclaimed, Good God, am I or am I not awake? Why, look ye, cousin Pickle, replied the Lieutenant, that is a question which the deep sea-line of my understanding is not long enough to sound, while some ever doth I can't trust to the observation I have taken, it shall go hard, but I will fall upon a way to guess whereabouts we are. So, saying, he lifted up a pitcher full of cold water that stood behind the outward door and discharged it in the face of peregrine, without ceremony or hesitation. This remedy produced the desired effect, unpalatable as it was, the young gentleman no sooner recovered his breath, which was endangered by such a sudden application than he thanked his friend Jack for the seasonable operation he had performed. Having no longer any just reason to doubt the reality of what appeared so convincingly to his senses, he shifted himself on the instant, not without hurry and trepidation and putting on his morning dress, sally forth to the bear, in order to deliberate with himself on the important intelligence he had received. Hatchway not yet fully convinced of his sanity and curious to know the purport of the letter which had affected him in such an extraordinary manner, carefully attended his footsteps in this excursion in hope of being favored with his confidence in the course of their perambulation. Our hero no sooner appeared at the street door than he was saluted by the messenger who, having posted himself in the way for that purpose, God blessed your noble honor, Squire Pickle, cried he, and give you joy of succeeding to your father's estate. These words had scarce proceeded from his mouth when the lieutenant, hopping eagerly towards the countryman, squeezed his hand with great affection and asked if the old gentleman had actually taken his departure. I, Master Hatchway, replied the other in such a woundy haste that he forgot to make a will. Body of me exclaimed the seaman, these are the best tidings I've ever heard since I first went to sea. Here my lad take my purse and stir thy self chuck full of the best liquor in the land. So saying he tipped the peasant with ten pieces and immediately the whole place echoed the sound of Tom's instrument. Paragrine, repairing to the walk, communicated the billet to his honest friend who at his desire went forthwith to the lodgings of Captain Gauntlet and returned in less than an hour with that gentleman who, I need not say, was heartily rejoiced at the occasion. End of Chapter 103 Chapter 104 of the Adventures of Paragrine Pickle, Volume 2 by Tobias Smollett. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 104 Paragrine holds a consultation with his friends in consequence of which he bids adieu to the fleet. He arrives at his father's house and asserts his right of inheritance. Nor did our hero keep the misanthrope in ignorance of this happy turn of fortune. Pipes was dispatched to the senior with a message requesting his immediate presence and he accordingly appeared in obedience to the summons, growling with discontent for having been deprived of several hours of his natural rest. His mouth was immediately stopped with the letter at which he smiled horribly aghast the grin and after a compliment of congratulations they entered into close divan about the measures to be taken in consequence of this event. There was no room for much debate. It was unanimously agreed that Pickle should set out with all possible dispatch for the garrison to which Gauntlet and Hatchway resolved to attend him. Pipes was accordingly ordered to prepare a couple of posed jazes while Godfrey went to procure bail for his friend and provide them with money for the expense of the expedition, but not before he was desired by Paragrine to conceal this piece of news from his sister that our youth might have an opportunity to surprise her in a more interesting manner after he should have settled his affairs. All these previous steps being taken in less than an hour, our hero took his leave of the fleet after he had left twenty guineas with the warden for the relief of the poor prisoners, a great number of whom conveyed him to the gate pouring forth prayers for his long life and prosperity and he took the road to the garrison in the most elevated transports of joy, unallied with the least mixture of grief at the death of a parent whose paternal tenderness he had never known. His breast was absolutely a stranger to that boasted storm or instinctive affection by which the charities are supposed to subsist. Of all the journeys he had ever made, this sure was the most delightful. He felt all the ecstasy that must naturally be produced in the young man of his imagination from such a sudden transition in point of circumstance. He found himself delivered from confinement and disgrace without being obliged to any person upon earth for his deliverance. He had it now in his power to retort the contempt of the world in a manner suited to his most sanguine wish. He was reconciled to his friend and enabled to gratify his love even upon his own terms and saw himself in possession of a fortune more ample than his first inheritance with a stock of experience that would steer him clear of all those quicksands among which he had been formally wrecked. In the middle of their journey while they halted at an inn for a short refreshment and change of horses, a postillion running up to Peregrine in the ark fell at his feet, clasped his knees with great eagerness and agitation and presented to him the individual face