back to the garrison, swearing all the way that Perry should never
cross their threshold again with his good-will. Nay, so much was
he incensed at this unnatural and absurd renunciation, that he
refused to carry on any further correspondence with Pickle, until
he was appeased by his solicitations and submission, and Peregrine
owned as his son and heir. But this acknowledgment was made without
the privity of his wife, whose vicious aversion he was obliged,
in appearance, to adopt. Thus exiled from his father's house, the
young gentleman was left entirely to the disposal of the commodore,
whose affection for him daily increased, insomuch that he could
scarcely prevail upon himself to part with him, when his education
absolutely required that he should be otherwise disposed of.

In all probability, this extraordinary attachment was, if not
produced, at least riveted by that peculiar turn in Peregrine's
imagination, which we have already observed; and which, during his
residence in the castle, appeared in sundry stratagems he practised
upon his uncle and aunt, under the auspices of Mr. Hatchway who
assisted him in the contrivance and execution of all his schemes.
Nor was Pipes exempted from a share in their undertakings; for,
being a trusty fellow, not without dexterity in some cases, and
altogether resigned to their will, they found him a serviceable
instrument for their purpose, and used him accordingly.

The first sample of their art was exhibited upon Mrs. Trunnion.
They terrified that good lady with strange noises when she retired
to her devotion. Pipes was a natural genius in the composition of
discords: he could imitate the sound produced by the winding of a
jack, the filing of a saw, and the swinging of a malefactor hanging
in chains; he could counterfeit the braying of an ass, the screeching