, leaving the good
old lady very much concerned, and the daughter incensed at his behaviour, which
was the more unexpected, because Godfrey had told them, that the commodore
approved of his nephew's passion.
    Our adventurer found his uncle so ill of the gout, which, for the first
time, had taken possession of his stomach, that his life was in imminent danger,
and the whole family in disorder: he therefore took the reins of government in
his own hands, sent for all the physicians in the neighbourhood, and attended
him in person with the most affectionate care, during the whole fit, which
lasted a fortnight, and then retired before the strength of his constitution.
    When the old gentleman recovered his health, he was so penetrated with
Peregrine's behaviour, that he actually would have made over to him his whole
fortune, and depended upon him for his own subsistence, had not our youth
opposed the execution of the deed with all his influence and might, and even
persuaded him to make a will, in which his friend Hatchway, and all his other
adherents, were liberally remembered, and his aunt provided for, on her own
terms. This material point being settled, he, with his uncle's permission,
departed for London, after having seen the family-affairs established under the
direction and administration of Mr. Jolter and the lieutenant: for, by this
time, Mrs. Trunnion was wholly occupied with her spiritual concerns.
    On his first arrival at London, he sent a card to the lodgings of Gauntlet,
in consequence of a direction from his mother; and that young gentleman waited
on him next morning, though not with that alacrity of countenance and warmth of
friendship, which might have been expected from the intimacy of their former
connexion. Nor was Peregrine himself actuated by the same unreserved affection
for the soldier, which he had formerly entertained. Godfrey, over and above the
offence he had taken at Pickle's omission, in point of corresponding with him,
had been informed, by a letter from his mother, of the youth's cavalier
behaviour to Emilia, during his last residence at Winchester; and our young
gentleman (as we have already observed) was disgusted at the supposed discovery
which the soldier had made, in his absence, to the commodore. They perceived
their mutual umbrage at meeting, and received each other with that civility of
reserve, which commonly happens between two persons, when their friendship is in
the wane.
    Gauntlet at once divined the cause of the other's displeasure; and, in order
to vindicate his own