of his old valet de chambre. The youth perceiving him in such an abject garb and attitude commanded him to rise until the cause of such a miserable reverse in his fortune upon which Haji gave him to understand that he had been ruined by his wife, who having robbed him of all his cash and valuable effects, had eloped from his house with one of his own customers who appeared in the character of a French Count but was in reality no other than an Italian fiddler. That in consequence of this retreat he, the husband, was disabled from paying a considerable sum which he had set apart for his wine merchant who being disappointed in his expectation took out an execution against his effects and the rest of his creditors following his example hunted him out of house and home. So that finding his person in danger at London he had been obliged to escape into the country skulking about from one village to another till being quite destitute of all support he had undertaken his present office to save himself from starving. Peregrine listened with compassion to his lamentable tale which too well accounted for his not appearing in the fleet with offers of service to his master in distress a circumstance that Pickle had all along imputed to his avarice and in gratitude he assured him that as he had been the means of throwing in his way the temptation to which he fell a sacrifice he would charge himself with the retrieval of his affairs. In the meantime he made him taste of his bounty and desired him to continue in his present employment until he should return from the garrison when he would consider his situation and do something for his immediate relief. Hadry attempted to kiss his shoe and wept or effected to weep with sensibility at his gracious reception even made a merit of his unwillingness to exercise his new occupation and earnestly begged that he might be allowed to give immediate attendance upon his dear master from whom he could not bear the thoughts of a second parting. His entreaties were reinforced by the intercession of his two friends in consequence of which the Swiss was permitted to follow them at his own leisure while they set forward after a slight repast and reached the place of their destination before ten o'clock at night. Pere Grine instead of alighting at the garrison rode straight way to his father's house and no person appearing to receive him not even a servant to take care of his chase he dismounted without assistance. Being followed by his two friends he advanced into the hall where perceiving a bell rope he made immediate application to it in such a manner as brought a couple of footmen into his presence. After having reprimanded them with a stern look for their neglect in point of attendance he commanded them to show him into an apartment and as they seemed unwilling to yield obedience to his orders asked if they did not belong to the family. One of them who took upon himself the office of spokesman replied with a sullen air that they had been in the service of old Mr. Pickle and now that he was dead thought themselves bound to obey nobody but their lady and her son Mr. Gamalil. This declaration has scarce proceeded from his mouth when our hero gave them to understand that since they were not disposed to own any other master they must change their quarters immediately. He ordered them to decamp without further preparation and as they still continued rusted they were kicked out of doors by the captain and his friend Hatchway. Squire Gam who overheard everything that passed and was now more than ever inflamed with that rancor which he had sucked with his mother's milk flew to the assistance of his adherents with a pistol in each hand bellowing thieves, thieves with great vociferation as if he had mistaken the business of the strangers and actually believed himself in danger of being robbed. Under this pretense he discharged a piece at his brother who luckily escaped the shot closed with him in a moment and resting. The other pistol from his grip turned him out into the courtyard to the consolation of his two dependents. By this time pipes in the two postillions had taken possession of the stables without being opposed by the coachman and his deputy who quietly submitted to the authority of their new sovereign but the noise of the pistol had alarmed Mrs. Pickle who running downstairs with the most frantic appearance attended by two maids on the curate who still maintained his place of chaplain and ghostly director in the family would have assaulted our hero with her nails had not she been restrained by her attendants. Though they prevented her from using her hands they could not hinder her from exercising her tongue which she wagged against him with all the virulence of malice she asked if he were come to butcher his brother to insult his father's corpse and triumph in her affliction she bestowed upon him the epithets of spendthrift jailbird and unnatural ruffian she begged pardon of God for having brought such a monster into the world accused him of having brought his father's gray hairs with sorrow to the grave and affirmed that were he to touch the body it would bleed at his approach. Without pretending to refute the articles of this ridiculous charge he allowed her to ring out her alarm and then calmly replied that if she did not quietly retire to her chamber and behave as became a person in her present situation he should insist upon her removing to another lodging without delay for he was determined