 vain did Trunnion endeavour to convince him of the folly of going to
school at his years, by representing that the boys would make game of him, and
that he would become a laughing-stock to all the world; he persisted in his
resolution to stay, and the commodore was fain to have recourse to the mediation
of Pipes and Perry, who employed their influence with Jack, and at last
prevailed upon him to return to the garison, after Trunnion had promised he
should be at liberty to visit them once a month. This stipulation being settled,
he and his friend took leave of the pupil, governor and attendant, and next
morning set out for their habitation, which they reached in safety that same
night.
    Such was Hatchway's reluctance to leave Peregrine, that he is said, for the
first time in his life, to have looked misty at parting: certain I am, that on
the road homewards, after a long pause of silence, which the commodore never
dreamt of interrupting, he exclaimed all of a sudden, »I'll be damned if the dog
han't given me some stuff to make me love him.« Indeed there was something
congenial in the disposition of these two friends, which never failed to
manifest itself in the sequel, howsoever different their education,
circumstances and connexions happened to be.
 

                                 Chapter XVIII

Peregrine distinguishes himself among his School-fellows, exposes his Tutor, and
attracts the particular Notice of the Master
 
Thus left to the prosecution of his studies, Peregrine was in a little time a
distinguished character, not only for his acuteness of apprehension, but also
for that mischievous fertility of fancy, of which we have already given such
pregnant examples. But as there was a great number of such luminaries in this
new sphere to which he belonged, his talents were not so conspicuous, while they
shone in his single capacity, as they afterwards appeared, when they
concentrated and reflected the rays of the whole constellation.
    At first he confined himself to piddling game, exercising his genius upon
his own tutor, who attracted this attention, by endeavouring to season his mind
with certain political maxims, the fallacy of which he had discernment enough to
perceive. Scarce a day passed, on which he did not find means to render Mr.
Jolter the object of ridicule; his violent prejudices, ludicrous vanity, aukward
solemnity and ignorance of mankind, afforded continual food for the raillery,
petulance and satire of his pupil, who never neglected an opportunity of
laughing, and making others laugh at his expence.
    Sometimes in their parties, by mixing brandy in his wine
