he had been spit out
of your own mouth, as the saying is: do show a little respect for your
kinsman, can't you?" To this remonstrance she replied, in a mild tone of
voice, "Dear Mr. Hatchway, you are always teasing one in such a manner:
sure I am, nobody can tax me with unkindness, or want of natural
affection." So saying, she opened the door, and, advancing to the hall
where her nephew stood, received him very graciously and observed that
he was the very image of her papa.

In the afternoon he was conducted by the commodore to the house of his
parents; and, strange to tell, no sooner was he presented to his mother,
than her countenance changed, she eyed him with tokens of affliction and
surprise, and, bursting into tears, exclaimed her child was dead, and
this was no other than an impostor whom they had brought to defraud her
sorrow. Trunnion was confounded at this unaccountable passion, which had
no other foundation than caprice and whim; and Gamaliel himself was so
disconcerted and unsettled in his own belief, which began to waver,
that he knew not how to behave towards the boy, whom his godfather
immediately carried back to the garrison, swearing all the way that
Perry should never cross their threshold again with his good-will. Nay,
so much was he incensed at this unnatural and absurd renunciation, that
he refused to carry on any further correspondence with Pickle, until he
was appeased by his solicitations and submission, and Peregrine owned as
his son and heir. But this acknowledgment was made without the privity
of his wife, whose vicious aversion he was obliged, in appearance, to
adopt. Thus exiled from his father's house, the young gentleman was left
entirely to the disposal of the commodore, whose affection for him daily
increased, insomuch that he could scarcely prevail upon himself to
part with him, when his education absolutely required that he should be
otherwise disposed of.

In all probability, this extraordinary attachment was, if not produced,
at least riveted by that peculiar turn in Peregrine's imagination, which
we have already observed; and which, during his residence in the castle,
appeared in sundry stratagems he practised upon his uncle and aunt,
under the auspices of Mr. Hatchway who assisted him in the contrivance
and execution of all his schemes. Nor was Pipes exempted from a share in
their undertakings; for, being a trusty fellow, not without dexterity
in some cases, and altogether resign