to be master in his own family the lady who in all probability expected that he would endeavor to appease her with all the tenderness of filial submission with so much exasperated at his cavalier behavior that her constitution could not support the transports of her spirits and she was carried off by her women in a fit while the officious clergyman was dismissed after his pupil with all the circumstances of disgrace our hero having thus made his quarters good took possession of the best department in the house and sent notice of his arrival to Mr. Clover who with his wife visited him in less than an hour and was not a little surprised to find him so suddenly settled in his father's house the meeting of Julia and her brother was extremely pathetic she'd always loved him with uncommon tenderness and looked upon him as the ornament of her family but she had heard of his extravagances with regret and though she considered the stories that were circulated at his expense as the malicious exaggerations of his mother and her darling son her apprehension had been grievously alarmed by an account of his imprisonment and distress which had been accidentally conveyed to that country by a gentleman from London who had been formerly of his acquaintance she could not therefore without the most tender emotions of joy see him as it were restored to his rightful inheritance and re-established in that station of life which she thought he could fill with dignity and importance after their mutual expressions of affection she retired to her mother's chamber with a view to make a second offer of her service and attendance which had been already rejected with scorn since her father's death while peregrine consulted his brother-in-law about the affairs of the family so far as they had fallen within his cognizance and observation Mr. Clover told him that though he was never favored by the confidence of the defunct he knew some of his intimates who had been tampered with by Mrs. Pickle and even engaged to second the remonstrances by which she had often endeavored to persuade her husband to settle his affairs by a formal will but that he had from time to time evaded their importunities with surprising excuses of procrastination that plainly appeared to be the result of invention and design far above the supposed pitch of his capacity a circumstance from which Mr. Clover concluded that the old gentleman imagined his life would not have been secure had he once taken such a step as would have rendered it unnecessary to the independence of his second son he moreover observed that in consequence of this information he no sooner heard of Mr. Pickle's death which happened at the club than he went directly with a lawyer to his house before any cabal or conspiracy could be formed against the rightful heir and in presence of witnesses provided for the purpose sealed up all the papers of the deceased after the would have had in the first transports of Versailles and vexation fairly owned that her husband had died in test state Peregrine was extremely well satisfied with this intelligence by which all his doubts were dispelled and having cheerfully subbed with his friends on a cold collation which his brother-in-law had brought in his chariot they retired to rest in different chambers after Julia had met with another repulse from her capricious mother whose overflowing rage had now subsided into the former channel of calm and veteracy next morning the house was supplied with some servants from the garrison and preparations were made for the funeral of the deceased Gan having taken lodgings in the neighborhood came with a chaise and cart to demand his mother together with his own clothes and her personal effects our hero though he would not suffer him to enter the door allowed his proposal to be communicated to the widow who eagerly embraced the opportunity of removing and was with her own baggage and that of her beloved son conveyed to the place which he had prepared for her reception then she was followed by her woman who was desired by Peregrine to assure her mistress that until a regular provision could be settled upon her she might command him in point of money or any other accommodation in his power End of Chapter 104 Chapter 105 of the Adventures of Peregrine Pickle Volume 2 by Tobias Smollett this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 105 he performs the last offices to his father and returns to London upon a very interesting design suits of mourning being provided for himself his friends and adherents and every other previous measure taken suitable to the occasion his father was interred in a private manner in the parish church and his papers being examined in presence of many persons of honor and integrity invited for that purpose no will was found or any other deed in favor of the second son though it appeared by the marriage settlement that the widow was entitled to a jointure of five hundred pounds a year the rest of his papers consisted of East India Bonds South Sea annuities mortgages notes and assignments to the amount of four score thousand seven hundred and sixty pounds exclusive of the house plate and furniture horses equipping cattle with the garden and park adjacent to the most agreeable extent this was a sum that even exceeded his expectation and could not feel to entertain his fancy with the most agreeable ideas he found himself immediately a man a vast consequence among his country neighbors who visited him with compliments