four o'clock
in the morning
She recommended to him economy , and the care of his health , bade him remember the honour of his family , and in all the circumstances of his behaviour , assured him that he might always depend upon the friendship and generosity of the commodore . Finally , presenting him with her own picture set in gold , and a hundred guineas from her privy purse , she embraced him affectionately , and wished him all manner of happiness and prosperity . Being thus kindly dismissed by Mrs. Trunnion , he locked himself up with his sister Julia , whom he admonished to cultivate her aunt with the most complaisant and respectful attention , without stooping to any circumstance of submission that she should judge unworthy of her practice : he protested that his chief study should be to make her amends for the privilege she had forfeited by her affection for him ; entreated her to enter into no engagement without his knowledge and approbation ; put into her hand the purse , which he had received from his aunt , to defray her pocket expenses in his absence ; and parted from her , not without tears , after she had for some minutes hung about his neck , kissing him , and weeping in the most pathetic silence . Having performed these duties of affection and consanguinity over-night , he went to bed , and was , by his own direction , called at four o'clock in the morning , when he found the post-chaise , coach , and riding-horses ready at the gate , his friends Gauntlet and Hatchway on foot , the commodore himself almost dressed , and every servant in the garrison assembled in he yard to wish him a good journey . Our hero shook each of these humble friends by the hand , tipping them at the same time with marks of his bounty ; and was very much surprised when he could not perceive his old attendant Pipes among the number . When he expressed his wonder at this disrespectful omission of Tom , some of those present ran to his chamber , in order to give him a call ; but his hammock and room were both deserted , and they soon returned with an account of his having eloped . Peregrine was disturbed at this information , believing that the fellow had taken some desperate course , in consequence of his being dismissed from his service , and began to wish that he had indulged his inclination , by retaining him still about his person .