led to
receive a draft for the money; for which he subscribed an ample
discharge, and immediately transmitted the order to his mother, whom
at the same time he informed of the circumstances by which they had so
unexpectedly gained this accession of fortune.

Such a piece of news could not fail of being agreeable to Mrs. Gauntlet,
who by the first post wrote a polite letter of acknowledgment to the
commodore; another to her own son, importing that she had already sent
the draft to a friend in London, with directions to deposit it in the
hands of a certain banker, for the purchase of the first ensigncy to be
sold; and she took the liberty of sending a third to Peregrine, couched
in very affectionate terms, with a kind postscript, signed by Miss Sophy
and his charming Emily.

This affair being transacted to the satisfaction of all concerned,
preparations were set on foot for the departure of our hero, on whom his
uncle settled an annuity of eight hundred pounds, being little less than
one half of his whole income. By this time, indeed, the old gentleman
could easily afford to alienate such a part of his fortune, because he
entertained little or no company, kept few servants, and was remarkably
plain and frugal in his housekeeping. Mrs. Trunnion being now some
years on the wrong side of fifty, her infirmities began to increase; and
though her pride had suffered no diminution, her vanity was altogether
subdued by her avarice.

A Swiss valet-de-chambre, who had already made the tour of Europe, was
hired for the care of Peregrine's own person. Pipes being ignorant of
the French language, as well as otherwise unfit for the office of
a fashionable attendant, it was resolved that he should remain in
garrison; and his place was immediately supplied by a Parisian lacquey
engaged at London for that purpose. Pipes did not seem to relish this
disposition of things; and though he made no verbal objections to it,
looked remarkably sour at his successor upon his first arrival; but this
sullen fit seemed gradually to wear off; and long before his master's
departure, he had recovered his natural tranquility and unconcern.

CHAPTER XXXI.

The two young Gentlemen display their talents for Gallantry, in the
course of which they are involved in a ludicrous circumstance of
Distress, and afterwards take Vengeance on the Author of their Mishap.

Meanwhile our hero and his new friend, together with honest Jack
Hatchway, made daily