of congratulation and treated him with such respect as would have effectively spoiled any young man of his disposition who had not the same advantages of experience as he had already purchased at a very extravagant price thus shielded with caution he bore his prosperity with surprising temperance everybody was charmed with his affability and moderation when he made a circuit round the gentleman of the district in order to repay the courtesy which he owed he was caressed by them with uncommon acidity and advised to offer himself as a candidate for the county at the next election which they supposed would soon happen as a member was in a declining state of health nor did his person and address escape unheeded by the ladies many of whom did not scruple to spread their attractions before him with a view of captivating such a valuable prize nay such an impression did this legacy make upon a certain peer who resided in this part of the country that he cultivated pickles acquaintance with great eagerness and without circumlocution offered to him in marriage with considerable fortune our hero expressed himself upon this occasion as became a man of honor sensibility and politeness and frankly gave his lordship to understand that his heart was already engaged he was pleased with the opportunity of making such a sacrifice of his passion for Amelia which by this time inflamed his thoughts to such a degree of impatience that he resolved to depart for London at a possible speed and for that purpose industriously employed almost every hour of his time in regulating his domestic affairs he paid off all his father's servants and hired others at the recommendation of his sister who promised to super intend his household in his absence he advanced the first half yearly payment of his mother's jointure and as for his brother Gann he gave him diverse opportunities of acknowledging his faults to his own conscience for taking any step in his favor but that young gentleman was not yet sufficiently humbled by misfortune and not only for board to make any overtures of peace but also took all occasions to slander the conduct and revile the person of our hero being in this practice comforted and abetted by his righteous mama everything being thus settled for the present and the future town in the same manner with that in which they had arrived in the country except in this small variation that Hatchway's chaise companion was now the valet de chambre refitted instead of pipes who with another lackey attended them on horseback when they had performed two thirds of their raid to London they chanced to overtake a country square on his return from a visit to one of his neighbors who told himself almost gunwail to every motion of his horse which was a fine hunter and when the chaise passed him at full speed he set up the sportsman hallo in a voice that sounded like a french horn clapping spurs to his soil at the same time in order to keep up with the pace of the machine peregrine who was animated with an uncommon flow of spirits ordered his postillion to proceed more softly with the sound of his horse upon which he descanted with so much learning that the square was astonished at his knowledge when they approached his habitation he invited the young gentleman and his company to halt and drink a bottle of his ale and was so pressing in his solicitation that they complied with his request he accordingly conducted them through a spacious avenue that extended as far as the highway to the gate of a large chateau and viewed the apartments contrary to their first intention of drinking a glass of his October at the door the rooms were every way suitable to the magnificence of the outside and our hero imagined they had made a tour through the whole sweep when the landlord gave him to understand that they had not yet seen the best apartment of the house and immediately led them into a spacious dining room which peregrine did not enter all round were covered with portraits at full length by Van Dyke and not one of them appeared without a ridiculous tie in the style of those that usually hang over the shops of two penny barbers the straight boots in which the figures had been originally painted and the other circumstances of attitude in drapery so inconsistent with this monstrous furniture of the head exhibited such a ludicrous appearance that pickles wonder in a little time after which had well-nigh deprived him of his breath the squire half-pleased and half-offended at this expression of ridicule I know that he what makes you laugh so woefully you think it's strange to see my vore fathers booted and spurred with huge three-tailed periwigs on their pates the truth of the matter is this I could not abide to see the pictures of my family with a parcel of loose hair hanging about their eyes a painter bellow from London to clap decent periwigs upon their skulls at the rate of five shillings ahead and offer him three shillings a piece to furnish each with a handsome pair of shoes and stockings but the rascal thinking I must have him done at any price after their heads were covered haggled with me for four shillings a picture and so rather than be imposed upon I turned him off and shall let him stand as they are till zoned more reasonable brother of the brush around the country Pickle commended his resolution though in his heart he blessed himself from such a barbarous goth and after they had dispatched two or three bottles of his beer they proceeded on their journey