to his assistance: giving them to understand how he was
besieged, he desired they would keep off his mother, that he might the
more easily secure his sister Julia's retreat. The young soldier entered
accordingly, and, posting, himself between Mrs. Pickle and the door,
gave the signal to his friend, who, lifting up his sister in his arms,
carried her safe without the clutches of this she-dragon, while Pipes,
with his cudgel, kept young master at bay.

The mother, being thus deprived of her prey, sprang upon Gauntlet like
a lioness robbed of her whelps; and he must have suffered sorely in the
flesh, had he not prevented her mischievous intent by seizing both her
wrists, and so keeping her at due distance. In attempting to disengage
herself from his grasp, she struggled with such exertion, and suffered
such agony of passion at the same time, that she actually fell into
a severe fit, during which she was put to bed, and the confederates
retired without further molestation.

In the mean time, Peregrine was not a little perplexed about the
disposal of his sister, whom he had rescued. He could not endure the
thoughts of saddling the commodore with a new expense; and he was afraid
of undertaking the charge of Julia, without his benefactor's advice and
direction: for the present, however, he carried her to the house of a
gentleman in the neighbourhood, whose lady was her godmother, where she
was received with great tenderness and condolence; and he purposed to
inquire for some creditable house, where she might be genteelly boarded
in his absence; resolving to maintain her from the savings of his own
allowance, which he thought might very well bear such reduction. But
this intention was frustrated by the publication of the whole affair,
which was divulged next day, and soon reached the ears of Trunnion,
who chid his godson for having concealed the adventure; and, with the
approbation of his wife, ordered him to bring Julia forthwith to the
garrison. The young gentleman, with tears of gratitude in his eyes,
explained his design of maintaining her at his own expense, and
earnestly begged that he might not be deprived of that satisfaction. But
his uncle was deaf to all his entreaties, and insisted upon her living
in the garrison, though for no other reason than that of being company
to her aunt, who, he observed, was lost for want of conversation.

Julia was accordingly brought home, and settled under the tuition of
Mrs. Trunnion