.
    Now that she had an opportunity of being acquainted with all our young
gentleman's qualifications, she did not repine at the qui pro quo which had been
played upon her, and resolved to transfer her good graces to Peregrine, without
reserve. With this view she favoured him with the most palpable advances and
allusions, which he would not understand, but on the contrary, conveyed the ring
to her in a letter, written in a counterfeited character, with a feigned name,
importing, that as he had reason to believe the token was intended for another,
he could not in conscience reserve it for his own use: and to crown her
vexation, by his contrivance, every circumstance of the story was divulged,
except the name of the person who had represented the lover.
    While our adventurer thus enjoyed his disposition, he was summoned to the
castle by an express from his friend Hatchway, representing that the commodore
lay at the point of death; and in less than an hour after the receipt of this
melancholy piece of news, he set out post for his uncle's habitation, having
previously taken leave of his associate Crabtree, who promised to meet him in
two months at London, and settled a correspondence with Gauntlet, who proposed
to remain at Bath during the remaining part of the season.
 

                                 Chapter LXXIX

Peregrine arrives at the Garison, where he receives the last Admonitions of
Commodore Trunnion, who next Day resigns his Breath, and is buried according to
his own Directions. Some Gentlemen in the Country make a fruitless Attempt to
accommodate Matters betwixt Mr. Gamaliel Pickle and his eldest Son
 
About four o'clock in the morning our hero arrived at the garison, where he
found his generous uncle in extremity, supported in bed, by Julia on one side,
and lieutenant Hatchway on the other; while Mr. Jolter administered spiritual
consolation to his soul, and between whiles comforted Mrs. Trunnion, who, with
her maid, sat by the fire, weeping with great decorum; the physician having just
taken his last fee, and retired, after pronouncing the fatal prognostic, in
which he anxiously wished he might not be mistaken.
    Though the commodore's speech was interrupted by a violent hiccup, he still
retained the use of his senses; and when Peregrine approached, stretched out his
hand with manifest signs of satisfaction. The young gentleman, whose heart
overflowed with gratitude and affection, could not behold such a spectacle,
unmoved. He endeavoured to conceal his tenderness, which in the wildness of his
youth, and in the pride of his disposition, he considered as a derogation from
his