and arrived in town about eleven at night end of chapter one hundred and five chapter one hundred and six of the adventures of Peregrine Pickle volume two by Tobias Smollett the sleeper box recording is in the public domain of the church he enjoys an interview with Emilia and makes himself ample amends for all the mortifications of his life Godfrey who had taken leave of his sister on pretense of making a short excursion with Peregrine whose health required the enjoyment of fresh air after his long confinement sent a message to her that same night announcing his arrival and giving her notice that he would breakfast with her next morning and he had left himself for the purpose taking a hackney coach repaired to her lodging and were introduced into a parlor adjoining to that in which the tea table was set here they had not waited many minutes when they heard the sound of feet coming downstairs upon which our hero's heart began to beat the alarm he concealed himself behind the screen by the direction of his friend whose ears being saluted with Sophie's voice from the next room he flew into it with great ardor the sweet transports of a meeting so unexpected for he had left her in her father's house at Windsor amidst these emotions he had almost forgotten the situation of Peregrine when Amelia assuming her enchanting air is not this that she a most provoking scene to a young woman like me who am doomed to wear the willow by the strange caprice of my lover upon my word brother you have done me infinite prejudice in promoting this jaunt with this transient glimpse of liberty that he will never be persuaded to incur unnecessary confinement for the future my dear sister replied the captain tauntingly your own pride set him the example so you must in stand to the consequence of his imitation it is a hard case however answer the fair offender that I should suffer all my life by one venial trespass hi ho who would imagine that a sprightly girl such as I have a good mind to marry the next person that asked me the question in order to be revenge upon this unyielding humorist did the dear fellow discover no inclination to see me in all the term of his release well if ever I can catch the fugitive again he shall sing in his cage for life it is impossible to convey to the reader a just idea of Peregrine's transports while he overheard this declaration unpronounced then unable to resist the impetuosity of his passion he sprung from his lurking place exclaiming here I surrender and rushing into her presence was so dazzled with her beauty that his speech failed he was fixed like a statue to the floor and all his faculties were absorbed in admiration indeed she was now in the full bloom of her charms and it was nearly impossible to look upon her passion was wedded with all the incitements which could stimulate the human heart the ladies screamed with surprise at his appearance and Amelia underwent such agitation as flushed every charm with irresistible energy her cheeks glowed with the most delicate suffusion and her bosom heaved with such bewitching undulation that the cambrick could not conceal or contain the snowy hemispheres that rose like a vision while he was almost fainting with unutterable delight she seemed to sink under the tumults of tenderness and confusion when our hero perceiving her condition obeyed the impulse of his love and circled the charmer in his arms without suffering the least frown or symptom of displeasure not all the pleasures of his life had amounted to the ineffable joy of this embrace in which he continued for some minutes totally entranced he fastened upon her pouting lips in a rapture and while his brain seemed to whirl round with transport exclaimed in a delirium of bliss heaven and earth this is too much to bear his imagination was accordingly relieved and his attention in some measure divided by the interposition of Sophie who kindly cheated him for his having overlooked his old friends thus accosted he quitted his delicious harmful and saluting Mrs. Gauntlet asked pardon for his neglect observing that such rudeness considering the long and unhappy exile which he had suffered from the jewel of his soul then turning to Amelia I am come madam said he to claim the performance of your promise which I can produce under your own fair hand you may therefore lay aside all superfluous ceremony and shyness and crown my happiness without further delay for upon my soul my thoughts are wound up to the last pitch of expectation and I shall certainly run distracted as I am doomed to any term of probation is Mistress having by this time recollected herself replied with the most exhilarating smile I ought to punish you for your obstinacy with the mortification of a 12 months trial but it is dangerous to tamper with an admirer of your disposition and therefore I think I must make sure of you while it is in my power you are willing then to take me for better for worse in presence of heaven and in the eyes quite peregrine kneeling and applying her hand to his lips at this interrogation her features softened into an amazing expression of condescending love and while she darted a side glance that thrilled to his marrow and heaved aside more soft than Zephyr's balmy wing her answer was why I and heaven grant me patience to bear the humours of such a yoke fellow as the immensity of my love meanwhile I have 80,000 pounds which shall be laid immediately in your lap so saying he sealed the contract upon her lips and explained the