The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Chapter XXX

Volume One, Chapter XXX 137 but one, and that her cousin Sophy intended to accompany her in her father’s chariot,5 he repeated his intention of attending her, and in the mean time dismissed his governor and the lieutenant to the garison, with his compliments to his aunt and the commodore , and a faithful promise of his being with them in six days at farthest. These previous measures being taken, he, attended by Pipes, set out with the ladies; and they had also a convoy for twelve miles from Sophy’s father, who, at parting, recommended them piously to the care of Peregrine, with whom, by this time, he was perfectly well acquainted. chapter xxx. They meet with a dreadful alarm on the road, arrive at their journey’s end. Peregrine is introduced to Emily’s brother; these two young gentlemen misunderstand each other. Pickle departs for the garison. As they travelled at an easy rate, they had performed something more than one half of their journey, when they were benighted near an inn, at which they resolved to lodge; the accommodation was very good, they supped together with great mirth and enjoyment, and it was not till after he had been warned by the yawns of the ladies, that he conducted them to their apartment; and wishing them good night, retired to his own, and went to rest. The house was crowded with country people who had been at a neighbouring fair, and now regaled themselves with ale and tobacco in the yard; so that their consideration , which at any time was but slender, being now overwhelmed by this debauch, they staggered in to their respective kennels, and left a lighted candle sticking to one of the wooden pillars that supported the gallery. The flame in a little time laid hold on the wood, which was as dry as tinder, and the whole gallery was on fire, when Peregrine suddenly waked, and found himself almost suffocated. He sprung up in an instant , slipped on his breeches, and throwing open the door of his chamber, saw the whole entry in a blaze. Heavens! what were the emotions of his soul, when he beheld the volumes of flame and smoke rolling towards the room where his dear Emilia lay! Regardless of his own danger, he darted himself through the thickest of the gloom, when knocking hard, and calling at the same time to the ladies, with the most anxious intreaty to be admitted; the door was opened by Emilia in her shift, who asked with the utmost trepidation, what was the matter? He made no reply, but snatching her up in his arms, like another Æneas,1 bore her through the flames to a place of safety; where leaving her, before she could recollect herself, or pronounce one word, but “Alas! my cousin Sophy!” he flew back to the rescue of that young lady, and found her already delivered by Pipes, who “Fire at the Inn[:] Peregrine rescues Emilia, etc.” by Rowlandson. (Rowlandson’s Illustrations to Smollett, College of William and Mary.) Volume One, Chapter XXX 139 having been alarmed by the smell of fire, had got up, rushed immediately to the chamber where he knew these companions lodged, and (Emily being saved by her lover) brought off Miss Sophy, with the loss of his own shock-head of hair,2 which was singed off in his retreat. By this time the whole inn was alarmed, every lodger, as well as servant, exerted himself, in order to stop the progress of this calamity; and there being a well replenished horse-pond in the yard, in less than an hour the fire was totally extinguished, without having done any other damage than that of consuming about two yards of the wooden gallery. All this time our young gentleman closely attended his fair charge, each of whom had swooned with apprehension; but as their constitutions were good, and their spirits not easily dissipated, when upon reflection they found themselves and their company safe, and that the flames were happily quenched, the tumult of their fears subsided, they put on their cloaths, recovered their good humour, and began to rally each other on the trim in which they had been secured.3 Sophy observed, that now Mr. Pickle had an indisputable claim to her cousin’s affection; and therefore she ought to lay aside all affected reserve for the future...