 regulations of the place,
that he was looked upon with admiration, and actually chosen Dux, or leader, by
a large body of his contemporaries. It was not long before his fame reached the
ears of the master, who sent for Mr. Jolter, communicated to him the
informations he had received, and desired him to check the vivacity of his
charge, and redouble his vigilance in time to come, else he should be obliged to
make a public example of his pupil for the benefit of the school.
    The governor, conscious of his own unimportance, was not a little
disconcerted at this injunction, which it was not in his power to fulfil by any
compulsive means. He therefore went home in a very pensive mood, and after
mature deliberation, resolved to expostulate with Peregrine in the most familiar
terms, and endeavour to dissuade him from practices which might affect his
character as well as interest. He accordingly frankly told him the subject of
the master's discourse, represented the disgrace he might incur by neglecting
this warning; and putting him in mind of his own situation, hinted the
consequences of the commodore's displeasure, in case he should be brought to
disapprove of his conduct. These insinuations made the greater impression, as
they were delivered with many expressions of friendship and concern. The young
gentleman was not so raw, but that he could perceive the solidity of Mr.
Jolter's advice, to which he promised to conform, because his pride was
interested in the affair; and he considered his own reformation as the only
means of avoiding that infamy which even in idea he could not bear.
    His governor finding him so reasonable, profited by these moments of
reflection, and in order to prevent a relapse, proposed that he should engage in
some delightful study that would agreeably amuse his imagination, and gradually
detach him from those connexions which had involved him in so many troublesome
adventures. For this purpose, he, with many rapturous encomiums, recommended the
mathematics, as yielding more rational and sensible pleasure to a youthful fancy
than any other subject of contemplation; and actually began to read Euclid with
him that same afternoon.
    Peregrine entered upon this branch of learning with all that warmth of
application which boys commonly yield on the first change of study; but he had
scarce advanced beyond the Pons Asinorum, when his ardor abated, the test of
truth by demonstration did not elevate him to those transports of joy with which
his preceptor had regaled his expectation; and before he arrived at the fortieth
and seventh proposition, he began to yawn drearily, make abundance of wry faces,
and thought
