by T. Smollett
Peregrine is summoned to attend his Uncle--Is more and more hated by hisown Mother--Appeals to his Father, whose Condescension is defeated bythe Dominion of his Wife.
But, waiving these reflections, let us return to Peregrine, who receiveda summons to attend his uncle, and in a few days arrived with Mr. Jolterand Pipes at the garrison, which he filled with joy and satisfaction.The alteration, which, during his absence, had happened in his person,was very favourable to his appearance, which, from that of a comely boy,was converted into that of a most engaging youth. He was already tallerthan a middle-sized man, his shape ascertained, his sinews well knit,his mien greatly improved, and his whole figure as elegant and gracefulas if it had been cast in the same mould with the Apollo of Belvedere.
Such an outside could not fail of prepossessing people in his favour.The commodore, notwithstanding the advantageous reports he had heard,found his expectation exceeded in the person of Peregrine, and signifiedhis approbation in the most sanguine terms. Mrs. Trunnion was struckwith his genteel address, and received him with uncommon marks ofcomplacency and affection: he was caressed by all the people in theneighbourhood, who, while they admired his accomplishments, couldnot help pitying his infatuated mother, for being deprived of thatunutterable delight which any other parent would have enjoyed in thecontemplation of such an amiable son.
Divers efforts were made by some well-disposed people to conquer, ifpossible, this monstrous prejudice; but their endeavours, instead ofcuring, served only to inflame the distemper, and she never could beprevailed upon to indulge him with the least mark of maternal regard. Onthe contrary, her original disgust degenerated into such inveteracyof hatred, that she left no stone unturned to alienate the commodore'saffection for this her innocent child, and even practised the mostmalicious defamation to accomplish her purpose. Every day, did she abuseher husband's ear with some forged instance of Peregrine's ingratitudeto his uncle, well knowing that it would reach the commodore's knowledgeat night.
Accordingly Mr. Pickle used to tell him at the club, that his hopefulfavourite had ridiculed him in such a company, and aspersed his spouseon another occasion; and thus retail the little scandalous issue of hisown wife's invention. Luckily for Peregrine, the commodore paid nogreat regard to the authority of his informer, because he knew from whatchannel the intelligence flowed; besides, the youth had a staunch friendin Mr. Hatchway, who never failed to vindicate him when he was thusunjustly accused, and always found argument enough to confute theassertions of his enemies. But, though Trunnion had been dubious ofthe young gentleman's principles, and deaf to the remonstrances of thelieutenant, Perry was provided with a bulwark strong enough to defendhim from all such assaults. This was no other than his aunt, whoseregard for him was perceived to increase in the same proportion as hisown mother's diminished; and, indeed, the augmentation of the one was,in all probability, owing to the decrease of the other; for thetwo ladies, with great civility, performed all the duties of goodneighbourhood, and hated each other most piously in their hearts.
Mrs. Pickle, having been disobliged at the splendour of her sister'snew equipage, had, ever since that time, in the course of her visiting,endeavoured to make people merry with satirical jokes on the poor lady'sinfirmities; and Mrs. Trunnion seized the very first opportunity ofmaking reprisals, by inveighing against her unnatural behaviour to herown child; so that Peregrine, as on the one hand he was abhorred, soon the other was he caressed, in consequence of this contention; and Ifirmly believe that the most effectual method of destroying his interestat the garrison, would have been the show of countenancing him athis father's house; but, whether this conjecture be reasonable orchimerical, certain it is the experiment was never tried, and thereforeMr. Peregrine ran no risk of being disgraced. The commodore, whoassumed, and justly too, the whole merit of his education, was now asproud of the youth's improvements as if he had actually been hisown offspring; and sometimes his affection rose to such a pitch ofenthusiasm, that he verily believed him to be the issue of his ownloins. Notwithstanding this favourable predicament in which our herostood with his aunt and her husband, he could not help feeling theinjury he suffered from the caprice of his mother; and though the gaietyof his disposition hindered him from afflicting himself with reflectionsof any gloomy cast, he did not fail to foresee, that if any suddenaccident should deprive him of the commodore, he would in all likelihoodfind himself in a very disagreeable situation. Prompted by thisconsideration, he one evening accompanied his uncle to the club, andwas introduced to his father, before that worthy gentleman had the leastinkling of his arrival.
