short visit to his uncle, who at that time languished in a
declining state of health, promising to return at the appointed hour.

The lieutenant, having surveyed the dismal appearance of his friend,
could not help being moved at the spectacle, and began to upbraid
him with his obstinate pride, which, he swore, was no better than
self-murder. But the young gentleman interrupted him in the course of
his moralizing, by telling him he had reasons for his conduct, which,
perhaps, he would impart in due season; but, at present, his design was
to alter that plan of behaviour, and make himself some amends for the
misery he had undergone. He accordingly sent Pipes to redeem his clothes
from the pawnbroker's wardrobe, and bespeak something comfortable for
dinner. When Godfrey came back, he was very agreeably surprised to see
such a favourable alteration in his externals; for, by the assistance of
his valet, he had purified himself from the dregs of his distress, and
now appeared in a decent suit, with clean linen, while his face was
disencumbered of the hair that overshadowed it, and his apartment
prepared for the reception of company.

They enjoyed their meal with great satisfaction, entertaining one
another with a recapitulation of their former adventures at the
garrison. In the afternoon, Gauntlet taking his leave, in order to write
a letter to his sister, at the desire of his uncle who, finding his end
approaching, wanted to see her without loss of time, Peregrine made his
appearance on the Bare, and was complimented on his coming abroad again,
not only by his old messmates, who had not seen him for many weeks, but
by a number of those objects whom his liberality had fed, before his
funds were exhausted. Hatchway was, by his interest with the warden,
put in possession of his former quarters, and Pipes despatched to make
inquiry about Crabtree at his former lodging, where he learned that
the misanthrope, after a very severe fit of illness, was removed to
Kensington Gravel-pits, for the convenience of breathing a purer air
than that of London.

In consequence of this information, Peregrine, who knew the narrowness
of the old gentleman's fortune, next day desired his friend Gauntlet to
take the trouble of visiting him, in his name, with a letter, in which
he expressed great concern for his indisposition, gave him notice of the
fortunate intelligence he had received from the Downs, and conjured
him to make use of his purse, if