Peregrine takes leave of his Aunt and Sister--Sets out from theGarrison-Parts with his Uncle and Hatchway on the Road, and with hisGovernor arrives in safety at Dover.
This, however, was the last effort of invention which they practisedupon him; and everything being now prepared for the departure of hisgodson, that hopeful youth in two days took leave of all his friends inthe neighbourhood. He was closeted two whole hours with his aunt, whoenriched him with many pious advices, recapitulated all the benefitswhich, through her means, had been conferred upon him since his infancy,cautioned him against the temptations of lewd women, who bring many aman to a morsel of bread, laid strict injunctions upon him to live inthe fear of the Lord and the true Protestant faith, to eschew quarrelsand contention, to treat Mr. Jolter with reverence and regard, and aboveall things to abstain from the beastly sin of drunkenness, whichexposes a man to the scorn and contempt of his fellow-creatures, and, bydivesting him of reason and reflection, renders him fit for all mannerof vice and debauchery. She recommended to him economy, and the care ofhis health, bade him remember the honour of his family, and in all thecircumstances of his behaviour, assured him that he might always dependupon the friendship and generosity of the commodore. Finally, presentinghim with her own picture set in gold, and a hundred guineas from herprivy purse, she embraced him affectionately, and wished him all mannerof happiness and prosperity.
Being thus kindly dismissed by Mrs. Trunnion, he locked himself up withhis sister Julia, whom he admonished to cultivate her aunt with themost complaisant and respectful attention, without stooping to anycircumstance of submission that she should judge unworthy of herpractice: he protested that his chief study should be to make her amendsfor the privilege she had forfeited by her affection for him; entreatedher to enter into no engagement without his knowledge and approbation;put into her hand the purse, which he had received from his aunt, todefray her pocket expenses in his absence; and parted from her, notwithout tears, after she had for some minutes hung about his neck,kissing him, and weeping in the most pathetic silence.
Having performed these duties of affection and consanguinity over-night,he went to bed, and was, by his own direction, called at four o'clockin the morning, when he found the post-chaise, coach, and riding-horsesready at the gate, his friends Gauntlet and Hatchway on foot, thecommodore himself almost dressed, and every servant in the garrisonassembled in he yard to wish him a good journey. Our hero shook eachof these humble friends by the hand, tipping them at the same timewith marks of his bounty; and was very much surprised when he could notperceive his old attendant Pipes among the number. When he expressed hiswonder at this disrespectful omission of Tom, some of those present ranto his chamber, in order to give him a call; but his hammock and roomwere both deserted, and they soon returned with an account of his havingeloped. Peregrine was disturbed at this information, believing thatthe fellow had taken some desperate course, in consequence of his beingdismissed from his service, and began to wish that he had indulged hisinclination, by retaining him still about his person. However, asthere was now no other remedy, he recommended him strenuously to theparticular favour and distinction of his uncle and Hatchway, in case heshould appear again; and as he went out of the gate, was saluted withthree cheers by all the domestics in the family.
The commodore, Gauntlet, lieutenant, Peregrine, and Jolter went into thecoach together, that they might enjoy each other's conversation asmuch as possible, resolving to breakfast at an inn upon the road, whereTrunnion and Hatchway intended to bid our adventurer farewell; theValet-de-chambre got into the post-chaise; the French lacquey rode onehorse, and led another; one of the valets of the garrison mounted at theback of the coach; and thus the cavalcade set out on the road to Dover.
As the commodore could not bear the fatigue of jolting, they travelledat an easy pace during the fist stage; so that the old gentleman had anopportunity of communicating his exhortations to his godson, withregard to his conduct abroad: he advised him, now that he was goinginto foreign parts, to be upon his guard against the fair weather of theFrench politesse, which was no more to be trusted than a whirlpool atsea. He observed that many young men had gone to Paris with good cargoesof sense, and returned with a great deal of canvas, and no ballastat all, whereby they became crank all the days of their lives, andsometimes carried their keels above water. He desired Mr. Jolter to keephis pupil out of the clutches of those sharking priests who lie in waitto make converts of all young strangers, and in a particular mannercautioned the youth against carnal conversation with the Parisian dames,who, he understood, were no better than gaudy fire-ships ready primedwith death and destruction.
Peregrine listened with great respect, thanking him for his kindadmonitions, which he faithfully promised to observe. The halted andbreakfasted at the end of the stage, where Jolter provided himself witha horse, and the commodore settled the method of corresponding with hisnephew. The minute of parting being arrived, the old commander wrung hisgodson by the hand, saying, "I wish thee a prosperous voyage and goodcheer, my lad: my timbers are now a little crazy, d'ye see; and Godknows if I shall keep afloat till such time as I see thee again; buthowsomever, hap what will, thou wilt find thyself in a condition to keepin the line with the rest of thy fellows." He then reminded Gauntletof his promise to call at the garrison in his return from Dover, andimparted something in a whisper to the governor, while Jack Hatchway,unable to speak, pulled his hat over his eyes, and, squeezing Peregrineby the hand, gave him a pistol of curious workmanship, as a memorialof his friendship. Our youth, who was not unmoved on this occasion,received the pledge, which he acknowledged with the present of atobacco-box bought for this purpose; and the two lads of the castlegetting into the coach, were driven homewards, in a state of silentdejection.
Godfrey and Peregrine seated themselves in the post-chaise; and Jolter,the valet-de-chambre, and lacquey, bestriding their beasts, theyproceeded for the place of their destination, at which they arrived insafety that same night, and bespoke a passage in the packet-boat whichwas to sail next day.
CHAPTER XXXIV.