Mr. Gamaliel was never so disconcerted as at this reencounter. His owndisposition would not suffer him to do anything that might createthe least disturbance, or interrupt his enjoyment; so strongly was heimpressed with the terror of his wife, that he durst not yield tothe tranquility of his temper: and, as I have already observed, hisinclination was perfectly neutral. Thus distracted between differentmotives, when Perry was presented to him, he sat silent and absorbed,as if he did not or would not perceive the application; and when he wasurged to declare himself by the youth, who pathetically begged to knowhow he had incurred his displeasure, he answered, in a peevish strain,"Why, good now, child, what would you have me to do? your mother can'tabide you."--"If my mother is so unkind, I will not call it unnatural,"said Peregrine, the tears of indignation starting from his eyes, "asto banish me from her presence and affection, without the least causeassigned; I hope you will not be so unjust as to espouse her barbarousprejudice."
Before Mr. Pickle had time to reply to his expostulation, for whichhe was not at all prepared, the commodore interposed, and enforced hisfavourite's remonstrance, by telling Mr. Gamaliel that he was ashamed tosee any man drive in such a miserable manner under his wife's petticoat."As for my own part," said he, raising his voice, and assuming a look ofimportance and command, "before I would suffer myself to be steeredall weathers by any woman in Christendom, d'ye see, I'd raise sucha hurricane about her ears, that--" Here he was interrupted by Mr.Hatchway, who thrusting his head towards the door, in the attitude ofone that listens, cried, "Ahey, there's your spouse come to pay us avisit." Trunnion's features that instant adopted a new disposition; fearand confusion took possession of his countenance; his voice, from a toneof vociferation, sank into a whisper of, "Sure, you must be mistaken,Jack;" and, in great perplexity, he wiped off his sweat which hadstarted on his forehead at this false alarm. The lieutenant, having thuspunished him for the rodomontade he had uttered, told him, with an archsneer, that he was deceived with the sound of the outward door creakingupon its hinges, which he mistook for Mrs. Trunnion's voice, and desiredhim to proceed with his admonitions to Mr. Pickle. It is not to bedenied that this arrogance was a little unseasonable to the commodore,who was in all respects as effectually subdued to the dominion of hiswife as the person whose submission he then ventured to condemn; withthis difference of disposition--, Trunnion's subjection was like that ofa bear, chequered with fits of surliness and rage; whereas Picklebore the yoke like an ox, without repining. No wonder, then, thatthis indolence, this sluggishness, this stagnation of temper renderedGamaliel incapable of withstanding the arguments and importunity of hisfriends, to which he at length surrendered. He acquiesced in the justiceof their observations: and, taking his son by the hand, promised tofavour him for the future with his love and fatherly protection.
But this laudable resolution did not last. Mrs. Pickle, still dubiousof his constancy, and jealous of his communication with the commodore,never failed to interrogate him every night about the conversation thathappened at the club, and to regulate her exhortations according to theintelligence she received. He was no sooner, therefore, conveyed to bed(that academy in which all notable wives communicate their lectures),when her catechism began; and she in a moment perceived somethingreluctant and equivocal in her husband's answers. Aroused at thisdiscovery, she employed her influence and skill with such success, thathe disclosed every circumstance of what had ha
ppened; and after havingsustained a most severe rebuke for his simplicity and indiscretion,humbled himself so far as to promise that he would next day annul thecondescensions he had made, and for ever renounce the ungracious objectof her disgust. This undertaking was punctually performed in a letter tothe commodore, which she herself dictated in these words:--
"Sir--Whereas my good-nature being last night imposed upon, I was persuaded to countenance and promise I know not what to that vicious youth, whose parent I have the misfortune to be; I desire you will take notice that I will revoke all such countenance and promises, and shall never look upon that man as my friend who will, in such a cause, solicit,-- Sir, yours, etc. "Gam. Pickle."
CHAPTER XXI.