The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Chapter LXXI

304 The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle conversation was that same night interrupted by a dispute that arose between one of those young gentlemen and the physician, about the cold and hot methods of prescription in the gout and rheumatism; and proceeded to such a degree of mutual reviling, that Pickle ashamed and incensed at his fellow-traveller’s want of urbanity, espoused the other’s cause, and openly rebuked him for his unmannerly petulance, which (he said) rendered him unfit for the purposes, and unworthy of the benefit of, society. This unexpected declaration overwhelmed the doctor with amazement and confusion; he was instantaneously deprived of his speech, and during the remaining part of the partie ,22 sat in silent mortification. In all probability he deliberated with himself, whether or not he should expostulate with the young gentleman on the freedom he had taken with his character in a company of strangers; but as he knew that he had not a Pallet to deal with, he very prudently suppressed that suggestion, and in secret chewed the cud of resentment. After they had visited the physic garden, the university, the anatomical hall,23 and every other thing that was recommended to their view, they returned to Rotterdam, and held a consultation upon the method of transporting themselves to England. The doctor, whose grudge against Peregrine was rather inflamed than allayed by our hero ’s indifference and neglect, had tampered with the simplicity of the painter, who was proud of his advances towards a perfect reconciliation; and now took the opportunity of parting with our adventurer, by declaring that he and his friend Mr. Pallet were resolved to take their passage in a trading sloop, after he had heard Peregrine object against that tedious, disagreeable, and uncertain method of conveyance. Pickle immediately saw his intention; and, without using the least argument to dissuade them from their design, or expressing the smallest degree of concern at their separation, very coolly wished them a prosperous voyage, and ordered his baggage to be sent to Helvoetsluys ,24 where he himself, and his retinue, went on board of the pacquet next day, and, by the favour of a fair wind, in eighteen hours arrived at Harwich. chapter lxxi. Peregrine delivers his letters of recommendation at London, and returns to the garison, to the unspeakable joy of the commodore and his whole family. Now that our hero found himself on English ground, his heart dilated with the proud recollection of his own improvement since he left his native soil; he began to recognize the interesting ideas of his tender years;1 he enjoyed, by anticipation, the pleasure of seeing his friends in the garison, after an absence of eighteen months; and the image of his charming Emily, which other less worthy considerations had depressed , resumed the full possession of his breast. He remembred, with shame, that he had neglected the correspondence with her brother, which he himself had sollicited, Volume Two, Chapter LXXI 305 and in consequence of which he had received a letter from that young gentleman while he lived at Paris. In spite of these conscientious reflections, he was too self-sufficient to think he should find any difficulty in obtaining forgiveness for these sins of omission ;2 and began to imagine, that his passion would be prejudicial to the dignity of his situation, if it could not be gratified upon terms which formerly his imagination durst not conceive. Sorry am I, that the task I have undertaken, lays me under the necessity of divulging this degeneracy in the sentiments of our imperious youth, who was now in the heyday of his blood, flushed with the consciousness of his own qualifications, vain of his fortune, and elated on the wings of imaginary expectation. Tho’ he was deeply enamoured of miss Gauntlet, he was far from proposing her heart as the ultimate aim of his gallantry, which (he did not doubt) would triumph o’er the most illustrious females of the land, and at once regale his appetite and ambition. Mean while, being willing to make his appearance at the garison equally surprising and agreeable, he cautioned Mr. Jolter against writing to the commodore, who had not heard of them since their departure from Paris, and hired a post-chaise and horses for London. The governor going out to give orders about the carriage, inadvertently left a paper book open upon the table; and his pupil casting his...