While he remained in this hesitation and suspense, he was one
morning very agreeably surprised with the appearance of his friend
Crabtree, who, by the permission of Pipes, to whom he was well
known, entered his chamber before he was awake, and, by a violent
shake of the shoulder, disengaged him from the arms of sleep. The
first compliments having mutually passed, Cadwallader gave him to
understand, that he had arrived in town overnight in the stage-coach
from Bath, and entertained him with such a ludicrous account of his
fellow-travellers, that Peregrine, for the first time since their
parting, indulged himself in mirth, even to the hazard of suffocation.
Crabtree, having rehearsed these adventures, in such a peculiarity
of manner as added infinite ridicule to every circumstance, and
repeated every scandalous report which had circulated at Bath,
after Peregrine's departure, was informed by the youth, that he
harboured a design upon the person of such a duchess, and in all
appearance had no reason to complain of his reception; but that
he would not venture to declare himself, until he should be more
ascertained of her sentiments; and therefore he begged leave to
depend upon the intelligence of his friend Cadwallader, who, he
knew, was admitted to her parties.
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