Mrs.
Trunnion was struck with his genteel address, and received him
with uncommon marks of complacency and affection: he was caressed
by all the people in the neighbourhood, who, while they admired
his accomplishments, could not help pitying his infatuated mother,
for being deprived of that unutterable delight which any other
parent would have enjoyed in the contemplation of such an amiable
son.
Divers efforts were made by some well-disposed people to conquer, if
possible, this monstrous prejudice; but their endeavours, instead
of curing, served only to inflame the distemper, and she never could
be prevailed upon to indulge him with the least mark of maternal
regard. On the contrary, her original disgust degenerated into such
inveteracy of hatred, that she left no stone unturned to alienate
the commodore's affection for this her innocent child, and even
practised the most malicious defamation to accomplish her purpose.
Every day, did she abuse her husband's ear with some forged instance
of Peregrine's ingratitude to his uncle, well knowing that it would
reach the commodore's knowledge at night.
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