Nor
was Peregrine himself actuated by the same unreserved affection
for the soldier which he had formerly entertained. Godfrey, over
and above the offence he had taken at Pickle's omission in point
of corresponding with him, had been informed, by a letter from his
mother, of the youth's cavalier behaviour to Emilia, during his
last residence at Winchester; and our young gentleman, as we have
already observed, was disgusted at the supposed discovery which the
soldier had made in his absence to the commodore. They, perceived
their mutual umbrage at meeting, and received each other with that
civility of reserve which commonly happens between two persons
whose friendship is in the wane.
Gauntlet at once divined the cause of the other's displeasure, and,
in order to vindicate his own character, after the first compliments
were passed, took the opportunity, on inquiring after the health
of the commodore, to tell Peregrine, that, while he tarried at the
garrison, on his return from Dover, the subject of the conversation, one
night, happening to turn on our hero's passion, the old gentleman
had expressed his concern about that affair; and, among other
observations, said, he supposed the object of his love was some
paltry hussy, whom he had picked up when he was a boy at school.
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