The Adventures of Peregrine PickleSmollett, T. (Tobias)
General
The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle
Smollett, T. (Tobias)
Adventure stories; Fiction; Picaresque literature
The governor, finding his charge so intractable resolved to leave him
in the midst of his own ignorance and prejudice, and reserve his
observations for those who would pay more deference to his opinion: and
indeed this resolution he had often made, and as often broken in the
transports of his zeal, that frequently hurried him out of the plan of
conduct which in his cooler moments he had laid down. They halted for
refreshment at Montreuil, and about seven in the evening arrived at a
village called Bernay, where, while they waited for fresh horses, they
were informed by the landlord that the gates of Abbeville were shut
every night punctually at eight o'clock, so that it would be impossible
for them to get admittance. He said there was not another place
of entertainment on the road where they could pass the night; and
therefore, as a friend, he advised them to stay at his house, where they
would find the best of accommodation, and proceed upon their journey
betimes in the morning.
Mr. Jolter, though he had travelled on that road before, could not
recollect whether or not mine host spoke truth; but his remonstrance
being very plausible, our hero determined to follow his advice, and
being conducted into an apartment, asked what they could have for
supper. The landlord mentioned everything that was eatable in the house;
and the whole being engrossed for the use of him and his attendants,
he amused himself, till such time as it should be dressed, in strolling
about the house, which stands in a very rural situation. While he thus
loitered away the time that hung heavy on his hands, another chaise
arrived at the inn, and upon inquiry he found that the new-comers were
Mr. Hornbeck and his lady. The landlord, conscious of his inability to
entertain this second company, came and begged with great humiliation
that Mr. Pickle would spare them some part of the victuals he had
bespoken; but he refused to part with so much as the wing of a
partridge, though at the same time he sent his compliments to the
strangers, and giving them to understand how ill the house was provided
for their reception, invited them to partake of his supper. Mr.
Hornbeck, who was not deficient in point of politeness, and extremely
well disposed for a relishing meal, which he had reason to expect from
the savoury steam that issued from the kitchen, could not resist this
second instance of our young gentleman's civility, which he acknowledged
in a message, importing that he and his wife would do themselves the
pleasure of profiting by his courteous offer. Peregrine's cheeks glowed
when he found himself on the eve of being acquainted with Mrs. Hornbeck,
of whose heart he had already made a conquest in imagination; and he
forthwith set his invention at work, to contrive some means of defeating
her husband's vigilance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account