coming up
to him, desired he would defer his departure for a quarter of an hour,
and favour him with a little private conversation. The soldier, who
mistook the meaning of the request, immediately quitted his horse, and
followed Pickle into a chamber, where he expected to find a brace of
pistols loaded on the table: but he was very agreeably deceived,
when our hero, in the most respectful terms, acknowledged his noble
deportment in the field, owned that till then he had misunderstood his
character, and begged that he would honour him with his intimacy and
correspondence.

Gauntlet, who had seen undoubted proofs of Peregrine's courage, which
had considerably raised him in his esteem, and had sense enough to
perceive that this concession was not owing to any sordid or sinister
motive, embraced his offer with demonstrations of infinite satisfaction.
When he understood the terms on which Mr. Pickle was with his sister,
he proffered his service in his turn, either as agent, mediator, or
confidant: nay, to give this new friend a convincing proof of his
sincerity, he disclosed to him a passion which he had for some time
entertained for his cousin Miss Sophy, though he durst not reveal his
sentiments to her father, lest he should be offended at his presumption,
and withdraw his protection from the family.

Peregrine's generous heart was wrung with anguish, when he understood
that this young gentleman, who was the only son of a distinguished
officer, had carried arms for the space of five years, without being
able to obtain a subaltern's commission, though he always had behaved
with remarkable regularity and spirit, and, acquired the friendship and
esteem of all the officers under whom he had served. He would, at that
time, with the utmost pleasure, have shared his finances with him; but
as he would not run the risk of offending the young soldier's delicacy
of honour by a premature exertion of his liberality, he resolved to
insinuate himself into an intimacy with him, before he would venture to
take such freedoms; and with that view pressed Mr. Gauntlet to accompany
him to the garrison, where he did not doubt of having influence enough
to make him a welcome guest. Godfrey thanked him very courteously for
his invitation, which he said he could not immediately accept; but
promised, if he would favour him with a letter, and fix the time at
which he proposed to set out for France, he would endeavour to visit
him at the commodore'