mystery of his last words which had begun to operate upon the wonder of the two sisters so if he was agreeably surprised with the account of his good fortune nor was it in all probability unacceptable to the lovely Amelia there from this information she conveyed her admirer with the inflexibility of his pride which she screwed will not to say would have baffled all the suggestions of his passion had it not been gratified by this providential event matters being thus happily matured the lover begged that immediate recourse might be had to the church and his happiness ascertained before night but the bride objective with great vehemence to such precipitation as his presence at the ceremony and she was seconded in her opinion by her brother's wife peregrine maddening with desire assaulted her with the most earnest entreaties representing that as her mother's consent was already obtained there was surely no necessity for delay that must infallibly make a dangerous impression upon his brain and constitution he fell at her feet in all the agony of impatience and swore his life and intellect would actually be in jeopardy by her refusal as the man began to rage with such extravagance that Sophie was frightened into conviction and God free enforcing the remonstrances of his friend the amiable amelior was teased into compliance after breakfast the bridegroom and his companion set out for the commons for a license having first agreed upon the house at which the ceremony should be performed in the lodgings of the bride and the permission being obtained they found means to engage a clergyman to attend them at their own time and place then a ring was purchased for the occasion and they went in search of the lieutenant with whom they dined at a tavern and that only made him acquainted with the steps they had taken but desired that he would stand God fathered to the bride an employment which Jack accepted with demonstrations of particular satisfaction till chancing to look into the street and seeing Cadwallader approach the door in consequence of a message they had sent to him by pipes that were accordingly ordained for that purpose on the supposition that such a mark of regard might facilitate his concurrence with a match which otherwise he would certainly oppose as he was a professed enemy to redlock and is yet ignorant of peregrine's intention after having congratulated Pickle upon his succession and shook his two friends by the hand the mist and throat asked whose mare was dead that he was summoned in such a manner that he had been feigned to gobble up like a cannibal our hero gave him to understand that they had made an appointment to drink tea with two agreeable ladies and were unwilling that he should lose the opportunity of enjoying an entertainment which he loved so much Crab tree shriveling up his face like an autumn leaf at this intimation cursed his complacence and swore they should keep their asignation without him for he and luxury had shaken hands many years ago the bridegroom however likening him unto an old coachman who still delights in the smack of the whip and dropping some flattering hints of his manhood even at these years he was gradually prevailed upon to accompany them to the place of rendezvous where being ushered into a dining room they had not waited three minutes when they were joined by the parson who had observed the hour with great punctuality this gentleman no sooner entered and whispered for gauntlet asked if that was not the cock-bot and before the captain could make and reply what an unconscionable whormaster the rogue is said he scares discharge from confinement and sweetened with a little fresh air when he winches with a pimp and canonicals in his pay the door again opened and the media broke in upon them with such dignity of mean and divinity of aspect as is inspired every spectator with astonishment and admiration as their charms were ripened into such perfection expressed his wonder and approbation in an exclamation of add Zeus what a glorious galley and the misanthrope visage was instantly metamorphosed into the face of a mountain goat he licked his lips instinctively snuffed the air and squinted with the most horrible obliquity of vision the bride and her sister being seated and hatch way having renewed his acquaintance with the former peregrine withdrew into another apartment with his friend Crabtree to whom he imparted the design of his meeting which the latter no sooner understood than he attempted to retrieve without making any other reply than that of Pasha rot your matrimony can't you put your neck in the news without my being a witness of your folly the young gentleman in order to vanquish this aversion stepped to the door of the next room with his friends who desired to have the honor of giving her away the bewitching smile with which she received his salute and granted his request and once overcame the dis approbation of the misanthrope who without relaxation in his countenance which had never been perceived before that instant thanked her in the most polite terms for such an agreeable mark of distinction he accordingly led her to the dining room where the ceremony was performed and the whole company saluted her by the name of Mrs. Pickle I shall leave the sensible reader to judge what passed at this juncture within the bosoms of the numeric couple Peregrine's heart was fired with inexpressible ardor and impatience while the transports of the bride were mingled with a dash of diffidence