CHAPTER XVI.
Peregrine distinguishes himself among his School-fellows, exposes
his Tutor, and attracts the particular Notice of the Master.
Thus left to the prosecution of his studies, Peregrine was in a
little time a distinguished character, not only for his acuteness
of apprehension, but also for that mischievous fertility of fancy,
of which we have already given such pregnant examples. But as there
was a great number of such luminaries in this new sphere to which
he belonged, his talents were not so conspicuous while they shone
in his single capacity, as they afterwards appeared, when they
concentrated and reflected the rays of the whole constellation.
At first he confined himself to piddling game, exercising his genius
upon his own tutor, who attracted his attention, by endeavouring
to season his mind with certain political maxims, the fallacy of
which he had discernment enough to perceive. Scarce a day passed
in which he did not find means to render Mr. Jolter the object of
ridicule: his violent prejudices, ludicrous vanity, awkward solemnity,
and ignorance of mankind, afforded continual food for the raillery,
petulance, and satire of his pupil, who never neglected an opportunity
of laughing, and making others laugh, at his expense.
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