o risk of being disgraced. The commodore, who
assumed, and justly too, the whole merit of his education, was now as
proud of the youth's improvements as if he had actually been his
own offspring; and sometimes his affection rose to such a pitch of
enthusiasm, that he verily believed him to be the issue of his own
loins. Notwithstanding this favourable predicament in which our hero
stood with his aunt and her husband, he could not help feeling the
injury he suffered from the caprice of his mother; and though the gaiety
of his disposition hindered him from afflicting himself with reflections
of any gloomy cast, he did not fail to foresee, that if any sudden
accident should deprive him of the commodore, he would in all likelihood
find himself in a very disagreeable situation. Prompted by this
consideration, he one evening accompanied his uncle to the club, and
was introduced to his father, before that worthy gentleman had the least
inkling of his arrival.

Mr. Gamaliel was never so disconcerted as at this reencounter. His own
disposition would not suffer him to do anything that might create
the least disturbance, or interrupt his enjoyment; so strongly was he
impressed with the terror of his wife, that he durst not yield to
the tranquility of his temper: and, as I have already observed, his
inclination was perfectly neutral. Thus distracted between different
motives, when Perry was presented to him, he sat silent and absorbed,
as if he did not or would not perceive the application; and when he was
urged to declare himself by the youth, who pathetically begged to know
how he had incurred his displeasure, he answered, in a peevish strain,
"Why, good now, child, what would you have me to do? your mother can't
abide you."--"If my mother is so unkind, I will not call it unnatural,"
said Peregrine, the tears of indignation starting from his eyes, "as
to banish me from her presence and affection, without the least cause
assigned; I hope you will not be so unjust as to espouse her barbarous
prejudice."

Before Mr. Pickle had time to reply to his expostulation, for which
he was not at all prepared, the commodore interposed, and enforced his
favourite's remonstrance, by telling Mr. Gamaliel that he was ashamed to
see any man drive in such a miserable manner under his wife's petticoat.
"As for my own part," said he, raising his voice, and assuming a look of
importance and command, "before I would suffer myself to be steered
all wea