y conveyed
to that country by a gentleman from London, who had been formerly of his
acquaintance; she could not, therefore, without the most tender emotions
of joy, see him, as it were, restored to his rightful inheritance, and
re-established in that station of life which she thought he could fill
with dignity and importance.

After their mutual expressions of affection, she retired to her
mother's chamber, with a view to make a second offer of her service
and attendance, which had been already rejected with scorn since her
father's death; while Peregrine consulted his brother-in-law about the
affairs of the family, so far as they had fallen within his cognizance
and observation. Mr. Clover told him, that, though he was never favoured
with the confidence of the defunct, he knew some of his intimates, who
had been tampered with by Mrs. Pickle, and even engaged to second the
remonstrances by which she had often endeavoured to persuade her husband
to settle his affairs by a formal will; but that he had from time
to time evaded their importunities with surprising excuses of
procrastination, that plainly appeared to be the result of invention
and design, far above the supposed pitch of his capacity; a circumstance
from which Mr. Clover concluded, that the old gentleman imagined his
life would not have been secure, had he once taken such a step as would
have rendered it unnecessary to the independence of his second son.
He moreover observed, that, in consequence of this information, he no
sooner heard of Mr. Pickle's death, which happened at the club, than he
went directly with a lawyer to his house, before any cabal or conspiracy
could be formed against the rightful heir; and, in presence of witnesses
provided for the purpose, sealed up all the papers of the deceased,
after the widow had, in the first transports of her sorrow and vexation,
fairly owned, that her husband had died intestate.

Peregrine was extremely well satisfied with this intelligence, by which
all his doubts were dispelled; and, having cheerfully supped with his
friends on a cold collation, which his brother-in-law had brought in his
chariot, they retired to rest, in different chambers, after Julia had
met with another repulse from her capricious mother, whose overflowing
rage had now subsided into the former channel of calm inveteracy. Next
morning the house was supplied with some servants from the garrison, and
preparations were made for the funeral of t