ore unexpected, because Godfrey had
told them that the commodore approved of his nephew's passion.

Our adventurer found his uncle so ill of the gout, which, for the first
time, had taken possession of his stomach, that his life was in imminent
danger, and the whole family in disorder. He therefore took the reins
of government in his own hands, sent for all the physicians in the
neighbourhood, and attended him in person with the most affectionate
care, during the whole fit, which lasted a fortnight, and then retired
before the strength of his constitution.

When the old gentleman recovered his health, he was so penetrated with
Peregrine's behaviour, that he actually would have made over to him his
whole fortune, and depended upon him for his own subsistence, had not
our youth opposed the execution of the deed with all his influence
and might, and even persuaded him to make a will, in which his friend
Hatchway, and all his other adherents, were liberally remembered,
and his aunt provided for on her own terms. This material point being
settled, he, with his uncle's permission, departed for London, after
having seen the family affairs established under the direction and
administration of Mr. Jolter and the lieutenant; for, by this time, Mrs.
Trunnion was wholly occupied with her spiritual concern.

On his first arrival at London, he sent a card to the lodgings of
Gauntlet, in consequence of a direction from his mother; and that young
gentleman waited on him next morning, though not with that alacrity of
countenance and warmth of friendship which might have been expected
from the intimacy of their former connection. Nor was Peregrine himself
actuated by the same unreserved affection for the soldier which he had
formerly entertained. Godfrey, over and above the offence he had taken
at Pickle's omission in point of corresponding with him, had been
informed, by a letter from his mother, of the youth's cavalier behaviour
to Emilia, during his last residence at Winchester; and our young
gentleman, as we have already observed, was disgusted at the supposed
discovery which the soldier had made in his absence to the commodore.
They, perceived their mutual umbrage at meeting, and received each other
with that civility of reserve which commonly happens between two persons
whose friendship is in the wane.

Gauntlet at once divined the cause of the other's displeasure, and, in
order to vindicate his own character, after the first co