 of the compass: he likened her to a painted galley curiously rigged,
with a leak in her hold, which her husband would never be able to stop. He
observed that her inclinations were like the Bay of Biscay; for why? because you
may heave your deep sea lead long enough, without ever reaching the bottom. That
he who comes to an anchor on a wife, may find himself moored in damned foul
ground, and after all, can't for his blood slip his cable; and that for his own
part, thof he might make short trips for pastime, he would never embark in woman
on the voyage of life, because he was afraid of foundering in the first foul
weather.
    In all probability, these insinuations made some impression on the mind of
Mr. Pickle, who was not very much inclined to run great risks of any kind; but
the injunctions and importunities of his sister, who was bent upon the match,
overbalanced the opinion of his sea friends, who finding him determined to
marry, notwithstanding all the hints of caution they had thrown out, resolved to
accept his invitation, and honoured his nuptials with their presence
accordingly.
 

                                   Chapter IV

The Behaviour of Mrs. Grizzle at the Wedding, with an Account of the Guests
 
I hope it will not be thought uncharitable, if I advance by way of conjecture,
that Mrs. Grizzle, on this grand occasion, summoned her whole exertion, to play
off the artillery of her charms, upon the single gentlemen who were invited to
the entertainment: sure I am, she displayed to the best advantage all the
engaging qualities she possessed: her affability at dinner was altogether
uncommon, her attention to the guests was superfluously hospitable, her tongue
was sheathed with a most agreeable and infantine lisp, her address was perfectly
obliging; and though, conscious of the extraordinary capacity of her mouth, she
would not venture to hazard a laugh, she modelled her lips into an enchanting
simper, which played upon her countenance all day long; nay, she even profited
by that defect in her vision we have already observed, and securely contemplated
those features which were most to her likeing, while the rest of the company
believed her regards were disposed in a quite contrary direction. With what
humility of complaisance did she receive the compliments of those who could not
help praising the elegance of the banquet! and how piously did she seize that
opportunity of commemorating the honours of her sire, by observing that it was
no merit in her to understand something of entertainments, as she had occasion
to preside at so many, during the mayoralty of her
