e chaise passed him
at full speed, he set up the sportsman's halloo, in a voice that sounded
like a French horn, clapping spurs to Sorrel at the same time, in order
to keep up with the pace of the machine.

Peregrine, who was animated with an uncommon flow of spirits, ordered
his postilion to proceed more softly; and entered into conversation with
the stranger, touching the make and mettle of his horse, upon which he
descanted with so much learning, that the squire was astonished at his
knowledge. When they approached his habitation, he invited the young
gentleman and his company to halt, and drink a bottle of his ale;
and was so pressing in his solicitation, that they complied with his
request. He accordingly conducted them through a spacious avenue, that
extended as far as the highway, to the gate of a large chateau, of a
most noble and venerable appearance, which induced them to alight and
view the apartments, contrary to their first intention of drinking a
glass of his October at the door.

The rooms were every way suitable to the magnificence of the outside,
and our hero imagined they had made a tour through the whole sweep, when
the landlord gave him to understand that they had not yet seen the
best apartment of the house, and immediately led them into a spacious
dining-room, which Peregrine did not enter without giving manifest
signs of uncommon astonishment. The panels all round were covered with
portraits at full length, by Vandyke; and not one of them appeared
without a ridiculous tie-periwig, in the style of those that usually
hang over the shops of twopenny barbers. The straight boots in which
the figures had been originally painted, and the other circumstances of
attitude and drapery, so inconsistent with this monstrous furniture of
the head, exhibited such a ludicrous appearance, that Pickle's wonder,
in a little time, gave way to his mirth, and he was seized with a
violent fit of laughter, which had well-nigh deprived him of his breath.

The squire, half-pleased and half-offended at this expression of
ridicule, "I know," said he, "what makes you laugh so woefully; you
think it strange to zee my vorefathers booted and spurred, with huge
three-tailed periwigs on their pates. The truth of the matter is this: I
could not abide to zee the pictures of my vamily with a parcel of loose
hair hanging about their eyes, like zo many colts; and zo I employed a
painter vellow from Lundon to clap decent periwigs upon