and apprehension Gaughton saw it would be too much for both to bear their present tantalizing situation till night without some amusement to divert their thoughts and therefore propose at the public entertainments and meryl bone gardens which were at that time frequented by the best company in town the scheme was relished by the discreet Sophie who saw the meaning of the proposal and the bride submitted to the persuasion of her sister so that after tea two coaches were called and Peregrine was forcibly separated from his charmer during the conveyance the numeric couple and their company having made shift to spend the evening and supped on a slight collation in one of the boxes was almost quite exhausted and taking Godfrey aside he imparted his intention to withdraw in private from the seaweed of his friend Hatchway who would otherwise retard his bliss with unseasonable impediments which at present he could not possibly bear Gaughton who sympathized with his impatience undertook to intoxicate the lieutenant with bumpers to the joy of the bride and in the meantime desired Sophie to retire with his sister under the auspices of Cadwallader who promised to squire them home the ladies were accordingly conducted to the coach and Jack proposed to the captain that for the sake of the joke the bridegroom should be applied with liquor in such a manner as would effectively disable him from enjoying the fruits of his good fortune for one night at least Gaughton seemed to relish the scheme and they prevailed upon Pickle to accompany them to a certain tavern on pretence of drinking a farewell glass to a single life there the bottle was circulated till Hatchway's brain began he felt no apprehension of an elopement which however was effected and the youth hastened on the wings of love to the arms of his enchanting bride he found crabtree in a parlour waiting for his return and disposed to entertain him with a lecture upon temperance to which he paid very little attention but ringing for Amelia's maid desired to know if her mistress was in bed being answered in the affirmative he sent her upstairs to announce his arrival undressed himself to a loose gown with a mist and throat goodnight after having desired to see him next day followed in person to the delicious scene where he found her elegantly dished out the fairest daughter of chastity and love when he approached she was overwhelmed with confusion and hid her lovely face from his transporting view Mrs. Gaughton seeing his eyes kindled at the occasion kissed her charming sister who throwing her snowy arms about her neck would have detained her in the room and her embrace and conducted her trembling to the door which having bolted and barricaded he profited by his good fortune and his felicity was perfect next day he rose about noon and found his three friends assembled when he learned that Jack had fallen in his own snare and been obliged to lie in the same tavern where he fell a circumstance of which he was so much ashamed that Peregrine and his wife escaped many jokes which he would have certainly cracked in the face in half an hour after he came down Mrs. Pickle appeared with Sophie blushing like Aurora or the goddess of health and sending forth emanations of beauty unparalleled she was complimented upon her change of situation by all present and by none more warmly than by old Crabtree who declared himself so well satisfied with his friend's fortune as to be almost reconciled to that institution she dispatched to Mrs. Gauntlet with an account of her daughter's marriage a townhouse was hired and a handsome equipage set up in which the new married pair appeared at all public places to the astonishment of our adventurers fair weather friends and the admiration of all the world for in point of figure such another couple was not to be found in the whole United Kingdom and the disparate and detraction was struck down when our hero's new accession of fortune of public fame Emilia attracted the notice of all observers from the Pert Templar to the sovereign himself who was pleased to bestow encomiums upon the excellence of her beauty many persons of consequence who had dropped the acquaintance of Peregrine in the beginning of his decline now made open efforts to cultivate his friendship anew but he discouraged all these advances with the most mortifying disdain and one day when the nobleman spoke to him in the drawing room with the salutation of your servant Mr. Pickle he eyed him with a look of ineffable contempt saying I suppose your lordship is mistaken in your man and turned his head another way in presence of the whole court when he made a circuit round all the places frequented by the Balmain to the utter confusion of those against whom his resentment was kindled paid off his debts and settled his money matters in town in order to prepare for the reception of his fair Emilia and a few days after his departure the whole company Cadwalader himself included set out for his father's house and in their way took up Mrs. Gauntlet the mother who was sincerely rejoiced to see our hero in the capacity of her son-in-law from her habitation they proceeded at an easy pace and amidst the acclamations of the whole parish entered their own house where Emilia and her father's wife who had provided everything for ease and accommodation and next day surrendered unto her the management of her own household affairs End of section 106 End of the Adventures of Peregrine Pickle Volume 2 by Tobias Smollett