 lady, who gave her niece five hundred pounds to
purchase jewels and cloaths, Mr. Peregrine could no longer restrain his
impatience to see his dear Emily; and told his uncle, that next day he proposed
to ride across the country, in order to visit his friend Gauntlet, from whom he
had not heard for a long time.
    The old gentleman, looking stedfastly in his face, »Ah! damn your cunning!
(said he) I find the anchor holds fast: I did suppose as how you would have
slipt your cable, and changed your birth; but, I see, when a young fellow is
once brought up by a pretty wench, he may man his capstans and viol-block, if he
wool; but he'll as soon heave up the Pike of Teneriff, as bring his anchor
aweigh! Odds heartlikins! had I known the young woman was Ned Gauntlet's
daughter, I shou'dn't have thrown out signal for leaving off chace.«
    Our adventurer was not a little surprized to hear the commodore talk in this
stile; and immediately conjectured, that his friend Godfrey had informed him of
the whole affair. Instead of listening to this approbation of his flame, with
those transports of joy which he would have felt, had he retained his former
sentiments, he was chagrined at Trunnion's declaration, and offended at the
presumption of the young soldier, in pretending to disclose the secret with
which he had intrusted him. Reddening with these reflections, he assured the
commodore, that he never had serious thoughts of matrimony: so that, if any
person had told him he was under any engagement of that kind, he had abused his
ear; for, he protested, that he would never contract such attachments, without
his knowledge and express permission.
    Trunnion commended him for his prudent resolution, and observed, that though
no person mentioned to him what promises had passed betwixt him and his
sweetheart, it was very plain that he had made love to her; and therefore, it
was to be supposed, that his intentions were honourable: for, he could not
believe he was such a rogue in his heart, as to endeavour to debauch the
daughter of a brave officer, who had served his country with credit and
reputation. Notwithstanding this remonstrance, which Pickle imputed to the
commodore's ignorance of the world, he set out for the habitation of Mrs.
Gauntlet, with the unjustifiable sentiments of a man of pleasure, who sacrifices
every consideration to the desire of his ruling appetite; and as Winchester lay
in his way, resolved to
