Thus was our adventurer initiated into the society of Yelpers,
though he did not as yet fully understand the nature of his office,
which was explained by the young physician, who chid him for his
blunt behaviour in the case of the medal; and gave him to understand,
that their patron's favour was neither to be gained nor preserved
by any man that would pretend to convict him of a mistake. He
therefore counselled him to respect this foible, and cultivate
the old gentleman with all the zeal and veneration which a regard
to his own character would permit him to say. This task was the
easier to one of our young gentleman's pliant disposition, because
the virtuoso's behaviour was absolutely free from that insolent
self-conceit, which he could not bear without disgust. The senior
was, on the contrary, mild and beneficent; and Pickle was rather
pleased than shocked at his weakness; because it flattered his
vanity with the supposition of his own superior sense. Cautioned
in this manner, Peregrine profited so much by his insinuating
qualifications, that, in a very little time, he was looked upon
as one of the chief favourites of the patron, to whom he dedicated
a small occasional poem; and everybody believed he would reap the
fruits of his attachment among the first of the old gentleman's
dependents.
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