 some small insight into the primer, which she had acquired at a
day-school, during the life of her father, who was a day-labourer in the
country. Upon this foundation did Peregrine build a most elegant superstructure;
he culled out choice sentences from Shakespear, Otway, and Pope, and taught her
to repeat them with emphasis and theatrical cadence: he then instructed her in
the names and epithets of the most celebrated players, which he directed her to
pronounce occasionally, with an air of careless familiarity; and perceiving that
her voice was naturally clear, he enriched it with remnants of opera tunes, to
be hummed during a pause in conversation, which is generally supplied with the
circulation of a pinch of snuff. By means of this cultivation, she became a
wonderful proficient in the polite graces of the age; she, with great facility,
comprehended the scheme of whist, tho' cribbidge was her favourite game, with
which she had amused herself in her vacant hours, from her first entrance into
the profession of hopping; and brag soon grew familiar to her practice and
conception.
    Thus prepared, she was exposed to the company of her own sex, being first of
all visited by the parson's daughter, who could not avoid shewing that civility
to Mr. Hatchway's niece, after she had made her public appearance at church.
Mrs. Clover, who had a great share of penetration, could not help entertaining
some doubts about this same relation, whose name she had never heard the uncle
mention, during the whole term of her residence at the garison; but as the young
lady was treated in that character, she would not refuse her acquaintance, and
after having seen her at the castle, actually invited Miss Hatchway to her
house. In short, she made a progress thro' almost all the families in the
neighbourhood; and, by dint of her quotations, (which, by the bye, were not
always judiciously used) she passed for a sprightly young lady, of uncommon
learning and taste.
    Peregrine having, in this manner, initiated her in the beau monde of the
country, conducted her to London, where she was provided with private lodgings
and a female attendant; and put her immediately under the tuition of his valet
de chambre, who had orders to instruct her in dancing and the French language.
He attended her to plays and concerts, three or four times a week; and when our
hero thought her sufficiently accustomed to the sight of great company, he
squired her in person to a public assembly, and danced with her among all the
