
sounded forth in the neighbourhood, and never failed of going to church, and
every other place, where she thought she might have an opportunity of seeing
this amiable brother. With these sentiments it cannot be supposed that she would
hear the conspiracy without emotion. She was shocked at the treacherous
barbarity of Gam, and shuddered at the prospect of the danger to which Peregrine
would be exposed from their malice. She durst not communicate this plot to her
mother, because she was afraid that lady's unaccountable aversion for her
first-born would hinder her from interposing in his behalf, and consequently
render her a sort of accomplice in the guilt of his assassins. She therefore
resolved to warn Peregrine of the conspiracy, an account of which she
transmitted to him in an affectionate letter, by means of a young gentleman in
that neighbourhood, who made his addresses to her at that time, and who, at her
request, offered his service to our hero, in defeating the projects of his
adversaries.
    Peregrine was startled when he read the particulars of their scheme, which
was no other than an intention to sally upon him when he should be altogether
unprovided against such an attack, cut off his ears, and otherwise mutilate him
in such a manner, that he should have no cause to be vain of his person for the
future.
    Incensed as he was against the brutal disposition of his own father's son,
he could not help being moved at the integrity and tenderness of his sister, of
whose inclinations towards him he had been hitherto kept in ignorance. He
thanked the gentleman for his honourable dealing, and expressed a desire of
being better acquainted with his virtues; told him, that now he was cautioned,
he hoped there would be no necessity for giving him any further trouble, and
wrote by him a letter of acknowledgment to his sister, for whom he expressed the
utmost love and regard, beseeching her to favour him with an interview before
his departure, that he might indulge his fraternal fondness, and be blessed with
the company and countenance of one at least belonging to his own family.
    Having imparted this discovery to his friend Hatchway, they came to a
resolution of countermining the plan of their enemies; and as they did not
choose to expose themselves to the insinuations of slander, which would have
exerted itself at their expence, had they, even in defending themselves,
employed any harsh means of retaliation, they invented a method of disappointing
and disgracing their foes, and immediately set Pipes at work to forward the
preparations.
    Miss Pickle having described the spot which the assassins had pitched upon
for the
